THE POWER OF THE CROSS

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow our Savior

   During this week, Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Cross Week, for the Cross is raised on high at the midpoint pf the great Fast. The Cross, formerly an instrument of weakness and death, is gloriously transformed. Christ changed  the cross by His willing  death, into a fountain of life and a most formidable weapon for Christians. With it we sign ourselves, and are protected, we bless our loved ones, and they rejoice, we bless our homes and automobiles, thereby securing our family’s happiness and safety. Our food becomes more nourishing and tastes better when blessed with the sign of the Cross.  It is of great importance, that this week we heed the commandment of our Lord, that we “take up our cross daily and follow Him.”

   The beginning of everything good, the path that leads to life begins when we heed God’s command, is to begin  to deny ourselves and turn inwards to our inner man. We are efficient in caring for the outer man, our mortal bodies. We wash, brush our teeth, comb our hair, cover our bodies with clothing, so as to look nice. But, are we washing the outside of the cup leaving the inside unclean as Christ says?  Out of love, He seeks to cure and cleanse our souls, the inner man, as being most important. Sadly few are interested in the welfare and good state of their immortal souls. Why is it that we care for the lesser and ignore the greater, especially when the Lord says: “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

THE CROSS ONCE A SOURCE OF DEATH IS NOW THE ONLY SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

THE CROSS ONCE A SOURCE OF DEATH 

IS NOW THE ONLY 

SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

The Holy Cross is Honored During 

the Entire Third Week of the Great Fast 

   In ancient times the cross was looked upon as an instrument of tortuous death.  Among those who used the cross were the Persians, Greeks and Romans. The Romans used it as punishment for slaves and non-citizens guilty of treason. Crucifixion was dreaded being a slow and tortuous form of execution. 

   The Jews, misled by the Scribes and Pharisees, who cried out for the crucifixion of our Lord, were familiar with the violence and torture of the cross.  In their hatred, they never hesitated in their demands of Pontius Pilate that he crucify the sinless Lord, for when he asked them what he should do with Christ, they cried out:  “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Blinded by envy and hatred, the leaders successfully transformed the mob into God-slayers, with their boisterous accusations that Christ was a criminal deserving the cross.  These unfortunates even cursed themselves with these words to Pilate, who appeared to show some reluctance: “Let His blood be upon us and upon our children.” 

PATH TO SANITY Lessons From Ancient Holy Counselors on How to have a Sound Mind.

PATH TO SANITY

Lessons From Ancient Holy Counselors on 

How to have a Sound Mind.

  Path to Sanity is a book written by Dee Pennock, a blessed woman. The  subtitle is: Lessons From Ancient Holy Counselors on How to have a Sound Mind. It is paperback with 214 pages, being a valuable treasury of knowledge concerning the most important subject of mental and spiritual health and illness, based on the teaching of the Church Fathers and Saints. It is about sanity and insanity not as the world teaches, but as taught by the holy Fathers. There are many different theories concerning man but she, in her book, by faithful research, understanding and lucid presentation has opened the oyster showing us  the pearl of great value,

   What is man?  He is a creature, so important to God as the reason for all creation. There can be no greater plan than God’s eternal plan to form a man and then mankind in His own image and likeness. Adam, was not that man, as he was created in the image, and by his disobedience and sin he failed to ascend to the likeness of God. The Godman, our Lord Jesus Christ is the man, sinless and the perfect image and likeness of God. All me are called to struggle to become like Christ in this present life, that they may  reign in glory with Him for ever.  The struggle for holiness and perfection  cannot take place in the future life, for this life is the arena of the struggle but in the next life is the awarding of crowns.

  What is man? Man is body and soul which comes from clay ( Greek “houn” clay not dust). And the spirit breathed into him from God, which caused man to become a living soul. St.  Paul refers to man as being body, soul, and spirit, asking God to bless all three, which, he says, constitutes the whole man.   

Dee Pennock writes: 

     “Scripture teaches that we have a body, soul, and spirit (1Thes. 5:23), that we are composed of three parts; that is, body, soul, and spirit (Isaac of Syria) Our spirit makes us alive, makes us living creatures.  It is the breath of life that God put into us when He breathed into Adam the breath of life and Adam became a living soul (Gen. 2:7).  Saint Anthony writes: Life is union and junction of spirit, soul, and body. Death is not the destruction of these parts, but disruption of their union. God preserves it all even after this disruption.”  (P 18)

  ‘So we are three things, body, soul, and spirit.  Or we can say we are two things, with one of them having two parts.  We can say we are body and soul if we take the soul to mean our soul plus the spirit of God added, the soul being different from the life of which it partakes.  (Justin Martyr ). The soul itself is not life, but partakes in that life bestowed upon it by God, as the prophetic word declares [of Adam] he became a living soul, teaching us that by participation of life the soul becomes alive; so the soul and the life it possesses must be understood as two separate existences” (Irenaeus) P19)

GOD AND SCIENCE Without God nothing would exist

GOD AND SCIENCE

Without God nothing would exist

  As there is false science and the true science, so there are many false gods and one true God, Creator of heaven and earth.  True science will always agree that there is a God who created and formed everything. True scientific investigation always starts with the declaration of what is known about a subject, and  proceed to the unknown gradually, step by step. False science, however cannot answer any question correctly, especially, is there a God and Creator?

