THE FALLACY OF PURGATORIAL FIRE

THE FALLACY OF 

PURGATORIAL FIRE

   It is the official teaching of the Papacy that faithful souls must endure the burning flames of purgatorial fire after death to purge their souls of any remaining sins , and this would render them pure and fit for paradise. To begin with there is absolutely nothing, not purgatorial fire or any other substance that can cleanse the souls of men in the entire universe, except, the only thing that can cleanse souls and render them sinless is the blood of Christ, a single drop of which can1 can purify the entire world, for it makes the spirits of men divine and thoroughly cleanse their souls.  If the papacy believed this they would never dream up a fictional purgatorial fire.

Only the blood of Christ’s sacrifice and His blood is the only remedy to purge anyone’s sins for He is the living sacrifice for all of us.  Protestants simply reject this thinking they are following the Bible. Followers of the Pope do not believe it or they would not be selecting another way – purgatorial fire, which even if it did exist could not cleanse the human being from sins.

The sinful man, according to papal teaching has his soul purified in purgatorial fire, but his body who helped him to sin and is therefore sinful as well as his spirit. So the man is not purified at all, even if this teaching was true. However, the sinful man is not cleansed, hence there is no possibility for this doctrine to be true.  These are important facts.  The soul of man is not the whole man. The body is not the whole man. The soul and body together with a spirit from God constitute the whole man, which can only be purified and deified by the Blood of Christ. These facts St. Paul affirms: “I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).

This biblical testimony from St. Paul completely destroys any idea of improvement after death in a fictional purgatory. 

1. It describes the whole man as being body, soul and spirit not one or the other

2. Being blameless means being without any defects or sins, guilty of  nothing, but this process must take place before death and not after death.  Upon death we must already be totally purified, for after death comes judgment and its too late.

3. Man is not one of these three but the three together constitute man.

Further, who is going to control the fiery flames of purgatory, the demons? But they have not been given such authority by God.  The angels? but they would never1 burn people with fire to improve them, for they know well that only the blood of Christ can cure.

Numberless people have died over the centuries, believing the popes of Rome who promised them his fictional purgatorial fire and when they departed they found something they did not expect.

The only thing that happens after death, according to St. Paul.

“And as it is appointed unto men to die, but after death is the judgment.”  St. Paul, speaking truthfully does not allow for a purging purgatorial fire, only judgment.

Further, the idea of purgatorial fire degrades the sacrifice of Christ, who alone endured the suffering meant from each of us. Or are we better than He that we should undergo suffering in place of Him? Insanity! Absolutely nothing untouched by Christ’s sacrifice, can be purified, for this is the only sacrifice acceptable to God. Any other suffering is inferior and of no benefit to anyone, for Christ did it all as the God-man. Jesus Christ says: “I am the bread which came down from heaven, and if a man eat this bread he shall never die. For my flesh is food and my blood is drink.":

WHY DO WE PLACE VIGIL LAMPS 

BEFORE HOLY ICONS

First – because our faith is light . . .  Christ says: “I am the light of the world, Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12).

Second – in order to remind us of the radiant character of the Saint before whose icon we light the vigil lamp. For Saints are called  “sons of light” (John 12:36;  Luke 16:8.

Third – in order to serve as a reproach to us for our dark deeds, for our evil thoughts and desires, and in order to call us to evangelical light; and so that we would more zealously try to fulfill the commandments of the Savior:  “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).

Fourth – so that the vigil lamp may be our small sacrifice to God, who gave himself completely as a sacrifice for us, and as a small sign of our great gratitude and radiant love for Him from whom we ask in prayer for life and health, and salvation and everything that only boundless heavenly love can bestow.

Fifth – so that terror would strike the evil powers who sometimes assail us even at the time of prayer and lead away our thoughts from the Creator.  The evil powers love the darkness and tremble at every light, especially at that which belongs to God and to those who please Him.

Sixth – so that this light will arouse us to selflessness.  Just as the oil and wick burn in the vigil lamp, submissive to our will, so let our souls also burn with the flame of love in all our sufferings, always being submissive to  God’s will.

Seventh – in order to teach us that just as the vigil lamp cannot be lit without our hand, so too, our heart, our inward vigil lamp, cannot be lit without the holy fire of God’s grace, even if it were filled with all virtues.  All these virtues of ours, are, after all, like a combustible material, but the fire which ignites them proceeds from God.

Eighth – in order to remind us before anything else the Creator of the world created light, and after that everything else in order: “And God said, let there be light; and there was light ” (Gen. 1:3).  And it must be so also at the beginning of our spiritual life, so that before anything else the light of Christ’s truth would shine within us.  From this light of Christ’s truth subsequently every good deed is created, springs up and grows within us. 

May the Light of Christ illumine you as well: St. Nicloai Velimirovich

WHY WE ARE LIVING?

THE TRUE LIFE

       Life continues on and children are constantly being born.  With or without love and marriage children are born and without a father and mother not one of us would be living this present life. The process for a man and his wife to reproduce children has been around from the beginning but it has changed drastically and this is an essential factor in answering the question raise, why are we living? What is our purpose here on this earth that we live a very temporary life?

      Today the truth of what a family is has been greatly distorted and this distortion may increase even more in the future. The traditional family of the not too distant past was unlike today’s substitute. There was the father, who was a worker and organizer, a businessman, manufacturer, engaged in various pursuits. He was the provider and head of the group called a family. The father was usually stricter than the mother which gave a wonderful balance to the happy family. The mother prepared meals,   fed her family, helped her husband get off to work and the children to school. She not only cooked, but she cleaned the house and made the beds and did countless other things. A loving and industrious father and a sweet mother produced children that enjoyed the best environment for their ascent to adulthood, where they would carry on the traditions which they had experienced in their family life, and the bonds formed in such a family remained until death and after death in memories..

