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Κυριακή 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2017
What is the truth?Elder Ephraim of Arizona
What is the truth?
We should keep the eyes of our soul continuously open to see the truth. This is the truth—let’s not forget it. When we hold on to the truth, we have nothing to fear. When Pilate asked our Christ who He was, and informed Him that he had the power to free Him or crucify Him, our Christ responded, “You would have no authority at all over Me, if it had not been given to you from above. I have come to bear witness to the truth” ( Jn. 19:11 & 18:37). Pilate then asked, “What is truth?” However, he immediately left the room because he was not worthy of hearing “what the truth is.” In order for someone to recognize the truth, he must be worthy. Thus, the truth will free him from the lie and deception of condemnation. What is the truth? It is this: We must correctly love our fellow man. Our love must not be contaminated with microbes, foreign elements, or ulterior motives. Today, mankind is in need of true, genuine, Christian Orthodox love.
We do not love correctly. If we did, our deeds would attest to it. Our deeds reveal the truth about our life and our thoughts. The basic constituent known as selfless and sincere love for our brothers (not only the living but also the deceased) must not be absent from our hidden work[38]—the unseen spiritual work which every Christian must carry out. The pain of the person who is suffering from either a physical illness or depression, and the agony of the person whom God has condemned and sentenced to jail must become our own pain. When this pain becomes part of us, God will heal us. Cover others so God covers you! Be wronged, but do not wrong anyone. Overcome evil with virtue (cf. Rom 12:21)—this is the law of the Gospel. We should not try to avenge people who have harmed us. If we love them who love us, it is no great achievement. The tax collectors and sinful people do the same thing (cf. Mt. 5:46-47).
Furthermore, the Gospel teaches that if we loan something to others with the intention of getting it back, we accomplish nothing. Everyone lends because it is to their advantage. You must help without a motive, without expecting repayment. Only give. Don’t think of receiving. Give love without considering, “He did not show me love. I gave but I did not receive.” In such a case, it is better not to give at all. Make the decision to give without expecting anything in return! In this instance you are indeed helping. Christ gave love and, in return, He received wickedness from people. A certain elder asked a younger monk, “My child, who crucified our Christ?” “The Jews, Father.” “No, not the Jews, my child. The envy, jealousy, and wickedness of the people crucified Him.” Christ gave love, and the payback was jealousy and evil. He gave manna and received