CIVIL RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION: All things Eastern Orthodox Christianity

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  • foszoe

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    I expect this to be a quiet thread to encourage spending time in prayer.

    Too many Baptists in other forums and I needed my own safe space. Although they are welcomed here also!
     

    foszoe

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    Today we celebrate the Nativity of St John the Baptist so I wanted to share with my fellow Baptists the scriptures we read today with those from the Baptist Tradition!

    Scripture Readings
    Saturday, June 24, 2017
    · Composite 10 - Genesis 17:15-17, 19; 18:11-14; 21:1-8
    · Composite 11 - Judges 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21
    · Composite 8 - Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54
    · Luke 1:24-25, 57-68, 76, 80
    · Romans 13:11-14:4
    · Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80
    · Romans 3:28-4:3
    · Matthew 7:24-8:4
    Today’s commemorated feasts and saints
    NATIVITY OF THE HOLY GLORIOUS PROPHET, FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST, JOHN.

    Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
    Commemorated on June 24

    The Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John: The Gospel (Luke. 1: 5) relates that the righteous parents of Saint John the Baptist, the Priest Zachariah and Elizabeth (September 5), lived in the ancient city of Hebron. They reached old age without having children, since Elizabeth was barren. Once, Saint Zachariah was serving in the Temple at Jerusalem and saw the Archangel Gabriel, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. He predicted that Saint Zachariah would father a son, who would announce the Savior, the Messiah, awaited by the Old Testament Church. Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him. He had doubts that in old age it was possible to have a son, and he asked for a sign. It was given to him, and it was also a chastisement for his unbelief. Zachariah was struck speechless until the time of the fulfillment of the archangel’s words.
    Saint Elizabeth came to be with child, and fearing derision at being pregnant so late in life, she kept it secret for five months. Then her relative, the Virgin Mary, came to share with her Her own joy. Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” was the first to greet the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Saint John leaped in his mother’s womb at the visit of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and the Son of God incarnate within Her.
    Soon Saint Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and all the relatives and acquaintances rejoiced together with her. On the eighth day, in accordance with the Law of Moses, he was circumcised and was called John. Everyone was amazed, since no one in the family had this name. When they asked Saint Zachariah about this, he motioned for a tablet and wrote on it: “His name is John.” Immediately his tongue was loosed, and Saint Zachariah glorified God. He also prophesied about the Coming into the world of the Messiah, and of his own son John, the Forerunner of the Lord (Luke. 1: 68-79).
    After the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the worship of the shepherds and the Magi, wicked king Herod gave orders to kill all male infants. Hearing about this, Saint Elizabeth fled into the wilderness and hid in a cave. Saint Zachariah was at Jerusalem and was doing his priestly service in the Temple. Herod sent soldiers to him to find out the abode of the infant John and his mother. Zachariah answered that their whereabouts were unknown to him, and he was killed right there in the Temple. Righteous Elizabeth continued to live in the wilderness with her son and she died there. The child John, protected by an angel, dwelt in the wilderness until the time when he came preaching repentance, and was accounted worthy to baptize the Lord.

    Troparion — Tone 4
    Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, / although we cannot praise you worthily, / we honor you in love at your nativity, / for by it you ended your father’s silence and your mother’s barrenness, / proclaiming to the world the incarnation of the Son of God!
    Kontakion — Tone 3
    Today the formerly barren woman gives birth to Christ’s Forerunner, / who is the fulfillment of every prophecy; / for in the Jordan, / when he laid his hand on the One foretold by the prophets, / he was revealed as Prophet, Herald, and Forerunner of God the Word.
     

    foszoe

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    Bearing the cross given not the one desired

    Have you ever wished you could take up someone else’s cross and lay down your own?

    There is the old story told of one man who was suffering from his heavy load and prayed to have this cross taken from him. As he fell asleep, his prayer was answered as his guardian angel took him from the bed upon which he slept and into a room full of crosses, varying in size and material, old and new, rough hewn and smooth. The man asked why he had been brought here and the guardian angel replied that his prayer had been heard! His cross had been removed from his shoulders and he was free to take up any cross of his choosing. The man took his time, looked through all the corners, and finally found the smallest cross hidden in the corner. Making his selection, the room vanished from his perception and he awoke to find himself in his own bed and as he arose to go about the business of the day found himself despondent that it had all just been a dream. As he cried out to God to complain of his torturous dream his guardian angel again revealed himself to the man in his prayer and inquired why the man seemed so tortured. The man said in my dream I selected the smallest cross yet today I find myself in no better situation than I was yesterday. The guardian angel looking at him earnestly said, “my dear man, it was no dream for you were given the opportunity to select a new cross, yet you chose the very one which you surrendered”

    How many times does the world weigh in on us and we resort to complaining?

