“Forward with Holy Determination”

Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boeotia | September 25, 2026

 

 

Today, by the grace of the Thrice-Holy God, we have entered upon yet another new year, according to the ecclesiastical order. A new beginning opens before us. New opportunities call us to leave behind the oldness of the passions and of sin and to be renewed according to God, making the “pursuit” of holiness our foremost concern.

At this initial stage, it is worthwhile to take stock of the year that has passed. What went well? What could have gone better? What mistakes did we make? Did we learn anything from them? Did we make proper use of the days, the hours, the moments? Finally, did we remain faithful and in accordance with the will of God?

Closely connected with this last question is the second reading from Vespers for today’s feast, taken from the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. In just a few lines, there is set forth God’s promise and warning concerning what the “sons of Israel,” and by extension the “new Israel,” that is, the members of the Church, are to receive according to their attitude toward the divine will.

More specifically, if we keep the divine commandments, the greatest of which are love for God and love for our neighbor, the climate will be favorable, the earth will yield its fruits abundantly, our food will be plentiful, security will prevail, and such will be our strength that five men will defeat a hundred, while a hundred will pursue tens of thousands. Our offspring will multiply, and we shall live at rest beneath the shelter of the Most High. If, on the contrary, we disobey His commands, the results are to be expected in inverse proportion.

Of course, even these results, even this painful consequence of trials—which is due to our own fault—does not have, on God’s part, a punitive character, but a corrective and pedagogical one, with the sole purpose of bringing us back to the straight path of His commandments and, ultimately, to our salvation.

For this reason, when faced with the various problems that afflict our age, let us not rush to complain, nor ease our conscience by blaming others. On the contrary, let us assume our responsibilities, and leave the rest to God. Saint Seraphim of Sarov once said: “Acquire inner peace, and thousands around you will find salvation.” Through this renowned saying, he conveys to us the experience that he himself lived: that if even one of us is transformed, if one person becomes filled with the Light of Christ, then, acting as a spiritual luminary, he will illumine society and dispel the darkness.

The Apostles were but a small group of men. And yet, they changed the course of world history. Father Kosmas was but a humble little priest. And yet, he succeeded in raising up an entire nation. How did they accomplish this? Through faith in God, but also through something more: through blessed determination for what is good.

My prayer is that, during the course of the new year, we may unbolt the door of our soul and little by little—or why not, quickly?—open it, so that the Light of the noetic Sun of Righteousness may dwell within us. And if something stands in our way, let us too show that holy determination.

 

Greek source:

https://ecclesiagoc.gr/2026/09/25/%e1%bc%90%ce%bc%cf%80%cf%81%e1%bd%b8%cf%82-%ce%bc%e1%bd%b2-%e1%bc%85%ce%b3%ce%b9%ce%bf-%cf%80%ce%b5%e1%bf%96%cf%83%ce%bc%ce%b1-%cf%84%ce%bf%e1%bf%a6-%cf%83%ce%b5%ce%b2-%e1%bc%80%cf%84/