     World War II, accompanied a masculine labor shortage, then came economic situations, and other factors which destructured much of the family unit. Working mother flooded the factories and babysitters, contributed to the gradual fracturing of the family. Economic conditions often caused the fractured family to lack the joyous atmosphere except in rare cases. 

THE ORTHODOX TRUTH OF THE VIRGIN MARY FALSE PAPAL DOGMA “THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

THE ORTHODOX TRUTH 

OF THE VIRGIN MARY

FALSE PAPAL DOGMA  

“THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”

 The Orthodox Church honors with great exaltation and glory the Holy Virgin Theotokos because she is beloved, and having willingly contributed everything, especially her Son  for our salvation. The Church has always praises her ascetic and hesychastic life in the temple from three years of age to puberty. She never committed any sin nor did she ever stray from the Lord’s commandments, for she was sinless in all her actions. However, we do not attempt to honor her popishly with false declarations regarding her birth, for she was born from a father and mother as all men are born, not without sin as the Popes falsely dogmatized. It is through birthgiving that the propatorical (not original)  sin is transmitted from generation to generation.  The only one who did not inherit the propatorical sin was Jesus Christ, for He was born without seed of man. However it is a fact that  the Virgin’s father is Joachim. Whom no one can deny, carried the propatorical sin. The Church has never dogmatized or considered her to have been conceived without sin like her Son Jesus Christ, the only sinless one,  for she was born naturally of Joachim and Anna whom God had joined together in matrimony, and He gave them Mary as an only child in their elderly years, and they in turn gave her to God according to their vow.

     The Roman Catholic Church before it tumbled into the papacy never dogmatized that the Virgin Mary was sinless, and even after it became the papacy, all the way to the year 1853 they never  claimed that Mary was conceived of Anna sinlessly. Yet they did this in 1854.  Not knowing what they were doing, they declared her to be freed of original sin while in her mother’s womb, with the fabricated claim that this was a doctrine revealed by God. This took place during the reign of Pope Pius IX, the same Pope who through clever manipulation  established another papal dogma, that popes were infallible. Both of these dogmas are not Christian but papal for they are untrue..

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH 

IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

      In the make believe nether realm of ecumenism, there is a great deal of  talk about the churches and what needs to be corrected in the churches. Topics include repairing the divisions of the churches, the great need for unity of the churches and ridding the churches of the evil of  division. Promised for these corrective efforts  are the arrival of the happy day when Christ’s will shall be fulfilled, that they may  “all be one as we are one.”

    This quest is fictional and tragical and stems from the minds of unfaithful Orthodox leaders, unfaithful papists, and confused Protestants. None of these have any idea about the church established by Christ  and its true nature, so the blind are leading the blind and will all fall into the ditch of a new religion positioning itself as the true church. The true Church is perfect and will always be the true Body of Christ its Head, and it never needs anything or lacks anything.  It is the people who need to be corrected and conform to the Church’s guidance unto the fulness of Christ. It is the people who need to be united to the Church and thus to each other/

     The Church is the Body of Christ its Head and the Foundation Stone upon whom the Church is built. It is a divine human institution, pure and blameless, indivisible  and not subject to  anything or anybody. Rather, everyone needs to be subject to the Church. Its doctrine and discipline and through such attachment to the Body of Christ, they will have Christ as their Head, for the Church, gets its life and light constantly and directly from Christ and is never subject to division or error. “I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. It is one, with one Head and one Body. It remains the Church, welcoming those who enter, and casting out those who are heretics, she is catholic having everything needful for our salvation and sanctification. She remains  pure and undefiled like her head, for she is divine and human. She sanctifies her members, with divine power and grace.

The Church is One, is not subject to division, nor can there be any real dialogue  between the Church and heresy, which is always outcast, and  it is the Church who keeps the heretics outside the Church. They will remain outside until thy repent and renounce their heresy and embrace and confess the truth, enabling them to enter the Church again. Many others have voluntarily embraced heresy which always appears as an easier path to salvation. Another important thing is that those outside the Church, teach and preach against the Church numbering themselves her enemies. 

     The true Church becomes highly visible to those seeking it, First, it cannot be identified as the Papacy. For they have firmly established  a different head who is not divine and human and is called the Pope of Rome. 

BAPTISM BY TRIUNE IMMERSION – COMMAND FROM THE KING OF ALL! ONLY ONE BAPTISM

BAPTISM BY TRIUNE IMMERSION – COMMAND FROM THE KING OF ALL!

     ONLY ONE BAPTISM

     After His glorious victory and Resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples as the conquering King of heaven and earth, and He gave His disciples their “marching orders, to save all men who responded to their call for faith and entrance into the saving waters of triune  baptism. The Apostles listened intensively and then responded:  “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them whatever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you to the close of the age” (Mat. 23:18-20).  They did just that as they taught them, and baptized them by three immersions in the name of each of the Holy Trinity, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

1. Teach all the nations      

2.Baptize them    

3. Christ never leaves us

     The Apostles, doing as they were instructed and taught this to those who came after them. The Gospel became like a roaring fire, consuming the old world of idolatry and the gates of Hades gave way. The Apostles also passed on to them, that which they received,  the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.  Only in the original Church founded by Christ, is this triune immersion baptism preserved.  And no other baptism is a triune baptism.  The Apostles, who understood Christ’s teaching left the following Canon: The presence of the Holy Spirit in Orthodoxy is well known to both Orthodox and many heterodox.

