THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE

THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE

     The universe has a cause for its existence and that is God. The universe came into existence in time. These are words of Holy Scripture and the truths which are revealed by Christian Orthodoxy. God created the universe and is its author, who created and designed everything that exists.

 What was there before the universe was created?  There was nothing except the thought in the mind of God. This can be understood by a house which is nothing before it is constructed. It is a mere thought in the mind of the architect.  Anything that is to be designed and constructed is a nothing in the beginning but a thought, for in order to exist it takes will and action.  Non-existence always exists until the pre-conceived thought is put into action. 

     The entire universe is first nothing, having no existence whatever,  but the beginning of its existence is the creation of matter, through which the entire universe is created and formed.  Non existence becomes existence by the unlimited power of God.  When the thought of God becomes His will, his power is always  equal to His will, matter is created.

THE GREAT SAINT PHOTINI

THE GREAT SAINT PHOTINI

 THE SAMARITAN WOMEN AT THE WELL OF JACOB

    This holy and  Great Martyr of Christ, celebrated on February 26, was the Samaritan women who conversed with Christ at Jacob’s well in Samaria. The Gospel of John records shows how  Christ knew about and revealed her history of many husbands. She was baptized along with her two sons and five sisters after Pentecost.  They went with the Apostles preaching Christ, bringing many idolaters to the truth, for their teaching was filled with the power of Holy Spirit which they had received since Pentecost.

 Nero, the  emperor of Rome, had begun a huge and vicious persecution in 66 AD, for he sought to kill all the Christians, especially the most prominent Apostles Peter and Paul.  His maniacal desire was to wipe the name of Jesus Christ off the face of the earth.  The more he increased persecution, the faith of the Christians increased even more.

   St. Photini was in Carthage with her son Joseph when the persecution began, teaching the Gospel to many people. Victor, her eldest son was in the military stationed in Rome, and was promoted to the rank of general. 

ORIGIN OF ORTHODOX 

SIGNING THEIR CROSS

Introduced to Orthodoxy in the 4th century

by St. Meletios, Patriarch of Antioch 

      Orthodox Christians throughout the world, for almost 1700 years, have signed themselves with the Cross using thumb and next two fingers joined, with the other two fingers pressed against the palm; first to the forehead, then the navel, and to the right shoulder and the left. There is nothing in Holy Scripture or the sacred Canons that speaks of this practice of signing, which originally had been made with a single finger, as mentioned by St. John Chrysostom,  bearing witness to  the importance of oral tradition

  It is good to always keep in mind that the way we sign ourselves with the Cross was introduced to the Church by our holy father, Saint Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch. The way this spread like lightning throughout the Church witnesses his divine inspiration. The Saint was well known for his sincerity and good attitude towards all men, always bearing a radiant countenance and friendly smile, attracting many people to him. He lived and preached the truth about Christ and our Faith, and his character was so outstanding that even the heretical Arians held him in high esteem. The Saint lived during a period when the Arians, who denied Christ’s divinity, were in a majority in Antioch. Erroneously thinking  Meletios to be like-minded with them and their heresy, the Arians cast their votes making him Patriarch of Antioch.  In their battles against truth, the Arians continuously aroused continuous turmoil.  Because of His pure Orthodoxy, the Saint was removed three times from the Archepiscopal throne, and driven into exile. His meek and humble nature radiated Christ from his countenance at all times. 

     There were constant struggles between the Orthodox and heretics which at times became bitter. When St. Meletios was preaching of the essential Unity and of the Divine Trinity, his own deacon, who was a heretic, ran up and stopped the Bishop’s mouth with his hand. Then prevented him from speaking, St. Meletios raised his arm high, opened his three fingers to their full extent. Then closing his hand he raised his fist, showing the unity and the trinity. The deacon then, took his hand from the Saint’s mouth in order to hold back the Bishop’s hand which enabled St. Meletios to speak again. 

SCIENTIST CLAIMS HE FOUND WHERE LIFE COMES FROM!

