Even Great Saints Have Human Needs

By Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

Many years ago when I was at Katounakia [a rugged area in the southeast of the Athonite peninsula] I would often spend time with that great contemporary holy elder Father Ephraim [Katounakiotis], Papa Ephraim, as he was popularly called. I am not sure whether our century will give birth to another great elder like him, a man of continuous prayer who radiated the abundance of God's grace.

When a group of us visited him at his hermitage one day, he complained that he was tired of Katounakia and expressed a wish to go live at Monoxylites for awhile. That's an area near the borders of Mount Athos. It is a valley between two mountains filled with pine-tree forests, vineyards and olive groves. It is a very beautiful area with abundant running waters, an earthly paradise. He said, "I want to go there and rest. Here at Katounakia there is nothing except rocks and prayer, prayer and rocks, day in and day out. I am really tired. I need a change."

I was shocked when I heard him say that. I wondered how it was possible for a great saint like him to have a desire to change his environment, to go to Monoxylites? I could see young monks like ourselves having needs of this sort. But how is it possible that this great saint in whose life God is always present has such needs? It was then that I realized that even saints are human beings subject to the law of alterations.

I heard later that Joseph the Hesychast [d. 1959], the great elder of Papa Ephraim, expressed similar needs during his life. Elder Ephraim himself told us once that his elder underwent a period of deep sorrow and was subjected to many temptations. One day he asked his then disciple Ephraim, "Papa Ephraim, go and bring Pseudo Vasili here to amuse us." Pseudo Vasili was a layman who lived and worked near the Skete of Saint Anna. He was a simple man who was reputed for his outrageous lies. In his presence it was impossible not to roar with laughter. As in my case, Papa Ephraim was scandalized. "How is it possible," he reasoned, "that the elder has a need for a jester like Pseudo Vasili to amuse him? Why can't he do something else, like more prayer?" As you can see, even great saints occasionally have such needs by virtue of their being human.


Source: Kyriacos C. Markides, Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten Path of Christian Spirituality, pp. 116-117.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

An Orthodox Response To The Fatima Appearances

On 13 October 1917, a day of pouring rain, a crowd of seventy thousand people assembled at the Cova, expecting the promised miracle. According to a Roman Catholic priest, they were highly excited, kneeling, weeping and praying. The Lady appeared, announcing that she was Our Lady of the Rosary and that the war would end that day (in fact it did not end till thirteen months later). Then she disappeared and the famous "miracle of the sun" took place. The rain had ceased, and when Lucia cried out "Look at the sun!" (in which she claimed to see in turn Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St Joseph with the Holy Child, and Our Lord), the crowd stared at the sun which appeared to spin, give out coloured rays, zigzag from east to west, fall towards the earth—making those present fear that it was the end of the world,—and return to its place. This was not seen by everyone in the crowd, although some people ten kilometres from Fatima saw it. Other reported solar phenomena, both during the period of the apparitions and afterwards, were a sun casting rainbow-coloured light over everything, a "luminous globe," a "night-time star" and a "rain of flowers" (similar to the "rain of roses" following the death of Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower).

Source

For a detailed Orthodox Christian response to the event above, read the following:

The Appearances of Fatima and Orthodox Christianity

See also: The Troubling Aspects of Catholic Marian Apparitions

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Saint Chryse (Zlata) the New Martyr

St. Zlata (Chryse) the New Martyr (Feast Day - October 13)

By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

In torments, O Chryse, thou wast as brilliant
As gold that hath been purified by fire.

Chryse*, the New Virgin-Martyr and undefiled bride of the Heavenly King, Christ God, was from the village of Slatena of the district of Muglen which lies near the border of Serbia and Bulgaria. She was of a poor family, being one of four daughters. Yet she was rich in acquired and natural virtues; in acquired virtues, that is to say, by her fervent faith in God and by her virginity and prudence; in natural virtues, by her comeliness and beauty for which also the blessed one was deemed worthy of being perfected by a glorious and noble martyrdom.

There was a certain Turk there who, seeing her beauty and comeliness, was pierced in the heart by satanic love for her and kept watch to find an appropriate time to accomplish the evil purpose which he had conceived. One day the Saint came out with other women to gather wood. When the Hagarene - that plotter against the Saint's virginity - learned of this he took some other Turks with him also, and going there, seized her and carried her off by force to his house. At first he began to flatter the Saint with many promises, attempting in this manner to pervert her convictions and lead her to his religion. He told her that if she accepted and became Muslim, he would take her as wife. At the same time he began to threaten her also, saying that if she were not convinced by his words he would submit her to great tortures. But when she who was truly golden, both in mind and in name, heard these things so unexpectedly she did not fear at all but in her heart she called upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to come to her aid, and with great nobility and boldness she answered: "I believe and worship my Christ and Him alone do I have as my Bridegroom Whom I shall never deny, even though you inflict ten thousand tortures upon me - even though you cut my body into small pieces."

When they heard these things they understood that they alone would not be able to convince her. For this cause they used other means. Wherefore, knowing that women are more adept than men in deceiving others, especially other women, they gave the Saint over to their women and commanded them to use every means and device to convince her. When they had taken the Martyr, what did they not do, what did they not devise, what magic spells did they not use against the virgin? For nearly six months they incited the blessed one to accept their religion but in vain did they labor, for the blessed Chryse was firmly established upon the immovable rock of the Faith of Christ. Afterwards they called the Martyr's own parents and sisters and with great threats commanded them to incite their daughter to become Muslim, or else she would be put to death and they would be tortured and would suffer great loss.

Therefore when the parents and sisters of the Martyr drew near to her (for fear constrained them to do this, though unwillingly), they said and did all those things which are able to soften even the hardest and most adamant soul, and they wept and cried and said: "O sweetest daughter, have pity on yourself and on us your parents and your sisters who are all in danger of being destroyed on your account. Deny Christ just for the sake of appearances, so that both you and we might be delivered. Christ is compassionate and will forgive you this sin because of the necessity and violence." And here, let each one consider how vehement and how great was this warfare which the devil had devised and set in motion against the Martyr, and what thoughts of weakness and sympathy could have overcome the tender virgin from the rivers of tears which her mother and father and sisters shed in her presence.

But take courage, beloved, the power of Christ conquered even this warfare and device of the devil; for being aflame with the heartfelt fire of love for Christ, Chryse, who was manly and mighty in soul, was not at all inclined to sympathy by the words and tears of her parents and sisters, as nature demanded. Rather, like one above flesh and blood, and beyond the laws and limits of nature, she turned and spoke these praiseworthy and most wise words to her parents and sisters: "You, who incite me to deny Christ, the true God, are no longer my parents and sisters, nor do I wish to have you as such henceforth. But in your stead, I have my Lord Jesus Christ as father, my Lady the Theotokos as mother, and the Saints as my brothers and sisters." And with this answer she turned them away.

Well done to your stouthearted courage, O Saint! Well done to your true love for God! Well done to your wise convictions, worthy of heavenly praises! Truly, brethren, in this Saint there is fulfilled that which the divine David said: "My father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord hath taken me to Himself" (Ps. 26:10), and that which the Lord said: "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother...And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matt. 10:35-36).

When the Muslims, and especially that evil lover of the virgin, saw that they could achieve nothing, nor pervert the Saint from the Faith of Christ, even with those means and instruments which they had conceived, they abandoned flatteries and words from that time forward, and began torturing the Martyr. At first, for three whole months, they beat her daily with clubs. Later they skinned her and took many strips from her flesh and left them hanging in front of her, so that she might be stricken with fear at the sight of them. The blood ran like a river from the virginal body of the Martyr, and the nearby earth was reddened. Afterwards they heated a skewer and passed it directly through the ears of the Martyr, so that smoke came forth from her nose and mouth.

