The Triodion - A Preparation for Spiritual Struggle

The Triodion can be considered as the fore-runner or preparatory time of the Great Lent. With Ecclesiastical hymns and biblical readings, the faithful are called to prepare their spiritual armour in order to begin their spiritual struggle, which has as an aim, the attainment of Christian virtue.

In order to achieve this aim, the Church has set certain apostolic and gospel readings to be read. The gospel reading of the three first Sundays of the Triodion also determine what these Sundays are called.

The first is named ‘Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee’, the second ‘Sunday of the Prodigal Son, and the third ‘Meat-fare Sunday’. On the third Sunday, the parable of the Last Judgement is read. These three parables all teach us a great deal. But before we talk about these parables and their teachings, it is good to find out what the word ‘parable’ means, so that we may value its actual content and deeper meaning, and so that we may benefit spiritually from reading or hearing the parable.

The word ‘parable’ is a Greek word that comes from the verb ‘ðáñáâÜëëù’, which means I place one thing next to another with the aim of comparing these two things and in this way gaining valuable knowledge and experience.

In the New Testament, a parable is a story which has some significance or meaning, which leaves the reader or the person who hears it with a very vivid impression of it. A parable contains divine truths with great significance, hidden under its outer appearance. It contains salvatory teachings.

The three parables of the Triodion can be characterised as the best out of all the amazing parables which the Lord told. They are the diamonds which shine brighter than the rest of the parables.

The first parable is the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. In this story, our Lord chose two people to take the leading roles. Two people who seem at first glance to be very different, but who really have many similarities because both are sinful and miserable. The place at which they meet is the Temple and their purpose is to pray. The stance they have taken in front of God and in front of people teaches us an everlasting lesson.

One of them is proud; he sees in himself only virtues and considers himself as being privileged before God and people. The other is humble, he sees in himself only sins and he stands with great fear, respect and humility before God and people.

The great lesson which we learn from this parable is that each person must have self-knowledge, understanding and humility in order to be able to attract the grace and the blessings of God. The Bible tells us clearly that God “opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.”

It is very moving to hear the Publican’s sighs of repentance, from the mouth of every sinful person. The sighs that are so effectively expressed in the words of the Publican of the parable: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

The satisfaction of a faithful person, a person of humility, is indescribable, when he hears the words of Christ: “ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other”, meaning the Publican, who, with his humility, attracted the mercy and the Grace of God.

After this, the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us with great clarity, that it is not enough for someone to confess (with humility) his sins and his wrongdoing, but he also needs to take a brave step; and this step is repentance and the correction of wrongdoing, which will finally bring our reinstatement in the eyes of God.

Only the divine wisdom could present to us such a vivid and moving parable as that of the Prodigal Son.

“I am no more worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants,” says the Prodigal Son of the parable will stammer. His merciful father will answer to these words with his open arms, full of love. “ Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

These points of the parable show us the forbearance, the love and the mercy of God towards the rebellious person who returns with repentance to God, the Father.

These two parables show us the forbearance, the unlimited love and the mercy of God for humans. But God also has other attributes apart from His love, forbearance and mercy. He also has the attribute of unlimited justice. So if people are not moved by the two parables of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Prodigal Son, the Church presents to us the parable of the Last Judgement in order to make us think and bring us to our senses. In this parable, it is emphasised that during the second coming of the Lord, which will occur with great glory, the Lord’s judgement will be strict for the unjust and full of kindness for the just.

In order to measure how much a person loves God, He will use the love which a person showed for his fellow people. Our good deeds will be very important for our salvation. So whoever showed indifference and hard-heartedness for his fellow people, will hear the strict voice of the just Judge: “ Depart from me, you cursed ones into the everlasting fire for you did not do good to your fellow people and did not show them compassion and love.”

On the other hand, those who behaved correctly, and with love and kindness helped others, will hear the sweet voice of Christ inviting them: “ Come, blessed-ones of My Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you.”

With the beginning of the Triodion, we are invited to take part in the spiritual banquet of faith. A banquet which the Church offers to its faithful with great generosity.

During the Triodion period, we are invited to take into our hands the spiritual weapons (prayer, humility, repentance, benevolence, compassion, etc) for the great spiritual battle which leads a person to salvation.

By the late Father Nicholas Moutafis 1931-2001