St. Nektarios: The Pure of Heart See God Everywhere

by St. Nektarios of Aegina

It is evident that unbelief is an evil offspring of an evil heart; for the guileless and pure heart everywhere discovers God, everywhere discerns Him, and always unhesitatingly believes in His existence.

When the man of pure heart looks at the World of Nature, that is, at the sky, the earth, and the sea and at all things in them, and observes the systems constituting them, the infinite multitude of stars of heaven, the innumerable multitudes of birds and quadrupeds and every kind of animal of the earth, the variety of plants on it, the abundance of fish in the sea, he is immediately amazed and exclaims with the Prophet David: "How great are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom Thou made them all."

Such a man, impelled by his pure heart, discovers God also in the World of Grace of the Church, from which the evil man is far removed. The man of pure heart believes in the Church, admires her spiritual system, discovers God in the Mysteries, in the heights of the theology, in the light of the Divine revelations, in the truths of the teachings, in the commandments of the Law, in the achievements of the Saints, in every good deed, in every perfect gift, and in general in the whole of the creation.

Justly then did the Lord say in His Beatitudes of those possessing purity of the heart: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

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The Unburnt Bush Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Unburnt Bush Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is based on the miracle witnessed by Moses in the Old Testament. In Chapter 3 of Exodus God calls Moses on Mt. Horeb from the midst of a bush which "was burning, yet it was not consumed" (Ex. 3:2). Moses is informed that he will lead the Hebrews out of their slavery in Egypt, and then God tells him His name, "I am Who am" (Ex. 3:14).

The Church has always regarded the Unburnt Bush on Horeb as a type of the Most Holy Theotokos giving birth to the Savior Christ, while remaining a Virgin. This imagery is to be found in the Church's hymnography (for example, the Dogmatikon at Saturday Vespers in Tone 2), and also in iconography.

One of the earliest depictions of the Mother of God as the Unburnt Bush shows her holding her divine Son in the midst of a burning bush. Moses is shown to one side, removing his sandals, for that place was holy (Ex. 3:5).

Most icons now depict the bush in a symbolic fashion. There are two overlapping diamonds: one red (representing the fire), the other green (representing the bush), forming an eight pointed star. The Theotokos is shown in the center.

In the four corners of the green diamond are the symbols of the four Evangelists: a man (St Matthew), a lion (St Mark), an ox (St Luke), and an eagle (St John). These symbols are derived from Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:7. Archangels are depicted in the four corners of the red diamond.


The design of the icon has become more complex over time. Now we can see archangels, Moses and the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), Isaiah and the seraphim with the burning coal (Is. 6:7), Ezekiel and the gate through which only the Lord may enter (Ez. 44:2), and Jacob with the ladder (Gen. 28:12). The Theotokos is shown holding Jacob's ladder which leads from earth to heaven. Sometimes the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) is shown in the center of the icon's lower border.

There is an old story about a fire which was consuming several wooden buildings. In the midst of the fire an old woman stood in front of her house holding an icon of the "Unburnt Bush." A witness happened to see her there, and marveled at her faith. The next day he returned to the spot and was astonished to see the old woman's home completely unscathed by the fire, while all the other houses around it were destroyed. This may explain why the Mother of God, through her Icon of the Unburnt Bush, is regarded as the protector of homes from fire.

It is believed that the earliest icons of the Unburnt Bush originated at St Catherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai. It is celebrated on September 4 together with the Prophet Moses.

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84 Martyred Children with Babylas at Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Babylas and the 84 Children Martyrs (Feast Day - September 4)

These 84 children suffered in Nicomedia with the Martyr Babylas during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305).

St Babylas was denounced for instructing children in Christian piety. He was brought before the emperor, and tortured. After being pelted with stones, he was clapped in irons and they took him to prison.

Then the saint 's young disciples were brought before the emperor. Neither flattery nor promise of gifts were able to alter their Christian convictions. Two of them, Ammonias and Donatus, firmly declared, "We are Christians, and we will not offer sacrifice to deaf and dumb devils."

The emperor flew into a rage over the unexpected and firm rebuke from the children. At first, he ordered them to be whipped, and later to be put to death by beheading, together with their teacher. On the way to execution, the holy Martyr Babylas quoted Isaiah, "Behold, I and the children which God has given me" (Isaiah 8:18). With spiritual rejoicing, first St Babylas, and then his 84 disciples, received the crown of martyrdom.

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The Demons Fear the Relics of Saint Babylas

St. Babylas the Martyr of Antioch (Feast Day - September 4)

Saint Babylas was the twelfth Bishop of Antioch, being the successor of Zebinus (or Zebinas); he was beheaded during the reign of Decius, in the year 250, and at his own request was buried in the chains with which he was bound.

by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

A saint's power after his death is often many times greater than in life. "That is why God left us the relics of the saints," says St. John Chrysostom in his unsurpassable homily on St. Babylas.

St. Babylas was buried in the city of Antioch. At that time, Emperor Gallus - the brother of Julian the Apostate - was reigning together with Constantius, the son of Constantine the Great. Inspired by piety, Gallus translated the relics of St. Babylas to the outskirts of Daphne and built a small church, placing the relics of the martyr in it. There was a famous temple of Apollo in Daphne, built on the spot where, according to a pagan legend, a virgin had turned into a laurel tree in order to be saved from the `"god" Apollo, who was pursuing her out of unrestrained fleshly passion for her. There stood the idol of Apollo, which allegedly could foretell anyone's future. But, as the relics of Babylas now rested in the vicinity of the temple, the demon from the idol fell silent and ceased making prophesies.

