Sunday of the Holy Fathers

Our Eastern Orthodox Church honours and praises the holy and God-bearing fathers of our faith. They are the Ecclesiastic and holy figures whose faith and spirit have earned them the love and glory of the faithful, but more so the eternal glory and honour in heaven.

Our church honours each and every one of these fathers individually. Three times a year however, the faithful are invited to honour the chorus of these fathers.

Simultaneously, our Church commemorates the specific historical events with which the Fathers are associated. These events manifested the doctrines of the faith in an indelible manner. (For the information and benefit of the faithful we cite these instances)

The Sunday after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, is dedicated to the memory of the 318 holy and God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Synod. This took place in Nicea in the days of the Holy Emperor Constantine the Great, in 325 AD. The major purpose of this Synod was to condemn the heresy of Arius. Arius’ heretical doctrines taught that Christ was a creation of God and not “God begotten of God”. This heresy is also preached today by the Jehovah’s Witnesses which denies the Divinity of Christ.

The events of our Lord’s Crucifixion, Resurrection and glorious Ascension portray irrefutably the fact that Jesus Christ is God. This is why this feast day falls after these important events. The Holy Fathers proclaimed Christ’s Divinity; they strove to illuminate mankind with their correct teachings.

This is exactly what was being accentuated in the articles of The Creed of the Holy Fathers of the I st Ecumenical Synod (ie that Christ is God).

The Sunday that falls between the 13^th - 19^th July, is also dedicated to honour the Holy and God-bearing Fathers, who participated in the remaining six Ecumenical Synods. It especially honours the 630 Fathers who participated in the 4th Ecumenical Synod in Chalcedon in 451 AD. This occurred during the reign of Emperors Marcian and Pulcheria. These fathers condemned the Monophysites, in other words the present day Copts, who incorrectly preached that the human nature of Christ was absorbed by His divine nature.

The third time that we celebrate the feast of all the Holy Fathers of our Church, is the Sunday that falls between the 11^th - 17^th October. On this Sunday, we honour the 350 God-bearing Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Synod. This took place in Nicea in 787 AD, during the reign of Emperor Constantine and his mother Irene the Athenian. This Synod condemned the iconoclasts, who for more than 100 years troubled the Church of Christ. This Synod expressed the correct faith about the Holy Icons and legislated their restoration. They refuted the iconoclastic claim that Christians were behaving as pagans, worshipping icons as idols. They clearly showed that we venerate (show deep respect) to the saint depicted in the icon and made it clear that worship is reserved only for God.

The Church Fathers are classified into the following three major periods according to their struggle and their distinction.

The first period is comprised of the Apostolic Fathers, those who were taught “at the feet of the apostles” and their immediate successors. This period begins from the first Apostolic years and extends as far as the 1^st Ecumenical Synod in 325 AD.

The second period of the Church Fathers begins from the 1^st Ecumenical Synod and reaches as far as the 4th Ecumenical Synod in 451 AD.

The third period of the Church Fathers begins from the 4th Ecumenical Synod and extends to the days of Saint John Damascene, that is, up to the middle of the eighth century.

Our Eastern Orthodox Church nurtures a great deal of respect and reverence for the Holy Fathers.

A question is raised however - are all the Fathers of the first eight centuries accepted as Ecclesiastic, Holy and God-bearing Fathers?

Of course, from the time the Church was founded, we have hundreds and thousands of Fathers. Ecclesiastic and God-bearing Holy Fathers, writers, teachers and confessors of the Faith are those who are distinguished for their strict Orthodox teachings, their powerful and relentless spirit in following the doctrines of the Church and the holy way in which they lived their lives.

Following are some of the characteristic elements and features of these holy personalities of our Church:

• They possess a fervent and genuine faith
• They willingly accepted the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• They are figures that are illuminated/enlightened by the light of the Holy Scriptures and quenched by the waters of Holy Tradition.
• Not only do they have the capacity to absorb, but to also express dogmas of the Church, unadulterated and with clarity of thought and genuine manner and their teachings are always in harmony with the universal conscience of the Church.
• They lead a sacred and holy exemplary life.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is commonly known as the Church of the Fathers. This becomes most evident if we consider that the preaching of the Apostles is entirely expressed in the dogmatic teachings of the Holy Fathers of our Church.

The well known theologian, Father Florovsky points out that “it is not possible for the Church to remain Apostolic if it does not continue to be Catholic ie Patristic.”

Another question however is raised - are the Church Fathers restricted only to those who lived and acted in the first eight centuries of the Church? It would be a blasphemy to respond that “Yes, only in this period did saints and God-bearing Fathers arise”. It is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit who governs the Church of Christ “until the end of the world”. So even in our days the Holy Spirit could proclaim holy people.

The existence of great Ecclesiastical Fathers is a rare occurrence today because we do not have Fathers who practise a true and devoted Christian life; a life which is adorned with virtues, Fathers who are prepared to give their lives as Christ did, for their flock. This is a sad phenomenon. It is not however impossible for people to become willing vessels of the gift of the Holy Spirit. As long as they have respect and reverence, a fervent and pure faith in their hearts, they impart the Christian truths unaltered and lead a holy Christian life.

They must possess an Apostolic, Patristic conviction, a spirit of struggle and teach the truths of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church with sincerity.

They must not surrender to a materialistic way of life and vain human glory which slaughters the Truth.

Of course, Fathers of today can rise up to be “illuminated stars” of the spiritual plane; and as fragrant as the “Myripnoa” flowers of Paradise. They could become steadfast towers in the “regiment of Christ” and with the power of the True Faith, a “divine intervention” fighting against the heresies and the demonic powers which scourge our society today.

Times are arduous. We have however, the light-bearing guide. The Spirit of the Holy and God-bearing Fathers of our Church, which is expressed in all its purity and grandeur, to guide us safely through the centuries.

It is left to us to reach to the occasion and become, each according to his abilities - the doers, the teachers and those who embody the mind and spirit of the Holy Fathers. This would be the greatest honour which we could offer to the Holy and God-bearing Fathers of our Church; To imitate them as they imitated Christ.

By the late Father Nicholas Moutafis 1931-2001