UNION WITH OTHERS NEVER ACCEPTED BY THE CHURCH

UNION WITH OTHERS WAS 

NEVER ACCEPTED  BY THE CHURCH

  The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has never sought unity with churches. This is the major flaw of the ecumenical movement.  This organization was never meant to search for truth or the true Church, nor do we hear that the  Orthodox who attend these meetings openly and without shame invite them to abandon their various misbeliefs and enter the True Church, which we proclaim over and over as the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.  None of those outside the Church  are baptized with the true baptism, nor anointed with the Holy Spirit with divine chrism, neither to they believe in or partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. We ought to be reaching out to them in a spirit of love,  praying for salvation of their souls, for since the WWC was founded many thousands have died outside the Church,  without our attempts to bring them to saving Orthodoxy.  Who can be saved without true baptism, the grace of chrism and the Holy Mystery?  “Unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man you have no life in you.” If we fail to attempt to save such souls, we do them the greatest injustice and harm,  and so we oppose Christ’s commandment.  Love commands us to struggle to bring salvation to all people. The forum of WCC does not make this possible. The only thing that works properly,  and is of greatest benefit to the members of the ecumenical movement, is the friendly persuasion of preaching the True Christ and the True Faith, bringing them in the joy of everlasting life! We cannot keep our Faith to ourselves, lest we be like the servant with the single talent.

     There  never was and never will be division in the Church, as some ecumenists assert. therefore, there is no purpose to seek any type of unity, for the Church is always  indivisible. The idea of the unionists, who seek unity with those outside Orthodoxy, has been around for centuries, but has in every case, been rejected by the Church.  For there can be no union with light and darkness, with good and evil, or with truth and falsehood.

   History shows that there were unionists who were seeking unity with the papacy at one time,* or with the monophysites, but the Lord prevented such false unity. We know that the Church has not and will not be divided, but there will always be the faithful who remain in the Church as well as those who abandon it.  Concerning those who leave the Church, they can choose to repent and return, embracing the faith again, abandoning  their errors.  Those who were never in the Church, and are  outside, if they strip away their wrong beliefs, can then  embrace the truths of Orthodoxy, accepting the true Church and baptism, and so gain eternal life.

* The union of the council of Florence and Ferrara before the fall of Constantinople, which St. Mark of Ephesus almost alone,  stood in opposition,  and resulted in his glorification by the Church.

   There cannot possibly be a church among heretics or schismatics, nor can the Orthodox Church even consider any other union than with  Jesus Christ. Those outside can be united to the Church after  abandoning their errors.  This is the teaching of our Church Fathers, and Holy Scripture. St. Paul teaches us those outside:“ a man who is a heretic, after the first and second admonition reject,  knowing he is subverted and sins and is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11). Can there possibly be a greater heretic than the Pope of Rome, who fancies himself as the only all powerful Bishop of the church to whom all others bishops and the world must be  subordinate? He, without shame, proclaims the Orthodox Church to be defective because of failure to recognize his majestic authority. The thought of uniting with him cannot enter our Orthodox minds, for he arrogantly assumes himself as having  the keys to heaven and claims infallibility as the only real bishop in the church? Orthodox unity with the Pope is impossible for  it would submit the True Church of Christ to the Papacy,  separating us from Jesus Christ, consequently this will never happen as it  is a false unity.

   The proper approach to those outside the Church is to bid  them to come to the truth which  never fails. If they seek to be united to the Church they must first abandon their false beliefs and embrace the true beliefs preserved as treasures of  Orthodoxy. Because we confess one Baptism those entering are required to confess their sins  and be baptized with the same one true and triune Baptism ordained by Christ’: “Go forth and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” 

   Concerning the Church, we Orthodox Christians believe and know it to be the house of the Living God, founded upon Christ, ruled and governed by Him, for it is the spiritual house that God built.  The Father founded the Church, placing the Lord Jesus Christ as its foundation, the beginning and the end, according to the Scripture: “Behold I lay in Sion, a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6).   After the Father laid the chief cornerstone of the Church. The Son of God built upon that foundation which was laid by the Father, taking to himself the twelve Apostles and the seventy, and sending upon them Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, that they were enabled to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  The Holy Spirit through the Apostles,  raised the building, and established out of all nations the new community called the Church, One Holy, catholic and Apostolic. It is one because it always has the same basis, the Lord Jesus Christ, one and the same faith in the Father  the Son and the Holy Spirit, one and the same legislation – the Gospel laid by Christ, also because its members live holy lives, and are continuously being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, agreeably to the commandments of Christ. 

    As there are people who enter the Church which leads them to salvation and eternal life, so there are those who abandon the Church, “establishing another church”  leading people astray and in danger of perdition and eternal death.  This occurred with the formation of the papacy, which left the Church and instituted  “a new and different church” preaching a new and different Gospel, crowning a new and different head, a new and different guide, anjd a new and different ecclesiology.   

 The Church does not exclude anyone who desires to join it, and keeping with the Lord’s commandments, preaches the Gospel, teaches, catechizes and baptized all who choose to be united with  it. Concerning the Papacy, and all heretics,  St. John the Evangelist says: “Little children, they went out from us, but they were not of us, for had they been of us, they would have continued with us, but they went out that it may be made manifest that they were of us” (1 John 19)

    The heretic Arius taught that Christ was only a man, and refused to accept Him as the Godman,  and from his heretical  idea pseudo churches sprang up claiming to be true churches, but leading many astray. When they acquired political power, they slaughtered Orthodox Christians who would not deny the truth.