Later, when Emperor Julian the Apostate set out on his catastrophic war with the Persians, he visited the temple of Apollo and consulted the idol about the outcome of his impending war. The idol responded with trepidation that it could not render a clear response "because of the dead" buried in its proximity. Of course, that pertained to Babylas, the presence of whose body had silenced the demon. Julian ordered that the relics of Babylas be transported back to Antioch. However, as soon as the relics of the martyr were removed, fire fell from heaven and consumed the temple of Apollo, destroying it forever. Julian set out against the Persians and his blasphemous life came to a horrible end.

Such was the power of Christ's martyr after death: he silenced the demon, brought down fire from heaven, destroyed the idolatrous temple, and punished the apostate emperor with a dishonorable death.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
In thy heart, O Babylas, thou sacred Martyr, thou didst set the mighty works of faith and keptest them secure; hence, thou didst not fear the tyrant's rage. Keep us as well, O good servant of Christ our God.

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St. Gregory of Nyssa on Emulating the Fortuitous Birth of Moses

In the first sections of the second book of his Life of Moses, St. Gregory of Nyssa instructs that Christians are to "emulate the fortuitous birth of Moses"—but how can this be done? Is not birth outside the realm of a person’s control? In examining the manner in which St. Gregory exposes "birth" as the constant making of choices by the free human creature, we discover the rich manner in which the saint finds spiritual significance in the historical moments of Scripture.

Listen to the podcast here (Length: 18:20).

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The Jamaican-Orthodox Grooves of Komba Bakkh

Komba Bakkh: Exponents of “Natural, Jamaican-Orthodox Grooves”

July 24, 2010
Far From Moscow

Komba Bakkh are an all-male outfit from Kostroma, an ancient town first mentioned in chronicles around 1213; some historians date the founding of Kostroma hundreds of years earlier. Today it is home to just under 300,000 people, all of whom are surrounded by a rich architectural and spiritual heritage. Komba Bakkh are acutely aware of threats to this tradition and celebrate it in the strangest of ways: they are avid exponents of Orthodox Christian, primarily acoustic hip-hop. Their name comes from an equivalent of the word "combo" (i.e., ensemble) and an anagram made from the performers' initials.

We first celebrated their work in 2008: "Most of the group – who number up to eight when performing live – met in school and formed friendships around a shared enthusiasm for Russian rappers Detsl and Ligalaiz, plus Canada’s Amon Tobin and New Jersey’s The Fugees. They performed their first ever concert in Moscow only three days ago [in 2008]. The promotional materials have added to this strange melange by noting that Komba had already, while still at school, developed sufficient tech-skills to start mixing samples from Wyclef Jean with Stravinskii…"

"Komba Bakkh now use their music to champion several causes, most notably the value of Orthodoxy for one’s well-being, and the unification of Russia and Belarus for ancient spiritual reasons. As they say: 'We take everything that’s ‘not-modern”… and then we make it modern! We love Russian Folk-Hip-Hop and play it as best we can. Give us a chance and we’ll get you going! We’ve got one hope – that we’ll not live in vain and that people will remember us fondly. Thanks, everyone! God is Love.'”

Read the rest here.

Visit the official website of Komba Bakh here.

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Saint Nektarios on Darwinism and the Dignity of Man

by Dr. Constantine Cavaranos

Sketch Concerning Man "may be regarded as the first Christian anthropology in the modern Greek language."1 In the Preface, St. Nektarios explains that the writing of this book was occasioned by a discussion which he had with some college students that "the soul of man differs only in degree from the soul of animals." To refute their erroneous view, he says, he wrote and published a small study, of only 16 pages, titled Concerning the Relation of the Human Soul to That of the Animal and Their Difference.2 As that work was too brief to treat the subject adequately and to convince the students, he proceeded to write this book of 233 pages. Its purpose is to show what man is, and the chasm that separates man from the animal. In the closing section of the book (pp. 191-229), our Saint gives eleven proofs of the immortality of the soul. Included among these are the six proofs contained in his book Holy Memorial Services. The first two of the latter appear unaltered, the third, fourth and fifth in expanded form, and the sixth revised. The five new arguments are: (1) from the holy life; (2) from the worship of God; (3) from knowledge; (4) from the social life; and (5) from the destiny of nations and divine Providence.

This book shows considerable acquaintance with the views of nineteenth century European scientists, including those of Lamarck and Darwin, of whom he is particularly critical. Speaking of the evolutionists who trace the origin of man to the apes, St. Nektarios says, characteristically:

"The followers of pithecogeny [the derivation of man from apes] are ignorant of man and of his lofty destiny, because they have denied him his soul and Divine revelation. They have rejected the Spirit, and the Spirit has abandoned them. They withdrew from God, and God withdrew from them; for, thinking that they were wise, they became fools... If they acted with knowledge, they would not have lowered themselves so much, nor would they have taken pride in tracing the origin of the human race to the most shameless of animals. Rightly did the Prophet say of them: 'Man, while in honor did not understand, but joined the beasts and became like them.'"3

Notes:

1. Archimandrite Titos Matthaiakis, Ho Hosios Nektarios Kephalas (Saint Nektarios Kephalas), Athens, 1955, p. 103.

2. Peri tes Scheseos kai Diaphoras tou Anthropou kai tou Zoou. This was published at Athens in 1885, under the title Melete epi tes Psyches tou Anthropou kai tou Zoou (Study on the Soul of Man and of the Animal).

3. Pp. 216-217.

Source: Constantine Cavarnos, Modern Orthodox Saints 7: St. Nectarios of Aegina, Institute For Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Belmont, Massachusetts, 1988, pp. 28-29.

