This is refreshing news for a change

From here.

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

A visit by bishops of the German Roman Catholic church to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

From the website of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Translated by OODE: http://www.oodegr.com/english/papismos/GermanBishopsVisit.htm

Gregorian (16-9-2009)/Julian (3-9-2009).

On Wednesday, the 3/16-9-2009, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III was visited by Dr. Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Bishop of Regensburg, Dr. Heinrich Mussinghoff, Bishop of Aachen and Dr. Gerhard Feige, Bishop of Magdeburg of the Roman Catholic Church, along with a small entourage group, in the framework of their visit as a mission to the Holy Land, in order to become acquainted with the Churches of the Middle East and to reinforce the Christian presence in that territory.
The Bishop of Regensburg Dr. Gerhard Ludwig Müller, when addressing His Beatitude, made a reference to the contribution of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the theology of the Church through its stance of supporting the Christological Dogma of the 4th Ecumenical Synod of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., the stance of Patriarch Sophronios who had supported the two wills and energies of our Lord Jesus Christ, the stance of the Jerusalem Patriarchate during the Iconomachy dispute, and also during the ongoing theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church nowadays.
He then handed His Beatitude the medal of the Regensburg Institute for the teaching of the German language to students originating from the Eastern Churches. The Acting Director of this Institute, clergyman Dr. Nikolaus Wyrwoll, was one of the accompanying entourage of the Roman Catholic Arch-priests.
In his response, His Beatitude welcomed the Bishop of Regensburg Dr. Müller and his entourage to Jerusalem; he thanked him for his words regarding the stance of the Jerusalem Patriarchate during the periods of crisis in the Church, as well as for his collaboration in favour of the union of the Churches.
«Your visit», said His Beatitude, «is significant for the Christian presence in the Holy Land; it is a visit of solidarity. You are familiar with the dogmas of the Church and with ecclesiastic history. You are also familiar with the current political situation. We, however, are living inside it. There is here a familiar political and religious situation, with its related extensions. Our Patriarchate, has, through the ages, cultivated a spirit of peaceful coexistence with Islam and Judaism. We are not talking about a dialogue, or a relationship, but a coexistence. We respect the sacred pilgrim sites of all three religions. Jerusalem herself is a Holy City for all three religions. Jerusalem has been sanctified by the blood of the prophets and of Jesus Christ. There is room for the followers of all three religions. The political resolution to the problem of Jerusalem concerns others. We are duty-bound to preserve the spiritual singularity of Jerusalem. The diminishing Christian element does not scare us: «fear not the small flock». (Luke 12:32). Everyone is familiar with the contribution and the help offered by the Christian element here. In parallel, however, the Christians are also in need of help and support. These have at times been referred to as a «community» - a reference that is not valid, given that the Christians here are indigenous. As regards the theological dialogue, we are in favour; however, we do not look to it with any anxiety. We believe that we should be striving for a unity of faith, and not of administration.»
Continuing his address, His Beatitude said that the ecclesiastic dialogue should also include monks, who do not confuse «speculation with revelation»; they know that Christianity does not involve speculation. They know what the truth is: that a Christian's goal is deification. The representatives of the theological dialogue between the Churches and the leaders of the Churches should be pleased, if both levels of dialogue were to coexist; that is, love and truth. Not love alone.
His Beatitude stressed that it is about time both Churches examined what divides them, and not what the elements that unite them are.

«The elements that unite them have been discussed exhaustively in the past. The beginning of our unity in the faith is found in the recognition of our weaknesses. It is time that we operated on our wounds.»

From the Chief-Secretariat.

Source: http://www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/view.php?message_id=326

Polanski's pedophile paradise

This article is written by Pastor Joe Schimmel. He is an Evangelical Protestant Christian and in lieu of this, I cannot say I endorse everything that one may find on his website. But I will heartily endorse his efforts to show through his work matters of the occult, satanism and other related topics which are often ignored by many Orthodox which need to have more prominence in our awareness and vigilance against.

His video, "They Sold Their Souls for Rock n' Roll" and "Hollywood's War on God" are a must see for any Orthodox Christian. I think to state the matter conservatively, one will come away from the viewing of these videos with a changed worldview and a re-thinking of one's complicity with our culture which many of us have unquestionably embraced and made a part of our everyday lives through our favorite music, films and other media.

The following article on Roman Polanski's recent exposure for his rape of the 13 year old girl have was written by Pastor Schimmel and appeared on WorldNetDaily.

From here.

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

Posted: October 03, 2009
1:00 am Eastern

By Joe Schimmel
© 2009

I was shocked recently when reading a Huffington Post blog defending fugitive child rapist Roman Polanski, even though the Huffington Post is notorious for its far left views and borderline celebrity worship.

The blog, written by Joan Shore, presented the most reprehensible arguments imaginable in an attempt to absolve film director Polanski of drugging, raping and sodomizing a 13-year-old child! Again and again, the HP blog twists the facts of Polanski's rape of this young girl to diminish the seriousness of his crime.

Incredibly, near the beginning of Shore's blog, we read that she was able to "excuse" the Swiss for aiding and abetting the Nazis by allowing their "military trains to transit their country," but said she could never forgive the Swiss for acting on an "extradition treaty with the U.S." and seizing Polanski, an escaped felon. Really, Joan?

Next, the blog states, "The 13-year-old model 'seduced' by Polanski had been thrust onto him by her mother, who wanted her in the movies." Far from absolving Polanski of his guilt, Shore is merely indicting Polanski of yet another crime, as he would be guilty of engaging in child prostitution as a result of trading professional favors for sex with a child. The truth is Polanski initially approached the child's mother about taking photos of her daughter, a trick commonly employed by sexual predators.

