Τετάρτη 30 Ιουνίου 2021
"Σαούλ, Σαούλ γιατί με καταδιώκεις;"
"Σαούλ, Σαούλ γιατί με καταδιώκεις;"
Εγώ απάντησα: "Ποιος είσαι Κύριε;".
Και αυτός μου είπε: "Εγώ είμαι ο Ιησούς ο Ναζωραίος που συ καταδιώκεις". (Πράξεις των Αποστόλων).
Απόστολος Παύλος, ο Απόστολος των εθνών μετά από εκείνη την στιγμή δεν θα μπορούσε παρά να επιλέξει την φωτεινή όμως συνάμα και "στενή και τεθλιμμένη οδό". Ο Απόστολος του Θεού, μέσα από κακουχίες, παθήματα, ακόμη κι από κηρύγματα που ήτανε αποτυχημένα:
Με κόπους περισσότερο, με κτυπήματα υπερβολικά, με φυλακίσεις περισσότερο, με κινδύνους θανάτου πολλές φορές. 24. Από τους Ιουδαίους πέντες φορές μαστιγώθηκα με “τεσσαράκοντα παρά μίαν” μαστιγώσεις, 25 τρείς φορές ραβδίσθηκα, μιά φορά λιθοβολήθηκα, τρείς φορές ναυάγησα, ένα ημερονύκτιο πάλευα στο πέλαγος. 26 Με οδοιπορίες πολλές φορές, με κινδύνους από ποταμούς, με κινδύνους από ληστάς, με κινδύνους από το γένος μου, με κινδύνους από τους εθνικούς, με κινδύνους στήν πόλι, με κινδύνους στίς ερημίες, με κινδύνους στη θάλασσα, με κινδύνους από ψευδάδελφους. 27 Με κόπο και με μόχθο, με στέρησι του ύπνου πολλές φορές, με πείνα και με δίψα, με στέρησι του φαγητού πολλές φορές, με ψύχος καί με έλλειψι επαρκών ρούχων. 28 Εκτός από τα εξωτερικά είναι η καθημερινή πίεσι της ψυχής μου, η αγωνία για όλες τις εκκλησίες. 29 Ποιός ασθενεί πνευματικώς και δεν ασθενώ μαζί του και εγώ; Ποιός πέφτει πνευματικώς και δεν καίομαι εγώ από τη θλίψι; 30 Εάν πρέπει να καυχώμαι, θα καυχηθώ γιά τα παθήματά μου.
31 Ο Θεός καί Πατέρας του Κυρίου μας Ιησού Χριστού, ο δοξασμένος στους αιώνες, γνωρίζει, ότι δεν ψεύδομαι. 32 Στή Δαμασκό ο διοικητής και εκπρόσωπος τού βασιλέως Αρέτα φρούρησε τήν πόλι τών Δαμασκηνών, θέλοντας νά μέ συλλάβη. 33 Καί από κάποιο παράθυρο μέ κατέβασαν από τό τείχος μέσα σ΄ ένα καλάθι και ξέφυγα τά χέρια του.
Αποστόλου Παύλου (Β΄ Κορ. ια΄23-33)
22 Σταθείς δε ο Παύλος εν μέσω του Αρείου Πάγου έφη· Άνδρες Αθηναίοι, κατά πάντα ως δεισιδαιμονεστέρους υμάς θεωρώ · 23 διερχόμενος γαρ και αναθεωρών τα σεβάσματα υμών εύρον και βωμόν εν ω επεγέγραπτο, Αγνώστω θεώ. Ον ουν αγνοούντες ευσεβείτε, τούτον εγώ καταγγέλλω υμίν.
(...) ακούσαντες δε ανάστασιν νεκρών οι μεν εχλεύαζον, οι δε είπον· ακουσόμεθά σου πάλιν περί τούτου.
(Πράξεις των Αποστόλων)
erimitic
Η παγκοσμιοποίηση διαβιβρώσκει
«Η παγκοσμιοποίηση διαβιβρώσκει τεχνηέντως ή μη ιερούς θεσμούς όπως η θρησκεία, η πατρίδα, η γλώσσα, η οικογένεια. Αγοράζει ψυχές και πληρώνει υλικά αγαθά. Ο ορθολογιστής θεοποιεί τον εγκέφαλο, ο γαστρίμαργος την γαστέρα του, ο φιλάργυρος το χρήμα, ο οπαδός τον ηγέτη, κι έτσι σκέφτεται ανάλογα με τις προτεραιότητες που θέτει. Ο καρδιακός άνθρωπος είναι ο ολοκληρωμένος, ο αληθινός χριστιανός, που πρότυπο έχει τον Χριστό και κανόνα του το Ευαγγέλιο»
Γέροντας Μωυσής Αγιορείτης
Γέροντας Αναστάσιος ο ΚουδουμιανόςΑπόσπασμα από βιβλίο αφιερωμένο στον Γέροντα Αναστάσιο.
