THE DIVINE GLORIOUS CHAMPION OF THE FAITH AND GUARDIAN OF ORTHODOXY ST. MARK OF EPHESUS

       THE DIVINE GLORIOUS CHAMPION OF THE FAITH AND 

GUARDIAN OF ORTHODOXY

ST. MARK OF EPHESUS

January 19, 2014

    St. Mark of Ephesus, defended Orthodox truths single-handed prevented the Orthodox from being swallowed up by the Pope of Rome. 

     Mark was born in 1392 in Constantinople and from his youth yearned for monastic life which he embraced at the age of twenty-six, having abandoned a budding secular career that would have elevated him highly in the government of the Emperor. His name had been Manuel, but after becoming a monk he took the name Mark, which one of the Apostles is called,  symbolized by a lion.  Mark, like a roaring lion, dispersed all the unionists along with the papists. He prevented the union which would have destroyed the entire Church of Constantinople by placing it under the slipper of the Pope. The Orthodox were much like Esau, ready to sell out the truths of Orthodoxy not for lentils, but to save the City.

   It is not beneficial or lifegiving but is suicidal to harbor a desire to surrender Orthodoxy, abandon Christ and choose the Pope as head of the Church. Orthodoxy stands with the whole truths handed down to her from Christ and the Apostles, and the Holy Fathers which are safely secured in the Church by the Holy Spirit. Christ does not desire the union of His Church with anyone, rather He calls all mankind to “Come unto me . . .”, that is, unite yourselves to me, for I am your Head, your Teacher and your only Hope. The Papacy does not seek unity with Christ but chose to substitute a vicar in place of the Godman. 

   Returning to Mark’s background, he reluctantly accepted ordination out of obedience to the Patriarch, and was elevated to Metropolitan at the age of forty-six.  When preparations were made to meet with the Latins to attempt a reunion, Mark held high hopes that such a union would take place. At his time in history, the Byzantine Empire had been reduced to the City of Constantinople, and the enemy was making preparations to grab that prize.  The Turkish threat was a serious menace, and many knew that  it was only a matter of time before the city fell into the hands of the Moslems.

GREAT MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST ORTHODOXY’S GREAT TREASURE

GREAT MYSTERY OF THE  EUCHARIST

ORTHODOXY’S GREAT TREASURE

“Take eat, this is my body which is broken for you . . .”

A Commentary on the references to the Eucharist.

Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity of one nature and one essence, this is part of our primary belief and knowledge of God,  but belief is only a starting point of the journey of faith which leads  to the eternal kingdom.  We repeatedly seal ourselves with the sign of the Cross invoking the names of the Father Son and Holy Spirit which  identifies us as Orthodox Christians. We learned from unwritten Holy Tradition, dating back to the fourth century , how to make the sign of the Cross. Without our sacred tradition we would make no progress toward the ultimate goal which is everlasting life. 

     The evil one raises every type of obstacle to hamper and scuttle our  progress, for he is the hater of God and man.  He is maliciously skilled and extensively experienced , and  performs his deceptive work of hampering our progress, and we could not prevent him ourselves,  for we could do nothing without Jesus Christ, who has already fought and won the victorious battle. He overthrew and despoiled the authority of the Evil One. He is the only God man, the Head of the Church, the good and kind Savior, who out of  sacrificial love, taught us genuine love and He remains the  all-powerful ally, of those who approach him with fear, faith and devotion.

     Christian life does not stand still and we must make progress. Progress can best be understood, as a starting point and a known goal at the outset.  We may fall but we must always get up and get back on the royal path.  In Orthodox life, we can either progress toward that goal, or we can stagnate,  retrogress, or go astray, but we can return  and remain on the right path and strive toward our goal which is: “to  reach the stature of the fullness of Christ,” For this we need help, hence Paul writes: “ Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily laden and you will find rest for your souls. Learn of me for I am meek and humble in my heart.”

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PAPACY DANGEROUS AND IMPOSSIBLE!

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PAPACY

DANGEROUS AND IMPOSSIBLE!
It is time to get out!

