<b> CHAPTER VII
AN INSTRUCTION ON THE
THIRD SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FAST, THE VENERATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND
LIFE-GIVING CROSS.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MARK (8:34-9:1).
(This Gospel is also read on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the
Precious Cross.) </b>

Foreshadowing and prefiguring with his rod the divine and life-giving
Rod, the divine Moses divided the Red Sea and let the Jews through it
dry and unharmed, for the waters stood like a wall on either side of
them. And after the passage of the Jews, he returned the sea to its
former unity once again with his rod and covered the proud and haughty
Pharaoh and his whole army in the depths of the sea. And in the
wilderness he made the bitter waters of Marah sweet with a staff, and
wonderfully made water flow from a dry rock, and gave the people drink
to quench their thirst. Besides these miracles, Moses punished Egypt
with his rod, and turned water into blood, and wrought many great
wonders. If, then, that rod became the instrument of so many wonders
of such greatness by simple tracing the image and shadow of the Cross,
what is there that cannot be done and accomplished by that precious,
divine and life-giving Cross itself? For now it is not spiritually
prefigured and drawn with signs, but seen in very fact, and honored
and venerated by us. The life-giving Cross itself will bring many and
numerous woes upon the noetic pharaoh, our adversary the devil, an
enemy who is the originator of evil. and it will overwhelm and drown
the regiments of visible and invisible demons which attack us, wage
war against us and cause us distress. The precious and life-giving
Cross itself will enable us to pass over the sea of passions safe and
dry, and it will calm the waves and storms that rise against us; it
will create tranquility, it will easily still and pacify our present
life, and it will allow us to complete the rest of our days in peace.
The life-giving Cross itself will transform into goodness and
spiritual sweetness the bitterness and pain of our misfortunes and
adversities, and the frequent assaults, afflictions and temptations
which befall us because of our spiritual and physical enemies; it will
fill with tenderness and serenity our souls when they fall into sorrow
and despondency. The life-giving Cross itself will give us water
flowing from the rock which is Christ our true God; it will extinguish
the flames of temptations; it will sweeten and calm our souls and
bodies more than honey and oil; it will quench our thirst so that we
thirst no more. <i> whosoever drinketh of it shall never thirst, and
rivers of living water shall flow from within him,1 </i> as Christ our
God, Truth itself, has said. Brethren, our holy and divine fathers and
teachers had the divine and life-giving Cross as their guardian and
protector, and saw it as the unassailable bulwark and fortification of
the faithful. They ordained that it be displayed on the Sunday which
falls in the middle of the days of the Fast, and decreed that the
faithful should bow before it, render it honour and kiss it, it order
that it might keep and preserve sure and unshaken all the spiritual
deeds performed by those who labour in abstinence, and in order to
guide and help those deeds yet to be done, and to establish them as
sure and indefatigable. Therefore, invoking the Cross of the Lord for
assistance, let us also strive to cross over and complete the contest
of the Fast which lies ahead of us; crucifying and mortifying every
passion and movement of the flesh, let us endeavour to follow the
commandments and counsels of the Lord with great diligence and with a
ready will, as also the Gospel lesson of the divine herald Mark today
suggests to us, saying as follows:

<u> The Gospel: </u> <i> The Lord said, whosoever will come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose
his life for My sake and the Gospel's the same shall save it. For what
shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?2 </i>