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Stephen Hawking Can't Use Physics To Answer Why We're Here

To restate the maxim of Albert Einstein: The problem with scientists is that they make terrible philosophers.

Eric Priest
3 September 2010
Guardian.co.uk

Stephen Hawking makes the claim that it is not necessary to invoke God as the creator of the universe and the assertion that physics alone made it.

He may be correct in his first statement, but to rule out a possibly important role for God is in my view unjustified. It is certainly possible that God sets up and maintains or underpins the laws of physics and allows them to work, so that being able to explain the big bang in terms of physics is not inconsistent with there being a role for God.

As a scientist, you are continually questioning, rarely coming up with a definitive answer. The limitations of your own knowledge and expertise together with the beauty and mystery of life and the universe often fill you with a sense of profound humility. Thus, unequivocal assertions are not part of a genuine scientific quest.

Mathematics as applied to physics may be the queen of sciences according to Carl Friedrich Gauss, but it does not answer every scientific question. Chemistry, biology, psychology and the social sciences have their own ways of analysing the nature of reality which are complementary to those of physics and mathematics: indeed, they are not reducible to physics but their insights emerge at their own level of complexity.

Furthermore, many of the questions that are most crucial to us as human beings are not addressed adequately at all by science, such as the nature of beauty and love and how to live one's life – often philosophy or history or theology are better suited to help answer them.

The complementary nature of different questions and in particular of the difference between how and why are important. If M-theory does indeed turn out to enable a unified theory, Hawking may be able in future to say how the universe started, but as a physicist he cannot answer the question "why?"

This is well illustrated by John Polkinghorne's story about boiling a kettle: I can describe with physics how it boils in terms of the stove making its temperature rise; but why it is boiling is a different type of question altogether – most probably in my case because my wife is thirsty!

The so-called "God of the Gaps" is not part of modern religious faith. In this view, you invoked God to explain the inexplicable – at one time this would have been the weather or common diseases, and for Hawking apparently until recently the origin of the universe. Thus, when an alternative explanation arises, there is no longer any need for God.

The God followed by many people of a religious faith is not a God of the Gaps at all – rather a God who helps answer other nonscientific questions about why the universe and its amazing life exists and how to lead a good life. Also, they welcome the advances in understanding that modern science brings, since they reveal more of the incredible beauty, diversity and wonder of the nature of the universe.

You cannot prove whether God exists or not. But you can ask whether the existence or nonexistence of God is more consistent with your experience. It is up to each of us to reach our own conclusion, but for many of us it is and can make a profound and enriching difference to our lives.

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Saint John Vlasaty the Fool For Christ of Rostov

St. John the Merciful and Fool For Christ (Feast Day - September 3)

In Rostov in the Church of the Holy Martyr Blaise (Vlasy), the relics of the Blessed John Vlasaty repose sealed. In his tomb there rests a silver cross and a Psalter in Latin. A plaque on the Psalter bears the inscription:

"In the year 7089 (1581), on the third day of September, in the reign of the great sovereign Tsar and Grand Prince Ioann Vasilievich, John Vlasaty reposed and was buried in the Church of the Holy Martyr Blaise, which is at Zarovy. Healings are received at his coffin by the ill who come with faith. Because of the abundance of the healings, he is surnamed 'the merciful' by the people."

When St. Dimitri became Metropolitan of Rostov in 1702, the Psalter was very old and falling apart. He had it rebound and placed it back in the coffin.

No one really knows who this Blessed John really was. He arrived in Rostov sometime during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Some believe that, since he could read the Psalter in Latin, he may have been a convert from the West. He began his struggle in Rostov and lived out all his life there in great deprivation, suffering and persecution from both evil people and the elements. It is known that his spiritual father was Fr. Peter of the All Saints Church and that the saint was especially close to an aged widow of Rostov. Living in humility, patience and unceasing prayer, he spiritually nourished many people, among them St. Irenarchus, Hermit of Rostov (January 13). When he reposed, he was buried at his own request, near Fr. Peter and the widow, behind the wooden church of St. Blaise. His burial was marked by a terrible storm with much thunder and lightening.

Soon after the repose of the blessed one, a river of healings began to flow from his coffin. Among those healed was Metropolitan Kyril of Rostov, who was aged and, having lost the use of his arms and legs, had stepped down from the cathedra. After fervent prayer at the tomb of Blessed John, the aged prelate, who had been carried into the church, received an easing of his illness, so that he was able to walk home by himself. Subsequently, he not only was able to celebrate the Divine Services, but was able once more to rule the eparchy during the time of the captivity by the Poles of his famous successor, Philaret Romanov.

The memory of St. John the Merciful is honored locally on the day of his repose and also on 12 November, the anniversary of the translation of his holy relics.

He had "hair upon his head abundantly," therefore he was also called "Hairy."

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Courageous Last Words of Cretan Saints

"It is impossible that I step on Your icon, Lord Jesus Christ." - St. Paul the Righteous Martyr, 765

"I was born a Christian and I will die a Christian. My name is John. I will not change my Faith nor my name." - St. John of Sfakia, 1811

"We were born Christians and we will die Christians." - Four Holy Martyrs of Rethymnon, 1824

"Offer libations? Eat polluted meats? No!" - Holy Ten Martyrs of Gortyna, 250

"I refuse." - This was said by St. Maria of Fournes after a Muslim asked her hand in marriage and to convert to Islam, 1826

"I was Islamicized forcefully as a child, I return to Smyrna to preach Christ publicly as the only true God." - St. Mark of Smyrna, 1643

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CNN Reports: The Last Patriarch?