    Have you ever wished you could take the place of one who is suffering? Parents often will say this about their children. Wives will say this about husbands and husbands will say this about wives.

    In reality, we are called to be right where we are. If you are caregiving, give the best care you can. If you are suffering, accept the help of those who are sent to help. Do not wish or pray that the situation changes your cross, pray rather to accept the situation in which you are and the cross you are given to bear. Only by acceptance can the situation change.


    There is a story in Daniel that comes to mind, only a portion of which is in the Protestant Bible that speaks to this point.

    13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
    16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.c 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”


    The Holy Bible. (2006). (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Da 3:13–18). San Francisco: Ignatius Press.

    The next section is the song of Azariah. In the Hebrew only text, the names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but the Septuagint also contains one of the most beautiful passages of scripture using the Greek names.

    1 And they walked about in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 2 Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:
    3 “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise;
    and your name is glorified for ever.
    4 For you are just in all that you have done to us,
    and all your works are true and your ways right,
    and all your judgments are truth.
    5 You have executed true judgments in all that you have brought upon us
    and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers,
    for in truth and justice you have brought all this upon us because of our sins.
    6 For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from you,
    and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed your commandments;
    7 we have not observed them or done them,
    as you have commanded us that it might go well with us.
    8 So all that you have brought upon us,
    and all that you have done to us,
    you have done in true judgment.
    9 You have given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels,
    and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.
    10 And now we cannot open our mouths;
    shame and disgrace have befallen your servants and worshipers.
    11 For your name’s sake do not give us up utterly,
    and do not break your covenant,
    12 and do not withdraw your mercy from us,
    for the sake of Abraham your beloved
    and for the sake of Isaac your servant
    and Israel your holy one,
    13 to whom you promised
    to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven
    and as the sand on the shore of the sea.
    14 For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation,
    and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
    15 And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader,
    no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
    no place to make an offering before you or to find mercy.
    16 Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted,
    as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls,
    and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
    17 such may our sacrifice be in your sight this day,
    and may we wholly follow you,
    for there will be no shame for those who trust in you.
    18 And now with all our heart we follow you,
    we fear you and seek your face.
    19 Do not put us to shame,
    but deal with us in your forbearance
    and in your abundant mercy.
    20 Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works,
    and give glory to your name, O Lord!
    Let all who do harm to your servants be put to shame;
    21 let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion,
    and let their strength be broken.
    22 Let them know that you are the Lord, the only God,
    glorious over the whole world.”

    23 Now the king’s servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush. 24 And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits, 25 and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace. 26 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, 27 and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.


    The Song of the Three Young Men

    28 Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying:
    29 “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers,
    and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
    30 And blessed is your glorious, holy name
    and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;
    31 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory
    and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
    32 Blessed are you, who sit upon cherubim and look upon the deeps,
    and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
    33 Blessed are you upon the throne of your kingdom
    and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
    34 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
    and to be sung and glorified for ever.

    35 “Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    36 Bless the Lord, you heavens,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    37 Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    38 Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    39 Bless the Lord, all powers,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    40 Bless the Lord, sun and moon,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    41 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    42 Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    43 Bless the Lord, all winds,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    44 Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    45 Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    46 Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    47 Bless the Lord, nights and days,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    48 Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    49 Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    50 Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    51 Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    52 Let the earth bless the Lord;
    let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    53 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    54 Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    55 Bless the Lord, you springs,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    56 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    57 Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    58 Bless the Lord, all birds of the air,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    59 Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    60 Bless the Lord, you sons of men,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    61 Bless the Lord, O Israel,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    62 Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    63 Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    64 Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    65 Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
    66 Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever;
    for he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death,
    and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;
    from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.
    67 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his mercy endures for ever.
    68 Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods,
    sing praise to him and give thanks to him,
    for his mercy endures for ever.” *
    24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered, “But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