<u> The Explanation: </u> Peter, chief of the Apostles, heard the Lord
saying that <i> the Son of man must suffer many things, and be
rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and after three days rise again.3 </i> Peter was always more
impetuous than the other disciples, and so he showed himself on this
occasion. He said to Christ, <i> Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall
not be unto Thee. </i> But Christ said to him, <i> Get thee behind Me,
Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savourest not the things
that be of God, but those things that be of men.4 </i> On this
account, Christ addresses Peter, and, in the hearing of all, speaks
particularly to him more than all others and at greater length: thou
dost oppose and deter Me and find fault with My words, O Peter, in
that I am going to be crucified and to suffer a shameful death, but I
tell thee that neither thou nor any other man will be saved unless he
die for goodness, truth and righteousness. Dying for what is right
makes us partakers [thereof] and shows us to be heirs of the kingdom
of heaven. Christ did not say, I bid you do this and suffer, whether
ye would or not, nor [did He say] I compel you to follow Me; rather,
[He said] whosoever wishes and comes of his own free will, let him
follow Me. I do not compel, He says, I do not coerce; I leave every
man the master of his will. I call men to come to that which is good,
to the heavenly kingdom without end, to perpetual rest. Whoever
wishes, whether man or woman, poor or rich, lordly or lowly, let him
go by this good path and follow Me. Whoever is unwilling is unworthy
of following Me. The Lord does not try to coerce with His words those
who do not wish to follow Him, Inasmuch as he coerces often repels
those whom he would compel. Whereas he who leaves listeners with a
choice more readily attracts them; therefore He said, Whosoever is
willing. Great are the benefits which the Master offers us, so great
and so numerous as to constrain us by our own choice, and to make us
follow freely, without turning back. If someone were giving out large
amounts of gold in abundance, he would not be [thought to be]
summoning people by force. If we are urged towards transitory and
corruptible things not by force, and not, indeed, by duress, should we
not also try to come freely to blessings which are heavenly, undying
eternal? If the very nature of the matter does not convince us to go
after things which are truly good and salutary, then we are not worthy
to receive them and even if we were to receive them under pressure and
compulsion, we would not keep them securely. Therefore, Christ does
not compel [anyone]; but if anyone wishes to follow Him, [Christ]
calls him and receives him. As He says, <i> If ye be willing, and
hearken to Me, ye shall eat the good of the land.5 </i> The
willingness comes first, then the hearkening. If we are unwilling, we
cannot hearken; thus, all virtues and vices depend on our will. To
follow means to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ Who calls us, and to
come after Me refers to keeping and carrying out His commandments. A
true following of Christ, then is not only to believe in Him, but also
to suffer for His sake and to strive for other virtues. Our Saviour
has given His life as the model and prescription of a good life for
those who wish to listen to Him. Therefore, He also said, <i> If any
man serve Me, let him follow Me.6 </i> This following means His
austere life in the flesh, to become like Him as much as possible. Let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Here He says
three things: to deny oneself is to hand oneself over mercilessly to
afflictions and not to feel any sympathy for oneself, as if it were
someone else suffering. If one rejects anther person, then even if he
sees that person being beaten, tortured and led away to his death, he
does not help him, intercede for him or grieve for him; so also if we
are being injured, or are being burnt or are dying, God does not wish
us to turn aside [from suffering] or to take pity on ourselves:
rather, we should [behave] as if the soul had nothing in common with
the body; [we should] surrender ourselves to afflictions and
adversities and other sufferings for confessing Christ, for
righteousness and truth. Further, to deny oneself is to forget all
that had gone by, to give up one's own will, <i> to mortify our
members which are upon the earth,7 </i> and to be ready, willing and
eager to accept any tribulations and even death for Christ's sake. If
one has lived wickedly in his past life, he denies himself when he
turns from evil with fitting penitence and conversion and mends his
ways. In other words, the lecher denies himself by ceasing from his
lechery and being chaste; he who was formerly unjust denies himself
[by renouncing] injustice and practicing justice. In sum, to stop
sinning is self-denial which leads to following Christ. And that we
might not think that Christ charges us to deny ourselves [only] to the
point of [enduring] wounds, insults and humiliation, He also added
[the words], And take up his Cross, showing to what extent we should
deny ourselves: even unto death, and such a shameful death. Not only
are we to despise pleasure and fame for Christ's sake; we are to stand
firm even unto the shedding of our blood, and endure all things
steadfastly, and even rejoice in them. For to take up one's cross
means not to be passionately attached to this life, and to take the
same attitude when considering death: not to trust in oneself, but to
be dead to sin and alive to Christ. This [attitude] can only exist,
however, when one is detached from extraneous matters, such as
possessions, wealth, vain prestige, and from every useless attachment,
as taught and practiced by the holy Apostles, who showed us the path
to salvation: they left all and followed Christ. Not only the
Apostles, but also the martyrs and the choirs of monks and nuns and
righteous men and women surrendered themselves to thousands of
sufferings, and were crucified for Christ's sake. There was no other
form of death so shameful and dishonourable as crucifixion, inasmuch
as the cross was considered disgraceful and ignominious at that time.
Furthermore, Christ did not simply say to take up the cross; He says
to take up one's own cross, meaning the death which each person must
necessarily undergo every day, according to the word of the divine
Apostle: <i> I die daily.8 </i> The Lord wishes us to carry the cross,
which means to be soberminded at all times and to stand on the heights
of virtue; [He wishes us ] not to come down from the cross, which is
to say that we must abstain from the passions, until we tear our minds
away from sin and attachments and rise unconquered; for the cross is
the destruction of every sin. Let us at last crucify ourselves to
worldly things, brethren, so as not to hold them or be held by them.
If crucifixion [itself] does not await us, in the sense of a
dishonourable death, putting to death the passions does lie before us,
and joining battle against the invisible enemy and adversary whom it
behooves all believers in Christ to overcome. In such a way it will
become possible for each one of us to say, <i> The world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world.9 </i> The words, The world is crucified
unto me, mean liberation from sinful actions; [the words,] and I unto
the world, indicate passionlessness of the mind. [The Apostle] calls
worldly desires the world. He that lives spiritually crucifies all
[such] desires and puts them to death; he shows them to be vain,
unable to overcome him and lead him to sinful acts. He is also dead to
worldly desires, which is to say that he does not pursue the desire of
these things. Now it happens that one suffers but does not follow
Christ, such as when someone suffers not for His sake. Evildoers,
also, often suffer many evils, along with grave-robbers, sorcerers,
murderers, thieves and brigands. Lest anyone think that any suffering
at all is sufficient for salvation, the Lord added, <i> And follow Me,
to show that for His sake alone does it behoove us to endure cruel
sufferings; </i> and not only [should we] display patience and courage
in afflictions, but also chastity and meekness and fulfillment of all
the commandments. For to follow Him means to strive to practice all
virtues. One who denies himself is he who has given away all the
possessions which he had and of which he was lord and master, and who
has renounced all the wisdom of the flesh; having taken up his cross,
he remains with it completely and pays not the least attention to
worldly things. One who follows Christ, I think, is he who does all
this for the right reasons, and not for his own glory or out of any
other human consideration. For he truly follows Christ who follows His
life also. Walking in the steps of Christ and following Him obtains a
crown for the follower; but he who changes his course, who turns aside
to the right or the left, or who thinks that he follows, but does not
do so truly and rightly, labours in vain.