While suffering such numerous and such grievous tortures, which would humble even the most stouthearted of men, the Martyr of Christ endured with great nobility, being strengthened by the power of the Cross and by her heartfelt love for Christ. For as Symeon Metaphrastes says: "The soul that is held by bonds of love for God deems suffering as nothing; rather it revels in pain and prospers in adversity." When the Saint heard that there was nearby the priest Timothy, the abbot of the august Monastery of Stavronikita on Mount Athos, a man modest and trustworthy whom she had as her spiritual father, who also narrated her martyrdom, she sent word to him by a certain Christian that he make supplication unto God, that she might be accounted worthy to finish the course of her martyrdom in a manner pleasing to God.

Finally, not being satisfied with the numerous torments which they had inflicted upon the Saint, but rather marvelling how she remained yet alive and did not die, those cruel and hard-hearted ones - nay, one should say rather those crueler than the wild beasts themselves - could not endure the fact that they all had been conquered by a maiden, and they became so angry and obstinate - Oh! what does not evil devise! - that they hung the lamb of Christ upon a wild pear tree, and all ran at her with their knives and cut the sacred body of the virgin to pieces. This took place on October 13, 1795.**

In this manner was the good Chryse tested and made radiant by such numerous tortures, like gold in a furnace. She surrendered her holy soul into the hands of her immortal Bridegroom, and received a double crown as virgin and as athlete. And now she dances and rejoices together with the prudent and prize-winning virgins in the heavenly bridal chambers, and stands at the right hand of the Bridegroom, Christ, and reigns together with Him unto the ages of ages. As for her victorious and virginal relics, certain Christians took them secretly and buried them with honor and reverence.

By her intercessions may we also be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Apolytikion in the First Tone
Having come to love the celestial Bridegroom, you have shown no fear of the tortures of the wicked infidel and have shed your blood even to death, O Chryse, worthy of all praise, O pride of Muglen. That is why you are now being recompensed according to your merits: eternal joy in the palaces of Christ our God. To Him do pray that He may save our souls.

Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Golden vessel of virginity, a spotless a bride of the Lord you became, O most-comely virgin Chryse; you preserved your virginity blameless for Christ, and you struggled in a divine manner. O glorious Martyr, entreat your Bridegroom, to grant unto us great mercy.

* In Greek synaxaria she is known as Chryse, while in Slavic she is known by the more popular Zlata; both however mean "golden".

** On October 13th, believers flock to the icon depicting Saint Zlata of Muglen in the Church of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius and their Five Disciples in Sofia, Bulgaria to honor the memory of the Bulgarian martyr and saint.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Elder Paisios: On Clergymen Who Employ Psychology

Those who are not well spiritually are certain clergymen who study psychology in order to help people's souls (with human skill). The strange thing is that their teachers, the psychologists, neither believe in God nor accept the existence of the soul; and if they do, they do it in their own way (almost all of them). These clergymen reveal through their actions that they are spiritually ill and need patristic examinations. After being cured, they will discern for themselves this ill spirit and, at the same time, they will come to know Divine Grace. From then on, they will use divine energy instead of human arts to cure suffering souls.

Source: Elder Paisios the Athonite, Epistles, p. 107.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

The Tragic Fate of Emperor Michael Palaiologos

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

There is nothing more wretched than a man who, in the hour of misfortune, abandons hope in God and resorts to a means of salvation contrary to the Law of God. Not only does such a man not succeed in righting his outward situation, but he also loses his soul.

Such was the case with Emperor Michael Palaiologos. In order to save his kingdom-threatened by the Bulgars and Serbs-he sought help from the pope, and agreed to an uncanonical union. What did he gain by this? He did not save the kingdom, but did commit numerous evil crimes. Soon after, he died miserably in a military campaign against John Ducas, Prince of Epirus. The Orthodox people were so resentful toward him that his son, Andronicus, dared not bury him publicly, but buried him at night without a funeral or prayer. He was cut off from the Orthodox Church, and he was not received by the Roman Church. Michael Palaiologos died outside the Church of God.

Following Michael's death, his widow, the empress, issued the following decree: "My majesty abhors and regards as loathsome this action [the Union] that has recently occurred in the Church and created discord in it…. And, as the Holy Church of God has determined not to sanction any official commemoration of my deceased spouse, our lord and king, because of the aforementioned deed and discord, My Majesty also, submitting all things to the fear of God and obedience to the Holy Church, approve and accept this, the Church's decision, and never will I dare to perform a memorial service for my lord and spouse.''

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Why I Left Freemasonry

Charles Finney joined the Meridihi peoplean Sun Lodge No. 32 in Warren, New York, around age 24. He became an Entered Apprentice on February 28, 1816, and took both degrees of Fellow Craft and Master Mason a few weeks later on March 6, 1816. Finney was a third-degree Master Mason for eight years. Finney came to believe that he could no longer have any type of fellowship with Freemasons. He asked for a discharge and was honorably discharged on May 6, 1824. He personally felt that he had been deceived into making an oath that conflicted with Christianity in that he had been promised that Freemasonry would not conflict with his religious or civil obligation. In his estimation, the oath of Master Mason did conflict with those obligations.

By Charles G. Finney, D.D.

When I was converted to Christ I had belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Adams, New York, about four years. During the struggle of conviction of sin through which I passed, I do not recollect that the question of Freemasonry ever occurred to my mind.

New Views of Lodgism

But soon after my conversion, the evening came for attendance upon the Lodge, and I went. They, of course, were aware that I had become a Christian and the Master called upon me to open the Lodge with prayer. I did so, and poured out my heart to the Lord for blessings upon the Lodge. I observed that it created considerable excitement. The evening passed away, and at the close of the Lodge I was asked to pray again. I did so, and retired much depressed in spirit. I soon found that I was completely converted from Freemasonry to Christ, and that I could have no fellowship with any of the proceedings of the Lodge. Its oaths appeared to me to be monstrously profane and barbarous.

At that time I did not know how much I had been imposed upon by many of the pretensions of Masonry. But, upon reflection and examination, a severe struggle and earnest prayer, I found I could not consistently remain with them. My new life instinctively and irresistibly recoiled from any fellowship with what I now regarded as "the unfruitful works of darkness."

Quietly Withdrawing Membership

Without consulting anyone, I finally went to the Lodge and requested my discharge. My mind was made up. Withdraw from them I must -- with their consent if I might; without this consent if I must. Of this I said nothing; but somehow it came to be known that I had withdrawn.

They therefore planned a Masonic festival and sent a committee to me, requesting me to deliver an oration on that occasion. I quietly declined to do so, informing the committee that I could not conscientiously, in any wise, do what would show my approval of the institution, or sympathy with it. However, for the time, and for years afterward I remained silent, and said nothing against Masonry; though I had then so well considered the matter as to regard my Masonic oaths as utterly null and void. But from that time I never allowed myself to be recognized as a Freemason anywhere.

Beginning a Public Testimony

This was a few years before the revelations of Freemasonry by Captain William Morgan were published. When that book was published, I was asked if it was a true revelation of Freemasonry. I replied that it was so far as I knew anything about it, and that as nearly as I could recollect, it was a verbatim revelation of the first three degrees as I had myself taken them. I frankly acknowledged that that which had been published was a true account of the institution, and a true exposé of their oaths, principles and proceedings. After I had considered it more thoroughly, I was more perfectly convinced that I had no right to adhere to the institution, or appear to do so; and that I was bound, whenever the occasion came, to speak my mind freely in regard to it, and to renounce the horrid oaths that I had taken.

Masonic Oaths Procured by Fraud

I found that in taking these oaths I had been grossly deceived and imposed upon. I had been led to suppose that there were some very important secrets to be communicated to me; but in this I found myself entirely disappointed. Indeed I came to the deliberate conclusion that my oaths had been procured by fraud and misrepresentations; that the institution was in no respect what I had been informed it was; and as I have had the means of examining it more thoroughly, it has become more and more irresistibly plain to me that Masonry is highly dangerous to the State, and in every way injurious to the Church of Christ.