Read the story here.

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Great Miracles of the Holy Martyr Mamas

St. Mamas the Martyr (Feast Day - September 2)

by St. Dimitri of Rostov

The relics of Saint Mamas were buried by the faithful at the place where he had been martyred. It is clear from the testimony of Saint Basil the Great that numerous miracles took place there, for in his homily to the people on the day of the commemoration of the holy martyr Mamas, the saint wrote:

"Keep the holy martyr in remembrance, you who have beheld him in a vision; you who have gathered in this place, having him as your helper; you who have called on his name, and have been granted success in your undertakings; you who were once in error and have been guided by him into life; you who have been healed of your infirmities; you whose children, though dead, have been returned to life; you whose lives have been prolonged. Let all of us who have assembled here send up praise to the martyr" (Homily 26).

It is clear from these words of Saint Basil that many healings and miracles worked at the grave of the holy martyr Mamas.

Nor should silence be kept concerning the following miracle [recorded by Nikephoros and George Kedrinos]. When Julian the Apostate was still a youth, desiring to make a show of piety (although he was already a wolf in sheep's clothing), he began to build, at great expense, a wondrous church over the grave of the holy martyr Mamas. This he did not out of piety but hypocritically and out of vanity. And, consequently, a great marvel was seen, for that which was built by day fell down at night. The pillars that had been erected fell into heaps of rubble, and the stones from the wall could not be made to fit back correctly. Others became so hard that they could not be hewn, and still others crumbled into dust. Each morning the mortar and bricks were found blown down from their places as if scattered by the wind. All these signs occurred as a reproof of Julian's impiety and as an indication of the persecution of the Church of God which was to come at his hands.

Such was the miracle performed over the grave of the Saint, for he did not wish a church to be built and dedicated to him by one who was soon to raise up persecution against piety. By the prayers, O Lord, of Thy holy martyr Mamas, work for us a sign unto good and deliver us from them that persecute us. Amen.

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Mamas was from Gangra of Paphlagonia. He was born in prison, where his parents were suffering for Christ's sake and ended their lives. He was named Mamas because, after he had long remained without speaking, he addressed his foster mother Ammia as "mama". When they threw St Mamas to the wild beasts, these creatures would not touch him. Finally, one of the pagan priests struck him with a trident. Mortally wounded, St Mamas went out beyond the city limits. There, in a small stone cave, he gave up his spirit to God. He contested for Christ about the year 275.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyr Mamas, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Kontakion in the Third Tone
With the staff bestowed on thee by God, O holy Great Martyr, shepherd us thy people now in green and life-giving pastures; swiftly crush with godly power unseen and wild beasts underneath the feet of them that praise thee with longing; for in dangers we all have thee, O Mamas, as our fervent protector and help.

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On the Canons of Saint John the Faster

Saint John IV the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople (582-595), is famed in the Orthodox Church as the compiler of a penitential nomokanon (i.e. rule for penances), which has come down to us in several distinct versions, but their foundation is one and the same. These are instructions for priests on how to hear the confession of secret sins, whether sins already committed, or merely sins of intent.

Ancient church rules address the manner and duration of public penances, established for obvious and evident sinners. But it was necessary to adapt these rules for the secret confession of undetected things. St John the Faster issued his penitential nomokanon (or "Canonaria"), so that the confession of secret sins, unknown to the world, already testifies to the good disposition of the sinner and his conscience in being reconciled to God, and so the saint reduced the penances of the ancient Fathers by half or more.

On the other hand, he set more exactly the character of the penances: severe fasting, daily performance of a set number of prostrations to the ground, the distribution of alms, etc. The length of penance is determined by the priest. The main purpose of the nomocanon compiled by the holy Patriarch consists in assigning penances, not simply according to the seriousness of the sins, but according to the degree of repentance and the spiritual state of the person who confesses.

Among the Greeks, and later in the Russian Church, the rules of St John the Faster are honored on a level "with other saintly rules," and the nomocanons of his book are accounted "applicable for all the Orthodox Church." St Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (July 14) included him in the Manual for Confession (Exomologitarion), first published in 1794, and in the Rudder (Pedalion), published in 1800.

The first Slavonic translation was done quite possibly by the holy Equal of the Apostles Methodius, at the same time as he produced the Nomocanon in 50 Titles of the holy Patriarch John Scholastikos, whose successor on the Constantinople cathedra-seat was St John the Faster. This ancient translation was preserved in Rus in the "Ustiug Rudder" of the thirteenth century, published in 1902.

From the sixteenth century in the Russian Church the nomocanon of St John the Faster was circulated in another redaction, compiled by the monks and clergy of Mount Athos. In this form it was repeatedly published at the Kiev Caves Lavra (in 1620, 1624, 1629).

In Moscow, the Penitential Nomokanon was published in the form of a supplement to the Trebnik ("Book of Needs): under Patriarch Joasaph in 1639, under Patriarch Joseph in 1651, and under Patriarch Nikon in 1658. The last edition since that time is that printed in the Great Book of Needs. A scholarly edition of the nomocanon with parallel Greek and Slavonic texts and with detailed historical and canonical commentary was published by A. S. Pavlov (Moscow, 1897).

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NYC Mosque Rhetoric May Harm Persecuted Christians

By Michelle A. Vu
September 2, 2010
Christian Post

The sometimes hateful rhetoric being used by opponents of the proposed mosque near ground zero can result in violence against Christians living in Muslim-dominated countries, warned a ministry leader who works with persecuted Christians.