     Nestorius the heretic refused to call the Virgin “Theotokos”,  nor do the Protestant of our days do so. Failing to adhere to the truth, but to their personal opinions, heretics always disagree with the Church and choose to remain outside the Church forfeiting their salvation.  All the faithful Orthodox in the world, who believe the truth, constitute the Church.  Schismatics who break from the Church, by their own choice. Place themselves outside of the Church, hence not on the path of salvation.

    There are some who claim that those outside of the Church, by accepting some truths, have a relationship to the Church, but this is obviously a false assumption, for one lie can separate us from God and the Church. The Devil who is the author of all falsehood, does not introduce his lies without disguising and sugar coating them as truth. For example:   Christ is God is a truth. Christ is a man is also a truth. Christ has a nature also is a truth. Although these are all true statements, they are not complete truths, which is how deception originates.  The complete truth is: Christ is both God and man is. Christ has two natures. The Devil cleverly mixes partial truths with falsehood,  covering the deadly poisonous lies with truth.

  Those who embrace the idea of unity by means of ecumenism, call those who speak the truths of Orthodoxy: “triumphalists”.  Whatever they call those who defend truth does not matter, for the greatest Fathers of the Church did not seek unity with heretics but battled against them  until they were driven out. The unity that Christ seeks is with Him: “Let us dedicate ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.”   Let us be faithful to Orthodoxy and seek not unity but new ly baptized people who leave their heresies and enter our beloved Orthodoxy, for, “We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity who has saved us.”

BAPTISM – NOT OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

According to Holy Tradition

CONCERNING BAPTISM:

 Our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed to His Apostles after His glorious Resurrection: “All authority in heaven and upon earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Sprit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded to you; and behold, I am always with you, even to the close of the age.” (Mat. 28:16-20).

  From common practice we know that three things are absolutely necessary for ordinary baptisms, a priest of the Orthodox Church and proper prayers , plenty of water, the Holy Spirit. These are vital and is a holy tradition of the Church, which we all ought to follow zealously.

OUR MATERIALISTIC AGE –RETURN TO IDOLATRY

OUR MATERIALISTIC AGE –RETURN TO IDOLATRY  

  We are living in an age where the origin and destiny of man is degraded by some scientists,  to the level of  mindless matter and the trash heap.  Although man is destined to a much higher  and noble purpose, the advocates of this degradation appear more as haters of man not philanthropists.   We observe that in the media, in advertising, from many scientists, including many around us,  consider matter as everything and establish that there is no such thing as a spirit in man, or a God who created man and  gave him that spirit.  This is true in both the West and the East, and all of the European world. What is the status quo of today?  To this question the facts answer that it is none other than the worship of matter or materialism, the worship of  idols and the worship of money. It is founded upon the total denial of man’s true and noble destiny.

  No one will deny that this is an age of the glorification and exaltation of  physical sciences, which produce gadgets and more 

THE DESCRIPTION AND APPEARANCE OF JESUS CHRIST

THE DESCRIPTION AND APPEARANCE OF JESUS CHRIST

   Concerning the God-man, the Son and Logos of God, the Evangelists and Apostles wrote about His works in the world in the Divine Gospels. They recorded the accounts of His transfiguration, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His ascension up to heaven.  But there were many other private individuals of that period, not followers of Christ, who wrote a more detailed account concerning the life of the Lord.  One who wrote about the character, appearances, form and figure of Christ which is worthy of mention, is the Roman Pouplious Lantoulos, who lived during the days of our Lord, residing in Jerusalem at that time. He wrote a letter to the Roman senate which is as follows:

   In those days there appeared a young man, who is still living, a youth that has great power and whose name is Jesus Christ.  The populace calls Him a strong prophet and His disciples call Him, Son of God. He raised the dead to life; and cures the sick of every type of disease.  The youth is tall but well proportioned.  The countenance of His face is both serious and active, so that those who look at Him love Him, and yet in another way, they are afraid of Him.

GOD IS LOVE

GOD IS LOVE

 We hear the Holy Scriptures and the  hymns of the Church acclaim that God is love. How is this to be understood?   Does God love those who love Him? Does God love those who hate Him?  Does God love those who crucified Him?  Does God love the worst of sinners?  The answer is inevitably  yes, for God loves everyone, excluding no one, and He commands us to love those who hate us especially our persecutors and enemies.

   Love means the bestowing of all the good one has upon his beloved. All the good God has is in himself for he is alone is  good and the lover of man. Love cannot be found in matter but in persons capable of requiting that love. For this reason God not only gave himself as a ransom for us, but he continually gives himself to us as food and drink in the Eucharist.  Although He is God and the Creator, He offers himself to us as food and drink desiring to elevate us to be a god like Him. What unspeakable love! What a beautiful God is our God! How can we not be grateful and continuously give Him our deepest gratitude?

