ST. GEORGE THE GREATMARTYR
Serbian Orthodox Church
Hermitage, PA
/ Our Faith / Tithing

SACRIFICE OF GRATITUDE
Render sacrifice to God; a sacrifice of gratitude,
O you wealthy ones; according to God's mercy!
Who is wealthy and with what; with that let him barter,
Everyone with his gift; let him, the Kingdom acquire.
Whoever is wealthy with money; let him money, offer,
Whoever is rich with wheat; wheat let him distribute,
To whom wisdom is given; others, let him teach,
To him whose hands are strong; let him perform service.
Whoever knows a trade; let him honorably uphold it,
Let him conscientiously consider himself as a debtor of God.
Let him, who knows how to sing; praise God,
Only he is small, who does not know God.
Whoever received what; with that let him serve,
With mercy toward men; let him repay God,
Not all are the same, nor do all possess the same,
But a pure heart, everyone could give to God.
O pureness of heart, a sacrifice most miraculous,
For salvation, you are the crucial virtue,
And on your sacrificial altar, your incense ascends,
Arrives before the Lord, faster than anything.


-from The Prologue of Ohrid, St. Nikolaj Velimirovic