HOLY APOSTOLIC CANON 50

     “If any Bishop or Priest does not perform three immersions (baptisms) in making one baptism, but only a single immersion (baptism) that given into the death of the Lord, let him be deposed. For the Lord did not say, Baptize into my death, but, ‘Go you and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’” (Matthew 28:19).

THE GREAT INVITATION

THE GREAT INVITATION

I published this over 60 years ago and it has even more pertinence today.

   “Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hear my voice, and open the door, I will come unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20.)

SICKNESS OF THE BODY

There are many minor and major sicknesses of the body. Major sicknesses or accidental injury can cause the greatest pain and make our lives gloomy, which motivates us to do something about it. Before undergoing examination, diagnosis and treatment  by a doctor, the prudent  patient knows that he must disclose everything to him about his condition, leaving nothing out.  The wise physician, after diligent investigation, usually arrives at a diagnosis and method of treatment.  The physician also seeks to determine how the sickness or illness was contracted.  Sometimes the patient harms himself by overindulging or bad actions. Eating, drinking, carelessly as well as  lack of diligent care of his body. 

The good physician hides nothing, but tells the patient the truth, and prescribes proper remedies, so that he can start on the path of recovery. This may involve avoiding some activities or foods and drinks that may prove harmful. The patient who follows the doctor’s instruction rejoices as he walks on the path of recovery.

SICKNESS OF THE SOUL

 While sickness of the body is apparent and the body is visible, sickness of the soul is not so apparent, and many are they who are in complete denial of sickness of the soul, not acknowledging that man is more than just a body. The human soul or ego is subject to many sicknesses, affecting body and soul. Various types of misconduct and vices, disregard of God’s commandments, breaking His laws, which are called sins. As bodily pain induces pain in the heart, so sickness of the soul causes grief and misery to the soul of the one suffering. Added to the grief felt is the fear of eventual punishment for the illicit actions contrary to God’s laws.  If we keep the laws of God and fear His just judgment, all other fears will evaporate before our eyes.

THE FRUITS OF SIN

The health of the soul is beneficial not only to the soul but also to the body. The Bible says: “Piety  is of benefit to everyone affording as it does the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).  Beyond any doubt, most sicknesses and diseases are due to sins. The Lord points this our saying to the paralytic whom He had cured:  “Behold you are made well; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you” (1 John 5:14). Living a godless life of iniquity affects the health and the countenance of a man. It leaves him susceptible to many diseases and ailments and darkens his mind and intellect.

Gluttony is forbidden by God’s law and is punishable, and we see that those who are slaves to their stomachs with diets of rich foods, cause the upset of the entire organism. Sin is the underlying cause of many ailments and causes grief, pain and death. Obesity is causes by a person who fails to respect both his soul and body, and is curable by the Lord. 

   We can  witness in our own souls the fruits of sin. The drunkard see liquor destroying  him yet he will not leave the bottle alone. The gambler sees that he is squandering his money by card playing, and will not give up the game. The man living in debauchery continuously suffers from certain diseases and much pain, yet he will not cease his vice.  That is why the Lord says: “Amen, amen, I say unto you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

PROPHECY WE UTTER TOGETHER SURELY WILL BE FULFILLED

PROPHECY WE  UTTER TOGETHER

SURELY WILL BE FULFILLED

       In the Holy Orthodox Church, we not only are exposed to many prophecies but, on a regular basis,  we even utter them ourselves, often without being aware.  Speaking of the future, the following prophecy is spoken by all of us when we say the Sacred Creed.  “An He (Christ) shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”  Christ being the Logos of God is perfect God and became perfect man,  and He will be the Judge of the entire race of man, and who is  able to escape this judgment? Fulfillment of this prophecy is unescapable and should be very important to us.

But when? It doesn’t matter, for with each of us,  our own death is the first step toward our judgment by the Lord. This brings the final  judgment very close to us, about a hundred years or so. The important thing when this day comes will be ourselves and our conscience. Do I have complete faith in the Lord? Did I keep His commandments? Do I pray to Him? In the morning? In the evening?

     If we had no real communication with God while in this world, we certainly will find our souls naked and destitute on that fearful day, resulting in our being cast into outer darkness as the Lord has warned us.

     However, our Lord Jesus Christ is compassionate and merciful and filled with forbearance toward man. So let us look a t a good judgment from Him that would cause us to enjoy the beauty and majesty of the kingdom of heaven forever. How can we achieve eternal life and the kingdom as we escape the judgment that can cast us into outer darkness.

     Christ makes the difficult easy and the impossible possible.”Come uno me all you that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light " ``(Mat.11:29-30

WHY UNITY OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IS IMPOSSIBLE! TIME, MONEY RESOURCES WASTED

WHY UNITY OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IS IMPOSSIBLE!

TIME, MONEY RESOURCES WASTED

  Efforts to unite Holy Orthodoxy with other Christians will never happen for the Guide of the Church, the Holy Spirit, and the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ together with the laos to Theo (the people  of God) all reject any such unity and will expose its true nature, which is nothing other than a modern attempt to corrupt the ancient and true Church, by mixing unmixable truth with falsehood.

     Behold, how many years have passed since the ecumenists and philopapists started their work in 1954.  Spending millions of dollars of the Church member’s money on futile missions, airplane fare, hotels and restaurant, this waste will go on and on. Even worse, they do not  attempt to bring anyone into the Church and holy Baptism as Christ commands.  “Go forth and preach this Gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. This is the main purpose of work outside the Church.  If we leave the heretics to their false beliefs, we prove a lack of love for them, not caring that they  die in their sins, which is cruel and is certainly against the will of Jesus Christ, who desires that men be saved and come to knowledge of truth.

