Homily of His Grace, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, delivered at the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious in Rajchica, May 6, 2023 A.D.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Beloved Christians, a moment ago we heard from the Holy Gospel, prescribed for the commemoration of a martyr of Christ, where the Lord says to His followers: “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
Do you see? Christ here calls us to a constant struggle against the old world, which “lies in wickedness” (1 John 5:19) and “decays in deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22). The world in which we live is not the one originally conceived and created by God; it is a world that, after the fall of the first-created, began to slide rapidly toward ruin and disintegration. But Christ, the One who resurrects both souls and bodies, came to create a new world. Indeed, the entire mission of the Son of God on earth was the spiritual re-creation of fallen humanity. That is why we say that Christ is the new Adam—the new model of a true and complete human being, in whose image we are called to reshape and renew ourselves. As the Apostle Paul writes, “Since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a Man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
The new creation is revealed even in the Word of God, which proclaims: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). And the cry from the Cross, “It is finished!” signifies that everything necessary for the renewal and restoration of humanity was accomplished and sealed by Christ through His Cross. At last, through His Resurrection, Ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, He offered humanity the gift of salvation and deification—a priceless potential—available, of course, only to those who embrace it willingly.
Today we celebrate one of the greatest witnesses of this new creation (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17)—a witness not only through his life but also with his blood. There is no other explanation for Saint George’s bold and fearless testimony except that he was already living his life entirely in Christ. Otherwise, how could he have abandoned and despised all the honors, beauty, and comforts of this world, standing resolutely in truth and enduring such horrific torments with unwavering faith? Only through the grace of God, which abundantly flows upon those who love Him, could he endure those tortures that would make anyone shudder. We cannot help but wonder how a human being could withstand such suffering and remain steadfast. But this grace, beloved, this strength, comes from the Risen Christ, our Savior, who transforms the world.
Throughout history, the Resurrection of Christ has been the most powerful force driving the transformation of the world. How does it transform? By changing the hearts and souls of those who respond to His call. If anyone desires to become a new creation in Christ, He is always present, ready to comfort, to transform, to fill them with joy, and to grant them eternity.
Human salvation lies in the daily struggle to overcome our inner weaknesses, to conquer our egoism, and to triumph over sin, drawing ever closer to Christ. This is possible only if we nurture within ourselves a deep love for the Savior. We all, without exception, are sinners. And sin is what separates us from God, creating barriers between us and Him, between us and others, and even within ourselves. Yet, as the Apostle Peter tells us, “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Therefore, when we sin, we must at least acknowledge our guilt, condemn the sin within ourselves, and run toward Christ with love. Moreover, knowing our own sinfulness, let us not judge our neighbor but instead cover the sins of others with the cloak of love. In doing so, the Lord will not turn away from us but will send us the grace we need to bear witness to Him.
None of us can comprehend the incomprehensible God unless He grants us grace from above. And this grace is given only when we surrender our hearts entirely to Him. When we love God with all our being, He will grant us the necessary strength and grace to overcome the fallen world and join the ranks of those who, through Christ, transform the world.
Let us, beloved, first and foremost, cast away hypocrisy, which is so prevalent today, and place our dearest God above all else in our lives. Do not be afraid, for everything we need will be added to us. Let us see our neighbor through Christ and in Christ, for it is precisely through selfless service to our neighbor that we reach salvation. The Gospel we just heard begins with this command: “This is My command: that you love one another” (John 15:17). True love is known by deeds. We can speak endlessly about love, but without actions, it is mere hypocrisy.
Let us pray to the great Saint George the Victorious, a witness of the Resurrection crowned with universal glory, to intercede with Christ so that we too may become His witnesses. Amen.
Christ is Risen!
