Acts 9:19-25
For several days he [Saul] was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name? And he has come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests.” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night, to kill him; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.
The Orthodox Church as it exists today may not live up to its claims as the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, but there is no contesting the fact that historically it goes back to the beginning of Christianity. Many of the places mentioned in Acts and in the New Testament have an unbroken history of Orthodox Christian churches to this day. Damascus is one such place. Indeed, the Patriarchate of Antioch is located on “the street called Straight” (Acts 9:11), the same street where Ananias found Saul and baptized him in the house of one of the Damascus disciples.
It’s not clear exactly how long Saul (Paul) stayed in Damascus with the Christian community, absorbing the new life in Christ after his baptism, worshipping and praying with them, and learning from them. Surely he heard from them about the teachings of Jesus, and especially about “the breaking of the bread.” The Lord Himself had told Saul that when His disciples were being persecuted He was being persecuted (Acts 9:5). That is how closely the Lord identifies himself with his disciples. The worship, prayer and teaching that Paul encountered in the Damascus community of “the Way” was another encounter with the Lord, and just as powerful an influence on his later life. This is why, in writing to the Corinthians years later, he could say that the Lord himself taught him about the Eucharist.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Cor 11:23-26)
The Lord—through His community—delivered to Paul this fundamental key to life in Christ. And Paul in turn passed on what he had received. This is the meaning of Tradition.
The teaching he received didn’t soften Paul’s edges. On the contrary, he went right into the synagogues and began preaching, teaching and debating. There is nothing more powerful—and provocative—than a zealous convert coming back to his old co-religionists. In the volatile world of the 1st century Middle East (has much changed?) his words were enough to provoke a plot to kill him, so his disciples—note that he already had some, such was his charismatic gift—unceremoniously packed him up in a big basket and sent him away (later, Paul took this as one of the public humiliations demonstrating his weakness, 2 Cor 11:32-33.)
Update
Yesterday was a catching-up day following the holidays for the officers and staff with Metropolitan Tikhon. We went over schedules and plans for the year.