S T R E S S THE KILLER OF SOULS AND BODIES

S T R E S S 

THE KILLER OF SOULS AND BODIES

   A great amount of literature has been written concerning the subject of stress and one thing remains clear, stress is undesirable, being harmful to both body and soul. Endless  reams of articles, speeches and books have proclaimed the need to get rid of stress. There are many recommendations published as to  how to deal with stress, to minimize its effects. Some proclaim the use of chemicals. Others come up with certain disciplines.  Some are taken from pagan religions and practices, and may seem to offer a small degree of help, but no one has offered  a lasting and permanent cure. As in any ailment, it is good to establish a diagnosis,  find its source and the best type of treatment, as well as the hope and  assurance of a cure.

THE MANY SOURCES OF STRESS 

    Many things contribute to stress., among them being  the sickness or death of a spouse or loved one, marital difficulties quarrels, arguments over children, separation, divorce,  personal injury or serious illness, loss of job or income, moving, entering the work force or retirement, serious illness of a family member, 

THE BEATITUDES

THE BEATITUDES 

   The section of Matthew’s Gospel starting with Chapter five through the end of Chapter seven, is known as the evangelical Law – the law of the Gospel given to us by Christ. The very beginning of Chapter five begins with the Beatitudes, which for unknown reasons, are used in other Orthodox churches but, to my knowledge practically unused in the Greek churches.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted,

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 
                                                                  Matthew 5:3-12

  The doctrine of Jesus Christ is the cause of blissfulness, of happiness and lasting joy. Everything that man  seeks is found in Christ not in this material world. Animals find all that they need in this world, but because we are much more than animals, and are spirits, this world cannot fulfill our desires. Man desires to be free and stay alive. Man desires knowledge and builds schools, universities and libraries seeking all the knowledge that exists. Man forms societies to increase his singular  power and accomplishes great things, such a highways, bridges, ships, aircraft, huge buildings, etc.  Summing it up, man wants to live for ever. Man wants to be able to know everything. Man desires to do everything he can and accomplish great tasks.

Man wants to live for ever.             God is eternal forever alive

Man wants to know everything        God knows everything 

Man wants to have all power           God is all powerful, 

 Thus,  there is no question that man desires to be a god like God.  God also wills that we become like Him, but the Devil convinced the first woman to break God’s law and eat the forbidden fruit, saying: “You will become like God” She listened to his deception and death entered the world.  Christ came and destroyed the authority of death which held man captive.

    "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

A person aware of his poorness in body,  seeks assistance until he receives  help.

A person aware of his poorness of spirit,  seeks assistance  from God until he receives help. It is not the poverty that is blessed, but the awareness of poverty, which promotes action.

"Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted."

Realizing his poverty, he cries, mourning to God, who sees his tears and bestows the spirit

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

Those who have mourned over their sins, comforted by God, become meek avoiding anger.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Those becoming meek hunger to do God’s will and keep every commandment.

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

Acquiring justice from God, they seek to be merciful, having first  tasted His great mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Pureness of heart is analogous to clearness of the eye; a clear healthy heart sees God

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God".

Those who reconcile men  to Christ establish peace between them and God          

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Those who reconcile men to God are persecuted but courageous and love moves them to action.

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven."

Ascending the ladder of the Beatitudes, the person who is filled with courage and spirit, endures everything for the sake of Christ and the truth, and gladly undergoes persecution and even death.

HAPPINESS THAT NEVER ENDS

HAPPINESS THAT NEVER ENDS

     Every human being desires genuine happiness and contentment but there are few who find what they seek. Some say: “If I had lots of money, I would be happy;” others say, “If I was married I would be happy;” or  “I would be so happy if I could get a divorce;” the varieties of ideas of happiness are  numberless. Yet happiness continues to be evasive for so many people. So the question is where can one find true and endless happiness, for which all men crave? Where are we to find happiness that is lasting?  The answer will amaze many but it is a true answer and there is but one source of happiness.

    Solving the problem of happiness  lies in solving the burdensome problem of all mankind – death and causes leading to it, for death hangs over all of our heads like a sharp sickle, and none of us has 

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN

Νυν και αει, και εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων Αμην.

Now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

  Many newer translations, sadly, have changed the translation of this important part that follows “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ” which is “Now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  Errors in translation always whittle away little by little at the beauty of our Orthodox Faith, for there are many meanings in words and phrases not yet discovered. Changing the translation removes some the beauty and important knowledge found in a few words, which will be herein demonstrated.  Even “now and for ever and unto the ages of age, amen”, has great significance and meaning, and what appears here  is not exhaustive.

 “Now”  means at this present time, in this present temporary life, now,  while we are yet alive, now before the winds of death arrive, now, before we are called to judgment, now is the time for repentance, now is the time for sincere heartfelt prayer,  now is the time to prepare an apology here so as to be forgiven there, now we can still change our lives, now we can help the poor, now we are able to confess our sins, now we can partake of the life-giving Mysteries.

   “For ever”  is the great and sure hope of all those who love Christ!  For ever means that there is no end, for ever is what Christ is about!  For He died, but, forever, Christ will never die again! Forever is Christ’s glorious Resurrection!  He will raise us up  for ever on the last day! Forever we hope to be with Christ, for ever to rejoice, forever to dance and sing! Forever to celebrate in the kingdom of heaven! Forever to be with the Theotokos and all the Saints! For ever to gaze upon their exquisite beauty.