THE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS

I found this on the net, and I have this to say. This all by itself cries out. Yes, there is a God with a mind that is infinite and he has a logos which all minds have, and a spirit of understanding that also makes it possible for you and I to understand. RJM

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 987 65
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

WITHOUT FAITH NO ONE CAN BE SAVED

WITHOUT FAITH NO ONE CAN BE SAVED

THE WRETCHEDNESS OF 

UNBELIEF AND FALSE BELIEF  IN THE SOUL

  

GENUINE FAITH FILLS THE SOUL 

WITH  HOPE AND LOVE

    When unbelief exists in a man, he  knows nothing of his true destination, why he exists, or that he is the image of God. Unbelief causes the  heart to be cold, lacking the inner warmth derived from genuine faith. The unbeliever becomes a victim and prisoner of the evil one, and though his body may be free, his soul languishes in unbelief. Lacking the ability to genuinely love, the only love he knows is self centered  which can deceive  him to see himself as a good person who does not harm anyone.  His mind is occupied with mundane things,  destitute of  the beauty and the joy of true faith.  Not drinking from the Orthodox fountain of youth and eternal life; the unbeliever  does not experience the delight of praising  the Theotokos and the Saints. He misses out on the joyful  sadness of praising the martyrs.  He has not seen the light of Christ, nor hear  His words of eternal life.  He has not  smelled the incense, or heard the melodious hymns of praise to our God and Savior. He has not felt the nearness of God because he turns his spiritual eyes away in unbelief. This causes him to be self- righteous.  His heart become smaller,  harder, and empty of faith, hope, and love  becomes filled with evil.  Thus, our Lord says: “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Mat. 12:35).

DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR WONDERWORKER AND MYRRH STREAMER

DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR

WONDER WORKER AND MYRRH-STREAMER

 This glorious Saint, was fearless and victorious in confessing Christ as he strengthened and spread the Christian faith. Born of Christian parents in the third century after Christ, in Salonika, his father was a commander in the military under the emperor Maximilian. The emperor was filled with hatred and bitterness toward the Christian faith and he sought to exterminate it from the face of the earth. After his father departed from this life, the emperor appointed Demetrios to replace him as commander. Demetrios was well known and beloved for his good deeds and bravery in battle.

     Despite the emperor’s animosity toward Christians, Demetrios whose soul lived in Christ, openly taught that man was made by God and that man was placed in Paradise to be happy and content. However the Devil deceived man with the purpose to have him disobey God and cause his condemnation and death. Thus, man believing the Devil, was exiled from beautiful Paradise. God, in order to save mankind, sent His Only-begotten Son to earth. Christ was born to the Ever-virgin Mary and He who was perfect God became perfect man. He was crucified and resurrected from the dead; He ascended into heaven and would come again to judge the living and the dead. This was the constantly repeated message of St. Demetrios.

     The Saint was successful; in bringing many to Christ and everlasting life, while at the same time arousing the fury of the enemies against the Saint. They saw Christianity becoming fruitful and increasing, caused them to decide that they would have to do something to stop blessed Demetrios. They decided that the best thing to do was to have him murdered. They soon found a method to accomplish their wicked task. The Emperor was returning from battle and on his way back to Rome he stopped at Salonika.

BEHOLD THE HANDMAIDEN OF THE LORD!

BEHOLD THE HANDMAIDEN

OF THE LORD!

"From this time forth all generations shall call me blessed."

We Orthodox Christians rejoice and praise the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and delight in her many Feast Days, for she is the most exalted of all human beings, an example of perfection for which we all need to strive. Her own Son caused the overthrow of the ancient world of human sacrifice and idolatry, replacing it with the new world of peace and love and good will among men. This new world would form men in accordance with God’s plan to create men and women in His own image and likeness. They are destined to become gods like God and to radiate His goodness and kindness and sacrificial love. This is the only reason for the existence of all that exists on earth and in the whole universe. This is the revelation of the mystery of God’s plan.

More honorable than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim!

       Completely innocent, deeply humble, overflowing with divine love for God, she was given a new name, which no one else had, but many will have in the future, the name given her when the Archangel Gabriel addressed her: Rejoice, "Full Of Grace"! Just the solemn thought of the blessed and gracious Virgin fills our hearts with jubilation and warmth, which draws our hearts nearer to God, where she stands at His right hand as the Queen of all. All true Christians are destined by the seal of the Holy Spirit to become full of grace. That is why St. Seraphim of Sarov said that the purpose of Christian life is to acquire Holy Spirit.
 

Without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos!

     Mary was chosen from among many, for she is the most worthy and holy of the entire human race. She is Virgin above all virgins, Woman above every woman, and Mother above all mothers; for she gave birth to God the Logos, her Son Jesus Christ. She is truly the handmaiden of God, first among all of the Lord’s handmaidens. From her earliest childhood she dwelled in the inner holy of holies in the Temple of God. Then in the fulness of time, God chose the Virgin Mary to replace the ancient temple of stone with her body which would become the temple of God. Being taught and nourished by angels, she was divinely educated from the age of three years, learning all that she needed to know to fulfill her glorious destination.

