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.

COPTICS ARE NOT ORTHODOX BUT REMAIN IN HERESY

                                                             


       

 COPTICS ARE NOT ORTHODOX

BUT REMAIN IN HERESY

ORTHODOX "THEOLOGIANS" JOIN THEM

THEIR HERESY

Admitting the basic truth that Jesus Christ is both God and man, having two natures, they then destroy that true belief, by claiming that the two natures changed into a single nature (monophysite is the Greek term)

ORTHODOX TRUTH

 

If Jesus did not have a divine nature, He would not be God; if He did not have a human nature He would not be man. Natures are received in birth and the two births necessitate two natures. He suffered and was crucified in His human nature only for the divine nature cannot suffer, and He arose from the dead in His divinity.

     How very sad it is that in their Dialogues with Oriental Coptics, the "Orthodox theologians" failed to live up to their responsibilities. They failed to speak the Orthodox truth intheir dialogues, and the Coptics did not leave error and accept truth . Failure to teach them the Orthodox truths regarding the two natures in Christ, the Orthodox "theologians" actually strengthened the Coptics in their heresy. The "theologians" gave them the idea that they had always been correct in their heretical belief, declaring them to be truly Orthodox, which they are not. Instead of bringing them into the Church, they pushed them further away, miring them deeper in wrong beliefs! 

These Orthodox "theologians" have eyes but do not see, cause the Coptics to remain further from truth and salvation. If they had spoken the truth about their heresy, they could have placed them on the royal path to Orthodoxy and salvation. The Coptics declare themselves to be monophysites and declare this to the Orthodox theologians, and continually boast of it to the whole world. Instead of following the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Synods, the Orthodox "theologians", copied the error of the Coptics, by disrespecting all that is sacred, especially the four Ecumenical Synods with all the saints who took part in them, and the many Holy Fathers of the Church who unanimously opposed the Coptic heresy.

PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL THIS CONCERNS

PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL

THIS CONCERNS JEWS

OF THE PRESENT TIME

 

 Many of the Jews,  ill-advised, misled, and convulsed by their envious leaders, the high priests, scribes and pharisees, clamored vociferously, urged on by their evil leaders, urging them to cry out for the crucifixion of Christ.  The cries of: "Away with Him! Crucify Him!" were repeated over and over. These cries cut through the air causing the heavens to shudder, the sun to darken and the earth to quake.

 

Give us Barrabas the criminal, but we don’t want the Christ, they cried. Get rid of Him and crucify Him for He is dangerous with His wonderworking, and wrose He made himself to be God.

     This terrible scene is well recorded in the New Testament. However, prior to this, Jesus forewarned the Jews saying:

     "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones those that are sent unto you; how often I would have gathered your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, I leave you desolate:" and "Amen, I say unto you, you shall not see me, until the time when you shall say: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord" (Luke 13:34-35),

PROPHECIES MUST BE FULFILLED -- Christ' Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem

PROPHECIES MUST BE FULFILLED

Christ's Prophesy of the Destruction of Jerusalem

 

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF

THE DESTRUCTION

OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM

 

     The prophetic words of Christ and all prophetic words necessarily become fulfilled, for true prophets are known by the true fulfillment of their prophecies. Jesus Christ told his disciples in prophecy regarding the temple which they were admiring: "And as some spoke of the temple how it was adorned with beautiful stones; and He said: As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down" (Luke 21:6). In another prophecy, lamenting He said: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem; which kills the prophets and stones them that are sent to you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold your house is left to you desolate; and amen, I say to you, you shall not see me until when you say: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord" (Luke 13:34-35).

THE GLORIOUS TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD AND GOD JESUS CHRIST

THE GLORIOUS TRANSFIGURATION

OF OUR LORD AND GOD JESUS CHRIST

ON MOUNT TABOR

 

       On this glorious day of the Transfiguration of Christ, who desires that we all be transfigured into christs like Him. St. Paul teaches that we must strive toward "the fulness of the stature of Christ." He also says: "Let love be without hypocrisy; despise evil; cling to that which is good; have brotherly and family love among you; honor and esteem each other more highly; be diligent and not lazy; be zealous in spirit . . . (Romans 12:9-11).