  There has been a great deal of conversation, and Orthodox negotiators have made concessions, incurred large expenditures for hotels, air travel, food, etc.,  and poorly informed clergymen have been engaged  in  illicit negotiations for  union (denomination) with/by the Popes of Rome.  The papacy is not  really seeking union and they admit it, for it is their firm desire for total domination, hence the great importance of  the destruction of Orthodoxy which stands in its way. How can any form of union benefit the Orthodox, which the last Pope says “has everything”?  Rather union would strip her of divine grace  and  merciful help, leaving her naked and ugly and a lifeless corpse.  An important question needs to be brought up:  Why does the Pope seek union when he has over a billion subjects?  The truth is the papacy abhors union but desires  something else, which is “just commemorate my name.”  This is how the Pope stripped the Uniates of their Orthodoxy and their salvation. These former Orthodox who keep their “Orthodox” traditions, became Orthopapists, and only commemorate the name of the Pope, but are no longer Orthodox and are not in communion with the Orthodox Church, in fact they treat it with contempt. For they have bowed to the Pope and accepted him as Christ’s representative.

 The previous Pope Benedict said this: “The Orthodox have everything, but they are defective as  they do not have me.” All the Pope wants is commemoration of his name. All the Devil sought from Christ was even less, just a single bow!

CONCERNING POOR MANKIND AND WEALTH THAT AWAITS HIM

CONCERNING  POOR  MANKIND

AND

WEALTH THAT AWAITS HIM

    All humans are mortal, and all humans desire to avoid death wherever possible, and here is the  dilemma, that even though we love life above everything, there appears to be no possibility to escape the constant threat and certainty of death. The media repeatedly reminds us of death, citing many caught up in death by terrible accidents, devastating storms, tragic plane crashes, by vicious criminals and the threats of enemies. These all bring to the forefront the incessant threat of death and remind us of the ultimate end of our existence. Seeing only with his physical eyes, man observes the constant inflow of births, and outflow of deaths, realizing that  as quickly as men are being born, others are dying.  On the subject of death many think they have established that we differ little from animals, and we like our animal forbears just return to the earth.  

  Men see themselves as species of some animal from whom we descended, the difference being that we invented tools and became educated, established schools, advancing ourselves but always remaining the same perishable flesh as animals. However, holding such ideas they deny the spirit and the true spiritual nature in man, and his creation by God, who breathed His spirit into Adam.  They consider this and the scriptural account of Adam and Eve, the first created pair, as a myth with the conclusion that there is no spirit in man. Thus there is no God or anyone one superior to man, for he just evolved and has no master because he is free. 

HERETICAL TEACHINGS OF PATRIARCH ATHENAGORAS

HERETICAL TEACHINGS  OF PATRIARCH  ATHENAGORAS 

WHICH UNDERMINE THE TRUTH OF THE CHURCH

FIRST ABOUT DEFENDERS OF ORTHODOXY

     Orthodoxy is the  divine-human Body of Christ, was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit whom He sent from the Father to both comfort and  remind His followers of all that He had taught  them.  There is no other entity like the Church because it is headed by the Godman. Therefore we cannot possibly  examine the Church and speak of it or its members as if it were a secular organization.  The Church is the source of all truth and the fountain of holiness which sanctifies our spirits, souls and bodies. It is unique and remains far above everything else, the holiest place on earth. For the Church’s members are vessels of Holy Spirit.

   Some people have been heard to address members of the Church as being either liberal or conservative, but these are misnomers which cannot be inapplicable to defenders of truth.  In Orthodoxy liberal or conservative factions do not exist, because there are only extreme viewpoints in one direction or another. We completely believe Christ is God or we deny Him. We believe, not on multiple churches, but only  “in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church or we believe in no church. Either we keep every commandments, preserve all sacred tradition and respect all holy canons or we don’t.  Christ says that if you break one of the least of these commandments you break them all, the same is true of truth, denying one truth, is denying all truth, for Christ is the Truth from heaven. 

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND 

SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Today the Virgin gives birth to Christ the Godman. 

What we can experience if we also give birth to Him.

      The shepherds were watching their flock by night, when suddenly standing still, they  looked up, as  heaven was suddenly filled with radiant light, and standing there was  an even brighter shining Archangel. Struck with great fear, the shepherds trembled  seeing such a sight, for  the heavens with the glory of God had opened up just for them. The angel spoke to calm them, saying:

  “Do not fear, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born upon this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with him a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will among men”   (Luke 2: 10-14).

  What the shepherds witnessed and we  all witness is a new and world-shaking event, announced with glorious light and angelic song!  This song is still sung in the Church and we will hear it again and again: “Glory to God in the highest, peace and good will among men!”As we, the church,  gather together to celebrate this joyful Feast, our souls become filled with  blessedness as we join the shepherds welcoming the New Child who is born, he is the Logos God who has chosen to descend and become one of us.  His purpose for becoming like us should fill our hearts with joy, for it His great desire and plan to raise everyone one of us from earth to heaven to a more perfect life where there is neither pain no sorrow nor the threat of death, but eternal life. 

