At the end of the Church service, Fr. Gregory addressed the people with a homily:
“Why, brothers,” he said, “are we gathered here in the middle of the forest to praise our Incarnated Lord? Isn’t there a church on our collective farm, where the same service is occurring, and where the same holy words are sung: “Christ is born – glorify Him”. Why are we not together with them? Why aren’t our prayers ascending to God’s altar from one church? The reason, my dear brothers and sisters, is because we received tidings from the Lord that "they should not return to Herod, but depart for their own country by another way”. When Herod summoned the High Priests and Scribes and asked them: “Where the Christ was to be born?”, they answered him precisely “In Bethlehem of Judea”.
Did the mothers of those infants who were killed by Herod ever find out that their blood was shed because of the exact instructions of the High Priests of God’s temple? Have those High Priests ever understood what a crime they have committed in revealing the place of Christ’s birth to Herod? Is it possible that they haven’t comprehended that it wasn’t Herod mainly, but rather they who are guilty of the Bethlehem slaughter. But some may ask: “How were they to know Herod’s intention?” But didn’t they know what Herod was? They knew well enough but they had their own motives; this emerged consequently when Christ, Who was saved from Herod, was killed by these same High Priests.
That’s why, brothers and sisters, we are not in their churches. We will not reveal to Herod in whose souls Christ was born today. We don’t want the blood of the infants.
Someone may ask: “But is the priest in the village church betraying Christ?” Yes indeed – he is betraying. This dreadful deed is being done consciously. And not only is his King being betrayed, but he is preparing the infants to be slaughtered by Herod. We know that everyone that attends that church is registered by Herod’s agents. These don’t regard Herod as their king, but are waiting for their King: and here, the village priest points them out to Herod and says: “Observe, today the King is Born in these infants’ souls. They don’t believe me that you are Herod – their king: they came here to pray for the advent of His Kingdom and consequently, of the end of yours”.
That is why we are in the forest. And it’s not only this explicit betrayal perpetrated by God’s priests (who are in the service of Herod) which is frightening. Even more terrifying is that they are killing the hope, in the souls of these infants, of salvation from Herod. They are assuring in God’s name that ostensibly, Herod is the legitimate, lawful king appointed by God Himself, and that only Herod can give peace to the world and benevolence to the people.
Now do you understand, brothers and sisters, why we are not there? We cry out to the world that has accepted Herod: “Do not believe: Herod is not our king. Don’t listen to the false priests: they are not God’s servants, but Herod’s! Herod will never be able to give peace to the world and benevolence to its people - only the blood of the innocent will flow during his reign”. And when our voice reaches the consciousness of those infants - then the truth will be understood and then Herod’s kingdom will collapse! Then, and only then, in our newly sanctified village church, will the priest of God be a priest, while Herod’s servants will be barred from God’s altar...
(The above text has been kindly translated by Seraphim Larin and is excerpted from the writings of Monk Zachary of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church.)