Features of an Anti-Christ

Judging from unquestionable evidences, how can we fail to pronounce Freemasonry an unchristian institution? We can see that its morality is unchristian. Its oath-bound secrecy is unchristian. The administration and taking of its oaths are unchristian and a violation of the positive command of Christ. And Masonic oaths pledge its members to some of the most unlawful and unchristian things:

1. To conceal each other's crimes.

2. To deliver each other from difficulty, whether right or wrong.

3. To unduly favor Masonry in political action and in business matters.

4. Its members are sworn to retaliate and persecute unto death the violators of Masonic obligations.

5. Freemasonry knows no mercy, and swears its candidates to avenge violations of Masonic obligations unto death.

6. Its oaths are profane, taking the Name of God in vain.

7. The penalties of these oaths are barbarous, even savage.

8. Its teachings are false and profane.

9. Its designs are partial and selfish.

10. Its ceremonies are a mixture of puerility and profanity.

11. Its religion is false.

12. It professes to save men on other conditions than those revealed in the Gospel of Christ.

13. It is wholly an enormous falsehood.

14. It is a swindle, obtaining money from its members under false pretenses.

15. It refuses all examinations, and veils itself under a mantle of oath-bound secrecy.

16. It is virtual conspiracy against both Church and State.

Some Fair Conclusions

No one, therefore, has ever undertaken to defend Freemasonry as judged by the above. Freemasons themselves do not pretend that their institution as revealed in reliable books, and by some of their own testimony, is compatible with Christianity. So it must follow that,

First, the Christian Church should have no fellowship with Freemasonry; and those who adhere intelligently and determinately to such an institution have no right to be in the Christian Church. We pronounce this judgment sorrowfully, but solemnly.

Second, should the question be asked, "What shall be done with the great number of professed Christians who are Freemasons?" I answer, let them have nothing more to do with it. Let it be distinctly pressed upon their consciences that all Masons, above the first two Degrees, have solemnly sworn to conceal each other's crimes, murder and treason alone excepted; and that all above the sixth Degree have sworn to espouse each other's cause, and to deliver them from any difficulty, whether right or wrong.

Third, if they have taken those Degrees where they have sworn to persecute unto death those who violate their Masonic obligations, let them be asked whether they really intend to do any such thing. Let them be distinctly asked whether they intend to aid and abet the administration and taking of these oaths. Or if they still intend to countenance the false and hypocritical teachings of Masonry. Or if they mean to countenance the profanity of their ceremonies, and the partiality of their sworn practice. If so, surely they should not be allowed their place in the Christian Church.

Fourth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to the Master's oath to conceal any secret crime of a brother of that Degree, murder and treason excepted, be a safe man with whom to entrust any public office? Can he be trusted as a witness, as a juror, or with any office connected with the administration of justice?

Fifth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to, the oath of the Royal Arch Mason be trusted to public office? He swears to espouse the cause of a companion of this Degree when involved in any difficulty, so far as to extricate him, whether he be right or wrong. He swears to conceal his crimes, MURDER AND TREASON NOT EXCEPTED. Is such a man bound by such an oath to be trusted with office? Ought he to be accepted as a witness or juror when another Freemason is a party in the case? Ought he to be trusted with the office of Judge, or Justice of the Peace, or as a Sheriff, Constable, Marshal or any other office?

What Is Your Answer?

I appeal to your conscience in the sight of God, for an honest answer to these three questions:

1. Is any man who is under a most solemn oath to kill all who violate any part of Masonic oaths, a fit person to be at large among men?

2. Ought Freemasons of this stamp to be fellowshipped in the Christian Church?

3. Do you believe that the sins of Masonic oaths are forgiven only to those who repent? And that we do not repent of those sins to which we still adhere? And that adherence makes us also partaker of other men's sins?

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin." "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (I John 1:17; 3:3).

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Elder Athanasios of Grigoriou: A Bee Gathering Spiritual Nectar

By Archimandrite Cherubim

What a blessed thing it is to read spiritual books! They can cool and refresh one's whole life. Fr. Athanasios had loved to study from his youth, and here on Mount Athos, with its treasury of spiritual books, they were his companions during every free moment. He sought out the most beautiful flowers in their meadows to make the loveliest bouquets. He gave himself to this task from his first days on Mt. Athos. From all the patristic, ascetic and theological books, he chose the most inspiring passages and inscribed them in his notebook. That blessed pastime continued into old age.

We saw his handwritten notes in the hands of many of the monks of Grigoriou. We discovered in them a rich variety. Next to ascetic texts, there are important events of Church history; next to Patristic writings there are sayings of ancient sages; besides teachings from the Lives of the Saints there are important canons of ecclesiastical law, and stories about the world of ancient Greece, etc. Here are a few examples from the collection:

- Since you are mortal, don't consider yourself immortal.

- Not even the little birds fall down to the ground without God's will. We should always say to God, "Thy will be done."

- St. Augustine was much instructed by the stories about St. Anthony and the ascetics of Egypt. "What is this?" he would ask his friend Alypius. "What did you hear? The ignorant rise up and seize heaven; and we, behold how we, with our heartless science, wallow in flesh and blood."

- The power of the iron sword was not given in the Church; but the power of the spiritual sword, wherein lies the Word of God.

- Pythagoras was never persuaded to eat fish, because by physical nature they are silent and symbolic of silence, which he considered a divine and heavenly gift.

- The spirits of the chosen seek seclusion, and they flee from the assembly of many men.

- Justinian founded and established Hagia Sophia on the mouth of the well on which Christ sat.

- Write your enmity on the water.

- There are five baptisms. First is Moses', when the Hebrews passed over the Red Sea. Second, that of John the Baptist. Third, that of Our Lord Jesus Christ, without which baptism one is not a Christian. Fourth, martyrdom - baptism in blood. Christ suffered that baptism. And fifth, the baptism of tears, which comes from the remembrance of one's sins.

- Bind your will to the will of God, and all things will happen as you wish.

- At the Skete of Boeria, St. Gregory Palamas would spend five days of the week closeted in his cell, not allowing others to enter it. Only on Saturdays and Sundays did he leave to celebrate the Holy Mysteries and to converse spiritually.

- O my God, the Apostle said to Thee that "if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man" (James 3:2). Lay Thy bridle on me, Lord, and curb my tongue with Thy grace, that I may speak only "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report" (Phil. 4:8).

From Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos, pp. 107-109.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Synaxis of All Saints of Athens

Synaxis of All Saints of Athens (Feast Day - October 12)

The Germans occupied Greece from 1941 until 1944. In the first year of the German occupation of Greece more than 300,000 civilians died from hunger - with Athens especially hit hard. Over 400,000 Greeks died during the Second World War, the vast majority civilians. On 12 October 1944 Athens was liberated from the German occupation and the government in exile returned. As the last German soldiers took the swastika down from the Acropolis and began to drive through the city towards the road north, they passed through crowds of Athenians in a state of joy, waving the blue and white Greek flags, embracing, while bells rang all over the city. It was a happy time for those in Athens who had survived the occupation, but their joy was not destined to last. They were about to enter the most divisive period of modern Greek history - the Greek Civil War.

To commemorate the joy of this occasion, the Holy Archdiocese of Athens issued an encyclical on 22/30 September 1999 that a feast be held to commemorate in a synaxis "all those saints in the city of Athens and the surrounding districts: holy apostles, hierarchs and righteous who lived, struggled and died in her." This synaxis was to be celebrated annually on October 12th.

