St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 31/ June 13

(Rom. 8:2-13; Matt. 10:16-22) "...he who endures to the end will be saved." And what do we have to endure? - you will not be lacking in things to endure. The field of suffering for everyone is wide; it will be your salvation, by the work of your own hands. Endure all to the end and you will be saved. It is necessary, however, to suffer skillfully or else it is possible to suffer and not receive benefit. Firstly, guard the holy faith and the irreproachable life according to that faith and cleanse every sin with confession. Secondly, everything that comes for you to suffer receive as from the hands of God; remember that without the will of God nothing happens. Thirdly, believe that everything from the Lord is sent for the benefit of our souls, sincerely thank God for everything - for grief and for solace. Fourthly, love every sorrow for the sake of greater salvation and awaken your thirst as to a bitter but healing drink. Fifthly, always remember that when trouble comes not to throw it out like worn clothes - you need to put them on. Whether or not you endure according to Christianity everything you suffer is inevitable; it is better, therefore, to endure according to Christianity. Don't murmer about troubles but only wear them out; with determination and a good nature, in humble submission to the Providence of God, take away the ties of troubles. Sixthly, realize your own unworthiness; if the Lord were to act in all fairness towards us wouldn't it follow that He sent us such trouble anyway? Seventhly, more than all, pray and the merciful Lord will give you strength of spirit, according to which, when others marvel at your troubles, to endure them, to you, it will seem as nothing at all.
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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 29/ June 11

For anyone who's actually reading these: sorry for the lull, they have been rather difficult to translate of late.

(Rom. 7:1-13; Matt. 9:36-10:8) Sending the holy Apostles to preach the Lord commanded them to proclaim to all that the "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," that is, the Kingdom has come - enter into it. What follows for us to preach? We need to shout to all: sons of the Kingdom! don't flee from the Kingdom into bondage and captivity - because they are running. Freedom of mind captivates one: "We don't want," they say,"the bonds of faith and the oppression of authority even if it's divine; everyone themselves guessed and decided." Well, they decided. They constructed a fable, in which there is more childishness than in Greek mythology and they praise themselves for this... Others are carried away by the wide road of the passions: "We don't want," they say, "to know the absolute commandments, nor the demands of the conscience, they are all distraction: we need simple feeling." They all went after these things. So what happened? They put on the stupidity of the beasts. Is it not from this that came about the collapse of morality and the theory of the descent of man from beast? Here is where they are going! And everyone flees from the Lord, everyone runs away...
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Memory Eternal

Protopresbyter Elias Wen Dies

June 9, at 2:30 pm Western Daylight Time, the eldest clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Protopresbyter Elias Wen, died. At 5 pm, before all-night vigil on the eve of the day of All Russian Saints at the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” the first pannikhida was served by the Cathedral clergymen and sung by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Vladimir Krassovsky.

Well put

...in universal Orthodoxy there is no hierarch whose role would be similar to that of the Pope of Rome in the Western Church. There must be no illusion that there is such a hierarch. We respect the Patriarch of Constantinople as the first in honour among the primates of local Orthodox Churches, but we are against regarding him as ‘Pope of the East’.
Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev)

St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 23/ June 5

(Rom. 4:4-12; Matt. 7:15-21) "Beware of false prophets." In the beginning of Christianity and even up to now there hasn't been a time which hasn't had this warning. The Lord didn't show in what way exactly to beware of false prophets or how to determine them. They change, like fashion, and every time gives rise to their own. They always appear in sheeps' clothing with goodwill in their step and truth in their speech. In our time their clothing is woven from progress, civilization, enlightenment, freedom in thoughts and deeds, personal freedom, the abandonment of faith and whatever is comfortable. All these are flattering deceptions. Therefore, upon meeting a show of these clothes, don't rush to open your mouth and with your speech proclaim in them prophets. Take a look whether a wolf is hidden in this sheeps' clothing. Know that the Lord is the one driving force to genuine truth, the one softener of hearts and dispositions, the one enlightener, the one giver of freedom filling the heart with true feelings, who doesn't forcibly sway anyone. Because if you notice in the speech of such new prophets a hint of opposition to the teaching of the Lord, know that these are wolf-predators and turn away from them.

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 21/ June 3

(Heb 11:22-12:2; Matt 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30) Every day the Holy Church remembers the saints but since there were saints of God, having struggled in obscurity, not being revealed to the Church, in order not to leave them without a celebration the Holy Church established a day, in which all those pleasing to God from all generations are glorified. This day was created for commemoration immediately after the descent of the Holy Spirit because all the saints became and are becoming holy with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which grace brings repentance and the abandonment of sin. Grace eneters into battle with the passions and lusts and is crowned in this podvig with purity and passionlessness. In such a way appears a new creature, fit for the new heaven and the new earth. Being jealous we follow after the saints of God. Today's Gospel teaches us how to do this: it demands fearless confession of faith in the Lord, a principled love towards Him, taking up the cross of selflessness and a heart-felt renunciation. According to these instructions we establish our beginning.