Unbelievably, the HP blog then seeks to minimize Polanski's crime by stating, "The girl was just a few weeks short of her 14th birthday, which was the age of consent in California. (It's probably 13 by now!) ..." Incredibly, this deceptive justification is wrong in at least three ways. First, the age of consent in California was not 14 when Polanski raped the child. Secondly, it is not 13 now. In fact, the age of consent was raised from 16 to 18 in California dating as far back as 1913, long before Polanski drugged, raped and sodomized this poor child! Third, notice how Shore slips in words like "seduced" and "consent," leading her audience to believe that Polanski's victim was somehow complicit in the rape.

The truth is that Polanski brutally raped this child, and it was far from consensual. In her grand jury testimony, Samantha Geimer stated that after Polanski had given her alcohol and a Quaalude, she repeatedly told him, "I want to go home." Samantha testified, "I was going, 'No, come on, stop it,' but I was afraid." Tragically, Polanski refused to stop and proceeded to brutally sodomize the seventh grader.

Next, Shore excuses Polanski of raping a child because she found him to be charming and intelligent. Shore wrote, "I accompanied Mike Wallace for a '60 Minutes' interview with Polanski on the set [of 'Tess in Normandy']. Mike thought he would be meeting the devil incarnate, but was utterly charmed by Roman's sobriety and intelligence." Is Shore unaware that the devil himself appears quite charming and intelligent, especially to those whom he deceives?

Speaking of the devil, many of Polanski's movies reveal his affinity for Satanism and sexual perversion. In his movie "Rosemary's Baby," Rosemary is depicted as being raped by Satan in a dream and later bares his child. Polanski actually hired Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, as a consultant for the movie. In Polanski's film "The Ninth Gate," starring Johnny Depp, Polanski again promotes sexual perversion and satanic ritual. Polanski actually called "The Ninth Gate" "… an advertisement for hell."

Ironically, Joan Shore is co-founder of Women Overseas for Equality. One wonders how it is that so many liberals claim to stand for the rights of others, but fail to stand for millions of little boys and girls who have been murdered in the womb. One wonders how Shore can claim to stand for the rights of women while excusing sexual predators that hunt our sons and daughters on the streets.

Sadly, there are many people like Joan Shore who are easily star-struck and blinded to the seriousness of certain crimes due to the celebrity of criminals like Roman Polanski. If Polanski were an anonymous child molester and not a Hollywood elitist, only the most perverse individuals would be defending this unrepentant pedophile.

On March 23, 2003, Hollywood elitists rose to their feet to give this child rapist a standing ovation and awarded him the Best Director award for the film "The Pianist." Now there is a petition circulating liberal celebrities seeking the release of Polanski are signing. The fact that they would sign such a petition may say as much about the liberal celebrities as it does Polanski! Among the signatories are Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Pedro Almodovar. Allen, as you may remember, was rebuked by the judge in his custody case with Mia Farrow for "grossly inappropriate" behavior toward their adoptive daughter whom Allen had taken nude photos of. Farrow accused Allen of molesting both their 7-year-old adoptive daughter, Dylan, and Soon-Yi, whom Allen would later marry. The "openly gay" Pedro Almodovar, whose perverse movies, like those of Polanski's and Allen's, are somewhat biographical, has a mother selling her 12-year-old son to a homosexual dentist as a sex slave in his movie, "What Have I Done To Deserve This?"

Ironically, Shore fails to point out that when she met Polanski with Mike Wallace, Polanski was involved in a sexual relationship with Natasha Kinski, who at the time was only 15 years old!

In Thomas Kiernan's biography, "The Roman Polanski Story," we read, "Roman just couldn't understand why screwing a kid should be of concern to anyone. He's screwed plenty of girls younger than this one, he said, and nobody gave a damn." We further read, "When in France, he arrogantly displayed pubescent girls under his spell who were used and discarded, shouting, 'I love young girls … very young girls.'"

Tragically, Polanski's perpetual thumbing of his nose at the law has made him a poster boy for sexual predators who want to believe they can commit the crime and not do the time. What has the world come to when popular news sources are making bogus excuses for a purported serial pedophile who has pleaded guilty of raping a 13-year-old child? What has the world come to when multiple government-funded ACORN offices are caught attempting to help a pretend pimp and prostitute open up brothels for 13-year-old child prostitutes?

In the DVD "The Kinsey Syndrome," which film critic Ted Baehr called "one of the most important films of the 21st century," we document how the far left is trying to turn the United States into a pedophile's paradise. Tragically, what we are witnessing before our very eyes is the second coming of Sodom and Gomorrah. Prayerfully, we will be on God's side when the fire and brimstone comes raining down from heaven!

Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholics

From here.
----------------------------------

Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholics.