     "It is good for us to be here! " Peter uttered these words and laid aside and removed from his mind, the words of Christ concerning what was going to happen to Him. For Christ had previously informed His disciples that He must go up to Jerusalem and be delivered to the High Priests and Pharisees, who would imprison Him and sentence Him to death. Now beholding the glory of Christ he is ecstatically amazed, but "did not know what he was saying, for they were greatly afraid."

     Not wanting such a tragedy to happen, Peter "did not know what he was saying, for they were greatly afraid." Peter’s burning love and zealous warmth for Christ was so overwhelming that he, being limited by human reason, did not want anything "bad" to happen to Him. Forgetting Christ’s words about His suffering, imprisonment, torture and crucifixion, he saw the Mount as a firm secure place and so desired to stay there with Christ and not go up to Jerusalem, where the hatred of Jewish leaders would be manifest.

PROPHECIES OF ST. NILUS THE MYRRHSTREAMER AND ST. KOSAS AITOLOS

PROPHECIES OF ST. NILUS THE MYRRHSTREAMER AND ST. KOSMAS AITOLOS

PROPHECYSt. Nilus the Myrrhstreamer of Mount Athos (1651)

 

      After the year 1900, toward the middle of the twentieth century, the people of that time will become unrecognizable. When the time of the advent of the antichrist approaches, people's minds will grow cloudy from carnal passions, and dishonor and lawlessness will grow stronger. Then the world will grow unrecognizable. People's appearances will change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to their shamelessness in dress and style of hair. These people will be cruel and will be like wild animals because of the temptations of the antichrist. There will be no respect for parents and elders, love will disappear, and Christian pastors, bishops, and priests will become vile men, totally failing to distinguish the right-hand way from the left.

      At that time, the morals and traditions of Christians and of the Church will change. People will abandon modesty, and dissipation will reign. Falsehood and greed will attain great proportions, and woe to those who pile up treasures. Unlawful desires, adultery, homosexuality, secret deeds, and murder will rule in society.

PROPHECIES

A GENERAL PROPHECY

AND

CONCERNING CONSTANTINOPLE

 

     Prophesies are an ongoing and wonderful miracle, for in them is found history before it occurs. Orthodoxy is rich in prophecy and is established by prophecy. All true prophecy is inspired by God. In the following group of prophecies, the first one is generally about our troubled times and what is actually happening in the Church as you will know when you read it.

      The next group of prophecies concerns the Queen City Constantinople, which brings to mind a Christian Empire that lasted longer than any other empire — 1,000 years. Some of the Patriarchs of Constantinople were Photios the Great, John Chrysostom, Tarasios. Paul, and Ignatius. There is a wonderful agreement between the prophecies as each one declares a different detail that helps to understand the following:

     God did not abandon His true Church. Constantinople will be returned to the Orthodox. Constantinople’s second glory will be far brighter than her first glory. She was so famous that she was called simply "the city", and she attracted every type of artisan, scholar, and pious people having had many great emperors who strongly supported the Orthodox Church. Let us rejoice, for after the terrible fighting and slaughter, in the end Constantinople will be restored to Orthodoxy. St. Emperor Justinian’s Church Aghia Sophia (Divine Wisdom) will once again be filled with praise and song. May this come soon!

 

THESE PROPHECIES ARE BEING FULFILLED BEFORE OUR EYES

JULY 2013

St. Anatoly the Younger (+1922)

 

 A Prophesy of Future Lawlessness

 From a letter of the Optina Elder [New Martyr] St. Anatoly the Younger

WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS

WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS

 

What is a Saint? In the Orthodox Church, every member is repeatedly referred to as a saint, and this is the purpose of the Church, to sanctify and glorify its members, for the Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. Some members advance in piety and outstanding holiness which causes the faithful to honor and glorify them long before their falling asleep in the Lord. Saints are not made by numbering a few miracles, but by their pure and holy Orthodox lifestyle, which renders a saint to become like Christ. Icons of such saints often appear shortly after they leave this world, and churches are built in their name, as the faithful recognize their great sanctity, seeking to glorify and remember them. Orthodoxy does not canonize a saint, but glorifies them and a date is set by the hierarchy for his official glorification by the Church.

