Elevation of the Holy Cross Eastern Orthodox Church

Discerning the will of God is not always an easy task, and even the greatest saints have admitted that they have often been confused as to the Lord's intentions for them.

APOSTLE ANANIAS certainly was faced with great difficulty in understanding a command given to him by God. He was one of the 70 disciples sent out by Christ to spread His Gospel --a task he performed zealously. The early Church suffered severe persecution soon after its inception, and one the greatest persecutors of the church was a man named Saul. His very name struck fear in the hearts of Christians. It was no wonder, then, that Ananias was taken aback when he heard the voice of God speaking these puzzling words: "ARISE AND GO TO THE STREET CALLED STRAIGHT AND INQUIRE AT THE HOUSE OF JUDAS FOR ONE CALLED SAUL OF TARSUS, FOR BEHOLD HE IS PRAYING." (Acts 9:11) When Ananias showed some hesitation in approaching this feared persecutor of the Church, the Lord assured him that this dreaded man was His "CHOSEN VESSEL" who would take the Gospel out to the Gentiles.

Obediently, Ananias arose and did as he was told. He baptized the man who would later be known as the APOSTLE PAUL, the greatest of all Christian missionaries! It was Ananias, together with other Christians in Damascus, who saved the life of the newly-baptized Paul. As his enemies watched the gates of the city day and night to slay him, Paul was put in a basket and lowered over the city wall, thus escaping with his life.

Refusing to offer sacrifices to idols would later result in martyrdom for Apostle Ananias.