Brothers and sisters, I want to speak to you about martyrdom. In this fallen, broken world, we can never know what the future holds for us. We can never know what trials we will face as we follow the path God has placed before us.

Death comes for us in a moment. We can never know when God will say to us, "This night your soul will be required of you." We must be ready. "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching."

It is so easy for us to think that martyrdom is not relevant for us today, that it is a relic of the past. This is a lie; it is a lie that can lead us to laziness and a shallow obsession with our positions and possessions, our prestige and properties, our pleasures and privileges.

Why do we shy away from the idea of martyrdom? I'll tell you why - because we don't truly understand what martyrdom means.

Christian martyrdom is not masochism. It is not a denial of life or a senseless wallowing in pain. It is not a rejection of hope and joy. No. Consider the final words of one of the Church's early martyrs, St. Dorothea: "I thank you, O Christ, lover of souls, that you call me to your Paradise and lead me to your most holy court!"

"I thank you." Had Dorothea lost hope? Was she desperate? Was she deluded? No - she was in love.

This is the meaning of martyrdom - love. Love and martyrdom come together at the very heart of our faith. Christ teaches us that "the Son of Man must be lifted up" - He must be crucified. Why? Why must He suffer, why must He die? Because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." The death of Jesus Christ is the most profound act of love, of sacrificial love, the world has ever seen and will ever see. Christ willingly, lovingly embraces crucifixion so that "the world through Him might be saved."

The blessed martyrs are those called by God to follow His example through the greatest trial imaginable - the sacrifice of their lives. Martyrdom literally means "witness." These martyrs, these witnesses, are shining examples of the sacrificial love of Christ. Like our Lord, they have given their lives in love for the sake of others.

And their sacrifices have not been in vain. We call St. Stephen, the first Christian deacon whose story we find in the book of Acts, the "protomartyr." His witness gave strength not only to his fellows, but to countless others who have cried out for courage in the face of certain death. And like Dorothea, Stephen's final words were words of love: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," and "do not charge them with this sin."

There are things I want you to do:

First, I want you to understand. Reflect on the meaning of martyrdom. Learn the history of martyrdom in our Church, the names and stories of our holy martyrs. And discover the reality of martyrdom today. It is not a relic of bygone days. Every century, martyrs have sacrificed their lives for Christ and His Kingdom. Throughout our modern era, Christian witnesses have given their lives for the sake of their neighbors. From Nazi concentration camps to the Soviet gulag, from Ottoman prisons to Chinese killing fields, Orthodox Christian martyrs have surrendered their lives in love. Understand their sacrifice, and the sacrifices being made every day by our brothers and sisters around the world.

Second, I want you to pray. Pray for those facing martyrdom today. And pray to the martyred saints who stand now before the face of our Lord. Because of their holiness, ask them to intercede for us with Christ. Yes, we can and should pray directly to Jesus Christ Himself. But He has raised up the saints as sacred representatives and intercessors, as living members of His Body with which we have communion. Let us turn to them in love, because they stand with us. Contemplate their icons; learn their stories; call them by name: Ancient names like Stephen, Dorothea, Demetrios and Katherine. And modern names like Maria Skobtsova, Dmitry Klepinin, Kosmas Aitolos, and Mitrophan Tsi-Chung.

Third and finally, I want you to prepare. I want you to prepare for martyrdom. Because none of us can know when we may be called to give up our life for God. Like any great spiritual undertaking, martyrdom requires great preparation. So build yourself up. Build yourself up by opening your heart to the love of Christ. By embracing life's daily trials for the sake of others. By sacrificing your time, treasure, and talent. We are all given opportunities every day to begin on the path of martyrdom. Many of us have even entered in to one of the ultimate preparations for martyrdom - holy marriage. Our marriage crowns are crowns of joy; and they are crowns of thorns. In marriage, we can embrace every day sacrificial love. Do so.

Let me share with you one final story. It comes from the darkest days of the Soviet oppression of the Orthodox Christians of Russia. At a small, remote church, on a cold Sunday, a group of Christians gathered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Just as the service was beginning, the doors of the church opened - and in walked three soldiers of the Red Army, wearing their heavy uniform coats and carrying rifles. One of the soldiers stepped forward, and barked out a chilling order. He demanded that everyone present who was not a Christian should leave, immediately. A hush fell, and the worshippers exchanged fearful glances. After a few moments, a man quietly ducked his head and made for the exit. As he left, others began to follow, alone, in pairs, and in groups. But a handful of people stood their ground. Men and women, children and the elderly. They were afraid; but they also found in their hearts the courage of their love of Christ. As the last person departed, they faced the leader of the soldiers. He looked at them all, and his face broke in to a broad smile. He told them his name, and said "Thank God, we are also Orthodox Christians. Now that we know that any who might betray us to our superiors have departed, let us pray together!"

Would you have stayed? Will you stay? Stay. Be ready. Be steadfast. And you too will enter Christ's holy court.

Fr. Christopher Metropulos is founder, host, and executive director of the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) and the Come Receive The Light national Orthodox Christian radio program (www.myocn.net). He is pastor of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he and his wife Georgia are raising their six children.