«Ας προχωρούμε λοιπόν ο κάθε ένας με τη διάκριση που του χαρίζει ο Κύριος και τον οπλισμό εκείνο που καταγράφει ο Απόστολος Παύλος, την πίστη σαν άγκυρα, την ελπίδα και ιδίως την αγάπη, η αγάπη είναι το πλήρωμα του νόμου, όλα τα καλύπτει, τίποτα δεν την πτοεί, ας προχωρούμε μέχρι να φτάσουμε στον Ποθούμενον»
Γέροντας Αναστάσιος ο Κουδουμιανός
Απόσπασμα από βιβλίο αφιερωμένο στον Γέροντα Αναστάσιο
Εκδόσεις Ι.Μ.Κουδουμά
Είπε γέρων...
Ο Θεός θέλει να είμεθα στην καθημερινή μας ζωή τέτοιοι, ώστε να μας αγαπούν οι άλλοι και να μας νοιώθουν ευχάριστους.
Να μπορούν να επικοινωνούν μαζί μας, να πουν τη χαρά τους, τη λύπη τους, τα προβλήματά τους.
Να νοιώθουν ότι είμαστε καρδιές που ζούμε κοντά η μία στην άλλη και μπορούμε να βοηθούμε ο ένας τον άλλον.
Όταν λέμε "Κακιά ώρα" στη Σύμη, εννοούμε περιστατικό με κάποιο δαίμονα.
. Όταν λέμε "Κακιά ώρα" στη Σύμη, εννοούμε περιστατικό με κάποιο δαίμονα.
«Κακιά ώρα» Συμβάν 8
Μια μέρα, ένας παπάς με τη κόρη του, σηκώθηκαν το βράδυ από το σπίτι τους, να πάνε στον Αϊ Βασίλη (Άγιος Βασίλειος, απομακρυσμένη παραλία στο άλλο άκρο του νησιού χωρίς πρόσβαση με αυτοκίνητο, με το ομώνυμο εξωκλήσι να βρίσκεται σε απόκρημνο σημείο) για να κάνουν μια προγραμματισμένη Λειτουργία στο εκεί εξωκλήσι.
Έφυγαν από το σπίτι, και μπροστά προχωρούσε ο παπάς κρατώντας τα ιερά σκεύη και τα άμφιά του σε μια τσάντα, και πίσω του ερχόταν η κόρη του, κρατώντας τα υπόλοιπα που είναι απαραίτητα για τη Λειτουργία.
Σε κάποιο σημείο της διαδρομής, ο παπάς αισθάνθηκε επείγουσα σωματική ανάγκη, είπε στη κόρη του να τον περιμένει, και της έδωσε τη τσάντα που κρατούσε.
Μετά από λίγο πράγματι γύρισε ο παπάς, και τέθηκε πάλι επικεφαλής της πορείας και συνέχισαν το δρόμο τους.
Όμως δεν της ζήτησε να του δώσει πίσω τη τσάντα που της είχε δώσει πριν φύγει.
Κάποια στιγμή, η κόρη κατάλαβε, ότι μάλλον είχαν πάρει λάθος το μονοπάτι, και είχαν φύγει έξω από αυτό, και κατέβαιναν τη κοίτη του χειμάρρου.
- Παπά μου, λάθος δρόμο πήραμε, του είπε.
- Ακολούθα με και μη μιλάς, ήταν η απάντηση του παπά.
Εκείνη δεν ήθελε να τον στεναχωρήσει, αλλά καταλάβαινε, ότι είχαν φύγει πολύ έξω από το μονοπάτι.
Τελικά, αντί να φτάσουν στο εξωκλήσι που είναι δεξιά και πάνω από την παραλία, έφτασαν κάτω στη θάλασσα, και ο παπάς έκανε κάτι ακατανόητο. Μπήκε μέσα στη θάλασσα και προχωρούσε στο νερό.
Η κόρη του αποσβολωμένη και έντρομη γι’ αυτό που έβλεπε, φώναζε στον πατέρα της να γυρίσει πίσω.
Εκείνος όμως της απάντησε, να μπει και εκείνη μέσα στη θάλασσα.
- Μα μέσα στη θάλασσα παπά μου, ρωτούσε εκείνη σφίγγοντας από τον τρόμο της τη τσάντα που κρατούσε με τα ιερά σκεύη.
- Έλα σου λέω, φώναζε εκείνος. Μπες μέσα στη θάλασσα, και άφησε έξω αυτά που κρατάς.
- Δεν μπορώ να τα αφήσω είπε, βάζοντας τα κλάματα, και καταλαβαίνοντας πια, ότι δεν πρέπει να ήταν ο πατέρας της αλλά κάποιος άλλος.