Among those commemorated are St. Philothei, St. Nektarios, St. Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Paul the Apostle and many others who were associated with the city of Athens.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours

St. Martin of Tours (Feast Day - November 12; the Slavic Calendar commemorates him on October 12)

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Martin was born of pagan parents in the Pannonian [modern Hungary] town of Sabaria in the year 316. His father was a Roman officer, and the young Martin was given over to military service against his will. By then, however, he was already a catechumen in the Christian Church. From early childhood he had loved the Church with all his heart.

One winter, while traveling with his companions to the town of Amiens, he saw a beggar before the town gates, almost naked and shivering from the cold. Martin felt sorry for him, and fell behind his companions. He then removed his military cloak and cut it in two with his sword. He gave one half to the beggar and wrapped the other around himself, and left. That night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream, wrapped in the other half of his cloak, and said to His angels: "Martin is only a catechumen, yet behold: he has clothed Me with his garment!"

Leaving the army, Martin was immediately baptized, and then baptized his mother. He was then tonsured a monk in the diocese of St. Hilary of Poitiers and led a life of true asceticism. Martin was exceptionally humble, for which God endowed him with an abundant gift of working miracles, such that he raised the dead and drove out evil spirits. Martin was appointed Bishop of Tours against his will. After abundant labor in the vineyard of the Lord, and after a difficult struggle with pagans and Arian heretics, St. Martin gave his holy soul into the hands of his Lord in the year 397.

REFLECTION

By what virtue have the saints been most exalted and glorified in the eyes of heaven and men? Primarily by their humility and service.

Even before his baptism, while he was still an officer, St. Martin had a servant whom he considered more a brother than a servant. He often served this servant unashamedly; in fact, he even rejoiced in it.

Again, when St. Hilary wanted to ordain him a priest, he refused this honor with tears, and begged the bishop to let him simply be a monk in some remote place.

Once, St. Martin was traveling from France to Pannonia to visit his parents. While he was crossing over the Alps, murderous robbers captured him. When one of the robbers raised his sword to behead him, Martin showed no fear, and remained motionless; he did not beg for mercy but was completely at peace, as if nothing were happening. The robber, amazed at such behavior, lay aside his sword and asked Martin who he was. Martin replied that he was a Christian, and hence, he was not afraid, for he knew that God, according to His great mercy, is always close to men, especially in times of danger. The thieves were astonished at the rare virtue of this man of God, and he who had drawn his sword against Martin believed in Christ, was baptized, and later became a monk.

When the episcopal throne in Tours became vacant, the people wanted Martin to be bishop, but Martin did not even want to hear of it. However, certain citizens of Tours craftily lured him from the monastery and carried him off. They came to the gate of Martin's monastery and told Martin that a sick man was out there with them, and they begged him for a blessing. When Martin came out they seized him, took him to Tours, and had him consecrated bishop.

In old age, he foresaw his approaching death. He told his brethren and they began to weep copiously, begging him not to leave them. The saint, seeking to comfort them, prayed to God in their presence and said: "Lord, if I am still needed by Thy people, I do not reject the labor. Let it be according to Thy holy will."

HYMN OF PRAISE: Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours

St. Martin, a child of Pannonia,
And the great illuminator of Gaul,
Despised the earthly emperor's honors,
And became a servant of the heavenly King.
The will of a powerful giant
Was in Martin's merciful heart.
Martin sprinkled himself with ashes,
And on the ashes this humble one slept,
Out of love for his God-
Crucified for sinful men.
And Martin had crucified himself to the world
Solely to reach the goal!
Martin led the battle against demons,
Yielding to none of their temptations,
And led the battle against impudent men,
Against dark, dishonorable heresies.
Martin was a knight of Orthodoxy,
And a victor, wondrous and glorious.
With the battle won, the knight rests
With the angels close to Christ the King:
And yet even now he lifts up prayers,
And comes to the aid of those in peril.

Relics of St. Martin of Tours

After a life of devoted service to Christ and His Church, the saint fell ill at Candes, a village in his diocese, where he died on November 8, 397. He was buried three days later (his present feast) at Tours. During the Middle Ages, many Western churches were dedicated to St Martin, including St Martin's in Canterbury, and St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

In 1008, a cathedral was built at Tours over the relics of St Martin. This cathedral was destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution, together with the relics of St Martin and St Gregory of Tours (November 17). A new cathedral was built on the site many years later. Some fragments of the relics of St Martin were recovered and placed in the cathedral, but nothing remains of St Gregory's relics.

St Martin's name appears on many Greek and Russian calendars. His commemoration on October 12 in the Russian calendar appears to be an error, since ancient sources give the November date.

Source

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Weeping In The Evening Brings Joy In The Morning

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

God rebukes, and God makes glad. Just one repentant thought eases the wrath of God; for God is not angry at men as an enemy is angry, but His anger toward men is as that of a father toward his children. His anger is momentary, and His mercy is infinite. If He rebukes you in the evening, He causes you to rejoice in the morning; men know Him best in His rebuking and in His mercy. O my brethren, if men constantly knew and recognized God as the Doer of good, they would never know Him as Rebuker and Judge. Behold, God rejoices more when we recognize Him by His mercy than by His anger. However, there are very ungrateful and thoughtless people who never remember God when He grants mercy, but remember Him only when He chastises and rebukes them through sickness, death in the family, failure and shame before men, fire, the sword, earthquake or flood, or numerous other punitive rods and sticks with which He chastens the unawakened, reminds the ungrateful, brings the errant to their senses, and reminds everyone that He is the Creator and Lord, the Giver of Gifts and the Judge.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." These words also mean that the night is for weeping and prayer, for repentance and divine contemplation. The night especially is for repentance, and there is no true repentance without tears. At night a man thinks without hindrance about his deeds, his words, and his thoughts, and repents for all that he has done contrary to God's law. If a man weeps in repentance at night, then he will rejoice during the day. He will rejoice as a newborn, as one bathed, as one alleviated from the burden of sin. But, if he spends the night in sin and senseless revelry, a sorrowful and tearful day will dawn for him.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Teacher, rebuke us, but forgive us; chastise us, but save us. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Joseph Smith: "I Will Be A Second Muhammad"

In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim:

“I will be to this generation a second Muhammad, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us — ‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’”[1]

It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Muhammad, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking — and troubling — parallels. Consider the following.

· Muhammad and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]

· Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Muhammad was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable. In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer. Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.

· Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Muhammad appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.

· As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Muhammad saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.

· Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Muhammad claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]

· Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.

· Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.

· Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.

· Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Muhammad’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, believe Muhammad’s son was to be their next leader. Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith’s followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith’s own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.

· Muhammad taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison, Joseph Smith also made the following claim:

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4]

In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith’s claim to be a second Muhammad unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.

-----------------

[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”

[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.

[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.

[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.

Source

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Mormonism: The False Religion of Deception and Control

By Tricia Erickson

Mormonism has become one of the largest and richest religions in the world. The “CEO’s who are the present and former “Prophets” and the executive management team who are the former and present “Twelve Apostles”, run one of the largest and most deceptive corporations in the world. I choose to refer to the prophets and the apostles of the Mormon Church as the heads of the Corporation. To this day there has not been a full accounting for the churches finances. No disclosure of where, how and by whom all of this estimated 7 billion plus dollars per year is spent. The church assets are in the billions but the church authorities do not see the need to let its members, from whence the money came from, know where their money is going, nor do these blind faith believers even ask.

While the government is out there shaking down all kinds of businesses for crimes like fraud, deceptive business practices, corporate greed, lying to the SEC and to the tax man, unfair trade practices, lack of corporate compliance, scams and schemes, the Mormon corporation seems to have an open range to graze on any consumer who will buy their concepted product.