From “Be Reconciled to Your Brother:”

ARTICLE 1954

“THE PATRIARCHAL DELEGATION AT GENEVA AND ITS WORK 

      The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate anointed the establishment of the office and the appointment of its director on December 17th 1954, and began to function March 1 of 1955 under the direction of Archbishop of North and South America, Iakovos, then bishop of Malta. (P 7)

  The ecumenists proclaim their efforts  as having lasted almost 60 years!  Yet they have not settled a single dogmatic difference. They are not bringing members into the Church. They have not challenged papal supremacy and infallibility, nor has he offered to abandon his blasphemous claims to be the vicar of Jesus Christ. Catholics and Protestants alike have not left their errors and poured into the true Church. Why are there no discussions on the great differences that separate the true Church from heretical churches?

“BLESSED IS THE KINGDOM 

OF THE FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT 

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.”

       This priestly proclamation heralds the most important event ever to occur in the history of the human race/ With great glory and majesty the Orthodox faithful are introduced to their homeland, which is the blessed kingdom of God. We must firmly believe the truth about our kingdom for basically there are but two kingdoms in existence. The first is the kingdom of God and the second is the kingdom of this world, headed by the ruler of this world.  Those who belong to the Kingdom of God are duty bound, to be true to the heavenly kingdom and not be overly-involved with the kingdom of this world, for the world is not our kingdom, and we must use it for the needs of our sustenance and maintenance.

   When separated from the Church, we are also separated from our destination. Union with the Church is our great hope. In the Church we are churched as infants, baptized and chrismated, married and eventually are buried. The Church indeed is the central part of our kingdom.

     Few are those who comprehend the beauty and glory of the Divine Liturgy, which is the Kingdom of God acting in this world. When the Church is celebrating, there are angelic hosts everywhere although invisible to our eyes. There are also the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Supporting the Priests are many angels and the whole area of the Church is now the kingdom of God, hence the proclamation:”Blessed is the Kingdom . . .”

The Divine Liturgy is not about something new or old but about something always present. It is the continuation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross an event to which we offer thanksgiving and glorify continuously. Every Divine Liturgy is not the remembrance but the continuation of that which Jesus Christ established as confirmed by St. Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews. 

“And every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but He (Christ), after He had offered one continuous sacrifice sat down at the right hand of the God, from henceforth expecting till His enemies are made the footstool of His feet. For by one offering He has perfected, continuously sanctifying then that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12 - 10:14).  Special note: These verses are badly mistranslated in Protestant and Roman Catholic Bible.  They translate the word continuous as forever (Greek di-inekes or continuous) These correct words properly identify the sacrifice as being continuous.

   The Divine Liturgy is filled with rare and divine beauty, and is the communion of believers, with the smell of incense and we see on the icons  the Living Lord and His Mother, John the Forerunner and many other Saints, who are the best company we can ever find.

 The Divine Liturgy is a sacrifice, but bloodless, for Christ established it on the night when He was betrayed when He took bread and blessed it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat this is my body . . .  He told us: “Do this in remembrance of me.”

     Respect for the Church is respect and reverence for the Kingdom of God, which should inspire very good church behavior on our part. We should stand with fear and trembling before the awesome God who we often have sinned against us, and obtained forgiveness, from His great mercy; 

      Bad habits are difficult to change and good ones are difficult to acquire, but we can certainly make an effort.  Why arrive at Church any old time, when we do not do this for school, college, business, or a job. Let us get to the Church before the service begins and we will feel much better and help to restore better order. What can be our excuse for being late, but only for Church?  

     We should avoid sitting in Church after the consecration of the divine gifts, which is shortly after the   Cherubic Hymn. This also hold true  especially during the time when people are communicating., and, giving it some thought this practice approaches rudeness. We should avoid unnecessary talking in Church. We are receiving through Communion the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of glory, the Immortal Logos of God. Let us honor Him by standing at attention bowing reverently in prayer

   

     Let us remember who we are the very  next time we hear: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

  

THE ONLY TRUE FREEDOM

THE ONLY TRUE FREEDOM

Freedom was bestowed upon human beings and angels who  have unrestricted freedom within their allotted powers,   that is, freedom of choice and freedom over their actions. Freedom is shown to be most desirable and is craved by many. Americans in particular tout the many virtues and boons of freedom, for our country in particular was founded with this fundament: “My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing . . .  Let freedom ring!”  “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” But this is not the freedom that fills hearts with happiness and it ids only unto death.   

     Whatever a man may be bound by, after denouncing sin, if placed in jail, is much freer than a person outside.  A drunkard or glutton may be free in body but remains a prisoner.  The same is true of an alcoholic or drug addict. Any sin in which we indulge imprisons us and  arouses fear in men’s souls, for they cannot escape their  conscience which bears witness of  right and wrong and unnatural.

  No man wants to be cheated, but many are willing to cheat others. No man wants another man to take his wife, but many are willing to take another man’s life. No man desires to be defrauded but man often think as nothing defrauding others in business and governmental transactions.

       Lacking the teaching and the blessing of Christ man will walk blindly in darkness failing to recognize what is beneficial or detrimental in his life. Not knowing where he is going, he wanders as if drunk, lacking direction or guidance.  This is occurring in our present day, where there are fewer people interested in the important destiny to which we are all heading. The many promises and threats of Jesus Christ are clearly recorded in Holy Scripture.  “Whoever believes in me has eternal life!”  “They shall be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  No threat or danger is greater than spending eternity in outer darkness and misery and in the company of demonic powers.  No promise can be greater than the promise of eternal life with continual joy, dancing and singing with the angels and saints, for all eternity.