<u> The Gospel: </u> <i> For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's,
the same shall save it.10 </i>

<u> The Explanation: </u> This life is sweet not for all men, but for
those who are attached to it. and attachment consists in being
accustomed to the things of the present. But the Lord leads us to
liberation; in speaking these words He foretold the persecution which
believers in Him would undergo in all cities and countries. At such a
time, He says, he who spares his life, and thus seems to save it, will
lose it in the age to come; that is, he will send [his soul] into
everlasting torment. To loose one's soul does not mean that it
perishes and no longer exists, but rather [that it undergoes]
perpetual and unceasing torment. In this way, he who spares his soul
will loose it, while he who shows his soul no pity will save it.
Similarly, a certain wise man said, <i> If thou beat thy son with a
rod, he shall not die, and thou shalt deliver his soul from death.11
</i> And, <i> He that maketh too much of his son </i> that is,
indulges him <i> --shall bind up his wounds.12 </i> The same also is
true in the military. If a commanding officer pities his troops, and
orders them always to stay inside [their fort], he will cause the loss
of civilians along with the soldiers. Death will also come upon us
with great suddenness. The Lord teaches us to be prepared; for he who
from the love and desire of this ephemeral life averts his soul from
suffering and dying for Christ's sake, he who would save [his soul]
out of love for this life, he who loves his earthly life can easily
lose [his soul] with a loss that brings the inextinguishable fire, the
insatiable worm and the outer darkness. Such love of this life, such
avoidance and refusal of suffering the Lord calls saving one's life.
But he who surrenders his soul to suffering and death for the sake of
Christ, for the sake of truth and justice, and thereby loses it with a
loss which is truly good, truly saves [his soul], in that he leads it
to a better life. Thus, by losing one's life, [the Lord] means the
separation of the soul from the body for Christ's sake [and] in
fulfilling His commandments One who thus defies the bonds of death
does not lose his soul, but instead saves it; whereas one who spurns
the confession of Christ and His commandments, and seeks to save his
soul without suffering and death, brings [his soul] everlasting loss.
Inasmuch as many people often lose their lives in a great variety of
ways, while they are engaged in robbery, murder, thievery,
grave-robbing or committing other crimes, the Lord adds these words:
for My sake and the gospel's, one who loses his life for the sake of
anything other than the gospel does not thereby save it. Blessed
indeed is he who loses his life for Christ's sake and the gospel's,
for he truly saves it. Blessed is he who in this present life dies by
laying aside that which is sensual, by mental restraint, and by
stopping the sensual striving of the mind. For freely turning away
from all things of the present is a praiseworthy noetic death, through
which, by God's grace, a man can receive life in return; in place of
everything that exists [he can] receive, in a manner beyond
comprehension, the Lord God, the Giver of everything that is.

<u> The Gospel: </u> <i> For what shell it profit a man, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give
in exchange for his soul?13 </i>