And are really Theotokos, you do we magnify!

     A handmaiden serves her master with all her heart, and the Virgin completely served the Lord with dedication obeying and submitting to Him with all her mind, all her soul, and all her strength. Her heart was filled with His love, His purity, and His holiness. She did not touch or think of anything evil, instead she radiated God’s light which poured forth from her countenance.

     After being betrothed to Joseph, who would become her protector, she was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who told her that she would give birth to a Son in time who is the Son of the Most High God, and remain a virgin. The Virgin had no desire to please anyone in the world, for her only desire was to please God and love Him with all her heart, and although God so highly exalted her, she sang of her humility saying: "My soul magnifies the Lord; and my Spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has regarded the humility of His handmaiden; for behold, from this time all generations shall call me blessed" (Luke 1:46-47).

     Due to her gracious inner beauty, she is recognized as God’s perfect choice, and God the Father honors and exalts her, especially because He is His own Only-begotten Son and Logos, who would through the Virgin become her Son from whom He took humanity and flesh. Through this beautiful birth giving, the Father Creator and the creature Mary now share the same Son. This shows how close she is to God and how highly God exalts her. Those who dishonor the Virgin , dishonor God who bestowed the greatest honor upon her by their sharing the same Son whom He begets outside of time, and she begets in time. These are some of the reasons that the Orthodox Church sings the truth about her, saying: Virgin before conceiving, Virgin after giving birth, Virgin after child birth, and Virgin forever.

We honor her with hymns such as this:

All of creation rejoices in you,

O Full of Grace

The assembly of angels and the race of man.
O sanctified temple and noetic Paradise,

The exultation of virgins;

From whom God was incarnate And became a new Child;

He who is our God from before the ages.He made your womb a throne

And your body more spacious than the heavens.

All of creation rejoices in you,O Full of Grace; glory to you!

A DEAD HOPE VS A LIVING HOPE

A DEAD HOPE 

VS  

A LIVING HOPE

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope by the Resur-rection of Jesus Christ from the dead"                           (1 Pet. 1:3).

 

       Working, investing and operating a business are necessary things in our lives and St. Paul commands: "Whoever does not work shall not eat." We need to work, and we hope for a good job or successful business, but this is an innocent hope. But there is a difference between placing all our hopes in these things without hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Herein we refer to a total hope in material things as being a dead hope. But hope in Jesus Christ is a hope that enlivens our souls to hearken to His words and keep His commandments leading us to eternal life.

     There is a living hope and there is a dead hope, and there are many who place their hope in material things which is a dead hope, while all who place their hope in the Living God and the resurrected Jesus Christ, have a living hope. Hope is a strong influence in everyone’s life, for it energizes us to struggle for the object of our hope.

WHY DO MEN TRUST EACH OTHER BUT NOT GOD?

WHY DO MEN TRUST EACH OTHER BUT NOT GOD?

 

St. Cyprian writes concerning immortality:

 

"Whenever any famous person promises you something, you trust in his promise, not thinking that he will prove to be deceptive, since he is always true to his word. But behold, O distrustful man, God himself speaks to you and you vacillate in doubt! God has promised you immortality when you leave this world, and do you impudently doubt and ignore His promise? This means that you do not recognize God at all; it means that you insult Christ our Lord and Teacher with your lack of faith."

      Nothing in this world lasts including our short sojourn here. One day, often without knowing, we will each sit down to our last meal, we will lay down for our final night’s sleep. We will see our family and those we love and friends for the last time, for everything here in this world has a beginning and an end. We are born as infants and we die, possibly before old age. Death is often sudden and without warning, so action must be quick and meaningful. But beyond death we will encounter whatever we have chosen, either eternal life or the second death, from which there is no return. If we have not with faith, entered the struggle for life, it is not possible to enter eternal life.

      Our choice doesn’t mean that we will go to Church, perform acts of mercy, or help the poor, all being good, but our choice means, changing our life, beginning with sincere repentance. To be Orthodox Christians is to live for Christ, to love Christ above everything, to recognize Him as the first and most important and center of everything in our lives. True love cannot be lukewarm but must be hot, lively and sacrificial. Our Lord testifies to this, saying: "I would that you were either hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth."