      At every Divine Liturgy we hear shortly before Holy Communion: "The holy things to the holy." "To the holy" is better understood as "to the saints," for we are all called to live an undefiled and pure life as becomes saints, agreeing with Christ’s commandments: "Be holy as I am holy," and "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Each one of us will be without excuse if we fail to struggle and acquire holiness, for nothing unclean can enter the kingdom of heaven. If we die without repentance and fail to seek holiness, what can we expect, for while God shows His mercy in this world, we will be judged by what we have done in the world to come.

WHY ORTHODOX MUST LEAVE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

ORTHODOX MUST LEAVE
 

"WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES"

AND

"CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TOGETHER"

Membership in the world Council of Churches and preserving the Orthodox Faith are incompatible.

     Full dedication to Jesus Christ and His Church precludes joining any other so-called religious organizations. Dialogue with heretics, i.e. the Papacy and Protestants are forbidden to all Orthodox Christians, clergy and laity for canons apply to everyone. Those who have joined and participate and support these dialogues, jeopardize their own salvation as well as that of many others who are deceived by their errors.

    The unfortunate results of Orthodox participation is expressed by the phrases some of those who utter, "You can’t put God in a box." "The Orthodox should not indulge in triumphalism, claiming to be the only church." Our Lord prayed that "they all may be one."

     To better understand, let us first recall the origin of the Protestant reformers, who believed that the Papacy was the true Church of Christ, when in fact it had apostatized from the Church and evolved into a den of iniquity.

OUR SACRED ORTHODOX CREED AND CONFESSION OF FAITH

OUR SACRED ORTHODOX CREED AND CONFESSION OF FAITH

 

COMMENTARY

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

      A common phrase about Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Jews and Moslems is "we all believe in the same God." However, this is not at all true. Orthodox Christians do not believe or worship the same God as others, for we do not believe in their God nor do they believe in our God. It is not possible for two gods to exist. We Orthodox confess the truth about the true God, revealed to us through Jesus Christ. We sing: "God is the Lord and has revealed himself to us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."

      God is correctly identified as we confess Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for the Holy Trinity is three hypostases and one God. He is a Trinity remaining a Unity and a Unity remaining a Trinity. He is the Creator of everything that exists and nothing exists that He did not create. We also believe in His invisible kingdom, which though unseen with our eyes but is visible to our spirits. We clearly see the Holy Trinity and those who serve Him doing His will that is the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, the Dominions, Powers and Authorities, and the Principalities, Archangels and Angels. We also are able to communicate with these powers from on high.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

     The Father is continually begetting the Logos who is begotten before the ages of time. The Only-begotten Son of God is always in the Father and the Father is in Him. The Father refers to the incarnate Logos as "my beloved Son," commanding us to "listen to Him!" The Father delights in His begetting His Logos and emitting His Spirit which is the life of God. He alone is the true and living God of who we confess in our Creed as being the one God. Those who worship a different God are not in communication with the Creator, for they do not communicate with the true God. Those who do not believe in the Holy Trinity, the source of all life, the fountain of joy and mercy, the living and acting God. Tragic are those who find a different God who is not God.

THE NECESSARY EXISTENCE OF GOD -- IMPOSSIBILITY OF DENIAL

THE NECESSARY EXISTENCE OF GOD

 

IMPOSSIBILITY OF DENIAL

     Men and women have countless ideas, of their mother, father, sister, brother, children and cousins, homes, automobiles, cell phones and computers. Without such ideas men would know absolutely nothing. To have an idea of something is to know that it really exists, for when we say I have an idea, it indicates knowledge of what the idea represents. If we say we have no idea of something it means we are ignorant of it. It is impossible to have any idea without the spirit given by God to all men, for an idea is an image and representative of a being in our spirit. Modern Psychology has erroneously dogmatized that our ideas and remembrances are brain cells. But material brains cannot produce spiritual phenomena such as ideas. It is important to know the source of ideas which is certainly not in the human brain. Ideas and cognition, intelligence and feelings with volition are not matter but are spiritual entities.

      An idea is the image of a certain being which we have in our spirit, and by which the spirit is able to contemplate or consider the being. Without an idea we could not contemplate beings or ourselves.