Letter by Professor of Dogmatics, Demetrios Tseleggidis of the Theological School of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, at the Holy Community of the Holy Mountain. 10-9-09

Following with a deep sense of responsibility the ecclesiastic condition of our time, as a simple faithful member but also as a University Professor of Dogmatic Theology of the Church, I would like to respectfully address you on a most serious theological topic.
In October of the current year, will take place in Cyprus, as it is well known, the most critical, perhaps up to now, Conference of the International Joint Commission of the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman-Catholics. This is because the Joint Communiqué which would arise at the Conference will have a catalytic effect in the development of relations between the two select parties. I consider it my duty to ardently ask you to consider this serious topic and particularly to become engaged with keen attention with the actual content of the Theological Dialogue.
The International Joint Commission will be specifically occupied with the "role of the Bishop of Rome in the community of all the Churches" (bk : Article of Ravenna, para. 45). I humbly believe that if you discuss theologically the topic and be explicitly placed in it, it will perhaps invariably influence the final form of the Joint Communiqué of the International Conference. In this way the Holy Community will act in time and with forethought, thus avoiding later intervening therapeutically, as it should, judging from hindsight the possible theological and ecclesiastical errors of the Joint Communiqué.
Moreover, permit me to express with all possible brevity also the theological aspects of the topic under discussion. The planned theological discussion next October in Cyprus on the primacy of the Bishop of Rome "in greater depth" is methologically untimely and substantially flawed. And this is because according to the theological and accepted principle, it is essential that the theological discussion be preceded by a discussion on our fundamental differences with the Roman Catholics in dogma and specifically on the "filioque", the infallibility and the created divine Grace, who continue falsely to maintain such dogmatic fallacies which act in defining the characteristic identity of the Roman Catholic and theological purges of its Ecclesiology and Mysteriology, namely, it substantially purged the accepted character of the Church as a "communion of theosis" of man.
Only after the immutability of our dogma is identified, can the discussion continue on the manner of governing of the Church. Our differences in dogma according to the letter and spirit of the Ecumenical Synods that clearly follow from their proceedings, places the Roman Catholics outside the Church, a fact that is confirmed even empirically from a millennium of separation in the sacramental communion between us.
Reasonably, therefore the theological question arises: How could we discuss rationally at the imminent Theological Dialogue with the Roman Catholics on the institutional-hierarchic position of a person (namely of the Pope) within the Church, as long as this person is still practically but also typically outside the Church?
If, despite these, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome is discussed theoretically, permit me here again, to remind you of the indisputable truth, that at no time during the first millennium did the Church recognize in the person of the Bishop of Rome the primacy of authority and power on a global level. The supreme authority over the Ecumenical Church (the whole Church) was always and only exercised by the Ecumenical Synods.
Furthermore, never has the Orthodox Church accepted the papist primacy as it was understood and interpreted by the 1^st Vatican Council, which declared the Pope infallible pronouncer of the conscience of the Church with the capacity to oppose even the decision of the Ecumenical Synods. In other words, the Pope in the Latin West - through the dogmatically fortified by the 2^nd Vatican Council of his "infallibility" and the contested primacy of authority over the whole Church - has assumed arbitrarily the position of the Spirit of Truth in the global Church.
As a consequence with the above understanding of the ecclesiastic character of the papist primacy of authority, not only is the Synodic system of the governing of the Church voided, but substantially even the presence of the Holy Spirit in her is also voided.
With what I wrote briefly, I address to you ...... so that I present to you the character of my ecclesiastic uneasiness and in parallel to make you aware of the theological assessment synopsis on the methodology and content of the actual two day Theological Dialogue within the framework of the Joint International conference.
I hope that the Grace of the Holy Spirit will enlighten you to consider the testimony of the Holy Mountain on this serious matter.

With profound respect,
I kiss your right hand.

Demetrios Tseleggidis
Professor of the Theological School
Of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.

Venerable Dositheus the Abbot of Verkneostrov, Pskov

Commemorated on October 8

Saint Dositheus, Abbot of Verkhneostrov and Pskov was a disciple of St Euphrosynus of Spasoeleazarov and Pskov (May 15). In 1470, he founded the Peter and Paul Verkhneostrov monastery at Lake Pskova, where he was igumen.


SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Venerable Sergius the Abbot of Nurma and Disciple of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, Vologda

Commemorated on October 7

Saint Sergius of Nurma was originally from Greece, and traveled from Mt. Athos in order to converse with St Sergius of Radonezh (September 25) and to ask his advice on spiritual matters, even though he himself was already an experienced Elder.

After spending some time with the great man, St Sergius went to the Vologda region near the river Nurma, a tributary of the river Obnora in order to live in solitude. Soon, monks and laymen came to join him, attracted by the holiness of his life. In time, about forty ascetics joined St Sergius in the wilderness. He established a monastery and built a church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord.

One day, St Sergius encountered St Paul of Obnora (January 10) near his monastery, feeding birds from his hands. All creatures obeyed St Paul, just as they obeyed Adam in Paradise.

The two saints became very close and counseled one another in their spiritual endeavors. St Paul had St Sergius, who had been ordained to the holy priesthood on Mt. Athos, as his spiritual Father. St Paul would confess his thoughts to Sergius, and also received Holy Communion from him. When St Sergius would leave for his own home three miles away, St Paul walked with him two thirds of the way. A chapel was later built on the spot where the two saints parted.

St Paul told St Sergius that he heard church bells ringing one night while he was in the forest by the river Nurma, and that he had also seen a bright light. St Sergius predicted that a monastery would be founded there one day. He urged St Paul to build a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

St Sergius was twice attacked by bands of thieves. The first time they almost beat him to death. The second time they were driven off by the power of his prayers.

St Sergius fell asleep in the Lord on October 7, 1412 at an advanced age.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Icon of the Mother of God "O All-Hymned Mother"

Commemorated on October 6

The Icon "O All-Hymned Mother" derives its title from the thirteenth Kontakion of the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. "O All-Hymned Mother who bore the Word, holiest of all the saints…."

The Mother of God wears a crown, and clasps Her child to Her breast with both hands. Christ is held in Her left arm, and rests on Her left shoulder. He is facing Her, and both of His hands are placed below Her neck.