   Using the scientific method, the first thing that is known about man and the world at the outset, is declared by consciousness. I know that I am one metaphysically and mathematically, and that I  always keep my identity.  I also know that I live in the world around me and  through this world  I live and preserve my being. I know these things through consciousness.  What is not known by consciousness is the existence of God, for this knowledge requires one small step of reason.

 I observe the sun during the day when we work, then the lesser light of the moon, and the stars at nighttime, perfect for sleeping. I know that they are all perfectly distanced, supplying us with light, warmth, vitamins,  tides, and navigation aids. I observe the rain, snow, and winds, supplying us with water. I see the many forests and trees, supplying wood for building and for heating; I see the busy bees, industrious ants and worms, and hear the songbirds. Then I turn and in wonder, look at and inhale the sweet smelling flowers of brilliant colors, and 

LIVING UNDER TYRANNY A MISERABLE LIFE

LIVING UNDER TYRANNY 

 A MISERABLE LIFE

      A revolution takes place and the legitimate government under which the people were living contentedly is overthrown as a brutal tyrant seizes  power. How did it happen, and where were the soldiers to prevent this? It does not matter. No one is quite sure, but they were well-armed and succeeded in helping the tyrant to seize the reigns of power.  As time passes, the tyrant rule over them became unbearable, as he  heaped upon them greater injustices and increased imprisonments.  The populace begins to groan under the heavy  weight of his iron rule, but he kept increasing their taxes and  cutting services, wreaking havoc everywhere. As the tyrant becomes more and more overbearing, people groaned and grumbled under his heavy hand.  In the minds of most of them, the idea  grew stronger, we must rid ourselves of this tyrant or life will not be worth living.

   There is a tyrant much more fierce than the aforementioned, whom few people know or even care to know.

MARRIAGE GOD BLESSES – BUT HE CONDEMNS FORNICATION

MARRIAGE GOD BLESSES – BUT HE CONDEMNS FORNICATION

     Our Creator’s ultimate plan for creation, is to form  a man and men in His own perfect image and likeness. However this did not take place with Adam and Eve who were only in His image. Falling into sin, they did not attain the likeness of God. The Lord created Adam first and later from one of his ribs,  he created Eve as a wife to Adam. Here is the account of the creation of Adam: “And God formed man out of the clay of the earth, and breathed into Him the breath of life, and the man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7).  Body and soul came from the earth, but life came from the breath or spirit breathed into him by God.

GOD MARRIED ADAM THE MAN AND THE WOMAN

     “And God made man, according to the image of God He made him, He made them male and female.  And God blessed them, saying, Increase and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and flying creatures of heaven, and all the cattle and all the earth, and all the reptiles that creep on the earth” (Gen. 1:26-28). 

* Only in the  Orthodox Church does God continue the same marriage blessing of one man and one woman which He instituted when He first married Adam and Eve. For in Orthodoxy the Priest calls on God to unite in sacred marriage the man and woman into one mutually loving couple, who with His blessing,  are able to bear children and produce a family and thus help to replenish the earth. He established that the main purposes of marriage is to:“Be fruitful and multiply” that is to know each other and bear children together, raising them in the fear and love of God.  God issued laws which true believers need to follow, not out of fear alone, but because His laws are good and lead to piety and happiness in this life and everlasting joy in the world to come.  Pious and God-loving parents produce like children and the mutual happiness that ensues makes a happy family. On such a family God bestows many blessings.

THE FOOLISH SKEPTICS WHO QUESTION OR DENY THAT GOD EXISTS

THE FOOLISH SKEPTICS   

WHO QUESTION OR DENY 

THAT GOD EXISTS

The age of skepticism

Philosophy of Immanuel Kant

     Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher was born in 1724 and died in 1804. Rene Descartes, a Frenchman was born in 1596 and died in 1650. By birth they are separated by 128 years. During that period  most knowledge was derived from books. Kant the critic, learned about Rene Descartes, long after he was dead, by reading about him in a book, and examining his  incomplete syllogism: “I think, therefore I exist.” No one else ever came up with this statement other than Descartes.*  Kant not only did not doubt but readily accepted that Descartes certainly did exist and that those were certainly his words.

   However,  Kant says that “any argument for the existence of God is bound to fail since it is a product of reason which must use experience to create validity. We must concede this world to empirical science since this is the way human reason actually works, but we may reserve our capacity for hope by not putting forward reasoning about God's existence which are bound to come into conflict with science.”   Why?