      We need to plan here and now for eternity where there is no yesterday or tomorrow, no day or night, but only today without end. Sooner or later, we will all depart yet we give it little thought, even though it involves the most important decision of our lives. We make many decisions every day, but this decision is the most important that we will ever make, for it will determine either our eternal life or eternal death. How can we escape if we ignore the Logos of God who became incarnate to save us? How can we hope for a future life of rest and eternal happiness, if we do not obey and love Him in return? How can we escape if we do not have firm and absolute faith in the Son of God, for if we fail to have faith, it means that we reject Him and His blessed offer to us. We need to at least make a beginning and put forth the effort to do what He teaches us, beginning with our personal repentance and confession of our sins.

 

      He confirms His perfect love for us, and whether we love Him or not, He will always love us, for God is love. By His descending and taking on our humanity, and becoming one of us, although being God, He humbled himself even to the Cross and death, but arose on the third day never to die again. He did this to grant us eternal life in return for keeping His commandments and by sincerely loving Him in return for His love and great mercy to us.

 

      Jesus Christ is the God that never changes, and every word He spoke affects every one of us. Have we even listened to His words? Have we even begun to fulfill His commandments? He made it clear that He alone is the path that leads from earth to heaven, from temporary life to eternal life. What will happen to those who are disinterested and refuse to be saved?

 

      We trust in others about our cares in life, why do we fail to trust the one who brought us into existence and who will be our judge, for He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. We trust others, and believe so many other things about life; we get medical help and trust our doctors and pharmacists, our pilots, why do we not trust the one who gives us our lives and everything else gratuitously? We trust others who do not love us; why do we not trust the one who loves us conditionally whose name is Love?

 

     Moses the Great told Israel that there were two paths, that of life and that of death saying: "Choose life that you may live." Christ, whom Moses prophesied would come, says: "I am the resurrection and the life!" This present temporary life is really our battleground, and God the Father, through the Prophets and Jesus Christ battled against the Devil and His authority over man. Christ stripped him of that authority concerning those who follow Him. But without Christ, we are simply playthings in the hands of the Devil who hates and despises us and seeks our condemnation so that we end up being like him in eternal torment. He convinces men that there is no future life, no judgment, and when you die you dissolve into nothing. Enjoy this life! So eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die!" This is the venom from the serpent that poisons men who do not seek to acquire faith, refusing to trust God. There is no choice, for if we do not place our trust in God, we certainly place it in our worst enemy, the Devil.

 

      If we choose death ignoring the promise of life, we will have chosen to suffer and be tormented. We cannot change after death and whatever we have trusted in this world will be ours in the next life. Even if we were offered the kingdom of heaven, we would refuse it, for we will be aware of our own condemnation and cannot change. If we now choose life, we shall avoid the second death and live for ever in the kingdom of Christ. There we will rejoice and be glad and leap about happily being filled with divine energy and love, and every moment will be blissful and behold beauty such as we could never begin to dream about. There will be no tears or sighing but life everlasting, for God will wipe away every tear, and His perfect love will continuously refresh and surround us.

SAINTS AND THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ORTHODOXY

SAINTS AND THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ORTHODOXY

ST. PAUL INFORMS  ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM





 

      Saints, Martyrs, the Devout, the Just or Righteous, and Wonder-workers, are some of the names we use to honor those among the Saints. They have struggled with great faith and love to serve God first and above every other effort. Some struggled in the desert, with fasting and asceticism, others lived in monasteries and caves, and many lived in the inhabited world, all having one desire, to faithfully serve and love the living God and Creator of all, and to leave this world having full confidence and hope of a good apology at the dread judgment seat of Christ and of everlasting life in the world to come.

     Standing out among the great Saints important to Orthodoxy is St. John Chrysostom. Archbishop of Constantinople (Nov. 13). St John was born around the middle of the fourth century and had lived in Antioch in Syria. Here is a brief account showing that the Saint did not interpret the Scriptures out of his own ideas, but received help directly from the author, in this case, the Apostle Paul.

     John was called Chrysostom, which means golden-mouthed, and he was a superb orator, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Golden-mouthed includes not only his manner of speaking, but also what he said, for he was highly endowed with fiery and divine Apostolic zeal. He was a great beacon of the Church and teacher to the inhabited world.

CHRISTMAS CAROL TELLS OF SAINT WENCESLAS

 

CHRISTMAS CAROL TELLS OF SAINT WENCESLAS

        "The Christmas Carol "Good King Wenceslas" tells of the Czech King (Vatslav) Wenceslas, whose grand-mother is the Holy Martyr Ludmilla. During his lifetime Czechs were Orthodox. Wencesles was became a holy Martyrwhen slain by his own brother."                                                           Prologue # 3

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
Then a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.

 

Hither, page, and stand by me.
If you know it telling:
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me pine logs hither.
You and I will see him dine
When we bear the thither.

Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together
   Through the rude wind’s wild lament
   And the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.
Ark my footsteps my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his master's step he trod,
Where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

 

THE WESTERN RITE IN ORTHODOXY

THE WESTERN RITE IN ORTHODOXY

      Orthodoxy does not have a Pope, but we do have both good and not so good theologians and bishops, some who love Orthodoxy and some who, without realizing, act against our Holy Traditions. In many cases the faithful are completely unaware and disinterested in what is happening in the Church, and thus the Church is in the process of losing one of its most important defenders – the faithful laity who care about preserving the truth and the Orthodox Faith.

     What is the Western rite? Ostensibly, they say it makes it easier for those in the west to become Orthodox. In reality it is an infiltration, sponsored by Orthodox Bishops, of papal tradition into holy Orthodoxy, accomplishing what the Papacy has often attempted without success, which is to subdue and somehow destroy Holy Orthodoxy. Some will scoff at this, but a little leaven can accomplish much, to leaven good or evil. To accomplish this, first Orthodoxy must, in the eyes of its members, be watered down and gradually changed in their minds into just another rite. The Papacy has already proven this possible through the Byzantine rite churches which preserve the form, but have lost the grace of the Holy Spirit, which enlivens the Church. They look Orthodox but are of the papacy.

     Bishops are called upon to be an example of Christ, to become Christlike, leading the Orthodox faithful on the path of truth and eternal life, helping them to avoid the errors of those outside the Church. Their office requires them to to repeatedly proclaim the glorious truths of Orthodoxy while protecting their sheep from the wolves, such as the papacy, protestantism, and all errors.

SAVING AND INVESTING FOR OLD AGE

SAVING AND INVESTING FOR OLD AGE

The quotes below are from the Prologue of Ochrid

      "Many people, out of ignorance, exert themselves to avoid suffering in old age, and terminal illness, rather than to avoid the pains of hell in the life that follows old age and death.

     There was an unmarried miser who, from year to year, strove to acquire for himself superfluous riches. When he was asked the point of so much toil and acquisition of goods, which were too much for his lifetime, he replied: "I’m gathering them for my old age. My goods will tend and feed me in old age and sickness.

      In old age, a serious and long lasting illness fell upon him. He spent and distributed the money he had saved to doctors to heal him, and to servants to look after him and feed him, but the money ran out and the illness continued. His doctors and servants left him, and he fell into despair. His neighbors brought him bread until he died, and he was buried at public expense.

IMPORTANT BIBLE MISTRANSLATIONS

IMPORTANT BIBLE MISTRANSLATIONS

Hebrews 10:11-14

St. Paul speaks of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ in his Epistle to the Hebrews.

"And every Priest stands in daily ministrations often with the same sacrifices – but this man (Jesus) after he had offered one sacrifice for ever, sat at the right hand of God; from henceforth until his enemies become the footstool of his feet. For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:11-14).

     The mistranslation of the text above supports the General Protestant view in opposition to that of the Papacy. Could this have been their intent? The reason for saying this is that elsewhere they translate correctly the word from original Greek into "forever." The Protestant view is that Christ’s sacrifice was a single occurrence and therefore the Mass of the Papacy was incorrect declaring each Mass as a sacrifice. The Protestants generally do not solemnly celebrate this most important part of church services, nor do they think that Eucharist is anything other than bread and wine, thus they are in opposition to the correct and Orthodox truth.

 

Here is the correct translation as in the original Greek:

"And every Priest has daily stood ministering often with the same sacrifices – but this man (Jesus), after he had offered one perpetual sacrifice, sat at the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting, until his enemies become the footstool of his feet. For by one offering He has perfected perpetually them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:11-14). The word mistranslated as forever and correctly translated as perpetual is di-inekes. Interestingly in the Orthodox Study Bible, this same word is translated correctly in Hebrew 7:3 as continually, where he speaks of the priesthood of Melchisedec, but in the same book of Hebrews, speaking of Christ’s priesthood, both verse 10:12 and 14 are mistranslated as forever!

THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us this prayer.

                                                                                       

      We are not certain, but we have not seen or heard of Orthodox churches changing to the use of a correct translation of the Lord’s Prayer. The well known and often repeated Protestant version, that says "our daily bread" goes back to the reformers; and the Orthodox Church continues using their poor translations. Anyone that understands some Greek can see the missing and changed words. On the left is the standard version of the reformers, the same as used in the Orthodox Church. On the right side is the corrected text with proper translation as taught by Christ.