gall. Nonetheless, He did not protest but prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Lk. 23:34). He was wronged, but He wronged no one. He gave love and received hatred. He praised others, and He was slandered. This is the spirit of the Gospel. This is the truth of Christ: to sacrifice yourself for the love of your brother, and for the love of your enemy! Then you will advance victoriously toward the brilliant light to meet Christ, our unparalleled hero of sacrifice and love.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Πῶς θὰ συναντήσουμε τὴ νέα χρονιά;
Πῶς θὰ συναντήσουμε τὴ νέα χρονιά; Θὰ ἦταν ἀφελὲς καὶ πολὺ ἀντιχριστιανικό, νὰ ζητήσουμε ἀπὸ τὸν Θεὸ νὰ μᾶς προστατέψει, νὰ κάνει τὴ γῆ ἕναν παράδεισο εἰρήνης, ἐνῶ γύρω μας δὲν ὑπάρχει εἰρήνη. Ὑπάρχει διαμάχη, ἔνταση, ἀποθάρρυνση, φόβοι, βία, φονικό. Δὲν μποροῦμε νὰ ζητᾶμε γιὰ μᾶς εἰρήνη, ὅταν αὐτὴ ἡ εἰρήνη δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ ἁπλωθεῖ πέρα ἀπὸ τὴν Ἐκκλησία, ὅταν δὲν ἔρχεται σὰν ἀκτίνες φωτὸς νὰ διαλύσουν τὸ σκοτάδι. Ἕνας πνευματικὸς συγγραφέας τῆς Δύσης εἶχε γράψει ὅτι ὁ Χριστιανὸς εἶναι αὐτὸς στὸν ὁποῖο ὁ Θεὸς ἔχει ἐμπιστευθεῖ τὴν εὐθύνη ὅλων τῶν ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν εὐθύνη πρέπει νὰ προετοιμαστοῦμε νὰ φέρουμε εἰς πέρας. Σὲ λίγα λεπτά, θὰ ἱκετεύσουμε τὸν Θεὸ γιὰ τὴν ἄγνωστη νέα χρονιὰ καὶ τὸ σκοτάδι ποὺ τὴν καλύπτει, μὲ τὴν μεγαλύτερη εὐχὴ ποὺ προφέρεται στὶς λειτουργικὲς ἀκολουθίες, «Εὐλογημένη ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος» ἂς εἶναι εὐλογημένη ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Τοῦτα τὰ λόγια προφέρονται σπάνια: στὴν ἀρχὴ τῆς λειτουργίας, σὰν εὐχὴ γιὰ τὸν νέο χρόνο καὶ σὲ στιγμὲς ὅπου ἑνώνεται χρόνος καὶ αἰωνιότητα, ὅταν μὲ τὰ μάτια τῆς πίστης μποροῦμε νὰ δοῦμε τὴν αἰωνιότητα συνυφασμένη μὲ τὸν χρόνο. Ὁ χριστιανὸς εἶναι ὁ μόνος ποὺ πρέπει νὰ εἶναι ἱκανὸς νὰ βλέπει τὴν ἱστορία, ὅπως τὴν βλέπει ὁ Θεός, σὰν ἕνα μυστήριο τῆς σωτηρίας, ἀλλὰ ἐπίσης σὰν μιὰ τραγωδία τῆς ἀνθρώπινης ἁμαρτίας καὶ πτώσης...
...« Εἶπα στὸν ἄνθρωπο ποὺ στάθηκε στὸ κατώφλι τοῦ νέου χρόνου: δῶσε μου ἕνα φῶς γιὰ νὰ πορευτῶ μὲ ἀσφάλεια πρὸς τὸ ἄγνωστο, καὶ ἀπάντησε: πήγαινε ἔξω στὸ φῶς καὶ βάλε τὸ χέρι σου στὸ χέρι τοῦ Θεοῦ, πρέπει νὰ εἶναι καλύτερο γιὰ σένα ἀπὸ ὅ,τι τὸ φῶς καὶ ἀσφαλέστερο ἀπὸ ἕναν συνηθισμένο δρόμο.»
Αὐτὸ καλούμαστε νὰ κάνουμε, καὶ ἴσως σήμερα νὰ πάρουμε μιὰν ἀπόφαση, μιὰ ἀπόφαση νὰ εἴμαστε πιστοὶ στὴν κλήση μας καὶ νὰ ξεκινήσουμε τὴν Νέα Χρονιὰ μὲ κουράγιο. Ἀμήν.
+επίσκοπος Αντώνιος Bloom
Τοῦτα τὰ λόγια προφέρονται σπάνια: στὴν ἀρχὴ τῆς λειτουργίας, σὰν εὐχὴ γιὰ τὸν νέο χρόνο καὶ σὲ στιγμὲς ὅπου ἑνώνεται χρόνος καὶ αἰωνιότητα, ὅταν μὲ τὰ μάτια τῆς πίστης μποροῦμε νὰ δοῦμε τὴν αἰωνιότητα συνυφασμένη μὲ τὸν χρόνο. Ὁ χριστιανὸς εἶναι ὁ μόνος ποὺ πρέπει νὰ εἶναι ἱκανὸς νὰ βλέπει τὴν ἱστορία, ὅπως τὴν βλέπει ὁ Θεός, σὰν ἕνα μυστήριο τῆς σωτηρίας, ἀλλὰ ἐπίσης σὰν μιὰ τραγωδία τῆς ἀνθρώπινης ἁμαρτίας καὶ πτώσης...