    But for how long will this last?  “Unto the ages of ages!  Unto the ages of ages means until the end of time, for beyond the ages of ages, when time ends, there is one single day, for ever without end, for ever without darkness, for ever unto the ages of ages is for all  eternity!  What could be sweeter than to be assured that we will live beyond the ages of ages, into the day that never ends for ever? For ever and ever in eternity with the Lord, where there is no pain, no sorrow.  Unto the ages of ages, there will be  no sighing, but life everlasting! And finally “Amen.” May this come to pass! May this be our lot! May we be sealed with the grace of God. May we cross the river of fire by the power of the Cross. Amen .Amen. Amen.

    How important is “Now and for ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen!

 Let us preserve it always.

THE HOLY MARTYR NEOPHYTOS

THE HOLY MARTYR NEOPHYTOS

Jan 21

 Being an ascetic and a martyr, our Saint is truly amazing, for from early childhood, he emulated his God-loving parents and virtues  beautifully bloomed in him, causing him to help everyone who needed it.  He offered a prayer at the entrance to a church, and struck a rock; Immediately a vast supply of much-needed water and milk came forth, which quenched the thirst of many, not only bodily thirst but also the thirst of their souls were nourished.

 Neophytos, tried to hide the virtues with which he was adorned,  never becoming proud and always sought the ascetic life. His mother Florentia in a dream learned about her virtuous child, for she was in amazed  at his many wonderful miracles. Shedding tears 

IF GOD IS NOT THE HOLY TRINITY, THERE IS NO GOD!

IF GOD IS NOT THE  HOLY TRINITY, THERE IS NO GOD! 

 “God is the Lord and has revealed himself to us; blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”

   We sing this hymn frequently in Church, but how did God reveal himself to us? As the  One Triune God   of three hypostases. He is one nature, one essence, one will, not three gods. God necessarily is a Trinity because He as being the perfect Mind, He must have an idea of himself,  a perfect idea, for a perfect Mind can only beget a perfect Logos or Idea. God also necessarily has a perfect spirit. Both the Logos and Spirit have their eternal origin in the Father, and are coeternal having  the same nature.

   The Father is perfect Mind, the Son is perfect Logos, and the Holy Spirit is perfect Spirit. If God were the Father Mind , lacking  

SAINT MARK OF EPHESUS

SAINT MARK OF EPHESUS

JANUARY 19 

   Mark Eugenikos was born around 1392, spending  the greater part of his life in Constantinople. He  had desired to live a monastic life, which he did for a time, but the Lord was  preparing him for a much greater task – the defense of all the truths of Orthodoxy against the false teaching and false authority of  the Papacy, at a time when  Orthodox leaders were fearful of attacks and capture of  their beloved city – Constantinople.   Well educated,  Mark was seriously studious and covered many subjects, especially theology and rhetoric. Although he was living in the world he was not bound by it, for his first  desire had always been for the ascetic life of silence and contemplation. Then as the years went by, his soul became increasingly simple and pure, and he was beloved and honored.  The Lord endowed him firm faith and great stamina arming him with the ability to defend the dogmas of Orthodoxy. This defense was supported by his fellows,  first with little,  and later no support, and even worse came the opposition of his fellows. Mark was ordained a Priest and later elevated to Metropolitan.  Through the providence of God,  Mark would be chosen to champion the truth and uphold the dogmas in discussions with the Pope and the possibility of union of the churches.

   Prior to the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the subsequent captivity under  the Turks, the Emperor and Patriarch hoping   that they could prevent the fall of the Empire, especially saving the city of Constantinople, by obtaining  military help from the west, in 

CONCERNING THE PSALMS

CONCERNING THE PSALMS

     Although we  usually speak of the 150 Psalms of David, there is a 151st Psalm which is beautiful, wherein  David speaks of his being chosen by God and his famous defeat of the giant Goliath.

     This Psalm was written by the hand of David and outside the number, when he fought a duel with Goliath

    “I was the smallest of my brothers, and the youngest in my father’s house; I tended my father’s sheep.
     My hands made an instrument, and my fingers tuned a psaltery.
But who will tell it to my Lord?  The Lord himself; He will listen.

He sent forth His angel, and took me from my father’s sheep; and anointed me with his anointing oil.

 My brothers were big and handsome, but the Lord did not approve of them.
I went out to meet the alien, and he cursed me by his idols.  But I drew his own sword and beheaded him, and took away the reproach from the sons of Israel.”

GOD, NOT MOTHER NATURE

GOD, NOT MOTHER NATURE

“Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; the Lord shall rejoice in His works.

 Who looks upon the earth and makes it quake; who touches the mountains, and they smoke” (Psalm 103:31-32).

     In the days of Emperor Leo the Isaurian in the year 740, a long-lasting and most terrible earthquake occurred in the queen city Constantinople.  The clergy and people understood this as being God’s chastisement for their sins.  They then prayed to the Theotokos and the Great Champion and Martyr Demetrios, repenting of their sins until God showed His mercy and the earthquake ended

THE TRISAGION PRAYER

      We Orthodox very frequently  sing the Trisagion Prayer:

“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.  Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.  Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy  Immortal, have mercy upon us.”  