We all know that this type of mechanism exists in the religious realm of the world, but it amazes me that most of the world has not awakened to the false religion of Mormonism. The reason may be because Mormons are so nice. They do not partake of alcohol, illegal drugs, cigarettes and caffeine because their “Word of Wisdom” proclamation prohibits the consumption of these products. We also may have noticed that Mormons have a milquetoast appearance. They usually dress conservatively and their clothes are neatly pressed and clean. There seems to be more blond families in the church then brunettes, Black Americans, Asians and other races. The company image put out to the public is the image of family values, health, and the stepford style of perfection. So what could be wrong with this picture? Where do I begin?

I must confess that I was born and raised as a full-fledged Mormon. In fact, I was a Mormon Bishop’s daughter. Yes, my clothes were clean and pressed, and my Super- Mom made most of them by hand. I was one of five family value poster children. I went to Sunday school class and Church services every Sunday. I went to “Mutual” every Wednesday night. I endured the indoctrination of seminary at 6:00am every morning for many months before school. All of the children in my family and my Bishop Dad and my Bishop’s wife, Mom, were the perfectly attractive image of what every poster Mormon family should be.

My parents, as well as just about all Mormon parents, went to great lengths to make sure that we did not socialize with non-Mormons by design, because we could have heard the truth elsewhere. My parents tried their best to make sure that all of our friendships, relationships and marriages were within the Mormon community. It is so true that when human beings are raised in a cult or join a cult that the strange doctrine which would look so bizarre from out side of the cult, looks so normal from inside of the cult. Mormon’s teach that they have special knowledge that outsiders do not have, and have claimed through history that the Mormon religion is the one and only true religion on the earth. However, the good Lord blessed me, even as a child, with a critical thinking spirit that literally saved me in to the truth. I pray every day for the Lord to deliver my son, my brother and my nephew and their wives and children out of the blindness and mind control of this cult.

My heart goes out to the good people of the Mormon Church. These are people who are working so hard to do “good works” in order to attain a place in the highest of their three degrees of heaven in order to become Gods of their own heavenly kingdoms and continue to populate their kingdoms by having eternal sex and birthings of spirit children. Their three heavens are named the telestial, the terrestrial and the celestial kingdoms. The celestial kingdom is the heaven that all Mormons aim for in order to become celestial Gods. If they work hard enough in the Mormon Church, and do enough good works, they will make it. If they don’t do so well, they will end up in the terrestrial kingdom, which isn’t so bad. However, if they really do poorly, they will end up in the telestial kingdom which is not a piece of cake, but they can possibly earn their way out of there and move up a notch after a period of time. Joseph Smith revealed all of this to his followers because, as a prophet, he stated that God revealed this and much more to him. There was no room for questioning of his revelations, or his sanity, for that matter. He said that God spoke through him, and who would question God?

Yes, this is what they believe. If this is shocking to you, let me continue.

I am going to make a bold, yet true statement that will not set will with every Mormon that reads this article so hold on to your hat because the lid needs to be blown off of this monster. THE MORMON RELIGION WAS FORMED BY JOSEPH SMITH (the first self proclaimed prophet of the Mormon Church) FOR THE REASON OF CREATING A RELIGION THAT WOULD ENABLE HIM TO FEED HIS SEX ADDICTION. Yes, this self proclaimed prophet had a vision in which two angels from heaven came to him and gave him Golden Plates which had the “only true religion” written on them. These plates were encrypted in some form of Egyptian hieroglyphic language that no one in the world could read or translate at that time, except Joseph. Are you following me?

You see, before these angels supposedly appeared to Joseph, he was known around town to be, what you call, a seer. Joseph traveled through the streets telling people mystical things, their fortunes and divine revelations by looking through a seer stone. In reality, this is a form of witchcraft and the source of this power certainly does not come from above. Joseph also used his stone to find gold and hidden treasures.

Young Joseph took these plates, and as the story goes, he put his head down in to a hat with a seer stone and translated these tablets into what we know now to be The Book of Mormon. While doing this he convinced two other men to believe that they saw his same vision in order that they could tell others of their telepathic witnessing of this mystical and historical event. When this Book of Mormon was completed, one might say that this book was a mysterious counterfeit of the King James Version of the Bible with Joseph’s prophetic writings strategically integrated into the text in order to form a religion that would suit his purposes.

In this Book of Mormon, Joseph wrote of an entire lost tribe of Indians who were supposed to be decedents of the Israelites. This supposed lost tribe wondered, via a ship, to the United States around 589BC. Joseph proclaimed that there were great wars fought by this tribe on American soil. Yet, there is not one piece, I repeat, not one shred of archeological evidence existing to back these outrageous claims. We Americans know our history, and we know wars. If a war were fought on our soil, there would be archeological evidence, not to mention evidence of the mere existence of this tribe that roamed our continent. But because the prophet Joseph Smith said it, wrote it and was God’s spokesperson, it just had to be true.

At least much of the Bible, which is the most historically accurate book in the world, has been documented by archeological evidence and the evidence continues to be excavated out of the ground.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of unsubstantiated claims in the Book of Mormon, as well as additional books written by Joseph Smith, combined with other writings, preaching and teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith and the prophets and leaders of the church to follow through the years.

In the 1830’s, Joseph Smith claimed to receive a revelation from God mandating that he must take many wives. Joseph told women that he was a prophet of God and the establisher of the only true religion in the universe. Joseph told his future wives that God revealed to him that he should marry them. Joseph was not satisfied with just the single and available women. He also went after the wives and children of other men. He was so bold as to tell his apostles that God revealed to him that he should also have their wives. Additionally, Joseph took children who were barely in their teens as wives who were daughters of his followers. Joseph revealed to his male followers that they should be engaged in plural marriages only if he gave them permission to do so. The revelation also stated that the wives would not be able to enter heaven unless their husbands called them in, which put great pressure on the wives to be good and obedient to these enlightened men.

Joseph Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, continued to lead his followers in polygamy. The Mormons claim they were persecuted and had to flee to Utah. Well, is this any surprise? The Mormons preached false religious doctrine and were going in to communities and taking the community’s women and daughters with them, via polygamous marriages! Polygamy was also against the law. Is it persecution to run a group of people away who are trying to take your wives and young daughters into plural marriages? The Mormons painted themselves as the victims, when, in truth, they were the predators.

The Mormons were not helpless saints. They had their own armies. One of these armies was called the Danities. The Danities were called the Avenging Angels. They went around castrating men, within their own religious system who would rise up against the insanity as well as others who would try to leave the cult. These soldiers committed thousands of maimings and murders while the Mormons were crying that they were a persecuted people. Yes, this was a form of persecution, but the persecution was from within their own controlling ranks. You will not find many Mormons today who have heard of this Council of 50 secret police within their organization. The hierarchy of the Mormon Church goes to great lengths to keep their members from the truth.

The church now denounces polygamy, as if it is now a bad thing. But in the past, they say, polygamy was all-good because God ordained it through his prophets in order to build up a righteous community. I guess they did not want to evangelize new converts like most religions do by just approaching the people that existed. The church makes it sound like there were no other people on the planet so the Mormons had no choice but to take on many wives. The revelation also stated that these wives were sealed to these men throughout eternity and would still be married to them in heaven. It was said that Joseph was sealed to 200 plus women for time and all eternity. They all had to rely on Joseph to call them in to heaven and if he didn’t call them, they didn’t get in.

Are you getting an idea of how twisted this all is? This one man, Joseph Smith, was the corner stone of the Mormon Religion. He was the author, founder, originator, leader and President of the Mormon Church. This entire religion was based on sex, control, deception, false prophets and false prophesies. To this day you can visit any Mormon church “fast and testimony meeting” in which you can witness Mormon after Mormon chanting “I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon Church) is the one and only true church and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God”. Like cookie cutter programmed husbands, wives and children, one after another saying the same thing for 60 minutes while fasting for 24 hours.