- Ας μην κράταγες αυτά που κρατάς, τον άκουσε να λέει, και θα έβλεπες τι θα πάθαινες.
Η κοπέλα από το φόβο της και το μεγάλο σοκ που έπαθε έχασε τις αισθήσεις, ενώ από ψηλά, ακουγόταν κάποιος να φωνάζει το όνομά της.
Ήταν ο πατέρας της που την είχε χάσει και φώναζε για να την βρει, και δεν μπορούσε να καταλάβει γιατί έφυγε και δεν τον περίμενε.
Κατέβηκε κάτω στην παραλία και την βρήκε σε κακά χάλια να κρατά σφιχτά τα ιερά σκεύη και να μην τα αποχωρίζεται.
Τη συνέφερε, και τη ρώτησε τι συνέβη, και εκείνη του διηγήθηκε την περιπέτειά της.
Ο παπάς τελικά που γύρισε όταν εκείνος πήγε για σωματική του ανάγκη, ήταν κάποιος δαίμονας που πήρε τη μορφή του για να παραπλανήσει τη κόρη του, και να την πνίξει στη θάλασσα.
Από εκείνη τη μέρα πάντως, η κόρη του παπά έπαθε κατάθλιψη και μαράζωνε, και ποτέ δεν κατάφερε να συνέλθει τελικά.
Elder Pavlos of Sinai (+March 1, 2020):
Elder Pavlos of Sinai (+March 1, 2020):
"The greatest consolation is the acquisition of peace in the soul."
LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
—Tell us about the Divine consolation that life on Mt. Sinai brings.
—We need to be simpler. A child, simple by nature, rejoices in everything. Everything pleases him. He has no problems. And if someone grows up and remains a child in his soul, he lives wonderfully! He who does not judge knows that non-condemnation brings peace to the soul.
When a man has peace within himself, he also has great consolation!
Therefore, it’s no accident that the Church prays at every service: “Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord,” “For the peace from above … let us pray to the Lord.” We lose peace through inattentiveness. And even we monks get distracted. But if we manage to remain as simple as children in our souls, to not condemn, to pray, and to have peace in our souls and live in the presence of God, then this is the greatest comfort.
From: https://orthochristian.com/129813.html
St. Demetrios Protects Elder Philotheos From Harm
When I fulfilled my military service and was released, I decided to become a soldier for our Heavenly King in accordance with the counsel that Father Eusebios had given me. I disclosed all my intentions to the holy Nektarios, the Bishop of Pentapolis, who then was also the director of the Rizareion Seminary in Athens (now in blessed repose), and he told me, “Your goal is good, but I advise you to go to no other monastery than the one at Paros (Lagouvardos), where the brethren are virtuous and plentiful.” However, I insisted, telling him that my desire was to go to the Holy Mountain. He then said, “If you stay in Greece, go to the Lagouvardos Monastery, but if you insist on going to the Holy Mountain, then go with my blessing….”
After attending a vigil on May 8, 1907…my friend Nickolas Mitropoulos and I boarded the steamship “Pinios”, and we departed for the Holy Mountain from Piraeus….
Two days later, we arrived in Thessaloniki, which was then occupied by the Turks (I had great reverence for St. Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki since I was a child). I invited my friend Nickolas to join me to go venerate the tomb of the Great Martyr, St. Demetrios the Myrrh-gusher. We then got off the ship and went to venerate his tomb with compunction. On our way back to the ship, we checked in at the Greek hotel and rested all day and night. The next day, we prepared to depart for the Holy Mountain and went to the Customs Office; however, they did not permit us to depart: “You will not leave”, they told us, “because you are spies!” We, of course, denied this and pointed out that since our passports had been cleared by the Turkish Consulate and the Embassy, they should allow us to leave. However, they would not pay any attention to our words.
They did not put us in jail but under close surveillance and soldiers stood guard outside our hotel, and they followed us whenever we went out. This went on for quite a few days and we began to worry because our money was running low. One day, I told Nickolas, “I am going to the ‘konaki’ (governor’s house), to appear before the ‘pasha’ (governor): he will probably allow us to leave.” I arose very early the next morning and went to venerate the tomb of St. Demetrios again before going to the konaki. With tears and compunction, I asked the Saint to intercede to the Lord that we be permitted to freely go to the Holy Mountain. After praying for quite a while and sitting down to rest, the martyrdom of St. Demetrios came to my mind: I thought about how he was pierced with a lance and died for the love of Christ and for our holy faith, and how he was glorified by God both on earth and in heaven, and will be glorified unto all ages.