Instead of the usual stars on Her head and shoulders, the faces of angels appear in three circles. This is similar to the Arabian Icon (September 6) and the "Stone of the Mountain not cut by Hands" Icon on the iconostasis of the cathedral of the Transfiguration at Solovki.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Just when you thought the news made some sense...

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Outed...As A Jew

From here.

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


I wasn't really sure we could top last week's list of disclosures about celebrities and politicians. To recap: David Letterman is a philanderer. John Edwards is an (alleged) serial philanderer. And if there were any remaining doubts, Roman Polanksi really is a child rapist. But here's one secret I'm quite certain none of us saw coming: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is...wait for it...Jewish.
Wow.

This guy has had one helluva summer: Electoral fraud. Torture allegations. Oh, yes and that pesky little nuclear facility he's been building. Now it turns out he's Jewish to boot? Say it ain't so, Mahmoud.

But apparently it is. According to a story that broke over the weekend in London's Daily Telegraph, a photograph of the President holding up his national identity card during the recent Iranian elections provides evidence that he is Jewish.

That document reveals that his original last name - Sabourjian - is a well-known Jewish surname in Iran, one that even connotes that his family was once observant. A note scribbled on the card also shows that his parents changed their last name to "Ahmadinejad" after they converted to Islam when he was born. Although Ahmadinejad has never denied that his name was changed, he has never offered an explanation.

To be fair, he's not the first famous person to be "discovered" to be Jewish. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is probably the most prominent American in recent times. (If you haven't read Michael Kinsley's send-up of this phenomenon in Slate, it's a must.)

But Ahmadinejad is in a category all by himself. While Albright - improbably, perhaps - claims that she really didn't know she was Jewish, Ahmadinejad did. As The Daily Telegraph speculates, this fact goes a long way towards explaining why he's been at such pains over the years...well, basically to hate Jews. And not just hate them in some sort of mild way, hate them in the most vile and despicable fashion: by denying the Holocaust ever occurred. He needed desperately to do so in order to shore up his cred in radical Shia circles.

Hey, I'm a big believer in unlocking family secrets as a way to cleanse yourself and move forward. And I do now feel that I have some insight into this guy that had heretofore been lacking.

I'm also a big believer in tolerance and making room for as many people as possible under any given umbrella. As someone married to a Jewish man for 11 years with two kids we'd like to raise as Jewish, I'm all for inclusiveness when it comes to broadening the definition of "who counts" as a Jew.

But on this one I have to say, sorry, pal. You're on your own. This is a club where we don't want you.

Saints Peter, Alexis, Jonah, Philip, and Hermogenes

Saint Hermogenes

Saint Jonah

Saint Peter

Saint Alexis(second from left)

Commemorated on October 5

The celebration of a special day to honor Saints Peter, Alexis, Jonah the Metropolitans and Wonderworkers of All Russia was established by Patriarch Job on October 5, 1596. In 1875, St Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow (March 31 and October 6) proposed that St Philip be included with the others. St Hermogenes was added only in the year 1913. In 2005 the Church of Russia added St Innocent (March 31 and October 6), St Macarius (December 30), St Job (April 5 and June 19), St Tikhon (April 7 and October 9), St Philaret (November 19), St Peter (September 27), and St Macarius (February 16).

By celebrating these hierarchs on a common day, the Church offers each of them equal honor, as heavenly protectors of the city of Moscow and prayerful intercessors for Russia.

Information about the Lives of these holy Hierarchs is found under the dates of their commemoration: St Peter (December 21 and August 24), St Alexis (February 12 and May 20), St Jonah (March 31, May 27, and June 15), St Philip (January 9 and July 3 ), St Hermogenes (February 17 and May 12 ).

Troparion - Tone 4

O Russian Hierarchs,
Guardians of the Apostolic tradition,
Firm pillars, guides of Orthodoxy,
Peter, Alexis, Jonah, and Philip,
Pray to the Lord of all,
To grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion - Tone 3

You were holy as hierarchs;
You taught the people and you were well-pleasing to God.
He has glorified you with incorruption and miracles
As disciples of the grace of God.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Blooming in the Desert – Episode 4 – Pillars of Piety Series Part 2: Fasting(the second part)

Go visit Blooming in the Desert to hear our latest podcast. Also see the previous posts and listen to our first two podcasts. Please comment and let us know what you think!

Gluttony makes a man gloomy and fearful, but fasting makes him joyful and courageous.
And, as gluttony calls forth greater and greater gluttony, so fasting stimulates greater and greater endurance.
When a man realizes the grace that comes through fasting, he desires to fast more and more.
And the graces that come through fasting are countless….

~Saint Nikolai of Zicha~

Much of the information on this program has been obtained online and has been provided Blooming in the Desert for the listener to read while listening to this week’s podcast. We will attempt to pinpoint quotes to their proper sources.

I. What is Fasting?

A) We begin with Christ: In Him all the powers of the human being were(and are) in perfect balance. He was and is truly the most human Person in the fullest sense of the word . There was not one aspect of His Person that was out of proportion to any other. He was and is completely “natural”, putting on no airs whatsoever. He simply was and is “I AM”.
We are to acquire by grace what He is by nature. All that the Church gives us in Her Life, which Life is the Life of Christ, is meant for our union to Him and in and through this union we are healed and by the healing “saved”. Now here we must mention that salvation as understood in the Orthodox Catholic Church has a meaning that does not, for the most part, have a counterpart in the Western understanding of the “concept” of salvation. Again, another quick aside to mention that even to speak of salvation as a “concept” is false in that salvation for each and every human being that exists, has existed and will exist is Christ Himself, not a concept or idea. And going further, He is the Center, the Source and the Reason for all the spiritual disciplines we are to undertake. Fasting, when divorced from the sake of more fully putting on Christ, becomes not what it is intended for. When fasting is undertaken for the sake of fasting itself, we begin to enter into dangerous territory.

