tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92161695865639924892024-03-14T03:59:58.718-07:00Orthodox PuebloFr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-35116502072551684152019-10-07T17:14:00.001-07:002019-10-07T17:14:08.965-07:00Why Orthodox Stand in Church<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It
is important to know that sitting and the subsequent filling of
church buildings with pews is a Protestant innovation. After the
Protestant Reformation the focus of church service, for Protestants, moved from
being worship orientated to lecture orientated, in the form of long
sermons. Thus, the focus shifted from standing and worshiping to
sitting and listening. Sadly, many Orthodox Churches are packed with
pews, which present the Protestant ethos of observation rather than
the Christian ethos of active participation in worship.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> “In
order to express to God our reverence before Him and our worship of
Him, during prayer we stand, and do not sit; only the sick and
elderly are allowed to pray sitting down.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Standing
while at prayer is an ancient and God-ordained tradition. In Old
Testament times, the congregation of Israel stood in the Temple (Neh.
9:4-5; 8:7, II Chron. 20:5,13), the Saints stand in heaven before the
Throne of God (Is. 6:2; I Kings 22:19; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 7:11), and
even Jesus Christ Himself said, When ye stand praying (Mk. 9:25).
Therefore Christians, according to the apostolic teaching, stand
through the Divine Services, where it is often proclaimed: 'Let us
stand aright.'</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDOUgtTeiJM/XZvUdQxw8eI/AAAAAAAAM3M/us-tiiwXvGkxr3_M-FR3HxZ5O3LuKkxbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/churchservice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="632" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDOUgtTeiJM/XZvUdQxw8eI/AAAAAAAAM3M/us-tiiwXvGkxr3_M-FR3HxZ5O3LuKkxbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/churchservice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> In
recognizing our sinfulness and unworthiness before God, and as a sign
of our humility, we make bows during our prayers. There are bows from
the waist, when we bow from the waist, and to the ground, when we bow
down on our knees and touch our head to the ground (a prostration).”
From <i>The Law of God.</i></span></span></span></div>
<br />Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-24694369074601435362017-12-09T13:59:00.000-08:002017-12-09T13:59:01.168-08:00The Theology of Gender<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Originally published on - </span>https://inklesspen.blog/2017/11/02/theology-of-gender/</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reblogged from the Inkless Pen.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female …”</i> (Mat 19:4).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">True Christianity has always confessed that mankind is the creation of God, the work of His hands. To be truly human means to live according to the revelation, the way of life, instituted by our Creator God. Humanity is infused with an essential nature. This nature is an existent reality established by God Himself and is shared in common by every human person. God Himself is the originator of human nature; in Him alone does it truly comprehend itself. (Human nature was deformed and damaged by sin but subsequently restored and healed in Christ Jesus. Thus, when referring to human nature I am referring to its lofty purpose as revealed by God.)</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Under the influence of Karl Marx, secular human ideology took a “leap” in its evolutionary process. He distilled (together with Engels) secularism to much of its current state. One of his major influences on modern thought is that every social, governmental, moral, religious, (and so forth) entity is but a structure, the result of external historical constructs (something akin to the evolutionary idea of “chance”); they are simply determined by the development of conditions. Everything, even possibly humanity itself, is but a result of these constructs and conditions. No essential value exists in anything. Marx taught: control the constructs and you can control and even remake, recreate humanity. Modern secular thought builds firmly on this Marxist ideology: to be human means nothing, to be male means nothing, to be female means nothing, all of these are but external constructs which bear no innate substance. This is the basic foundation of modern gender ideology. Gender, they would say, is but an external construct and condition. Another vital proposition of Marx was: to remake the world the “old” constructs and conditions need to be removed and even destroyed.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #dddddd;"><img align="LEFT" alt="1930s-fresco-paris" border="1" height="320" name="graphics1" src="https://inklesspendotblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/1930s-fresco-paris.jpg?w=640" width="314" /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orthodox Christianity has always proclaimed that humanity has essential value and professed that gender is quintessential to humanity. Humanity and gender are elemental qualities of being and are not dictated by external conditions. Outside conditions may warp one’s understanding and use of gender (and other things) but it can never fundamentally alter the essential reality. Besides the very obvious and glaring biological and physical realities of gender, Christianity teaches that gender, male and female, was established and created by God Himself in the very beginning,“<i>From the beginning [He] made them male and female.”</i> It is not an outside condition but an essential and intrinsic reality of existence for humanity. Indeed, human nature is expressed in male and female. Both share the common nature of humanity and thus are equal (note: not egalitarian) in essence but vary according to their definitive expression in gender. Female is not male, and male is not female. One is not superior to the other. Each bears a unique expression, distinct from the other, within the greater common nature of humanity. Here is God’s created diversity.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Inevitably my modern secular friends will be grinding their teeth. For them, gender has no part in a person’s role or expression in society, life, family, and so forth. They have labored hard to construct an androgynous society, faithfully hammering out Marxist ideology. At this point, the extremes are cast in ones face: “you think women should sit at home knitting! You think women should not vote! You’re a male chauvinist!” Just wait, calm down, and keep reading.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">True Christianity defends that which is truly feminine and masculine. It confirms the uniqueness of each gender, a uniqueness that modernity is attempting to deconstruct and destroy. Women have been told that they must do everything a man does, effectively making man the standard of woman. Not much of a victory for women. Christianity, rather, encourages a woman to live according to her God-given gender, to grow in its unique attributes; likewise, it encourages a man.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Gender itself is an icon, an image. In the beginning, God made mankind in His image and likeness. Gender itself bears a participation in this image. According to revelation, male participates in the icon of Christ and female participates in the icon of the Church. St. Paul elaborates this theology in Ephesians 5:22 and following. There he expounds upon the relationship of a husband and wife. Ultimately he tells us that marriage itself is an icon of the mysterious relationship of God with His Church, “<i>This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” </i>(Eph. 5: 32).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">St. Clement further says, “<i>Now I do not suppose that you are ignorant of the fact that the living church is the body of Christ, for the Scripture says, ‘God created them male and female.’ The male is Christ; the female is the Church … For the flesh is a copy of the Spirit. No one, therefore, who corrupts the copy will share in the original”</i> (2ndClement). The deepest spiritual mysteries and principles are interwoven into creation by God Himself, gender not excluded. Gender itself and the proper interaction of male and female most of all in the divinely instituted state of marriage is a reflection of God with His most beloved creation. Gender has vast and deep significance. This is one of the reasons that moderns are seeking to deconstruct gender.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">St. Symeon the New Theologian teaches, “<i>This mystery is great – and beyond great! – and so it will always be, because the same sort of communion, and union, and intimacy, and kinship, which the woman has with the man and the man with the woman, such – understood in a manner adequate to God and as transcending our reason – it the relation which the Master and Maker of all has with the Church, as with a single Woman: blamelessly, ineffably, inseparably, and indivisibly united to her, being and living with her as with the one whom He loves and holds dear”</i> (On the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">St. Symeon is clear, such things must be understood in a manner proper to God. Clearly, gender is of the created order. God is the only uncreated and eternal One. Although it is evident that Christ Jesus was incarnate as a male, thus holding true to the image of gender that He had created. Gender is a physical image created by Him to convey eternal spiritual principles. In our time gender has also been tragically reduced to sexual function, but in the Gospel view gender is so much more. Proper sexual function is but one of the aspects of gender. Thus, we must never sexualize the imagery that God has established. This is difficult for modern people. The base sexualization of gender has resulted in all sorts of problems, the objectifying of women, an epidemic of porn addiction, the horrendous growth of sex trafficking, all sorts of sexual perversions and misuses, to list but some. The attempted abolition of true gender identity, male and female, through the application of Marx’s nihilistic principles (or lack thereof) is responsible for the excessive sexual violence of our times.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">True Christianity empowers persons to live in and strive towards the full beauty and potential of their God-given and created gender, which is unique. It acknowledges that womanhood bears its own special quality as does manhood. It never tells a man to act like a woman or a woman to act like a man. The nihilistic gender experimentation of modern secularism is nothing short of abusive. It is an ideology and nothing more, one that is being implemented forcefully without any thought of the long-term effects on society and humanity. Its message is clear: humanity is nothing, gender is nothing, you are nothing, so nothing really matters. Oh, and yes “sexual revolution” and experimentation is a fundamental goal of secular Marxist ideology. ( For more on this see – </span></span><a href="http://thefreedomsproject.com/from-russia-with-love/"><span style="color: #ca2017;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">http://thefreedomsproject.com/from-russia-with-love/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> )</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">True Christianity proclaims that every person is created with purpose, even down to their very clear biological gender. Humanity is indued with substantial divine meaning. Living within our God-given image and purpose is what the true Christian life is about. Only within God can humanity reach its ultimate meaning and reality.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-53502131694916052492017-10-27T12:38:00.002-07:002017-10-28T13:56:53.033-07:00The Rebellion of Korah<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Originally posted on - https://inklesspen.blog/2017/10/24/the-rebellion-of-korah/</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">True Christianity is priestly by nature, even more so, it has always had a defined priesthood. To deny priesthood is to deny an elemental component of Christianity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“Wait,” the reply comes from certain groups, “we are all priests unto God, have you not read in the Scriptures, '<i>You yourselves are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus … You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession'</i> (1 Pet. 2: 5, 9). There is no longer,” they might say, “any official priesthood. It is now the priesthood of all believers.” </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHO1VC4HBR0/WfOKwgDIKnI/AAAAAAAAA70/s-NSpbEWj4Y2b_bUfX5nSJ9euu8SOR3YACLcBGAs/s1600/images.duckduckgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1038" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHO1VC4HBR0/WfOKwgDIKnI/AAAAAAAAA70/s-NSpbEWj4Y2b_bUfX5nSJ9euu8SOR3YACLcBGAs/s400/images.duckduckgo.jpg" width="258" /></a><span style="color: black;">St. Peter is clearly referencing the Old Testament where the Lord God tells the Hebrews,<i> “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” </i>(Ex. 19:5). In the Old Testament, the Lord called the whole Hebrew nation priestly, while at the same time He established and set apart a specific priestly order according to the line of Aaron. Although the whole nation shared in a priestly anointing, only those selected by the Lord were empowered to serve in the fullness of priestly function at the altar of the tabernacle. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">“But, that is the Old Testament!” Our friends might object. “Christ Jesus did away with the Old Testament priesthood!” Okay, let's examine this. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In the epistle of St. Jude, he warns Christians of three evils, heresies,<i> “These people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion”</i> (10-11). St. Jude makes reference to three Old Testament events, which depict spirits of error that even attempted to assert themselves in the early Church (and continue to this day). One may easily reference the Old Testament for a description of these errors. For the topic at hand, the last error, Korah's rebellion, is pertinent. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The error of Korah is covered in Numbers chapter 16. <i>“Now Korah … and Dathan and Abiram … rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel … they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said, 'You have gone too far! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord'”</i> (1-3)? Notice that they are partially correct. The Lord had said in Exodus that the whole nation is priestly and holy. Their error is that they fail to acknowledge the office of the priesthood as instituted by the Lord, in fact, they aggressively and willingly debase it. They apply to themselves something that does not belong to them: the ritual office of the priesthood. Their argument is the same as many Protestant groups today. Let's keep digging. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Moses, by command of the Lord, instructs Korah and company to come before the Tabernacle with incense, together with Aaron and the God-ordained priests (cf. vv. 4-19). <i>“The Lord will show who is His”</i> (vs. 5). When all were assembled, Moses said to the congregation of Israel,<i> “'Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.' So they got away from the dwelling of Korah … as soon as he had finished speaking these words, the ground split apart. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up … all who belonged to Korah … and went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly … to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendant of Aaron should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company”</i> (vv. 25, 31-33, 40).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In short, the rebellion of Korah is the rejection of an official God-ordained priesthood. We are warned of it in the Old and New Testaments. The fruit of Korah's rebellion is frightening, he and all those with him perish. The description of St. Jude regarding those who embrace the spirit of Korah's rebellion is equally frightening, <i>“Hidden reefs … waterless clouds, swept along by winds, fruitless trees … twice dead, uprooted … for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever”</i> (12-13). </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In the New Testament Christ is the new High Priest. In His person the perfection of the priesthood took place. The Aaronic priesthood was but a foreshadowing of the true and ultimate priesthood of Christ Jesus. The Scriptures testify that Christ the Lord is a priest forever (cf. Heb. 7:17, 21). He, <i>“holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever” </i>(Heb. 7:24). He is clearly depicted fulfilling priestly functions in the heavens, He is a <i>“liturgist in the holy places”</i> (Heb. 2:8). The Christian Church has always understood Christ the Lord to be the fount, the foundation, and the source of the New Testament priesthood. St. John of Kronstadt sums the teaching up, <i>“Christ is the only Chief Priest, the First and the Last … He Himself performs the duties of a priest in us and through us [priests] … My priesthood and that of all others is Christ's priesthood: the true, most high priest is Christ alone; He Himself ministers through us, He is the eternal priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”</i> The priest participates by grace in the very Priesthood of Christ Himself. The person of the priest is an icon of Christ. He participates in the heavenly ministry of Christ the Lord, making it present in a tangible manner on earth through the One Body, the Church of Living God. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In the epistles to Timothy and Titus, the word <i>Presbyteros</i> is used. In Titus 1:5, St. Paul tells Titus (a Bishop) that he was left in Crete to “ordain presbyters/priests.” In most English translation presbyteros is translated as “elder” which is only a small portion of the meaning. Christianity has from the earliest times used the word to generally delineate priests. In Acts, it commonly says <i>“the apostles and the priests (presbyters)”</i> (cf. Act. 15:23; 16:4). The Apostles were endued with the authority to ordain priests. It is no longer according to bloodline but apostolic authority from Christ the Lord. St. Paul makes reference to Christian altars when he says, <i>“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat” </i>(Heb. 13:10). An altar is always connected to priestly service. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">St. Ignatius of Antioch, historically proven to be a faithful disciple of St. John the Apostle, says,<i> “Let everyone respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, just as they should respect the bishop, who is the model of the Father, and the presbyters as God's council and the band of the apostles. Without these, no group can be called a church.”</i> The saint is clear, there can be no true Church without priesthood. The Christian witness from St. Ignatius on clearly confirms a Christian priesthood.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">St. Paul in Romans makes an incredible priestly statement, which most of the time in English is not translated properly,<i> “Grace was given to me by God, in order for me to be a liturgist </i>(minister)<i> of Jesus Christ to the nations, ministering as a priest</i> (in Greek, hierourgeo)<i> in sacred sacrifice the Gospel of God, that the offering</i> (prosphora) <i>of the nations might be acceptable, sanctified in the HolySpirit”</i> (15:16). The Greek word hierourgeo comes from <i>hiero</i> – pertaining strictly to the ritual function of the priest, serving the altar, offering sacrifice, and so forth – and <i>ergon</i> – work, action, etc. The word is undeniably priestly. St. Paul is making a clear reference to his actual ministry as a priest, traveling the nations and offering the Christian Liturgy. Anyone continuing in True Christian worship of Liturgy understands the deep references made by St. Paul. St. John Chrysostom confirms that St. Paul is speaking specifically of his priestly ministry,<i> “He is not speaking simply of service, as in the beginning [of Romans], but of liturgy and celebrating the sacrifice [holy communion].”</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In both Old and New Testaments there have existed the general priestly function of the people of God and the very distinct ordained priesthood which serves the altar of the Living God. When priests fail in their vocation before God they are rebuked severely and bear a greater punishment than the people of God. Because of weakness men who are priest do not always live in a manner worthy of their office, but this never negates the reality of priesthood. The essential point is that true worship of the Living God employs priesthood. This is undeniable. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">There is no priest-less Christianity, Church, as St. Ignatius makes clear. There are those who deny priesthood, together with Korah, but the Scriptures have spoken clearly on the fruit of such a denial. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-63048767412992407212017-10-03T12:34:00.000-07:002017-10-03T12:34:27.380-07:00Orthodoxy: Tradition Not of This World<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>By Constantine Cavarnos</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91-eVI0oUzE/WdPmCWeongI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/XFe_LsJxYPEHHpt9ekRbKoKID2d9JO5OgCLcBGAs/s1600/0299a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="584" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91-eVI0oUzE/WdPmCWeongI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/XFe_LsJxYPEHHpt9ekRbKoKID2d9JO5OgCLcBGAs/s320/0299a.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Orthodox always regarded the unchanging persistence of the Orthodox Church in Sacred Tradition as her boast. On the contrary, the heterodox — with exceptions, especially in recent times — regarded this persistence as a sign of decline, as a sign of deficiency in her inner life. In particular, the Protestants hurled the reproof that the Orthodox Church is 'dead' and likened her to a 'petrified mummy.' This demonstrates the ignorance which the heterodox customarily have about the true essence of Christianity, and shows to what degree they confuse the revealed faith with the different <i>worldly </i>systems, with the different <i>human </i>contrivances and creations. Since in the <i>crafts </i>and the <i>sciences </i>there is a continuous development and perfection, they think that the same thing ought to happen in the Christian religion, that here too there should be a continuous revision, change, and replacement of the old by the new—in a word, 'modernization.' Looking at Christianity rationalistically, they misunderstand its revelatory character and demote it to the level of the systems which the mind of man has formed on the basis of reason and the observations of the five senses.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If strict perseverance in Tradition does not entail the deadening of the Church, but on the contrary is absolutely necessary for the preservation and fruitfulness of the life of the Church, as much again the disregard for and even partial abandonment of Tradition entails the slackening of her life and her gradual decomposition. The most persuasive witness to this is borne by the history of the Western Church, which introduced one novelty and "modernization" after the other, chiefly from the time of the Schism and after. This Schism of the Western Church from the Eastern Orthodox Church was a result of Western innovations. And the very revolution of the Protestants, which split the Western Church into warring parties, was a result of the downfall of the Western Church, a downfall which occurred as a consequence of her distortion of Sacred Tradition.