<u> The Explanation: </u> To save one's life in the wrong way is worse
than to lose it. When a man looks to the pleasures of the present age,
and refuses to suffer for the sake of Christ, for truth and justice,
and loves the way of grandeur and glory in this life what use is it to
him, even if he possesses riches, fame, hoards of gold and other such
things, if he loses his soul for their sake? For the splendor of this
age is transitory; all its sweetness passes away like a shadow, and
its riches fly away from those who have them. <i> Treasures shall not
profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death.14 </i>
Thus, for those who wish to live in righteousness illgotten physical
possessions and a worldly way of thinking lead to perdition. <i> The
carnal mind is enmity against God,15 </i> and the worldly-minded man
becomes an enemy of God. In truth, to fill one's mind with worldly
things is avarice. Therefore, [the Lord] says, What shall profit a
man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Do not
say, then, O man, that thou hast saved thy life by avoiding a great
misfortune. For if thou [savest] thy life and even acqirest the whole
world, what profit wilt thou derive from these things if thou wilt
lose thy soul, to which the whole world is not equal? If his servants
eat and grow fat while their master dwells in direst want, there is no
profit in him being their master; likewise, if the belly is fed and
the body grows fat while perdition awaits the soul, it has no profit
unto salvation. Is salvation to be purchased for gold? If this were
so, then one who had acquired the world but lost his soul would pay in
gold as he was roasting in the flames, and [thereupon] he would be
liberated and freed from his torment. But it is not so; at that time
there is nothing that can be given in exchange for the soul; its
punishment is everlasting and unending. Even if one were king of the
whole inhabited earth, and possessed all property in the world, he
could not buy back his soul, not for all the goods in the world. All
the [fine] foods and fair garments of this world cannot give the soul
the slightest rest or comfort when it is being tormented for all
eternity. For the present, man has repentance and confession, tears
and sighs, almsgiving and other means od salvation; however, the evil
enemy of our souls, the devil, is always tempting us with worldly
pleasures. He steals in by the way little things and says: Give me
[something] today; give to God tomorrow; give me the things of the
present; give God what belongs to the future. And so, as we delay our
repentance and amendment, death will come suddenly and seize us,
unreformed as we are, <i> when there is none to redeem us, nor to
save.16 </i> For man has nothing to give in exchange for his soul;
God, however, gave the precious Blood of His Only-begotten Son in
exchange for our salvation. Therefore, I entreat you, let us leave all
else and devote all attention to our souls, since the soul is greater
than anything that we have.

<u> The Gospel: </u> <i> Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me
and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His
Father with the holy angels.17 </i>

<u> The Explanation: </u> We must only believe with our minds, but
also confess with our mouths; for so are we tried. Since man is
twofold, his sanctification is also twofold. The soul is sanctified by
faith; the body is sanctified by confession. As the Apostle also says,
<i> For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.18 </i> As for the man who is
embarrassed and ashamed to believe in Christ crucified and to confess
Him as his God, and who is ashamed of the word of the Gospel, the Lord
will also be ashamed of him and will account him as an unworthy
servant, when He comes at His Second Advent with power and great
glory, accompanied by angels.

<u> The Gospel: </u> <i> And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you,
That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of
death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.19 </i>

<u> The Explanation: </u> Speaking of Peter, James and John, He says,
They will not die until I show them, at My Transfiguration, the glory
wherewith I shall come in My Second Advent. For the Transfiguration of
Christ was the advance announcement of His Second Coming. Just as at
that time the face of our Saviour and God shone like the sun and His
garments became as bright as light, in like manner will He come from
heaven like lightening, with power and great glory, to judge the whole
world. And just as Peter, James and John were present with Him on the
holy mountain, so also all the saints, the righteous and the elect
will be with Him to receive His divine appearance, His ineffable joy
and unutterable jubilation. Since we are aware of these things,
brethren, let us also practice self-renunciation for the sake of the
Lord. Let us esteem nothing higher than Him -- neither riches, nor
luxury, nor fame, nor physical pleasure nor even our life itself; let
us, rather, despise it and follow Christ our Master, taking His Cross
upon our shoulders; let us mortify our carnal desires and thoughts,
according to the likeness of His death, that we too, might be able to
repeat the words of the divine Paul: <i> We live; yet not we, but
Christ liveth in us.20 And, God forbid that we should glory, save in
the Cross of our Lord.21 </i> Let us fulfill all His commandments
diligently. for we also have cruel persecutors, who daily disturb,
distress and worry us, and hinder us from carrying out the
commandments and counsels of the Lord. Let us not grow soft or weaken,
I pray, nor let us give in to their attacks; but let us resist firmly
and with wise courage, arraying ourselves for battle against them,
that we also may obtain unending bliss; in Christ Jesus our Lord, to
Whom belong glory and dominion, honour and worship, together with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever unto the ages of ages. Amen.

1 cf. John 4:10, 14.
2 Mark 8:34-37.
3 Mark 8:31.
4 Matt. 16:22-23; cf. Mark 8:32-33.
5 Isa. 1:19.
6 John 12:26.
7 Col. 3:5.
8 1 Cor. 15:31.
9 Gal. 6:14.
10 Mark 8:35.
11 Prov. 23:13-14.
12 Ecclesiasticus 30:7.
13 Mark 8:36-37
14 Prov. 10:2.
15 Rom. 8:7.
16 Ps. 7:2
17 Mark 8:38.
18 Rom. 10:10
19 Mark 9:1
20 Gal. 2:20. altered.
21 Gal. 6:14, altered.