Announcements

ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM & THE DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 9:30AM

Website Links: Visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for our online streaming links.

To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Digital Chant Stand at https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org.

WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!

We are grateful that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fellowship Hall for our Hospitality Hour hosted by the Daughters of Penelope Kronos #188 in honor of their 75^th Anniversary.

Memorial Services Today For:

Angeliki Paphitis – 1 year Georgia Hadjitoouli – 1 year

Dimitra Tzavlakis – 7 years

May their memory be eternal.

The Artoclasia Service today is offered by the Daughters of Penelope Kronos #188 in honor of their 75^th Anniversary and for God’s continued guidance and for the health and well-being of their chapter and all their members worldwide.

Bell Tower Repairs:

We would like to inform our community that repair work on the bell tower continues. Access to the doors in the front of the church will be blocked from Monday through Friday. For all matters, please enter the building through the gym doors during the week.

Holy Communion Line:

We remind everyone that the Communion line is to be formed in the center aisle, and once you receive, depart to the right or to the left to return to your seat. When Sunday School is in session, children and their teachers will come up first. Infants may be brought up to the front of the line at any time. Please remain at your seat, (you may sit if you need to), and enter the center aisle once the Parish Council members indicate that it is time for people in your pew to come up. While you are waiting, you may read the prayers for before Holy Communion on page 76. Once you return to your seat, please read the thanksgiving prayers for after Holy Communion on page 90. This is one of the most sacred moments of the service, so please treat it accordingly, refrain from talking and be respectful and prayerful. Also, please wipe any excess lipstick from your lips before coming to the Holy Chalice and no chewing gum during services. Thank you.

The Sacrament of Holy Confession:

When an Orthodox Christian comes to Holy Confession God gives them forgiveness of sins and help in the struggle against sin, the passions and demonic influence. We have a printed booklet with useful information which helps the faithful better prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Confession. The booklet is free and available for everyone who wishes to use it. Pick up your copy today from the table outside the Church office. To make an appointment for confession call Fr. Peter directly on his cell, 973-650-9717.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sunday, October 6^th …………......DOP Kronos #188 75^th Anniversary Celebration Church Music Sunday Philoptochos Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Tuesday, October 8^th …………..St. Paraskevi Philoptochos “Taco Tuesday” Mtg. – 7:00PM Orthodox Life Institute via ZOOM – 7:00PM

Thursday, October 10^th……………Greek Dance Practice: 6:00PM for children Kindergarten through 6^th Grade 7:00PM for children 7^th through 12^th Grade Orthodox Faith Orientation Class – 7:00PM

Tuesday, October 15^th ……………All Ministries Meeting – 7:00PM

Friday, October 18^th ………………Philoptochos “The Trusted Chef” Class – 6:30PM

Saturday, October 19^th……………Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk with Philoptochos & DOP – 10:00AM at Meadowlands Stadium

Saturday, October 26^th …………..Annual Beefsteak Fundraiser – 6:30PM, Church Hall

Saturday, November 2^nd…………Greek School Annual Harvest Celebration – 5:00PM

Friday, November 8^th ……………St. Nectarios Vespers – 6:30PM

Saturday, November 9^th …………St. Nectarios Feast Day – Orthros begins at 9:00AM

Sunday, November 10^th ……….His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos visits our community

Sunday, November 17^th …………Parish General Assembly

May 30^th, 31^st & June 1^st 2025………..Greek Festival

Orthodox Faith Orientation Classes:

Classes on Orthodoxy have begun. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact the church office at 973.779.2626 or [email protected]. There will be eight (8) sessions on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. We are currently studying the Divine Liturgy.

National Church Music Sunday:

This Sunday, we celebrate National Church Music Sunday. It is a day set aside across our entire Archdiocese to commemorate the dedicated and talented women and men in our congregations whose stewardship provides music for our liturgical services throughout the year. The ministry of music is an essential part of our religious life. Through our hymns, we worship the Lord, our God – we give thanks, we ask for blessings, we renew our faith, and we express the joy of Orthodox Christian Fellowship. With that in mind, our Choir is in need of more volunteers so if you love to sing and want to enhance our Sunday services with your voice, please see Angelo Duvlaris ([email protected]) or Yiannis Magiros ([email protected]). Prior knowledge of Greek is not necessary.