                                                                                                                                                       

Our Father who art in heaven       Our Father who art in the heavens

Hallowed be they name                 Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come                        Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,                           Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven,             On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day                              Give us this day

Our daily bread                               Our most essential bread

And forgive us our trespasses         And forgive us our debts.

As we forgive those who

trespass against us                           As we forgive our debtors,

And lead us not into

temptation                                       And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil                  But deliver us from the evil one

"For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages, Amen."

      God is everywhere present and fills all things, he is outside of everything and within everything, He is on earth and in the heavens, and there are three levels of heaven, the spiritual abode of the Angels and Archangels and all the heavenly powers. In the highest and third heaven is His Throne. The word mistranslated "heaven" is plural in the original text. Hence we pray to "Our Father who art in the heavens."

LORD HAVE MERCY!

LORD HAVE MERCY!

 

    The cry, "Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy", is continually repeated in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church throughout the world, being used more than any other phrase, and is repeated in all prayers and services. One of the reasons for this repetition is that it arouses the disposition in our souls to be merciful to others, for we cannot ask for mercy without offering it. In asking God for His mercy, we learn to bestow mercy on others, in accordance with the Beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." The other reason is asking God for mercy, places us under His Son who alone brought His great mercy into the world, making it available to all.

     Why do we ask God for mercy and what is the mercy that we seek, it is very important to know where we stand, how can we aware that we have received His great mercy? 

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH THERE IS NO PURGATORY

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH

 

THERE IS NO PURGATORY

 

 

      Generally people shy away from the thought of death, but it is vital to know the truth as to what happens after death. The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has always taught all that Christ and the Apostles and Holy Fathers taught. There are only two places to where we our souls can go after death, a place of repose in heaven and everlasting life, or Hades awaiting Gehenna. The souls will not be on one level in either place, but each will be placed according to what he has done. Christ mentions that in His Father’s house are many mansions. Each soul, according to its worthiness of reward, will be in its proper place. Those who have done evil will be in a different place suffering torment according to the gravity of their sins. Also, some of the souls which have not committed a sin that is unto death, and who repented before death, but had no opportunity to bring forth fruits of repentance, are helped by the prayers of the church.

     The Roman Catholics or Papacy, after separation from the Church, invented for the sake of filthy lucre, a third place which they called Purgatory, which the Papacy defines as follows: "Purgatory is a state of suffering after this life, in which those souls are for a time detained who depart this life after their deadly sins have been remitted as to the stain and guilt, and as to everlasting pain that was due them; but who have, on account of those sins, still some debt of a temporal punishment to pay; as also those who leave this world guilty only of venial sins. In purgatory those souls are purified and rendered fit to enter into the kingdom of heaven, where nothing defiled enters."

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?

The following is a reply to a youth named Andrew who asked a very important question, about fifteen years ago. The following is his question and my reply.

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?

Can we prove that God exists?

 

This question has been asked by many children and adults. Here is an answer.

All we need to do is use our minds and open our hearts.

We all have a mind through which we think, but no one has ever seen a mind.

 1. We "see" things in two ways. We see many things with our eyes.
2. We "see" with our soul, that is, without our eyes. We see, when we remember.

3. We see an airplane overhead, but we do not see the pilot, but we visualize or see him in our mind.

4. Our heart is beating, but we cannot see it. We breathe in air but can’t see it.

5. We see a big elephant. But if he is not around we can see him in our memory.

6. We speak to someone on the phone. We do not see them.

7. When you see a car or a bicycle, you know for certain that someone had to make them.

8. You also know that toys and cars are made by men, not by monkeys or donkeys.

9. You know that someone built the school, and put desks and things inside.

10. You know that someone made the TV, the refrigerator, the toaster, the iron, the mixer, and the house that you live in.

11. You eat food, and while you know it goes into your stomach, but don’t see it there.

12. You know that trains, planes, and boats are made by men.

13. You know of so many things made by men.

14. Everything that man has made can be traced back to a man.

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?

The following is a reply to a youth named Andrew who asked a very important question, about fifteen years ago. The following is his question and my reply.

HOW DO WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?

Can we prove that God exists?

  

     This question has been asked by countless children and adults. Here is an answer.

All we need to do is use our minds and open our hearts.
 

We all have a mind through which we think, but no one has ever seen a mind.