B) St. Paul speaks of always being after himself and subduing his body to his spirit for the sake of this union with Christ in perfection. In his First Letter to the Corinthians, beginning in verse 24 he writes:

• 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain [it].
• 25 And everyone who competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable [crown].
• 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as [one who] beats the air.
• 27 But I discipline my body and bring [it] into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

C) Thus for St. Paul the bringing of his body into subjection was his struggle to not allow his body, with its weaknesses, to overrule his spirit and to take him away from Christ.

Go here to finish reading the rest of this outline and to find the link to the actual podcast. A lot of material on this one and we thought it turned out really well.

As well, my brother Constantine joined us for this show.

Previous post on Blooming in the Desert:

Are all Ecclesiastic Synods Valid/Infallible?

From here.

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

Source: http://www.impantokratoros.gr/2A3CCD56.el.aspx
Translated by: OODE

Is every ecclesiastic synod (council) infallible?
Is the Holy Spirit "obliged" to descend upon the participants, simply because they who convened it are Bishops?
Just because a Synod strives to be called and be recognized as "Ecumenical", does that mean the Holy Spirit is necessarily "obliged" to validate its decisions?
Are the decisions of an ecclesiastic Synod binding for Christians - like the commands of a general to his subordinates - if those decisions conflict with the Faith and the doctrine of the Church up until that time?

These are just a few of the questions that are raised in the conscience of many Christians, when specific events bring them in conflict with the views of the Church's administration and Her conciliar decisions.
Judging by Her history so far, the experience of the Church gives us a clear-cut reply to the above questions: «NΟ»!

Before referring to specific examples, we would first of all like to quote the words of an acclaimed Professor of Theology on the matter: "The age-old history of the Church alone is undeniable testimony that not every synod of bishops is a guarantee of the truth or is exempt of all fallacy. The fact that holy and great men of the Church such as Athanasius the Great and the divine Chrysostom were removed from episcopal synods fully justifies the grievance of Gregory the Theologian. [...] It is a historical fact that has been often witnessed, that neither the number of participant Bishops or their originating from every corner of the world and the Churches that exist in every place, nor the participation of all the central thrones and Archbishops are enough for the convening of an Ecumenical Synod. Hence, in the rightly called "robber synod of Ephesus" (in 449 A.D.), its participants were 135 bishops, among whom were Dioscorus [Patriarch] of Alexandria, Juvenal of Jerusalem and Thalassius [Archbishop] of Caesaria and Cappadocia ^[1].

In fact, let's take a look at a few more historical facts regarding synods:

The «twin synods» of Arminium (Rimini, Italy) and Seleucis of Isauria, convened (in 359 A.D.) by the heretic (Arian-minded) Emperor Constantius for the resolution of the Arian quarrels - in which respectively Bishops of the West and the East had participated - were comprised respectively of 300 Bishops in the first one (80 of whom were Arian-minded) and of 160 bishops in the second one (15 of whom were Orthodox). Eventually, in 359 A.D., they accepted the Arian creed of Niki - a city of Thrace - because it had been imposed by the Emperor despite the contrary decisions that had been reached by them.

• The "robber synod" of Ephesus (August 449 A.D.) had been convened by the Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) with its chairman the (rather moderate) Monophysite Patriarch of Alexandria Dioscorus, for the purpose of acquitting the extreme Monophysite heresiarch, Archmandrite Eutychus, who was supervisor of the Monks of Constantinople. This synod dethroned Saint Flavian, the Patriarch of Constantinople ^[2] and Eusebius, the Bishop of Dorylaion, e.a.. Saint Flavian slept in the Lord shortly after having succumbed to the injuries he sustained from Dioscorus' followers.
• The iconomachy synods of Hieria (754 A.D.) and Frankfurt (794 A.D.): The former was convened under the protection of the iconomach Emperor Constantine V (741-775) with the participation of 338 iconomach bishops; during this Synod, anathemas against Saint Herman I the Patriarch of Constantinople were also recited (715-730 A.D.), but especially against Saint John of Damascus (ca. 680-749 A.D.), on account of his huge contribution to the theological debunking of the iconomachy; he was anathematized as an "ill-reputed name" and "Saracen-minded" and "scheming against the kingdom". The synod of Frankfurt was convened by the Frankish king Charlemagne and had essentially rejected the honouring of holy icons in the West, having regarded them only as a decorative element (and not appropriate for veneration).
• The unitive (pseudo-)synod of Ferrara-Florence (1438-1439 A.D.) in Italy. The advantage for Pope Eugene IV of Rome (1431-1447) and the Roman Emperor John VIII Paleologos (1425-1448) in unifying Western Christianity with the Orthodox Church so that the Pope might prevail opposite the reformative Synod of Basle (1431-1449) and the Emperor succeed in securing papal help in the face of the Turks' advance, are the things that led to this synod. After long months of negotiations and unbearable pressure exerted on the Orthodox Hierarchs by the papists and the Emperor John, the synod ended up signing the "Oros" (condition) that favoured the papal claims and heresies. Only Saint Mark of Ephesus (the Noble) - the tallest theological stature among the Orthodox - along with five other representatives and the representatives of Iberia (Georgia) did not sign the Oros and departed from the Synod's proceedings. The ecclesiastic conscience of the Orthodox did not finally allow the pseudo union with the East to prevail, in spite of the machinations of the Emperor; Saint Mark the Noble proved himself to be another "Atlas", of Orthodoxy, who alone bore the entire weight of the conflict and the victory over the papists and "Orthodox" Latinizers (whom he called "Greco-Latins").

