Unidentified Homily 4

Summary

Fr. Athanasios Mytilinaios treats Esther chapter 4, where Mordecai learns of Haman's edict of extermination, mourns publicly in Susa, and appeals to Queen Esther, who resolves to appear unsummoned before Xerxes despite the risk of death and orders three days of total fasting for the Jews of Susa. From Mordecai's prayer he draws a teaching on the structure of Christian prayer, a doxological prologue, the central petition, and a closing doxology, found consistently across Scripture and the Divine Liturgy; doxology is defined as the recounting of God's attributes and saving acts, with the Creed as its example. He clarifies that Mordecai refused to bow to Haman from obedience to God rather than pride, and challenges listeners who confess God as Maker of heaven and earth yet speak of a universe arisen by chance.