“I think it’s important to remember, as Americans are often unable to do, that there are millions of Christians in the Middle East,” said Dr. Carl Moeller, president/CEO of Open Doors USA, on Wednesday.

Moeller, who noted that there are some 10 million Christians in Egypt and six million in Pakistan, said the “more vile and hateful” protests against the proposed project can inflame Muslim extremists. Since extremists in the Middle East cannot take their anger out on Americans, they take revenge on local Christians, which they associate with America, he said.

Several years ago, the Danish cartoons that poked fun at the Muslim prophet Mohammed caused massive rioting in the Middle East, Moeller recalled. During the uproar, angry Muslims beat up local Christians and torched churches.

“We talk often about our rights as Americans to protest. It is true,” Moeller said. “But we also have responsibilities, not only to our societies but to those vulnerable communities that are at risk because of our actions.”

For months, average Americans, politicians and recently even President Obama have been drawn into an emotionally-charged debate about whether a $100 million Muslim community center and mosque should be built two blocks from ground zero.

Proponents of the project, called Park51, maintain it would be a symbol of America’s religious tolerance and strengthen interfaith relations. Meanwhile, opponents say the center would be an offense to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Recently, New York Gov. David Paterson waded into the controversy by offering to discuss with the developers of Park51 about moving the center elsewhere.

SoHo Properties, the developer of Park51, expressed interest in the discussion with Paterson.

In the mean time, Moeller has called on Americans to try to remain civil in the debate.

“When we let our emotions get out of hand and we let our disagreement spill over into hatred and vilification, then that is being echoed and amplified in the Muslim world,” warned Moeller. “The ultimate result is innocent people being killed, pastors being killed, and churches being burned throughout the Muslim world.”

Open Doors works to strengthen believers suffering from interrogation, arrest and other forms of oppression because of their faith in over 45 of the most persecuted countries worldwide.

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A Tribute to Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotis (Video)

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The Other Religion at Ground Zero

A Greek Orthodox congregation has been waiting longer—and working harder—than Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf to restore the church that was destroyed on September 11, 2001.

Lisa Miller
September 02, 2010
Newsweek

Father Mark Arey won’t put it quite this way, but he doesn’t see why Muslims are getting all the attention for their religious building near Ground Zero. Especially when the church he represents, St. Nicholas Church, was actually at Ground Zero; was obliterated when the South Tower fell on September 11, 2001; and has never gotten the green light to proceed rebuilding—despite nine years of promises by the Port Authority that were reiterated last week by New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“I dare say this, if this were a Roman Catholic church or a Baptist church or even a synagogue, we would not have had this problem. I’m not sure we haven’t been a little bit bullied because we’re tiny,” says Arey, the ecumenical officer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

There are about 2 million Eastern Orthodox in the United States, practicing in a branch of Christianity that split from the Roman Catholic church in 1054. St. Nicholas Church was built in 1916 on Cedar Street, across the street from where the World Trade Center eventually stood, by Greek immigrants who worked the shipyards at New York Harbor. St. Nicholas, as Arey points out, is the patron saint of sailors in the Eastern tradition, and “the Greeks have been sailing the wine-dark seas since the days of Homer.” By 2001, just about 70 people were worshiping there on Sundays.

Read the restof this story here.

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Discovery Channel Gunman's Darwinian Motivations

Major Media Spike Discovery Channel Gunman's Darwinian Motivations

John G. West
September 2, 2010
Evolution News and Views

If someone opposed to abortion were to take hostages at an abortion clinic, you can be sure the newsmedia would tenaciously track down and publicize every anti-abortion association and comment of the criminal in question. But when a gunman inspired by Darwinism takes hostages at the offices of the Discovery Channel, reporters seem curiously uninterested in fully disclosing the criminal's own self-described motivations. Most of yesterday's media reports about hostage-taker James Lee dutifully reported Lee's eco-extremism and his pathological hatred for humanity. But they also suppressed any mention of Lee's explicit appeals to Darwin and Malthus as the intellectual foundations for his views. At least, I could find no references to Lee's Darwinian motivations in the accounts I read by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. Lee obviously was mentally disturbed, and the vast majority of Darwinists today would not defend his violent actions, just as the vast majority of those in the pro-life community would not embrace violence against abortion clinics. But the complete absence of Lee's Darwinian motivations from many, if not most, news reports is noteworthy.

Read also:
Fanatic Wanted Still More Darwin Programs

James J. Lee, Hostage-taker and Darwinist

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The Kaluga Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos

Kaluga Icon of the Theotokos (Feast Day - September 2)

The Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God appeared in 1748 in the village of Tinkova, near Kaluga, at the home of the landowner Basil Kondratevich Khitrov. Two servants of Khitrov were cleaning out junk from the attic of his home. One of them, Eudokia, noted for her temper, was given to rough and even indecorous language. Her companion was modest and serious.

They discovered a large package covered in a linen cloth. Undoing it, the girl saw the picture of a woman in dark garments with a book in her hands. Considering it to be the portrait of a woman monastic and wanting to bring Eudokia to her senses, she accused her of being disrespectful to the abbess.

Eudokia jeered at the scolding words of her companion, and becoming increasingly angry, she spit on the picture. Immediately, she became convulsed and fell down senseless. She also became blind and mute. Her frightened companion reported what had happened to the household.

The next night, the Queen of Heaven appeared to Eudokia's parents and told them that their daughter had behaved impertinently toward Her and She ordered them to serve a Molieben before the insulted icon, then sprinkle the invalid with holy water at the Molieben.