And of course there are many other heretical and robber Synods.

We should remind you that when these Synods were being convened, they were not characterized as "heretical", nor did they present any other official signs of being heterodox; in fact, most of them were organized by the "official Church" of the State, with the protection of the local (royal or imperial) authorities, and with the pretext of striving for ecclesiastic and social peace. Only pursuant Orthodox Synods could stigmatize and condemn the preceding heretical ones.
The very important theologian fr. Georges Florovsky, when formulating the historical reality of whether the truth is always found with the crowd or not, writes as follows:

«Quite often, the measure of the truth is the witness of a minority. It is possible, for a small flock to be a Catholic Church (Luke 12:32). There may be more heterodox than Orthodox. It is possible for heretics to become widespread, ubique, and the Church end up in the margins of History or withdraw to the desert. This has occurred repeatedly in History and it is quite possible that it will occur again [...] The duty of obedience ceases when the bishop deviates from the catholic (universal) canon, and the People have the right to accuse him - and to also even dethrone him.»^[3]

But then, when is a Synod recognized as Ecumenical, or as generally acceptable?
What is the significance of Holy mens' participation in them?
What is the significance behind the opinion of the corpus of the Church (locally and perennially), with regard to the validity of a Synod's decisions?
How much of a determining factor is the preservation of the Catholic Church's Tradition intact, with regard to the acceptance or the condemnation of a Synod's rulings by the Orthodox faithful People?
In the end, the validity of a Synod is judged by its alignment with the Truth that is revealed to the SaintsPatriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Fathers).
The Orthodox Patriarchs of the East in their response to Pope Pius IX in 1948 had announced - in compliance with ecclesiastic Tradition - that "for us, neither Patriarchs nor Synods were ever able to introduce innovations (dogmas and customs), because the defender of the Faith is the corpus of the Church - in other words, the people themselves, who want their religion eternally unvarying and identical to that of their fathers»^[4].
That is why, in the Minutes of the 7th Ecumenical Synod (787 A.D.) during the time of the Iconomachy, the following words of the Holy Fathers were repeated:
«This is the Faith of the Apostles; this is the Faith of the Fathers; this is the Faith of the Orthodox; this is the Faith that sustained the world. [...] We uphold the ancient institutions of the Catholic (Orthodox) Church; whosoever adds or removes something from the Catholic Church, we anathematize.»^[5]

^{__________________________________________________________}

Footnotes:

• 1. P.N.Trembelas, Dogmatics, vol.B, "Soter" publications, Athens 2003, pages 403-404.
• 2. His memory celebrated on the 16th February.
• 3. Protopresbyter G. FFlorovsky, Holy Bible, Church, Tradition, P.Pournaras publications, Thessaloniki 1976, pages 71-75.
• 4. (§17), in the book by J. Karmiris, Τhe Dogmatic and Symbolic Monuments of the Orthodox Catholic Church, vol.B, Athens 1953, page 920.
• 5. Mansi 13, 416.

Books I've Read(or am reading)-Twenty-Four: "Saint Nektarios, The Saint of our Century" by Sotos Chondropoulos

(click on images to enlarge)


















In a recent post I briefly mentioned the effect this book had in my life. And for Dixie I will make here some comments on the overall reaction of our patrons to the cards we give out with the "Wisdom of the Saints." The cards have been received very well with very few people being put off by them. In fact quite often we, my brothers and I, are approached and told how much these cards are liked. We even receive comments to the effect, "I really like your philosophy cards." Again, our hope is that the cards will make people thirsty in some manner for the Holy Orthodox Faith. They are also meant to unsettle a bit, not giving people the fortune cookie ego inflating treatment but a treatment, perhaps somewhat subdued, of the need for repentance and to not be content with one's life lived outside of God.

This post will be to have a brief description of the book itself and to also allow me a venue to put down some random thoughts that have made their way to my consciousness.

I have come to believe with more conviction that in one sense, especially for new Orthodox Christians, reading the lives of the Saints in one respect is more important than reading the Scriptures. And only thus. The lives of the Saints reveal Scripture to us. The Saints in their lives embody the Scriptures and the Tradition in which the Tradition they are written, which Tradition is not a dead and lifeless thing but the fragrance and Life of the Holy Spirit.

A Saint is only a Saint in the Church because his or her life is "dogmatically correct". We can argue about teaching if we wish, but when discussing the life of a Saint it is rather difficult to argue about a life. To argue about why someone is called "Saint" is to argue with the Church which may perhaps be useful if this arguing brings to the surface the matters that one finds difficult to understand and accept in the Life of the Church.

The reading of Saints' lives helps one build an Orthodox World View and see life through their eyes and how they dealt with the challenges put before them. The Orthodox World View is the Life of the Triune God as lived by the Saints within the Church. Their lives show us the Scriptures. Their lives show us the Savior. Their lives manifest the Blessed Holy Trinity.

Reading these stories gives one the framework in which to place the reading of Holy Scripture within the Church as lived in the life of the Saint in such a manner that the Scriptures breathe naturally in this atmosphere and are not stifled nor forced. Without the Orthodox World View, i.e., the Life of the Church, to place the Scriptures in, they remain flat, lacking a dimension that "fills them out".

