Commemorations

On Monday, the Church remembered in thanksgiving to God St. John of Damascus, theologian and hymn-writer. St. John was a mighty warrior of the Church during the iconclastic controversy, and his approach to theology profoundly influenced the Lutheran dogmaticians in their theological method (loci theologici). His fine book *On the Orthodox Faith* is a great (if challenging) read.

Today, the Church remembers and praises God for St. Nicholas, a pastor of the holy Church from the 4th century, and one of the fathers present at the Council of Nicea - where, reputedly, he struck Arius, the notorious heretic who denied the true divinity of the Eternal Son and Word of the Father! A far cry from what he became in popular imagination: Santa Claus. He served the Church in Myra. My favorite quote on St. Nicholas is from Fr. Thomas Hopko (*The Winter Pascha*): "The extraordinary thing about the image of St. Nicholas in the Church is that he is not known for anything extraordinary." Hopko summarizes: "In a word, he was a good pastor, father, and bishop to his flock, known especially for his love and care for the poor."

As we remember these blessed saints of old, we give God thanks and praise:

Apostles, prophets, martyrs,
And all the noble throng
Who wear the spotless raiment
And raise the ceaseless song -
For these passed on before us,
We offer praises due
And, walking in their footsteps,
Would live our lives for You!