 

1. We “see” things in two ways. We see many things with our eyes.

2. We “see” with our soul, that is, without our eyes. We see, when we remember.

3. We see an airplane overhead, but we do not see the pilot, but we visualize or see him in our mind.

4. Our heart is beating, but we cannot see it. We breathe in air but can’t see it.

5. We see a big elephant. But if he is not around we can see him in our memory.

6. We speak to someone on the phone. We do not see them.

7. When you see a car or a bicycle, you know for certain that someone had to make them.

8. You also know that toys and cars are made by men, not by monkeys or donkeys.

9. You know that someone built the school, and put desks and things inside.

10. You know that someone made the TV, the refrigerator, the toaster, the iron, the mixer, and the house that you live in.

11. You eat food, and while you know it goes into your stomach, but don’t see it there.

12. You know that trains, planes, and boats are made by men.

13. You know of so many things made by men.

14. Everything that man has made can be traced back to a man.

15. Man makes something and it breaks. We bring it to a man who is able to fix it and make it work.

16. Your car breaks down or doesn’t start, you or your dad call an good mechanic to have it fixed.

17. When you eat eggs, you know that there was a hen who laid the eggs.

18. When you eat a banana, you do not see the tree but you know it had to come from a banana tree.

19. When you see a picture you recognize it for it is imprinted in your spirit.

20. You enjoy the sun, water for swimming, and long walks, with gratitude.

21. This gratitude is meant for the God who is good and merciful and alone loves mankind.

 

THE WORLD

The world that God made

The world we live in is the world that God made

Man did not make this world, but lives in it as a guest of God.

God the Creator can do anything

If there were no God there would be no world, no man, no sun, no moon, nothing.

And we would not know this because we would not be here.

There are men everywhere.

There are animals, fish and birds.

There are trees and flowers and fruit.

There is water to drink and air to breathe.

There is fire to cook on and to keep us warm.
There is the moon and stars at night

There is sunshine in the day.

Without the lights we could not see.

God taught the bees how to make honey.

God made flowers sweet and pretty.

God taught the trees and plants to grow.

God made the sun, the moon and the stars.

God made man and woman and married them.

God made the water that we drink.

God made the air we breathe, and the food we eat.

God made the summer and winter.

God made the nights and days.

God made the elephants, the tigers, lions.

God taught the birds to fly.

God taught the fish to swim.

God told the plants and trees to make seeds.

God’s providence governs all creation.

God created everything from nothing.

God gave us our minds, our hearts, and our bodies.

The proof that God exists is in everything else that exists. He created everything.

God chose the Hebrew people, because of a man named Abraham who refused to bow down and worship wooden idols as being God.

Andrew, in answer to your question:

 

“Can you prove that God exists?"

Abraham showed us the best proof.

He spoke directly with Him.

The great faith of Abraham

      At first Abraham did not see God. He knew that the wooden idols that his father bowed down to as gods, could not be God the Creator. More so, when he saw that they had to be guarded so that no one would steal them.

      Abraham was seeking to see God, and he did. He did not see Him with his eyes, but with the eyes of his mind. He looked at the sun, the moon, the stars, the sea, everything that God made, and cried out to Him!

     God answered Him because Abraham was seeking Him. Everyone who sincerely seeks God will also see Him.

     Abraham was given a son named Isaac and God promised that through him he would have many grandchildren and great grand-children, etc. through his one son Isaac. God demanded that he offer his only son as a sacrifice.

 

Abraham did not hesitate and, with Isaac carrying the wood, prepared the fire and sacrifice; but an angel of God stopped Him, giving him a ram instead. Abraham’s great and magnificent faith was unequalled and stronger than anything and he trusted completely in God's words  and promises. The  pure faith of Abraham is our faith, the faith of Orthodox Christians. We are the children of Abraham, for we live and die in total faith in Jesus Christ, rejoicing in the hope of eternal life.

     The descendants of Abraham were became the nation of Israel. Sadly, the Hebrew people did not always follow God but chose to make idols for worship and ignoring God’s law, they did many other evil things.

 

     Moses, who was God’s friend and servant, performed many wonderful and supernatural things through God’s power. He sought the freedom of his people who were held in bitter bondage and treated worse than slaves.

 

     Moses warned Pharaoh that God wants him to let his people go. When Pharaoh refused, Moses brought many plagues upon the Pharaoh and all of Egypt, to compel the Pharaoh to set God’s people free. God promised to bring his people to a promised land, flowing with butter and honey.

     After the angel of death took the life of the Pharaoh’s first-born son, he decided to let the Hebrews go free. But after some time, Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to chase the Hebrews with huge armies, planning to kill all of them.