After watching the new DVD on St. John Maximovich , a growing desire has been tugging at me to have "Saints' Nights" perhaps at my home. This would be an evening devoted to the reading of a Saint's life and perhaps their teaching. I have ideas about certain rules of ambiance being in force to add to the night.

I will here post the Preface to this wonderful book and add to this simply my heart's desire that anyone reading this post on my blog here would search out this book and become acquainted with Saint Nektarios and go from acquaintance to the asking of his holy prayers and intercessions.

PREFACE

"Saint Nektarios, whose biography you are about to read, was born in Silyvria of Thrace on the 1st of October, 1846 of humble yet pious and God-fearing parents and gave up his blessed spirit to the Lord in the evening of the 8th of November, 1920.

Even before our Holy Church proceeded to the official proclamation of his Sainthood, through the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Athenagoras, in April 1961, the multitude of the faithful people had already acknowledged Nektarios, the Metropolitan of Pentapolis, to be a Saint.

The fragrance that the sweat of his face gave out, the first miracle that took place in Aretaieion Hospital as soon as he breathed his last, were the first signs of his obvious holiness.

A few years later, St. Nektarios became widely known not only throughout Greece but to the whole Orthodox world as well, as far as the depths of the African continent. Moreover, it is a known fact that hundreds of churches and chapels have been erected in his honor and continue to do so wherever faithful Orthodox Greeks are found.

God who judges all and decides which of those who lived or taught in the Orthodox manner will remain intercessors for the Church even after their reception into Heaven, found Nektarios of Pentapolis worthy of ministering for the faithful Christians as a Saint.
The faithful can and must address their supplications to him since he was found worthy of standing in front of the Lord's throne and interceded with Him on our behalf.

As a contemporary Saint of our times, he very soon becomes the best known Saint of all time acguiring the title «the Saint of our century.»

Along with the historical data on his life there exists an immense amount of material concerning his spiritual life as seen through the numerous writings he left us and the testimony of his contemporaries.

Many pamphlets and books have been written to emphasize St. Nektarios holiness and strengthen the spirit of the Christians.

The unique beauty of the book in hand, dear reader, according to general acknowledegement, lies in its narrative style while remaining adherent to the historical facts.

The esteemed author, Sotos Chondropoulos, started his work in awe and prayer, He gathered the available written material and every verified oral information he found concerning the Saint's life and moulded it in his own personal style.

His purpose was to show how and why the Saint «pleased the Lord,» how he dealt with the problems of his times, the hardships, the degradations, the slander, the physical torture; mainly, how he faced up to the ceaseless attacks of the evil one and how this humble hierarch of Aegina reached holiness and was graced by the Lord.

The author's frequent visits to the island of Aegina and his stay at the Monastery that was established by the Saint himself - since the author offered the Monastery his services as a book¬keeper gratis till the end of his days - gave him the opportunity to live in the places that the Saint had lived: rest under the tree the Saint used to rest, touch his personal belongings, stay in his room. How couldn't he be inspired by such a blessing?

It was within this blessing that he strongly wished to put on paper this extraordinary figure of Orthodoxy; the figure of the tortured Saint of Aegina, of St. Nektarios who left on the twentieth century an unfading trail of humility, perseverance, wise silence and hope.

On a daily basis, after finishing with the book-keeping at the Monastery, the author studied, learned, sipped the nectar that was discretely hidden in the flower of the Saint's life on earth.

Some time later, he was ready to present through his graceful narrative aspects of the Saints life that were unknown till then; the originality of his work lies in the liveliness of his style that enables the reader to visualize the narrated events and fills his heart with serene joy.

This biography has been widely circulating all over Greece since 1970, Now, with God's help, «New Earth», publications, who have the sole responsibility of this work by right of inheritance, have the opportunity to publish it in the English language.

We strongly believe that the public in all Orthodox states will embrace this English version in the same spirit of love and Christian zeal."

Christos S, Chondropoulos

READ THE PREVIOUS POST IN THIS SERIES:

Uncovering of the relics of St Barsanuphius the Bishop of Tver

Commemorated on October 4

The Uncovering of the relics of Saint Gurias, First Archbishop of Kazan, and Saint Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver in 1595, occurred at Kazan in the year 1595. During the construction of a new stone church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord at the Savior-Transfiguration monastery, which had been founded by St Barsanuphius, graves with the bodies of the holy hierarchs in the altar-wall were uncovered beneath the former wooden church. The unusual aspect of incorrupt graves filled St Hermogenes (February 17) with a pious desire to open the graves before a large crowd of the people.

St Hermogenes described this event, "We beheld a marvel we had not hoped for. The coffin of the saint was full of fragrant myrrh, like pure water, and the relics of St Gurias were above the myrrh, like a sponge. God gave his venerable and hard-working body incorruption, as is now seen by all. Decay touched only very little of the upper lip, his other limbs were whole, and nothing has disappeared. We touched his burial robe and it held up very firm. Then we opened up the coffin of St Barsanuphius and we looked upon the relics of St Barsanuphius which were blessed by God with little corruption. Decay had touched the feet of the monk, however the bones were not destroyed, and held up quite well. There was no other sign of corruption in the condition of the rest of his relics, the same was for the relics of St Gurias. The burial robe of both saints was strong and like new."

Many sick were healed, having been anointed with the holy myrrh flowing from the relics of St Gurias.

There is a description of the saints in the Iconographer's Manual under October 4: "In appearance Gurias is grey and bearded, like Basil of Caesarea, with a mitre, omophorion, holding a Gospel in his hands, and dressed in the robes of a hierarch. Barsanuphius is grey and bearded like Gurias, but his is parted at the end. He wears a mitre, the robes of a hierarch, an omophorion and carries the Gospel."