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nevertheless, the introduction of innovations continued. At the end of the nineteenth century, for example, there appeared in the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church the movement of "Modernism" or Modernization, which set as its goal the renovation of Christian teaching by adapting it to contemporary worldly thought. The representatives of this movement inflicted one damage after another on Christian doctrine, and thought that in this way they would revivify their Church. But the result of this spurious Christianity of discarding truths of the Faith and making 'adaptations' was that large numbers of persons left the churches and became complete unbelievers (cf. P. Melitis, <i>Let the Way be Cleared </i>[Athens, 1957], p. 28).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Protestantism, having denied the unwritten Tradition, was quickly divided into different confessions, and they again into others, and so on, so that there exist today countless Protestant confessional groups ... a result of the different innovations and adaptations to each 'contemporary spirit.'"</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-15775211750128289222017-08-12T14:01:00.000-07:002017-08-12T14:01:56.917-07:00A True Heart<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By St. John of Kronstadt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Byh8tFw3-_g/WY9sT19zQ6I/AAAAAAAAA5s/CeeCNJeR3DAF-AqmlcFK1rWrd1CwracTACLcBGAs/s1600/1891010_1618391008398911_6144866688952201639_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="604" height="202" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Byh8tFw3-_g/WY9sT19zQ6I/AAAAAAAAA5s/CeeCNJeR3DAF-AqmlcFK1rWrd1CwracTACLcBGAs/s320/1891010_1618391008398911_6144866688952201639_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Christian has no reason to have in his heart any ill-feeling whatever against anyone - such ill-feeling, like every evil, is the work of the devil; the Christian must only have love in his heart; and as love cannot think of evil, he cannot have any ill-feeling against others ... We must not let evil in any form nestle in our heart; but evil generally appears in too many forms.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When on your way to God you meet obstacles raised up by the devil: doubt and unbelief of heart, also a thorough ill-feeling, sometimes towards persons worthy of absolute respect and love, as well as other passions. Do not be disturbed by them, but know it is but the smoke of the enemy, which will be dispersed at a sign from our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-32168302959055391872017-07-17T10:36:00.002-07:002017-07-17T13:24:39.195-07:00Akathist to Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why was Tsar Nicholas II persecuted, slandered, and killed? Because he was Tsar, Tsar by the Grace of God. He was the bearer and incarnation of the Orthodox world-view that the Tsar is the servant of God, the Anointed of God, and that to Him he must give an account for the people entrusted to him by destiny. For all his deeds and actions, not only those done personally, but also as Tsar.: St. John Maximovich</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(NOTE: this Akathist was originally posted on -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">http://fr-d-serfes.org/royal/akathist.htm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was penned by a Daniel Stolypin. I have prayed through this Akathist numerous times. In doing so I noticed that some of the Ikos had seven lines, other six. This is most noticeable while singing through the Akathist. I took the liberty of adding a seventh line to those that lacked it. I have noted these lines with an asterisk [ * ].)</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xp0QjWZYVU/WWz1RZV_8gI/AAAAAAAAA5E/Lc1aqHwN-XY6l-jiTGerA0lVo-RQuSgqQCLcBGAs/s1600/msroyal_family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xp0QjWZYVU/WWz1RZV_8gI/AAAAAAAAA5E/Lc1aqHwN-XY6l-jiTGerA0lVo-RQuSgqQCLcBGAs/s320/msroyal_family.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Akathist to Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kontakion 1</span></span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O passion bearer, chosen from birth and incarnation of the love of Christ, we sing thee praises as one who did love all the fatherland. As thou hast boldness before the Lord, enlighten our darkened minds and hearts that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 1</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Creator of angels sent thee to the Russian land as an angel of meekness and instructor to thy people, as He did choose thee after the example of His Only Begotten Son to be a sacrifice of redemption for the sins of the people. And we marveling at the Providence of the Almighty towards thee, cry out with contrition:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O likeness of Christ.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, sacrifice of whole burnt offering.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, adornment of the Tsars of Russia.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who gavest an example of meekness and forgiveness to all.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, true hope of the offended.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unshakable foundation of faith.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 2</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The All-good Mother of God, seeing her chosen place, the Russian land, defiled by the abomination of corruption, shose thee from thy birth as a most pure one who would be for the cleansing of Russia, that all might as a funeral lamentation make a hymn to thee: Alleluia</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 2</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The pre-eternal Mind did fore know thy salvation and thy life, prefigured by Job the Much Suffering, joining thy birth and the memory of the righteous one. And we, recalling our sins and lawless deeds, with trembling of heart and contrition of soul cry out to thee thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst endure abuse and trials from thine own people.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst preserve the Faith to the end.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, example of meekness.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, guardian of the worship of God.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, rule of humility.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fortress of Orthodoxy!*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 3</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The power of the Most-High did overshadow thee, O God crowned Nicholas, who didst fight back to enlighten the West in its false wisdom, that the world might cry out to God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 3</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having fervor for the enlightenment of those gone astray, thou, O right believing Tsar, was zealous for the erection of churches, the glorification of the relics of the Saints who pleased God, the planting of Christian enlightenment, and the protection of the unfortunate against violence, and so the Christian world cries out to thee thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, namesake of St. Nicholas upon the earth.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fellow intercessor with St. Seraphim in Heaven.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, planter of Orthodox.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, bearer of the Light of Christ.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, teacher of Christian patience.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, intercessor for Orthodox Christians.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 4</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thou didst no feat the storm of folly and abuse, O passion bearer Nicholas, when thou didst renounce agreement with the enemies for the destruction of the fatherland,; and thou didst endure censure, imprisonment, and death, crying to the Almighty: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 4</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hearing of the tumults of the Russian land and beholding the destruction of Christians, thou didst unceasingly pray, that the all pure Mother of God save Orthodox Russia. Wherefore, we cry out to thee:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fragrant incense of prayer. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, inextinguishable lamp of faith.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, admonisher of the violent by meekness.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, consolation of the disconsolate amid sorrows.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, lover of heavenly things.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, rebuke of the earthly minded!*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crown Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 5</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Thou hast been revealed as a God-guided star for Russians in the diaspora, O Tsar Nicholas; for, gathering them together in thy name, thou dost show the path to the rebirth of the Russian land, that we may hear angels crying out: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 5</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing that thy meekness and humility accomplished nothing, thou didst place all thy hope in the Most-Pure Mother of God and give thyself entirely into the hands of the Almighty, that even the senseless might be instructed to sing to thee:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, vanqusher of pride.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, invincible rampart of the infirm.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, enlightenment of the proud.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, overflowing love for thy people.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fervent sacrifice fr the Russian land.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, lamb slaughtered for the sake of Christ the Lord!*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God-crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 6</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The ends of the world preach thy glory, and they word hath gone forth into all the earth; for there is no sacrifice thou wouldst not have offered for the good of the Russian land, thereby teaching thy people to sing in thanksgiving to God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 6</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Thou didst shine forth greater than the sun for the Russian land, O tsar Nicholas, revealing thine intercession for the Orthodox people evern unto death, that all might be converted to Christ and hasten to thee. Therefore we hymn thee thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O light that come out of the East.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, example to Orthodox kings.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unquenchable shining of righteousness.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unsetting luminary of meekness.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fatherly exhortation to sinners.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, fervent glorification of the righteous!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nichola, God-crowned Tsar and great Passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 7</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">WHishing to strengthen the Orthodox Faith on earth, thou didst move thy whole kingdom to the defense of the wronged land of Serbia, that all might cry out to God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 7</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord did manifest thee as a new Noah, a builder of salvation for the Russian people, that all, remembering thy labors, might cry out ceaselessly thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, helmsman of the Russian ship.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, consolation of the Slavs in misfortunes.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, guide of the faithful.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, proclaimer of the love of peace.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, planter of Christian virtues.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, faithful believer in the providence of God!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 8</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We see a strange wonder in thee, O Nicholas, who many times wast saved by the right hand of the Most-High and was crowned by a martyr's crown together with thy children and kinsmen, that we might cry out to God the Provider of all things: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 8</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Thou wast entirely a defender for all Christians, O divinely chosen Nicholas, and didst show a double intercession for the Slavic peoples, moving them to sing to thee in praise:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, defense of the offended.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, exhortation to offenders.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, refuge for the grieving.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, intercessor for the persecuted.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, peacemaker in thy life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, champion of Christians after thy murder.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 9</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">By many wonders did the Lord reveal His good will to the Russian people, until they did grieve Him mightily; but being called by thee in repentance, we cry out together unto God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 9</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Eloquent orators, like voiceless fish, cannot express the height of thy patience; but we, beholding the abyss of our fall, cry out in contrition of spirit:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unvanquishable patience.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unwavering faithfulness of Christians.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, wise teacher of the foolish.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst give an example to the faithful in thy life and martyr's death.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst suffer for the sins of thy people.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst pray ceaselessly for thine enemies!*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O NIcholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 10</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Christ the Knower of hearts, WHo founded the Church on the blood of martyrs, desiring to save all men, did place thee, O Passion bearer Nicholas, as the foundation of the new house of the Russian realm, that all within might cry out to God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 10</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">thou are a rampart for all who hasten to thee with faith, and an inextinguishable protection for the Orthodox world, and thou dost teach all the faithful to glorify thee thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, manifestation of heavenly things on earth.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, new strength for those grown faint in the virtues.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, dawn that hath shone forth on the land of Russian.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, river that doth nourish all her boundaries.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, teacher of the humility of wisdom.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, planter of faith and love.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 11</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Offering a hymn to the Most-Holy Trinity even unto thy death, thou didst finish thy course and keep the Faith, by which thou dost move all Orthodox Christians to sing: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 11</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Thou wast sent by the Giver of Light to the Russian land like an immaculate lamb, and thou didst lay down thy life for the redemption of our sins, that we all might ceaselessly glorify thee thus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, sacrifice beloved of God.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unquenchable abundance of love.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, praise of the faithfulness of Christ.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, invincible blowing of the Spirit.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, mirror of wisdom.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, hope of the hopeless!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 12</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Divine grace which healeth the infirm did fore know thee as an imperishable healing for thy subjects who cry out to God: Alleluia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 12</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Hymning thy suffering, O Passion-bearer Nicholas, we bow down before thy patience, for the power of the Almighty Trinity was manifest in thee, that we might all with one accord cry out:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, Beloved child of Christ.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst conduct thine immaculate children and faithful servant s to Christ.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst aid the Queen to be righteous and a martyr.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst truly direct thy people.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst not bring abuse to the honor of thy fatherland.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who didst gain the Kingdom of Heaven.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kontakion 13</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">O most wondrous and most glorious Passion-bearer Nicholas, look down upon thy earthly kingdom and thy people, for we have no answer for our sins, and entreat the Almighty that He may not enter into judgment with us, but might vouchsafe us ceaselessly to cry out: Alleluia <i>(repeat 3x)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ikos 1</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Creator of angels sent thee to the Russian land as an angel of meekness and instructor to thy people, as He did choose thee after the example of His Only Begotten Son to be a sacrifice of redemption for the sins of the people. And we marveling at the Providence of the Almighty towards thee, cry out with contrition:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O likeness of Christ.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, sacrifice of whole burnt offering.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, adornment of the Tsars of Russia.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, thou who gavest an example of meekness and forgiveness to all.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, true hope of the offended.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, unshakable foundation of faith.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kontakion 1</span></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O passion bearer, chosen from birth and incarnation of the love of Christ, we sing thee praises as one who did love all the fatherland. As thou hast boldness before the Lord, enlighten our darkened minds and hearts that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Nicholas, God crowned Tsar and great passion bearer!</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<blockquote style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></blockquote>
<blockquote style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Troparion,
Tone 5</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="line-height: 100%; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thou
didst meekly endure the loss of an earthly kingdom, * and bonds and
many sufferings from the fighters against God, * witnessing of Christ
even unto death, * O great Passion-bearer and God crowned Tsar
Nicholas. * Wherefore Christ God did crown thee and thy Queen and
children with a martyr's crown in Heaven; * do thou entreat Him to
have mercy on the Russian land and to save our souls.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 100%; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A Prayer To The Holy Tsar-Martyr Nicholas</span></span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O holy passion-bearer Tsar Martyr Nicholas! The Lord has chosen thee as His anointed one to judge with mercy and righteousness thy people and to be the guardian of the Orthodox Kingdom.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This royal service and the care for souls thou hast completed with the fear of God. Testing thee as gold in the furnace, the Lord has allowed bitter sorrows to come upon thee, as to the much suffering Job, by depriving thee of thy royal throne and sending upon thee martyric death. Having meekly endured all this, like a true slave of Christ, thou art partaking of the highest glory at the Throne of the God of All, together with the Holy Martyrs, the holy Tsarina Alexandra, the holy youth Crown Prince Alexis, and the holy princesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia and with the faithful servants of thine, as well as with the holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth and with all the Royal Martyrs and the Holy Martyr Barbara.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For as having great boldness before Christ King, for whose sake thou hast endured everything, pray with us, that the Lord might forgive the sin of thy people, who did not stop thy slaughter, as King and Anointed One of God, that the Lord will deliver the suffering land of Russia from the fierce and godless ones, who came upon it because of our sin and apostasy, and that He will restore the throne of Orthodox Tsars, and to us will grant forgiveness of sins and will instruct us on every good deed, that we might acquire humbleness, meekness and love, as these Martyrs have done, that we will be vouchsafed the Heavenly Kingdom, where together with thee and all the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, we might glorify Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in;">