    The Holy Bible. (2006). (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Da 3:1–25). San Francisco: Ignatius Press.
     

    foszoe

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    Do we have to hit "reply" three times? :rockwoot:

    To be truly Orthodox you have to reply 3 times in response to something that you only half read or listened to but have formed a staunch opinion on that must be articulated immediately :) Especially since my posts are usually so long even I only read half of them :)

    And yes, it is likely that the older the story you tell the more Orthodox you are
     

    foszoe

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    REFLECTION
    Protestants have rejected the miracles of God through material things. By doing this they thought to despiritualize the Christian Faith however, in doing this, they have impoverished and deformed Christianity. They have rejected the action of God's power through icons, through the relics of the saints, through the Cross and, finally, some of them even through the power of Holy Communion. If they were to follow this erroneous path, they would have to reject even the miracles which have occurred from the living body of the Lord Jesus, for His body was material; the same with the miracles by the touch of the apostles' hands and the hands of the saints, for these hands are also material and not even to mention the rod of Moses, or the vesture of the All-holy Birth-giver of God, of the handkerchief of the Apostle Paul and so forth. In their rejection, Protestants stand in contradiction to the entire ancient Church. Here is one out of thousands and thousands of proofs that God acts through things, especially when He wants to glorify His saints: there was a tall pillar erected in Alexandria bearing the statue of Emperor Theodosius dressed in monastic habit and with a monastic staff in his hand. This pillar served as a memorial of the emperor's victory which he, clad in the monastic habit of St. Sennuphius and with Sennuphius' staff in his hands, carried against his adversaries. When God wills, then even one garment of a saint conquers the powerful armies of unbelievers. Who would dare to limit the actions or the methods of action of the power of the Almighty God?
     

    foszoe

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    Today is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. This feast is often also used as an occasion to extend an olive branch of friendship from Orthodox to Roman Catholics. It should serve as a reminder to all Christians that all of our disagreements and difficulties can be overcome. It should also serve as a reminder that we should seek reconciliation and peace with all.

    1. Pray for peace in the world

    2. Be reminded of Peter and Paul and their story of reconciliation, repentance, and forgiveness between all Christians.

    3. Bring the story from the level of exhortation to action and make it realized in a personal relationship that seems beyond saving because it demands our repentance and then let us repent.

    Scripture Readings

    Thursday, June 29, 2017


    Today’s commemorated feasts and saints

    THE HOLY GLORIOUS AND ALL-PRAISED LEADERS OF THE APOSTLES, PETER AND PAUL (1st c.).
     
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    foszoe

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    Synaxis of the 12 Apostles

    The day after Peter and Paul are recognized is reserved for the 12 Apostles. With the disappearance of Judas, a 12th is selected by lots in Acts. An interesting "fact" ( I hesitate to say its always true) is that in icons of the 12 apostles, Judas is replaced by Paul and Matthias never makes an appearance. St Matthias does have his own icons. This is true even in the Icon of Pentecost.

    Do we have it tough?

    St. Peter was crucified upside down.
    St. Andrew was crucified.
    Saint James, the son of Zebedee St. James was beheaded.
    St. John died in a miraculous manner.
    St. Philip was crucified.
    St. Bartholomew was crucified, scrapped and beheaded.
    St. Thomas was pierced with five spears.
    St. Matthew was burned alive.
    Saint James, the son of Alphaeus St. James was crucified.
    Saint Thaddeus or Jude, the Brother of James St. Thaddeus was crucified.
    Saint Simon the Zealot St. Simon was crucified.
    Matthias was stoned and then was beheaded after death.


    Saint Paul St. Paul was beheaded.


    Scripture Readings


    Friday, June 30, 2017


    Today’s commemorated feasts and saints

    Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Twelve Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, the son of Alphæus, Jude, the brother of James, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias (1st c.)
     

    foszoe

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    REFLECTION


    A man adorns simple clothing and ornate clothing adorns a man. Simple clothing calls attention to the man, but ornate clothing calls attention to itself. The passion for ornate clothing simply drains and withers the soul of man. This is the real reason why the Church from time immemorial stood against opulence in dress and recommended the simple and plain. Among the countless Christian saints there is no mention of one for whom ornate clothing helped to attain sanctity. Many great and wise kings, not only Christians but also heathens, loved simplicity in dress. Thus, it is said that the Emperor Augustus Octavius, during whose reign the Lord Christ was born wore only simple clothing which was woven for him by his wife, sister or daughter. Of King Charles V, it is said, that he wore such simple clothing that even ordinary citizens, his subjects, were better dressed than he. A man once invited the glorious Greek military general Philopomenes to dinner in whose home he had never previously entered. Philopomenes arrived at the home of his host a little early. The host had not yet arrived and, the hostess not knowing Philopomenes personally and seeing him attired in simple clothing, thought that he was a servant of Philopomenes who was sent in advance to inform her husband of the coming of the military general. Because of this, she ordered him to chop wood. Philopomenes willing acceded to her command and began to chop wood. When the host came and saw what this honored guest was doing, he was horrified and asked him: "Who dared to give this type of work to Philopomenes?" Quietly, the military general answered: "My clothing."
     

    foszoe

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    [FONT=&amp]The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and His Mother Julitta[/FONT]
    Saturday,July 15, 2017
    11:45AM
    Readings:
    Epistle:1 Corinthians 13:-11-14:5
    Gospel:Matthew 17:24-18:4



    As I was reading 1Cor 13:12, the familiarity of the verse was rolled away as the Lord drew my attention to the last clause.


    12
    For
    l
    now
    we
    see
    in
    a
    mirror
    ,
    dimly
    ,
    but
    then
    m
    face
    γὰρ2
    ἄρτι3
    βλέπομεν1
    διʼ4
    ἐσόπτρου5
    ἐν6 αἰνίγματι7
    δὲ9
    τότε8
    πρόσωπον10
    CLX
    B
    VPAI1P
    P
    NGSN
    P NDSN
    CLC
    B
    NASN

    to
    face
    .
    Now
    I
    know
    in
    part
    ,
    but
    then
    I
    shall
    know
    πρὸς11
    πρόσωπον12
    ἄρτι13
    γινώσκω14
    ἐκ15
    μέρους16
    δὲ18
    τότε17
    ἐπιγνώσομαι19
    P
    NASN
    B
    VPAI1S
    P
    NGSN
    CLC
    B
    VFMI1S

    just
    as
    I
    also
    am
    known
    .
    καθὼς20
    22
    καὶ21
    ἐπεγνώσθην22
    CAM
    CLA B
    VAPI1S

    l
    [2 Cor. 3:18; 5:7];Phil. 3:12; James 1:23
    m
    Gen. 32:30; Num.12:8; Matt. 18:10; [1 John 3:2]
    The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Co13:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

    Since my youth, I have read this passage and I have heard many sermons preached on it. Today as I read it, the Lord called to mind a desire within me that has been since childhood. God himself participated in this for my parents divorced when I was 3 and my mother would always remind me that I was not fatherless but God is my Father. In my formative years, God heard many things about me that no one else knew. He didn't need to hear them to know me but I needed to say them.

    This desire has remained throughout my life, the desire to be known, to have a true friend that KNOWS me. A person that is always there for you and will always be there for you. There have been people in my life that meet that criteria, but relocation has usually taken them from me. When I go to see them on occasion, it is like no time has passed. This type of person, depending on your personality, can be difficult to find.

    The Church also provides us with someone who should know us as intimately as our best friend,our spiritual father. He should know us. If he doesn't then we are probably not going to confession enough. All our struggles should be laid bare before him.We confess our sins, but by also confessing our struggles an underlying sin may come to light. Confession brings about our deepest vulnerabilities, our greatest sorrows, and opens the gates of repentance and of blessed assurance.

    Struggle to be known!

    All that said, the second clause was what really stood out to me. There will come a day that I shall know just as I also am known.

    WOW.

    God knows us from our conception, even before. He knows everything there is to know about you.Now there are other scriptures that speak to the Orthodox understanding of eternally progressing in becoming like Him through grace but I had never read this verse in that light. Through his Grace, I will know Him as He knows me.

    This Being who has heard from me since my youth and loves me beyond understanding wants me to know him. Not know facts about Him, but to know Him. Knowing that Jesus did and knowing who Jesus is are concepts separated by a huge gulf and that gulf is contained in the gospels, for Jesus now calls us his friends. What a friend I have in Jesus. One who is not drawn away by a job or married away to a different location but a true friend that KNOWS me.