    Why does the argument for the existence of God fail because we acquired it through reason? Why should reasoning about God, conflict with science?  The truth is that false religion and true science will always disagree; just as false science and true religion will always be in conflict. However, it is common to hear in the western world, that Faith and reason are opposed to one another, and this has been established by the firm entrenchment of false religion. Right reason is from the Lord and Logos and Reason of God himself (One of the meanings in Logos is Right  Reason).

The skeptics of philosophy that sprang up in western culture helped to make the western world fall into the blackness of deadly skepticism, and finding no room for discussion of truth, they advise not to even discuss religion.  Truth instead of having Christ, the Living Truth,  each one can have their own truth, which divides men rather than uniting them, heaping many evils upon mankind.   They assert that any reasoning about God’s existence is necessarily will come into conflict with science.  For Kant denies that God can be understood by science and human reasoning.  Kant’s  reasoning is upside down, for he accepts the certain existence of Descartes, whom he read about, and  believes that what he believed was expressed in a book. But God also declares himself in a book, telling  about himself and all His created works in great detail such as: 

DEFINITION – SOME ORTHODOX SCIENTIFIC  TERMS

Anathema            Leave it alone; set aside, keep away (anathema                                  cannot be lifted

Apostolic            Successor of and keeper of Apostolic doctrine

Blasphemy          To speak profanely against the holy

Catholic              For all people and nations, not exclusive

Christ                 The Anointed One

Consciousness     Know together with

Devil                  Name means slanderer of God

Dogma              Established belief which is true

Entification         Bringing matter into existence

Essence              Hypostasis and nature together

Hades                 Prison of souls beneath the earth

Heresy              Choosing an opinion, contrary to accepted teaching

Heterousian Of a different essence

Homousion Of the same essence

Hypostasis Substance; that which stands beneath

Hypothesis Statement of thought, predicated to be truth                                       based on known truth

Idea                   Mind’s image which distinguishes a being

Gehenna           Eternal torment, the second realm of permanent                                  death

Life                 In man, the spirit, only source is God the Giver                                   of life

Logos Reason, speech, idea, word; 

Love Desire to give all the good to the one loved

Messiah            The Christ

Metaphysical Beyond the physical; inwardly distinguishes a                                    being 

Mundification Actions of forming the world or worlds

Nature              Sum total attributes of a being

Neighbor          Biblical sense; One very near an dear to me

Nexus              The connecting link or bind

Nous, noetic The mind, of the mind

Ontological That which pertains to the explanation of beingness

Orthodox         The right or correct understanding or teaching

Paradigm         A model or type of reality

Paralogism Reasoning that is not complete or lacking in correctness

Person An entity, an ego that is reflective of thoughts

Philosophy  Love of Wisdom; science whose object is the                                     divine Wisdom

Physical        That which pertains to sense-perceptive reality

Pneuma          Spirit, breath; in reference to God, uncreated                                       essence

Principal           The first of many

Principle           The leader the main, fundamental law or axiom

Prophet             One who speaks for God to people

Prosopon          The fore-face, countenance, person

Psychology Science of the soul of man and its attributes and                                qualities

Rudder,              The Collection of all canons of Orthodoxy

Spirit Greek pneuma, breath, was breathed into man

Syllogism           Deductive reasoning, premising a major, minor,                                  and conclusive sentence

Synodikon That which pertains to the same path

Truth Correct and precise representation of a being

CONSCIENCE IN MAN THE VERY SMALL VOICE WITHIN ALL MEN

CONSCIENCE IN MAN

THE VERY SMALL VOICE 
WITHIN ALL MEN

      There are many people who  deny the  conscience which is in every man, perhaps the main reason is that it would witness that there is a God, and that He is  close to each of us. Nor do they choose or accept the fact that the conscience has a profound effect on a person’s character, and there are many amazing  responses to the small voice within man. This small voice is the voice of Almighty God, who persuades men to avoid evil and seek what is good.  He is the only Lover of man, who  desires that all men be saved and come to knowledge of truth. He does not will that a single soul should perish in their sins. If we fail to listen to Him through our own conscience, He will not be able to lead us to salvation by His Son, Jesus Christ. Nor will He compel us for he will not do anything to violate the wondrous freedom which He graciously bestowed upon mankind. God does not desire to create slavish robots,  but free man, able to obey or disobey Him, or to love or hate Him, but man in the glory of His image. His  plan is that we all freely struggle to become His perfect likeness. What great honor has been given to all of us by our Creator!

    The human brain is a material organ and is not the source of our  conscience, for conscience is not a material but a spiritual entity. We see the evidence of conscience in a man who commits a crime in his youth, and then confesses it when older. Why? A child may lie to its parent then suddenly blurt out the truth.  Why?  A person has a guilty expression on his face when he speaks a lie?  Why ? The only answer possible is that it is that small voice of God in man, which supports or opposes his thoughts and deeds.