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-18672742623797905532017-07-01T10:58:00.001-07:002017-07-01T11:02:49.657-07:00The Last Judgment, by St. John Maximovich <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PvmSJtiEn_s/WVfiJIu6r1I/AAAAAAAAA4g/m52v57HOk_AuLtsqdlD_M4H2XJw-Ji67ACLcBGAs/s1600/St.JohnMax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PvmSJtiEn_s/WVfiJIu6r1I/AAAAAAAAA4g/m52v57HOk_AuLtsqdlD_M4H2XJw-Ji67ACLcBGAs/s320/St.JohnMax.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John Maximovich</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">The Day Of the Last Judgment! That day no one knows -- only God the Father knows -- but its signs are given in the Gospel and in the Apocalypse of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. Revelation speaks of the events at the end of the world and of the Last Judgment primarily in images and in a veiled manner. However, the Holy Fathers have explained these images, and there is an authentic Church tradition that speaks clearly concerning the signs of the approach of the end, and concerning the Last Judgment. Before the end of life on earth there will be agitation, wars, civil war, hunger, earthquakes... Men will suffer from fear, will die from expectation of calamity. There will be no life, no joy of life but a tormented state of falling away from life. Nevertheless there will be a falling away not only from life, but from faith also, and "when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" (St. Luke 18:8). Men will become proud, ungrateful, rejecting Divine law. Together with the falling away from life will be a weakening of moral life. There will be an exhaustion of good and an increase of evil. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Of these times, the holy Apostle John the Theologian speaks in his God-inspired work, the Apocalypse. He says that he "was in the Spirit" when he wrote it; this means that the Holy Spirit Himself was in him, when under the form of various images, the fate of the Church and the world was opened to him, and so this is a Divine Revelation. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">The Apocalypse represents the fate of the Church in the image of a woman who hides herself in the wilderness: she does not show herself in public life, as today in Russia. In public life, forces that prepare the possibility for the appearance of Antichrist will play the leading role. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Antichrist will be a man, and not the devil incarnate. "Anti" means "old," and it also signifies "in place of" or "against." Antichrist is a man who desires to be in place of Christ, to occupy His place and possess what Christ should possess. He desires to possess the attraction of Christ and authority over the whole world. Moreover, Antichrist will receive that authority before his destruction and the destruction of the world. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">What is known of this man -- Antichrist? His precise ancestry is unknown: his father is completely unknown, and his mother a foul pretended virgin. He will be a Jew of the tribe of Dan. He will be very intelligent and endowed with skill in handling people. He will be fascinating and kind. The philosopher Vladimir Soloviev worked a long time at presenting the advent and person of Antichrist. He carefully made use of all material on this question, not only Patristic, but also Moslem, and he worked out a brilliant picture. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Before the advent of Antichrist, there was a preparation in the world, the possibility of his appearance. The mystery of iniquity doth already work (II Thes. 2:7). The forces preparing for his appearance fight above all against the lawful Imperial authority. The holy Apostle Paul says that Antichrist cannot be manifested until what withholdest is taken away (II Thes. 2:6-7). St. John Chrysostom explains that the "withholding one" is the lawful pious authority: such an authority fights with evil. For this reason the "mystery," already at work in the world, fights with this authority; it desires a lawless authority. When the "mystery" decisively achieves that authority, nothing will hinder the appearance of Antichrist any longer. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Fascinating, intelligent, kind, he will be merciful — he will act with mercy and goodness; but not for the sake of mercy and goodness, but for the strengthening of his own authority. When he will have strengthened it to the point where the whole world acknowledges him, then he will reveal his face. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">For his capital, he will choose Jerusalem, because it was here that the Savior revealed His Divine teaching and His person. It was here that the entire world was called to the blessedness of goodness and salvation. The world did not acknowledge Christ and crucified Him in Jerusalem; whereas, the whole world will acknowledge the Antichrist’s authority and Jerusalem will become the capital of the world. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Having attained the pinnacle of authority, Antichrist will demand the acknowledgement that he has attained what no earthly power had ever attained or could attain and then demand the worship of himself as a higher being, as a god. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">V. Soloviev describes the character of his activity well, as "Supreme Ruler." He will do what is pleasing to all -- on the condition of being recognized as Supreme Authority. He will allow the Church to exist, permit her Divine services, promise to build magnificent churches…. on the condition, that all recognize him as "Supreme Being" and worship him. Antichrist will have a personal hatred for Christ; he will see Him as a rival and look upon Him as a personal enemy. He will live by this hatred and rejoice in men's apostasy from Christ. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Under Antichrist, there will be an immense falling away from the faith. Many bishops will change in faith and in justification will point to the brilliant situation of the Church. The search for compromise will be the characteristic disposition of men. Straight-forwardness of confession will disappear. Men will cleverly justify their fall, and gracious evil will support such a general disposition. There will be the habit of apostasy from truth and the sweetness of compromise and sin in men. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Antichrist will allow men everything, as long as they "fall down and worship him"; and the whole world will submit to him. Then there will appear the two righteous men, who will fearlessly preach the faith and accuse Antichrist. According to Church tradition, they are the two Prophets of the Old Testament, Elijah and Enoch, who did not taste of death, but will taste it now for three days, and in three days they must rise. Their death will call forth the great rejoicing of Antichrist and his servants. Their resurrection will plunge them into great confusion and terror. Then, the end of the world will come. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">The Apostle Peter said that the first world was made out of water — an image of the primordial chaos, and perished by water — in the Flood. Now the world is reserved unto fire. The earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up (II Peter 3:5-7, 10). All the elements will ignite. This present world will perish in a single instant. In an instant all will be changed. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Moreover, the Sign of the Son of God, the Sign of the Cross, will appear. The whole world, having willingly submitted to Antichrist, will weep. Everything is finished forever: Antichrist killed, the end of his kingdom of warfare with Christ, the end, and one is held accountable; one must answer to the true God. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">"The end of the world" signifies not the annihilation of the world, but its transformation. Everything will be transformed suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye. The dead will rise in new bodies: their own, but renewed, just as the Savior rose in His own body and traces of wounds from the nails and spear were on it, yet it possessed new faculties, and in this sense it was a new body. It is not clear whether this new body will be the same as Adam was made, or whether it will be an entirely new body. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Afterward, the Lord will appear in glory on the clouds. Trumpets will sound, loud, with power! They will sound in the soul and conscience! All will become clear to the human conscience. The Prophet Daniel, speaking of the Last Judgement, relates how the Ancient of Days, the Judge sits on His throne, and before Him is a fiery stream (Daniel 7:9-10). Fire is a purifying element; it burns sin. Woe to a man if sin has become a part of his nature: then the fire will burn the man, himself. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">This fire will be kindled within man: seeing the Cross, some will rejoice, but others will fall into confusion, terror and despair. Thus, men will be divided instantly. The very state of a man's soul casts him to one side or the other, to right or to left.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">The more consciously and persistently man strives toward God in his life, the greater will be his joy when he hears: "Come unto Me, ye blessed." Conversely: the same words will call the fire of horror and torture to those who did not desire Him, who fled and fought or blasphemed Him during their lifetime! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">The Last Judgment knows of no witnesses or written protocols! Everything is inscribed in the souls of men and these records, these "books," are opened at the Judgment. Everything becomes clear to all and to oneself. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Moreover, some will go to joy, while others — to horror. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">When "the books are opened," it will become clear that the roots of all vices lie in the human soul. Here is a drunkard or a lecher: when the body has died, some may think that sin is dead too. No! There was an inclination to sin in the soul, and that sin was sweet to the soul, and if the soul has not repented and has not freed itself of the sin, it will come to the Last Judgment with the same desire for sin. It will never satisfy that desire and in that soul there will be the suffering of hatred. It will accuse everyone and everything in its tortured condition; it will hate everyone and everything. "There will be gnashing of teeth" of powerless malice and the unquenchable fire of hatred. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">A "fiery gehenna" — such is the inner fire. "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Such is the state of hell.</span> </span>
</div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Originally published in the Orthodox Word, 1966, Vol. 2, No 5 (11). Nov - Dec. </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ra_UTka8MGo/WVfiSc4kkUI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ZlK7J0eKK58jNVWaJbai4RT0c1elYX6uACEwYBhgL/s1600/Last-Judgment-Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ra_UTka8MGo/WVfiSc4kkUI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ZlK7J0eKK58jNVWaJbai4RT0c1elYX6uACEwYBhgL/s320/Last-Judgment-Icon.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-3882256598711203062017-06-29T16:15:00.004-07:002017-06-29T16:16:48.536-07:00New Blog<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello readers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The main purpose of this blog is to provide Orthodox material, most of all in conjunction with our Church's web page. It will continue to do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fr. Zechariah has created his own personal blog. He will offer reflections on a variety of topics. Please consider supporting and following him in his endeavor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His new blog page is-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">https://inklesspen.blog/</span><br />
<br />Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-3297461031031378662017-06-01T16:41:00.001-07:002017-06-01T16:42:22.948-07:00Morality is Higher Than Law<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dusf4hc_RAA/WTCmE89kwbI/AAAAAAAAA4A/t_PHmMpf9tE8vTnyOH1WozvhNMXOo_kCQCLcB/s1600/Alexander%2BSolzhenitsyn%2BI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="731" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dusf4hc_RAA/WTCmE89kwbI/AAAAAAAAA4A/t_PHmMpf9tE8vTnyOH1WozvhNMXOo_kCQCLcB/s320/Alexander%2BSolzhenitsyn%2BI.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"At the present time it is widely accepted among lawyers that law is higher than morality - law is something which is worked out and developed, whereas morality is something inchoate and amorphous. That isn't the case. The opposite is rather true! Morality is higher than law! While law is our human attempt to embody in rules a part of that moral sphere which is above us. We try to understand this morality, bring it down to earth and present it in a form of laws. Sometimes we are more successful, sometimes less. Sometimes you actually have a caricature of morality, but morality is always higher than law. This view must never be abandoned. We must accept it with heart and soul."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Alexander Solzhenitsyn</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; word-spacing: 1.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-11899052731919728232017-05-24T18:32:00.001-07:002018-07-07T14:40:31.782-07:00Techno Buddy Jesus and Orthodism.<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is, at times, costly to be an Orthodox Christian.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christ the Lord calls His followers to humble repentance. The Faith instructs us to seek Christ Jesus, and Him alone. Don't expect to be a superstar. Don't even seek the gifts that He can give. Love only Him, desire only Him. All things pass, only Love remains. But just around the corner, one can learn to be an “anointed one,” or give improv “words” from God over a cup of coffee. I discern in these coffee grounds …. So convenient, and “I” feel special too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YH-SQejtajs/WSYzF8h92ZI/AAAAAAAAA3c/GWyyI_gnH08DgDUbB0SyV8usuUHjRuWYACLcB/s1600/buddy%2Bjesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1195" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YH-SQejtajs/WSYzF8h92ZI/AAAAAAAAA3c/GWyyI_gnH08DgDUbB0SyV8usuUHjRuWYACLcB/s320/buddy%2Bjesus.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Orthodoxy is not cool. We are guarded and guided by a very ancient Christian way of life. It calls us to simplicity, constancy, and steadfastness. But a few blocks away one can jump on all the latest bandwagons of religious and philosophical fluidity. Smoke machines and disco lights (are they even still hip?) and rock music (or whatever floats your boat). “God is good” on a repetitive loop multiplied times one hundred. No need to think too deeply because God is not into doctrine and all that stuff. Feel the beat. Easy power and shallow pools, everything can be quite well known and comfortable.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Church Fathers; saints? Aren’t they just quaint old folk of yesteryear? Charming grandfathers who speak of times past. How cute. I mean, they do add a hue of credibility and stateliness. But we need the vigor of the modern! Psychology will save us! After all the Father's did not live in our times, they don't really understand the problems facing us. Let's sit around and talk about how we feel; then we'll turn and give our neighbor a massage. Hip Jesus can be the group facilitator! He is so relevant and unoffensive. Fall backward into a quilted mass of comforting arms. Do you feel safe now, is this a safe place? Warm and fuzzy. I'm so special. God loves me just the way I am. Do you accept me, am I accepted? Orthodism: just want to be one of the guys; it is neither hot nor cold, and it will never be as sensational as the pulsating mass of mutability that it seeks as its guru. Teach us. We also desire to be hipsters. We are important too … do you approve?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Orthodoxy calls us out of the self-approved masses into the depths of God, where our human intellect fails. My feet cannot touch the bottom. How deep is it? What is down there, in the depths? Where does it end? No one knows. As far as the eye can see, there is no land. What if I drown? I am helpless. Who will know that I have sunk down into the depths? I am in such great need of God. Our humanity recoils in fear. All earthly safety has fled away. Our self is shuttering at the revelation of its own decrepitude. It will die in the depths. Only death bears resurrection.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No! Give me the comfort of the kiddie pool where I can get wet, touch the bottom, and be the master of my own domain. Here, so many choose to dwell.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">True Christianity calls us to take up the cross and follow Christ, to lose our life and thereby save it. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The way of the True Christ is the way of the cross.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Modernity instructs us to exploit Christ as a means of self-aggrandizement. The gospel of Me says, seek self-fulfillment, seek spiritual power, seek to be recognized as special, seek comfort, seek safety, be nice. Contemporary Jesus has come to save the self, twisting, flashing, mesmerizing, and fluttering like an enormous multicolored neon sign. So shiny. Did Buddy Jesus just wink at me from his technicolor aura? What is that catchy tune he is humming? Follow me, I'm all-powerful, and you can be too! Repentance, what the heck is that? I'll empower you in twenty seconds flat … Feel the beat. How grand it seems!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How drab the humble cross, only dull brown wood after all. Will I get a splinter? It's not even electrified, and with no wifi!?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We may muse with a character from <i>Fahrenheit 451</i>, “I often wonder if God recognizes His own son the way we've dressed him up, or is it dressed him down? He's a regular peppermint stick now, all sugar-crystal and saccharine when he isn't making veiled references to certain commercial products that every worshiper absolutely needs.” Ah, the magic sugar daddy in the heavens, who's one job it is to cater to my every desire!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a lamb to the slaughter despised and rejected, so went our Lord and so must we. Leave the glimmer of show-time christs. Come, follow Me, says the Lord, take up your cross, which is foolishness to this world and its christs. It will cost you your self. Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnxXRpY7Ctk/WSYzXPeDNMI/AAAAAAAAA3g/VemRhggXBockZywzog11gSbGyoShny0YwCLcB/s1600/golgofskiy-krest-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnxXRpY7Ctk/WSYzXPeDNMI/AAAAAAAAA3g/VemRhggXBockZywzog11gSbGyoShny0YwCLcB/s320/golgofskiy-krest-2.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-85065144965501805412017-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:002017-04-18T15:55:47.391-07:00Living the Faith<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By St. Philaret of Moscow.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Ah, friends, without faith in the Lord Christ there is no salvation!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">We must by all means kindle in ourselves the spirit of faith, that is, stimulate it, feed it with prayer, the Word of God, patience, sincere remembrance of the Savior Who suffered for us. All of this can be done every day.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">What to Do in the Morning</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">When you wake up, first of all let your soul and heart say "Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who has preserved us this night! Glory to Thee, Who has shown us the light! Lord, bless this day for us!" In doing this, think about how God gives you the day which you could not give to yourself, and devote the first hour, or perhaps the first quarter hour of the day given you and offer it as a sacrifice to God, in grateful, supplicatory prayer. The more zealously you do this, the more you will sanctify your day, the more strongly you will protect yourself from the temptations that we meet every day.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">The Dwelling and Clothing of the Christian</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">From the start of the morning and throughout the day, make the thought about Christ the soul of your life, the moving force of your actions. So, for example, if you glance over your dwelling, remember Christ in the manger, in swaddling clothes, lying on straw, all this life not having a place to lay His head, finally imprisoned, nailed to the Cross, and thank God for your house, your shelter, however humble and poor it may be. Do not envy magnificently decorated mansions: the mansion of Christ is a pure heart!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">As you dress in your simple clothing, remember Christ stripped naked and then robed in the clothing of mockery. Do not dwell on apparel, do not follow slavishly the whims of fashion, but try to garb yourself in goodness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, gazing mentally on the meek and humble heart of Jesus.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you are eating a meal, remember the vinegar and gall that Christ tasted, and do not demand plentiful, luxurious food and drink: the heavenly Guest loves to enter not the house of feasting, but always to the one that opens the door of his heart to Him. Place in your heart Christ suffering and dying on the Cross, and in His unseen presence mortify your passions and lusts.