...« Εἶπα στὸν ἄνθρωπο ποὺ στάθηκε στὸ κατώφλι τοῦ νέου χρόνου: δῶσε μου ἕνα φῶς γιὰ νὰ πορευτῶ μὲ ἀσφάλεια πρὸς τὸ ἄγνωστο, καὶ ἀπάντησε: πήγαινε ἔξω στὸ φῶς καὶ βάλε τὸ χέρι σου στὸ χέρι τοῦ Θεοῦ, πρέπει νὰ εἶναι καλύτερο γιὰ σένα ἀπὸ ὅ,τι τὸ φῶς καὶ ἀσφαλέστερο ἀπὸ ἕναν συνηθισμένο δρόμο.»
Αὐτὸ καλούμαστε νὰ κάνουμε, καὶ ἴσως σήμερα νὰ πάρουμε μιὰν ἀπόφαση, μιὰ ἀπόφαση νὰ εἴμαστε πιστοὶ στὴν κλήση μας καὶ νὰ ξεκινήσουμε τὴν Νέα Χρονιὰ μὲ κουράγιο. Ἀμήν.
+επίσκοπος Αντώνιος Bloom
Πανήγυρις είναι ο κόσμος, η ζωή και ο καθένας εμπορεύεται με τον χρόνο της ζωής του, την Αιώνιο Ζωή...
Δεν είναι μάταιος ο κόσμος; Δεν είναι ολιγοχρόνιος η ζωή; γιατί λοιπόν να μας απασχολούν τα άχυρα, περισσότερο από τον χρυσό; Όλα σε τούτο τον μάταιο κόσμο, θα παρέλθουν.. Πανήγυρις είναι ο κόσμος, η ζωή και ο καθένας εμπορεύεται με τον χρόνο της ζωής του, την Αιώνιο Ζωή...
Γέροντας Εφραίμ Φιλοθεΐτης.
Γέροντας Εφραίμ Φιλοθεΐτης.
Προσευχή ὑπέρ ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου
Θυμᾶμαι σ' ἕνα νησί, στήν Κῶ, πού εἶχα πάει μιά φορά εἶχα δεῖ μιά γριούλα. Μοῦ λέει,
- "Ἐγώ δέν ξέρω γράμματα καί δέν ξέρω νά κάνω καμιά προσευχή, μά οὔτε τό Πιστεύω μπορῶ νά πῶ οὔτε τό Πάτερ ἡμῶν. Γι' αὐτό, τό βράδυ ὅταν πέσω νά κοιμηθῶ, κάνω τό σταυρό μου καί παρακαλῶ ὁ Θεός νά ξημερώσει μέ τό καλό ὅλον τόν κόσμο". Μέ ρωτᾶ, "Καλά κάνω;"
- Τῆς λέω, "Καλά κάνεις".
Βλέπετε, ἡ γριούλα εἶχε συλλάβει τό μυστικό τῆς εὐχῆς " Ἁγιασθήτω τό ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου,… ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καί ἐπί τῆς γῆς". Καί ἐπειδή ζοῦσε μέσα στήν Ἐκκλησία, καί ἐπειδή εἶχε τή χάρη τοῦ Χριστοῦ πού κυκλοφοροῦσε μέσα στήν ὕπαρξή της ἀθόρυβα, ὅπως πάει ὁ χυμός τῆς ἀμπέλου πρός τό κλῆμα, γι' αὐτό, χωρίς νά ξέρει γράμματα, ἔκανε αὐτό τό ἀληθινό: παρακαλοῦσε ὁ Θεός νά ξημερώσει μέ τό καλό ὅλο τόν κόσμο.
Ἀρχιμ. Βασιλείου, Προηγουμένου Ἱερᾶς Μονῆς Ἰβήρων
Letters of Fr. Seraphim Rose 320. Oct, 17/30. 1981. Prophet Hosea Dear Father George [Macris],
Letters of Fr. Seraphim Rose
320. Oct, 17/30. 1981. Prophet Hosea
Dear Father George [Macris],
Christ is in our midst! He is and shall be!
Thank you for your letter and your proposal to meet me
on my next visit to the Portland area. I would be glad to arrange a meeting
with you, although my next visit will not be too soon. Father Herman visits the
Russian parish there more often than I, and since I made the last two visits
the next one will undoubtedly be his. I won't be there until after the first of
the year.
I’m sorry you found The Orthodox Word no. 96
disturbing, but I can assure you there was nothing in it “implied” about any
change in our attitude towards the Moscow Patriarchate. The recent “Decision”
of the Synod of Bishops says it very well, I think, and I agree with it
wholeheartedly.
Ι think perhaps a part of the disturbance comes from
the fact that the attitude of our Church Outside of Russia to the Moscow
Patriarchate has never been “defined” in so many words, and some people have
read into the strictness of our attitude an ecclesiological statement about the
Patriarchate that simply isn’t there. Among most of the Russian clergy articles
on Archimandrite Tavrion (which have appeared in Orthodox Russia over the past
several years), as well as others like Fr. Dimitry Dudko, Boris Talantov, etc.,
cause no problem because, while their position is recognized as one of
“compromise” to some degree, the church situation in Russia is recognized as
not yet “final” and therefore as not yet requiring any absolute judgment on our
part. Therefore, our non-communion with Moscow is strict, but it is in no way
compromised or threatened by our sympathy and support for courageous priests
and laymen of the Patriarchate. This is not at all a “new” attitude in our
Russian Church Abroad; it has always been like this, but only recently have
there appeared any very public instances in which it has been expressed.
If you want a theological statement on this whole
question, I think the closest you will get to it is in the writings of
Metropolitan Cyril of Kazan {The Orthodox Word, 1977, no. 75).
Given the non-finality of the Russian church
situation, I myself find no problem in co-existing in the same Church with
people who have different approaches and even different opinions on this
situation, as long as they do not try to force their opinions upon the whole
Church. Some seem to want to proclaim the Moscow Patriarchate as without grace
and no better than Roman Catholicism; others (among the clergy) allow their
spiritual children to receive communion (when travelling in Russia) from clergy
of the Moscow Patriarchate. These are both matters of private opinion which can
co-exist in the Church as long as no attempt is made to make them the Church’s
official position; I myself think the correct position is somewhere between
these two extremes. If you have any difficulty accepting such “broadness,” I
think your difficulty is not with any of us who have expressed various
opinions, but with our bishops who for fifty years have not taken any more
definite position.
Asking your prayers, and assuring yours [stet] of
mine,
With love in Christ,
Unworthy Hieromonk Seraphim
ΓΕΡΟΝΤΑ, γιατί ό ιερέας στη Θεία Λειτουργία φορά λευκή στολή;
ΓΕΡΟΝΤΑ, γιατί ό ιερέας στη Θεία Λειτουργία
φορά λευκή στολή;
- Εκείνη τήν ιερή στιγμή, παιδί μου, ό λειτουργός
κατέχει τη θέση τού αγγέλου, πού
στεκόταν | αστραπόμορφα ρούχα στο κενό μνημείο του Σωτήρος. Έτσι και ό ιερέας
τώρα περιμένει λευκοφορεμένος τους πιστούς στο Άγιο Θυσιαστήριο, το όποιο είναι
κι αυτό επίσης ό ίδιος ό τάφος τού Χριστού μας, για να τους προσκαλέσει στο
πανηγύρι και το δείπνο της Αναστάσεως.