THREE GREAT TRUTHS DEATH – BURIAL – RESURRECTION

THREE GREAT TRUTHS

DEATH  – BURIAL – RESURRECTION

This treatise will make anyone’s Christmas more beautiful, 

looking to the future of the Child lying in a manger, 

for He is the Truth that came down from heaven!

   Christ’s death upon the Cross, His burial by Joseph and Nicodemos in a new tomb, where no other body had ever been placed, and His Resurrection on the third day after the crucifixion, are three great historical events, bound together and inseparable, whose historical truth no one can deny or doubt,

unless he has lost all logic and reasoning.

     Christ was crucified in Jerusalem by the high priests and elders of the Jewish people on the day of the Jewish Passover sacrifice, and His crucifixion is a historical event which no one can deny or doubt, for the first who bore witness that Christ did indeed die which was their desire, this being a work of their own hands.  Their cries of: “Away with Him! Crucify Him!” still are clearly recorded in Holy Scripture, and to this day the Jews believe that He deserved to die.  Also they persecuted the disciples of Christ, then called, Nazarenes, for believing in the crucified one!  

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS AND GREATER HERESIES Part Three of a series

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS

AND GREATER HERESIES

Part Three of a Series

   Christ our Head, proclaimed  that  the embryonic Orthodox Church must “go forth and preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit”, that is by three immersions and emersions.  All who enter the Church through the door of baptism rid themselves of all sins in the grace-filled waters, but most of the time, converts are cheated by not being baptized at all.  Baptism is done in the name of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, and in Orthodox Baptism we effectively die into a death like His, and we  certainly rise into a resurrection like His. Both the smallest and the greatest of sins   are washed away in the baptismal waters.  Who would not desire baptism such a cleansing  baptism knowing that they were never really baptized by the Church’s baptism? 

   The preaching and baptizing performed by heretics, outside the Church, cannot save a single soul. Christ issued His great command of preaching and baptizing, to cleanse the souls of converts so that they shine like a fresh cut diamond, readying them for the precious seal of the gift of Holy Spirit.  Here in the west, we are among people where there are many different christs being preached. 

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS AND GREATER HERESIES Part 2 of a Series

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS

AND GREATER HERESIES

Part Two of a Series

Sola Scriptura or Only Scriptures

    It is not our intention to engage in a dialogue, but simply to speak the truth, however sincere dialogues are welcome.  Those who seek and yearn for truth will see its presence in these series.  When the reformation began, most of its participants believed, and maybe still believe, a gross falsehood,  which brought about disastrous results. For some reason, many Orthodox leaders do not address these issues, when they engage those who are still being mislead. For the consequences of the reformation not only did not bring truth or happiness to participants, but brought them from one falsehood to another; from Papism to Protestantism, not from the Papacy to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – Orthodoxy.  They failed to realize how far they went from truth and the correct understanding of Holy Scripture.  Having erroneously believed the Papacy to be the true church, they believed that the Church Christ founded was corrupt.  Based on this falsehood, the early reformers were not planning to leave the Roman Church, bot to correct and change the many evils, for it had become a den of thieves and a mud pool of immorality, which history confirms. 

  The truth is that the Papacy had not been the true church for the previous  five to six hundred when the reformers went into action. The Papacy separated themselves from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, because they were unable to dominate it. The consequences of this apostasy was that they were now separate and free from the  censure of the Church. Thus countless errors and heresies to enter the papacy, piety was left behind, criminal men entered the papacy and many became popes, true Christianity disappeared.  

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS AND GREATER HERESIES

PROTESTANT GREAT ERRORS

AND GREATER HERESIES

Part One of a Series

     The purpose of this treatise is not to criticize but to speak the truth to anyone who is interested, and  our motivation for doing so is love. The  meaning of love is to give all the good you possess to those whom you love. There is nothing we can give that is more precious and beautiful than the true Christ and His true Church – holy Orthodoxy!  She is the continuation of the ancient Church founded by Christ and the Apostles, she is one and the same throughout the world, and the true faith has been preserved in all her churches, not by the rule of a central man, but by the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent as Comforter and Guide of His Church. We desire the salvation and eternal life of every man, but especially for those who will see their errors or heresy and abandoning their sinking ships, come  into the arms of holy Orthodoxy, wherein there is certain salvation.