    There is no doubt  that there is a conscience in all people, many of whom do everything possible to silence its rebuke. Another example is when a man decides to cheat another of money or goods, and not want any opposition he decides to keep his plans secret.  Suddenly a voice within him strongly opposes his plans, rebuking him for his decision. Listening to this voice of his conscience,  he decides against cheating his fellow man. He heeded the small voice within.

GREAT FORTY DAYS- OUR JOURNEY TO PARADISE

GREAT FORTY DAYS

OUR JOURNEY TO PARADISE

    The Great Forty Days is the original name of the period called Great Lent. It is a very  important period of our lives, having an  amazing effect on serious and sober-minded people. Although it regulates what and how much we eat, it’s really not about food as much as the acquisition of Paradise lost, for we are  seeking not quickly passing carnal pleasures, but the superior and lasting joy of the spirit.  But what is Paradise that makes it so compelling that we should desire to  return to it?

   Paradise is considered by most people to be a only a physical place. It is invariably described as a sweet and lovely garden, having no storms or rain, no wild animals or dangers, an no sickness or death. Beautiful and sweet smelling flowers abounded,  plants and  bushes yielding berries and trees yielding delicious fruits. These were indescribably sweet and enjoyable, and delightfully satisfying to Adam and Eve, the first formed man and woman. Animals were  tame and harmless,  nor were there storms even a rainy day.  Water was supplied by fountains of water, gushing up into the sunny and clear air for drinking and irrigation. Yet none of these things made it Paradise, for Paradise is far more beautiful than all of these plants and trees. In the divine Paradise there is no need of sun, because God is infinitely  brighter than the sun.  There is no food for Christ is our divine food  satisfying our hunger and drink.

    Paradise’s divine and wonderful beauty was experienced each day as God came and spoke with the Adam an Eve. The light of His countenance was seen and experienced in their intellects and hearts, which were more understanding than their senses. God’s fatherly gentleness and kindness, as He embraced them drawing them to himself, filling them with warmth and delight; the scent of His  holiness intoxicated their souls, sending them into an ecstasy of delight. There was no pain, no sorrow, no death, nothing but the sweetness of life and the joy of Paradise,  for the Creator of the universe and of their existence was with them. O beautiful Paradise, O wondrous creation. 

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS AND GREATER HERESIES PART FOUR

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS AND GREATER HERESIES

PART FOUR

CONCERNING THE EUCHARIST

"Amen, I say unto you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink." 

   This is an important reason for publishing the series: Protestant Errors and Greater Heresies. First it is beneficial that we all know what the truth is, and are able to defend those truths, for this is our sacred duty. Due to various relationships with Protestant and Roman Catholics, many Orthodox, who do not understand the Faith, can easily be influenced to accept falsehoods, and they many Protestants are highly skilled in quoting passages from the Holy Bible 

    Concerning one of their biggest errors is what the Eucharist is. Without searching the Scripture for the truth, they just proclaim against the center of Orthodox worship which is the Holy Eucharist or Thanksgiving. The Orthodox Eucharist continues to preserve the truths taught by Jesus Christ and His Apostles, which have been held sacred in the Church Christ founded for almost two thousand years. From the beginning, the Church celebrated the Eucharist, offering bread and wine mingled with water and offered to the Lord in remembrance of Him, according to His commandment. The Divine Liturgy includes the invocation of the Priest asking the Holy Spirit to change the bread into the Body of Christ and the cup into the Blood of Christ. Of course these prayers are answered as they conform the the commandment of Christ.

 In general, Protestants have not and do not accept these Scriptural truths. There are many other Scriptural truths that they do not accept, such as the requirement of a priesthood, and the seal of the New Covenant which was established by the shedding of the blood of Christ – this is the legacy preserved in the Church and will be supported by the proceeding paragraphs.

ON SPIRITUAL FOOD

ON SPIRITUAL FOOD

St.  Nikolai Velimirovic

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:48)

   Thus spoke the Lord Jesus to the hungry human race, and these words are proven through the ages to innumerable followers of Christ who received the Lord as the food of their souls.  One young man in despair, who was near suicide, went to confession. The Priest listened to him carefully, then said to him: “My son, you yourself are at fault in your distress. Your soul is famished to death.  All your life you have done things that only feed the body, but you have never given thought to the soul’s need for food. It needs more, and more frequently than the body does. Your soul is dying of hunger. Eat and drink Christ my son. Only thus can your soul be turned back from death. Eat and drink Christ every day, incessantly.  He is the lifegiving bread of our souls.”  The young man obeyed the elder and was restored to life.