As I considered all this, a longing came to me to give my life for the love of Christ and the Orthodox faith too, supposing there was a way. I then asked St. Demetrios to intercede to the Lord again, however, not for my freedom, but that I be rendered worthy to die a martyr’s death. I then thought of a way to accomplish this goal. I told myself, “I will go to the konaki and courageously appear before the Turks. I will give them a reason to question me about my faith and then I will bear witness to their heresy. They will probably tell me to deny my faith, but I will stand firm and prefer death. Thus I will have a Martyr’s end.”
I went to the konaki immediately and entered inside. While I was going up a hallway, a Turkish officer noticed me and asked me what I wanted:
“I want to see the pasha.””And why do you want to see him?”
“I have something to tell him.”
“I am the pasha’s representative. Tell me what you want openly.”
“Since you are the pasha’s representative, then tell me, why will you not allow us to go to the Holy Mountain?”
“I will not give you a reason.”
“You are not good people”, I told him courageously, “you are unjust. Why are you detaining and distressing us like this? We are not at fault, we are not bad people and our papers are in order. I do not understand. Now we have run out money. How shall we live in this foreign and unknown place? How would you like it if you went to Greece and we did to you what you are doing to us?”
These words irritated him and moved him to anger. He began ringing a bell loudly and 30-35 soldiers and officers gathered around us immediately. They grabbed me and dragged me off to the White Tower, for what purpose I did not know; I thought perhaps to imprison me … As we walked to the White Tower, I asked St. Demetrios to intercede to the Lord to grant me a martyr’s death, provided it is His will; and if it was not, to be delivered from the hands of these atheistic, bloodthirsty, wild and barbaric Saracens.
After we had gone a little ways, their superior appeared and spoke to them in Turkish. I did not understand what he had told them but I did perceive that he was angry. He then lifted up his rod and struck the officer responsible for my arrest on the shoulder and sent them all away. When they left, he approached me with a cheerful grin on his face, and kindly patted me on the shoulder. He then handed me over to the prudent soldier from Ioannina and ordered him to take me to the Greek steamship “Mikali”, which was in the port of Thessaloniki, so that I could return to Greece.
I asked the soldier who the man was that had given the orders, not having the faintest idea. He told me that he was the pasha. I then asked him why the pasha had struck his own personal secretary, and what he had said to him. The soldier explained, “The pasha scolded his secretary because he had condemned you to death without asking permission.” I then asked him where they had been taking me. “They were taking you to the White Tower to execute you there”, he said, “all those who are condemned to death are taken there – as for the others, they put them in chains and abandon them to die from hunger, from thirst and from the stench.” I then rejoiced that I had been delivered from the hands of those wild Saracens – for I was not sure whether it would have been for the question of my faith that they had killed me. However, I was sad because I missed the opportunity to give my life for the faith. Martyrdom, however, must take place according to the rules as the divine preacher, the Apostle Paul, tells us, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5)….
The soldier and I then stopped by the hotel, where I bid my beloved friend Nickolas farewell….
Apparently, it was not the will of God for me to go to the Holy Mountain, and this is the reason I encountered all these obstacles. I feel a great debt of gratitude to my protector, the Great Martyr, St. Demetrios, through whose intercessions and prayers, I was delivered from death.
I had no idea why the pasha had shown so much interest in me, so I sought to find out. It was not until about two years later, when I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain, that I finally learned why from my friend Nickolas, who had gone and had remained on the Holy Mountain. He told me why the pasha had set me free and sent me back to Greece:
“Two or three days after you departed Thessalonika for Greece, the adjutant officer of the pasha came up and greeted me…He was an acquaintance of mine…He took me to his home where he offered me hospitality, and the following day we went to go see the pasha together…The Pasha said to him:
‘Your friend there, he was accompanied by another young man. One morning, as I was sleeping peacefully, St. Demetrios entered my room wearing a generals uniform and bearing weapons. With an austere look he commanded me: “Immediately, stand up, get dressed, put your shoes on, and go to such and such a road in the city to free a young man who has been unjustly condemned to death by your own private secretary. After freeing him, send him to the steamship ‘Mikali’, which is in the port of Thessaloniki and preparing to sail off for Greece.”
I hastened at once to save the young man from danger, and sent him off to Greece.'”
It was then that I realized that my helper and my deliverer from death had been the Great Martyr, St. Demetrios the Myrrh-gusher.
The prophecy of St. Nektarios had been fulfilled; no matter where I would go, I would end up at Logouvardos. I had learned a valuable lesson from this: I ought to always be completely obedient to my spiritual father, without being defiant, and I ought to not seek my will, but the will of my spiritual father – in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Who came into the world not to do His own will but the will of His Father, Who sent Him.”
St. Demetrios Protects Elder Philotheos From Harm The Second Time
Two years later, the Balkan war took place and on the Feast of St. Demetrios (October 26, 1912), Thessaloniki was liberated through the mediation and aid of her Patron Saint.