Lack of proper use of freedom defrauds us of the greatest treasure ever made available to man. The freedom and free will of man distinguish him from every other creature, for not the animals and birds, but man is in charge. What would be the advantage of an imprisoned human race of zombies? It would not have even been recorded!

     How very sad that we are already headed toward this immoral end, for without morality man evolves into a beast.  The restraints of immorality are not really restraints but an introduction to freedom, for to restrain of immortality reduces many evils among men.  Though we  believe we are free because we make choices, but to a great degree. As the restraints of immortality come down, we are headed towards loss of freedom and are on the fast road to  becoming moral zombies.  Take   away the moral law from man and he is no longer man, for he wanders  about lacking a moral compass, and moral law is gradually disappearing from the realm of man’s vision. 

     Good and evil certainly exists, but modern man in general closes his eyes to evil, to demons and to the Devil. There is only one who can extract us from this deep slimy pit. Christ is the brilliant light shining on the world, a light we must follow toward our Lord Jesus Christ and learn from Him.   

     Freedom in Christ enables mercy and love to  soothes the wounds of our souls, it also warms our hearts and strengthen our wills  Without freedom it is impossible to love God for no one but the free are capable of  love. 

       God formed man according to His image with the divine perfection known only to him.  For He gave man all that he needed for his purpose.   Love is not possible without freedom, and this freedom was given to the first created pair bearing full responsibility for their decisions. Freedom is essential to a person, rendering him able to decide on choosing good or evil and right or wrong. Without such freedom there would be no responsibility and consequently no possibility of love, for only a free person can accept love and return love that is extended to them. Brethren, as St. John says: “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God. He that does not love, does not know God; for God is love. 

THE HOLY MARTYRS WE MUST EMULATE THEM

THE HOLY MARTYRS

WE MUST EMULATE THEM

      Countless brave and holy martyrs have willingly given up their live out of great love for Jesus Christ. Some were new to the faith yet they immediately gave up their lives for the sake of the Truth which came down from heaven. Others, even in ripe old age willingly offered themselves as a sacrifice to the Lord.

     Every type of torture and death, known top man,  has been used, such as being skinned alive, burned to death, hung by the neck, pierced with a sword and drowned. To describe the pain caused by these torturous deaths is not possible, for it is beyond description. Many in the world have undergone such torture and pain, not for Christ, but due to the malignancy of man, pass out and become unconscious, unable and unwilling to bear the painfulness.

     Many of the Holy Martyrs felt no pain but were filled with joy, for they had such great love for Christ.  Their love was like unquenchable flames, causing their pain to be diminished or to vanish from their extreme love and devotion. This great love is what made their suffering bearable, and they beheld their future which filled them with great hope as they were being put to death.

     “St Ignatius," says St. John Chrysostom, “put off the body as easily as a man takes off his clothes.” He urged the lions to eat well and completely devour him. His love was like fire and lightning. But Ignatius was not without fear. He feared the fellow Christians who would try to prevent him from being fed to the lions.  Asking their forgiveness, he said: "I know what's good for me."

      As they led him to the lion’s to be devoured, Ignatius boldly turned and addressed those present: 

“Men of Rome, witnesses of my contest: you ought to know that neither have I committed  a criminal, act nor have I transgressed in anything deserving death.  I, however, receive this sentence today voluntarily and with rejoicing, that I might attain to the true God for whom I thirst and yearn to enjoy;  inasmuch as I am God’s wheat, ground fine by the teeth of the wild beasts that I might become pure and unblemished bread.”

   With love and extreme joy in Christ, the numberless holy Martyrs were enabled to endure what man simply cannot endure.  They received crowns of glory for sure, but that was not their motivation. Nor was their motivation promises of the kingdom of heaven and the hoped for  blessings. Their motivation was undying , pure and indestructible love that burns in their hearts like a roaring fire. They loved not what God gave them but God, because He is good and worthy of our love.

     Ignatius was one of many but an outstanding martyr, who considered himself unworthy of this blessing. Humility is characteristic of genuine Orthodox Christians.

 The Holy Martyrs stand before us as witnesses that we also must sacrifice ourselves for Jesus Christ. This may not be by physical torture and death, but it may come in the form of temptations, which we must oppose vigorously, for we pray for it, saying: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

     Without going to the sword of martyrdom, we can do violence to ourselves. We can keep the fasts and have a firm rule of prayer, We can read the Bible every day and listen to what God has to say to us. We mus not allow our spiritual nature to starve to death, but we must feed it with healthy spiritual food, as we feed the body each day with material food. The soul \being of immense value deserves our constant attention.  Christ came to bring our souls up to heaven and eternal life, and we should share His desire for us, lest we show ourselves to be unworthy and be cast into to outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Let us become martyrs by conducting our daily lives according to the laws of Christ, not according to the laws of this world.

THE EVER-VIRGIN MARY THEOTOKOS

THE EVER-VIRGIN MARY THEOTOKOS

     Supremely exalted by the Most High God, filled with divine grace, adorned with her rare and extreme beauty of soul and perfection of virtue, who can be worthy to offer proper praise and exaltation to the greatest creature in the of earth and heaven.  The Archangel Gabriel was sent unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to the virgin espoused to a man whose name is Joseph, of the house of David, and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And the Angel came in unto her, and said, Rejoice “Full of Grace” (her new name) (apparent in Greek a single word, keharitomeni).  The Angel said:  “Rejoice Full of Grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. 

     And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear nor Mary, for you have found grace with God. And behold you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I do not know a man?  The Angel answered saying: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you’; therefore that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing is impossible; And Mary said, Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the Angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:26-48)

     God filled with his divine grace the humble and pure Mary and from the entire human race, selected her to  lead us all to salvation and everlasting life in the kingdom of heaven. She expresses her role perfectly in her conversation with Elizabeth.  “And Mary arose in those days and went to the hill country with haste into a city of Juda, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit and she spoke out with a loud voice and said. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For, Lo, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS BEFORE OUR EYES!

PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS BEFORE OUR EYES!

     In the beginning of the Bible it is written:

1.  “Let us create man in our own image and likeness . . .”

2.  “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God Created he Him; male and female created He them . . . ” 

    In the first verse isour Lord's intention to form in the future a man and men exactly like himself, in His own image and likeness.

   In the second verse is the actual creation of Adam and Eve and through them, the whole human race, in the image of God with the potential  and divinely ordained plan, to become also the likeness of God.

     We can gaze at the sun, moon, stars, trees, oceans, mountains, and all created works, but will not be able to see even the slightest glimpse of God, for God is a spirit and what we see are His works.  But when we look at another human being, we are closer to seeing God than any other place in the universe. For every man and woman is formed in the image of  the true God, the undivided Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

     The Father is eternal and  unoriginate, and is the Eternal Mind from whom all that exists is derived.  Christ says, no man has seen the Father!  Indeed and no man has seen the mind (not brain) of another man at any time, for the mind is invisible.

     The Father Mind, eternally generates His Logos and perfect Idea. The Logos is not another God but is God of God, being one of the Trinity, never separated from the Father. In the Logos who is eternally being born of the Father, there is exactly what is in the Father Mind. He is being born of the  Father, and never leaves Him for there is one God.  

     God necessarily has the idea and Spirit of himself. From the Father is born the eternal Logos and the eternal Spirit is emanated. For to know,  signifies nothing else but to have in mind the type and idea of it. Hence if we say, I have no idea of such a things I say nothing else but that I do not know it. But when we say, I have an idea  of something it means that I know it.

     Without spirit understanding is not possible for there would be no ideation, nor knowledge, but ignorance.

     Let us look at man and we can see God more clearly.

God is perfect with an intellect or mind Father, a logos or word, and a Spirit of understanding.

Man is imperfect,having a limited intellect or mind, a logos or word, and a spirit of understanding.

     While God is always the same good and perfect, man is changeable according to his choice. He has an insidious and invisible enemy who viciously attacks him striving to reduce man to  his own ugly miserable image. He is known as the Devil and demons are his companions, together they have a single intention, to blind man so that he will not know the most important truth of all.  This truth is that God desires to sanctify and glorify man and reform him into His own image and likeness, awarding such a man as being worthy of eternal life.

     Crime, irreverence, lying, cheating, stealing, revolutions and wars are instigated and fomented by the Evil one to men.  This causes man to rise against man and nation to rise against nation, spreading misery everywhere.

     Humility, meekness, justice, generosity. Peace and gentleness are those who have “found  and followed the Messiah”.  Christ is the man who is the perfect image and likeness of God and is the man that we all need to become, until we rise  to the fullness and stature of Christ.

     There is no place in between following Jesus Christ or the Devil, it is one or the other.  If we follow Jesus Christ, we will belong to His Orthodox Church, not to man made and man led churches which are traps. In His Church we will be taught His truth, we will be baptized into His death and resurrection, sanctified, glorified and deified. Then following this extremely short span of  life, we will be granted, by His mercy and kindness, everlasting life in the Kingdom of heaven.

  Man becomes more like God as he becomes more like Christ, the Godman, for when he becomes merciful, kind, honest, humble and meek. He is filled with love for mankind, desires that no one perish, but that all come to knowledge of truth and salvation. 

     But man, without God and faith gradually becomes more like his enemy the Devil when he becomes malicious and hard-hearted, he becomes arrogant,  angry and a cheater.  He imitates his master, the Devil when he  robs, burglarizes properties and murders his fellow man.

     Let us remember that we cannot come any closer to God on earth than to the very image of God in our fellow man, whom we should honor and respect as an equal. And even if the image in men be marred, there still remains an image, and there is always hope for its restoration and sanctification for this is the reason that Christ founded His Church.

     It is written: “The fool says in his heart; there is no God.” Let the Bible remain true and let those who choose foolishness remain foolish, but let us rejoice that we are not fools, and that we are able to come so close to God in His image –man!

NAME CHANGING DOES NOT REDEFINE SIN OR THE HERESY THEY REMAIN SIN AND HERESY!

NAME CHANGING DOES NOT REDEFINE SIN OR THE HERESY

THEY REMAIN SIN AND HERESY!

     Secular society,Ecumenism and Philo-papism, by the sleight of hand of name-changing, have been the cause of complacency for both sinners and heretics, causing them to remain in their errors. Instead they should be encouraged to change and act for the better, which is the only course of action which will lead them to eternal life,  but now they are left lifeless.

1. Fornication is defined as all sexual acts outside of the legitimate marriage of a man and woman, as God ordained. 

Name Change: Doing away with the name fornication, it was changed to “making love” or “living together.” This name change dulls the sting of the sin and encourages continuation of the “deadly sin of fornication.The Lord firmly declares: “Fornicators shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

2. A heretic is one who has an opinion. From the Greek heresia.  In Holy Scripture it is forbidden to dialogue with them with this command: “A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such a person is subverted and sins being self- condemned” (Titus 3: 10-11). Everyone. Clergy or laity, outside of the Orthodox Church are outside because of their own opinions or heresies. From the earliest days of the Church, the Fathers have anathematized heresies of the heretics. To return to the Church they must denounce all their wrong beliefs and embrace only the true Orthodox Faith.

NAME CHANGE 
Heretics to brothers

By changing their names from heretics to “brothers” they commit two evils. One is they prevent their accepting the truths of Orthodoxy, because they are equal in brotherhood. There is no clergy among them, but they are addressed as clerics.