 And here is its source!                
Commemoration of the Great Earthquake at Constantinople (447) and the Miracle of the Trisagion 

     During the reign of the Emperor Theophilus, the city of Constantinople was visited by frequent earthquakes for almost four months. The Emperor, the Patriarch Prochlus disciple of St. John Chrysostom, celebrated on November 20th, and the people joined in a barefoot procession offering prayer to God seeking their security. While  gathered, the tremors increased dramatically, and a young boy was taken up into the heavens before all the people, who in fear cried out Kyrie eleison! Lord have mercy! 

     When the boy came down from the heavens, he said that he had been among choirs of Angels who sang:  “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!”  and that a voice had commanded him to tell the Patriarch that the people should make supplication to God in this manner. The Patriarch instructed the people to sing  this hymn, and immediately  the ground stopped shaking and the child fell asleep in the Lord.. The Empress Pulcheria (September 10) asked the Patriarch to order that this hymn be song from then on in the Divine Liturgy, just as it is still sung today before the Epistle reading.: “ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!”  Our Holy Tradition establishes that this glorification, over 1200 years old,  is always to be read or sung  not less than three times.

MAN’S FREE WILL AND ITS ORIGIN

  MAN’S FREE WILL AND ITS ORIGIN

  The source and use of our free will can best be understood by observing the biblical account of  man’s creation.  Man was not formed from matter alone as are animals, for matter which lacks freedom, cannot possibly give freedom to man.  Freedom can only come from the source of freedom which can only be found in the Creator of heaven and earth who possesses absolute freedom.  According to Holy Scripture, God gave freedom to angelic creatures,  and man who was created from the earth. Moses gives this account regarding man:  “God formed man out of the clay of the earth. And breathed into his person  a spirit of life and the man became a living soul.”  Thus it is the free and divine spirit breathed in the beginning into man which  enables him to freely become the living image of God, bearing divine characteristics. 

CONCERNING MEDICINE

CONCERNING MEDICINE

      In the book entitled “With the Elder Porphyrios, is found on page 172-3 the following conversation concerning medicine.  “The Elder did not rule out the use of medicine, but  did not give it absolute value regarding its healing role.  One day he asked me, “What is medicine (Greek pharmako?”  I answered, “A chemical preparation we take in order to get well from sickness.”  He was not satisfied with my answer and repeated, “Tell me what  “medicine” (pharmako) means? Doesn’t the word itself tell you something?”  The Elder continued, “Medicine” (pharmako) means “poison” (pharmaki).  Don’t think that medicines only makes the human body better.  They also make it worse.  Why do we take medicine? Because we get sick.  And why do we get sick? Because we get upset.  And why do we get upset?  Because we sin.  If however, we have Christ dwelling throughout our soul, then sin leaves. sadness leaves, sickness leaves, and we throw our medicine away”

THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST

THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST

THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME!

  On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus said to His disciples:  “Take eat, this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance.  Drink you of it all, for this is my blood in the new covenant which is shed for you and many for remission of sins.” 

“This do in remembrance of me!”

 He that eats and drinks the body and blood of the Lord, will be unable to forget the Lord, but will remember Him for ever.  Let us consider, then, what the nature of this remembrance is.

 The remembrance of Christ consists in thinking, what a person Christ must have been to have done such a work, and what a work, for our salvation!  Thinking, that although being in the form of God, and enjoying all the power, authority, and glory of God, as 

being the perfect Logos of the perfect Mind, as the reflection of His glory, and although served and honored by all the angelic and bodiless forces, and master of all creation visible and invisible, He emptied himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the Cross.  

    The remembrance of Christ consists in thinking how Christ, although by nature a God, descended upon the earth, and became  man that I, by nature a man, might ascend to heaven, and become a god; that He suffered the most disagreeable of all things disagreeable that I might enjoy the greatest good of all things good which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man; that He humbled himself that I might be exalted; that He suffered dishonor, that I might be honored; that He underwent hardships, afflictions, sorrows, and pain that I might find relaxation, joy, and happiness; that He died that I might live; and in a word, that He became a poor man without form or beauty that I might become a blissful god invested with honor and glory.  

    The remembrance of Christ consists in thinking how much Christ loved me, to allow himself to be slaughtered and to give His most precious life as ransom for my sake! How much Christ loved me, to become my food and my nourisher, feeding me with His own Flesh, just as a mother feeds from her own breast the child to whom she has given birth!  How much Christ loved me to give me all He had and make it mine, without having received anything from me and without needing anything!

 In a word, the remembrance of Christ consists in thinking of the self-abnegation and sacrifice of Christ, the motive of which was His love for me and the end and purpose of which was my deification!  Dearest remembrance!  Sweetest remembrance of the mystery of Eucharist!  You are more dear to me than all other treasures!  You are sweeter to my tongue than honey!  The memory and remembrance and contemplation of the Son of God delights me, because He is exceedingly good.  It delights me because I understand  how good Christ is rather that I know  what good I have received from Him.      

    Your love, Christ has wounded me in my heart, and how shall I heal this wound?  What medicine or dressings shall I put upon my wound?  Your commandments I shall keep, and your will I will do; for these things are a consolation and a comfort to the soul that loves you, and it is such medicines and dressings that the wound of your love seeks.  You have said: “All things whatever you would that me should do to you, do you even so to them.”