After the Molieben Eudokia recovered, and Khitrov took the wonderworking icon into his own home, where it granted healing to those approaching it with faith. Later, the icon was placed in the parish temple of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Kaluga. At the present time it is located in the cathedral church of Kaluga.

Through this icon the Mother of God has repeatedly manifest Her protection of the Russian land during difficult times. The celebration of the Kaluga Icon on September 2 was established in remembrance of the deliverance from a plague in 1771. A second celebration was established October 12, in memory of the preservation of Kaluga from the French invasion of 1812. In 1898, a celebration was established on July 18 in gratitude to the Mother of God for protection against cholera. The icon is also commemorated on the first Sunday of the Apostles' Fast.

Read more about this icon here.

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Bartholomew Opens Art Exhibit At Halki Seminary

İstanbul’s Halki Seminary Reopens For Art Exhibition

31 August 2010
Today's Zaman

The Halki Seminary on Heybeliada, one of İstanbul’s Princes’ Islands, opened its doors for the first time in 30 years on Sunday for an art exhibition at the long-unused school building.

The Halki Seminary, which was closed to new students in 1971 under a law that put religious and military training under state control, will now serve as an art space for 25 days for a group exhibition titled “Tracing İstanbul” and featuring works of art by Greek artists.

İstanbul-based Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew opened the exhibition on Sunday evening, underlining in his speech his “hope that the seminary will reopen,” adding that the Greek Orthodox community expected “the government to do so as soon as possible,” the Anatolia news agency reported. Greek Culture Minister Pavlos Yeroulanos, who was also present at the exhibition’s opening, defined the inauguration in the seminary as historic, Anatolia said.

The exhibition -- brought together by curator and art historian Iris Kritikou and brought to life by a collaboration between the seminary, the Greek Consulate General in İstanbul and the City of Athens Technopolis museum -- is made up of works focusing on the images, colors and symbols of İstanbul. The 101 participating artists highlight mythological, historical and everyday-life moments from the millennia-old city in the exhibition, featuring work in various styles, including painting, sculpture, photography and video. The vast majority of the works on display have been created specifically for the exhibition, Anatolia said.

Part of the exhibition will also be on display at the Greek Consulate General in İstanbul. Both sections of the exhibition will remain on public display until Sept. 23, after which they will travel to Athens for an exhibit in October.

See the opening speech of Patriarch Bartholomew here.

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Orthodox Archpriest Offers His Impression of Presbyterians

Source: The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA.

Read more here.

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Bollywood Film of Christ's Life

Pawan Kalyan to Star in Bollywood Film of Christ's Life

Production costing $30m to be filmed in Israel and Palestinian Territories with all-Indian cast of mainly children

Harriet Sherwood
31 August 2010
Guardian.co.uk

Monty Python was condemned for irreverence, Mel Gibson was castigated for violence and Martin Scorsese got into trouble over the sex scenes. But the pitfalls of portraying Jesus have not deterred Bollywood from an ambitious and expensive project to recreate the life of Christ in its own unique way.

A $30m (£20m) production involving an all-Indian cast of mainly children will begin shooting on location in the Holy Land in October and is scheduled for release next year. As yet untitled and unscripted, the film will cover Jesus's life from birth to crucifixion. Its star, alongside the amateur child actors, will be Pawan Kalyan, introduced at a press conference in Jerusalem today as a "darling to millions". The producers have spent recent days touring sites in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, and have approached the Palestinian Authority about filming in Jericho and Bethlehem. "We are enriched, enthralled and thrilled," said director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. "We are getting the necessary inspiration." The film would include seven devotional songs, he added, but would not feature the rumbustious music and dancing characteristic of Bollywood.

The 195-minute film, which will have versions in four languages including English, is one of the highest budget films to be made by an Indian production company. Most Bollywood films are made for around $500,000. Rao said he hoped the film's central message would be heard by Israelis and Palestinians: "Wherever there is conflict, pain, war, we would like to take the message of peace and love."

Palestinian officials had been "kind, enthusiastic and co-operative", Kalyan said. "Israel was always known to us as a conflict area but after being here we realise it's like any other country. The communities are able to co-exist despite all the problems."

There would a "great audience" in the sub-continent for the film, he said. "There is great religious tolerance in India."

India's Christian community is about 24 million, or 2.3% of the population.

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The Ladder, the Wrestling and the Prophecy of Jacob the Patriarch

"Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!" (Genesis 28:12, 13).

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man" (Genesis 32:24, 25).


"I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star shall come out of Jacob and a scepter will rise out of Israel. It shall crush the foreheads of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed." (Numbers 24.17-19)

First icon from The Holy Hesychasterion of John the Evangelist and Theologian in Souroti, Thessaloniki. Second icon from the Holy Convent of the Annunciation in Ormylia.

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Saint Nicholas Kourtaliotis, the Ascetic of Crete

St. Nicholas Kourtaliotis (Feast Day - September 1)

Verses
You were shown to be a citizen of the wilderness
and the pride of the Righteous, O God-bearing Nicholas.

There are many gorges in the southern shores of the Cretan mountains. The Gorge of Kourtaliotis is one of the most attractive around the area of Rethymno. It starts at the slopes of the mountains Kouroupa (984 m) and Ksiros (904 m), a little after the village Koksare, it follows the river Kourtaliotis and ends up at the beach of Limni Preveli. The name of the gorge has its origin in the Cretan word kourtala meaning “round of applause”. This refers to the sounds that are created when the sometimes very strong wind tears through the gorge.