    The fundamental Protestant error is their belief that they are in an imaginary church but they are far outside the true Church.  Because the plurality of many differing factions does not constitute the church for in the Church everyone must have the mind of Christ.  All those who are outside of the Orthodox Church, are not walking on the path of salvation. Christ established His Church on the fundamental doctrinal fact, which was uttered by Peter and confirmed by the other disciples: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mat. 16:16). It is important to note, that this is the fundamental law upon which the Church is built, the belief that  Christ is the Son of the Living God. The fundamental law of the papacy is that the Pope is the head, and all must recognize his authority and infallibility. The Baptists who do not want to be called Protestants have also formed other churches leaving them outside the true church. The fundamental law of most of  Protestantism is Sola Scriptura or Scriptures alone.

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

      During this holy season we hear some Christmas songs like Silent Night, Holy Night, Away in A Manger, Come All You Faithful, Jingle Bells, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, Santa Claus is coming, and others which after a few days are soon forgotten by most people.  There is a difference in how divinely inspired Orthodox hymns reach the depths of minds and hearts, filling them with  the good news of the Birth of Christ, not easy to forget. Orthodox hymnology is a special grace, and is the  richest source of hymns of praise which narrate, all the aspects and events of the Nativity of Christ. Orthodox Christmas hymns are filled with the spirit of Christmas and remain indelibly written in many hearts.  Also, the fact that the Spirit inspires many hymn-writers is another reason for their beauty; here are a few samples.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Christ comes  from the heaven,

Go to meet Him!

Christ is on earth; Be exalted; 

Sing unto the Lord all the earth;

Praise Him in gladness O people, 

For He has been glorified!

   This Christ-centered hymn is used in Orthodoxy from mid November until Christmas, the Feast of Christ’s Birth.  Orthodox Christians observe a moderate fast beginning on November 15th and ending with the Feast Day of Christmas. This hymn begins November 21, which is the Feast of the Entrance of the Virgin  into the temple and the holy of holies where, at the tender age of three, she begins preparation that will be completed when she is betrothed to Joseph. By prayer and fasting, rejoicing in the Lord, by communion with angels, she  prepared to fulfill her awesome destiny which will cause her to become the best and  greatest person ever to come from the human race.  The greatness of her birthgiving can best be expressed in these words.  Our Father who is in heaven is giving birth and the Virgin gave birth to the same Son, our God, Jesus Christ!  At the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel joyfully bestowed upon her a new name saying Rejoice: “Full of Grace” and in her wondrous birthgiving she receives another name, the Ever-virgin Theotokos, for she gave  birth to God in the flesh, our Savior Jesus Christ!

THE HERETICAL TEACHING OF BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE

THE  HERETICAL TEACHING OF 

BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE

IN HIS BOOK THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

       I knew Bishop Kallistos Ware, when, as a very young man, he came to our youth meetings held at the Greek Archdiocese in NYC,
which was in the nineteen-fifties, we knew him then as Timothy Ware.  This article is about the re-publication of his book, “The Orthodox Church.”  Timothy Ware converted to Orthodoxy, and rose to the bishopric, and is now famous. Sadly, he has publicly surrendered the most fundamental beliefs of Orthodoxy and embraced falsehood. He is a gifted and effective speaker, which is what prompts me to write this exposure. Although a Bishop, Kallistos surrendered basic Orthodox beliefs. His high rank elevated him to chief shepherd, but now with his false teachings he is leading many sheep astray,  taking them into dangerous waters where many may perish. (RJM)

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH  Penguin Books UK

Quotes from his book are italicized. Remarks are mine.

“ Orthodoxy has been grievously impoverished by the separation.” P 61

  (RJM) There has never been an “impoverishing by the separation,”  except that of the Papacy which chose power and authority, over the humility and meekness of Jesus Christ,  and they are impoverished by the separation.  But it is impossible for Orthodoxy to be impoverished by the separation because she always remains the body of Christ, the one holy, the treasure house of divine truth and love, constantly producing saints and sanctifying her people. Filled with Holy Spirit, Orthodoxy is always enriched, and will remain so because she avoids the terrible pitfalls of  heresy and especially that of subjection to the Pope,  who claims to be the one and only source of salvation, and the infallible representative of Christ, but he is not the good shepherd. 