Saint Romanos the Melodist:

The hymnologists of the Orthodox Church are Christians of virtue and great faith, having been endowed with musical talent as well as the power of religious inspiration. Their creations enrich our worship services and help turn our souls towards God. Perhaps the greatest of all hymnologists is St. Romanos the Melodist. Many other hymnologists wrote ecclesiastical hymns, but none of them inspired the Christians as much as St. Romanos. Romanos has been called "Sweet Singer" (Glykophonos), "Melodist" (Melodhos), and "Righteous Chanter" (Psaltis Dhikeosinis). He wrote hundreds of hymns celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the living of a Christian life. One of his most famous compositions is the hymn celebrating the Nativity of our Lord, "Today the Virgin gives birth to One who is above all living things..." (I Parthenos Simeron). St. Romanos is also said to have composed the Akathist Hymn, a kontakion that we still chant during the Friday evening Heretismoi services of Great Lent. The hymns he composed appealed to the hearts of the people, and are still sung today.

Orthodox Life Institute:

Classes began on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 7:00pm via ZOOM. If you are interested in joining us, send your email address and contact information to Lisa Marcopulos at [email protected] and we will send you the ZOOM invitation. The class will be studying 1^st & 2^nd Corinthians and the problems of the early church and compare them to contemporary issues in the church. The Fall semester ends on December 17, 2024.

St. George Greek School:

We are still accepting registrations. Our program consists of engaging classroom lessons and a curriculum that includes components of technology, holiday performances and cultural events, while also fostering lifelong friendships among our students and families. Join a community with a proud history of Greek School students and watch your child thrive in a vibrant learning environment. Enroll today and become part of our cherished legacy. Also, pending interest, we invite adults 18 and over to join our engaging “St. George Greek Adult Conversation Class”. For more information on our programs, please call 973-779-2626 or e-mail your name and contact information to [email protected].

St. Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia:

The new Patron Saint of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of NJ is St. Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia. Blessed St. Iakovos of Evia is a modern-day saint who reposed in the Lord in 1991, was canonized by our Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2017, and whose Feast Day is celebrated on November 22^nd. The first celebrations for St. Iakovos of Evia as the new Patron Saint of our Metropolis will take place with Great Hierarchical Vespers on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 6:00pm with a meal to follow at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Westfield. Then on Friday November 22, 2024 the Orthros and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be held in the Chapel of our Metropolis Headquarters in Westfield, New Jersey.

The Weeping Icon of St. Anna:

The monks for St. Tikhon’s Monastery are bringing the weeping Icon of St. Anna to Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church, 35 Orange Avenue, Clifton, NJ on Sunday October 13, 2024. A Moleben Prayer Service with an Anointing will begin at 4:00PM. Refreshments will be offered after the service.

“In the Name of Humanity” Exhibition & Conversation:

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is proud to present an illuminating exhibition and conversation highlighting a remarkable humanitarian effort: the American relief aid to Greece from 1918 to 1929. Join us at the Greek Orthodox Church of Our Saviour in Rye, NY, on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 6 PM. This free event is open to the public and will include a discussion with the exhibition’s co-curators and contributors. Exhibition catalogs will be available for purchase. Watch the exhibition trailer: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/about/history-and-mission/short-films/in-the-name-of-humanity. Preregistration is required: https://bit.ly/3TpsowY.

Sponsor A Day Program:

One way to help the church is through our “Sponsor A Day” program. We encourage our parishioners to select a day that has special meaning to them like a birthday, feast day, anniversary or a memorial and make a suggested donation of $250. We would like to thank the Daughters of Penelope Kronos #188 for sponsoring October 6^th in honor of their 75^th Anniversary and; Angeliki Antoniou for sponsoring November 9^th, the Feast Day of St. Nectarios in memory of her husband Antonis Antoniou. For more information about the program, please speak to one of our Parish Council members or call the church office.

Feast Day Flower and Icon Donations:

During the Ecclesiastical year, our Church comes alive with many Liturgical services. It is customary in our faith to decorate icons used during special Feast Day services with flowers. We encourage our parishioners to offer this special donation as a unique and appropriate way to remember departed friends and relatives, as well as an expression of love on behalf of their family and prayers for their loved ones. Donations are now being accepted for the following Feast Day celebrations:

November 9 – St. Nectarios the Wonderworker $500 $250

Stewardship Report:

We invite you and your family to participate in our spiritual, outreach, social and youth ministries. For those that have never given an annual gift, we need your help. Our community has nearly $40K in monthly expenses and the annual stewardship is the primary program that raises funds for us to meet our obligations. You can make a difference today with your participation. We understand that philanthropy is something very personal. Each person is invited to give according to their ability. If you are able, please consider joining one of the following giving levels this year: ($5,000 or more – Grand Benefactors, $2500 – $4,999 – Benefactors, $1,200 – $2,499 – House of Stewards, $800 – $1,199 – Patrons). Of course, whatever you decide to give please know that you have our utmost gratitude and appreciation, and please know our Church is here to serve your each and every need. The important thing to keep in mind is that we need everyone to do something. Sincere thanks to those who have already made their Stewardship Commitment for 2024!

