On beholding the strange childbirth, let us be estranged from the world, diverting our minds to Heaven; indeed, to this end God on High appeared on earth as a lowly man,
wishing to draw aloft those who cry to Him: Alleluia!
SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF THE BLOG
AND READ THE INVITATION
Your sweet embrace Holy Mother,
makes me weep for those who do not know thee.
makes me weep for those who do not know thee.
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33 Martyrs of Melitené;
St. Lazarus of Mt. Galésion
~FAST DAY~
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These holy Martyrs confessed during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian in the year 290. Of them, Saint Hieron was from Tyana in Cappadocia, a husbandman, of great bodily strength and high nobility of soul. As he was at work digging in his field, certain soldiers came to impress him into military service. He, however, not wishing to keep company with the impious, refused, and with his wooden tool alone drove away the armed soldiers, who fled in fear because of his strength. Later, however, he went of his own free will, and confessed Christ before the governor. His right hand was cut off, and he was imprisoned with thirty-two others, whom he strengthened in the Faith of Christ. Together they were all beheaded outside the city of Melitene in Armenia.
Hieron was born in Tyana in Cappadocia of a good and devout mother, Stratonika, who was blind. Hieron was a very zealous Christian and served his blind mother with great filial love. For two reasons he did not wish to join the army, and he resisted and drove off those who had been sent to take him. Hieron was loath to leave his helpless mother, and it was grievous for him even to consider that, as a soldier, he would be compelled to offer sacrifices to idols. Finally, Hieron was arrested along with other Christians, and they were all taken before the eparch of the town of Melitene. While they were still on the road, a man clad in a brilliant white garment appeared to Hieron one night and said: ``Behold, Hieron, I proclaim salvation to you: you shall not wage war for an earthly king, but for the Heavenly King you will complete your struggle, and you shall soon come to Him to receive honor and glory.'' At this, Hieron's heart was filled with inexpressible joy. In Melitene they were all thrown into prison and Hieron, with great zeal, strengthened all the prisoners in the Faith, urging that not even one of them fall away, but that all willingly offer their bodies to torture and death for Christ. All but one confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The exception was Hieron's kinsman Victor, who fell away from the Faith. The tormentors cut one of Hieron's hands off, then flogged and tortured him in various ways until they beheaded him and the others. Going to the place of execution, these thirty-three martyrs chanted the Psalm: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord (Psalms 118:1). Here we will name the honorable martyrs whose names are written with his in the Book of Life: Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas, Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nikon, Longinus, Theodore, Valerius, Xanthius, Theodulus, Callimachus, Eugenius, Theodochus, Ostrichius, Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius, Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrichius, Anicletus, Themilius, Eutychius, Hilarion, Diodotus and Amonitus. A man named Chrysanthus purchased Hieron's severed head and honorably buried it, later building a church over it in the saint's name. The martyr's severed hand was brought to his blind mother. St. Hieron, with his companions, suffered in the year 298 and entered the glory of Christ.
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Colossians 3:17-4:1
King James Version
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
4 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Saint Luke 12:48-59
King James Version
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
THE LAST DAYS
GUARD YOUR LIFE WITH CARE
Don’t let your lamp be extinguished. Don’t let your body be stripped of spiritual clothing.
Keep ready! Because you do not know when the Lord is coming.
Gather together frequently, seeking the things that are good for your souls – because it does not matter how long you have believed if you are not perfect in the final season of time. Because there will be plenty of false prophets and corrupters in the final days, and sheep will be turned into wolves, and love will be turned into hate because they will hate and betray one another as chaos increases. And then the one who deceives the world will appear as though he were the Son of God and will perform signs and wonders. And the earth will be delivered into his hands, and he will commit atrocities never seen before in the history of the world. Then the entire human creation will come into the fiery test, and many will be tripped up and be destroyed. Those who patiently endure in their faith will be saved from the curse itself. Then the signs of truth shall appear: first, the sign of the sky opening; then, the sign of the sound of a trumpet; and third, the sign of the resurrection of the dead. (Not everyone will be raised, but as it has been said: “The Lord will come, and his saints with him”).
Then the world will see the Lord coming upon the clouds in the sky.
Fear of punishment - the Cure
THE INVITATION
A few days ago an invitation to a most profound, comprehensive and profitable narrative
from Elder Moses of Athos on CONFESSION was posted on the PARAGON.
Although several responses were received, the diligent searching of one
in particular expressed the kind of longing required
to "find" and not only "seek"
the Kingdom of Heaven.
You are encouraged o read the discourse.
You are encouraged o read the discourse.
DISCOURSE ON
"CONFESSIONS"
BY ELDER MOSES OF ATHOS
one must adopt to have a fruitful spiritual life.
Exactly, I'm happy you read it and in its reward to you, I also am rewarded.
During the reading I did come across one section that I would hope to find clarification on.
Our Church does not cultivate and produce intellectuals. To us, rationalization is not a
philosophical mentality, but a clearly sin-oriented life view – a form of atheism – since it goes
contrary to the commandment of placing our faith, hope, love and trust in God.
A rationalist judges everything using the filter of his own mind and only with his finite mind,
with himself and his sovereign ego as the epicentre, and does not place any trust
in divine Providence, divine Grace and divine Assistance in his life.*
In the above quote it claims that our church does not produce nor cultivate intellectuals.
And from there, transitions into the spiritually dire fount from which rationalization emerges.
My question here is: Does Orthodoxy discourage both intellectualism and rationalism,
as the quote would suggest, or rather condemn only rationalization due to its attempt to rationalize the Devine, which, in effect, brings the Uncreated Divine down to the same Essential level as that which was created.
And from there, transitions into the spiritually dire fount from which rationalization emerges.
My question here is: Does Orthodoxy discourage both intellectualism and rationalism,
as the quote would suggest, or rather condemn only rationalization due to its attempt to rationalize the Devine, which, in effect, brings the Uncreated Divine down to the same Essential level as that which was created.
I think rationalization is simply the by-product of a fallen soul who needs to transcend
desire for the carnal to overcome reliance on it. After all if we justify our behavior
by the use of logic, it being far from the Divine Nature of the Creator, are we not
deceiving ourselves and thereby admitting that we do not possess faith in that
which has been testified to us to be beyond the beyond?
In support of the latter, I believe rationalization and intellectualization are two separate
approaches which are not necessary joined.
approaches which are not necessary joined.
I agree, and only when the true intellect has been revealed and Theosis acquired
are they understood.
Indeed, intellectuals are riddled throughout some of our most revered saints St. Photios,
St. John Chrysostom, St. Athanasius, and for a modern example in our lifetime,
Metropolitan Christoatimose. Each of these men would be considered an intellectual in
both their time as well as ours and possessed a vast study of both spiritual and non-spiritual material.
Yes. Have you read Socrates's argument on the immortality of the soul?
A very convincing argument and along with his demonstration that knowledge
is intrinsic, yet he had not been granted Theosis with Him who is Eternal Life.
Then again, knowing myself, I probably missed the point! If I am, I would love to hear what your thoughts are!
I don't think you said anything that would indicate that you missed the point.
Indeed, most would look at the holy ones (saints) you mention as intellectuals
but most often not (unless enlightened themselves/ourselves) according to the
Church's definition of true intellectuals (i.e. those who KNOW God).
An old friend, now reposed, did much searching for enlightenment a major part of his life
through Shamanism, through Guru's such as Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Krishna (Hinduism), Swami Muktananda; through Islam and so on,
on and on. He was an insatiable reader which included the entire Bhagavad Gita, and,
once he came full circle back to Christ, he read the entire, massive,
Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian. One day he turned to me and said:
"I don't know anything." My response came from the Holy Orthodox Fathers.
"Therein lies the problem Joe." "What?" he asked. We DO, in fact, know something
and until we completely deny ourselves and become nothing, we cannot be "hard wired" -
one with God (small Christ's within Christ - Theosis) with He Who is all things, quickens all things and beyond all things.
Keep struggling! We are made by God and of God, but we veiled ourselves,
separating ourselves from Him to a great degree by disobedience (sin), but not entirely.
So, as our glorious holy father Seraphim of Sarov tells us: the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit
is our objective. But again, since we are made by God and in His own Image and Likeness,
we need only seek the removal of the veil, no?
I hope my inadequacies have not clouded or complicated your search.
Again, keep vigil and your guard up. We fight against a formidable enemy and spiritual wickedness. We cannot win without Christ.
Your servant in Christ's love
FRA
are they understood.
Indeed, intellectuals are riddled throughout some of our most revered saints St. Photios,
St. John Chrysostom, St. Athanasius, and for a modern example in our lifetime,
Metropolitan Christoatimose. Each of these men would be considered an intellectual in
both their time as well as ours and possessed a vast study of both spiritual and non-spiritual material.
Yes. Have you read Socrates's argument on the immortality of the soul?
A very convincing argument and along with his demonstration that knowledge
is intrinsic, yet he had not been granted Theosis with Him who is Eternal Life.
Then again, knowing myself, I probably missed the point! If I am, I would love to hear what your thoughts are!
I don't think you said anything that would indicate that you missed the point.
Indeed, most would look at the holy ones (saints) you mention as intellectuals
but most often not (unless enlightened themselves/ourselves) according to the
Church's definition of true intellectuals (i.e. those who KNOW God).
An old friend, now reposed, did much searching for enlightenment a major part of his life
through Shamanism, through Guru's such as Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Krishna (Hinduism), Swami Muktananda; through Islam and so on,
on and on. He was an insatiable reader which included the entire Bhagavad Gita, and,
once he came full circle back to Christ, he read the entire, massive,
Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian. One day he turned to me and said:
"I don't know anything." My response came from the Holy Orthodox Fathers.
"Therein lies the problem Joe." "What?" he asked. We DO, in fact, know something
and until we completely deny ourselves and become nothing, we cannot be "hard wired" -
one with God (small Christ's within Christ - Theosis) with He Who is all things, quickens all things and beyond all things.
Keep struggling! We are made by God and of God, but we veiled ourselves,
separating ourselves from Him to a great degree by disobedience (sin), but not entirely.
So, as our glorious holy father Seraphim of Sarov tells us: the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit
is our objective. But again, since we are made by God and in His own Image and Likeness,
we need only seek the removal of the veil, no?
I hope my inadequacies have not clouded or complicated your search.
Again, keep vigil and your guard up. We fight against a formidable enemy and spiritual wickedness. We cannot win without Christ.
Your servant in Christ's love
FRA
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