You might say to yourself, if this is all true, how in the world could anyone believe in this religion? Well, I’m glad that you asked.

The Mormon corporation has the best marketing program known to man, the missionary program. From the time a young man, and some young women, in the Mormon Church are babies, their parents program them by telling them that when they come of age, they will have the privilege of serving the church as a missionary to convert people to the one and only true church. Just about every young man knows that when he graduates from high school not to plan to go to college until he has served a two-year mission for the church. The parents or other supportive Mormons cover most of the expenses for these young soldiers to bring in thousands and thousands of converts who will ultimately pay 10% of the gross of their income to the Mormon Corporation. It’s brilliant! The church has thousands of these cheap labor missionaries all over the world, knocking on doors to bring the only true gospel to hundreds of thousands of people. This marketing plan is far more superior than any advertising executive could have ever dreamed of. Brainwash these young and innocent minds, send them on a mission where they ride bicycles because the church is too cheap to give most of them cars, direct them to knock on millions of doors for two years and rake in the cash.

Now this “mission” concept may not seem so bad if these missionaries were true servants of the Lord and were sent out to help the homeless, feed the needy, cloth the poor or dig water wells in India. It would not seem to bad even if they were sent out to bring people to God in order that they can receive salvation. But how can you receive salvation from God when your religion teaches that you will become a God, yourself? This is blasphemy to the Lord. The scriptures clearly state that there are/were no Gods before, and will be no Gods after the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit which make up one God. The bible teaches that we are to humble ourselves to the Lord and that there should be no idols or other Gods before us.

The Mormon religion claims that Jesus was born a mere mortal man who was predestined because he was the Son of God. The Mormon twist is that because of Jesus’ good works, he worked himself into Godship. In other words, if Mormons do enough good things in their lives and become perfect, Mormons believe that they, too, can become Gods also as Jesus became God. Can you believe this? One of the biggest No No’s to God are prideful people who want to become God’s themselves. This is idolatry and self-elevation. The Bible is clear that we are to humble ourselves as servants of the one and only God. This is very dangerous territory for the Mormons who fully believe they are going to heaven.

Can you get to heaven when you deny the deity of Christ by stating that Christ was a mere man, like all of us, who achieved Godhood through his good works and that the Mormons can do the same? This is the denial of the deity of Christ through false theology which is an anti-Christ distortion of the facts.

The Bible affirms that Jesus came to earth as God wrapped in human flesh. That there was never a time that Jesus Christ was not God and that Jesus was always God who was sent to earth to atone for our sins so that we could be saved and live with him in heaven. Jesus came to the earth to save us from the lake of fire that is also called Hell, which is for an eternity with no passes out.

I cannot end this article without revealing what the Mormons do in their temples. As I mentioned, I was the daughter of a Mormon Bishop. When young Mormons marry, it is expected that they will get married in a Mormon Temple so that you can be sealed to your mate for time and all eternity.

I was one of these young Mormons who got married in the Mormon Temple when I was 19 years old. Even though I did not fully believe in this church, because my dad was a Bishop, I had to get married in the temple. I was not prepared in any way for what I experienced in that ceremony.

I carried my beautiful white velvet wedding dress in to the temple. I was thinking that this was going to be wonderful because the temple was such a beautiful place. My husband to be, who is now an ex-husband, went through one entrance for men and I went through another entrance for the women. The women took me to a locker where I hung my dress. They brought a bowl of water mixed with lavender oil and set it at my feet. They asked me to take off ALL of my clothes. I had to completely disrobe in front of these female strangers. I was very uncomfortable and my mother had not mentioned anything about this. They proceeded to wash my entire body with this water. They were touching me with the washcloth and my mind was going a thousand miles an hour. I endured the washing. Then they brought out underwear they called temple garments that looked like long johns with short sleeves and were cut off a few inches above the knees. These garments had three markings on them, one on each breast and one at the navel. The garments had an opening at the bottom area which would enable me to go to the bathroom without taking them off. They told me that I was to wear these garments at all times.

After this process, they allowed me to put my wedding gown on. I was led in to a small room where a man married us for time and all eternity. We were then led into a small auditorium type of room where the men sat on the right side and the women sat on the left side. We were told to put a green leaf apron on (something to do with the Garden of Eden) and to put a green sash over our shoulders. A man came to the front and asked us to stand and say, as a group, what he told us to say and to do what he told us to do. So here we all were, chanting the words he led us to say, and making signs with our arms and hands.

Most Mormons do not know that Joseph Smith was formerly a Mason. Mormons don’t realize that most of the signs in the Mormon Temple ceremony are of “Free Masonry” and are not symbols from the Lord.

The signs were very violent. Please bear with me because this was a long time ago and I was in some form of shock to be participating in such a bizarre ceremony. These signs and chantings took on more of a form of control and witchcraft than what was supposed to be a Godly experience. What Mormons don’t understand is when going through this ceremony, vows are made to intimidate them into secrecy. What I am doing now by revealing these secrets was demonstrated in the ceremony as being punishable by death. We were led to make signs that meant that if we ever spoke of the ceremony, we would be killed. We were led to make a sign with our thumbs that went from the left ear through our neck to the right ear, symbolizing the slashing of our throats. We were also led to make a sign with our hands of slashing out stomachs and bending forward for our guts to fall out if we spoke of these secrets. The entire ceremony continued with these intimidating and mind controlling rituals.

I could not wait to get out of there! It’s truly the strangest and most uncomfortable thing that I have ever gone through in my entire life.

Please understand that Mormons are scared, literally to death, to leave the church after these ceremonies. They truly believe that if they talk about it, they might die. It is important to understand that if you are threatened in this way to secrecy or forced into secrecy in this manner, there is something terribly wrong. There is something terribly wrong with any church or cult that has you do and say things that are to be kept in the darkness of secrecy. A church should be transparent and open to the light. This is a flagrant form of control in order to keep Mormons in the cult. This is also a way to keep the members of the Mormon Church in the church for a lifetime for the purpose of collecting 10% of their income, which leads us to the marketing plan. One of the laws Mormons strictly follow is the faithful giving of 10% of the gross of their income to the church. Now, I’m not one to tell anyone not to tithe, however, if you tithe to a false religion that is not accountable to anyone as to how the money is spent and to who the money, the real-estate and the holdings belong to, would not this give a clear minded person pause?

I attend a church where meetings are held specifically for the purpose of letting the members know where every penny they put into the church goes. There is nothing to hide. This church has the policy of full disclosure to its members, as it should be. They put their money back in to tangible programs which help the physically and mentally disabled, inner city kids, clothing for the poor, food programs to feed the hungry, ministries for battered women, for men and women coming out of sexual bondage, for people who are grieving for the loss of loved ones, divorce recovery groups, even motorcycle ministries and more.

In other words, this church places the money back in to people of the churches hands through ministries and outreaches. My church only owns the building that the church is housed in. My church does not own billions of dollars of property and receivables. When you ask any Mormon the question, “Why does the Mormon church own so much real-estate in Hawaii and many other places around the globe?” The Mormon cannot answer that question. They are stumped. So, my friends, I will ask the question for all. WHERE DO THE BILLIONS GO AND WHY DOES THE CHURCH OWN SO MUCH REALESTATE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHURCH OR ITS MEMBERSHIP? I would challenge any really good investigative reporter to investigate.

The Mormon hierarchy’s agenda is to counterfeit themselves in to main-stream Christendom in order to acquire more recruits from the Christian community. Mormons are not Christian. They use the name of Jesus Christ to spread their false theology in order to make money.

In closing, I want to say that the members of the Mormon Church are usually very good people. They are trying so hard to do what is right and to live up to the standards the church has laid out for them. As in any cult, they really don’t understand what they are truly involved in. I pray for the day when the darkness of this church comes in to the light and is exposed for all to see, to set the captives free.