God, who is always protecting His people, instructed Moses what to do. When the whole nation had reached the sea, the people began to panic, thinking they were trapped and would be killed, for they had no faith. They knew that Pharaoh was chasing them, and that they were standing still facing the sea. But Moses showed them the glory of God their deliverer! Moses signed the water with the vertical part of the Cross. The waters immediately parted and the Hebrew people walked through the Red Sea, with their feet still dry.

     When Pharaoh and his armies, moving fast in their anxiety to kill the Jews, entered the dry bed of the Red Sea, Moses, as God told him, made the horizontal sign of the Cross over the sea. The waters closed in and Pharaoh was drowned and all his armies were annihilated.

     After establishing the Jews in their land as He had promised, God sent them many Prophets, who spoke of the Messiah or Christ which was promised by Moses, saying that he would be raised up by God. Many Prophets told in very great detail all about Jesus Christ the Messiah, and that He would soon come. Isaiah the Prophet says:

“Behold the Virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel."

  

     Almost two-thousand years ago, Jesus Christ the Messiah did indeed come and was born of the Ever-Virgin and Theotokos Mary. A very small amount of the Hebrew people believed and accepted their  Messiah. Especially strong in their faith were the Apostles, who were Jews.

     Who is Jesus Christ? He is the God who created us who came down from heaven becoming the Godman. He taught us how to live, not to lie, not to steal, not to curse, not to do any evil, and to do only good. He taught us about loving Him and loving each other.

    He founded His Church, Holy Orthodoxy and has preserved it unchanged for almost two thousand years! In the Church we learn many things, and therein we worship Him in spirit and truth.

Jesus Christ cured crippled people.

Jesus Christ cleansed the lepers.

Jesus made eyes for the blind out of soil.

Jesus gave the deaf hearing and the mute speech.

Jesus changed plain water into delicious wine.

Jesus walked on the surface of the sea.

The wind and the waves obeyed Him. He looked into men’s hearts, knowing their thoughts.

He taught us to imitate Him, to become like Him, humble and meek, getting rid of pride and anger.

Jesus taught us by example that all who love Him must also love each other. He said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love each other, even as much as I love you."

 

Andrew, God came down to earth and spoke with us.

I have shown you perfect proof that God exists.

Christ has shown us that He is God:

Only God can raise the dead. Only God can give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and cleanse the leper.

Andrew, give God a call and speak to Him. It is called prayer. Like this:

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

My God and Father in heaven, my name is Andrew and I want to know you more. I would like to talk with you. I want to love you because you are good. You gave me my existence, my life, my mind, my heart and my body, everything came from your goodness.

I thank you for making me.

I thank you for the air I breathe, the water I drink, and the food that you give.

I thank you for my Dad and Mom, for my sisters and brother, for my grandparents also.

I thank you for giving me the ability to think, to listen and to speak.

I thank you for keeping my heart beating continuously.

My God, do not forget me, Andrew; and that I called you like Abraham.

I will talk to you again soon.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AWAKEN!

THE ATTACK IS FROM WITHIN!

THE BALAMOND BETRAYAL

 The First attack by the Orthodox enemies within: They accuse the Seven Ecumenical Synods of Orthodoxy of error. Claim that the Orientals  believe correctly and were falsely accused of being heretics!

                Balamond in Lebanon

 

     The Second attack by the Orthodox enemies within: The blasphemous Balamond agreement, which establishes two sister churches!

       The untheological theologians who meet with heretical groups outside the Church either are unqualified to dialogue or they are programmed within certain parameters set by higher authority. What they neglect to do is to defend the truth and bring people to the salvation which is only found in the Church. They fail to confess the true Christ before men, and they disagree with the authority of the Holy Spirit. They establish lies as truth and truth as lies; they deny the truth that there can only be one Body of Christ , the Orthodox Church.

   

     Of what benefit were the dialogues with Oriental churches which we recently exposed concerning their persistence in heresy? The Coptics can shout their objections to being called monophysites, they can falsely assert that the Holy Church treated them unfairly. But they remain in heresy; they remain monophysites even though they deny it. For they firmly believe that the divine and human natures of Christ became one nature, in contradiction to the decision of the Holy Spirit who guided the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Synods, to the truth concerning the two natures in Christ.  But the misguided Orthodox theologians tell them that they are correct, were unjustle treated and belong in the Church.  In this falsehood they overthrow the truths of Orthodoxy and all its tradition.

      In this article we will expose the alomst unbelievable and  amazing folly of the Orthodox participants, which include representatives of the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, the Church of Russia, Romania, Cypress, Poland, Albania, and Finland. The Secretary was Archbishop Spyridon of Italy, who would later become Archbishop of the Greek Archdiocese.