In recognizing their sacraments, such as baptism, they declare that the Holy Spirit is cooperating with heretics. The truth is that they are impoverished and need the true Faith and baptism. All that are outside are outside of their own choice.  For this reason the Theologian says in his First Epistle: “They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us;  but they went out that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19).

3. The Monophysite heresy:   
NAME CHANGE

Leaders changed their name to “Oriental Orthodox Christians.”

     Over 1500 years ago, the Monophysites were excluded from the Church, for denying the two natures of Christ. In modern times, after meeting with Orthodox leaders, they still confess a single nature in Jesus Christ and they were given a name change to “Oriental Orthodox Christians.”

That their heresy remains is simple to understand. They claim that the two natures became one in the incarnate Christ, which is the heresy they held. The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ has both a divine nature being eternally born from His Father and a human nature, being born in time  from the Virgin Mary. Now the Orthodox address the Monophysites as  brothers and are welcomed by many Orthodox, contrary to the fact that they stubbornly remain in their heresy.

NAME CHANGE    

FROM the Papacy to Sister Church and brothers

4. The Papacy   (the Former Roman Catholic Church has been known as the Papacy and is centered, not on Christ but on the Pope of Rome is renamed  a sister church!  The Pope is now welcomed as a brother in Christ. (Names changed)

HEAVENLY VIRTUE AND MOST POISONOUS VICE

 HEAVENLY VIRTUE AND

MOST POISONOUS VICE




The Three Servants

    Our interior condition and attitude  control the direction in which we conduct our lives, toward salvation or condemnation. If we look at contemporary man, we fail to see what man is destined to be. Only in the lives of saints, holy men and women can we see what our proper destination. 

     What controls our lives, even though we claim to be free, are the sins and passions which hold us prisoner. All vices are like shackles from which it is difficult to be set free.  Our Lord speaks of this when He says: “If the Son of man set you free then you will truly be free.” Also “Truly I say to you, whoever commits sin is the slave of sin.”  Virtues are a certification of proper freedom, while vices are like spiritual handcuffs, from which only Christ can set us free. The western world glories in freedom, but freedom of the body is not freedom, when the soul is imprisoned by sin and iniquities.

   When Christ began preaching to His disciples, as we read in Matthew 5:1. He opened His divine mouth and said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall be filled."  Being poor in spirit is the realization that I don’t know, that I must learn, and that I am ignorant of most things and know little.  The realization of our poverty incites us to seek and seek first the kingdom of God.

      Poverty of spirit arouses in the soul, a desire to seek and learn, and  ask why am I here? What is my end and purpose. This spawns in the soul the very first virtue called humility, humbleness, modesty, poorness of spirt.  Opposing these virtues are the poisonous vices of arrogance, haughtiness, pride, boastfulness, pompousness, conceit, and insanity. Humility opens doors and leads the soul to Jesus Christ, through the   Holy Spirit. All the teachings of Jesus are beneficial to mankind for as God, He knows exactly what we lack and our needs for perfection. In the words of the Devine Logos Christ, there is nothing lacking and nothing superfluous for it is perfect and all that is needed.

     Concerning pride, its father is the Devil and its end is ignorance, foolishness and insanity. Why insanity?  The Logos or Word of God who became incarnate for us, according to St. John the Theologian, is  “the true light that lightens every man who comes into the world.”  Through this light bestowed upon men we receive the ability to use right reason and avoid folly. 

But previously, when heaven was organized under regiments of angels, the Devil, in his arrogance rebelled against God. When he was the Archangel Lucifer, He had been under the guidance and authority of the Logos, but in his foolishness, he deliberately abandoned anbd rebelled against the Logos and thus became insane, unable to reason rightly in accordance with the Logos and right reason. He knows well that he will be punished for all eternity yet, continues to work against the Almighty Master and God, demonstrating his total insanity!       

Are we sane or insane? If we believe in Jesus Christ, in life after death, in the last judgment and separation of the sheep from the goats, then we are sane.  But if we believe that Christ is not God, nor the Judge of all, that there is no gehenna and eternal suffering, no life after death, than sadly we are insane.                                                                                                                                                                  

     Pride is the deadly poison that lurks in the hearts of men and prevents them from reasoning according to right reason. Pride causes the man to deny that there is a God and Creator. Pride prefers to believe in mindless matter as being the constructor of the universe, intelligence coming from non-intelligence light coming from darkness, Effects having related causes they exchange for the big band.  Pride fails to consider, why we need air and have it, eat plentiful food and drink abundant water. Pride sees a reason for everything except truth. Pride causes nations to rise against nations and wars to spread everywhere.  Pride and haughtiness oppose truth and reason, vaunting itself as the source of knowledge. We call those obsessed with vice vicious, while those who love virtue are called virtuous.

    Humility is gentle and caring, the most beautiful among the virtues as described by the only humble One saying: “Come uno me all you that labor and are heavily laden and you will find rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and humble in my heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION– GOOD OR BAD?

RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION– GOOD OR BAD?

 This concerns only the Orthodox Eucharist, for the Church recognizes this mystery as present in Orthodoxy alone. First what is the Mystery of Holy Communion and its purpose. A mystery always includes something hidden or unseen to many except initiates. Hidden in the Holy Eucharist of Orthodoxy is the Lord himself, for the bread and wine have been changed by the Holy Spirit and the Priest’s prayers and invocations into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Christ made it clear to His disciples and the Jews, that He is the Bread which come down from heaven. Hear is some of the conversation.  “I am the bread of life; he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst . . . the Jews murmured because He said, I am the  Bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How is it that He says, I came down from heaven? . . . The Jews strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us flesh to eat. Then  Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to 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.  He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood, dwells in me and I in him.”