Saints and Feasts

October 06

3rd Sunday of Luke

October 06

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas

The name Thomas means, "twin." He was one of the Twelve, a Galilean by birth. Sophroneus (not the famous Patriarch of Jerusalem [7th Century, celebrated March 11], but a friend of Jerome's), quoted also by Jerome, says that Saint Thomas preached to the Parthians, Pesians, Medes, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and neighbouring nations. According to Heracleon, the Apostle died a natural death; according to other accounts, he was martyred at Meliapur His tomb was known by Saint John Chrysostom to be at Edessa in Syria, to which city his holy relics may have been translated from India in the fourth century.

October 07

Sergius & Bacchus the Great Martyrs of Syria

These holy Martyrs were Romans of high rank in the service of the Emperor Maximian, to whom it was reported that they did not take part in the festivals of the idols. When he called them into his presence, they confessed their Faith in the one God. He had them arrayed in women's clothes and paraded through the streets in mockery. They were afterwards scourged, from which Saint Bacchus died. This was about the year 296. Saint Sergius was then taken to Resapha in Syria, where he was tortured and beheaded. His tomb in Resapha became a very famous shrine, to which pilgrims came from as far away as Western Europe; Resapha was later renamed Sergiopolis in his honour.

October 09

James the Apostle, son of Alphaeus

The holy Apostle James was one of the Twelve, and preached Christ to many nations, and finally suffered death by crucifixion.

October 11

Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons

Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.

October 12

Symeon the New Theologian

Saint Symeon became a monk of the Studite Monastery as a young man, under the guidance of the elder Symeon the Pious. Afterwards he struggled at the Monastery of Saint Mamas in Constantinople, of which he became abbot. After enduring many trials and afflictions in his life of piety, he reposed in 1022. Marvelling at the heights of prayer and holiness to which he attained, and the loftiness of the teachings of his life and writings, the church calls him "the New Theologian." Only to two others, John the Evangelist and Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople, has the church given the name "Theologian." Saint Symeon reposed on March 12, but since this always falls in the Great Fast, his feast is kept today.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

The angelic powers appeared at your tomb, and those guarding it became as dead. Mary stood at your grave seeking your pure body. But you stripped the power of Hades, yet were not touched by corruption. You met the virgin and granted her life. O Lord, who

Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Apostle Thomas in the Third Mode

O Holy Apostle Thomas, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Απόστολε Άγιε Θωμά, πρέσβευε τώ ελεήμονι Θεώ ίνα πταισμάτων άφεσιν, παράσχη ταίς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Τῇ μιᾷ τῶν Σαββάτων, ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα, φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. Εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου, καὶ Ἰδού, δύο ἄνδρες ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις· ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὰ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν, εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· Τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ᾧδε, ἀλλ' ἠγέρθη. Μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν, ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. Καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. Ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ Ἰωάννα καὶ Μαρία Ἰακώβου, καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. Καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς, ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε, πρὸς ἑαυτόν θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

Gospel Reading

3rd Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 7:11-16

At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

3rd Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 7:11-16

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐπορεύετο εἰς πόλιν καλουμένην Ναΐν· καὶ συνεπορεύοντο αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἱκανοὶ καὶ ὄχλος πολύς. ὡς δὲ ἤγγισε τῇ πύλῃ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐξεκομίζετο τεθνηκὼς υἱὸς μονογενὴς τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὕτη ἦν χήρα, καὶ ὄχλος τῆς πόλεως ἱκανὸς ἦν σὺν αὐτῇ. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μὴ κλαῖε· καὶ προσελθὼν ἥψατο τῆς σοροῦ, οἱ δὲ βαστάζοντες ἔστησαν, καὶ εἶπε· νεανίσκε, σοὶ λέγω, ἐγέρθητι. καὶ ἀνεκάθισεν ὁ νεκρὸς καὶ ἤρξατο λαλεῖν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ. ἔλαβε δὲ φόβος πάντας καὶ ἐδόξαζον τὸν Θεόν, λέγοντες ὅτι προφήτης μέγας ἐγήγερται ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατο ὁ Θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.

Wisdom of the Fathers

He who truly wishes to believe in God must be lifted above himself, his mind, and even the whole world. For this reason, the value of faith is considered higher than the value of man. It is even higher than the value of the whole world. Therefore, the reward of faith should be higher than all of man's possessions along with the glories of this world. The reward of faith is God.

Fr. Matthew the Poor

Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, p. 74, 20th century

That dead man was being buried, and many friends were conducting him to his tomb. But there meets him Christ, the Life and Resurrection, for He is the destroyer of death and of corruption; He it is "in Whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28); He it is Who has restored the nature of man to that which it originally was; and has set free our death-fraught flesh from the bonds of death.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 36.42, p. 153., 5th Century