SECURITY-- INSECURE AND PERMANENT

SECURITY

INSECURE AND PERMANENT

   Few do not know of the federal Social Security Act, which was designed to give people security when they reached  advanced age, by  financial support. Starting  with one penny on each dollar earned, it was quickly accepted by people.  The Social security system in this country started in the 1930 period, and was touted as security for old age.  Obviously security is important to men, for real security if perfect would give us total comfort without anxieties.

   The first created, Adam and Eve, enjoyed such perfect security in Paradise where there was no opposing power or storm threatening them. So long as they obeyed the law of God they were free and secure in Paradise, having everything they needed.  Nothing could harm  them for they were secure and happy, living in the grace of God. They felt even more secure when God visited them for they delighted in His sweetness, love and beauty.  But after they sinned, everything changed, for they became criminals, having broken the law of God, and now, instead of Paradise, everything changed to bitterness, for they were threatened by the penalty of death which hung over their heads like a  sword. Instead of rejoicing and running toward Him as they always did, now when God called out to them, they hid, trembling in fear, because they were guilty and filled with shame. Sadly having lost their innocence they also lost sweet Paradise.

PROTESTANT DECLARES ORTHODOX BAPTISM IS CORRECT

PROTESTANT  DECLARES

ORTHODOX BAPTISM IS CORRECT

BAPTISM MEANS TOTAL IMMERSION

PROTESTANT RESEARCHER OF 1860

SUPPORTS ORTHODOX TOTAL IMMERSIONS

     One-hundred and fifty-three years ago, in 1860,  a Protestant scholar, named T. J. Conant D.D.,  after complete and extensive research, published the results of his efforts in a book entitled: “The Meaning and Use of Baptism, published by the  American Bible Union, 350 Broome St, Bible Revision Association, Louisville Kentucky, 1860. (entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860.  By the American Bible Union. In the clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York).”  This is taken from the book which lies before me.

     He researched in detail every possible source, hoping to solve a major denominational dispute which had arisen among Protestant sects.  This concerned the meaning of the Greek word baptizeis (baptize). Some considered immersion to be of no consequence, and others deemed it most necessary,  the author, however,  strongly supported the correct meaning, that baptism  always means immerse. Confounding the dispute was the biblical passage incorrectly translated:  “baptize with water”, instead of “baptize in water.”   

THE VOICE OF CHRIST

THE VOICE OF CHRIST

THE LAW WHICH ALL CHRISTIANS 

ARE OBLIGED TO KEEP PERFECTLY

Baptism became for all of us, the beginning of the necessary work we need to accomplish, if we desire salvation and membership in the kingdom of heaven, a task that can only be accomplished in this present life, because after death comes judgment. In Baptism, we renounced the Devil who is the ruler of this world, and by our three immersions and emersions in Baptism, we  died to sin and were resurrected into Christ’s glorious Resurrection. This is the beginning, but our Lord teaches many important things  to the  believers who were baptized into His death and Resurrection.  Christ raises His voice and speaks to us, and this  requires our dedicated attention and obedience. He established the Christian law and  commanded that we keep it, which is an impossible task if we don’t know and understand it.  For convenience we are printing it here from Scripture, in an improved translation from the original Greek, being the Gospel Law of the Lord.  In reading it, is good to remember the Lord’s words: “whoever breaks one point of the law breaks the whole law.” If we struggle to keep all of His commandments, they will develop into good habits, delighting our hearts, filling us with great hope for eternal life and the joy of our Lord!

     In the Gospel of Matthew, chapters five, six, and seven, is what was called by the Church,  the Evangelical Law; it details many things and sets the boundaries of what we are permitted or required to say or do, for in following Christ we can no longer follow our own will, but the will of God. 

  ANDREW THE FIRST CALLED 

HOLY APOSTLE

   The holy Apostle Andrew was the first called by Christ, being the son of Jonah and brother of Peter  the Apostle, whom he had brought to the Messiah.  Andrew was baptized by the John the Baptist and  Forerunner and then became his disciple; it was he who introduced Andrew to Christ as Scripture records.  Jesus came to Andrew and Peter as they were preparing to go fishing,  He said: “Follow me.”  They dropped their nets and everything else and followed him. Then these two brothers, after the Resurrection began untiringly to preach and teach.  They worked wonders, and both of them, after completing their duty to Christ, left this world and entered the kingdom of heaven through crucifixion.

    After Christ had accomplished His work, enduring His Crucifixion and Resurrection, followed by His triumphant Ascension, his promise from on high was fulfilled. For the day of Pentecost arrived and they all received the gift of the Comforter. 

