HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY ESCAPE?

HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE

IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION?

 

     “Therefore we ought to give much greater attention to the things we have heard, lest at any time we should slip away.” For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation ?  (Heb. 2:1-3)

     “The word spoken by angels” is the Mosaic Law, which was most severe, and included the death penalties for many sins, inescapable and rigidly enforced in most cases. Blasphemy, failing to keep the Sabbath, fornication, adultery, murder, killing a slave, kidnaping, homosexuality, idolatry, sorcery, prostitution, and other sins were punished by the death penalty. God’s laws do not change for under the Christian Gospel, they still carry the death penalty.

ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV WITH BEAR

St. Seraphim of Sarov

     You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is of the devil. Never condemn each other.

     Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain from judgment. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult, and outrage and will shield your hearts against all evil.        St. Seraphim of Sarov

THE CHURCH WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL

THE CHURCH WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL

  "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." With these words Christ announces the foundation the Church which He will head, that He will build it, that it will be preserved, and that not even the gates of Hades will prevail against and corrupt His Church. Why did Christ at this time utter these important words which concern all the entire human race ? Certainly not to establish the myth that Peter became the foundation of the Papacy. For Christ had asked this question of His disciples: "Whom do you say that I am?" The question was not about Peter and who Peter was. In fact this question was asked of all His disciples not only Peter, and all the disciples agreed with Peter, as indicated by their silence. When Peter answered: "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God,"

 

PROPHECIES CONCERNING CONSTANTINOPLE

 

PROPHECIES CONCERNING CONSTANTINOPLE

AND AGHIA SOPHIA (HOLY WISDOM)

 

ST. CONSTANTINE’S TOMB    339 AD

　
　

  The Church of Aghia Sophia will be returned to the Orthodox Christans according to the Prophecies. As to the date and time only the Lord knows, but as to events and history, we have limited knowledge, but certainty that the church will be orthodox asgain to the glory of our true church. One things seems sure, and the reader can determine this, thet Russia is going to play a large role in this event to come.

GLORIOUS FREEDOM!

 

GLORIOUS FREEDOM!

FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE

LET FREEDOM RING!

　
　

　

　　THE REAL BUT UNMENTIONED FREEDOM

           We exalt and reverence freedom, we inhale and exhale freedom, and we attempt to share this precious freedom with many others so that they the whole world may enjoy the wonderful gift of freedom. This is our pride and boast especially in America and rightly so, for freedom is precious! This was also  mentioned in the rallying cry of the French Revolution, Freedom (Liberty), Equality and Brotherhood.

SAINT KATHERINE THE GREAT MARTYR

  SAINT KATHERINE THE GREAT MARTYR



 

 

  The daughter of a king (Constantos), lived in the great city of Alexandria, during the period of  Maxentius (304 AD) the unbelieving ruler. Katherine was extremely beautiful, statuesque, and without and most kind and compassionate.

 

    She was tutored by Greeks, was very familiar with poets and philosophers of that era. She also was familiar with the great poets and philosophers of that time: Homer, Virgil, Aristotle and Plato. She was not only learned in the teachings of the great philosophers, but also the works of the physicians Hippocrates, Erasistratus, and Galen. She was excellent in both rhetoric and logic, and   had knowledge of numerous languages causing those who knew her to marvel in amazement at her wisdom.

Akathist of Thanksgiving

Creation

"Glory to God for All Things"

Kontakion 1

Everlasting King, Thy will for our salvation is full of power. Thy right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give Thee thanks for all Thy mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is   to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Thy praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

Ikos 1

I was born a weak, defenceless child, but Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Thy love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give Thee thanks, with all who have come to know Thee, who call upon Thy name.

Glory to Thee for calling me into being
Glory to Thee, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to Thee, spreading out before me heaven and earth
Like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to Thee through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to Thee for every step of my life's journey
For every moment of glory
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age

Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple.

Today is the prelude of goodwill of God and the proclamation of the salvation of men. The Virgin appears clearly in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. So let us cry to her with loud voices: Rejoice, thou who art the fulfillment of the Creator's providence.

         Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4

     


The Holy Orthodox Church  celebrates the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple. Leading the procession into the Temple were virgins with lighted tapers in their hands, then the three-year-old Most-holy Virgin, led by her father and mother. The virgin was clad in vesture of royal magnificence and adornments as was befitting the “King’s daughter, the Bride of God” (Psalm 44:13-15). Following them were many kinsmen and friends, all with lighted tapers. Fifteen steps led up to the Temple. Joachim and Anna lifted the Virgin onto the first step, then she ran quickly to the top herself, where she was met by the High Priest Zachariah, who was to be the father of St. John the Forerunner. Taking her by the hand, he led her not only into the Temple, but into the “Holy of Holies,” the holiest of holy places, into which no one but the high priest ever entered, and only once each year, at that. Zachariah “was outside himself and possessed by God” when he led the Virgin into the holiest place in the Temple, beyond the second curtain-otherwise, his action could not be explained. The Most-holy Virgin remained in the Temple and dwelt there for nine full years. While her parents were alive, they visited her often. When God called her parents from this world, the Most-holy Virgin was left an orphan and did not wish to leave the Temple until death or to enter into marriage. The Most-holy Virgin Mary was the first of such life-vowed virgins, of the thousands and thousands of virgin men and women who would follow her in the Church of Christ. Through her intercessions, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us, and save us. Amen.
Synaxarion of the Feast

PROPHECIES

CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST



What is going on in the middle east?

After almost 2,000 years, how and why did the Jews return their own country?

Why were they dispersed for almost two-thousand years?

Will they one day recognize Christ as the Messiah?

Did God utterly forsake Israel in the flesh?

THE GREATEST HONOR POSSIBLE

THE GREATEST HONOR POSSIBLE

     "There is no greater honor or calling on earth than to be an Orthodox Christian. When the judge-torturer Severus asked the young Peter Apselamus:  "Of what family are you?" He replied: "I am a Christian." The judge questioned him further: "Of what rank are you?" To this he replied: "There is no higher or finer rank that of a Christian." Father John of Kronstadt writes: "The whole world is as a thistledown in comparison with the soul of a Christian man." A Christian is an earthen vessel into which are poured godly strength and light. If that vessel be placed on a king’s golden thrones or tucked away in some beggar’s hovel, its worth, is thereby neither magnified nor diminished. Does not gold have the same worth, whether wrapped in a silk scarf or a cabbage leaf?"                                                                            Prologue of Ochrid

Psalms of David First Kathisma

 

THE PSALMS OF DAVID
THE PROPHET – KING

The Psalms

THE FIRST KATHISMA

PSALM 1

A Psalm of David Without Superscription among the Hebrews

1. Without death is the man, who has not walked in the counsel of the impious, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of plagues;

2. But his will is in the law of God and in his law does he meditate day and night.

3. He shall be like a tree, planted by the outlets of the water, which bears its fruit in its season, whose leaf will not fall off; and whatever he does shall prosper.

4. Not so the impious, not so, on the contrary, they are like the chaff which the wind blows off the face of the earth.

5. Therefore the impious shall not be resurrected for the judgment, nor sinners for the counsel of the just.

6. For the Lord knows the way of the just, but the way of the impious shall perish.

THE TRUE CHRIST–– THE TRUE CHURCH

The publisher of The True Christ, Raphael (Ralph) Masterjohn, was ordained a lay preacher in the 1950's, in the Greek Archdiocese of North and South America, by His Eminence Archbishop Michael. During the 1950's, under the Archbishop’s guidance, with many fellow Orthodox Christians, we held weekly meetings in a very large room at the Greek Archdiocese , East 79th Street, New York City, where we gathered to teach and speak about our holy faith. During those days, the English language barely existed in the Greek Archdiocese churches of America. For many years we also published a monthly periodical called: The Light of Orthodoxy,” This now re-inspired me in my later years to start communication  by means of the internet. I hope that “The True Christ,” will prove to be useful and beneficial to you, and pray that the Lord will give me the ability and inspiration to continue. Please respond with any questions or comments, concerning this blog or regarding our faith, then with the Lord’s help, I will respond as well as I can.

Akathist of Thanksgiving

---

Akathist of Thanksgiving

"Glory to God for All Things"

Kontakion 1

Everlasting King, Thy will for our salvation is full of power. Thy right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give Thee thanks for all Thy mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Thy praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

Ikos 1

I was born a weak, defenceless child, but Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Thy love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give Thee thanks, with all who have come to know Thee, who call upon Thy name.

Glory to Thee for calling me into being
Glory to Thee, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to Thee, spreading out before me heaven and earth
Like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to Thee through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to Thee for every step of my life's journey
For every moment of glory
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age

Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

Today is the prelude of goodwill of God and the proclamation of the salvation of men. The Virgin appears clearly in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. So let us cry to her with loud voices: Rejoice, thou who art the fulfillment of the Creator's providence.

Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4