Heresy is
poisonous food for the soul; it is like fake medicine, which does not cure but
rather causes harm; or a counterfeit coin that appears to be a precious gold
doubloon, but lacks its value. It is a perversion of Sacred Tradition; it is a
distortion of the true and perfect faith; it is a deviation from the straight
path traced out for us by the Word of God. Heresy is the acceptance of
religious ideas condemned by the Church as false and contrary to its right
faith. Heresy is a real crime that undermines the authority and influence of
our Church, founded by Christ Himself as the pillar and ground of the truth.
But, alas, in
our time, people ascribe no importance to the danger that heresy represents for
us.
This is a
sign of the times.
Oh, world!
You are concerned about many things. You take care to drink natural milk; that
your food is healthy and rich in vitamins; that medicine works; that your money
isn’t counterfeit; that archaeological monuments are carefully preserved
without the slightest damage; that the transportation you take doesn’t deviate
from its route.
You can be
concerned about anything, except one thing—the Orthodox faith. You are
completely indifferent to it. What awaits you, world, with such a distorted
perception of reality and such coldness to the faith?
If you remain
indifferent to the greatest and highest things, you will inevitably fall into
the abyss of rationalism, materialism, unbelief, and atheism, and then you will
understand what is Orthodoxy, which you now despise.
But you,
faithful souls, who continue to live in this age, be not captivated by modern
worldly trends; be not afraid at the sight of the enemy’s hordes surrounding
you on all sides and coming to attack you, but remain steadfast and faithful in
all things to the faith transmitted to us from the saints. Be prepared to fight
the good fight. Orthodoxy lives, and to it shall belong the final victory.
Metropolitan
Augustinos (Kantiotis)
Translation
by Jesse Dominick
Pravoslavie.ru
6/1/2021
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