    My brethren, let us feed our souls with Christ, that they may be alive and healthy. Let us constantly feed our minds with thoughts of Christ, that they may be enlightened and clear.  Let us constantly feed our hearts with the love of Christ, that they may be pure and joyful.  Let us constantly feed our wills with the commandments of Christ and the example of Christ, that our wills may at every moment perform good works.  May Christ’s thoughts be our thoughts; and Christ’s love be our love; and Christ’s good will be our good will. Let us constantly feed our souls on Christ the Lord; constantly feed on Him and assuage the thirst of our souls on Him. There is no more nourishing bread than He; there is no sweeter drink than He. In Holy Communion, He gives himself wholly to us, His Body and Blood.

  But to receive Communion is a reminder to us that our souls must feed on Him without pause. We must eat and drink Him as incessantly as we breathe.

  O our gracious and sweet Lord, move our souls to feed constantly on you and to be made alive.  You are the Bread of Life. To you be glory and praise forever. Amen.        (Prologue Vol. 1 p222)

WHO WILL BE SAVED? THE GREAT FAST IS APPROACHING

WHO WILL BE SAVED?

THE GREAT FAST IS APPROACHING

WE NEED TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE!

   The mind of the world and of western Christianity to which we are exposed is not conducive to a beneficial the Forty Day Fast of the  Orthodox Church, so we need to separate ideas of Orthodoxy from the ideas of secular Christianity which have nothing in common.  The secular Protestants twist the Gospel as they follow their own opinions. Many  proclaim that they are saved by faith alone, and that this is what the Bible says,  and they are correct – but so wrong about their conclusions!  Their wrong ideas have crept in among many of our own Orthodox, and influenced by them,  they also can have the wrong ideas about our Faith. 

   For example, while they do not keep the fasts, we see the Great Forty Days Fast coming upon us and this fast is an important distinguishing mark of Orthodox Christians worldwide. Orthodoxy keeps Wednesday and Fridays, and four fasts a year, and a few other days as fasting periods, which constitutes about half the year. It is a major part of the Orthodox Christian way of life, and is most healthy for the soul and the body. The fast teaches us moderation and temperance, which possibly extends lives, and for sure nourishes good health, not only of the body, but it certainly leads us to everlasting reward in the kingdom  of the future! The benefits are enormous, the investment procures riches above all wealth and moderation we learn,  produces contentment and good health of body and soul, which in turn reduces medical expenses. Protestants do not keep the fasts, disregarding the many references in the Bible,  and  many Orthodox,  fail to keep the fasts, depriving themselves of  the important benefits of Orthodox fasting to their bodies and souls.

"UNLIFTED" ANATHEMAS OF THE PAPACY AGAINST ORTHODOXY

"UNLIFTED"  ANATHEMAS OF THE PAPACY AGAINST ORTHODOXY 

FOOLISH ORTHODOX –  HONORING ENEMIES WITH DIALOGUES

Papal authority is not just faith and morals but everything! 

Only total submission to the Pope – nothing less!

      “If anyone say that the Pope has only the office of over-seer or of manager,  but not the full and supreme rulership of sovereignty over the whole Church,  not only in matters of faith and morals,  but also in the matters of discipline and of government of the Church throughout the world . . . let him be anathema.” (Vatican Council 1870). 

These words from the Papacy about the Papacy are proof positive that it is not the Church of Christ, but the source of supreme arrogance.

      In 1964 the unfortunate Latin-minded, Patriarch Athenagoras,  having first abandoned his own Orthodoxy, then  proceeding without authority,  he “lifted the anathemas”  against the papacy.   However it was an empty gesture, because as Patriarch he is not the Church.  No single patriarch represents the Church, for this is exactly what caused the Papacy to abandon the true Church.   Neither can anathemas  be lifted because they always are in force and permanent. They are issued against heresy and wrong belief.   A person under an Orthodox anathema can correct himself and come out from under the anathema, but the anathema remains permanently.  The papacy clearly shows its fraudulent intentions, for they cannot  lift their own anathemas against the  Orthodox, being outside of the authority of the Pope and the cardinals. They are indelibly inscribed in their canons as will be shown in what follows.

  The following anathemas, formulated by the Pope of Rome  and the papacy remain in  effect against all Christians of the world who refuse to commemorate, recognize, and submit to the authority and discipline of the Pope of Rome being Christ’s infallible vicar.

  In the year 1870, (Vatican Council)  the Pope of Rome declared an anathema against everyone outside of the Papacy. That is, it was directed   against anyone  who refused to accept the Pope as  Supreme Pontiff,  infallible Head of the Church, the only successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ.  

SOME FACTS ABOUT GOD AND MAN AND THE GREAT FORTY DAYS

SOME  FACTS ABOUT  GOD  AND  MAN

AND

THE GREAT FORTY DAYS

    The great season of the Fast is rapidly approaching,  and it is a good time to take stock of who we are, where we are, where we are going,  and what our task ought to be during a special period like this. We need to act, for the Great Fast goes by quickly and Pascha awaits us at the end. The Resurrection of Christ, in which we all rejoice and celebrate we need to make our own. Christ showed by His example, that the way of the Cross leads to the resurrection.

