Father Panagiotis Hanley
(Icon of the Taxiarche Mantamados ~~Monastery of the Taxiarche --Mantamados, Lesbos, Greece)
Fr. Panagiotis is available via email if you would like to contact him: frphanley@transfiguration.va.goarch.org
SEPTEMBER 14TH
The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world {emphasis added} and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16: 24-28)
This conversation Jesus is having with His Disciples, in the latter portion of the Gospel of Matthew, is telling of what is to come in Christ’s life; and there is no speaking in Parables in this instance. The Lord is speaking clearly to the disciples, to prepare them for the fact that He will be Crucified and put to death, when He goes to Jerusalem. The Lord speaks plainly to His Disciples, as a warning and instruction. The warning has become obvious at this point. Although the disciples are still struggling with accepting it. And what are those instructions? First and foremost, worldly wealth and material gain do not mean anything compared to salvation. Truthfully, they can’t even be compared to Salvation. Christ knows this, and it is the reason He speaks so clearly to the disciples in this account from the Gospel of Matthew. This world is finite and there will come a time when it ends. Our lives however are eternal. We are not simply material beings who return to the earth. We have a soul. We were created by God to live forever with Him in Paradise.
It was the fall of man, that brought about sin and death entering the world. These were the consequences (among other things[1]) for our disobedience to God’s commandment. However, God never forsook mankind and fashioned a way for His creation to return to paradise. Christ’s earthly ministry is the culmination of God's plan, to reunite mankind to paradise. But there is a consequence, a price, and that is the Cross. However, this consequence, this price, mankind does not pay/suffer; Christ pays this price (suffers this consequence) for all of us! For this is something that only God alone can accomplish. He does so out of love for His own Creation. The gift of the Cross is offered to all freely. God does not charge us for His Love.
The second instruction is simple, however difficult to accept. That being, we can only return to God (Paradise) by the path Christ has laid out. Left to our own devices in this world, the best we can do, is arrive at the grave. We cannot bring about our own salvation. This is the stark reality of the inherited (original) sin that our forefathers Adam and Eve left us. To take that path Christ has put before us, we must, deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. Certainly, this tells us that there will be difficulties in this life, but what is truly difficult if we have Christ on our side?[2] He, Himself, faced death and it [death] had no power over Him.
Today in the Church, we celebrate The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross. This is a day and story well known to all in the Church. The finding of the Cross, inspired by the piety and vision of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor St. Constantine.
“…when she was already advanced in years, [St. Helena] undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the [True] Cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem.”[3]
So why do we as Christians place such joy in a piece of wood that was used to kill our Lord and Savior? It is not in the wood that we place our faith. Our faith is always placed in Christ. Yet it was Christ’s own actions, by voluntarily ascending the Cross for our sakes, that turned the cross from an instrument of death into the key to salvation. No one but God, Himself, could accomplish this. Christ is the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God. He always was and will be. So, what previously brought death, and pain, now brings life and joy! In the hagiography above concerning St. Helena, we learn from the very first day the Cross of Christ was discovered it brought life to a dying woman. Not by the power of wood; but by the power of Christ our True God. Hence the reason the relic of the True Cross has been venerated for centuries. It is the power of Christ in the Cross which is venerated. The power of Christ that conquered death, that reunited man with God.
For each one of us however, we have a decision to make today, indeed a decision to make every day, that is given to us; and we must understand that there is no resting on our laurels. Because one was righteous yesterday, does allow us to give place to evil today. Do we take up our cross and follow the Lord? Or do we remain on the worldly path, vainly seeking the non-existent treasure, that will make us whole, make us right, make us perfect again? This path is one that many take. It is a path that we are told, is worth it. ‘Grab the brass ring and go for success!’ Is it really success? Is it really worth it? With all that this physical world has to offer (and let’s be honest it is a lot), using your imagination now, think of all that you could possibly gain, and you can still only arrive at the gaping maw of the grave. That my brothers and sisters, includes everyone: Rich or poor, slave or freeman, Bishop, Priest, Deacon, Monk, Nun, layperson, Royalty and commoner alike. In this regard we are all the same.