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Contact with people</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Later, when you deal with people, both relatives and others, before saying a word, think about what will be its effect, and think even more seriously before you do something in their presence, for actions speak louder than words.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Worldly Affairs</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you are undertaking anything, before asking any other adviser, ask the advice of faith. Appeal in the words of the Apostle: Lord, what wilt Thou have me do? (Acts 9:6). Is what I would undertake pleasing to Thee, Lord? If it is pleasing, bless it; if not, do not let me do what is displeasing to Thee. And then listen to what the Lord tells you in your conscience, in your reason, in the counsels of pious and wise people and, having begu n the course that you select, pray in your heart, O Lord, make haste to help me (Ps. 69:1).</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Absences</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you are going anywhere, go with God, as our pious forebearer said as a farewell, walk before me as the Lord Himself demanded (Gen. 17:1); always see Him before you, for He is at thy right hand (Ps. 15:8). As much as possible keep in your thoughts and in your heart that God sees you, so that you may be both ashamed and afraid to attempt anything unworthy before the eyes of God.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Word and Feelings</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you enter the company of people, behave with extreme caution. If you hear a word of praise for yourself there, be careful: praises frequently conceal flattery and can arouse in you self-satisfaction and neglect of your further improvement. If you hear an insulting or humiliating word, take care not to become inflamed with anger which worketh not the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Answer the one who insults you either with silence or a meek word of truth. If you hear a word that accuses a neighbor, be careful that you not take part in the sin of someone else's tongue. Do not join in words that are more harmful to the one who judges than to the one being judged. If you hear a word that saddens one with bad news, be careful lest your sorrow become stronger than your common sense; dissolve it with hope in God's mercy and with the warm prayer: O my Rejoicing, deliver me from them which have encircled me (Ps. 31:7). Endure without complaint sorrows and misfortunes. Sorrows are inescapable on the path leading to the Kingdom of God! Many are the sorrows of the righteous! Christ Himself endured them; the Mother of God endured them as well. Without sorrows we will not be saved, but even in the depth of sorrow believe that the Lord loves you truly, and is only testing you. Remember: you sometimes return home from afar by a bad road, in a storm, in frost, or in terrible heat, but you go patiently, willingly; likewise patiently go by the difficult and sorrowful path to the heavenly home, the Kingdom of God.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Caution Regarding Harmful Books</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you see in a letter or a book a word of unbelief, irreverence, or indecency, turn your eyes away from it quickly, do not entice yourself with the thought of reading it out of curiosity or for amusement. Do not touch filth. Do not play with fire. Do not desire to experience the taste of poison.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">In general, in your relations with people be peaceable, just, compassionate, do good even to your enemies, imitating Him Who shines His sun on both the evil and the good.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">If you will live and act in this manner, then, when you pray, nothing will obstruct your prayer's path to heaven.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">Attending Church</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">When the time comes, and especially the time put aside for God and His temple, a feast day or the hour of Divine Services, hurry to tear yourself away from business and worldly cares and voluntarily and zealously offer yourself to God in His church. When you enter the church bring to mind the promise of the Lord to those that gather in His name: there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20), and stand reverently in church, as before the very face of Christ, and pray to Him that he sanctify you by His holiness, animate you by His prayer, and enlighten you with the word of the Gospel and the Grace of the Mysteries. Take note of this, too: in the church, angels serve with us and guard the holiness dwelling there. Once, in the Lavra of Saint Theodosius near Jerusalem, Abba Leontius, coming one Sunday to church to receive the Holy Mysteries, saw an angel standing on the right side of the Holy Table, and when the elder, being afraid, turned to run to his cell, the voice of the angel called to him: "From the time this Holy Table was consecrated, I have been charged to stay by it." Remember this, beloved, and stand reverently. And, if you feel that only your body is standing in church, while your mind thinks of home, or the market, or a place of merriment, collect yourself. Hurry to bring back your mind that has strayed, join it to God in your heart, force it to strive towards God, Who looks upon you. When you hear the word of God, open up not only your bodily ears, but your spiritual ones as well, open your heart, receive this heavenly Bread and with it nourish not only your memory, but also your life and work.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">On Communion</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">When you are preparing to be a communicant of the Body and Blood of Christ, or are simply present at this Mystery, cleave in mind and heart to the Cross and the Tomb of the Lord, to the Body of Christ, suffering, dying, buried, risen, glorified and believe that your faith's touching Him will be more substantial than the touching of His garment by the woman with an issue of blood, and Christ's power [will] go out (Luke 8:46) to purify and elevate your powers of soul and body.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">How to Celebrate Feast days</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Having left church and returned home, do not rush to worldly business on days dedicated to God: business that you illicitly conduct in festal times will bring you no benefit. Realize most of all that if you do not come to thank and glorify God in His church, then you can be sure that He will not send down His blessing on your business outside the church (Haggai 1:9). And if sometimes you decide to excuse yourself from attending the church, be in fear lest you suddenly be overtaken by death and lest it be said of you: Remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things... but now (in eternity) thou art tormented (Luke 16:25). God preserve you from this fate.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Never forget that your soul is also God's temple, and if at any time an impure thought and evil desire draws near to your soul, and will draw your body as well towards sin, hasten to protect yourself with the words said to the first Christians, and consequently to you: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (I Cor. 3:16). Then say to yourself: how can I dare to ruin the temple of God, by sin and inequity! How can I be so bold as to insult and alienate the Holy Spirit!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffff;">What to do in the evening</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.23in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Now the day has ended - you are going off to sleep. Ponder the thought that God gives you rest from labors, and take the first fruits of the time of your rest and dedicate it to God with pure and humble prayer. Its fragrance will draw an angel close to preserve your rest. While preparing for sleep, remember death, of which sleep is an image and threshold, and with a prayer of faith surrender yourself to Him that is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). But when you can conquer sleep, or when it does not conquer you, remember [the Lord's] name in the night (Ps. 118:55). Such should be the constant disposition and activity of the believer that he may gradually draw near to that state of soul in which the holy Apostle Paul says of himself: I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me... Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal: 2:20)!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Translated by Seraphim F. Englehardt From "Orthodox Life" [in Russian], No. 10, 1952</span></i></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-42791978379479054762017-03-18T11:31:00.000-07:002017-04-19T09:14:56.382-07:00Last Days Great Revival? The Charismatic Experience and Orthodoxy, the perspective of one Orthodox Priest, part 3<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This is a continuation of a series, the reader may find links to part 1 & 2 below:</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Part 1: </span>http://orthodoxpueblo.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-charismatic-experience-and-orthodox.html</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Part 2: http://orthodoxpueblo.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-charismatic-movement-and-orthodox.html</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As previously indicated (see part 1), the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement (P/C movement) is heavily premised upon a very particular doctrine: the Church (again using this word loosely) fell into darkness just after the year 300AD. Beginning with the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's the Church, it states, has been in the process of being rebuilt and restored; in the last days, there will be a great revival (move of God, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders). The expectation is that this last times event may even surpass the events recorded in the book of Acts. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Between roughly 300 and 1500AD, sterile form and ritual became the substitute for the dynamic living experience of the early Church, so the teaching goes. Every group within the P/C movement, regardless, claims a unique reconstitution of the “Early Church.” A profound ignorance of Church history is manifested; moreover, a deep ignorance of the real intent and significance of Liturgical worship, priesthood, sacraments, and so forth is revealed. Purportedly, Liturgical worship is “dead religion;” priests “stand in our way of God,” and on their objections would go. They war against the very nature of Christianity while claiming to do so for the sake of Christianity. All such groups claim to be restoring the power of the Early Church, be they my former Bible school, Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, or The Last Reformation, Morning Star, Bethel, and so forth. All teach that the Church went astray and is/was in need of restoration. They all hold, in basic, to the previously outlined historical timeline. They all teach a “last days great revival," move of power, and a super-abundance of miracles. And they all claim to be the ones chosen to bring such a grand event to fruition. (Signs and wonders may be a broad term, in this article it is used as a synonym for miracles, events of a seemingly supernatural quality worked at the hands of a person.)</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">One must understand that Protestantism is a movement with change in its DNA. Its whole original claim and premise were to restore authentic Christian practice. It has ever debated what precisely that is down to this day. Nevertheless, a founding idea of Protestantism is “Sola Scriptura:” the teaching that the Bible alone is the only genuine and reliable source for Christian doctrine (teaching). So, holding them to their own standards, the central doctrine, for a doctrine it is, of the P/C movement regarding the corruption of the Church and “last days great restoration revival” should be evident in the Bible. If not, according to Protestantism's own standards, it should be rejected. Of course, the Orthodox Church has never taught Sola Scriptura. Nevertheless, one may rightly expect that such a purportedly paramount happening as the corruption of the church, its downfall and subsequent restoration in a “last days revival” would be clearly revealed, if not plainly indicated, in the Scriptures. One would also expect Early Church Fathers to foresee such a catastrophic happening. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">First, we must ask, did Christ Jesus ever indicate that His Church (Ekklesia)<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a> would be overcome by the world? No. Rather we do have an indication (moreover a promise!) that the Lord will protect and keep His Church. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Mat. 16:18). We may safely deduce two things: 1) Christ is the source of the Church, 2) hell will not prevail against it. Hell is the very personification of corruption. It is safe to understand this to mean that the Church will never fail in Her essence. Clearly, Church history is full of ignominious and glorious events. She has welcomed the good and the evil in the hopes that all may repent and be saved. <b>B</b>ecause evil men have been a part, at least nominally, of the Church, does not mean that she is corrupt. This would be akin to insinuating that Jesus failed as a teacher because Judas failed to apply His teaching. The Church (using that word specifically) is always pure and true as is Her Lord.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Did St. Paul ever indicate the coming (from his perspective) fall of the Church? No. St. Paul tells us that Christ is the head and the Church is His body (cf. Eph. 1:21-23). This imagery is potent. Physically we understand that the head and the body are inseparable; a perfect union connects them. Separation of the head from the body is physically unnatural. One does not find a bodiless head, or vice versa, only if they are dead. But Christ is alive, as is His Church. Thus, to assume a failure of the body is to imply a failure of the Head. If the Church, the body, went corrupt, then one could plausibly lay blame on the head, Christ. This is madness, yet this is the madness that is insinuated in such teachings. We are further told that we have received an unshakable kingdom (cf. Heb. 12:28), it is no leap to understand this kingdom to be the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church is also called </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“the pillar and ground of the truth”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (1 Tim. 3:15). Clearly, the Church shares in the virtue of Her Lord. More examples could be given, but these suffice to show that the Biblical vision is not that of the P/C movement. Christ is the foundation of the Church, which shares in His life as the body does with the head. She is unmovable, and a sure foundation. In fact, to say that the Church fails is to call the Lord Jesus a liar, for He clearly says that the </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“gates of hell shall never prevail,”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> that is, the Church will never fail. The doctrine that the Church went corrupt is clearly against all sound Christian teaching. (People may separate themselves from the Church, but this does no violence to the essential and physical unity of the Church; the Church is always One. We are either united to Her or not. History is full of people disuniting themselves from the Church and uniting themselves. Simply because there are a plethora of groups claiming to be "Church" does not indeed mean that the Church is broken or split. The Church is One as is Her Lord, cf. Eph 4:4-6.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The claim that the Church went "corrupt" must be used by the P/C movement because otherwise, they could not claim any similarity to, or continuity with, the "Early" Church. Thus a twister game like approach to Church History must be adopted (or it is altogether ignored). The testimony of Church life during the time period that they claim was corrupt and dark is so contrary to their vision, and thus it must be disregarded and degraded. Having no living continuity they must claim an ephemeral "spiritual" unity. Rather than listen and learn from the life of the Church they choose to disregard it so as to justify their own way of life, but it is not the Life of the Church. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Secondly, is a “last days revival” at least indicated in the Scriptures? Let's see. I will limit myself to the Words of our Lord Jesus regarding the Last days in, Mat. 24, Lk. 21, and Mk. 13. St. Paul's epistle of 2 Thessalonians, a spattering of other Pauline references, and the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation). Clearly, since this is a short(ish) article, space does not allow an exhaustive study. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In all the accounts of our Lord Jesus' instruction regarding the last days, the picture is not all that bright. Persecution. War. Betrayal. Godlessness, and so forth. Of interest for the topic at hand are the opening words of our Lord in Matthew, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (v. 4). “Christ” simply means “anointed one,” thus it is possible to understand that many will come claiming to be anointed ones. The Lord continues, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (v. 23-24). In Christ Jesus' teaching concerning the last days the </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>only</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> signs and wonders spoken of are false ones. No other signs and wonders are mentioned. Christ clearly does not indicate a last days revival as described by the P/C movement. Rather the picture presented is one of an increase of sin and evil together with many false christs (anointed ones) moving with spiritual power; signs so great that even the elect could be seduced, if possible (but by God's grace the Church will stand even this!). The situation seems so dire that Christ Jesus tells His disciples,</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> “Be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Mk. 13:23). What did He tell us? In the Last days false anointed ones will abound and they will use signs and wonders to justify themselves, “See we are from God!” but, </span></span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">"Do not believe it" </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Mat. 24:23).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAA_mEBV_-Y/WM18LmE3QmI/AAAAAAAAA0k/tp99HlvwHHAGO6xkNPbV606YT_NM2AnVQCLcB/s1600/images.duckduckgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAA_mEBV_-Y/WM18LmE3QmI/AAAAAAAAA0k/tp99HlvwHHAGO6xkNPbV606YT_NM2AnVQCLcB/s320/images.duckduckgo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">St. Paul prophesies regarding the last days, “</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness, but denying its power”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (2 Tim. 2:1-5). Again, not a rosy picture. There will be an appearance of godliness, and this correlates to the many false christs of which the True Christ warned. In 2 Thessalonians St. Paul instructs that in the last days a rebellion will come, a rebellion against God and His Church. Lawlessness will be revealed (cf. 2 Thess. 2: 3-4). Again, the only signs and wonders referenced are false ones, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (2 Thess. 2:9-10). Is it not significant that when speaking of the last days the only signs and wonders spoken of by both Christ and St. Paul are false ones? Clearly, they are telling us to be vigilant; there is no indication of a last days revival as taught by the P/C movement. The only last days revival is a revival of sin and evil, together with a “spirituality” free from the “constraint” of the Church. And what is the guard against deception? Love of the truth; St. Paul told us that the Church is the pillar and ground of truth, thus we may conclude that a love and holding to the Church as it has manifested for 2,000 years is a love and holding to truth. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In St. John the Theologian's revelation of the Apocalypse we see a general vision of the rise of sin and lawlessness, brutal persecution of the righteous, war, suffering, and so forth. Clearly, this book is cryptic and requires great wisdom. Of interest for this article is not the specific meaning of each character and image, but merely whether or not a great last days revival is evident. We see the two witness, who testify against the Antichrist and his system. They are given the power to work wonders (cf. Rev. 11). Besides this positive reference to signs and wonders, the other reference is to the Antichrist himself and the beast (cf. Rev. 13). They use great signs and wonders to deceive the multitudes. Yet there is no clear and explicit teaching that the Church will fail and be in need of a last days restoration. Indeed the Church is persecuted and attacked throughout Revelation (cf. Rev. 12:17). Signs and wonders are predominately used to lead the multitudes astray. The culmination of all things is the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, which will truly be glorious (cf. Rev. 19). </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPmy5SQB9Ss/WM17fMWTQbI/AAAAAAAAA0c/LRcCfFSVpRMul_Sx6FqzCk_g05kpK2Q7gCLcB/s1600/images.duckduckgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPmy5SQB9Ss/WM17fMWTQbI/AAAAAAAAA0c/LRcCfFSVpRMul_Sx6FqzCk_g05kpK2Q7gCLcB/s320/images.duckduckgo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Charismatic Meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Nowhere are Christians instructed to seek a last days “restoration” of power. Indeed, the Church has always taught that obsession (the P/C movement is obsessed with power) with signs and wonders will only act to predispose people to accept false christs and ultimately the Antichrist. The power of the P/C movement has great emotional charge, I know I have moved in it. “The willingness of our fallen human nature to mistake illusion for truth, emotional comfort for spiritual experience, is much greater than you think,” astutely observes Fr. Seraphim (Rose).