Page 75 - AlNashra Year 2024 Issue 04
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and making them long for a conversation or I will conclude with the following Gospel
dialogue. This is the experience of living the passage, from the sixth chapter of John: "I am
mystery of Christ and His Kingdom. the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
You all are aware of how the Russian people never go hungry, and whoever believes in me
were guided to the right faith, the Orthodox will never be thirsty." Since ancient times,
Faith. However, let me remind you of the philosophers have sought happiness, truth,
incident: up until the tenth century AD, the etc. Then comes Christ proclaiming, "I am
Russian people were still worshipping idols. the bread of life...” Christ did not describe
In the last quarter of that century, Prince Himself as “a concept". Instead, He affirmed,
Vladimir sought to explore various religions "I am the bread of life". In every Divine
in order to decide the one his people ought Liturgy, we partake of the "bread of life".
to follow. He commissioned a delegation Jesus continues, addressing the Jews: “Your
and sent it on a specific mission: to travel ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness,
all over the world, learn about the different yet they died. But here is the bread that
faiths, and return to him with the desired comes down from heaven, which anyone may
answer. When the delegation arrived in the eat and not die. I am the living bread that
city of Constantinople, it is said that the came down from heaven. Whoever eats this
delegation entered the Church of the Holy bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh,
Wisdom "Hagia Sophia" at a time when the which I will give for the life of the world.”
Divine Liturgy was being held. At the end of Jesus continues, saying, “Unless you eat the
the Liturgy, the members of the delegation flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood
uttered the following famous phrase: "We (the Divine Liturgy), you have no life in you.
knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
Earth." They returned to Prince Vladimir with has eternal life, and I will raise them up at
what they had beheld and heard, ultimately the last day. For my flesh is real food and my
deciding to embrace Orthodoxy. Thus, the blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh
Divine Liturgy with its profound impact and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in
on the members of the Prince’s delegation them” (John 6:48-56).
brought the Russian people to the Orthodox Through living the Liturgy, may the Lord live
Faith. in us so that we abide in Him.
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