The Life St Gurias is found on December 5; and the Life of St Barsanuphius on April 11.

In the correspondence from a report of the Archbishop of Cheboksarsk and Chuvash Benjamin (Novitsky), + 14 October 1976, His Holiness Pimen, Patriarch of Moscow gave a blessing to commemorate the Synaxis of all the Kazan hierarchs on the first Sunday after October 4th.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

St John the Chozebite the Bishop of Caesarea, in Palestine

Commemorated on October 3

Saint John the Chozebite, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (587-596), was famed for his struggle against the Eutychian heresy, and also for his grace-filled gifts of discernment and wonderworking. He was born in the Egyptian city of Thebes and while still a youth he spent a long time in the Thebaid desert with his uncle, who was an ascetic,.

The emperor, who learned of John's holy life, decided to make him bishop of the city of Caesarea. But the saint, yearning for solitude, left his cathedra and withdrew into the Chozeba wilderness (between Jerusalem and Jericho) where he struggled in asceticism until the end of his life.

Once, while on his way to visit some of the brethren, he met a woman on the road. She entreated him to follow her to her home so that he might bless it and sanctify it by his prayers. Once they entered the house, however, the vile woman locked the door and removed all her clothing, and tried to tempt the saint into sinning with her. He opened the door and fled from the place.

. After this, he performed many miracles until he fell asleep in the Lord. It is said that whenever he served the Divine Liturgy, he would see a heavenly light in the altar.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Repose of the Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin

Commemorated on October 2

The Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin, a daughter of the Rostov prince Demetrius Borisovich, in 1294 became the wife of the holy Great Prince Michael Yaroslavich of Tver, who was murdered by the Mongol-Tatars of the Horde in 1318, (November 22). After the death of her husband, Anna withdrew into Tver's Sophia monastery and accepted tonsure with the name Euphrosyne. Later, she transferred to the Kashin Dormition monastery, and became a schemanun with the name Anna. She fell asleep in the Lord on October 2, 1338.

St Anna's sons also imitated their father's steadfast confession of faith in Christ. Demetrius Mikhailovich ("Dread Eyes") was murdered at the Horde on September 15, 1325; and later, Alexander Mikhailovich, Prince of Tver, was murdered together with his son Theodore on October 29, 1339.

Miracles at St Anna's grave began in 1611, during the siege of Kashin by Polish and Lithuanian forces. There was also a great fire in the city which died down without doing much damage. The saint, dressed in the monastic schema, appeared to Gerasimus, a gravely ill warden of the Dormition cathedral. She promised that he would recover, but complained, "People show no respect for my tomb. They ignore it and my memory! Do you not know that I am supplicating the Lord and His Mother to deliver the city from the foe, and that you be spared many hardships and evils?" She ordered him to tell the clergy to look after her tomb, and to light a candle there before the icon of Christ Not-Made-By-Hands.

At the Council of 1649 it was decided to uncover her relics for general veneration and to glorify the holy Princess Anna as a saint. But in 1677 Patriarch Joachim proposed to the Moscow Council that her veneration throughout Russia should be discontinued because of the Old Believers Schism, which made use of the name of St Anna of Kashin for its own purposes. When she was buried her hand had been positioned to make the Sign of the Cross with two fingers, rather than three. However, the memory of St Anna, who had received a crown of glory from Christ, could not be erased by decree. People continued to love and venerate her, and many miracles took place at her tomb.

On June 12, 1909 her second glorification took place, and her universally observed Feast day was established. Her Life describes her as a model of spiritual beauty and chastity, and an example to future generations.

SOURCE:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008(with 2007's link here also):

Venerable Romanus the Melodist, "Sweet-Singer"

Commemorated on October 1

Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in the Syrian city of Emesa of Jewish parents. After moving to Constantinople, he became a church sacristan in the temple of Hagia Sophia. The monk spent his nights alone at prayer in a field or in the Blachernae church beyond the city.

St Romanus was not a talented reader or singer. Once, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, he read the kathisma verses. He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place. The clergy ridiculed Romanus, which devastated him.

On the day of the Nativity, the Mother of God appeared to the grief-stricken youth in a vision while he was praying before her Kyriotissa icon. She gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. Thus was he given the gift of understanding, composition, and hymnography.

That evening at the all-night Vigil St Romanus sang, in a wondrous voice, his first Kontakion: "Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One..." All the hymns of St Romanus became known as kontakia, in reference to the Virgin's scroll. St Romanus was also the first to write in the form of the Oikos, which he incorporated into the all-night Vigil at his places of residence (In Greek, "oikos").

For his zealous service St Romanus was ordained as a deacon and became a teacher of song. Until his death, which occurred about the year 556, the hierodeacon Romanus the Melodist composed nearly a thousand hymns, many of which are still used by Christians to glorify the Lord. About eighty survive.

Troparion - Tone 4

You gladdened Christ's Church by your melodies
like an inspired heavenly trumpet.
You were enlightened by the Mother of God
and shone on the world as God's poet.
We lovingly honor you, righteous Romanus.

Kontakion - Tone 8

You were adorned from childhood with the godly virtues of the Spirit;
you were a precious adornment of the Church of Christ, all-wise Romanus,
for you made it lovely with beautiful hymnody.
Therefore, we entreat you, grant your divine gift to those who desire it,
that we may cry out to you: "Rejoice, all-blessed Father, beauty of the Church."

SOURCE:

SOURCE FOR ICON ON RIGHT:

SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2008: