Saint John Cassian the Roman as a Model for our Lives

St. Cassian the Roman (Feast Day - February 29)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint John Cassian is a great Father and Teacher of the Church. Born in Rome of pious parents, they made sure to raise him "in the education and admonition of the Lord". Together with maternal milk he suckled on the pure milk of the Orthodox Faith from the living breast of the Church. From his parents he learned to love Christ, the Head of the Church, as well as the saints, her authentic members.

His acquaintance and fellowship from his childhood with holy people affected him beneficially by shaping his personality and entire way of life. Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite writes: "He went to various places and met with saints and renowned venerable ones, and the virtues of all he aggregated in himself, like a diligent bee; so that he also became to others another standard and example of all kinds of virtues. Thus by elevating himself above the passions and purifying his nous, he came to know perfect victory against the passions."

On Superstition and Paranoia

By St. Nektarios of Aegina

Superstition is an unreasonable fear of God. It is an exaggeration and extremism, since balance is only retained by devout piety. The superstitious have a phobic consciousness, because they have not matured and they stand before the divine full of fear in a way that does not fit with God. Their knowledge is imperfect regarding divine phrases and they believe things about God that are unworthy of Him. The superstitious have a darkened mind and troubled intellect. Plutarch says about superstition: "Frightful is the darkness of superstition falling upon man, and confounding and blinding his power to reason in circumstances that most loudly demand the power to reason" (On Superstition).

The superstitious fear where no fear should exist and are troubled where peace should be found. They always imagine that God is pursuing after them and seek salvation in necklaces, which they hang around their neck. They believe in delusions and accept as truth pure nonsense. Everywhere they see and discern the victory of dark powers and ascribe greater power to them than God.

The superstitious are morally in bondage and intellectually humiliated. They suffer from religious persecution and their soul is ill. The superstitious person is unhappy and lives a miserable life.

Source: From the book Know Thyself. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

The Truth About the "Lucky Bread" of Elder Paisios

By Ioannis Lotsios

Did Elder Paisios have a recipe for "lucky bread"? Some are arguing that not only did he create it, but they have it.

But what is the truth about this "lucky bread" of the Athonite Monk?

It is commonplace for some religionists who are possessed by a series of superstitions to intermingle them with patristic teachings, and thus "distort" big names of the Church. This is particularly true of the names of contemporary elders. The most "burdened" of such "distortions" is Elder Paisios.

This phenomenon is not new. From the history of the Church we know that some people use names and things to convey their teachings or practices which the Church does not use or accept.

An anonymous letter often has no value, but when it has a name it is likely to mislead many. Specifically, there is a widely circulated recipe for making bread by Elder Paisios with some instructions.

They call it "the lucky bread of Saint Paisios" which brings luck to whoever makes it. It is good not only for one's self, but for one's family.

For several years some have cunningly circulated this in monasteries to advertise themselves as spiritual children of Elder Paisios or of some Athonite Elder, as some ordinary Christians have reported, and they send these recipes through photocopy, or email, or by any other way.

This recipe says the following: For Friday's "lucky bread" the Christian should knead flour of a particular brand and split it into four parts. One part should be baked and the other three should be given to three other Christians, who in turn should do the same. On the first day you add yeast, on the second you add sugar, etc.

It also says that the recipe comes from the Holy Mountain or Jerusalem in several variations. At first glance it naturally seems to be a joke. But it isn't. In fact, it is very serious.

Many simple Christians fall into such procedures without knowing anything else except that it is some "teaching" of the well-known Elder. In fact, all of this fabricated - it is a fake.

A counsel of Elder Paisios, which he characteristically stated, was simple: "My telephone is my prayer rope." He said this to emphasize that communication with God is through prayer. This is what we must do, say the clergy.

As the Church often says on these occasions, when we are not sure about something, it is good to communicate with our parish priest.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.