Source

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Saint Jonah the Hermit of Pergamos

St. Jonah the Hermit and Wonderworker (Feast Day - October 11)

Saint Jonah came from Palestine, but when it was seized by the Saracens in the 7th century (capture of Jerusalem by the Arabs: 638), he along with other hermits departed for safety.

They arrived by ship to Cyprus, and some landed in Paphos while others landed elsewhere. After saying their goodbyes, they dispersed at various locations on the island and lived as ascetics.

Saint Jonah came along with his fellow hermit Kendeas, who stayed in Paphos while Jonah continued eastwards and arrived "at the area of Trachiada (located near Achna) at a village called Pergamos". In the beginning of his stay there, he had neither a hut nor cave. After having found a cave he settled there and became an ascetic living with fasting and prayers and lived an "exemplary ascetic life in the cave".

The ascetic Saint lived in the cave by eating every night stewed lentils and wild vegetables of the region. And for more ascetic exercise and suffering he wore a hard rope under his clothes, meanwhile making his body more heavy with the use of iron which was tied on his arms with the rope. With such labours the Saint submitted himself, and with restraint, prayer, humility and the fear of God in his heart, he was led to spiritual and divine gifts. As the Saint's biographer says: "And during his life and after his death he performed countless miracles". He cured every disease for everyone who took refuge to him, having faith and fighting off the evil spirits. It is written that once he even resurrected a dead child through prayer.

The Saint had a pupil who supplied water for him from far away because there was no water source nearby. The devil, however, took the form of Elder Jonah, and would meet him on his way back from the water spring, where he would grab the water jar from his hands and pour the water on the ground. This happened several times. The pupil believing that he was his Elder and was angry - that's why the devil did such a thing - and he stopped doing his service and did not transport water for several days, so the Saint ended up becoming realy thirsty. When the pupil finally went to get water, the Saint said to him: "What took you so long to go get water, my child, I nearly died of thirst?". The student in turn, told him about the case that allegedly the Saint himself took the water jar away from his hands and poured the water on the ground. Then the Saint told his pupil: "My child, this is a diabolical invention. From now on if you see me again before you, no matter how many times I try to stop you, do not obey and don't give me the water jar." Since that time the demon disappeared and never bothered the Saint's pupil again.

After this event took place, the Saint prayed and then hit the rock near the cave with his stick and from the rock clear water issued forth which he drank to the glory of God as well as those who came to him. This water existed until 1912, when fanatical Muslim Turks destroyed the cave of the Saint and the water, the holy water, as it was considered by believers after the death of the Saint.

The friend and fellow hermit of the Saint, Kendeas, meanwhile, left Paphos and also came close to the area where Jonah lived a life of asceticism and settled in a cave near the village of Avgorou. Sometimes they would meet each other, and the last time this happened, it happened during a miracle, as is stated in the life of Saint Kendeas.

Having lived a pious life, the Saint departed to God. The faithful buried his holy body near the cave. After his repose the Christians built a church at Pergamos and dedicated it to the Saint. Over the years, the church grew into a monastery. Today only the ruins of the monastery survive because it was also destroyed by the Turks in 1912. Until 1974 in the village of Lysi, the icon of the Saint dating from the 16th century survived, which was moved there from the village of Pergamos, Larnaca. And in the village of Xylotymbou survives a half damaged icon of the Saint which was brought there by the last Greek Christian inhabitants of the community of Pergamos. It is not known if the icon is the same as the one kept in Lysi and if it was transferred to Xylotymbou after the Turkish invasion in 1974. The cave of the Saint was also destroyed by the Turks of the village of Pergamos and was filled with concrete. A new church dedicated to Saint Jonah was built in the northeast of the village of Xylotymbou in 1983 and was consecrated on 7 October 1984 by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kitiou. The Holy Altar of this church was built with the brick from the original church.

On 10 October 2010, for the first time in 98 years, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the location where the older church once stood.

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ήχος α'.
Της ερήμου πολίτης και εν σώματι άγγελος και θαυματουργός ανεδείχθης, Θεοφόρε Ιωνά πατήρ ημών νηστεία, αγρυπνία, προσευχή, ουράνια χαρίσματα λαβών, θεραπεύεις τους νοσούντας, και τας ψυχάς των πίστει προστρεχόντων σοι. Δόξα τω δεδωκότι σοι ισχύν, δόξα τω σε στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τω ενεργούντι δια σου πάσιν ιάματα.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Why The Filioque Is A Heresy

By Fr. John Romanides

The Filioque is a heresy, because it confuses the hypostatic properties of the Father, i.e. His being cause, with those of the Son and, as a result, introduces a kind of Semi-Sabellianism. This is the case if the notion of being cause belongs both to the Father's and to the Son's hypostasis, but not to the Spirit's. If the Father and the Son as hypostaseis are the cause of the existence of the Holy Spirit, then, according to Photios, we have two principles in the Godhead, or, if they think of the Father and the Son as one cause, then, as we said above, we have Semi-Sabellianism, i.e. the identification of the incommunicable, hypostatic properties of the Father and the Son. If the cause is identified with the essence and not with the hypostaseis, then the Holy Spirit is a creature, because the doctrine that the essence is the cause of another person is the doctrine of the Eunomians, since they identified the cause of the existence of the Son with the essence of the Father and attempted on this basis to demonstrate that the Son is a creature. Consequently, if the Father's and the Son's essence is the cause of the existence of the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit is a creature. Again, He is a creature, if the cause of the Spirit's existence, or His procession, is a common energy of the Father and the Son, of which the Spirit is lacking. This is the case, because, as Orthodox and Pneumatomachians argue, the lack of even one energy common to the Father and to the Son from the Spirit would demonstrate the created nature of the Spirit. The one doctrine leads to Semi-Sabellianism and the other to Eunomianism, or to the heresy of the Pneumatomachoi where the Spirit becomes a creature.

Today, the Latins are obliged, if they wish to revise the foundation of their theology, not only to take seriously the theology of the Fathers, which constituted the basis of the decisions of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, but also to revise the Trinitarian terminology, which is based on Augustine's doctrine.

Source: An Outline of Orthodox Patristic Dogmatics, pp. 33-35.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

An Orthodox Response To Scandals

A Homily By Metropolitan Athanasios of Lemessos (Limassol) Cyprus

Good evening to you all.

Let's reply to one or two questions first, and then we can move on to our topic, in order to cover them.

Well, one rather lengthy question was posed, as follows:

We daily see the Mass Media reveal all kinds of scandals that pertain to the social, political and financial life of the land. Quite often, it is revealed that political leaders and individuals in high places have been involved; people to whom our countrymen - the simple folk - have entrusted the future of our nation with their vote. And yet, they later prove to have been ruthless and self-seeking individuals who have abused the people's trust in the worst possible way. What should the good Christian's stance be, when he sees all this decay and injustice, when he sees the law of material profit prevailing, when he becomes a witness to people who step over others' dead bodies and who sacrifice everything on the altar of money? Should that Christian become actively involved, should he demonstrate, protest, and generally do something, or merely remain indifferent and stay silent, and just dedicate all his energy to the salvation of his own soul?

Of course this is a very basic question, which preoccupies all of us; however, let us take things one at a time.

First of all dear children, we need to keep in mind that all this scandalmongering, on every single subject and at every level - political, financial, social and even ecclesiastical - is NOT something that is done in a proper manner, or with good intentions. You cannot project something bad in a manner that is not good, otherwise, by projecting something bad in a bad manner, it will become even worse. Even when someone projects a good thing in a bad manner, then regardless how good it is, a bad projection of it will not be of any help to it. It will make it appear like a bad thing.