ΕΛΕΓΕ ΙΕΡΕΑΣ. ΣΤΗ ΘΕΙΑ Λειτουργία γινόμαστε μέτοχοι των δωρεών της Αγίας Τριάδος:
ΣΤΗ ΘΕΙΑ
Λειτουργία γινόμαστε μέτοχοι των δωρεών της Αγίας Τριάδος: Ή ευλογία του λειτουργού
στην αρχή της Αγίας Αναφοράς φανερώνει ότι από την πηγή, δηλαδή από τήν Αγάπη του
θεού και Πατρός, διά της οδού και της θύρας, ή οποία είναι ή χάρις του Κυρίου ημών
Ιησού Χριστού έρχεται , στή σύναξη της Θείας Λειτουργίας αλλά και προσωπικά
στον κάθε πιστό ή κοινωνία του Αγίου
Πνεύματος.
ΓΈΡΟΝΤΑ, δεν μου απομένει πολύς χρόνος για προσευχή ......
ΓΈΡΟΝΤΑ,
δεν μου απομένει πολύς χρόνος για προσευχή το πρωί, και ή εργασία μου, παράλληλα,
απαιτεί πολλή μέριμνα και περισπασμό και δεν μπορώ έτσι να γεύομαι την
προσευχή.
Και
όμως, μπορείς να πάρεις μέσα σε δέκα λεπτά προσευχής τόση θεία χάρη και
πνευματική δροσιά, που να σε τροφοδοτεί
όλη την ημέρα.
Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of Holy Mother of God was full of myrrh the day arrived in Saint George Georgian Orthodox Monastery in Philadelphia. As Fathers explained having 9 archbishops and bishops serving together on Saint George celebration Icon started streaming so much myrrh that drops can be seen in real time!
The Next Generation
The Next Generation
How do we keep our youth in the Church?
We are living in an age that has witnessed changes on
a massive scale as never before. The way we communicate has changed with the
coming of the internet, with information available that would have required a
library and advanced degrees to access in the past. Ideas and information are
available that leave our youth with choices that were never available a
generation ago.
Moral norms have changed, with values and lifestyles
that would have never been seen as acceptable in the past becoming part of
mainstream. Gay marriage, the high divorce rate, children being raise by unwed
parents, and profane music that sounds like it came from the underworld (which
inspired it, I'm sure). Child sexual abuse is reaching shocking numbers, with
clergy, boy scout leaders, coaches and police officers under arrest. With the
environmental crisis increasing and political unrest spreading, hope is fading.
Our world is polarized in ways that are mind boggling, and the economy has
lowered the hopes and expectations of a whole generation.
With all that has changed in our world, is it any
wonder young people are abandoning the Christian faith in droves? With the
youthful questioning of authority, it is not enough to simply expect them to
accept the authority of bishops, priests, and the traditions and teachings of
the Church. There needs to be a change in the way we of the older generations
communicate with our youth.
In this age of information we must demonstrate to our
youth the difference between information and wisdom. Wisdom is that which is
passed down from the past and which imparts substance and enlightenment. Wisdom
is not about information, and does not compete with worldly knowledge. Wisdom
need not be in conflict with science, nor be linked to narrow mindedness.
Wisdom is that which not only connects us to the best of human knowledge and
experience, but links us to that which is eternal. Wisdom gives us the ability
to relate to our Creator, to our culture and to others. The urgency of
imparting this message is great, for we have a whole generation that is in
danger of losing faith in God.
It is not enough to expect our young people to attend
services if we do not listen to them, respect them, and try to understand the
world that is confronting them. They are growing up in a different world than
people of my generation experienced, and this important difference must be
acknowledged and respected. We can't simply teach the truth to our youth, we
must live it in a way that makes it real for them. We must be patient with
them, be open to their struggles and non-confrontational when they disagree
with us, or we will lose them forever to Christ.
Today's young people have the same hopes and dreams
that previous generations held, but this fast changing world is depriving them
of hope. Nihilism has become the religion of countless numbers of our youth,
with the result that life has become meaningless . The information age has
driven God out of societal, cultural and governmental prominence, resulting in
mass disbelief.