    Cross the gulf of what Jesus did and become HIS friend. Use Confession as your swimming lesson.Daily converse with Him, letting the Spirit pray within you when words cannot express

    Realize that as much as you want to be intimately known, that He wants to intimately make himself known to you.

    Remember there IS coming a day where you will see Jesus face to face for He has taken on flesh.
    There is coming a day when the communion of the Holy Spirit will be so sensible that faith becomes unnecessary.
    There is coming a day when the Father will welcome you home.

    Glory to JesusChrist, Glory Forever
     

    T.Lex

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    So various roundabout projects and road closures in Carmel had me detoured recently. I had to drive along the west side middle school/elementary school campus (which I'm convinced is larger than the Vatican). To my surprise, literally right across the street, construction looks nearly complete on a new Orthodox church!

    A little research, and it appears to be a new Coptic Orthodox church. Only a couple miles from the still-feels-new Greek Orthodox church at 106th St.

    [Hey ya'all, watch foszoe's head explode!]

    Why couldn't they just all use the same church? :D
     

    foszoe

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    They can and have, actually. In many Orthodox parishes you can find Copts worshiping and through the blessing of their bishop and the bishop of the local Orthodox parish, the priest could commune them. Russians would be more opposed to this practice than Greeks as in Greece, this inter-communion while not frequent is also not uncommon. Russians do to Western influences introduced under Peter the Great in his great love for all things western, tend to be more legalistic on such matters.

    The theologians have agreed on unification language and several bishops have allowed inter-communion at the local levels. I believe you will see unification within my lifetime if I am blessed with death in old age.

    Since this is a thread about eastern Orthodoxy, let me dovetail in something else :)

    In traditional Orthodoxy, you do not celebrate birthdays. You will find birthdays celebrated here in the US but that is not a result of Church teaching. It is more appropriate to celebrate your "Name Day" or the day the saint for which you are named after died or the death is commemorated. On this day you throw a party and then you give gifts to all who come to celebrate your name day with you. This more accurately reflects the life in Christ than the "traditional" birthday celebration.

    On Sunday, a hymn "Many Years" is sung in honor of those celebrating name days as is also the custom on anniversaries of weddings, baptisms, chrismations etc. While this hymn, on the surface, seems joyful, it also serves as a somber reminder for the meaning is may you have many years to repent before you die.


    So various roundabout projects and road closures in Carmel had me detoured recently. I had to drive along the west side middle school/elementary school campus (which I'm convinced is larger than the Vatican). To my surprise, literally right across the street, construction looks nearly complete on a new Orthodox church!

    A little research, and it appears to be a new Coptic Orthodox church. Only a couple miles from the still-feels-new Greek Orthodox church at 106th St.

    [Hey ya'all, watch foszoe's head explode!]

    Why couldn't they just all use the same church? :D
     

    foszoe

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    Basic Concepts.


    1. The World.

    All that we see: heaven, the sun, the moon, stars, clouds, the earth on which we live, the air we breathe, the earth on which we live, including the grass, trees, mountains, rivers, seas, fish, birds, beasts, animals, and finally people — God created all of this. Yes indeed, the world is the creation of God! When we see God’s world then we understand how beautifully and wisely it was made.


    Here we are in a meadow. Overhead, the blue sky with white clouds is stretched out like a tent, and on the earth there is thick, green grass, sprinkled with flowers. In the grass we can hear the sounds of various insects, butterflies fluttering around the flowers, and bees and gnats of different kinds flying through the air. The whole earth is like a huge, beautiful carpet. But there is no carpet woven by the hand of man that can be compared with the beauty of God’s meadow.


    Let us take a walk in the woods. There we can see a multitude of different kinds of trees, the mighty oak, the lordly pine, the spotted birch, the fragrant linden, the maple, the tall fir tree and the thick chestnut tree. There are little clearings with bushes and all kinds of herbs. Everywhere we hear the voices of birds, the buzzing and chirping of insects. Hundreds of different kinds of animals live in the forest. And how many different kinds of berries, mushrooms, and flowers there are! The forest is like a great world unto itself.


    And here is the river. It quietly flows, sparkling in the sun, among the forests, fields, and meadows. How much fun it is to go for a swim! All around it is hot, but in the water it is cool and pleasant. How many different kinds of fish, frogs, waterbugs, and other living creatures there are! It has its own life, its own little world.


    How magnificent the ocean is, with its huge and rich underwater world of living creatures.


    How beautiful the mountains are with their lofty peaks covered with eternal snow and ice, high above the clouds.


    The world is marvelous in its beauty, and all that is in it is full of life.


    It is impossible to count all the plants and animals that populate the earth, from the very smallest, which are invisible to our eyes, to the very largest. They live everywhere — on the land, in the water, in the air, in the soil, and even deep beneath the earth. It is God Who gave all this life to the world.


    The world of God is rich and varied! At the same time, in all this vast variety there reigns a marvelous and definite order established by God, or, as we often say, the "laws of nature," All the plants and animals are distributed throughout the world in keeping with this order. What each one is supposed to eat, that is what it eats. And there is a definite and logical purpose given to everything. Everything in the world is born, grows, and dies — one thing is replaced by another. God gave a special time and place and purpose to everything.


    Man alone lives everywhere on the earth and has dominion over everything. God granted him reason and an immortal soul. He gave man a special and great purpose: to know God, to be like Him, that is, to become constantly better and inherit eternal life.


    In their external appearance people are different, but they all have the same reasonable and immortal soul. Through this soul people are lifted above the animal world and become like God.


    Now let us look into the deep, dark night, from earth up to heaven. How many stars we see scattered there. There is an infinite number of them! Many of the stars are just like our star, the sun. There are some that are many times larger than ours, but they are so far away from the earth that they seem to us to be tiny, twinkling pinpoints of light. They are all in motion in an orderly and harmonious manner, according to definite paths and laws. Our earth amid the heavenly vastness seems like a tiny speck of light.


    The world of God is vast, uncontainable! We can neither account for nor measure it all, for only ‘God, Who created everything, knows the measure and weight and number of all things.


    God created the entire world for the life and benefit of people, for each of us. God’s love for us is infinite!


    If we love God and live according to His law, then much that is unintelligible in the world will become understandable and clear to us. Let us love God’s world and live in friendship, love, and joy with everyone. Then this joy will never end, and no one will take it away from us, for God Himself will be with us.


    In order to remember that we belong to God, to be closer to Him and to love Him, that is, to fulfill our purpose on earth and to inherit eternal life, we must know more about God, know His holy will, that is, GOD’S LAW.


    Seraphim Slobodskoy​
     

    foszoe

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    About God


    About God

    God created the whole world out of nothing, by His Word alone. God can do all that He wishes. God is the highest existence. There is no one nor anything equal to Him anywhere, neither on earth nor in Heaven. We, mankind, cannot fully comprehend Him by our reason. We would know nothing about Him unless He Himself had not revealed it to us. What we know about God has all been revealed to us by God Himself.
    When God created the first people, Adam and Eve, He appeared to them in Paradise, revealing Himself to them, revealed how He created the world, and how people must believe in the One True God and fulfill His will. This teaching of God was first passed on orally from generation to generation, but later, at the inspiration of God, it was written down by Moses and by the other prophets in the sacred books.
    Finally, the very Son of God, Jesus Christ, appeared on earth and revealed all that mankind needs to know about God. He revealed to mankind a great mystery: God is One but a Trinity in Three Persons. The first Person is God the Father; the second Person is God the Son, the third Person is God the Holy Spirit. These are not three gods but one God in three Persons, the Trinity in one essence and indivisible.
    All three Persons have the same divine dignity; there is not a senior one among them nor a junior; as God the Father is true God, so also God the Son is true God, and likewise, the Holy Spirit is true God.
    They are different only in that God the Father is not begotten and does not proceed from anyone; God the Son is begotten of God the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father.
    Jesus Christ through the revelation of the mystery of the All-holy Trinity taught us not only to worship God truly, but also to love God as all three Persons of the Most-holy Trinity — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All eternally abide with one another in unceasing love and make up one Being. God is all-perfect love.
    The great mystery, which God revealed to us concerning Himself, is the mystery of the Holy Trinity, which our weak mind cannot contain or understand.
    St. Cyril, the teacher of the Slavs, tried to explain the mystery of the Most-holy Trinity. He said, "Do you see in the heavens the brilliant sphere of the sun and how from it light is begotten and warmth proceeds? God the Father is like the sphere of the sun, without beginning or end. From Him is eternally begotten God the Son, like light from the sun; just as there comes warmth together with light from the sun, the Holy Spirit proceeds. Each one is distinguished separately: the sphere of the sun and the light and the warmth — these are not three suns, but one sun in the heavens. So also, in the Holy Trinity: there are three Persons but God is one and indivisible." Blessed Augustine says: "You see the Trinity if you see love." This means that we can understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity more readily with the heart, that is by love, than with our feeble mind.
    The teaching of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was written down by His disciples in a sacred book, which is called the Gospel. The original word for Gospel is the Greek word Evangelion, which means glad tidings or good news.
    The sacred books, gathered together into one book, are called the Bible. This is from Greek word which means "book."