When we sailed into the port of Thessaloniki, I decided that it would be a good idea to disembark and go venerate the tomb of St. Demetrios, my guardian, and my protector and savior after God. I do not know why, but when I disembarked, the Turks once again took me to be a spy, and put me under surveillance for quite a few days. When I decided to leave Thessaloniki, and began passing through customs, they arrested me, and took me through three rows of barbed wire and locked me in. I found a youth locked in there also, and asked him why they had locked us up. He answered, “In order to murder us.” “But what evil have we done?” I asked. “Forget it,” he answered “do not bother to ask why.”
A moment later, a steamship from Romania sailed into the port of Thessaloniki carrying many passengers and a cargo of fuel oil. For some unknown reason, an oil container caught fire as the ship pulled in, and the flames spread rapidly through the entire ship. Loud blasts were heard a few minutes later, and flames were thrown sky high. Thessaloniki was all astir. Thousands of people came down to the shoreline – some to watch and others to rescue the endangered passengers with their boats. All the guards then left their posts to go see all the commotion. Seizing the opportunity, the young man pulled a small pair of clips from his pocket and cut through the barbed wire. Then he took me by the hand and lead me out. And paying a boatman, he told him to take us out to a Greek steamship which was anchored just outside the port. As we were climbing in the boat, the soldier who arrested me and locked me up came running over to seize me. However, the young man slapped him right across the face when he got to us, and he pulled back and walked away!
The boatman took us out to the Greek ship and we went aboard. I then went to put my things in order, and once I organized them, I went back to find the youth, my rescuer, to thank him and ask who he was and where he was from. However, I could not find him anywhere. I asked almost all the ship’s passengers and crew but soon realized that nobody had seen him either boarding or disembarking the ship. Who was he and what happened to him God only knows. (The only thing that I know is that many years later – after Thessaloniki had been liberated – I was celebrating the Divine Liturgy and preaching the word of God at the Church of St. Demetrios when I saw the icon of the Saint. I noticed that the young man who had freed me and lead me to the steamship bore a striking resemblance to St. Demetrios.)
Fr. Nektarios Vitalis — Memory Eternal
+ February 8, 2017
Fr. Nektarios Vitalis is at long last with our Saviour Christ
and his beloved patron Saint, St. Nektarios. May he pray for us! His was
a life full of visions, visitations and miracles with his patron saint,
even near-death, after-life experiences! Miracles and signs of
Holiness even during his Memorial Service and Funeral!
Καλό Παράδεισο, Γέροντα! Καλή αντάμωση στην Αιωνιότητα!
Greek traditional wish for the departed: “A Blessed Paradise,
Gerondas! Until we meet again in Eternity!
Below follow Fr. Nektarios’ recalling of his miraculous healing
of cancer by St. Nektarios, a few youtube videos where he tells of St.
Nektarios’ visitations to him and his near-death, ‘after-life’ experience, and
his final will, testament and tomb.
Miracle of Saint Nektarios: The Healing of Fr. Nektarios Vitalis
of Cancer
Fr. Nektarios Vitalis, well-known in Lavrio [a city in Attika,
Greece] for his deeds and his sympathy to the poor and those written-off by the
world in these difficult times, retells the following incident from when he was
dying from cancer. What is said below has been told elsewhere, repeatedly,
including in the book I talked to Saint Nektarios (Athens 1997, by
the renowned writer Mr. Manolis Melinos).
Fr. Nektarios Vitalis recalls:
“I was suffering from a serious form of cancer. My chest was an
open wound that was continuously running blood and pus. I would tear my
undershirts from the pain. It was a tragic situation, and I was headed directly
to death. So you understand, I had even prepared my grave clothes….
“On the 26th of March 1980, in the morning, I was talking in my
office in the basement of the Church with Sofia Bourdoy (the church care-taker
[a woman who cleans the church]) and the icon painter Helen Kitraki, when the
door suddenly opened and an old, unknown man entered. He had a snow-white
beard, was short and was slighty bald. He looked exactly the same as St.
Nektarios appears in photographs. He took three candles without paying and lit
only two. He venerated all the icons of the church, but passed over the icon of
St. Nektarios without venerating it. He did not see me where I was. I had
terrible pains when they pulled aside the curtain of the office and went to see
the old man. He faced the Beautiful Gate [the Royal Doors in the Holy
Iconostasion], crossed his palms and without looking around he asked: ‘Is the
Geronta [Elder] here?’
“The church care-taker knowing my disease wanted to protect me…:
‘No, no…he is at home with the flu….’
“He replied: ‘Never mind. Pray, and have a Good Resurrection,’
[the traditional Orthodox greeting during Great Lent in anticipation of Pascha
‘Kali Anastasi’] he said as he left.
“The church care-taker came running to me and said ‘Father
Nektarios, the old man who just left resembled St. Nektarios himself! His eyes
flew flames. It seems to me that was St. Nektarios and he came to help you….’