SODOMY FORNICATION ADULTERY

SODOMY FORNICATION ADULTERY
 

 

 

  The Scriptural divine words herein speak against all manner of sin, for it does not matter which sin we commit, for both small and great sins separate us from the kind and merciful God of love and peace. Sexual sins rage like a roaring fire in the modern world, affecting young and old alike. Sodomy however, is singled out in both the Old and New Testament as something to be avoided at all costs. St. John Chrysostom says that a young man should prefer death to this sin.

re HOMOSEXUALITY:

     "And the two angels came to Sodom at evening. And Lot sat by the gate of Sodom, and Lot having seen them rose up to meet them, and he bowed his face to the ground, and said, Lo, my lords, turn aside to the house of your servant and rest from your journey, and wash your feet, and having risen early in the morning you shall depart on your journey. No, we will lodge in the street. And he constrained them, and they turned aside to him, and they entered into his house, and he made a feast for them, and baked unleavened cakes for them and they did eat.

 

     But before they went to sleep, the men of the city, the Sodomites, gathered all around the house, both young and old, all the people together. And they called out to Lot, and said to him, Where are the men that went in to you this night? 

ORTHODOXY NO RIGHT OR LEFT WING NO SISTER CHURCHES

ORTHODOXY

NO RIGHT OR LEFT WING

NO SISTER CHURCHES

ORTHODOXY VS HETERODOXY

      There are no political divisions possible in genuine Orthodoxy, such as conservative and liberal, or right and left wing, although this term has been used against the faithful in a derogatory manner, by some Orthodox involved in the ecumenical movement. The reality is that there is one fulness of truth, preserved in oral and written tradition, as revealed by the Holy Spirit which is pure Orthodoxy. Substituting or contrary private opinions disagreeing with holy tradition is a distortion, not Orthodoxy

      But what is pure Orthodoxy and what is distorted Orthodoxy? To be Orthodox means to accept and incorporate into our beliefs and lives, all that the Church has believed and rejecting all that the Church has rejected, loving all that Christ loves and hating all that Christ hates. Not one of us has permission to change anything by addition or subtraction, or out of our own opinion. The Church headed by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit always abides in truth. There are beliefs, rules and regulations kept if we desire to belong to the Church. These rules involve everyone and exclude no one, clergy and laity alike, great patriarchs and lowly laymen. The Holy Scripture forbids us to open discussions with apostates or heretics. The reason that they are outside of the Church is because they believe erroneously. They can, if they so desire, reject their error, accept the truths of Orthodoxy. That will enable them to come out from under the anathema and enter the real Church by Baptism and Chrismation, unless they were previously baptized Orthodox.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST VS THE MANY CHURCHES

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

vs

THE MANY CHURCHES

"You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church."

 

 

 

   The Church, its origin and its constant presence is vital and important to those interested in Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and their own eternal life. Christ declared, of Peter’s answer to Him: 

"You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." Early in the second millennium, the western church apostatized from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – Orthodoxy, and proceeded to form the Papacy, they distorted the meaning of Christ’s words, used forged and false decretals, constructing their house of cards. They proclaimed that Christ built His Church on Peter who is the rock or foundation stone of His Church. However, Peter denies this, clearly saying concerning Christ: "Whom, coming to us as a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, precious, you also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore it is also contained in Scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious, but unto them which are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner, a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient" (1 Peter 2: 4-8).

      Certainly, the divine Scripture is not speaking of Peter but of Christ. Christ did not teach us to believe in Peter but in himself, saying: "The words that I speak are spirit and life."

HOLY SCRIPTURE AND THE SACRED CANONS FORBID DIALOGUE WITH HERETICS

HOLY SCRIPTURE

AND THE SACRED CANONS

FORBID DIALOGUE WITH HERETICS

 

"Have nothing to do with them, for they are self-condemned"

      Nations hold dialogues with other nations for various reasons, often offering mutual compromises to settle issues. This has produced the art of diplomacy and the maintenance of embassies in various countries.