<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a> True Christianity has always had miracles and always will, but they are not an end-all indicator of truth. They may be mimicked, and thus the underlying principles of the one working the miracles must be weighed and tested. Is the source true and sound? Is the fruit true unity in Christ Jesus and His body the Church? Many times power flatters us into thinking that we are spiritual people and that we deserve to have the “Holy Spirit;” that we are “anointed” and even to a degree special. In Orthodoxy, this is called </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>prelest.</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> Let us remember the mandate to test the spirits to see if they are from God (1 Jn. 4:1-3). The chief appeal of the P/C movement is to emotional experience, and all “truths” are subject to this experience. Most of the time the experience is never tested by some greater and abiding Truth; untested experience simply justifies the experience. The assumption is, “I experienced power, thus it must be from God.” The </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“I”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> is set as the great discerner of truth, and the safety of the pillar and ground of the Church is cast aside. A great arrogant assumption is made: I am spiritual; therefore I can discern correctly! Moreover, the power in the P/C movement is fairly easy to attain, one need not be bothered by pesky ideas like a life of repentance, humility, and self-denial. No, Christ wants me to be super! I have been there. I have done this. My hope is that people will also, by the mercy of God, come out of this prelest into the eternal freedom and Truth of Holy Orthodoxy.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">To what do the Scriptures call Christians, most of all those living in these times? Our Lord Jesus Christ says,</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> "In your patience possess your souls"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Lk. 21:19). </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"The one who endures to the end will be saved"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Mat. 24:13). Christ revealed the way, the Apostles preached it, and we must patiently endure in it holding fast; not being led astray by false shows of power. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith of Jesus”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Rev. 14:12). </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Heb. 10:23). </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Stand firm and hold the traditions that you were taught by us (the Apostles), either by our spoken word or by our letter"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (1 Thess. 2:15). </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" </i></span></span><span style="color: black;">(1 Cor. 16:13). </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (Jude 3). We constantly see in the Scriptures an exhortation to stand in what was given once for all and never do we see a teaching telling us to look for a coming "new" work and revelation. Christ Jesus is the only New and Eternal Revelation of God, the job of a Christian is to hold fast to that revelation. This is the Faith of Jesus. (How can one hold fast to a faith that is in constant change due to ever-evolving experiences and new "words" and teaching, many times contradicting former ones, as in the P/C movement? To what teaching should one hold fast? The conundrum multiplies from here.) The Church has been founded on Christ once for all. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost affirmed the revelation of Jesus Christ to and in His Church. The Orthodox Church has proven through Her faithful and long endurance to be that very Church founded by our Lord. All other “new” revelations are condemned in the Scripture. Jude goes on to tell us, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"certain people have crept in unnoticed ... who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” </i></span></span><span style="color: black;">(Jude 4). This denial is not so much a verbal one (they continue to teach in the name of Jesus), as one wherein they preach their own message in the Name of Jesus. Woe to such ones. In this way, they deny Christ and preach rather their own selves (but it sounds much more authoritative if someone says "Jesus told me!"). St. Paul tells the Galatians, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema)"</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"> (1:8). </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">It is vital to note that the whole of Christian life and history for 2,000 years never expected a “last days revival.” To expound upon this would be very lengthy. Nevertheless, it is imperative to note that the teaching at hand is novel. The Christian Church, Orthodoxy, has never held it. In fact, all Her teachings regarding the last of the last days are in line with the Scriptures: they will be extremely difficult days, many will lose their faith, evil will abound as will false signs and wonders, but those faithful to the Revelation of Christ in His Church shall be saved. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In light of such testimony, one has but few choices: either accept them as true and proven by the True Church for over 2,000 years or throw them out and listen to what the new “spirit” is saying. </span> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">There is something indeed new at work, but it is neither from the wellspring of the Holy Spirit nor the pillar and ground of truth in the Church.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Let it be briefly noted that this is in no way a denial of signs and wonders per se, for truly they have been at work in the Church since the day of Pentecost. It is a refutation of a novel doctrine that asserts the “restoration” of the church which, so it alleges, was corrupted; the primary justification it provides for such a teaching is an emphasis on signs and wonders; power untested and accepted easily with the assumption that Christ is the source. As we have seen such a doctrine is not in Scripture nor the life and teaching of Christ's Church. Christianity has always understood that there exist false signs and wonders, and they are very deceptive; thus miracles are never the paramount ideal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">How much, then, must Orthodox Christians walk in the fear of God, trembling lest they lose His grace, which by no means is given to everyone, but only to those who hold the true Faith, lead a life of Christian struggle, and treasure the grace of God which leads them heavenward. And how much more cautiously must Orthodox Christians walk today above all, when they are surrounded by a counterfeit Christianity that gives its own experiences of 'grace' and the 'Holy Spirit' and can abundantly quote the Scriptures and Holy Fathers to 'prove' it. Surely the last times are near, when there will come spiritual deception so persuasive as to deceive, if it were possible, even the elect (Mat. 24:24).” Fr. Seraphim (Rose).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please keep in mind that this series is an examination of a system. While I cannot but reject what is a faulty system, I understand that there are persons within it. The persons I leave to God. May He grant them enlightenment, repentance, and salvation. This is an examination of a novel system and teaching that claims to be from God. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> It is good to note that our English word <i>church </i>does not come etymologically from the Greek word <i>ekklesia</i>, but from the Greek word <i>Kyriacon</i>, “of the Lord” or loosely “the Lord's house.” In old English it was C<i>irice</i> from the west German <i>Kirka</i>, which is the same in old Saxon, from these words we have our word “church.” The word <i>ekklessia</i> is more properly “the gathering, or the community” the Greek is a compound of <i>ek</i> – out, away from; and a derivative of <i>kaleo</i> – to call. Thus literally it means “to call out from.” I will use the word Church in its current common usage as the translation of <i>ekklesia.</i> </span> </div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fr. Seraphim (Rose). <i>Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future</i>. St. Herman Press, p. 141.</span></div>
</div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-57864356600430604442017-03-09T10:27:00.002-08:002017-03-09T16:46:39.030-08:00Are We Truly Orthodox Christians?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--r4S-2v0_Kw/WMGeK7QE4JI/AAAAAAAAA0E/NZ-VkF1IYGQAJMKe43FKxvo3YWwZlm9qwCLcB/s1600/whywefastbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--r4S-2v0_Kw/WMGeK7QE4JI/AAAAAAAAA0E/NZ-VkF1IYGQAJMKe43FKxvo3YWwZlm9qwCLcB/s320/whywefastbefore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by St. John of Kronstadt</span></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So were rivers of blood shed for the preservation of the Orthodox Faith by apostles, prophets, and martyrs; much suffering was endured be reverend fathers and other champions of the faith.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> What about us, children of the Orthodox Church? Do we preserve this most precious heritage, the Orthodox Faith? Do we follow its teachings, commandments, rules, statutes, advice? Do we love to offer this service to God, <i>the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name </i>(Heb. 13:15)? Are we renewed by it? Do we sanctify ourselves every day, do we correct ourselves, do we attain the perfection the saints attained? Do we perfect ourselves in our love for God and neighbor, do we cherish our faith, do we consider it the greatest mercy of God, the very first and greatest benefit of life the fact that we are fortunate to belong to the Orthodox Church, which is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> What is our answer to these questions, if we desire to answer honestly? To our shame we must confess that many, many Orthodox Christians not only do not have the Orthodox faith in their hearts and lives, but also do not have it even in their tongues, and faith has either completely disappeared from their lives or they have become completely indifferent toward any faith: Catholicism, Lutheranism, Judaism, Islam, even paganism. We hear from many people that you can please God in every faith, that is, as if every faith is pleasing to God, and as if God is indifferent to truth and falsehood, right and wrong. Look at the consequences of ignoring one's faith, of the ignorance of the spirit and history of their Church, alienation from its life and divine services, the consequences of ignoring concepts of Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy, and other faiths!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A Christian as a member of the Church, must know his faith and try to live according to it, be saved by his faith, because the enemies of our salvation do not sleep, and seek our destruction at every hour; a Christian must not abandon his faith …</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> No other religion except Orthodoxy can bring man to moral perfection or holiness and perfect agreeableness to God, as evidenced by the history of the church and the incorrupt and wonderworking remains of the holy saints of God, and by the wonderful feats of the saints of the Orthodox Church … so it should be, according to common sense, only a perfect faith can bring one to perfection, with all divine powers, all the spiritual armor of God against the passions of the flesh, the world, and the devil.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> If nowadays many Orthodox Christians live worse than Muslims and pagans … this truly impious life of the Christian must not in the least, of course, be blamed on the Orthodox Faith, which is unwavering in its principles of truth and holiness, according to the promise of the Savior Himself and the testimony of history. Such people, even though they came from us, were never one of us in essence, but only in name.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Yes, my brethren, only the Orthodox Faith purifies and sanctifies human nature stained by sin; it renews the corrupted, especially through the mysteries of baptism, repentance, and communion. It illumines those who are darkened and heals those who are wounded by sins … Would you like to be convinced of this? Read the lives of the saints, the history of the Church, and you will see firsthand all of these miracles in the lives of the saints.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Why does it not also effect such saving changes within us? Because of our lack of faith, or unbelief, because of our frivolity, corruption, and the impenitence in our hearts; because of the passions that grow stronger within us and have complete control over us, because of our falling away from the Church, and because many of us do not in the least instill within ourselves the spirit of the Church, and many others insincerely, weakly, and only slightly more formally belong to it.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> For us to be true Orthodox Christians, we must first of all have a living, constant communion with the Orthodox Church; that is, we must partake in its prayers, teachings, and mysteries; we must diligently study our faith and be instilled with and live its spirit; we must be guided by its rules, commandments, statutes, and more important, we must restore within ourselves the image of true and deep repentance of a true Orthodox Christian according to the image of the saints, old and new, or better according to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who said:<i> For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you</i> (Jn. 13:15), so that the Lord may say of us, as once he said of Nathaniel: <i>Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit </i>(Jn. 1:47). Amen.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From: <i>Season of Repentance, Lenten Homilies of St. John of Kronstadt,</i> Holy Trinity Publications.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, p. 92ff.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-24932545663962420492017-02-20T13:06:00.003-08:002017-03-04T14:26:34.975-08:00On Casual Frequent Communion<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On casual frequent Communion.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qy6VycJnEBY/WKtaJS-nFXI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/XtoKGGTbCYoeiGOP0SAnSxIC772ijSC9gCLcB/s1600/paisie-sihla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qy6VycJnEBY/WKtaJS-nFXI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/XtoKGGTbCYoeiGOP0SAnSxIC772ijSC9gCLcB/s320/paisie-sihla.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Paisius</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Question: <i>It is observed in some places Confession is neglected, and Holy Communion is given very often. What's the best thing to do in this situation?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Answer: We have no right to renounce the holy canons and the age-old practice of the Church. Let us follow the path of the Fathers and our predecessors, on the canonical path of holy tradition. Frequent Communion does not bring us to perfection, but repentance with tears, frequent Confession, abandonment of sin, and prayer of the heart do. The zeal of some for frequent Communion is a sign of the weakening of faith and of pride, and not of spiritual advancement. Our correction and advancement on the path of salvation begin with frequent Confession, and continue through fasting and tearful prayer, through the abandoning of sins, almsgiving, reconciliation with everyone, and humility. Only after we do all these things may we have Communion more often, as the holy canons and traditions of the Church show us. Otherwise, how can you receive the Lord of Heaven and earth into your house, when your soul is unclean, unconfessed, a slave to passions, and especially, full of pride? First we have need of tears, prayer, and frequent Confession, then all other gifts will be added to us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From: A Little Corner of Paradise, St. Herman Press, 2016, p. 209</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"If you approach them [the Most-Pure Mysteries] with uncorrected hearts, unworthily, then you commune to your own judgment and condemnation and will be 'guilty of the body and blood of the Lord' (1 Cor. 11:27), and after communion will be no better; on the contrary you will have made yourself worse." St. John of Kronstadt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From: Season of Repentance: Lenten Homilies, Holy Trinity Publications, p. 75</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-51527953758635824422016-12-30T11:07:00.000-08:002017-01-06T17:42:53.281-08:00A Morning Prayer<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>By St. John of Kronstadt</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p09CVJTmcuE/WGawS69qTOI/AAAAAAAAAyU/qAIEKQ-aYtQe1JH_QO7iIpk988iEgfd3gCLcB/s1600/images.duckduckgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p09CVJTmcuE/WGawS69qTOI/AAAAAAAAAyU/qAIEKQ-aYtQe1JH_QO7iIpk988iEgfd3gCLcB/s320/images.duckduckgo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"O, God! Creator and Master of the World! Mercifully protect Thy creature, adorned with Thy Godly image, in these morning hours: Let Thine eyes, millions and millions of times brighter than the rays of the sun, vivify and enlighten my soul, darkened and slain by sin. Deliver me from despondency and slothfulness, grant me joy and vigor of soul, so that with a glad heart I may praise Thy mercy, Thy holiness, Thy boundless greatness, and Thy infinite perfections, at every hour and in every place. For Thou, Lord, art my Creator and the Master of my life, and to Thee Thy reasonable creatures every hour send up glory and praise, both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From, "My Life in Christ," pg. 24.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-46075455732314751812016-12-01T18:41:00.003-08:002017-03-22T09:37:53.263-07:00The Charismatic Movement and the Orthodox Church: the perspective of one Orthodox Priest, part 2<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This article is part two in a series. </div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>A “Charismatic” Movement in the Early Church</u></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the town of Phrygia, central Asia Minor, about the year 160AD, a man named Montanus claimed to be “seized” by the Holy Spirit. He began to receive “special” messages, “speak in tongues,” prophesy, and so forth. Two women “prophetesses” soon join him: Priscilla and Maximillia.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This occurrence takes place well before the above given general date of 311AD (according to the Emerging Church scheme, when the Church allegedly enters a time of “darkness;” see part one of this series). Thus, even for a person subscribing to an Emerging Church philosophy, this incident should bear weight. It transpired when the Church, according to such thought, was still “being led by the Spirit.”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vY9eiOOVwg/WEDfR_OtFnI/AAAAAAAAAxs/yBvMIMvNjRMFcgsHTFY7Bm4qsVIXsh3mACLcB/s1600/92831506_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vY9eiOOVwg/WEDfR_OtFnI/AAAAAAAAAxs/yBvMIMvNjRMFcgsHTFY7Bm4qsVIXsh3mACLcB/s320/92831506_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>The History of the Early Church</i> by Eusebius gives these details,<span style="font-size: small;"> “</span><span style="color: black;">There is said to be a certain village called Ardabau in that part of Mysia, which borders upon Phrygia. There first, they say, when Gratus was proconsul of Asia, a recent convert, Montanus by name, through his unquenchable desire for leadership, gave the adversary opportunity against him. And he became beside himself, and being suddenly in a sort of frenzy and ecstasy, he raved, and began to babble and utter strange things, prophesying in a manner contrary to the constant custom of the Church handed down by tradition from the beginning … Thus by artifice, or rather by such a system of wicked craft, the devil, devising destruction for the disobedient, and being unworthily honored by them, secretly excited and inflamed their understandings which had already become estranged from the true faith. And he stirred up besides two women, and filled them with the false spirit, so that they talked wildly and unreasonably and strangely, like the person already mentioned. And the spirit pronounced them blessed as they rejoiced and gloried in him, and puffed them up by the magnitude of his promises. But sometimes he rebuked them openly in a wise and faithful manner, that he might seem to be a reprover. But those of the Phrygians that were deceived were few in number … And the arrogant spirit taught them to revile the entire universal Church under heaven, because the spirit of false prophecy received neither honor from it nor entrance into it.”</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></span></span></sup></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The Montanists, based on the brief description above, experienced similar manifestation to those of the P/C movement, and the Universal Church at that time condemned it as heresy and delusion. As the Scriptures profess and caution, and as the Church indicated in Her dealings with the Montanists, not all “Charismatic” experiences are from God. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The Montanists declared that they were ushering in the age of the Holy Spirit, and with it renewed focus on prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the other gifts of the Spirit. To reject their message was, they claimed, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Montanists prophesied in the first person, something unheard of in the Old and New Testament. It appears that Montanus would say, “I, the Holy Spirit, say to you ...” Whereas the Old and New Testament prophets all spoke in this manner, “Thus says the Lord ...” (cf. Act. 21:11; Is. 8:1). They also fervently expected the immediate return of Christ, even professing to know location and date. One author states, Montanists, “Claiming to receive revelation directly from God that fulfilled and superseded the revelation given to the Apostles, Montanus emphasized direct, ecstatic, and highly emotional spiritual experiences for all believers … (they) did not claim to be messengers of God but rather claimed that God 'possessed' them and spoke directly through them.”</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a></span></span></sup></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">I will interject here a little personal experience: first, I remember at various meetings (while I was still a Charismatic) hearing people speak in the first person “I, the Lord, say ….” Second, when I first encountered the Montanist account, even before I was Orthodox, I was struck by its similarity to what I had hence experienced. One has but a few options: either push the date when the Church enters “darkness” back before 160AD so as to disregard the response of the Church to this movement, or admit that my experiences, and their strong resemblance to Montanism, had been at best very questionable. I went with the latter option. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Further testimony of the early Church has also come down to us in a letter of one Miltaides. He duly witnesses, “But the false prophet falls into an ecstasy, in which he is without shame or fear. Beginning with purposed ignorance, he passes on, as has been stated, to involuntary madness of soul. They cannot show that one of the old or one of the new prophets was thus carried away in spirit. Neither can they boast of Agabus, or Judas, or Silas, [Acts 15:32] or the daughters of Philip, or Ammia in Philadelphia, or Quadratus, or any others not belonging to them … </span><span style="color: black;">For the apostle thought it necessary that the prophetic gift should continue in all the Church until the final coming. But they [i.e. Montanists] cannot show it [i.e. continuity with the Universal Church]...”</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a> </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Evidently, Montanus also used his newfound power to take up large-scale collections of money. He, “named Pepuza and Tymion, small towns in Phrygia, Jerusalem, wishing to gather people to them from all directions; who appointed collectors of money; who contrived the receiving of gifts under the name of offerings; who provided salaries for those who preached his doctrine, that its teaching might prevail through gluttony.</span><span style="color: darkblue;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a></span></span><span style="color: black;"> Obviously Christian ministers have throughout the ages received their “due wages,” in earthly terms, for their labors. What is being decried here is the turning of “ministry” into a money making racket. This was also done at Asuza though extensive mailing lists. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Based upon the available accounts regarding Montanism, the small reconstructed picture bears a remarkable similarity, most of all, to that of the Azusa Street movement, which, keep in mind, was the catalyst for the whole modern “Pentecostal” experience, and its subsequent fruit. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The early Church decisively condemned Montanism at several local councils in Asia Minor, and Bishop Zephyrius of Rome condemned it around the year 200. Although the movement lingered on for a number of years, the answer of the Christian Church was clear: such “charismatic experiences” do not have their source in God. It is false charisma. It has its origin in another spirit. The Christian Church has never known such “manifestations.” </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I by no means claim that every aspect of Montanism parallels the P/C movement, but there exist sufficient similarities to cause pause, most of all in the realm of "spiritual" gifts and manifestations.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">The carefully deliberated response of the early Christian Church to Montanism and its self-professed “spiritual” gifts and power should cause circumspection for the modern Christian. Are the very recent and current (one hundred years is not that long ago) claims to “spiritual” renewal and power be trusted? Have people put faith in a power, because undoubtedly there is a power involved in the P/C movement, without trying and testing it? Has much of modern Christendom failed to, as St. Paul admonishes,<i> “Prove all things, and hold fast to the good”</i> (1 Thess. 5:21)? Are signs and powers in and of themselves an end-all proof that something is of God? Or are we to test signs and wonders, so as to see where they lead?<i> “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, and serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet ...”</i> (Deut. 13:1-3). </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">It is no critical statement to simply say, the “Christianity” introduced by the P/C movement has a fundamentally different orientation from that of the Ancient Christian Church. Are its signs and wonders worth heeding? And is it restoring the long lost Church? Are Christians to expect a great last “revival” and the final restoration of the Church?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In the next series, I will undertake to test these claims.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>Eusebius, The History of the Church, 5.16. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>Damick, Andrew. <i>Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy,</i> Conciliar Media Ministries. Chesterson, IN. p. 21.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>Eusebius, The History of the Church, 5.17. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote4">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>Ibid. 5. 18.</div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
<br /></div>
</div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-19275465954324680662016-11-23T18:58:00.001-08:002017-03-23T18:33:09.580-07:00The Charismatic Experience and the Orthodox Church: the perspective of one Orthodox Priest<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How does a person acquire the Holy Spirit? Does the Orthodox Church believe in the gifts of the Spirit? How do they operate in the life of a believer? Now that I am Orthodox how do I process the experiences that I had while in Evangelical Charismatic groups?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are a few of the questions that I have asked and been asked after fourteen years in the Orthodox Church, six of which I have spent as a priest. Not long ago, I had another very productive conversation with a few parishioners about "Charismatic" topics, both pertaining to the Orthodox Church and things outside of Her. This conversation became the final impetus for me to address the subject in writing. Not that I am a brilliant fellow, mind you, but I have mulled over these and like questions in my personal life and experience within the Orthodox Church.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These themes will be addressed in multiple parts. This is part one.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am a former Evangelical Charismatic. I was raised in the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, where my dad was a minister for a time. As a young boy, I remember running around the offices of the Anaheim Vineyard. I remember goofing around with John Wimber. I grew up in a "prophetic, charismatic" environment. Lonnie Frisbee, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, etc. …. Some of them I knew fairly well because of my dad's position as a minister (keep in mind this was the time of my childhood and adolescence).<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a> If these names mean nothing to you, don't worry about it. Suffice for you, the reader, to know that back in the day these were big names in their circles. I was supposedly part of the generation that would change the world for Jesus. It all seemed pretty exciting at the time. I spent three years in the mission field, in Kharkov, Ukraine. From there I went to Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, located at an Assemblies of God church in Brownsville, Florida. I was part of the "pioneer class." Manifestations? Check. Speaking in tongues? Check. "Slain in the Spirit?" Check. Prophetic words? Check. Dreams? Check. Visions? Check. Anyway, you get the point. My faith was a very Pentecostal and Charismatic one (for now, I am using those words in a general way, I will define them in a more specified manner through the course of this article). Shortly after I graduated from BRSM, and while in the midst of pursuing Protestant Ministry, the discovery of the Orthodox Church delightfully sidetracked me. But that is another story.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I went from an environment that valued "spontaneity in the Spirit" to liturgical worship and tradition. It seemed like two different worlds. I had a lot to process. My focus at present is to offer some of the examinations and conclusions that I have worked through and arrived at, in the hope that some may gain benefit from them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will focus primarily on history, method, and underlying meaning. I will strive to avoid polemics, but in such an endeavor it will be difficult to evade entirely. Let me state from the start: my goal is to address systems. I leave all persons to the judgment of God. Nonetheless, we are called to test, discern, and pass judgment, as St. John says, <i>Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God</i> (1 Jn. 4:1). Moreover, there are concrete Christian standards by which to make such judgments.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Towards an understanding of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement</span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Pentecostal/Charismatic movement has penetrated almost every sector of modern Christendom. From Baptists to Roman Catholics. Only in the Orthodox Church has it not found a place to grow, although it has tried to find a foothold. <i>Christianity Today</i> states, “A 2011 Pew Forum study showed that almost 305,000,000 people worldwide … (are) part of the charismatic movement.”<sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a></sup> The mindset that the movement holds has influenced much of the modern Protestant mind. In the following, I will briefly overview the historical roots of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement (referred to as P/C movement from here on for the sake of brevity). Ah, history. For many a modern it is not too horribly important. Nonetheless, we arrived where we are today by very distinctive paths. To begin to understand the Pentecostal experience, we must examine its roots and paths.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But, before we delve into history we must understand a particular principle that drives much of modern Protestantism, most of all those sectors formed by the P/C movement. Of late this mind has been called "Emerging Church" (it also has other names such as - Restorationism, Kingdom Theology, Third Wave, etc.; although there may exist surface differences the underlying essence and foundation of these philosophies are the same). I have before me notes from my BRSM days (yes, I am one of those people that save school notes), which present a basic sketch of the Emerging Church philosophy. It goes as follows: between the year 311AD and 1300AD is simply the word "Darkness." That is, the Church went into a time of captivity and darkness. 1300AD is labeled "Refreshing Starts," during this period such figures as John Huss, John Wycliffe, and others are considered the pioneers of refreshment. 1500AD – "Grace," clearly this refers to what is known as the Protestant Reformation. 1700AD – "Personal holiness and conversion." 1800AD – "Prayer and Evangelism." 1900AD – "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." 1950AD – "Charismatic." Late 1900's – "Combine them all!" The note below the diagram reads, "God is building, adding and adding, God is restoring His Church!" And with a note of surprised delight it comments, "In the 1950's and after charismatic gifts began to flow even in traditional churches." As one may already perceive, the clear conclusion is that the Church (using that word very loosely) was lost to darkness, but God stepped in and overthrew the "traditions of men" to reestablish His work. The clear implication is that most of the Church's work between roughly 300-1500AD was not of God. I remember it being explained through the analogy of a puzzle: the pieces were lost and scattered, but they are slowly being brought back together, and the result will be the restoration of the full picture. Not only will there be a complete picture, but it will even possibly surpass the original (that is the book of Acts). The notes read, "We can expect a last surge to parallel (or even surpass) the first." Clearly, there is not a substantial value for tradition in this mindset. Tradition, such a paradigm commonly holds, was the death of the early Church. It became, such a mindset maintains, the human supplement to the original power and freedom in the "Spirit" that was originally at work in the early Church but subsequently lost. The problem with such a teaching is: A) it is not in the Scriptures, nor was it taught by early Christians. I will substantiate this later on. B) It is a type of "Christian" Spiritual Evolution. It is, I would venture, influenced more by the Western European philosophy of Progress, which was developed during the "Enlightenment," than by anything else. Almost everything old is bad or out of date. The new is what we need! It is a christianized (if even possible) ubermensch. People, the church, are progressing toward the spiritual "superman." I will not at this point wander into the Scriptures that Emerging Church adherents use to substantiate their claims. I may address this later on. The focus at hand is historical formation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The P/C movement certainly could be traced back to the "Revival Holiness" movements of the 1800's in American. I will not follow that stream at present but will focus on the visible birth of the movement at the turn of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Two key figures will be surveyed: Charles Parham, who is called "the father of Pentecost," and William Seymour, who is considered the catalyst of Pentecost. Clearly, numerous other individuals were involved in the movement, but for the sake of expediency I have narrowed it down to two.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Charles Parham</span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8OuJpJYh9hE/WDZWNfAKi8I/AAAAAAAAAxI/gO9Z-pR7vr47VdwDgojoq5fYeiqtDg_zgCLcB/s1600/Parham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8OuJpJYh9hE/WDZWNfAKi8I/AAAAAAAAAxI/gO9Z-pR7vr47VdwDgojoq5fYeiqtDg_zgCLcB/s320/Parham.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Parham</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr. Parham began his ministry in the healing "revivals" of the late 1800's. As with many of his time, he professed to have a deep hunger for God, and a profound desire to see the power of God. Like other figures of that period, he became disillusioned with "denominationalism." (It is an interesting sidenote that similar sentiments were expressed by both Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, and Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses. This is not to directly equate these three men, Mr. Parham clearly never denied the Divinity of Christ as did the latter two. But the reader should note that there existed a spirit of discontentment with "denominationalism" in the 1800's, and many figures arose claiming to restore "true" Christianity. All three of these men professed to be seeking a new and special coming of Christ and His Kingdom.) Mr. Parham states, " … Feeling the narrowness of sectarian churchism, I was often in conflict with the higher authorities, which eventually resulted in open rupture; and I left denominationalism forever, though suffering bitter persecution at the hands of the church … Oh, the narrowness of many who call themselves the Lord's own!" (Liardon, Robert. <i>God's Generals, </i>Albury Publishing, 1996. p. 115.) Through subsequent experiences, he became convinced that "there still remained a great outpouring of power for the Christians who are to close this age" (Ibid, p. 117).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Parham eventually opens a Bible school in Topeka, Kansas, and later another in Houston, Texas. At one point he gave his students an assignment to diligently study the Scriptures (with a focus on the book of Acts) for evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After three days, the account goes, all the students (forty in all) came to the same conclusion: the common manifestation of baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Fixated on this manifestation, they resolved to pray until they received the gift of tongues. A student by the name of Agnes Ozman is reportedly the first to receive the gift. Accounts say that she spoke in Chinese. In the very early records of the P/C movement tongues are stated as being in some earthly language. Mr. Parham says that he received the gift of the Swedish tongue. I will not address here the gift of tongues and the Orthodox understanding of it, but it should be taken into account that the very early P/C movement did not claim to be speaking in unintelligible babble, but, as we will see, it soon turned into that very thing. Another striking point is that this "outpouring" takes place right at the start of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, which will be a century of unparalleled change and world upheaval. Parham then begins to preach the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of tongues. His teaching is the root of the Pentecostal doctrine of tongues as the initial sign of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Such a doctrine was unheard of in Christianity before this time. Although isolated instances of "speaking in tongues" were recorded within Protestantism before Mr. Parham's movement, his movement is responsible for its growth and even explosion in the Protestant world.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Many phenomenal stories and accounts surround the life of Mr. Parham. He sincerely saw himself as restoring the apostolic faith, "Now that they [apostolic faith tents] are generally accepted, I simply take my place among the brethren ..." (Ibid. 128). Like many other Protestant leaders before him, he was sure that God had chosen and entrusted him with a unique task. He was willing to write off his opponents as narrow and opposed to the will of God (as he proclaimed it). Ironically, in his professed desire to escape the confines of "denominationalism," he created a new denominator: Pentecostalism. Thereby perpetuating the very fracturing that he allegedly wished to heal. Mr. Parham claimed that his authority was derived from the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit. Like most Protestants, he subscribed to "Sola Scriptura" (the teaching that the Bible alone is necessary for establishing Christian Faith). But, as most of Protestant history shows, there was significant disagreement on what the Bible supposedly simply and clearly proclaimed. It was not so clear and simple after all. Pentecostalism would have an ever-evolving body of various teachings, many times contradicting each other. Accusations of sexual immorality plagued the end of Mr. Parham's ministry.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">William J. Seymour</span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73DkRCLUH6A/WDZWTSoBmNI/AAAAAAAAAxM/4rgu9ZciGPwIVxqFT5sgg2r7JoePuACygCLcB/s1600/Seymour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73DkRCLUH6A/WDZWTSoBmNI/AAAAAAAAAxM/4rgu9ZciGPwIVxqFT5sgg2r7JoePuACygCLcB/s320/Seymour.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Seymour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr. Seymour was an African American Baptist minister turned holiness preacher who also professed a dissatisfaction with the Christianity of his day and sought a deeper experience. He had wandered through a few denominations before he stumbled upon Mr. Parham's meetings in Houston, Texas. He attended Parham's school in Houston. Due to the segregation of the times, Mr. Seymour was not able to sit in the classroom; instead, he listened to the lectures from the hallway. One writer states, "Though Seymour did not embrace every doctrine that Parham taught, he did embrace the truth of Parham's doctrine concerning Pentecost. He soon developed his own theology from it" (Ibid. p. 143). In 1906, Seymour made his way to Los Angeles, California, where he took a pastorate job. He immediately began to preach his newly found doctrine of speaking in tongues. As with the group in Topeka, Seymour and company spent hours seeking the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." At some point, a Mr. Lee began speaking in tongues, followed by others. People ran around purportedly prophesying and preaching; others claimed miraculous healings.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The group eventually found a building at 312 Azusa Street, and thus to this day it is frequently referred to as the "Azusa Street Revival." The meetings are described as "unique:" the seating was arranged so that the participants faced one another. The music was impromptu, no hymn books were used, the meetings had no program, leaving everything to the "direction of the Spirit." When the group thought that someone was not speaking from the "Spirit," they would begin to wail and sob. In a publication called <i>The Apostolic Faith</i>, "Seymour announced his intention to restore 'the faith once delivered' …" (Ibid. p. 154). As with Parham, the implication is obvious: the Apostolic Faith had been lost, and these men were chosen to restore it. At Azusa Street the alleged manifestations of the "Spirit" quickly began to take on unnatural symptoms: tongues became unintelligible babble, called a "prayer language;" participants also howled, writhed, shook, wailed, were seized by fits and spasms, and so forth. Asuza Street is the fount of most manifestations that are common today in the P/C movement, and most every Pentecostal denomination, whether directly or indirectly, can trace their founding to the participants of Azusa.<sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a></sup></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfo8Lxyucew/WDZWgzmxYvI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/wkarEQ4WPCkdyD7jGqhu2WDQ7EdHrSKsACLcB/s1600/Azusa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfo8Lxyucew/WDZWgzmxYvI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/wkarEQ4WPCkdyD7jGqhu2WDQ7EdHrSKsACLcB/s320/Azusa.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Azusa Street Mission</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Very quickly the move of the "Spirit" that was to unite all true believers began to fragment into rivaling groups. At some point, Mr. Parham traveled to the Azusa Mission, and there he relates in horror what he found, "I hurried to Los Angeles, and to my utter surprise and astonishment I found conditions even worse than I anticipated … manifestations of the flesh, spiritualistic controls, saw people practicing hypnotism at the altar over candidates seeking baptism, though many were receiving the real baptism … I found hypnotic influences, familiar-spirit influences, spiritualistic influences, mesomeric influences, and all kinds of spells, spasms, falling into trances, etc." (Ibid. 157,158). He also reproached it as “spiritual power prostituted.” At least Mr. Parham had the sense to understand, "The Holy Spirit does nothing that is unnatural or unseemingly, and any strained exertion of body, mind or voice is not the work of the Holy Spirit, but of some familiar spirit, or other influence. The Holy Spirit never leads us beyond the point of self-control or the control of others, while familiar spirits of fanaticism lead us both beyond self-control and the power to help others" (Ibid. p. 158). The "father of speaking in tongues" himself denounced the work at Azusa. One would think this to be a crushing blow to Seymour and followers, but it was not. Seymour merely banned Parham from the meetings stating, "Mr. Parham … is not the leader of this movement of Azusa Mission. We thought of having him to be our leader and so stated in our paper (The Apostolic Faith), before waiting on the Lord. We can be rather hasty, especially when we are very young in the power of the Holy Spirit …" Apparently, Seymour implies that he has now surpassed Parham in an understanding of the "Power of the Spirit." The Azusa Mission disregarded Parham's criticisms and claimed to have outgrown his immature thoughts. As with ensuing groups, they saw themselves as much more enlightened and filled with the "Holy Spirit," and thus were under no obligation to obey "men." Such a claim, of course, only becomes a convenient cover for pride and arrogance.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Most of the more stable and classic Evangelical ministers of the time denounced the movement: “G<span style="color: black;">. </span><span style="color: black;">Campbell Morgan, a highly respected evangelical preacher, called the Pentecostal movement 'the last vomit of Satan,' while R. A. Torrey claimed that it was 'emphatically not of God, and [was] founded by a Sodomite.' In his book, </span><em><span style="color: black;">Holiness, the False and the True</span></em><span style="color: black;">, Harry Ironside in 1912 denounced the movement as 'disgusting . . . delusions and insanities' and accused their meetings as causing 'a heavy toll of lunacy and infidelity.'”</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a></span></sup></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These fiercely denounced subjective experiences are the central bedrock of "theology" for the P/C movement.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The “Pentecostal” experience began in a way that would be somewhat acceptable to some Protestants, but once it gained traction it quick revealed its true nature: one that was unveiled at Azusa. Unaccountability, bizarre manifestations, and such things, all found a happy home under the excuse of “the Spirit is leading me.” Such “freedom” is irresistible.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Azusa Mission quickly fell into distension. Seymour's various "disciples" rose up to claim a deeper "experience of the Spirit," much as Seymour had done with Parham. Seymour ended his days with a shell of a movement, after consecutive splits and fractures only about twenty people remained with him at the original Azusa Mission.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Charismatic movement</span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Charismatic movement approximately marks the point when "Pentecostal" philosophy and style began to surface in "Mainline" denominations. Before the Charismatic movement "Pentecostals" were considered "fringe groups" by many Protestant denominations. Most sources consider a Mr. Dennis Bennett as the vanguard of the charismatic movement. He was an Episcopal minister in Van Nuys, CA. In 1960 he claimed to have experienced the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." Due to the conflict that this created in his congregation, he resigned and took another Episcopal church in Seattle, WA., named St. Luke's. This community became a center point in the early charismatic movement. <span style="color: black;">“I</span><span style="color: black;">n a sense, Pentecostalism was entering the mainline (the Episcopal Church, no less) and this was news. This began the mainstreaming of continualist practices (like speaking in tongues, praying for healing, etc.) that were primarily found in Pentecostal churches that, up until now, were often on the fringe of Protestantism."</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a></span></sup> Due to this movement, Pentecostalism quickly spread through “Mainline” Protestantism, and it did not stop there. It even made its way into the Roman Catholic Church. “<span style="color: black;">Though much of the belief and practice of the Charismatic Movement came directly from the Pentecostals who had been around for nearly sixty years, the mainline churches who embraced such belief avoided the 'Pentecostal' label for both cultural and theological reasons.”</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup>6</sup></a></span></sup> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“This new 'Charismatic' movement quickly spread to other mainline denominations and, by the mid-’60s ... The movement’s visibility and networks were further strengthened by the success of the Pentecostal-leaning “Jesus People” movement among American youth in the late ’60s and ’70s. In the 1980s, a vigorous, independent network of Charismatic churches and organizations (at times described as the “Third Wave”) emerged, including churches such as the Vineyard Christian Fellowship.”</span><sup><span style="color: black;"><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a></span></sup><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thus, the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements are indeed one general movement. These novel and fringe movements have, through various means, become one of the most influential mindsets in modern Protestantism.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we move forward, an important question to ask is: did the Ancient and early Church deal with any phenomenon similar to P/C movement? The answer is yes.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Part two is forthcoming ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Part two may be found here: http://orthodoxpueblo.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-charismatic-movement-and-orthodox.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Part three may be found here: http://orthodoxpueblo.blogspot.com/2017/03/last-days-great-revival-charismatic.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>My father has since also come home to the Orthodox Church, where he serves as a Deacon.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/october/charismatic-renewal-movement.html</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>Cf. Ibid. 163</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote4">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>http://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/history-of-the-pentecostal-charismatic-movements/</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote5">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote5anc" name="sdfootnote5sym">5</a>http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/october/charismatic-renewal-movement.html</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote6">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote6anc" name="sdfootnote6sym">6</a>Ibid.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote7">
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9216169586563992489#sdfootnote7anc" name="sdfootnote7sym">7</a>http://www.wheaton.edu/ISAE/Defining-Evangelicalism/Pentecostalism</div>
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sdfootnote" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-51822581790261570352016-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:002016-10-17T15:35:44.802-07:00Only an Altar Makes a Temple<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07oy2UYMQe0/WAVR4_-u2uI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3zb8jqfwE58f-8qBmgmq3QeZEtG88Gv-ACLcB/s1600/divine_liturgy_serbian_monastery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07oy2UYMQe0/WAVR4_-u2uI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3zb8jqfwE58f-8qBmgmq3QeZEtG88Gv-ACLcB/s320/divine_liturgy_serbian_monastery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"In the Old and in the New Testament the main difference between a temple and a house of worship is that the latter has no altar, which is the most important place in the temple. Dating as far back as Adam, it was pleasing to God to show His distinctive presence in the places where sacrifices were offered (cf. Gen 4:4). It was by the altar that He revealed Himself to Noah (Gen 8:20-21). He commanded that the tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon be built for offering sacrifices, and sanctified them through the manifestation of His uncreated glory in the form of a cloud (Exod. 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10). The Lord said of the Temple of Solomon: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually</i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (1 Kings 9:3). </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Savior Himself prayed in the temple, calling it His Father's house (Jn. 2:16). Then in the New Testament Church, the holy apostles established the practice of erecting altars in churches. Here's what St. Paul says about this: <i>We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle</i> (Heb. 13:10). It's the same today – in the Apostolic Church the heart of a church is the altar. To this we may add that in heaven – which … is the pattern for our worship services – there is a mystical altar. St. John saw the souls of the martyrs beneath it (Rev. 6:9), and from this sacred place God reveals His will to the angels (Rev. 9:13; 16:7). The prophet Isaiah received purification from the heavenly altar: <i>Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged</i> (Is. 6:6-7). Yet it's precisely this all-important object that is missing in protestant houses of worship, and for this reason they cannot be called biblical churches." </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Excerpted from the fabulous little book entitled "A Protestant's Walk Through an Orthodox Church," By Priest Daniel Sysoev. pp. 13-14</span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-68918925699400086712016-08-30T09:07:00.002-07:002018-07-07T19:43:09.139-07:00A prayer for Orthodox Christians of the Latter Times<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For Daily Use</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By St. Anatole (the Younger) of Optina</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Deliver me, O Lord, from the deceptions of the God-hating and evil antichrist, whose coming is at hand, and shelter me from his snares in the secret desert of Thy salvation. Grant me, O Lord, strength and courage to firmly confess Thy Most Holy Name, that I may not abandon Thee because of the devil's fear and that I may not deny Thee my Saviour and Redeemer, nor Thy Holy Church. But grant me, O Lord, cries and tears for my sins, </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and spare me in the hour of Thy dread judgment. Amen"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="heading-note" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", "Book Antiqua", Palatino, serif; margin-top: 0em; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4nNIVIY6Vs/V8WvLzw50QI/AAAAAAAAAvU/0sfb8gvvZRMpXE-MIwHSFQBWlMl7MwuNwCLcB/s1600/Monk-at-Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4nNIVIY6Vs/V8WvLzw50QI/AAAAAAAAAvU/0sfb8gvvZRMpXE-MIwHSFQBWlMl7MwuNwCLcB/s320/Monk-at-Lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-19220349703507816502016-07-30T14:52:00.001-07:002016-07-30T14:52:24.875-07:00Emblematically Traced ...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By, St. John of Kronstadt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJme75MQ2qs/V50gVeu_m8I/AAAAAAAAAug/DnGWxN9FQzwanX3NluomX0mNGyW8X6-KgCLcB/s1600/Orthodox%2BChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJme75MQ2qs/V50gVeu_m8I/AAAAAAAAAug/DnGWxN9FQzwanX3NluomX0mNGyW8X6-KgCLcB/s400/Orthodox%2BChurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"In the temple, in its arrangements and parts, in the icons, in the Divine services, with the reading of the Holy Scripture, the singing, the rites, the entire Old Testament, New Testament, and Church history, the whole Divine ordering of the salvation of mankind is emblematically traced, as upon a chart, in figures and in general outlines. Grand is the spectacle of the Divine services of our Orthodox Church for those who understand it, who penetrate into its essence, its spirit, its signification, its sense!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From: <i>My Life in Christ</i>, Holy Trinity Publications, p. 394.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-31539486700897698912016-07-15T15:19:00.000-07:002017-01-06T17:52:26.963-08:00Everything is in the Hands of God<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An incident from the life of the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWpxO9tGbo0/V4lg07lr88I/AAAAAAAAAtw/49cy4C30HW0XCFO2jY0Z_mtboq7JZKQrgCLcB/s1600/48685.x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWpxO9tGbo0/V4lg07lr88I/AAAAAAAAAtw/49cy4C30HW0XCFO2jY0Z_mtboq7JZKQrgCLcB/s200/48685.x.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John of Kronstadt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Revolution of 1905-1906 was a warning to the Russians that, if they did not return to Christ as a nation, and if they continued to work and fight against their anointed ruler, they could lose God's blessing. As St. John of Kronstadt said in 1905: “Our Tsar is a man of righteous and pious life. God sent him a heavy cross of sufferings, as to His chosen one and beloved child, as is said by the seer of the mysteries of God's judgment: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten (Rev. 3:19). If the Russian people do not have repentance, the end of the world will be near. God will take the pious Tsar from them and will send a scourge in the persons of impious, cruel, self-proclaimed rulers, who will inundated the whole land with blood and tears.” It is to the great credit of Tsar Nicholas that he was able to keep this from happening for more than ten years.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A great insight into Tsar Nicholas' character can be gained from the following incident, which occurred during one of the most violent moments of the aforementioned revolution. At the imperial residence at Peterhof, near the naval base of Kronstadt, which was under siege by insurrectionists, artillery shelling could be heard. Nicholas' foreign minister, Alexander Izvolsky, was giving a report to the Tsar at the time, and later recalled the following:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPjTO070gko/V4lhFWg7ldI/AAAAAAAAAt0/FSpl_wtJmz0Wv7xANa8VPvVDRFLgkCrAACLcB/s1600/Nicholas_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPjTO070gko/V4lhFWg7ldI/AAAAAAAAAt0/FSpl_wtJmz0Wv7xANa8VPvVDRFLgkCrAACLcB/s320/Nicholas_II.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He listened attentively, and, as was his habit, asked questions now and then, showing his interest in the smallest detail of my report. Glance as I would in his direction, I could not detect the slightest trace of emotion in his countenance, although he knew well that it was his crown that was at stake at that moment, only a few leagues away…. When my report was finished, the Emperor remained a few moments looking calmly out at the open window at the line of the horizon. For my part, I was oppressed by profound emotion, and could not refrain, even at the risk of infringing the rules of etiquette, from expressing my surprise at seeing him so unmoved. The Emperor did not apparently resent my observation, for he turned to me with a look which has so often been described as one of extraordinary gentleness, and replied in these few words, deeply engraved in my memory:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'If you see me calm, it is because I have the firm, the absolute conviction that the fate of Russia, my own fate, and that of my family is in the hands of God, Who has placed me where I am. Whatever happens, I will bow to His will, conscious of never having had a thought other than that of serving the country that He confided to me.'”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From: <i>The Royal Passion-bearers of Russia, Their Life and Service</i>. St. Herman Press, p. 13.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-47842726756800442862016-06-29T11:09:00.004-07:002016-06-29T11:09:41.181-07:00What Will You Choose?<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A timeless message from the Archbishop Averky of Blessed Memory. May we have ears to hear and eyes to see.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally entitled "True Orthodoxy".</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwMac7Gib8/V3QLmL5JunI/AAAAAAAAAs0/5MJ5XsUuIEsC2yVmfuIKzMORrIjSoLNJgCLcB/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwMac7Gib8/V3QLmL5JunI/AAAAAAAAAs0/5MJ5XsUuIEsC2yVmfuIKzMORrIjSoLNJgCLcB/s1600/imgres.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Few
people today know that the Orthodox Church is nothing less than that
Church which has preserved untainted the genuine teachings of Jesus
Christ, the very teachings delivered to every subsequent generation
of believers. These teachings came down the centuries. from the Holy
Apostles, explicated and carefully interpreted by their legitimate
successors their disciples and the holy Fathers), traditioned and
conserved unaltered by our Eastern Church which is alone able to
prove her right to be called "the Orthodox Church."</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
divine Founder of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ, said clearly, <i>"I
will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against
Her"</i> (St. Matt 16: 18). To the Church, He sent the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit descended upon the Apostles, the Spirit of
Truth (St. John 15:16f) Who "manifests all things"
to Her and guides Her (St. John xvi, 13), protecting Her from
error. Indeed, it was to declare this Truth to men that the Lord came
into the cosmos, according to His own words (St. John 18:31).
And Saint Paul confirms this fact in his letter to his pupil, the
bishop Timothy, saying that, <i>"the Church of the living God is
the ground and pillar of the Truth"</i> (I Tim 3:15).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3crQFU1V24E/V3QLT3caS-I/AAAAAAAAAss/u7a9kdqK-Z4VtZyKC6o5-K5ZUUjWUC4dwCLcB/s1600/GML11-E__99177.1316243302.1280.1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3crQFU1V24E/V3QLT3caS-I/AAAAAAAAAss/u7a9kdqK-Z4VtZyKC6o5-K5ZUUjWUC4dwCLcB/s400/GML11-E__99177.1316243302.1280.1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of Christ, the Ark of Salvation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because
She is "the ground and pillar of the Truth," "the
gates of Hell cannot prevail against Her." It follows, then,
that the true Christian Church—palpably unique since Christ
established but one Church—has always existed on earth and will
exist to the end of time. She has received the promise of Christ, "I
will be with you even unto the end of the age." Can there be the
slightest doubt that the Lord refers here to the Church? Any honest
and sane judgment, any act of good conscience, anyone familiar with
the history of the Christian Church, the pure and unaltered moral and
theological teachings of the Christian religion, must confess that
there was but one true Church founded by our Lord, Jesus Christ, and
that She has preserved His Truth holy and unchanged. History reveals,
moreover, a traceable link of grace from the holy Apostles to their
successors and to the holy Fathers. In contrast to what others have
done, the Orthodox Church has never introduced novelties into Her
teachings in order to "keep up with the times", to be
"progressive", "not to be left at the side of the
road," or to accommodate current exigencies and fashions which
are always suffused with evil. The Church never conforms to the
world.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indeed
not, for the Lord has said to his disciples at the Last Supper, "You
are not of this world." We must hold to these words if we are to
remain faithful to true Christianity—the true Church of Christ has
always been, is and will always be a stranger to this world.
