Holy
March 12, 2021
“Holy” in the King James dictionary is defined us, “Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense; Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions, free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man Holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.” (KJV new version Dictionary)
The Second Sabbath of the Great Lent is named “Holy” in representing the Holiness of God and Sabbath. God is Holy; His Holiness is His uniqueness; meaning God is Holy in nature as the word Holy means blessed, pure and unique. Holy Angels, Holy Righteous, Holy Apostles, Holy Martyrs, Holy Fathers, Holy Scholars, Holy Bishops and Holy Monks embraced holiness from God.
When we say God is Holy, the source of Holiness which is praised as the Holy one, is sanctified by His holiness; it is the Holy one who sanctifies the Saints. Because God is holy and unique, all who are called and come to Him are called Saints. This means that men and angels are called to receive holiness by grace, and the attires of the temple gears used for the service of God are generally called Holy. When God calls upon to his kingdom through sacrificing His beloved Son Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will be set up together for God and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
God says, “You shall be Holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy” and those who invest in purity and holiness by God’s grace are called Saints; And when we say that the Holy Church where man and Angels meet, the salvation of the flesh and the salvation of the soul, is Holy, it is a special glory and purity for the worship of God. Lord Christ extremely loved Holy Church that He gave His life for her Glory and that He, Himself is glorified, by virtue of her purity; thus, Holy Church is a pure, scrupulous bride of Jesus Christ. (Leviticus 19:2)
The source of their holiness is Holy God, as we have seen, because He is the Holy One whom they saw on the seashore delivering Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and that the Egyptians had died. They saw the great hand that the Holy God had placed on the Egyptians and the people feared the LORD. They believed in God, and glorified His servant Moses. Together they sang praises to God; In their hymns, they expressed the holiness of God saying, “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in Holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)
Saint John also spoke in a vision; “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the Saints!” (Revelation 15:3)
Holy God is sanctified by the Archangels who praise His Holy name. The Prophet Isaiah testified that the Holy Angels were calling upon His Holy name. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
The Virgin Mary, the Mother of God has also testified about His holiness saying, “And Holy is His name.” When Holy God speaks of His own holiness, He has said, “You shall be Holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy.” (Luke 1:49)
The Apostle Saint Peter also stated in his epistle that it is God’s willed that we be sanctified by His holiness, “but as He who called you is Holy, you also be Holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)
We need to live in holiness as God who called upon us who is Holy. The sacrament of baptism is the beginning of our holiness and we are built up to be the house of the Holy Spirit. But when we flout His words that deprive us of holiness, we sin and lose the riches of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we need to live diligently and according to God’s will for we shall not sin and lose our Holiness.