However such dialogue and compromise is foreign to the Orthodox Church, even though many have done so over the centuries. A dialogue with those outside the Church to learn of their misbelief and correct them is always permitted, but it is forbidden to recognize them as brothers and fellow believers. The reason is that heresy is extremely infectious and dangerous to the soul. If a member of the Orthodox Church holds a wrong belief, it is the duty of every Orthodox Christian to strive to bring him back in a spirit of firmness and love. But concerning a man who is a heretic totally different rules apply, as St. Paul and the Fathers declare.

HOLY SCRIPTURE

"A man that is a heretic admonish a first and second time, after that have nothing to do with Him, knowing that such a person is self condemned" (Titus 3:10)

 

 

 

 

CANONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES

CANON 46

"We order any Bishop or Priest, that has accepted any heretic’s baptism or sacrifice be deposed; for "what consonance has Christ with  Belial?  Or what  part has the

believer with an unbeliever?"

 

 

CANON 45

"Let any Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon that only joins in prayer with

heretics be suspended, but if he has permitted them to perform any

service as clergy let him be deposed."

     "A man that is a heretic admonish a first and second time, after that have nothing to do with Him, knowing that such a person is self condemned" (Titus 3:10) . In this command, no provision for dialogue is established. Instead of dialogue, a rebuke is ordered, and after that"have nothing to do with him, knowing that such a person is self condemned". Admonish him who is in heresy, then if he does not respond and return to truth , have nothing to do with him for, or you will get infected from him, and his heresy condemns him before God. 

"BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY"

"BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY"

 

 

Orthodox Christianity is not just another religion, in fact it is not a religion, but is divine revelation which came from above . God revealed himself to Abraham, then to his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. Then He identified himself as the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. God revealed himself to Moses who led Israel out of the captivity of Pharaoh, as he guided them through the wilderness toward the promised land. All these servants of God knew of the holiness of God and struggled to become holy like God. The struggle for holiness is the constant struggle to rid ourselves of sins and iniquity and every vice, while acquiring humility, meekness and every virtue, seeking to become more like God in this life. Without diligent work and struggle this is not possible.

FOR CERTAIN THERE IS A GOD

FOR CERTAIN THERE IS A GOD

"I believe in one God…"

 

 

From: ON THE DIVINE LITURGY – VOL.2

by Bishop Augoustinos N. Kantiotes.

      Dear readers, there are many subjects which people busily discuss, wherever they live and whatever their education, but the one topic above all others is that pertaining to Gods existence. People are never indifferent to this subject. Even though some may appear indifferent, there come moments in their lives when this matter sets them off. Is there a God, yes or no? If there is not, then everything is permissible, even the most heinous crimes. If He exists, however, then things are different, and everyone is responsible to the Creator for his actions.

     God’s existence is bound together with the notion of divine justice, a justice that is free of the imperfections and weaknesses of human justice and is able to punish every crime and reward every virtue. This is what St. Paul means when he says: But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6).

NEW MODERN HERESIES

NEW  MODERN HERESIES

By +Metropolitan Augoustinos (Kantiotes) of Florina

 

 

 

 

 

"We will not deny you, Beloved Orthodoxy" – Joseph Vryennios

Lately, certain theologians, under the influence of contemporary, world-wide currents, have begun to savor the words:

"ecumenicity", "ecumenical spirit", and "ecumenical movement"

 

as if they were hard-candy. Ecumenicity; what a beautiful word! And yet, behind these words, lay hidden a most fearful danger for Orthodoxy. What is this danger? We will show you by means of an example.

      Imagine a woman, a woman faithful to her husband, a woman who will allow no third party to enter into their relationship, ever mindful of the promises which she had made before God and before men. She is a woman of exceptional beauty, drawing the eye of many a man. On account of her uprightness, however, anyone who dares to touch, or to proposition her, immediately meets with her anger. Should such a one persist, this honorable woman will deliver a strong slap to his face in order bring him to his senses.