At the outlet of the gorge stands the Chapel of St. Nicholas the Ascetic. Not too far above there are five springs 40 meters high that irrigates the entire area year around. According to local tradition, these springs are the result of a miracle of St. Nicholas, when he spread his five fingers on the rock, and immediately five springs emerged pouring water under the dry mountain and barren slope of the gorge. For this reason the people call this site "the blessing of the Lord".

We know almost nothing of the life of St. Nicholas save for what has been handed from local tradition. We are told he lived in the 17th century and died around 1670. He was a Rethymnian. Two villages claim him as their own - Phratta and Asomatos. When he was a young boy he possessed a charitable nature and would give his father's grapes and oil to the poor. Because of this, the grapes would multiply every harvest and the oil vessels would always remain full. Seeing the boy's charitable nature, his father gave his blessing to allow him to fully devote his life to Christ. It was at that time he went to live an ascetic life as a youth.



Local tradition says that for a period of his life he lived in asceticism in Messaras, Heraklion. Before his death he decided to return to the province of Saint Vasilios where he was born together with another man from Messara. This man, while hunting one day, shot St. Nicholas with an arrow by mistake, and according to the wishes of St. Nicholas, he was brought to the area where his chapel is today. It was then that St. Nicholas worked his miracle dividing the five streams, in order to assuage the thirst of his accidental killer.

Today the five springs and the countless miracles, given to both Muslims and Christians, are a testimony to the sanctity of St. Nicholas, and thousands come to his chapel on a yearly basis. It is said he is buried near this chapel, but his grave has yet to be revealed. This chapel was built in 1838 and celebrates its feast on September 1st. Some say the chapel was built by a Turk to honor the Saint after a miracle. Pious Rethymnians have built a second church to honor the Saint on top of the western part of the city, among the wild steep rocks and bushes of Akrovateres, high above the sea. His hymns were pubished in 1879 in Athens.

Apolytikion in Tone Four
Nicholas, you disregarded the delights of life and traveled on the road of asceticism in the wilderness and in gorges. Therefore you were worthy of the heavenly good, and you rejoice together in the presence of all the righteous. Through your intercessions, deliver us from dangers.

Kontakion in Tone Four
You shone in Crete as a morning star, righteous Nicholas. Illuminate in a holy fashion with your virtuous deeds those who with an unhesitating soul approach you.

Megalynarion
You were seen as a virtuous citizen in life, having shone in asceticism more than humanly possible. You distribute, Holy Nicholas, a treasury of graces to those with a pure heart.

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The Church of St. Symeon Stylite and Modern Day Aleppo (Video)

St. Dimitri of Rostov writes the following concerning the Monastery of Saint Symeon the Stylite in Aleppo:

"The people built a beautiful cruciform church dedicated to the saint in the place where his pillar once stood. A great monastery was also built there. Miracles did not cease to occur at the site, and there was no shortage of healings for the sick. Every year, a great star appeared above Symeon's column that would light the entire land on the day of his commemoration. Many historians bear witness concerning the appearance of this star, especially Evagrius the Scholastic, who saw it with his own eyes."

More can be read about the church here.

Synaxarion:

Our righteous Father Symeon was born about the year 390 in a certain village named Sis, in the mountain region of Cilicia and Syria. Having first been a shepherd, he entered the monastic discipline at a young age. After trying various kinds of ascetical practices, both in the monastery and then in the wilderness, he began standing on pillars of progressively greater height, and heroically persevered in this for more than forty years; the greater part of this time he spent standing upright, even when one of his feet became gangrenous, and other parts of his body gave way under the strain. He did not adopt this strange way of life out of vainglory, a charge that some of his contemporaries made against him at the first: because he was already famous for his asceticism and holiness before ascending his first pillar (in Greek, style, whence he is called "Stylite"), many pious people came to him wishing to touch his garments, either for healing or for a blessing; to escape the continual vexation they caused, he made a pillar about ten feet high, and then higher and higher, until the fourth and last was about fifty feet high. The Church historian Theodoret of Cyrrhus, an eyewitness of his exploits who wrote of him while Symeon was yet alive, called him "the great wonder of the world." God gave him the grace to persevere in such an astonishing form of asceticism that multitudes came to see him from Persia, Armenia, South Arabia, Georgia, Thrace, Spain, Italy, Gaul, and the British Isles. Theodoret says that he became so famous in Rome that the Nomadic Arabs by the thousands believed in Christ and were baptized because of him; the King of Persia sent envoys to inquire into his way of life, and the Queen asked to be sent oil that he had blessed. He also was a great defender of sound doctrine, and confirmed the Orthodoxy of the Holy Council of Chalcedon for many who had been beguiled by the teachings of the Monophysites, including the Empress Eudocia, widow of Theodosius the Younger. After a life of unheard-of achievements and struggles, he reposed in peace at the age of sixty-nine, in the year 459.

Apolytikion in the First Tone
Thou becamest a pillar of patience and didst emulate the Forefathers, O righteous one: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in temptations, and the life of the bodiless while in the body, O Symeon, our righteous Father, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Thou soughtest the heights, though parted not from things below; thy pillar became a chariot of fire for thee. Thou becamest thereby a true companion of the angelic host; and together with them, O Saint, thou ceaselessly prayest Christ God for us all.

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Icon of the Saints of September

Below is the icon for the Saints of September 1:

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Orthodox Parishes Abroad Have to Adapt to Local Traditions

September 1, 2010
Interfax

Orthodox priests who work in countries where Orthodoxy is not a traditional religion of the majority, have to adapt to local religious traditions or invent new ones comprehensive to their newly converted parishioners.

