013198

DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (9/1) Epistle for the Beginning of the Indiction or the Ecclesiastical New Year

Prayer and Time: 1 Timothy 2:1-7, especially vss. 3, 4: “...God our Savior...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Westerners take for granted that the civil year begins January First, but it is less well known that September First is the beginning of the Orthodox Church year. The First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in AD 325 agreed on that date. For a number of reasons, September First makes a very suitable beginning for the Church’s yearly cycle of prayer in northern latitudes where September is a primary month of harvest. The Gospel records that it was during this time of year, at the Synagogue at Nazareth, that the Lord Jesus read these words: “'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He hath anointed Me to preach...'” good tidings (Lk. 4:18 and see Is. 61:1). Thus, He signaled the start of His ministry.

Historically, September has another significance for Christians: during this month, Constantine the Great defeated his rival Maxentius and proceeded to grant Christians freedom of worship throughout the Roman Empire. For centuries, on this day, the Church appoints special prayers of supplication to be offered immediately before the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy - prayers for the Church and for all cities and the countryside throughout the world. The service provides a concrete means for obeying the Apostolic injunction of Saint Paul found in today’s reading: “...I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Tim. 2:1). Yet this practice needs to be habitual among us.

When the Apostle directs us to pray for all men, he specifies both “...supplications...” and “...intercessions...,” yet, note, there is no essential difference between these types of petitions, for both are “...prayers...” offered on behalf of others in need. And considering mankind’s physical, emotional, and spiritual requirements, the range of possible human problems is vast. There is every reason why we should practice regular intercessions. The Apostle does not limit us; rather, he urges that we pray for whatever needs and afflictions currently are befalling our fellow men.

And note: Saint Paul exhorts us to pray for “...all men...,” and not for Christians only, his directive is inclusive. Hence, as we pray, we are to beseech God in particular for rulers (vs. 2). Why? So that the People of God may live under conditions that promote a peaceful and quiet life for growth in all godliness. Further we are to pray for strength to conduct ourselves before the world in a God-pleasing manner (vss. 2,3); for when the Faith is lived in purity, holiness and joy, others are encouraged to “...come to the knowledge of the truth...,” and to “...be saved...” (vs. 4).

Finally, the Apostle admonishes us not to confine our prayers to mere ‘asking.’ He adds to the exhortation that prayers should be offered up “eucharistically,” or, as translated here, by the “...giving of thanks...” (vs. 1). No doubt this added reference is an allusion to the regular prayers of praise and thanksgiving on behalf of all humanity included always in the Divine Liturgy.

In the Liturgy of Saint Basil, the prayer of the Anaphora makes clear that every single person is presented to our God and “Master Who lovest mankind,” to the One Who hast fashioned us “...from the dust of the earth and...honored [us] with [His] own image,” even when we “disobeyed” and were “led astray by the guile of the serpent and rendered subject to death.”

The entire drama of human redemption is offered up in prayers such as these, revealing the Church’s yearning for the restoration of all by the Lord Jesus, the “express Image” of the “Person” of God the Father. The constant offering day after day, year after year, and through all time of such eucharistic thanksgiving to God supports the faithful in living before others so that many are drawn to the Faith “...to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vs. 4).

O God, enable us to live and pray so that all men will be drawn to the path of salvation.

Return to the September Calendar