      Those men who are learned in this vile business, however, will try another method. These will try to uncover what it is that this woman likes; does she perhaps love poetry, or philosophy, or art? By means of these things the secret admirer will trap her. With great deftness he will begin having innocent conversations with her on those subjects that are beloved to her. "What a wonderful poem!"; "What a beautiful painting!"; "What a wonderful play!"; "How sweet a piece of music!" And thus begins the dialogue. Gradually the unsuspecting woman is lured into longer conversations with the deceiver who, while his tongue speaks of philosophy and art, his heart leaps at the hope of taking the woman for himself. Finally, after an air of great familiarity and mutual understanding has been achieved through these conversations, the door is opened to the foul deed, the shameful union. Just as the most-evil serpent succeeded in beguiling Eve by means of a simple conversation, in like manner the seed of shameful union was sown.

     Did you catch what we are trying to say, beloved? We have spoken in a parable.

      The woman concerning which we have spoken is our Orthodox Church. She is this beauty. She is the woman who, according to the Book of Revelation is "clothed in the Sun", who wears "upon her head a crown of twelve stars", and who has "the moon under her feet".[2] It is the Orthodox Church which has remained faithful to the Lord, to the eternal bridegroom. It is she who has kept pure the tradition of the Lord and of the Apostles – both written and unwritten – in accordance with the God-inspired call to, "stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."[3] It is she, the Orthodox Church, which for nineteen centuries has fought the hard and bloody battle against various deceptions, against the various heresies which have sought to pollute and corrupt her holiness. One of the worst of these heresies is Papism, which, on account of its delusions, its authoritarian spirit, and its atrocities, caused the rise of Protestantism and the fracturing of all Christendom. Yes, the Papists are heretics. The enemies of the Orthodox Church, including Papism to be sure, know well that she has persevered in the faith of her Fathers. Yet, having been persuaded through many examples that they cannot conquer that fortress which is Orthodoxy by means of a frontal attack, these enemies have recently begun trying by other means. They have begun a new war, a war of peace, a war worse than the Crusades. Do you not hear the voice of the serpent, seeking to corrupt the minds of Orthodoxy, leading us away from our simplicity?[4]

      Here is what the serpent says: O, Orthodox Church! Why do you keep your distance? Why are you afraid of me? I am no dragon; I am a sweet angel bearing the message of love. I am not going to hurt you. Keep your dogmas and traditions. Leave these things to the theologians . . . I invite you into my room to discuss other matters. Let us make a common stand against hunger, against poverty, against atheism, against communism, against war. Do these matters not move you? Does this proposition not excite you? Come then, let us begin our conversation on high, on the level of ecumenicity, on the level of mutual understanding. You will see just how beautiful our coming together can be!

     O, Orthodox Church! Our suffering mother! Will you accept this proposition? Will you enter into dialogue with Papism? Can you not see the danger inherent in this proposition? That those who ineptly and unworthily represent you are creating conditions favorable to your enemies to such a fearful degree that you, without even taking notice, will fall into the arms of Papism. And what will follow then? A union, a pseudo-union, spiritual adultery, a most vile act; something which ought never to have occurred, and which will require centuries of repentance from those Orthodox who played the role of pimp for the Orthodox Church. The hour will come when these will sigh and say: "Let the language which we spouted concerning 'ecumenicity' and 'mutual understanding' cease; let these feet which ran to bring together Orthodoxy and wolves in sheep's clothing become leprous; let these hands which signed ecumenical epistles and documents fall off!"

     This, my beloved, is the famous 'theory of ecumenicity' which some of our leaders savor!

      We repeat: the Ecumenical Movement, under whose umbrella gather all manner of heresies, represents a danger to the Orthodox Church. It deprecates the importance of the dogmas which, having been miraculously articulated in the brief definitions of the Ecumenical Councils, and which are the skeleton, the backbone without which the body becomes a limp and formless lump. It deprecates the Holy Canons, which the ecumenists call obsolete, rusty weapons. To put it concisely, the ecumenists deprecate the Orthodox Church as a whole, saying that it is self-centered, that it is a blasphemy for us to consider her to be the one true Church, possessing the genuine truth of Divine Revelation. Within this context the dogmas and the moral life, inseparably joined in the Orthodox Church, tend to evaporate, leaving behind nothing but a fraudulent version of love. The theory of ecumenicity, the theory which calls all different peoples to live together in the name of some tenuous peace, a theory supported within worldly and political circles in our century and which has already been applied to the spiritual sphere where compromise is unacceptable, will ultimately lead to conflict and turmoil, truly, to Babel.