We who are of the older generations must witness to
the wealth of truth that is in the ancient knowledge and wisdom of the Church
by demonstrating it's worth in how we live. If young people do not see a genuine
living out of the Faith in us, they will keep looking for truth in directions
that will take them far from it. Young people are worthy of our love and
respect, and worthy of sharing with us the life in Christ that is their
heritage as well. The Church will not be a draw to our youth unless her members
demonstrate holiness of life and reach out with love, patience and
understanding, offering something that is seen as real by today's young people.
Finally, today's young people need to see joy in the
hearts of those of us who have taken on Christ. If we do not have joy in our
hearts the youth will see nothing that is attractive to them, and will continue
in the wasteland of consumerism, materialism, nihilism, and all hope for the
future of our planet will have died.
Love
in Christ,
Abbot
Tryphon
Changing the World.Abbot Tryphon.
Changing the
World
Changing the
world begins with me
The Elder
Sophroni of Essex said he believed in changing the world, one person at a time.
These words are in agreement with those of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who said
acquiring inner peace causes a thousand around us to be saved. As long as we
concentrate on the failings of others, inner transformation will elude us, and
the world will remain in darkness. If we remain stuck in the quagmire of sin,
and focused on the failings of others, we will fail in the work of conforming
ourselves to the will of God.
It is, of
course, much more personally comfortable to notice the failings and the sins of
others, but if we do not take stock of ourselves, we will do great harm to our
soul. Judging others opens wide the gates for evil spirits to enter, whereby
laying waste and destroying the grace of baptism that resides within our
hearts. We are in a battle against evil forces, and we had better be on guard.
Our eternal life depends on it.
With love in
Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Ο γνωστός αθλητής και ηθοποιός Αρνολντ Σβαρτζενέγκερ έβαλε μια φωτογραφία στο διαδίκτυο ότι κοιμάται στο δρόμο κάτω από το δικό του χάλκινο άγαλμα, και το έκανε με πικρία λέγοντας, " πώς άλλαξε ο χρόνος...
Ο γνωστός αθλητής και ηθοποιός
Αρνολντ Σβαρτζενέγκερ έβαλε μια
φωτογραφία στο διαδίκτυο ότι κοιμάται στο δρόμο κάτω από το δικό του χάλκινο
άγαλμα, και το έκανε με πικρία λέγοντας, " πώς άλλαξε ο χρόνος... Όταν
ήμουν κυβερνήτης της Καλιφόρνιας, Εγώ προσωπικά άνοιξα αυτό το ξενοδοχείο. Τότε
μου είπαν ότι όποτε έρθω, θα είχα ένα δωμάτιο για τον εαυτό μου. Τώρα που άφησα
το πόστο μου και ήρθα σ ' αυτό το ξενοδοχείο, αρνήθηκαν να μου δώσουν το
δωμάτιο της επαγγελίας. Έτσι έκανα το κρεβάτι μου κάτω από το άγαλμά μου για να
πω στον κόσμο ότι δεν πρέπει να εμπιστεύονται τις εργασίες τους, ή τον πλούτο,
ή τη δική τους δύναμη ή νοημοσύνη, τίποτα από αυτά δεν είναι αιώνιο..."
Známý sportovec a herec Arnold Schwarzenegger vložil na internet fotografii,
Známý sportovec a herec Arnold
Schwarzenegger vložil na internet fotografii, na které spí na ulici pod vlastní
bronzovou sochou, a trpce se k tomu vyjádřil slovy: "Jak se doba
změnila... Když jsem byl
guvernérem Kalifornie, osobně jsem otvíral tento hotel. Tehdy mně řekli, že
kdykoliv přijedu, budu mít pro sebe zarezervovaný pokoj. Teď, když jsem svůj
post opustil a přišel do tohoto hotelu, odmítli mně slibovaný pokoj poskytnout.
Tak jsem si ustlal ve spacáku pod svou sochou, abych lidem sdělil, že nemají věřit
žádným funkcím a postům, ani bohatství, ani vlastní síle či inteligenci, nic z
toho není věčné..."
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