    Seraphim Slobodskoy​
     

    foszoe

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    The Attributes of God

    God revealed to us concerning Himself that He is a bodiless and invisible spirit (John 4:24).

    What does it mean that God has neither a body, nor bones, as we have, and does not have in Himself anything that makes up our visible world, and therefore we cannot see Him?

    In order to explain this, let us take an example from our earthly world. We do not see the air, but we see its actions and results; the movement of the air has great power which can move huge ships and complex machines. We feel and we know that we cannot live without the air that we breathe. So also we do not see God, but we see His activity and its results, His wisdom and power are everywhere in the world, and we feel them in ourselves.

    The invisible God, out of love for us, at various times appeared to righteous people in a visible form — in images, or, reflections of Himself, that is to say, in such a form that they could behold Him. Otherwise they would have perished from directly beholding His majesty and glory.

    God said to Moses, There shall no man see Me, and live (Ex. 33:20). If the sun blinds us with its brilliance, and we cannot look upon this creation of God lest we be blinded, then how much more so, on God Who created it. For God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5), and He dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16).

    God is Eternal (Ps. 89:3, Ex. 40:28).

    All that we see in the world began at one time or another. It was born, and at some time it will also come to an end, it will die, it will be destroyed. All that is in the world is temporal; everything has its beginning and its end.
    Once there was no Heaven, there was no earth, no time, but there was God, because He has no beginning. Having no beginning, He has no end. God always was and always shall be. God is outside time. God always is.

    Therefore, He is called eternal.

    God is unchanging (James 1:17, Mal. 3:6).

    There is nothing in the world constant or unchanging; everything constantly changes, grows, ages and disintegrates. One thing is replaced by another.
    Only God is constant; there is no change in Him. He does not grow, does not age. He in no way, and on no account and at no time ever changes. Just as He always was, so He is now, and so He shall remain forever. God is always the same.

    Therefore He is called unchanging.

    God is omnipotent (Gen. 17:1, Luke 1:37).

    If a man wants to make something, he needs material; without material he cannot make anything. With paint and canvas man can paint a beautiful picture; from metal he can make a complex and useful machine. But he can never make, for instance, the earth on which we live, or the sun which gives light and warmth, and many other things.

    Only for God is everything possible; there is nothing that He cannot do. He wished to create the world and He created it out of nothing by His word alone. God can do all that He wishes. Therefore He is called omnipotent.

    God is omnipresent (Ps. 138:7-12).

    God always, throughout all time, is present everywhere. There is no place in the world where He is not present. No one can hide from Him anywhere. God is everywhere. Therefore, He is called omnipresent.

    God is omniscient (I John 3:20, Heb. 4:13).

    Man can learn many things, know a great deal, but no man can know everything. Moreover, man cannot know the future, and cannot hear everything and see everything. Only God alone knows everything, what was, what is, and what will be. For God there is no difference between day and night. He sees and hears everything at all times. He knows each of us, and not only what we do and say, but also what we think and what we want. God always hears everything, sees everything, and knows everything.

    Therefore, He is called omniscient (knowing all things).

    God is all-good (Matt. 19:17).