SAINT KATHERINE HOLY GREAT MARTYR AND ALL THOSE MARTYRED WITH HER

SAINT KATHERINE HOLY 

 GREAT MARTYR

AND ALL THOSE MARTYRED WITH HER

November 24, 25

THE ONE-HUNDRED FIFTY ORATORS 

martyred by a fiery death. 

THE EMPRESS FAUSTINA

PORPHYRIOS 

with TWO HUNDRED SOLDIERS

slain by the sword

                                                                 

               

The wonderful and noble Katherine’s father was  King Constas, who reigned with his consort Sabinella and governed Alexandria in Egypt.  Possessing a most quick and clever mind, she became well educated in all the branches of Greek and Roman culture.  She thoroughly learned the art of rhetoric, and in a word, she was smart and proper, possessing  all the learning of the world. In fact she was the wonder of her age for she surpassed everyone. In addition to a wonderful mind she also possessed unrivaled perfection of body and form.  Being such an outstanding beauty, she was also filled with conceit and pride.

    Numerous men had sought her hand in marriage, but Katherine refused all their proposals for  she considered them to be inferior to herself, saying: Who can be found as my superior or my equal in point of beauty, wealth, nobility and learning, so as to justify my accepting him as a husband?  

   Then one day she heard about Jesus Christ from a monk, and she was sure that she had found the bridegroom she was seeking, who was not only just her equal but in reality was incomparably better than her; in respect of beauty and pulchritude, and personal attractiveness, and in respect of wealth and nobility, and of learning and wisdom, Christ greatly surpassed her.  But she was quite unworthy of Him, as was revealed when she was sleeping and in a dream, she beheld the Theotokos who appeared carrying her Son, and urging  Him to look at Katherine.  He quickly turned His head  away, making it plain that He preferred not to gaze at her, for only a brief look had aroused His aversion, as though she was extremely ugly and badly formed.

THE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS

THE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS

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

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

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

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

THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY

   THE THEOTOKOS AND 

EVER-VIRGIN MARY

   Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God,  is being eternally born of the God the Father, and in the fullness of time, without change,  He was born of His Mother, the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea, thus He also became the Son of man. Giving thought to these things and their meaning is astounding. The eternal Father in heaven has designated Mary to be the Mother of His Son in the flesh, being a most amazing event in history, for God the Father and Mary the Mother together have both given birth to Jesus Christ the Godman!

Therefore, the Theotokos, is now enthroned next to God the Father, having a special common bond, which He has and which she has acquired, for they are both the birthgivers of Jesus Christ. What an astounding and glorious woman she is! Christ is eternally being born of the Father before the ages and in time of His mother during the ages.

   What else does this mean? That Mary, who gave birth to God, is henceforth called by the Church, the Theotokos, and because  she is  supremely honored and glorified by God, the Church also honors and supremely and glorifies her.  

ANATHEMA!

ANATHEMA!

   The Papacy  defines the Greek word “anathema”  as “accursed”, and this appears in dictionaries,  but it is not even close.  The meaning of the  word means something to “keep away from” as being dedicated  to either  God or  Satan, which we all must avoid completely (as defined by St. Nicodemos). An example is the Virgin for  being  dedicated to God, she is anathema as she belongs to God.  An anathema is placed on evil things or heretics and their false teaching, the warning is to  keep away. Whoever makes friends or brothers with those  anathematized will pick up their spiritual disease and fall under the anathema as well.

    With no disrespect for our Orthodox leaders and theologians, but with love of truth, we offer these truths which are being trampled upon.  For some years there have been meetings between the Orthodox and Coptic Monophysites as well as the Roman Catholics or the Papacy. These meetings resulted in the following action. High ranking Orthodox leaders and the Papacy or Coptics, have boldly jointly announced to the "lifting of anathemas" against both of these groups, and the deceived Orthodox  then proclaim that the Coptic heresy and the Papacy have the  same belief as the Orthodox–which not only is false but is a betrayal of the true Orthodox Faith, denying the exclusivity of the Church Christ founded. 

   Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Love and the Wisdom of God.  Truth always remains the same, despite the many attacks by the Devil who is the father of lies.  Whenever Love is separated from Truth and Wisdom, it is not only a false and deceptive  love, but is dangerous and deadly to the soul.  To protect us from heresy the Church invokes the anathema. Further understanding of its real meaning occurred to me, the writer,  when I visited Kifisia in Greece,  I saw a huge sign across a large military building, and in huge letters, the word  ANATHEMA.  Later I found out the building contained munitions, so it was a warning like Danger Keep away.