God has created all things through His love and power. He has designed us individually and calls us by name because we are His people, His Body. As Christ continues His traveling ministry in the Holy Land, on the way to Jerusalem, He passes through the ancient city of Jericho. This city can still be visited today, and there we find the Mount where the Lord was tempted. In Jericho, the Lord encounters Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector. In the previous chapter of the Gospel of Luke, two teachings of the Lord provide a background to the story of His encounter with Zacchaeus. The first one is that the Lord had told the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. In that parable, it is the tax collector who, in humility, repents his sins and is accepted by God. In this encounter, Zacchaeus is the tax collector. The second teaching in that chapter depicts a Rich Young Ruler who comes to Christ seeking a way to achieve eternal life and is disappointed when the Lord asks him to leave everything and follow Him. Then, Jesus says it is hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but God makes all things possible.  Before He encountered Christ, Zacchaeus was wealthy and a chief tax collector. He was also corrupt like other tax collectors of that time. The land of Israel was under Roman occupation. The Romans would hire Jewish civil officers to collect taxes from their people in their respective areas, allowing them to keep whatever they collected above their required quota for themselves. With the Roman authority behind them, tax collectors would dishonestly collect more than they required from the people. After paying the Roman authorities, they would become rich with their profit. As a result, the Jewish people despised them.  However, when Jesus came to Jericho, where Zacchaeus lived, his heart experienced a change simply by learning that the Messiah was there. The Lord was approaching and passing by, but Zacchaeus could not see Jesus because he was short. Like other elements of the story, his stature is a symbol (in other words, an allegory). He was physically short, a picture of his small spiritual stature. His dishonesty, greed, and love for the things of this world weighed him down. And yet, God was already stirring Zacchaeus’ heart. Unable to see Jesus because of the crowd, he ran and climbed up a sycamore tree to see Him. (Known for its large size, this particular tree he climbed can still be seen today in Jericho.) When Zacchaeus climbs the tree, he begins his journey away from the ground and up to the Kingdom. The tree becomes a symbol of the Cross since it is by seeking Christ above all things and taking up our cross, we draw close to Christ and join ourselves to Him.  When the Lord sees him, He says, Zacchaeus, come quickly down, for I must stay at your house today. Zacchaeus did so and received the Lord joyfully. The Son of God came to a sinful man and called him by name. The Lord did not spare His kindness and love because even a sinful man could repent, turn around, take up his cross, and learn how to love. Therefore, the Lord, desiring to spend time with Zacchaeus, enters his house, while also entering his heart. Zacchaeus’ repentance was not merely by words. His works proved it. He said to the Lord that he would give half of his possessions to the poor, and if he had defrauded 2anyone of anything, he would restore it fourfold. In the Law of Moses, it was written that if one had stolen, he would have to restore what he had stolen four times, and in some cases five times. Zacchaeus shows his true repentance because he tells the Lord publicly that he will restore four times what was stolen, and even more, he would give half of his money to the poor. In this way, he restored all things above and beyond as a sign of his genuine repentance. When Zacchaeus finds Christ, or rather is found by Christ, he ceases to be a small man. In his former life, his spiritual eyes were looking only at the low things of this world. Before encountering Christ, Zacchaeus was captive to his sin and desire for riches, even at the expense of others. Because of this, he was following the example of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who became destined to be on the ground and eat dust. Now, however, the tax collector, in humility, is asking for forgiveness, and as a result, the rich man is entering the Kingdom of God. What is impossible with men is possible with God. The personal encounter with Christ changes everything. It is a new beginning for him, and now he desires only Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven. His change of heart is proven and made evident by his works. The Lord responds and says that on that day, salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house because he had also become the son of Abraham. That is to say, Zacchaeus had joined Abraham, the Father of Faith, because, by his works, he had proved his faith and had become a friend of God. Jesus says, “the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” Saint Gregory of Nyssa says, “He Who came that He might seek and save that which was lost . . . desires to make the man of God complete, united to the Deity in body and in soul. He Who was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin, left no part of our nature which He did not take on Himself.”  Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise because of their disobedience by a tree. Zacchaeus discovered Paradise by climbing a tree and was given the opportunity to see Christ and sit and eat with Him. Through his example, we, too, seek to climb the trees that lead us to things above. This story is celebrated as an example of Christ’s mission to seek out and save people who were considered outcasts or lost and of the power of repentance and forgiveness. Jesus came to Zacchaeus, and he responded in faith. He climbed the tree of the Cross and longed for Jesus. The Son of God called him by name, as He calls us by name. Zacchaeus truly opened his heart to the Lord, proving his repentance and faith through his works. The Lord, in return, entered the house of his heart and made His home there. God loves each one of us even when we fail, even when we love things of this world more than God and our neighbor. He still comes to us and calls us to be with Him. He does not want us to remain in a life separated from Him. If we respond to His call and repent — if we turn from that which separates us from Him and make the appropriate res3titution — He comes to dwell with us and in us. He came to seek that which was lost. That is, He came to save us. When we respond, we become His home, and the Light enters our hearts. We become spiritually tall and begin climbing up the ladder that leads to heaven

We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday and whenever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Matins begins at 9:00 am and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

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DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE NORTH:

1. Proceed south on Interstate 81 South heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 317 for VA-37/ US-11 toward US-522 N/ US-50 W/ Winchester/ Stephenson (0.3 mi)
3. Turn right at US-11 S/ VA-37 S/ Martinsburg Pike, Continue to follow VA-37 S (3.8 mi)
4. Take the ramp to US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike (0.2 mi)
5. Turn left at US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike, Continue to follow US-50 E (0.6 mi )
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH:

1. Proceed north on Interstate 81North heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 310 for VA-37 toward US-11/VA-642/ Winchester/ Kernstown/ US-50/ US-522/ Berkely Spgs/ Romney (0.2 mi)
3. Turn left at VA-37 N (5.2 mi)
4. Take the US-50 ramp to Winchester/ Romney (0.3 mi)
5. Turn right at US-50 E/ Amherst St (0.5 mi)
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.