     Leaven, if it becomes contaminated, loses its ability to make things rise; Orthodoxy, the most excellent leaven, the leaven of truth, is capable of leavening the whole lump, but only so long as it remains unpolluted by foreign ingredients, so long as it remains pure. For this reason the followers of this theory of ecumenicity are the enemies of Orthodoxy. For this reason we do not hesitate to call this movement – the Ecumenical movement – a new heresy, from which the Orthodox Church must be protected.

     In conclusion, during these critical moments when the Orthodox Church stands in danger, we call out to the faithful from our own watchtower: " Orthodox faithful! Remember that Church, of which you are children. Remember the rivers of blood our Fathers spilt to keep our Faith unadulterated; not one iota did they permit to be subtracted or added to our Faith. Remember the rallying cry of the heroes of the Revolution of 1821. These men – may their memory be eternal - struggled first for the faith, and then for their homeland. All of these heroes and martyrs - known and unknown - call to us from their graves: ‘Stand firm upon the bulwark of Orthodoxy!’"

[2] Rev. 12:1-2.

[3] 2 Thess. 2:15.
[4] 2 Cor. 11:3. "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

　

　

　

　

　

IT IS NOT MOTHER NATURE, BUT THE LORD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

IT IS NOT MOTHER NATURE

BUT THE LORD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

 

    Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes ,   Hurricanes, Tsunamis Droughts,

Volcanoes and all natural events

     Not believing in the true God and Creator of all that exists, does not make one an atheist, but such disbelief robs a person of their true humanity, rendering them to become similar to animals and beasts who live for the flesh alone. Without faith and leadership of Jesus Christ and His Orthodox Church, there is no divine-human example to follow and no one with whom to rejoice. Without faith in the true God, there is no hope, without faith and hope, there is no true love. The lack of faith robs man of humility and meekness, and renders him proud and wretched. Without genuine faith, there is no hope of life after death or of union with God. Through the Church we obtain knowledge of the two worlds, physical and spiritual. Events of the physical world are not without understanding to Orthodox Christians.

      What is true about natural disasters? We hear about Mother Nature, and after the recent tornado in Oklahoma, (2013) one writer, addressed a "merciless mother nature", which is how many see things when disaster strikes nearby. For no one welcomes a disaster nor do they wish it on someone else. Our main hope is to avoid disasters; and if they do come, know how to deal with them

THE TRUE CHURCH HAS ONE HEAD JESUS CHRIST AND ONE GUIDE THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE TRUE CHURCH HAS

ONE HEAD JESUS CHRIST

AND ONE GUIDE

THE HOLY SPIRIT

　

　The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,

Holy Orthodoxy, begins all services

with the following prayer to the

The Holy Spiritwho proceeds from the Father
 being our Comforter and Guide

     "O Heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere present and fills all things, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, Good One."
 

Why is this prayer so exalted and vital?  

      Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church, and the chief cornerstone and foundation, nor can any man lay a different foundation. After His Ascension into heaven, Christ sent from His Father, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who alone is the Guide of the Church. Christ would never entrust the Church for which He shed His Blood to any sinful human being, but sent His equal, the Holy Spirit to Keep the Church secure against her enemies. As the Spirit of Truth, He guides her into all truth.

The following is from:
The Prologue of Ochrid by St. Nicolai Velemirovich, Vol. 1 p196: 

HOMILY

‘The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of me."                                              (John 15:26)

The Spirit who acts in these and many similar ways is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth, gracious, life-giving and almighty.

     The Spirit of God does not stand against a single word of Christ’s. Therefore, when the Spirit of God deigns to enter a man’s heart, he is a living and true witness of all that Christ said and did, and the man believes with joy and steadfastness. For how could he not believe the greatest and most enduring Eyewitness of and Participator in all the words ,wonders and acts of Christ. Therefore, my brethren, let us pray, before all and above all, that this Eyewitness of and Participator, the Holy and Almighty Spirit, will come into our hearts, that our faith may be a living faith, unwavering and creative of joy. O God the Holy Spirit, You Spirit of truth, come and abide in us. To you God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit into the world to testify of Him to the end of time: "He shall testify of me."