The Same Church That Gave You the New Testament Gave You Icons - Sermon by Metropolitan Demetrius

The Same Church That Gave You the New Testament Gave You Icons –Sermon by His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius of America. In this spiritually rich homily, His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius weaves together Christ's Parable of the Sower with the celebration of the God-bearing Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, revealing how both teachings call us to prepare our hearts to receive divine truth. Metropolitan Demetrius opens by reflecting on St. Paul's direct revelation from God, teaching us that such revelation continues in our own hearts when we approach God with humility. As he powerfully states, "God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud." This humility becomes essential as we hear Christ's parable of the sower, where God's word falls on different types of ground. His Eminence issues an urgent call: "Be attentive, be attentive, be attentive—pay attention, because if you're not paying attention, you're not worthy." Without this attentiveness, the word is easily stolen away, withers on rocky ground, or is choked by worldly cares. Building on this foundation of receptivity, Metropolitan Demetrius connects the parable to the seventh ecumenical council's defense of icons, revealing both as expressions of Orthodox Tradition. He makes a crucial point that cannot be overlooked: "The same church which gave us the New Testament, that same church condemns those who do not accept icons." This isn't arbitrary—the Church's living Tradition has preserved icon veneration "from the very beginning," showing "veneration towards the Mother of God, towards the Saints, we have icons very early on." Through St. John of Damascus, His Eminence illuminates why icons matter theologically. Icons aren't idolatry but celebrate the Incarnation itself. Saint John says regarding iconography: "I represent the invisible God not in as much as he is invisible, but to the extent that he has become visible by sharing in our flesh and blood." Through Orthodox worship, all our senses are sanctified as "we taste and see that the Lord is good." The homily concludes by honoring St. Zlata, a New Martyr who chose Christ over worldly compromise, representing countless forgotten saints from Ottoman persecution. For more videos, visit:    / orthodoxtradition   If you would like us to light a candle for you during our services, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdckxd83 To make a donation to the monastery, click below: https://tinyurl.com/3y9s8t8y #OrthodoxTraditionShorts