Now the taking up of our cross is difficult. The reward however is eternal life with God. Because of those consequences of the fall, I mentioned early, we know that difficulties in this life exist. Yet God has NEVER FORSAKEN, His Creation. He is always with us, as He is always with His Son. Christ is there for us, ALWAYS. St. Paul, very aptly says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.””[4] In other words, the Cross is of no use to those who are living in the world, but to us who have taken the path of Christ towards salvation, we have God with us lifting us up always, and through His Grace we will achieve salvation.
So, my brothers and sisters, as St. Helena did in her old age, and as pious Prophets and Saints have done for centuries, following in the example of Christ and adhering to His instructions, I exhort you to take up your cross and follow the Lord. Let us not worry about the world. Focus on Christ, expect hardships but rejoice in them. In fact, rejoice in all things. Ask yourselves, is something really bad if it brings you closer to salvation? Is something really good, if it causes you to embrace the world over God? Remember the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “…but to us who are being saved it [the Cross of Christ] is the power of God.”[5] Finally, please remember that today, The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross, is a Very Strict Fast Day. It is this way because, while we rejoice in the Joy of the Cross, and Christ’s triumph over death, we also remember the consequences that our Lord suffered on our behalf, and for our salvation.
Please be assured of my heartfelt love and prayers, for each of you and your families. May the Cross always be a guidepost for you, and may Christ our True God, grant you His Strength, to take up your cross and follow Him, who saved us all. Amen!
Father +Panagioti Hanley
[1] c.f. Genesis 3: 14-24 –consequences of the Fall of man
[2] Romans 8: 31-33
[3] The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (goarch.org)
[4] 1 Cor: 18-19; c.f. Isaiah 29: 14
[5] 1 Cor: 18-19
Brief Biographical information:
Prior to full-time life in the ministry of the Church, Father Panagiotis’s background was primarily in public-service (Law Enforcement) both in the civilian and military. Father Panagioti began his career in Law Enforcement with a University Police Department (NMIMT) in Central New Mexico in 1996. During this same time period, the opportunity would present itself, to enlist in the New Mexico Air National Guard; at that time the 150th Fighter Wing, today the 150th has been re-tasked, as the 150th Special Operations Wing. I enlisted and was assigned to the 150th Security Forces Squadron. I completed Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, and also completed my Air Force Technical School –Security Forces/Law Enforcement Training academy at Lackland AFB as well. In January of 1997, I took a full-time position with a City (Socorro) Police Department in Central New Mexico. To pursue advancement opportunities a year later, Father Panagioti would enter on active duty in the U.S.A.F., leaving civilian Law Enforcement.
During his time in the Air Force, Father Panagioti was deployed to many different locations throughout the world, and in support of many different military operations. Including, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Global War on Terrorism, as well as numerous deployments for local exercises, and supporting NATO exercises in Europe. Father’s primary specialty in the Air Force was Security Forces (Military Police), and he was also assigned to the 64th Weapons of Mass Destruction –Civil Support Team (this unit’s primary mission was to assist civilian authorities in the event of a terrorist attack.) In the fall of 2002, Father Panagioti was Honorably Discharged due to medical issues, that arose as a result of his service. At the end of 2002, Father Panagioti would enter Seminary, at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. In 2005, Father completed his Bachelor’s degree and in 2008 the Master of Divinity Degree.
Father Panagioti is originally from Paramus, NJ. His Parents of blessed memory are from Lesbos, Greece (Mother) and Father is of Irish decent. He is the oldest of three siblings.
Ordinations:
Holy Deaconate: December 16th, 2007, –by the Hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan ISIAIAH of Denver, at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Denver, CO.
Holy Priesthood: January 19th, 2014, --by the Hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan EVANGLEOS of Sardis (formerly of New Jersey) at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Toms River, New Jersey
Upcoming Events