Christ here identifies himself with the Bread which came down from heaven. On the night in which he was betrayed He established the partaking in the mystery of the  Eucharist or Thanksgiving which is the great mystery and center of our Orthodox Faith. “Jesus took bread and broke it, and gave it to them and said, Take, eat. This is my body. And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many” (Mark 14:22-24).

Who should approach and partake of this fearsome mystery? Only those who have repented and changed their lives, abandoning sins and the spirit of this world, Their souls should be washed in the tears of repentance for this is no small manner. The purpose of partaking is not at all trivial, but is of great importance.  

St.  Paul says the following regarding partaking of Holy Communion: “For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread , and when He had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; this you shall do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death until He comes. Wherefore, whoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body. For this reason some of you are weak and sickle and some have even died" (I Cor.11:23 -30).

   There are many books available on this subject and partaking places a great responsibility, so it would be prudent to learn more.  For example there is preparation which starts the night before. There are pre-Communion prayers which contribute to our partaking worthily. There is the timely attending and taking part in the Divine Liturgy and there are the Thanksgiving Prayers of after receiving these great gifts.

If we have the interest to attend and partake, would it not be better to do it according to the Church’s teaching and thus avoid the terrible threat of partaking unworthily?

Finally our lifestyle must conform to the Orthodox Christian lifestyle and not that of this world, which leads to perdition. Our mouths and lips need purification as does our mind and hearts. We need to do everything possible, in deep repentance to partake in a worthy manner, and Christ will then work in us to exalt and lead our sinful souls into eternal life. For He alone is good and the Lover of man.

LIFE AND ITS MEANING THE GREATEST KNOWLEDGE POSSIBLE

LIFE AND ITS MEANING

THE GREATEST KNOWLEDGE POSSIBLE

    The most important thing we can learn about the  universe is knowledge of the source and meaning of life. For without life the universe is as nothing. Without life we do intellectualize and live.  Life exists in millions of forms; life is very well organized; life is precious and necessary, for without life there is nothing.   Life appears before us at all times and we witness it in fellow men and women, in horses and dogs and cats, in flies and mosquitoes.  Above all life bears witness to the Lifegiver, for life is given and cannot be purchased or manufactured. Lifeless matter cannot possibly produce life which it does not possess, nor does chaos ascend into order; The big bang could never have exploded into such perfect order as the universe. Nor did it possess the ability to produce itself, let alone the universe. Life is too orderly, too organized, too predictable and too perfect!  Hundreds of trillions of thoughts could not begin to explain the cause and purpose of the universe. Man does not have the mental capacity, even with all his computers, to understand with his intellect what life and its meaning of life are.

     Every day millions of new babies are born into the world. Each of us was at one time  among those new babies, and have produced new babies of our own. Not only human life, but insects, birds, fish animals, and beasts are continually being born replacing the dead. Life continues just as it has from the beginning. 

What is life and from where is it derived? It is important to recognize that life is neither accidental nor spontaneous, and life as we know it, is derived from previously existent life. Plants have life producing flower and fruit. Animals have lives  and they also are endowed with souls which cause them to seek their needs and satisfy them and reproduce. Their bodily requirements send messages to their souls causing them to satisfy those  needs. Some animals feed on vegetation, others on other animals, but everything that has life seeks to maintain its life by feeding and reproduction.  Life in the vegetable kingdom is a lower forms of life. Life in the animal kingdom is a higher form.   Human life, however far exceeds the former for only  human beings can understand and explain and rejoice in life!  Each animal knows how to protect reproduce its precious life.  Some are fast moving, some use camouflage while others can climb rapidly, each one using whatever defense it was endowed with.

 We cannot deny that the highest form of life is human life, which is endowed with dominion over the fields, the animals, birds, fish and quadrupeds.  Let us ask what the differences are in these forms of life. Plants have no soul to satisfy their needs. They just grow from an apparent lifeless seed that is in fact teeming with potential life. Animals have a soul which feels its needs causing it to seek to satisfy them. . 

MORE . . . IMPORTANT TEACHINGS OF THE DIVINE LITURGY

MORE . . .  IMPORTANT TEACHINGS OF THE DIVINE LITURGY

   “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you”

   If we understood the gifts of God, our praise would be endless and our appreciation boundless for the great gifts we receive each day from God. The Priests blesses us for even more, saying:  “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . be with you all.”  Grace from God includes all that we need for complete  happiness, salvation and everlasting life.  If we are the poorest of the poor and have Christ, we are the richest of all!  God is love and to love God is to live in Paradise!

The communion or sharing of the Holy Spirit is the gift beyond all gifts for God offers  himself  to us and dwells within us and we dwell within Him. What a great and noble end believing man has as his hope. The heavenly kingdom! The abode of the Saints and Martyrs. The land of the truly living is our expectation.

  “Holy. Holy. Holy. Lord of Sabbaoth, heaven and earth are filled with your glory.  Hosanna in the highest; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”

In this hymn, the King of all receives from the faithful, a royal greeting honoring and glorifying his glory, for he is now going up to Jerusalem,  not to be crowned, but to give himself on the Cross as in His voluntary sacrifice which will redeem all mankind from sin and iniquity.  God the Logos himself, the Son of the Virgin is now entering His passion to free us from our sins and passions.

“And that which is in this cup, the Precious Blood of your Christ.” The Priest them blesses the elements, saying: “Changing them by your Holy Spirit.  So that they may be to those who receive them, for the purification of soul, for the remission of sins, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven, and for the boldness to approach you neither unto judgment nor unto condemnation.”