“I thanked her thinking that she said this to console me. But
deep down something was wrong. I sent her along with the icon painter to find
the unknown man and quickly bring him back. I walked into the sanctuary and
venerated the Crucified One [the icon of Christ on the Cross in every Holy
Altar] crying, and once again asking Christ to heal me. Their footsteps
stopped: ‘Father, the Elder has come!’
“I tried to kiss his hand, but out of humilty he did not let me.
He bent and kissed my own! I asked him: ‘What is your name?’
“‘Anastasios, my son,’ he said, relating his baptismal name that
he had before he become a monk….
“I led him to venerate the holy relics. He took out a pair of
glasses with only one arm, and as soon as we saw them we were amazed! They were
the same glasses of St. Nektarios that we had in the case with the holy relics.
They were given to me by the old Gerontissa [Eldress] Nektaria of the monastery
in Aegina.
“‘Belief is everything!’ said the stranger, as he put on his
glasses.
“He began with reverence to embrace all the holy relics as the
church care-taker showed, except for the relics of St. Nektarios, which he
passed over….
“‘Geronta, forgive me,’ I said, ‘but why don’t you venerate the
miraculous Saint Nektarios?’
“He turned and looked at me smiling. I asked him: ‘Where are you
staying Geronta?’
“He showed me the ceiling, where we were building the new church
[dedicated to St. Nektarios], saying: ‘My house is still not ready and I’m
worried. My position does not allow me to live here and there….’
“‘Geronta, I must confess, you were told a lie earlier. I have
cancer! But I want to get well, to make the Holy Altar, to finish the Church
first, and then I can die….’
“‘Do not worry,’ he told me. ‘I’m leaving now. I’m going to
Paros [an island in Greece] to venerate St. Arsenios and to visit Fr.
Philotheos [Zervakos],’ he added, starting to leave and passing by the big icon
without giving it a second thought….
“I stopped him and put my hands to his face.
“‘My Geronta, my Geronta, your face looks exactly like St.
Nektarios who is honored here in our church….’
“Then, tears rolled from his eyes. He crossed me and embraced me
with his hands. Taking courage I opened my hands to hug him. But when I spread
out my hands, and while I was watching I could see him before my face, my arms
closed back to my chest! The hairs then stood up on my arms and I crossed
myself!
“I said again: ‘O my Geronta, I beg you, I want to live to do my
first Liturgy. Help me to live….’
“He left from being close to me and stopped in front of his icon
and said: ‘Oh, my child Nektarios, don’t worry. It is a passing trial, and you
will be well! The miracle which you are asking for will happen, and it will be
told to the whole world. Don’t be afraid….’
“Immediately he left us by walking through a closed door….
“The women ran to catch up to him. They reached him at the bus
stop. He went inside and disappeared before the bus left!”
This story is always told by Fr. Nektarios Vitalis, a respected
and reliable person, in the presence of witnesses. Fr. Nektarios eventually
became well – to the amazement of doctors, radiologists, and forecasters of
death. Because above all is Christ, our living God, and our intercessors before
God, the Saints, plus our Mother the Panagia!
For “where God wills, the laws of nature are overcome….”
What did Jesus Christ look like?
By Saint Paisios the Athonite
It was the evening after the feast of the Finding of the head of St. John the Forerunner, the eve of the feast day of St. Apostle Carp. I felt very inspired that evening. I did not want to sleep at all and I thought, “ Well, let me write something about Fr. Tikhon and send it to the sisters in Souroti”. By 8:30a.m. I wrote about 30 pages. I still did not want to sleep but decided to lie down for a while because my legs were weak.
Sunrise began. By 9a.m. I was still not sleeping. And suddenly I saw that one of the walls of my cell (the one near which my bed stood) just disappeared. I saw Christ – He was in the light, just about 6 meters from me. I saw Him from His side. His hair was bright and His eyes were blue. He did not say a word to me, but only looked – not right at me, but a bit more to the side.
I saw everything with the non-corporal eyes. In such cases, it does not matter whether your corporal eyes are closed or not. I saw that with my spiritual eyes.
When I saw Him, I thought, “ How could they all spit in that Face? How could they – the people without any fear of God – hit that Face? How could they slam the nails into that Body? Oh, God…”
I was struck by that. How pleased I felt at that moment! What a joy I felt! I cannot express that beauty with words. It was the very beauty about which it was said: “You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips” (Psalm 45:2). This is what that beauty was. I have never seen anything like that on any of His images. There was only one – I do not remember where I have seen it – which looked a bit alike.
A person should work in a monastery ever for a thousand years to see this beauty at least for a moment. What great and indescribable things are gifted to people – and how miserable are the things we try to deal with!
After this vision, Saint Paisios the Athonite ordered to the nuns from the monastery of Souroti to make an icon of Christ exactly like he saw Him. The image represents this icon.