Separated from it, she is able to transmit the divine teachings of
the Lord unchanged, because that separation has kept Her unchanged,
that is, like the immutable God Himself. That which the learned call
"conservativism" is a principal and, perhaps, most
characteristic index of the true Church.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since
the TRUTH is given to us once and for all, our task is to assimilate
rather than to discover it. We are commanded to confirm ourselves and
others in the Truth and thereby bring everyone to the true Faith,
Orthodoxy.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately,
there have appeared in the very bosom of the Church, even among the
hierarchy, opinions expressed by well-known individuals which are
detrimental to Her. The desire to "march with the times"
makes them fear that they will not be recognized as "cultured",
"liberal" and "progressive." These modern
apostates to Orthodoxy are "ashamed" to confess that our
Orthodox church is precisely the Church which was founded by our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Church to which appertains the great promise that
"the gates of Hell will not prevail against Her," and to
which He confided the plenum of divine Truth. By their deceit and
false humility, by their blasphemy against the Lord, these false
shepherds and those with them have been estranged from the true
Church. They have given tacit expression to the idea that "the
gates of Hell" have "prevailed" against the Church. In
other words, these apostates say that our holy Orthodox Church is
equally "at fault" for the "division of the churches"
and ought now to "repent" her sins and enter into union
with other "Christian churches" by means of certain
concessions to them, the result being a new, indivisible church of
Christ.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
is the ideology of the religious movement which has become so
fashionable in our times: "The ecumenical movement" among
whose number one may count Orthodox, even our clergy. For a long
time, we have heard that they belong to this movement in order "to
witness to the peoples of other confessions the truth of holy
Orthodoxy," but it is difficult for us to believe that this
statement is anything more than "throwing powder in our eyes."
Their frequent theological declarations in the international press
can lead us to no other conclusion than that they are traitors to the
holy Truth.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As
a matter of historical fact, the "ecumenical movement"—of
which the WCC is the supreme organ—is an organization of purely
Protestant origin. Nearly all the Orthodox Churches have joined, the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia being the most notable
exception. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
must understand the situation in terms of the words that "this
Must take place" (St. Luke 11:9), that is, the "great
apostasy" clearly predicted by the Lord (Sol 2:3-12). "it
is permitted by God," as St. Ignatius Brianchaninov said almost
a century ago. (Another spiritual father, Theophan the Recluse,
announced with grief that the horrendous apostasy would begin within
Russia.) St. Ignatius wrote: "We are helpless to arrest this
apostasy. Impotent hands will have no power against it and nothing
more will be required than the attempt to withhold it. The spirit of
the age will reveal the apostasy. Study it, if you wish to avoid it,
if you wish to escape this age and the temptation of its spirits. One
can suppose, too, that the institution of the Church which has been
tottering for so long will fall terribly and suddenly. Indeed, no one
is able to stop or prevent it. The present means to sustain the
institutional Church are borrowed from the elements of the world,
things inimical to the Church, and the consequence will be only to
accelerate its fall. Nevertheless, the Lord protects the elect and
their limited number will be filled."</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Enemy of humanity makes every effort and uses all means to confound
it. Aid comes to him through the total co-operation of all the secret
and invisible heterodox, especially those priests and bishops who
betray their high calling and oath, the true faith and the true
Church.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Repudiation
of and preservation from the apostasy which has made such enormous
progress demands that we stand apart from the spirit of the age
(which bears the seeds of its own destruction). If we expect to
withstand the world, it is first necessary to understand it and keep
sensitively in mind that in this present age all that which carries
the most holy and dear name of Orthodoxy is not in fact Orthodox.
Rather, it is often "A fraudulent and usurped Orthodoxy"
which we must fear and eschew as if it were fire. Unlike this
spurious faith, true Orthodoxy was given and must be received without
novelty and nothing must be accepted as a teaching or practice of the
Church which is contrary to the Holy Scriptures and the dogma of the
Universal Church. True Orthodoxy thinks only to serve God and to save
souls and is not preoccupied with the secular and ephemeral welfare
of men. True Orthodoxy is spiritual and not physical or psychological
or earthly. In order to protect ourselves from "the spirit of
the age" and preserve our fidelity to the true Orthodoxy, we
ought firstly and with all our strength live blamelessly: A total and
rigorous commitment to Christ, without deviation from the
commandments of God or the laws of His holy Church ... We must be
honorable and tenacious, following the right way, never deviating in
order to please men or from fear that we might lose some personal
advantage.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbkBcqi2OFk/V3QN8eipvVI/AAAAAAAAAtM/8euWYEMtXwQZDxsJ_8FNdV7W3NkZu3TwACLcB/s1600/Te_Deum_Ecum%25C3%25A9nico_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbkBcqi2OFk/V3QN8eipvVI/AAAAAAAAAtM/8euWYEMtXwQZDxsJ_8FNdV7W3NkZu3TwACLcB/s320/Te_Deum_Ecum%25C3%25A9nico_2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
sure path to perdition is indifference and the lack of principles
which is euphemistically called "the larger view." In
opposition to this "larger view" we put the "rigor of
ideas" which, in modernity, it is fashionable to label "narrow"
and "fanatical." To be sure, if one adopts the "modern
mentality," one must consider the holy martyrs—whose blood is
"the cement of the Church"—and the Church Fathers—who
struggled all their lives against heretics—as nothing less than
"narrow" and "fanatical." In truth, there is
little difference between "the broad way" against which the
Lord warned and the modern "larger view." He condemned the
"broad way" as the way to "gehenna."</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of
course, the idea of "gehenna" holds no fear for those
"liberals" and avant-garde theologians. They may smugly
"theologize" about it, but in rashly and wantonly
discussing "the new ways of Orthodox theology" and
acquiring a number of disciples, they give evidence that they no
longer believe in the existence of Hell. This new breed of "Orthodox"
are really no more than modem "scholastics."</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
other words, the way of these "progressivists" is not our
way. Their way is deceptive, and it is unfortunate that it is not
evident to everyone. The "broader" or "larger view"
alienates us from the Lord and His true Church. It is the road away
from Orthodoxy. This view is sinister, maliciously invented by the
Devil in order to deny us salvation. For us, however, we accept no
innovations, but choose the ancient, proven way, the way in which
true Christians have chosen to serve God for 2,000 years.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
choose the way of fidelity to the true Faith and not the "modern
way." We choose faithfulness to the true Church with all Her
canons and dogmas which have been received and confirmed by the local
and universal Councils. We choose the holy customs and traditions,
the spiritual riches of that faith transmitted complete and entire to
us from the Holy Apostles, the Holy Fathers of the Church, and the
Christian heritage of our venerable ancestors. This alone is the
faith of the true Orthodox, distinct from the counterfeit "orthodoxy"
invented by the Adversary. We receive only the Apostolic Faith, the
Faith of the Fathers, the Orthodox Faith."</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally published in: <i>The Orthodox Christian Witness</i>, wherein it appeared translated from
the French in La Foi Transmise (Nov. 1968), pp. 19-22.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-31483569852334321202016-06-16T09:42:00.000-07:002016-06-16T09:48:56.998-07:00With Whom Will I Be Left?<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An
incident from the life of Archbishop Theophan of Poltava, + Feb. 9/16</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v619oGkAxY/V2LWZu18wfI/AAAAAAAAArA/BmktRtnJiFwzCYhH3LJgSLweitNZb4gpwCLcB/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v619oGkAxY/V2LWZu18wfI/AAAAAAAAArA/BmktRtnJiFwzCYhH3LJgSLweitNZb4gpwCLcB/s1600/imgres.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archbp. Theophan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Memorable
also was the moment when Archbishop Theophan met with a group of
clergy of the 'living church' trend and some liberal professors at
the Moscow All Russian Council in 1917-1918. Between adherents of the
Church order of Holy Russia and the modernist clerics the dispute
never died out during the whole time of work on the Council as to
whether one should conduct church life by the old course or make
concessions to the spirit of the times and modernize church life. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And
here the modernists politely, respectfully came to Archbishop
Theophan; apparently even they felt in him a spiritual giant of
Orthodoxy … 'We respect you, Vladika, we know your church wisdom …
But the waves of the times flow swiftly, changing everything,
changing us; one must give in to them. You, too, must give in,
Vladika, to the raging waves... Otherwise with whom will you be left?
You will be left alone." And Vladika Theophan's answer, in the
age-old Orthodox spirit, was: </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQOM--F8qCU/V2LWnHDtInI/AAAAAAAAArI/UcZFwuohR68N7m7Poj2sjsX3XW1rjvHiQCLcB/s1600/667-allsaintsofrussia-jv-20-800-449x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQOM--F8qCU/V2LWnHDtInI/AAAAAAAAArI/UcZFwuohR68N7m7Poj2sjsX3XW1rjvHiQCLcB/s200/667-allsaintsofrussia-jv-20-800-449x600.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'With
whom will I be left?'</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'I
will be with St. Vladimir the Enlightener of Russia. With Sts.
Anthony and Theodosius the Wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves, with the
holy Hierarchs and Wonderworkers of Moscow. With Sts. Sergius and
Seraphim and with all the holy martyrs, God-pleasing monks and
wonderworkers who have gloriously shone forth on Russian soil.'</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
you, dear brothers, with whom will you be left if even with your
great numbers you give over to the will of the waves of the times?
They have already carried you to the flabbiness of Kerensky*, and
soon they will carry you under the yoke of the brutal Lenin, into the
claws of the red beast.' The church modernists left Vladika in
silence after his reply." </span></span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(The
Orthodox Word, </span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sept.-Oct.,
1969, p. 195.)</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Alexander
Kerensky was a leader in the Provisional Government after the
overthrow of the Monarchy in Russia. The weak willed liberal
Provisional Government essentially paved the way for the Bolshevik
takeover.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From: <i>The Orthodox Word</i>, 1969, Sep.-Oct., pp. 194-195.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-7184212384535743272016-04-01T11:17:00.000-07:002016-04-07T01:44:43.534-07:00Church is a Visible Heaven, Paradise, the House of God, by St. Sergius (Srebrianski)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eyVsCVXE6V4/Vv66FdPDI_I/AAAAAAAAAnU/fXU4yCEmVlIMK60DXPODF5a4KNIFVlcMA/s1600/serebrjanski2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eyVsCVXE6V4/Vv66FdPDI_I/AAAAAAAAAnU/fXU4yCEmVlIMK60DXPODF5a4KNIFVlcMA/s320/serebrjanski2.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Hiero-Confessor Sergius</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When
you come to church for prayer or to serve or to read or sing, always
remember that the church is a visible heaven, paradise, the house of
God. As it says in the sacred book: 'Standing in the temple of Thy
glory, we seem to stand in heaven' (end of lenten Matins). You came
as a guest to your Father's house; therefore be attentive to
everything that is going on there. The holy Master of the house
receives you, talks to you, teaches you, comforts and delights you,
satiates you with the immortal Supper – His Body and Blood. How can
there be any carelessness, inattention, or laughter here? Looking at
the officiating priest, in no way consider his private life; rather
regard him as God's messenger, to whom God has entrusted the
arrangements of the heavenly banquet – the Divine services. For
this purpose he wears priestly garments, which guard him from human
glances – even his own – that view him as being no different from
anyone else. Instead, he appears to us beautiful, glistening like an
angel of the Lord. His mouth, uttering the words of the Gospel and
the prayers, is the mouth of God. His blessing is Christ's blessing
acting through the grace and Mystery of the priesthood. Do not judge
the priest for his personal life, but pray for his salvation. It is
difficult for a priest, extremely difficult, and fraught with danger.
The Last Judgment is more dreadful for him than for others. You must
understand that a priest is entrusted to serve on earth in a manner
not entrusted even to the angels. If you, with the priest's blessing,
are deemed worthy to serve in church, to read or to sing, count this
as a great honor and happiness. You will become like an angel of the
Lord announcing to the people God's will. In chanting, you are united
with the seraphim. You perform a great deed of love for your neighbor
when, through reverent standing in church, through beautiful reading
and chanting, you warm the soul of the people and bring them to God.
Remember: the church and true, beautiful services serve as the
primary and greatest sermons about Christ and eternal salvation.
Perform these holy labors with fear, reverence and joy.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CpZSY9KYb0/Vv66zPNjhtI/AAAAAAAAAnY/IarBbfY72oElOyuEmM7oIwqncf8Na7i2Q/s1600/146296.p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CpZSY9KYb0/Vv66zPNjhtI/AAAAAAAAAnY/IarBbfY72oElOyuEmM7oIwqncf8Na7i2Q/s320/146296.p.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Excerpted from "Grand Duchess Elizabeth", by Lubov Millar, pp. 369-370</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216169586563992489.post-39158453693919695442016-03-10T14:34:00.001-08:002016-03-10T20:42:25.016-08:001904, St. Tikhon visits St. Michael's Church, Pueblo CO.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An article from the Pueblo newspaper "The Chieftain" dated, Tuesday, April 26, 1904.*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Original title: <i>Greek Catholics Hold Impressive Services, Bishop Tikhon, Head of Church in America, Conducts Ceremonies.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVF_TLfC2tQ/VuHz-oqRF-I/AAAAAAAAAmk/-KsSzKp-Rf0cR_OLFyUYMkrt0BV39fJGw/s1600/tikhon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVF_TLfC2tQ/VuHz-oqRF-I/AAAAAAAAAmk/-KsSzKp-Rf0cR_OLFyUYMkrt0BV39fJGw/s320/tikhon2.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Tikhon, as a Bishop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Bishop Tikhon, head of the Greek Catholic church in the United States, was in Pueblo yesterday and conducted services in the little frame church on Spring street.** There were present to take part in the high honor the entire Greek Catholic population of the city that could possibly get there.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ritual was especially elaborate for the occasion. In addition to Bishop Tikhon, who conducted high mass, there were present Father Anthony, Father Jacob, Father Theoclitos, Father Kalneff of Denver, all high church dignitaries who are accompanying the head of the church in his tour of the United States. All appeared in the elaborate robes of the ceremonial. Bishop Tikhon was draped in a long purple robe of silk embroidered in gold. The other churchmen wore white and blue robes, according to their office, the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">deacons in white and gold embroidered satin and the priests in plain blue. The headdress of the bishop was a turban set with pearls and other sparkling gems. According to the requirements of the religion he wore his hair in long, flowing locks. Resplendent among decorations of Bishop Tikhon was an image of the Virgin presented by the czar of Russia, who himself is the titular head of the Greek Church. The church was elaborately decorated for the occasion. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the services in the church the bishop and the dignitaries with him were <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4JDIRpESoA/VuH1rAmsaiI/AAAAAAAAAm4/CtQ9ap9I8UY7Vc7BVoM34LnZ-IDhYBmBQ/s1600/Fr.%2BTheoclitos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4JDIRpESoA/VuH1rAmsaiI/AAAAAAAAAm4/CtQ9ap9I8UY7Vc7BVoM34LnZ-IDhYBmBQ/s320/Fr.%2BTheoclitos.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Theoclitos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
entertained at the home of Andrew Dragash. In the entertainment party were Buda Ratkovich, Pava Ziga, Christ Nasagos and John Mandjuk. All are well known churchmen of this city. After lunch at the home of Mr. Dragash the distinguished guests took the train to Denver. They will proceed from there to the summer home of Bishop Tikhon in southern California.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The presence of the bishop was to stimulate the efforts of the Greek congregation to collect funds for a new edifice. The present quarters are considered inadequate and are only temporary. The numbers of the faith are increasing rapidly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One feature of the congregation is that the services are held in four different languages, to accommodate the people of several nationalities."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkjnc0aER5Q/VuH0cU6oMcI/AAAAAAAAAmo/JKHXpAwKI2Qwe0SP0Fit1b-bsuFDGnmeg/s1600/original.StMichaels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkjnc0aER5Q/VuH0cU6oMcI/AAAAAAAAAmo/JKHXpAwKI2Qwe0SP0Fit1b-bsuFDGnmeg/s320/original.StMichaels.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original church building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">* Orthodox Pascha (Easter) was April 10th this year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">**This church building was destroyed in 1921 by a flood. The church was rebuilt on higher ground in 1924 and has housed the congregation since.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Zechariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09331934041356382904noreply@blogger.com0