Let's give an example. A few days ago, I was visiting somewhere and on TV they were talking about a father who was sexually molesting his daughter, then the mother showed up on radio and TV and also talked about it, and we could hear a trembling voice and discern a hair-raising figure of that person... And it gets one thinking: OK, this is a scandal, it is something evil, but must these things be projected on TV? I mean, should these things be entering the mind of a little child watching that program - say for example a little girl? That her daddy or the daddy of another child would do such things? Just imagine, if her own father goes to hug her, and the child is made to feel that his caress is something else.... These things cannot be voiced; and they also cannot be amended in this way. We are not being constructive this way.

Scandals exist in the world and they will always exist. They will never cease to exist, but, are we actually being constructive by publicizing them? Are we being constructive or do we make scandals cease by projecting them in such a way? By projecting a scandal, it only becomes even greater... publicizing it is a magnifying glass that only enlarges the scandal.... OK, so there is a scandal, but is it really that necessary to magnify it?

And then there are all those who are embroiled in the problem: what happens to all of those people? Is the individual's persona tarnished - even the sinner's and the guilty party's? But then, doesn't even the suspect have a certain right? If nothing else, he does have the right to repent. So, how can you crush someone like that? And what if that person is eventually proven innocent? What if things aren't the way you described them? Who is then going to bear the weight of the responsibility of all that victimization?

Then, when all these things come out in the open, we hear about them, you all hear about them, and we too get stirred up. And what do we do? We find ourselves embarking on another process, as we can see in the question posed earlier; in other words, whether we should react. And we can see there, that there is an imperfect reaction in the question itself: "should we demonstrate, protest?" In other words, does "reacting" to this scandal require protests and stone-throwing? That would be rather reminiscent of the displays of protests against the occupying forces (in Cyprus), where we stand outside the green line, eating souvlaki and throwing stones at the Turks on the other side; then, after we are done and having felt that we have fulfilled our patriotic duty, we go to a disco to pass the time....

Is that the way for us to react towards scandals? With demonstrations and reactions of that kind? Scandals are very serious matters and they require very serious handling - as well as extreme prudence - and first of all, one must have the appropriate prerequisites inside him, in order to act correctly. In other words, one must first of all think ahead as to what the outcome of that action will be: will it have a positive result, or will it have a negative result? Then, will the reaction to that action be a good or bad one? Because a bad reaction - even if our intervention is for a good cause - will spoil it; it will spoil everything, even the benefit that could have ensued eventually.

Then, one needs to think about the others who will become embroiled in the entire affair. An example: Let's say you are an eyewitness to a crime, and you were to tell a holy man that a crime was committed - that someone murdered another person - do you know what the sentiments of that holy man would be? He would respond in the following manner: "Well, to be honest I am not a Saint, but I have seen saintly people who, upon hearing such news (and what I'm saying may be wrong - I don't know), would sorrow for the victim, they would grieve for the one who was killed, but they would literally mourn for the one who committed the crime. The one who killed is in a far more deplorable state than the one who died."

Can we comprehend this logic that the Saints possess? In other words, they would pray for the one who suffered the wrongdoing - that is, the victim - but they would pray twice as much for the perpetrator of the crime, because he is "killed" twice as much, and is in a much worse situation than the victim. Therefore, our love and our pain must be such that extends to all people. If we wish to take a spiritual stance towards such an incident, we cannot allow ourselves to "see" that this one is the villain and declare that he is worthy of every punishment and condemnation and hatred and whatever else, while the other is the one who needs compassion and sympathy. Yes, to compassion and sympathy; yes, of course the judicial system must take action, but the guilty party is likewise entitled to love. A guilty person also has the right to sympathy and caring - the pastoral caring of the Church and the people of the Church - because we simply cannot deprive any person of the eventuality and the possibility of repentance.

Therefore, we see things in a different manner than the world does: not with a secular mentality. But you may ask: OK, what are we supposed to do, with so many injustices around us? What can we do? Well, what we should do, is for each one of us to first take a look at himself and ask oneself "What is my place here? What can I do?" Then we also check our potentials, our place and our possibilities... and of course as we already said, what will the result be?

As the Elder Paisios advises: "Man must start with himself first. By making yourself good, you automatically make a piece of the world good, then you also influence those around you, and you eventually influence more and more people and further and further away, and some things inevitably become better. You can react against something bad in a very good manner; if necessary, with a more dynamic reaction, but with dignity and a noble manner. Noone can forbid you to do so, as long as it is within the limits of decency and a noble handling so that you don't annihilate the other person, but instead, help even him."

For instance, if someone has his finger on the trigger and is ready to shoot someone else and I am standing next to him without being observed, can I strike him on the hand and make his gun fall down? I can do that, provided I don't strike him with feelings of annoyance and malice and the desire to break his hand, but only to obstruct him from doing something far worse. In other words, even that educative action of mine should be made with love, with a spirit of love.

We need to ascertain that this move will be an educative one - that it will also educate me as well as the other. And I believe that when things are done with love and pain as the Elder says - with love and pain for the other person - then there will be a proper handling and edification every time. God edifies the other person too; He edifies even the one who is a completely hopeless case. God does not destroy any person. Only the devil destroys the other; God edifies even the worst assassin - He has a way of saving him. And that is what God desires: not to destroy the other, but to save him, out of infinite love. Therefore, if one looks at things this way, I believe they can change.

Now my children, no matter what we do, you need to know that it is impossible for scandals to vanish altogether. Christ Himself said so, in the Gospel: "It is an impossible thing, for scandals not to appear." Look - they even appear inside the Church, where we read the Gospel from morning to night, where we perform so many Liturgies, we receive Communion, we fast, we pray, we do so many things, we have dedicated ourselves to God, and there comes a moment when scandals break out inside the Church, they set fire and you don't know where they came from and how to extinguish them - and you imagine that scandals won't break out in other areas? These are the stamps of human imperfection. We are human beings; human imperfection is inherent, there is human weakness, there are human errors... how I understand something is quite different to how the other individual understands it... It is now a part of human nature for that imperfection to exist - that weakness - and it is only natural for all those problems and difficulties to protrude from within them.

We need to learn to react appropriately and stand firmly with prudence in the presence of scandals, without panicking and saying: "See! Scandals everywhere - nothing has remained standing." No, it is not like that at all. As the Elder used to say, "Even from within scandals, God can extract something good; in other words, wherever the devil plows, God sows..." Satan may plow and turn everything upside down, but God allows him to - there is democracy - hey, let the devil do his work, let him earn his wages too, let him finish his job, and after he is finished and has turned everything upside down and can do nothing more and everything is messed up, then the Good Lord comes and sows His seed and does His work. Sometimes, the devil messes things up so badly, that if God were to tell him to sit down and sort out the mess he made, not even he could straighten it out - that's how complicated things could become. But if one leaves things with complete trust in God's Providence, one will see that in the end, the one who wants to benefit will benefit. Many, many benefits are gained; in the end, noone is wronged - don't you worry - noone is wronged.... and if someone is wronged for a while, he will be vindicated eternally... and the one who loses transient things will gain eternal things, which are incomparably better and greater...

So, we need not worry; we are not the ones who will give out justice in this world. We simply need to learn to extract something beneficial from an injustice. Injustice abounds in the world and it will continue to exist, no matter what we do, because there is the element of human freedom and human imperfection; you cannot extort anyone into observing justice - he is a free person, he doesn't want to.

He will say: "Look mister, I don't want to do that thing - can you force me to do something that you want? Well, I don't want to do it."

"But it is unfair..."

"So, maybe it is unfair. I want unfairness. Can you deprive me of the right to desire unfairness? Can you deprive me of the right to make mistakes, to do things wrong? Well, that's what I desire!"

Fine. It's democracy. Let's say he does what he wants. But it is not something that can hinder us on our path, because injustice and difficulty are to be utilized spiritually - and man can utilize them....

Source

Tweet

Share on Tumblr