St Amphilochios of Patmos (Makris)
“Worldly people tire you, because whatever is stored up inside them comes at you like waves of electricity. We must be people of grace so much so that whoever comes to us may find rest.”
*-“How do you manage to have such patience and perseverance in everything?”
– “The grace of God helps. I always believe in the power of God, my child, Who alters and adjusts everything for the benefit of our soul.”
*“When I see a person who is irritated, I don’t listen to what he is saying, but pray for God to pacify him. That’s why I don’t get distressed. When they calm down, when the time is right, I talk to them because they are then in a position to comprehend their foolishness.”
My cave..
— “Elder, I want to flee to the mountains, far away from the world, and find a cave to hide so that neither I tire anybody nor I get worn out”.
— “Try, my dear child, to enter Jesus’ cave, and once inside there, everything will be put right.”
St Amphilochios of Patmos (Makris)
ΑΝΑΦΕΡΕΙ ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΤΡΙΑ ΕΝΑ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΤΟ ΓΕΓΟΝΟΣ.
Ήθελα
να σας πω κάτι ακόμη που συμβαίνει στο σπίτι της ξαδέλφης μου
Στο
εικονοστάσι έχει μια εικόνα του Αρχάγγελου Μιχαήλ πάρα πολύ παλιά κ μπροστά αναμμένο
το καντηλάκι.
Λοιπόν
οπότε σβήσει το φυτίλι η εικόνα χτυπάει ρυθμικά μέχρι ν ανάψει η φλόγα πάλι.
ΑΝΑΦΕΡΕΙ ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΤΡΙΑ...
Ορθοδοξία ανορθόδοξη! ~ Μοναχού Μωυσέως Αγιορείτου
Ορισμένοι θεωρούν την παράδοση να τους καταδιώκει και να
τους απειλεί. Πιστεύουν ότι το μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών δεν θα πρέπει να είναι
ομολογιακό. Θέλουν το μάθημα να είναι θρησκειολογικό και πολιτιστικό. Όσοι
αντιδρούν χαρακτηρίζονται υπερσυντηρητικοί και φανατικοί.
Η θεολογία μας θα παραμείνει αγιοπατερική. Μάθημα
Θρησκευτικών δίχως την αναφορά και παρουσία του ζώντος Χριστού δεν υφίσταται. Η
παράδοση στην ορθοδοξία είναι με τους αγίους πατέρες και τον Χριστό. Κάθε άλλη
σκέψη είναι ανορθόδοξη.
Ο Χριστός δεν είναι ένας από τους πολλούς, αλλά ο μόνος
και αληθινός...
Η λεγόμενη άστοχα μεταπατερική θεολογία φαίνεται πως
βολεύει τους συζητητές ενός διαχριστιανικού ή διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου. Η
ορθόδοξη ησυχαστική παράδοση αποκρούει τις αθεμελίωτες θέσεις της μεταπατερικής
θεολογίας, η οποία αποτελεί ανορθοδοξία.
Περιορίσαμε την ορθοδοξία σε στείρο ηθικισμό.
Ειρωνευτήκαμε την ευλάβεια και την κατάνυξη κληρικών και λαϊκών. Εξαντλήσαμε το
έργο της εκκλησίας σε φιλανθρωπικά έργα. Το κήρυγμα κατάντησε φθηνό σχόλιο της
παρερχόμενης επικαιρότητος προτεσταντικού τύπου. Φοβηθήκαμε φοβερά τη φτώχεια,
την αδοξία και τις δοκιμασίες.
Η κατήχηση, το κήρυγμα, η διδαχή χρειάζονται στέρεες
ορθόδοξες βάσεις. Σήμερα η χριστιανική ιδιότητα δεν έχει κανένα κόστος, ούτε
θέλει να έχει κανένα μόχθο.
Πολλοί εξομολογούνται και λίγοι μετανοούν. Η σχέση πολλών
με την εκκλησία είναι αρκετά επιφυλακτική και καχύποπτη. Δεν γνωρίζουν την
αλήθεια της πίστεως. Υπάρχει μία σοβαρή νοσηρότητα εντός των τειχών της
ορθοδοξίας. Μισαλλοδοξίες, σχολαστικισμοί, λαϊκισμοί, αμαρτιοφοβίες, φαντασίες,
οράματα, πλάνες, πείσματα, ζήλιες και αδιαφορίες. Ένας αδιέξοδος σκοτεινός
κύκλος που δεν ελευθερώνει, δεν φωτίζει και δεν λυτρώνει. Χρειάζεται
γενναιότητα, τόλμη, ενθουσιασμός, ζήλος, θέρμη, ειλικρίνεια, σοβαρότητα και
υπομονή.