   Man was created in the image of God, with the potential of acquiring  the likeness of God as well. This in fact,  is the true destiny of man, to become like Christ, the image and likeness of God. For this reason Christ came into the world, not just to save man but to restore the fallen image who had rebelled, wash him to make him whiter than snow, and raise him up to heaven forever.  Christ commands: “Be holy for I am holy.” And, “Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.” This is the reason why we are given a certain number of years on earth, to enter the struggle and cooperate with God and each other to become what we are meant to be. There is nothing more wonderful, more glorious, or delightful in this world,  than to enter the mildly ascetic type of life that is called Orthodox Christian. It is accessible to all but needs to be preached in the churches over and over. 

WHAT IS AN IDEA? Witnessing our Holy Orthodox Truths

WHAT IS AN IDEA?

Witnessing our Holy Orthodox Truths

“An idea is any conception that exists in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.” * Phrases commonly in use: “Give me a general idea of what happened.”  “What was the idea of that?”   “I have no idea.”  

  * Random House Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 1997)

Christ is the Perfect Logos and Idea of the Father

     An idea of a being (anybody or anything that exists) necessarily presupposes the existence of the being in question; accordingly it may be said that if there were no other beings neither would there be any ideas in our spirits. Hence it is logically evident that every idea depends upon the actual existence of a being of which it is an idea. Having the idea of a being makes it possible to describe its nature, and we perform this process in our minds every day. 

     The declaration saying, “I have no idea of who he is,” demonstrates ignorance or non-existence of somebody or something. Having an idea of something demonstrates the reality which our idea represents. It is not possible for anyone to have an idea of some thing, some place or some activity that has no being or existence. To have an idea of anything  proves that it exists. In the books of the Acts of the Apostles, Paul met some disciples and asked: “Have you received Holy Spirit since you believed?  And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Spirit” Acts:19:2) The answer shows that, because of ignorance, they had no idea whether or not there was a Holy Spirit, but after they were baptized they did  receive Holy Spirit, however the idea of the Holy Spirit entered their minds and spirits with the question raised by St. Paul.

JESUS CHRIST 

THE 

LOGOS AND 

PERFECT IDEA 

OF  

THE FATHER

   There is an ongoing war, inspired by the Devil. to kill God, for the Evil one does  not doubt that God exists, for he is terrified of Him, knowing that God is the  invincible Creator of all, and that his own torment is certain to come. So it is not God that he seeks to kill, but the idea of God in the minds of all mankind, especially in the minds of children, whom the Evil One seeks to corrupt and suffer with him in torment.  

TRUE AND PERMANENT HAPPINESS

 TRUE AND PERMANENT HAPPINESS

Death is swallowed up in victory!

Death where is your sting Hades where is your victory!”

 Man’s life cannot be filled with absolute happiness, unless he first solves the problem of death, which threatens everyone of us, hanging over our heads like a giant sword.  We can acquire  a  wonderful job; we can start a profitable business, or begin a good career; we can marry a desirable mate and have healthy children. We can be enabled to purchase means of transportation and a house in which to live, and start a family,  and finally hope to be happy.  But death, directly or indirectly awaits and threatens our happiness. Death does not discriminate between rich or poor or single or married, young or old, for it threatens all and remains unpredictable.  If we could solve the problem of death, and rid ourselves even of the thought, then true happiness would overflow our soul, and the sword will vanish as a threat.`

 The great Moses freed the Jews from the tyrannical grip of Pharaoh, led them through the wilderness, established for them a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai, where the law was given, including the ten commandments. Moses was described as the meekest among men, and he loved and served God, and with constant love for  his people, when they proved to be ingrates,  he interceded with God  to spare them. Moses also firmly told the Jews that the Lord God would send them  the Messiah /Christ, and sternly warned that anyone who rejected him, would be cast out from among the people.

Christ came, just as Moses had prophesied, born of the Virgin just as Isaiah had prophesied,  and although being God, He accepted to humble himself and  became man.  He entered the world of men, whom He created,  and preached the good news that He is the Redeemer and Savior of the world. Whoever believes and accepts Him as Christ the Son of God, will gain eternal life. Those who will not receive Him and die in their sins will be separated from God forever, and be “cast into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” His main objective was to set himself as an example for all men, showing them how to live their lives in peace and love -- how to become the image and likeness of God. What He is what we must become, holy and perfect. “Learn from me for I am meek and humble in my heart.”  He told His disciples many times that He would be put to death, assuring them that He would then rise from the dead on the third day. And it is in this wonderful work of Christ that we are assured of permanent happiness for ever!