  When we keep the commandments of Christ we show our love for Him.  If we say we love Him and neglect His commandments, this belies our love, and we need to correct it for disobedience of Christ, deprives us of the benefits that the Holy Eucharist confers on us.

“Remember me O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.”

   The Eucharist is the divine food, that not only does good to our souls, to the highest degree, but also changes our bodies, making them noble and beneficial. The body is the inseparable companion of the soul, and the instrument by which it accomplishes its actions.  Because the desires of the body can lead the soul into sins, we are taught in both words of the Scripture, and actions of the ascetics, to subject the body to the soul, its rightful master. If we allow the Body to rule over the soul we surrender our freedom and become enslaved to carnal desires.  This is what Orthodox fasting and temperance are about. We follow the rules of  fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and during the four fasts of the year. This promotes sobriety of the mind and soundness of the body and its good health.

The belief that in the Mystery of Eucharist, the faithful partake of the Lord himself, was a difficult saying to many of the Jews who were His disciples. Christ introduced it to them when He said to the Jews:  “Amen, amen, Moses did not give  you that bread which comes down from heaven but my Father gives you the true bread which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”   (John 6:32). The Jews murmured at him because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. Jesus told them: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.  And the bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”  The Jews strove among themselves and did not understand,  thus  Christ said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me and I in him.” (John 6: 51-56)

   

     After that many of the Jews who were His disciples, no longer  “walked with them; then Jesus said to the twelve, will you also go away?” Peter answered Him, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:67). We all must follow Peter’s example and not be scandalized by the pure words of Jesus Christ!

A SIMPLE PRIEST IN CONSTANTINOPLE SAINT MARCIAN

A SIMPLE PRIEST IN CONSTANTINOPLE

SAINT MARCIAN

OIKONOMOS OF THE GREAT CHURCH

January 10

ST. MARCIAN BUILT  THE  BEAUTIFUL
CHURCH
DEDICATED TO ST. ANASTASIA

 St. Marcian was born in Rome, but resided in Constantinople to the end of his life. He inherited great wealth from his parents, and spent it unstintingly on beautifying churches, giving charity and helping the poor.  He flourished during the reign of Emperor Marcian and Empress Pulcheria, having the same name as the Emperor.  He became a Priest in 453, and shortly after  his parents died, he inherited their  massive wealth but did not indulge himself. Instead he looked after the poor, becoming their benefactor,  abundantly supplying their many needs. He fed   the hungry  and clothed the naked.    

     Father Marcian was devoted toward the Holy Martyrs, and built or beautified their temples, one of them being  the extremely  beautiful church dedicated to St. Anastasia, deliverer from  potions.  His money flowed freely  to the poor and other charities as he also built this  magnificent church, with its splendid furnishings and decorations.  The Emperor Leo I and Verina were invited to celebrate the church’s consecration.  The clergy began their approach the Church as did Father Marcian, but he met a beggar seeking alms, which Father did not have with him.  He could not send the man away empty. So he took him aside and took off his main  garment and gave it to him, leaving the Saint with just an undershirt because he only wore a single garment.  As he was con-celebrating at the service, he wrapped his phelonion  tightly, so the priests would not see his partial nakedness. Then the wonder of it! The hierarch and the other clergy saw Father arrayed in a splendid garment of interwoven gold  shining forth like lightning. When he extended his hand to communicate the faithful, the divine fabric appeared more brilliant, so that no one could miss its radiance.

     At another time a fire broke out in the north quarter of the city with flames roaring everywhere. The hungry flames  threatened the Church of St. Anastasia, and surrounded the saint when he arrived. Not a bit dismayed, with perfect faith and a clean heart before God he went to the roof of the Church holding his Gospel, and standing in the midst of the flames, he said the following: “Christ, God of our Fathers, who preserved safe and sound the Three servants in the Babylonian furnace, do you keep this house unharmed, which we built with much labor and desire. Let not the fire destroy it, lest the Arians should reproach us.  But do you perform a wonder even now, worthy of your magnanimity and goodness, for the glory of your name, and for the sake of us, your Orthodox servants, who have you as our exultation and our joy.” As he spoke tears poured forth from his eyes, as those standing below stood in amazement. From behind the flames, they saw a rushing force that swept away all fire from the church, leaving it unscathed.  Wondrous is God in His Saints!

     In the Church of St. Anastasia of a feast day, a pregnant woman fell from an upper balcony to the marble floor below and expired immediately. This caused great wailing   and mourning for the woman and her unborn child. Then  St. Marcian  turned their weeping and mourning into joy. Raising his hands in prayer he urged the congregation to do the same, together begging God’s mercy. Then, O  the wonder of wonders, the pregnant woman was resurrected and the child leaped in her womb for joy!

St. Marcian, not only beautified so man churches, cared for multitudes of the poor and other works of charity, but he also gave funeral services for those whose bodies he would find. He was observed during the time in the funeral service at the time of the last kiss.  When St. Marcian spoke the words, the corpse  rose up and kissed him, then fell back asleep!