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 19/ June 1

(Rom. 2:14-29; Matt. 5:33-41) "But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil"; otherwise you give yourself up to sacrifice to wayward and evil people. Is it possible to live that way? Don't worry - the one who gave this command is our guide and guardian. When with complete faith, from all your soul you wish to live this way, in order not to resist any evil person, then the Lord himself will make for you a way of life, not only tolerable but happy. In addition to this, conflict further incites the antagonist and prompts him into further unpleasantness but a concession disarms and subdues him. From this it occurs that you suffer only the first onslaught of rage - people then have pity and and leave you in peace. But conflict and revenge unleashes rage which from the first multiplies sevenfold and then from generation to generation.

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 18/31

(Rom. 1:28-2:9; Matt. 5:27-32) "Whoever looks at a woman...has already committed adultery with her". How is it possible to live in society and not look upon women? After all, not simply looking upon a woman is committing adultery but looking with lust. Look but keep your heart on a leash. Look with the eyes of a children, who look upon women purely, without a wicked thought at all. It is necessary to love women for in the commandment about love they are not excluded but with pure love, which has in it's thought spiritual means besides all else. In Christianity, as before God, there is not male nor female, and it is such in inter-relations of Christians.

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 17/30

(Rom. 1:18-27; Matt. 5:20-26) "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." The characteristics of scribes is such-knowledge of the law without a life according to the law. The characteristics of the Pharisees is such-correctness in external conduct without genuine working for correctness of the heart and the thoughts. This and other moral patterns of judgement are external to the Kingdom of Heaven. Take from this all the necessary lessons for yourself. Find out the law of the gospel to know it but in order to set up your life according to knowledge. In conduct try to be correct but at the same time take a hold of your internal disposition and feelings. Having discovered this do not stop with this knowledge but go farther and complete the conclusion, to which, in this case, this knowledge obliges you and requires that you act. In this same conduct act such that your feelings and disposition don't go beyond your external acts and that your external acts won't be called feelings and dispositions and serve simply as expressions. In such a way you will be higher than the scribes and pharisees and the door of the Kingdom won't be shut before you.

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The fall of an empire

Alack and alas! The Turks have taken Constantinople,
They've taken the King's throne, the rulers are changed.
Churches mourn, monasteries cry,
and St. John Chrysostom weeps and laments.
“Don't cry, St. John, and don't lament, Romania is taken.
But though gone, Romania will blossom again.”

- From a poem in praise of Constantinople


Constantinople, wondrous city near the Bosphorus blue,

With your glory, whose glory can be measured?

You were an awesome battleground of spiritual warriors,

Blasphemous heretics and saints of God.

As through a sieve you sifted throughout the centuries long

And declared apostates and servants of God.

By many sins you are soiled, and by filth of sinners,

You are consecrated with the abundance of the blood of martyrs.

Who could enumerate the spiritual heroes,

And all heavenly visions and your mysteries, all?

The angels of God often swooped down upon you,

And men, as angels, to heaven were raised.

The Mother of God, many times, within you appeared,

To deliver those in danger, the sick to heal.

The flock of wonderful saints, over you, hover

And the prayers of your children, to the Most High, bear.

O, how many saints were your children!

As many as there are lilies next to lilies and saints next to saints!

History and calendar, in red, you wrote,

By your effort even the great Symbol [The Creed] was written.

And about you, in such a way, this could be said:

Among the many cities, a red letter you are.

With Holy Faith, you enlightened the universe

From paganism and heresies, the world you healed.

Tortured much, but not slain, you have not yet passed.

That is why we all celebrate you! Confessor, that you are!

Throughout the earth and in the heavens, your glory echoes;

Everyone baptized, a great gratitude owes you.

St. Nikolaj (Velimirovic)

St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 15/28: The Day of the Holy Spirit

(Ephesians 5:9-19; Matthew 18:10-20) Consoling His disciples, the Lord said that it is better that He ascends to heaven; for, having ascended He will send in His place and Comforter-Spirit. The Holy Spirit, having descended and remaining in the Church accomplishes in every believer the works of Christ. Every Christian is a participant in the Spirit. This is essential - the one who doesn't have the Spirit doesn't have Christ. Take a closer, more thorough look, do you have the Spirit of grace? He does not remain in everyone, it happens that He leaves. Here is an example: First one finds the spirit of repentance and it teaches the Christian to appeal to God and correct his life. The spirit of repentance, having accomplished its task, gives the Christian to the spirit of sanctity and purity, whose successor, in the end, is a spirit of sonship. The first characteristic is industrious zeal; the second characteristic is a warm and burning light heart; the third characteristic is the feeling of adoption, according to which the heart cries out to God, "Abba, father!" Look and see on which level you are; if you are not on any take up your work and take charge of yourself.

Once again, compare here if able.

St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 14/27

This is a rather rickety translation but you should get the idea. Once again, if any happen to read Russian go here and tell me how it should really be translated.

(Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12) Accomplished is the economy of our salvation! The activity of the complete person of the Holy Trinity in this action henceforth entered into effect. God the Father is disposed towards the one who the Son of God Himself fills; then descends the Holy Spirit to the believer. For our salvation "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2). For this sake "baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" being bound "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19, 20). The one not confessing the All-Holy Trinity may not have a part in the saving activity of its person nor consequently receive salvation. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Trinity one in essence and undivided, for having given us this confession! "Father Almighty, Word and Spirit, linking in Thy Hyposteses presubstantiality and superdivinity, in Thee we were baptized, Thee do we bless unto all ages."

St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 10/23

This is my 'umble translation of St. Theophan's Thoughts for every day of the year. (If you want to compare the original go here)

(Acts 23:1-11; John 16:15-23) The Lord says to the holy apostles before his crucifixion: "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me". The crucifixion and death of the Lord so struck the holy apostles that the eyes of their mind became muddled and they ceased to see the Lord as Lord; the light being hidden, they sat in bitter and agonizing darkness. The light of the resurrection of Christ chased away this darkness and they again beheld the Lord. As the Lord explained His own words: "You will weep," He said, "and lament but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will turn into joy." It is said that every soul on the way to perfection experiences such trials. The darkness completely covers the soul and it doesn't know where to go; but the Lord comes and its sorrow is converted into joy. Truly these trials are necessarily so as it is necessary for a woman to suffer before giving birth. Can we conclude from this that the one who isn't tried does not grow into a genuine Christian?

St. Paisius on gun control

But is prayer the cause of such deception? May it not be. And if for this you find fault with mental prayer, then you should also consider the knife to be at fault if a small child, because of his senselessness at play, should happen to stab himself with it. Likewise, in your view, one should also forbid soldiers to use the military sword which they receive to fight the enemy, if some senseless soldier should happen to stab himself with his own sword. But just as the knife and the sword are not guilty of any fault but only accuse the senselessness of those who stab themselves with them, so likewise the spiritual sword, sacred mental prayer, is innocent of any fault, but rather the self-will and pride of the self-willed are the cause of demonic deceptions and every spiritual harm.
St. Paisius (Velichkovsky)

A Retrospect

So I graduated in absentia on Sunday (I figured, correctly, that partaking in the Eucharist is a little more important than the parody of bestowing a recognition of "education" on someone). Thus ends my college career (I think seven years is length enough to consider it a career). Follow are observations of this journey...

The average college student is a doofus. Having come to this conclusion after returning to college after short hiatuses in the "real world" it was further enforced by my working in the school library. Countless times students come asking to borrow a writing utensil; one should have a writing utensil at all times (especially on a college campus) the lack of a writing utensil equates with illiteracy. Countless times I observed the return of DVD's or VHS' in a slot clearly labeled as prohibited for the return of such items. This is hardly a convenience issue as the desk, where such items should be returned, is about 3 feet away. The average college student has no common sense nor are they so technologically aware/advanced as people seem to like to think. Untold countless times have I had to explain how to use a simple online library catalog. Many a time have I been confronted with people who must have never set foot in a library in their life and furthermore know not that such things as books are stored therein. I am growing weary in this retrospect...

Let the Heavens rejoice!

The Russian Church, having gone through the crucible of persecution, and having co-suffered with Christ, conquered the division.
Patriarch Alexey II

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The will of God

The Abba John the Short asked the monks: "Who sold Joseph?" One monk replied: "His brothers." To that, the elder replied: "No brethren, rather his humility. Joseph could have said that he is their brother and could have protested to being sold but he remained silent. His humility, therefore, sold him. Afterward, this same humility made him master over Egypt." In surrendering ourselves to the will of God, we defend ourselves too much from external unpleasantness, that is why we lose the good fruits which is harvested at the end of unpleasantness endured with humility. Abba Pimen wisely spoke: "We have abandoned the easy yoke, i.e., self-reproach and we have burdened ourselves with a heavy yoke, i.e., self-justification." The Christian accepts every unpleasantness as deserving of their present or their past sins; seeking in all, the will of God with faith and awaiting the end with hope.
St. Nikolaj (Velimirovic)

Sound reason

What you call sound reason we Christians take to be a reason so infirm, so darkened and so far gone astray, that there can be no healing for it except by cutting off, with the sword of faith, and renouncing all the learning that has gone into its formation. If we take it for a sound reason, basing ourselves on a foundation that is uncertain, tottering, indefinite, constantly changing -- then it, being sound, will renounce Christ too.
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

The MP the EP and the WCC

The Russian Orthodox Church as the world’s biggest Orthodox Church seeks leadership at international forums. If she leaves the WCC, the Orthodox representation will be assumed by the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the voice of the Russian Orthodox Church will remain unheard. We believe this is a serious reason for the Moscow Patriarchate to remain involved with the WCC at least for some time.
Archpriest Alexander Lebedev

Inevitable necessity

If the origin of our virtues and of our vices is not in ourselves, but is the fatal consequence of our birth, it is useless for legislators to prescribe for us what we ought to do, and what we ought to avoid; it is useless for judges to honour virtue and to punish vice. The guilt is not in the robber, not in the assassin: it was willed for him; it was impossible for him to hold back his hand, urged to evil by inevitable necessity.
St. Basil the Great