    People are not always good. It often happens that a person does not love someone else.
    Only God loves all of us and loves us perfectly, not as man loves. He gives all that we need for life. All that we see in the heavens and on the earth was created by the Lord for the good and benefit of man.
    This is how one bishop teaches about God’s love for us: "Who gave us life? The Lord! From Him we received a rational soul that can think and learn. From Him we received a heart that is able to love. Around us is the air, without which we cannot live.
    "We are always supplied with water which is as necessary for us as the air. We live on the earth which supplies us all the food that is necessary for the maintenance and preservation of our life. We are supplied with light without which we could not do anything for ourselves. We have fire with which we can keep ourselves warm when it is cold and with which we can prepare the food we eat. All this is the gift of God. We have a father, mother, brothers, sisters, and friends. How much joy, help, and consolation they provide for us! But we would not have any of these were it not pleasing to the Lord to give them to us."
    God is always prepared to give us everything that is beneficial to us, everything good, and He takes more care for us than the best father does for his children.

    Therefore God is called all-good, or Most-merciful.

    We call God our Heavenly Father.

    God is all-righteous (Ps. 7:12, Ps. 10:7).

    Men often tell lies and are unjust. But God is perfectly just. He always preserves righteousness, and He judges people justly. He does not punish a righteous man without a reason, and He does not leave a man unpunished for any evil deed, unless the man himself corrects his life by repentance and good deeds. Therefore, God is called all-righteous and all-just.

    God is all-sufficient (Acts 17:25).

    Man is always in need of something, therefore he is often dissatisfied.
    God alone has everything and is not in need of anything for Himself; on the contrary, He gives everything to all. Therefore, He is called all-sufficient.
    God is all-blessed (1 Tim. 6:15).
    God is not only all-sufficient, but He always has within Himself the very highest joy — complete blessedness, the very greatest happiness.

    Therefore, God is called all-blessed. We can never find true joy in life, except in God alone.

    We call God creator, or maker, because He created all things, visible and invisible.
    We likewise call God almighty, master, and king, because He, by His almighty will, rules and reigns and directs all that was created by Him, holding them in His power and authority.
    We call God Divine provider, because He provides for all things and takes care of all things.
     

    foszoe

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    Prayer

    God loves His creation; He loves each of us. "And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:18).


    Therefore we can always at any time turn to God, to our Heavenly Father, as if to our own father or mother. Our turning to God is prayer.


    This means that prayer is conversation or speaking with God. It is as necessary for us as air and food. Everything we have is from God, we have nothing of our own. Life, abilities, health, food: all these things are given to us by God.


    Therefore, in times of both joy and sadness, whenever we need anything, we must turn to God in prayer, for the Lord is extremely good and merciful to us. If we ask from a pure heart, with faith and fervor concerning our needs, He will unfailingly fulfill our wish, and grant all we need. We must completely rely on His holy will and patiently wait, for God alone knows what we need and when to give it to us, what is useful and what is harmful.


    People who are slothful about praying to God do great harm to their souls; for as they depart from God, God departs from them.


    Without prayer man ceases to love God, he forgets about Him, and he does not fulfill His purpose on earth, he sins.

    Seraphim Slobodskoy​

     

    foszoe

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    Sin

    Sin, or Evil, is a violation of God’s law. Transgression, or sin, is violating the will of God.


    How did people begin to sin, and who was the first to violate the will of God?


    Before the creation of the visible world and man, God created angels. Angels are bodiless spirits, invisible and immortal. All the angels were created good and God gave them complete freedom to love God or not, and to live with God or without God.


    One of the most radiant and powerful angels did not wish to love God, to depend on Him, and fulfill the will of God, but desired to become like God Himself, to live independently. This angel ceased to obey God and began to resist God in everything. Thus he became the enemy of God, and many other angels went with him.


    For such a rebellion against God these angels were all deprived of the light and blessedness that had been given to them, and they became evil, dark spirits.


    All these dark, evil spirits are now called demons or devils. The main devil who was once the most radiant of the angels is called Satan, the enemy of God.


    The Devil inspires people not to obey God, but to sin. The Devil deceives. By cleverness and deceit he taught the first people created by God, Adam and Eve, to violate the will of God.


    All people come from Adam and Eve, who first fell into sin, and therefore we are born with an inclination to sin. Being constantly committed from generation to generation, sin has taken power over all men and has submitted everyone to itself. All men — to a greater or lesser degree — are sinners.


    It is sin that constantly separates man from God and leads to suffering, illness, and death — temporal and eternal. It is for this reason that mankind began to suffer and die. Men alone, by their own efforts, could not overcome the evil that had spread throughout the world, or destroy death. God in His compassion gave help to men, sending to earth His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

    Seraphim Slobodskoy

     
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