     St. Marcian would go to prostitutes, offering them generous amounts of money lest they continue defiling themselves, due to their poverty.  On every Feast day he would assemble such women, whom he told to exercise continence for a number of days. He would then have them bathe, and the wonderful oikonomos brought them into the Church, and spoke to them sincerely of the punishments of everlasting perdition, that they came to repentance for their iniquities, and some of these women became nuns.

   These are but a few of the many good works of St. Marcian the Oikonomos which he performed during His God-pleasing life. When He fell asleep, all the city came to his funeral, the Emperor and Patriarch and multitudes of his friends whom he had helped.

God is wonderful in His Saints!  Others to follow.

THE DUTY OF CONFESSING CHRIST BEFORE MEN

THE  DUTY OF CONFESSING CHRIST BEFORE MEN

The duty of Confessing Christ before men is imposed on all of us directly by Christ, who says:

 “Whoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

                             (Mat. 10:32-33)

                                                  

 Confessing Christ before men is necessarily  preceded by our personal conviction as to who He is, for without such knowledge our confession is limited. All of men’s behavior and actions are influenced by three things: Faith or religion, our  philosophy, and our political system.  Christ is our Great High Priest, the author and object of our Faith.  Christ is our Teacher and the subject and object of true philosophy.  Christ is our real political leader for He alone is King and robed in majesty.

LOVE – THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES AND THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE

LOVE – THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES AND THE WAY TO ETERNAL  LIFE

      If our life on earth was only an hour long, and we had nothing but Christ, the joy, sweetness and  love we would experience, would fill our souls with delight, and  be more desirable than an entire lifetime enjoying all the  material things, for matter can never replace the God who created us. Further,  without Christ, we are dead before we die.  To be without Christ is to be placed  among the poorest on earth, and to have Christ enrolls us among the most wealthy, far above kings and billionaires.  Christ is the life of all men; Christ is everything  good, the priceless pearl, who desires that no one perish but that all come to knowledge of truth.  It is only in Jesus Christ that we will find the wonders of love, peace and joy,  not only experiencing them but sharing them  as though  our own.  Love is the most important thing  in heaven and on earth, and Paul says that love is the lasting virtue, “love never ends”.

     All the servants of God in the heavenly world, know that God is love and that love prevails among them all.  Here on earth, magazines  that write about love are tainted with erroneous ideas, for love is not found in  the passions of the flesh.

BAPTISM ENTRANCE INTO THE ORTHODOX FAITH

BAPTISM ENTRANCE INTO THE ORTHODOX FAITH

When you were baptized in the Jordan Lord, The adoration of the Trinity was manifest 
The voice of the Begetter bore witness to you, Calling you His own beloved Son.
The Spirit appeared in the form of a dove, Confirming  the certainty of the word.
You have appeared, Christ our God,
And illumined the whole world.
Glory to you!

We refer to ourselves as Orthodox Christians because we were either born into the faith, or we chose  Orthodoxy as the True Church, wherein is found the True Christ.  Herein are important  things worth considering about and discussing.  The Jews identified themselves as being Jews by the particular mark which the Lord instituted as their identification, showing them to be different than the Gentiles, that mark being circumcision. This means that the Jews, as a nation, were marked and cut out, (circumcised) chosen apart from the rest of mankind,  which helped to keep them away  from worshiping their idols and false gods, or from  marrying their women, or following their diet.  The law of circumcision was also a mark of their covenant with God which dated back to Abraham. The Jews did not intermix with the gentiles and usually referred to them as the uncircumcised.

THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF GOD

THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF GOD

Christ and all the Saints

  “When a husband and wife have a child,  one thing they realize is that this bundle of joy is small and weak, needing the loving care of its parents, which the parents naturally give.  

 When the Virgin Theotokos gave birth without seed to Jesus Christ, the small baby also needed to be held and nursed by her, but there was something else, different than all other babies ever born, for this baby is not only a baby, but is also the all powerful true God.  Here is what St. Nicolai Velimirovic says in the Prologue, concerning the flight into Egypt of Mary, Jesus and Joseph:, and the awesome power of the infant Jesus.

    An account of the divine Christ-Child:  Both the great prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, prophesied that the Lord would come to Egypt, and that His presence would shake the temples and destroy the idols.  Isaiah wrote:  ‘Behold the Lord shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at His presence’ (Isaiah 19:1).

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 10

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 10
CHRIST  IS  BORN !  GLORIFY HIM!

  The Nativity of Jesus Christ in the flesh, who was born like each of us as a helpless infant, is now manifest to all.  The All-powerful and All-knowing God and Creator of all, becomes a babe under most humble circumstances. God is in perfect union with man and man is in perfect union with God.  He rose upon the world, lowly and needing care, but also as the brilliant eternal  moral light radiating  from the manger, to all those who visit Him in spirit in Bethlehem.  What appears to be a helpless baby, just by His birth brings peace and joy, illuminating the souls of those dwelling in darkness – the terrible darkness of sin and passions. This light from the infant Christ transforms  the hearts of men, and brings softness and humility with repentance and  amazement, for this event is new and has never happened before. The shepherds were filled with exultation on seeing the heavens opened,  They were afraid at the beauty and the angelic choir singing to them these glad tidings: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord; and this shall be a sign to you: You shall find the babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” . And suddenly there was, with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts  praising God, and saying:  Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will among men”       (Luke 2:10-14)