FROM THE RUDDER --THE APOSTOLIC CANONS

FROM THE RUDDER

THE APOSTOLIC CANONS

  Shame on those who degrade the importance of the Rudder for it is destructive to Orthodoxy. Without the Rudder, the Orthodox will evolve into  Protestants, each choosing what he wishes to believe.  Only Holy Scripture is before the Rudder, and both are a part of our written Tradition. We selected some Canon handed down to us from the Holy Apostles, who firmly warn us not to ignore these Canons. These are taken from the Rudder, and it easily seen that they deal with everyday matters, forbidding some things, and allowing some things.The Canons are a most vital part of Orthodox Written Tradition.

 SOME OF THE 85 APOSTOLIC CANONS 

CANON 1  BISHOPS

Two or three other Bishops are needed to ordain a Bishop.

CANON 2    PRIESTS

A Priest must be ordained by a single Bishop, and so must a Deacon and other Clergymen.

CANON 6 WORLDLY CARES

A Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon must not undertake worldly cares. If he does, let him be deposed.

CANON 7    PASCHA AFTER PASSOVER

If any Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon celebrate the holy day of Pascha before the vernal equinox with the Jews, let him be deposed.

CANON 9    HOLY COMMUNION

All those faithful who enter and listen to the Scriptures, but do not stay for prayer and Holy Communion must be excommunicated, on the ground that they are causing the Church a breach of order.

CANON 10    PRAYING WITH

One who prays with the excommunicant, shall himself be excommunicated.

CANON  11   PRAYING WITH

A clergyman who prays in company with a deposed clergyman shall\ also be deposed.

THE RUDDER OF THE ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH

THE RUDDER 

OF THE ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH 

     This ship symbolizes the Catholic Church of Christ. Its keel represents the Orthodox Faith in the Holy Trinity. Its beams and planks represent the dogmas and traditions of the Faith. Its mast represents the Cross; its sail and rigging represent Hope and Love. The Master of the vessel is our Lord Jesus Christ, whose hand is on the helm. The mates and sailors are the Apostles, and the successors of the Apostles, and all clergymen, secretaries and notaries, and occasional teachers. The passengers comprise all Orthodox Christians. The sea symbolizes present life. A gentle and zephyr-like breeze signifies whiffs and graces of the Holy Spirit wafting the vessel on its course. Winds, on the other hand, are temptations baffling it. Its Rudder, whereby it is steered straightforwardly to the heavenly harbor is the present Book of the Holy Canons.

    Note that divine Chrysostom also likens the Church to a ship (see Volume VI, page 426, line 10, and Volume VII, page 502, line 20 of the Etonian edition).

   The Rudder of the Orthodox Catholic Church is the second most important written source of Holy Tradition, that preserves the essence of our Faith. It is a treasure to all of us, but is sadly a hidden treasure, which is next to the Holy Scripture in importance, and in rank.  Both the Scripture and the Rudder are inspired by God.  The difference being that the Holy Scripture writings of individuals, are directly inspired and therefore infallible. The Seven Ecumenical Synods, which approved all of the Canons in the Rudder, were collectively inspired by God, not the opinion of each father present.  Note: the Rudder contents are available for your use on this blog.

   These sacred Canons are ignored by many, even though they are vital for the preservation of our Faith.  Without its Rudder, the Church drifts into turbulent waters with no one in charge, leaving the faithful in danger.

St.Nicodemos, Compliler of 

The Rudder

   St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite together with Agapios a monk, spent countless years in compiling the Rudder, and making it available. We produced the English translation that is on this blog. It is not their composition for the contents have been handed down to us from the ages, which they collected and compiled.St. Nicodemos did do something very important in presenting his interpretations, which  you will find are useful and helpful. The first 85 Canons of the Rudder are from the Holy Apostles which dates back to right after the next period after Christ. 

   Some scorners of the Sacred Canons, quote, then contradict a few of them, and in doing so, heap scorn upon them all. Going to Church on Sunday is not enough, for there is much more to Christian life, which the Rudder will help you to understand. Select what you require and what interests you. The Rudder is for the  functioning of the entire Church, covering most everything, as you can see by the partial list below.Without knowledge of the sacred Canons, it is not easy to understand the what and why and how of everyday Christian life, especially for members of the laity, which always do not educate themselves into the glory and truth of Orthodoxy, which is not just a religion, but the revelation from heaven, the Holy Church, the Body of Christ.

The following words are contained the Rudder and speak of it very sternly.

“That the divine Canons must be kept strictly by all. For those who fail to keep them are made liable to horrible penalties.”

     “These instructions regarding Canons have been enjoined upon you by us, O Bishops. If you adhere to them you shall be saved, and shall have peace; but, if you disobey them, you shall be punished, and shall have perpetual war with one another, thus paying the penalty deserved for heedlessness.” 

(The Apostles in their epilogue to the Canons)

   That the sacred Canons should be studied and understood according to our ability, can readily be seen by the subject matter, which concerns everyday life. If you just peruse through this wonderful guide of the Church and its members, it is the Church's Rudder, you will see how precious and valuable it is. True happiness will never be found in this world, unless we have God as our Father and the Church as our Mother. 