Όσα γράφουμε δεν τα γράφουμε απλά για να τα γράφουμε. Μας
καίει ο πόνος να παρουσιάσουμε και να ζήσουμε όλοι μία ορθόδοξη ορθοδοξία. Δεν
γκρινιάζουμε αναίτια και δυσανασχετούμε μόνιμα. Δεν κάνουμε τους σοφούς και
τους αλάνθαστους. Κινούμεθα συνειδητά, με φόβο Θεού, με ελπίδα για κάτι
καλύτερο. Δεν αντιστεκόμαστε διαμαρτυρόμενοι παράλογα, αλλά αγωνιζόμαστε
σθεναρά για τη φίλη ορθοδοξία, για την αποκάθαρσή της από ανορθόδοξες
προσμίξεις.
Οπωσδήποτε δεν θα πρέπει να παραμείνουμε σε διαπιστώσεις,
αλλά να προχωρήσουμε σε δυνατές διορθωτικές λύσεις. Όλοι, κλήρος και λαός, να
αναλάβουν ενσυνείδητα τις ευθύνες τους. Χρειάζονται διορθόδοξες συναντήσεις,
ταπεινοί διάλογοι και γενναίες αποφάσεις.
Η όποια απόκλιση από την αγιοπατερική παράδοση δεν μπορεί
να υιοθετηθεί και να δικαιολογηθεί, αλλά είναι ανάγκη να εντοπιστεί, να
χαρακτηριστεί και να διορθωθεί.
Να απομονώνονται οι ανορθόδοξοι παραχαράκτες, να μη
φοβόμαστε την ομολογία, να μην αισθανόμαστε μειονεκτικοί και οπισθοδρομικοί,
αλλά να παραμένουμε εδραίοι στην αγκάλη της αγίας μητέρας μας, της ορθόδοξης
εκκλησίας.
Η ορθοδοξία έχει έναν απύθμενο πλούτο. Μην τη μειώνουμε,
μην την παραποιούμε και μην ασχολούμεθα με ασήμαντες λεπτομέρειες και αφήνουμε
τη ζωοποιό ουσία, την κανονικότητα, την ενότητα και την παραδοσιακότητα. Η
ορθόδοξη εκκλησία δεν κομματιάζεται, δεν σχισματίζεται και συσχηματίζεται.
Χρειάζεται συνεχής επαγρύπνηση να μην παραδώσουμε ποτέ
μία ανορθόδοξη ορθοδοξία. Μια ορθοδοξία καταπώς τη φανταζόμαστε, τη νομίζουμε
και μας συμφέρει.
μ. Μωυσέως Αγιορείτου
Πηγή: Ιερά Μονή Βέροιας
ΑΓΙΟΙ ΑΠΌΣΤΟΛΟΙ
Οι 12 Απόστολοι!
Συγκινητικό είναι
ότι οι ένδεκα,
από τους δώδεκα,
είχαν θάνατο μαρτυρικό.
• Οι Πρωτοκορυφαίοι
Πέτρος και Παύλος
μαρτύρησαν στη Ρώμη,
ο πρώτος
με σταυρικό θάνατο,
και ο δεύτερος
με αποκεφαλισμό.
• Ο Άγ. Ανδρέας
ο Πρωτόκλητος
μαρτύρησε στην Πάτρα,
με σταυρικό θάνατο.
• Ο Άγ. Ιάκωβος,
θανατώθηκε
με αποκεφαλισμό
στα Ιεροσόλυμα.
• Ο Άγ. Ιωάννης
ο Ευαγγελιστής
εξορίσθηκε στην Πάτμο
και τελικά πέθανε
στην Έφεσο.
• Ο Άγ. Φίλιππος
σταυρώθηκε
στην Ιεράπολη
της Συρίας.
• Ο Άγ. Θωμάς
τρυπήθηκε με λόγχες
στη χώρα των Ινδών.
• Ο Άγ. Βαρθολομαίος
σταυρώθηκε
στην Ουρβανούπολη
της Ινδίας.
• Ο Άγ. Ματθαίος
μαρτύρησε
με λιθοβολισμού
στην Ιεράπολη της Συρίας.
• Ο Άγ. Ιάκωβος
ο του Αλφαίου
κρεμάστηκε σε Σταυρό.
• Ο Άγ. Σίμων
ο Ζηλωτής
και Κανανίτης
παρέδωσε
το πνεύμα του
καρφωμένος
σ’ ένα σταυρό
στη Μαυριτανία
της Αφρικής.
• Ο Άγ.Ιούδας
ο Θαδδαίος
θανατώθηκε με τόξα
στη Μεσοποταμία
κρεμασμένος
σ’ ένα δέντρο.
• Ο Άγ. Ματθίας
παρέδωσε την ψυχή του
με φρικτά βασανιστήρια
στην Αιθιοπία.