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 9

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 9

 HYMNS AND ODES OF THE PREFEAST 

     The following  hymns, are among those used during the prefeast  and  the Nativity of Christ, and anyone seeking the genuine  “Christmas spirit”, need look no further for it is totally expressed  in these hymns. These  hymns are filled with the spirit of Christmas and properly  prepare the faithful for the Nativity of Christ. Some  may hear these hymns in a different language miss some of the meaning.  Others may not grasp all the words during choir singing, and others may just find them helpful. It is good to understand the words of what is sung,  for it  benefits our souls. Orthodoxy music is not ordinary but is inspired due to its source in the Spirit. The hymnology of Orthodoxy has been created by many Saints, among them are: St. Romanos Melodos, St. John Damascene, St. Ephraim the Syrian, St. Joseph the Hymnwriter, St. John Koukouzelos, the Nun Kassiani.  Just reading these hymns will fill a believer with the sweetness of the birth of Jesus Christ.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 8

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 8

DANIEL AND THE  THREE SERVANTS

Great are the achievements of faith!  

“In the fountain of  flames, as though refreshing water,
the holy three servants rejoiced. 

Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd 
of lions as if sheep.”

These holy men were Christians before Christ was born!
They were Christian martyrs before holy church martyrs.
They were baptized in fire before holy Baptism.
  They were filled with Holy Spirit before Pentecost
They were in the company of the Son of man before He became a man!
They radiated Christian virtues before Christianity.  

      Their faith and lives remain an example for all Christians, especially  martyrs.  Behold, before us are Daniel and his fellow three servants, Shadrach,  Mesach and Abednego also known as Ananias, Azarius and Mishael. The king sent out his decree demanding worship of his huge golden idol or being thrown into the fiery flames of the furnace. The three youths did not bow and this was reported to the king, who asked them if they did indeed refused to bow down. The three servants bravely and unhesitatingly defied Nebuchadnezzar, rejecting the command to bow down before his golden idol,  and thus the king consigned them to death in the fiery flaming furnace. (details below) Then O wonder of wonders, the flames were not burning them,  but were like a cool breeze as they stood rejoicing and chanting praises to the  God of heaven, and these hymns have been immortalized and are continuously sung in the Church.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 7

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 7 

Every event leading to the Nativity or Birth of Jesus Christ is significant. Now drawing closer to the day of  Nativity of Christ or Christmas, we shall  witness the greatest birth ever to take place in the world,  never  to happen  again. The Most Holy Virgin is approaching to give birth to the Godman in Bethlehem of Judea. Eventually He will be known by many names throughout the world.  

   Among them are  Savior, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Christ, the Head of the Church, the Bridegroom, and Judge of the living and the dead.  Just as the shining angels instructed the shepherds to go to the manger in Bethlehem, so they now instruct us to follow their example, by going to Bethlehem above and there celebrate the Feast with fear and joy!  After hearing the angels, the shepherds,  now filled with great joy and divine zeal, hastened to Judea to offer  homage to the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem.  

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 6

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 6
PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL AMONG  ME

Watching over their flock by night, the shepherds suddenly raised their eyes  up to the heavens in astonishment .  They were very much afraid  at what their eyes  beheld.  Beauty such as  never been  seen before,  glad tidings of the angels of  great joy never heard before, light so brilliant that was  never seen before, a glimpse into the heavenly world never experienced before, and they  gazed momentarily into a world  extremely beautiful, beyond description. They listened  as dazzling angelic powers, with  harmonious and  sweet  voices never heard before,  poured forth words of gladness and great joy, as together the whole choir of angels together sang a new song:

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will among men!”

      As the shepherds listened and watched in awe,  they immediately obeyed the words of the angels and prepared to go to Bethlehem, but let us meditate on the first words of these holy  Christmas angels: “Peace on earth . . ."

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 5

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 5

 

What is Christmas about? It is the Feast of the birth of the Lord in the flesh which we are now approaching. Let us reflect on events leading to this wonderful event.

Isaiah one of the great Prophets of Israel described the future event of Christmas to the Jewish people seven hundred years prior to the first Christmas with these words: “Behold the virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel.” Mentionof this prophesy’s fulfillment is recorded by the Evangelist Matthew wherein the angel addresses Joseph:

“Joseph, fear not to take Mary for your wife; for that which she conceived is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord, by the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin will be with child, and shall bring forthson, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God is with us” (Mat. 1:20-23).

 

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PART 4

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

PART 4   CHRISTMAS 2012

     Concerning the Annunciation of the Theotokos, the word annunciation is Evangelisomos which in the original Greek, means the good news. The good news is not for a few, but for the entire human race of every generation, because the Son of the Virgin, is the Creator of the world and the Savior of the world. Coming to us as a humble man, withoutfanfare, cameras or publicity, for He comes in humility and meekness.

THE REALLY BAD NEWS

     Why is this called good news? Because it counteracts the really bad news, which threatens us. Because we are sinners and will be judged in the last days by God’s justice demands that we pay for our sins, small and great. Unable to escape, we will be condemned to eternal suffering. Our sins are numberless, and like glue they cling to us. We cannot rid our souls of our lies, theft, pride,