A small fraction of the contents

What marriages are allowed/forbidden

Who can become a Bishop

Who can be ordained Priest

Fasts; how to be kept

Killing during war

Who can sponsor a child at Baptism

God’s action in His Church

Who can be sponsor at a wedding

Holy Communion the benefits/dangers

Homosexuality

Fornication

Vows that are permissible/forbidden

When fasting is forbidden

What is a schism

What heresy is

Mysteries outside the Church

Orthodox baptism not repeatable

Regarding Holy Communion

How we “die” in Baptism

The blessing of holy icons

Weddings forbidden during fasts

Duties of husbands and wives toward each other

Seizing a woman by force

Clergyman’s mysteries valid unless deposed

Oaths are forbidden

Who can be ordained

Not “original sin” but “propotorical sin”

No Church outside Orthodoxy 

Parents – if child dies

Perjury– very serious sin

On this blog, Click on the Rudder to view its contents.

JESUS CHRIST RETURNS AND APPEARS TO THE WORTHY AND UNWORTHY

JESUS CHRIST RETURNS AND 

APPEARS TO THE WORTHY AND UNWORTHY

“Behold, I am with you to the close of the age.”

St. Gregentius, Bishop of Zafar in Southern Arabia (Yemen) 

Dec.19

  The wonderful and magnificent Saint Gregentius came from the city of Milan, and flourished after  the year 518. Form his earliest age he fully devoted himself to Christ, whom he loved  deeply, and always strived to keep all His commandments and to remain faithful in everything.  After being ordained to the diaconate, he devoted himself even more to an ascetic life of prayer and fasting with the acquisition all the virtues, especially faith, hope and love.

    Gregentius went to visit a certain spiritual elder, who told his disciple that he was coming and what would become of him. He told him that Gregentius who was now a deacon but would become a holy Bishop and bring thousands of Jews to Christ. 

    Another holy elder, whom Gregentius saw on a fiery pillar in midair, told him what was his future would be.  He told him that he would go to Rome and worship at the church of Boniface and Aglais, and then take ship to Alexandria to stay for some time, and then will be called to Southern Arabia to the land of the Homerites, and  will become bishop of that city. In the meantime he catechized and baptized multitudes of people.  When he arrived among the Homerites, there  were thousands of Jews in the area who held firmly to their error and doing everything they were able, to rid the area of Christians.

     Gregentius, his whole heart filled with love for God, desired to bring all the Jews out of darkness and  error into the light of Christ their Messiah. His sphere of influence spread far and wide, not only in one city but in surrounding areas because of his beautiful soul, peaceful attitude and love of preaching and baptizing people in Christ. Peter, Paul and Mark the Apostle at one time appeared to him, and strengthened him, and demonstrated that Gregentius would be ordained bishop

    Gregentius lived and breathed the truths and essence of Orthodoxy. His  zeal like fiery flames ignited  in other souls from the overflow of his exultation and the joy in his soul. He conducted his ministry with ardent faith, as he energetically instructed, supported and continually prayed for his flock. He  never stopped attempting, with all his power, to bring the hardhearted Jews to faith in Christ and to correct thinking, and in these endeavors he was somewhat successful. From among the faithful, he ordained those who were worthy to enter the clergy as he industriously built up the Church. He also composed laws for them to live and act as Christian citizens.

ORTHODOX TIDBITS 2 WHO IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH|?

ORTHODOX TIDBITS 2

   WHO IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH|? 

     “He set Him on His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under His feet; and gave him to be the Head of the Church which is His body” (Eph. 1:20-23).

      Headless humanity is given a Head in the Lord Jesus, risen from the dead.  The body severed from the head, begins to knit together with that Head, bit by bit and part by part. Not all men are the body, but only those who respond are received under the Head. Those who respond compose the Body that is called the Church, of which the Lord is the Head.  But as the risen and glorified man Jesus is exalted within the Holy Trinity above each and all on earth and in heaven, so also will His Church, His Body, be raised up to its Head, above each and all. The whole Church will stand at the right hand of the Holy Trinity, for, where the head is, there is also the body.  

     To such an exaltation, greatness and glory will the gathered repentant sinners attain, who had sometimes been enemies of God, wandering astray like the Prodigal Son and headless as a dead body. But now adopted through Christ and for Christ, and clad in the beauty of divine life and light.  It is a great thing my brethren for the Son of God to be incarnate on earth, and for Him to suffer on the Cross and die for our sake.  His sojourn on earth brought a vast change in the destiny of man and in the meaning of all created things.  He changed all things, and made them new. Therefore, my brethren, let us not live and conduct ourselves as the old man, but as the new; let us not live in sin but in justice; let us not conduct ourselves according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Let us merit the exaltation, greatness and glory to which we are called by our Head.  (Prologue of Ochrid, Vol 4 pp 165-166)