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Archbishop Apostolos Preaches Forgiveness at Prophet Elias Church
What the video says
The archbishop visits the Church of Prophet Elias for the first time and preaches on the Gospel of Luke's teaching to love enemies and do to others as you wish done to yourself. He explains that loving only those who love you earns no credit, since even sinners do that, and that the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross when He said, "Father, forgive them."
The thief on the cross received paradise that same day through forgiveness, showing it is the key to salvation. The archbishop recounts denying communion to those who refuse to forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold mercy from others. He emphasizes that the Church, established by Christ's blood on the cross, is unshakeable and hierarchical, with bishops as successors of the apostles, and calls the young people present the present and future of the Church.
He urges unity, support for ministries, and opening family doors to Christ so the Church continues its mission for coming generations.
Key moments
- 0:00 First visit to Church of Prophet Elias; Prophet Elias connects Old and New Testament; Gospel gives directions on how believers should behave toward all people
- 0:41 Gospel of Luke: "As you wish men would do to you, do so to them", the Lord's clear direction on communication and behavior
- 1:21 Loving only those who love you brings no credit; even sinners do that; we must be generous to everyone when we have the ability
- 2:06 Core message: love your enemies; Christ on the cross said "Father, forgive them," calling us to imitate Him; forgiveness opens the door to paradise
- 3:34 The thief on the cross asked forgiveness and Jesus said "today you will be with me in paradise", forgiveness is the key of salvation
- 4:47 "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"; archbishop refused communion to those who would not forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own
- 7:00 Young people are the present and future of the Church; the Church needs them as leaders, teachers, parents, and supporters of Sunday school and Greek education
- 9:13 The Church is hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles; the Ecumenical Patriarch succeeds Saint John Chrysostom and the Apostle Andrew; Constantinople was the first Christian state; the Gospel has been kept unchanged for centuries
Archbishop Apostolos visited the Church of Prophet Elias for the Divine Liturgy, marking his first visit to the parish. In his sermon he preached on the Gospel of Luke, citing the command to love enemies and to do to others as you wish done to yourself. He explained that loving only those who love you brings no credit, since even sinners do that, and that the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross when He said, "Father, forgive them," calling us to imitate Him.
The archbishop pointed to the thief on the cross who asked forgiveness and heard Jesus say, "today you will be with me in paradise," presenting forgiveness as the key to salvation and the door to paradise. He quoted the call to be merciful as the Father is merciful and recounted denying communion to those who refuse to forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own mercy.
The archbishop described the Church as hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles, noting the Ecumenical Patriarch succeeds Saint John Chrysostom and the Apostle Andrew, that Constantinople was the first Christian state, and that the Gospel has been kept unchanged for centuries. He called the young people present the present and future of the Church, identifying them as leaders, teachers, parents, and supporters of Sunday school and Greek education, and urged unity, support for ministries, and opening family doors to Christ so the Church continues its mission for coming generations.
The archbishop also noted that the prophet Elias connects the Old and New Testaments, and that the Gospel gives directions on how believers should behave toward all people, requiring generosity toward everyone when we have the ability, and emphasized that the Church, established by Christ's blood on the cross, is unshakeable.
Main points
- Archbishop Apostolos made his first visit to Prophet Elias Church and preached on forgiveness from Luke's Gospel
- He taught that loving only those who love you earns no credit; the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross
- He cited the thief on the cross who received paradise through forgiveness, calling it the key to salvation
- He recounted denying communion to those who refuse to forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own
- He described the Church as hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles, called young people the present and future of the Church, and urged unity and support for ministries