Monday, July 19, 2004
The Venerable Macrina, Sister of Basil the Great
3rd at Vespers/2, Prophet Elijah:2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:13-28 Gospel: St. Matthew 16:1-6
2 Kings 2:1, 6-14, especially vs. 14: "Then he took the mantle of Elijah that
had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he had struck the
water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other; and Elisha went over." The dramatic account of the Lord's
translation of the Prophet Elijah into His own "brilliant city" in the heavens confirms the Divine glorification of the
Tishbite and his eternal place as chief among the God-inspired Prophets. It indicates the reason why the Church calls upon
the Faithful to "raise our voices in rejoicing and joy, saying, Rejoice, O earthly angel and heavenly man, Elijah of great
name!"
Furthermore, the account of Elijah's ascension also serves as a type of the succession in ministry which has functioned
among God's People from before the Lord's Incarnation up to the present. Today, continuity in ministry is embodied in the
doctrine of Apostolic Succession which asserts, in the words of Father Thomas Hopko, that "the genuine faith and life of
the Church is passed on from church to church, from generation to generation and from place to place, through the
succession of Holy Tradition in the consecration of Bishops, whose teachings and practice is identical to each other and to
that of the apostles of Jesus." Hence, in reading of the exaltation of that noble, holy man, Elijah, there is revealed the
passing on of the genuine faith and life of God's People from Elijah to the godly Elisha and to many generations
subsequently.
Succession in ministry among the People of God, as the reading shows, is anchored in an observable and heartfelt unity
among those who serve God's People in His Name and Power. In the case of the two holy Prophets, the reading reveals
their unity in several ways. First, Elijah gave his disciple every opportunity and the freedom to find his own path before
God now that the Lord had shown them that He "was about to take" Elijah (vs. 1). Nevertheless, Elisha three times
demured: "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you" (vss. 2,4,6).
The omitted verses (vss. 2,5) show further that the unity between the two great Prophets was shared widely and included
groups of the "sons of the prophets" (vss. 3,5), other members of the prophetic order. In addition, it should be noted that
the unity in ministry which underlies succession is for life and extends beyond this earthly existence: Elisha went across the
Jordan with Elijah knowing that the Lord was about to take his master, but he maintained their unity even unto death.
Then, afterwards, Elisha called out to "the Lord, the God of Elijah" (vs. 14), revealing that he considered their unity
binding through death and for all eternity. This same profound unity has served Apostolic Succession from the Apostles to
include our present-day Bishops. As Bishop Kallistos Ware explains: "The Church is...formed by the communion of many
hierarchs with one another, and of each hierarch with the members of his flock."
Is it not apparent that the unity underlying succession in ministry is a gift from God? And also that God is Himself the
source of the unity and the One Who assures and preserves unified succession among those He calls into His service?
Succession is not of human agency, though it be expressed by human actions (vss. 8,14). It is mystical in nature because it
is God-given. All the blessings which were extended to the People of God in the kingdom of Israel during the lifetime of
Elijah were continued without interruption by Elisha (2 K. 2,4-9,13). "Double share" (vs. 9) does not mean quantity. It is
an Hebraic idiom for the right of the successor. Thus, the charisms of the Apostles are being extended by the Lord through
His Bishops to this day.
Be mindful, O Lord, of every Bishop of the Orthodox, who rightly divideth the word of Thy truth and put not to confusion
any in Thy ministry, but visit us all with Thy benevolence.