Thus, in Antarctica people are baptized in the ocean, and on the feast of the Holy Trinity the procession with cross does not carry the traditional Russian branches of beech, but priests go through the snowstorm of the polar night, the Ukrainian paper Segodnya reported on Wednesday.

One of the Hollywood Orthodox churches occupies a former motion-picture set, Liturgy is celebrated in English once a month, but about ten new believers are baptized a week and Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston can be seen among the parishioners.

Metropolitan Iriney of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd, who worked in Tokyo in 1971-1975, searched for the way to a Japanese heart through music: first they learned "Katyusha", then prayers, and after it many of them got interested in Orthodoxy and wanted to be baptized.

In Africa newly converted Ethiopian Christians regularly go to church, but on their feasts leave the city for the countryside, paint their bodies and dance pagan dances. Ethiopian believers do not bake Easter cakes: they are replaced by lentil flats in salty sauce. Local residents, who have not adopted Christianity, believe the local priest is a powerful magician.

Thai are shocked to see people entering the church in shoes: any sole is considered "unclear", thus representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) serves in socks and cassock.

Iran bans conversion to other religions, thus there are no Orthodox Iranians among the parishioners of the Tegeran church, but Muslim Iranians often come in to pray to Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary also mentioned in the Quran and even light candles to them.

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Elder Zosimas, Disciple of Elder Simon Arvanites

Recently the blessed Elder Zosimas, the disciple of the blessed Elder Simon Arvanites, fell asleep in the Lord on August 10th. An initial introduction can be read here.

Since prior to his becoming a monastic he was a builder, Fr. Zosimas helped build Saint Panteleimon Monastery in Penteli, Athens. It was here that he lived for a number of years with his elder, Fr. Simon Arvanites. Following the repose of his elder, he wrote five books on his life, teachings and miracles which nourished thousands of souls. He had left the monastery and for twenty years lived an ascetic life in a small house in Halandri, Athens. He was therefore an ascetic living in the world, often keeping all-night vigils and adhering fully to a monastic typikon.

He would commemorate hundreds of names in his prayers, typically in his evening prayers during the Supplication Service to the Theotokos. Daily pious Christians would come to his home, even bus loads, in order to receive his blessing. He would answer dozens of phone calls a day as well. Since he was a monastic he did not offer Confession, but his spiritual counsels nourished starving souls and he was responsible for bringing dozens closer to Christ and the Church. He would teach the following: "The most basic aspect of the Christian life is Confession, frequent Holy Communion, fasting, and the meditation of spiritual books." He also inherited a large Cross from Elder Simon, and with this Cross he would bless the faithful.

Whenever possible he would travel to Mount Athos. The first time he went to visit Elder Paisios, and when they saw each other for the first time, Elder Paisios told Elder Zosima: "The spiritual struggles which you have, I also have done". It should be noted that Elder Paisios visited Elder Zosimas previously, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, in Halandri and they had a conversation, though in body Elder Paisios was still on Mount Athos. This was similar to when Elder Porphyrios visited Elder Sophrony in Essex, England through the grace of Holy Spirit, despite the former still being in Athens.

Many suffering souls would come to visit Fr. Zosimas and he would help them by taking on their burden. He would say to all: "Do not be sad when people criticize you or mistreat you. Pray and light a candle for those who criticize you, and thank them, because without these things you will not be saved". How many countless times did he pray with his prayer rope for those who criticized him. Criticism was a daily occurrence for him, much like as it was with St. Nektarios whom he held in great reverence. The more he would be criticized, the more he prayed for his accusers, and he bore his cross as a true servant of God with patience, silence and humility.


While Vatopaidi Monastery on Mount Athos was being falsely accused of creating a scandal in the Church, Fr. Zosimas felt great pain over this situation and prayed about it fervently. He would say the following: "Fr. Ephraim (the present abbot of Vatopaidi) has done a great work. The 100 and more monks which he has under him is proof of his great spirituality, and the slanders and mistreatments which he endures, the Panagia upholds him in her hands." Elder Zosimas also had much love for Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol and suffered with him when he was mistreated years ago.

The life of Elder Zosimos was a life lived in the grace of Christ. Dozens can testify of his works, for his works testify of his life in Christ.

One pious Christian woman who was in correspondence with Elder Paisios was greatly saddened when he reposed. One night she saw in her sleep a sign saying "Towards Fr. Zosimas", similar to the sign which lead visitors to the Cell of Elder Paisios in Panagouda on Mount Athos. Not knowing who Fr. Zosimas was, she inquired and found him. Understanding that it was God's will, she revealed her burdens to Fr. Zosimas. It is such a testimony which reveals the greatness of Fr. Zosimas.

The Cypriot nun Maria Psili visited Fr. Zosimas and after doing a cross over the Holy Bible he gave it to her and told her to open it randomly for a spiritually beneficial message. Nun Maria, who suffered from many issues of health, opened the book and the verse she read said, "...take up your cross and follow Me...". It was exactly the medicine she needed at the time and she took great courage in bearing the cross in her life.

Fr. Zosimas also had many health issues, but he never complained and bore his sickness with courage.

At his funeral on August 11, 2010 at Saint Panteleimon Monastery in Penteli, countless people came to pay their last respects. Eternal be his memory and may we have his prayers.

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French Photos of Mount Athos From 1903

Photos from the book Η Ελλάδα: το ταξίδι των ελληνιστών 1896-1912.

See also: A Photo of the Virgin Mary on Mount Athos

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Teachings and Miracles of Elder Paisios the Athonite

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