tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22968615135362177132024-03-12T17:48:43.752-07:00Let My Prayer Arise“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.” --Saint Ephraim of SyriaYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-68402114237165961492009-06-21T20:38:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:39:54.721-07:00Re-LocatedSo, we are relocated to <a href="http://letmyprayerarise.blogspot.com/">HERE</a><br /><br />This will be the new permanent home for this blog for various reasons.Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-50931493647611895082009-06-21T15:14:00.000-07:002009-06-21T15:22:36.013-07:00Finally backSo, after a bit of a hiatus when Father and I were in California at a Byzantine Chant workshop (which was awesome by the way, and there will be more about that at a later date), we're back. There might be some changes to the blog (change in web address, that sort of thing is in the works, and a slight change in format) so keep your eyes out for that.<br /><br />I found this really cool website that I'm looking into. I think it's important that, as Orthodox christians, we need to be conscious of the world around us, and especially in the giving of alms, or charity. And it's not enough to really just be aware of it, or look to a far away country that is in need (which is important too), but we need to look within our own country, especially our own city that we live in, because like it or not, we ARE a part of that community, and we should look to see what we can do for the people in need.<br /><br />So here is the website. Check it out. <a href="http://www.focusnorthamerica.org/">http://www.focusnorthamerica.org/</a>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-80535041247696056312009-06-11T18:00:00.000-07:002009-06-11T18:04:07.580-07:00Spiritual WisdomAn old man said, "The prophets wrote books, then came our Fathers who put them into practice. Those who came after them learnt them by heart. Then came the present generation, who have written them out and put them into their window seats without using them."<br /><br />The old man said, "Spiritual work is essential; it is for this we have come to the desert. It is very hard to teach with the mouth that which one does not practice in the body."Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-1869916577633082982009-06-07T10:45:00.000-07:002009-06-07T10:47:10.639-07:00Pentecost<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reflection on the meaning of Pentecost</strong><br /><strong> Wisdom of Elder Athanasios Mitilinaios</strong><br /></div>I will ask, when Christ said, Go out and make disciples of all nations, who was He addressing? To whom was this commandment given? We do not see anything in His words that suggest, if you have spare time and if you have nothing else to do, then just go and talk to the people about the gospel. Not at all! This is a commandment, a must! For whom? For the eleven disciples? Now what would happen once the twelve disciples exited this life? Wouldn’t this commandment become irrelevant? Of course! So, the commandment of evangelizing was only seasonal? - One of a limited time, a certain epoch, necessary only way back when? - Certainly not. This commandment concerns every faithful without exception!<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>From 2009 Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar</strong></span>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-16617899895327147242009-05-31T21:18:00.000-07:002009-05-31T21:19:17.180-07:00A brother spoke with Theodore and began to talk about matters of which he had no experience. Theodore said to him, "You've not yet found a ship to sail in, nor put your luggage aboard, nor put out to sea, and you're already acting as if you were in the city which you mean to reach. If you make some attempt to do the things you are discussing, then you can talk about them with understanding."Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-32881898506867136722009-05-31T21:16:00.000-07:002009-05-31T21:18:32.719-07:00Evagrius said, "Cut the desire for many things out of your heart and so prevent your mind being dispersed and your stillness lost."Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-36007612597975680082009-05-27T16:27:00.000-07:002009-05-31T21:19:55.304-07:00Do not rail against anyone, but rather say 'God knows each one.' Do not agree with him who slanders, do not rejoice at his slander and do not hate him who slanders his neighbour. This is what it means not to judge. Do not have hostile feelings towards anyone and do not let dislike dominate your heart; do not hate him who hates his neighbour. This is what peace is: Encourage yourself with this thought, 'Affliction lasts but a short time, while peace is forever by the grace of God the Word'"<br />-St. Moses the EthiopianYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-85614540461474475902009-05-23T11:32:00.000-07:002009-05-23T12:24:07.773-07:00Archbishop Iakovos"Though God may intend man to destroy himself, he also has given man free will and the ability to cleanse himself and his world. The church will not be pessimistic, nor sit quietly in its handsome houses of worship while the war rages outside its churches for the bodies, minds and souls of its parishoners."<br /><a href="http://orthodoxwiki.org/Iakovos_%28Coucouzis%29_of_America">His Eminence, the Most Reverend Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America </a>quoted by Fr. Milton Efthimiou<br /><br />I just thought his farewell speech was beautiful.<br /><p id="documentWidth" class="documentFirstHeading documentWidth" style="text-align: left; width: 515px; font-weight: bold;">Farewell Remarks of Archbishop Iakovos Upon His Retirement in 1996</p> <!--Author Info --> <!--Image and Copyright info--> <!--Image and Copyright end--> <p class="body_text_12_bold">By Archbishop Iakovos<br /> Grand Banquet, Clergy-Laity Congress, July 3, 1996</p> <p class="body_text">The beautiful Day which lasted almost 37 years has reached its end. The sunset is brilliant, as I can read it in your eyes. The night will be short, as are the nights of the summer. And the dawn will rise tomorrow upon another Day. It is for this day that I pray together with you. I want you to be happy, to enjoy the light, to walk in it. I will be terribly unhappy if you ever lose the sight of tomorrow.</p> <p class="body_text">Finish your each day with the reassuring truth that tomorrow is another day. A day unsure as it may be, but a day which is yours with all the brilliance of its sun, with all its flowers and birdsongs, and all the uncertainties, the fears, the anxieties and the hopes, as well. Remember, that you also have to make it easier to accept each day, to dissipate any clouds that may threaten to darken the sun. Do not allow the darkness to envelop your soul. When you see it approaching, you keep it at a distance with your Christian courage and determination. There are so many blessings surrounding you every day. Enjoy them; rejoice in them all. The Heavens above are always blue for those who can turn the eyes of their soul towards them. And the nights for those who believe in God will be adorned with silver rays. </p> <p class="body_text">And now, after these general paternal reminders and remarks, walk boldly toward the third millennium, reassured by your Orthodox faith. As you pass its threshold, look at the sun; let it take care of the shadows that follow you. The Sun of righteousness will guide your steps towards the values of Christianity: The hope, the life and the love that will enable you to hold fast on what is yours: Your faith! </p> <p class="body_text">Orthodoxy is a religion and theology that places no boundaries or barriers along the way of those who search for happiness in unity, in peace, and in justice. Orthodoxy will one day, and hopefully soon, rediscover its essential oneness and disavow hunger for power, ethnic superiority and secularism which leads it to unchurchly ambitions. Orthodoxy must definitely identify itself as a religion that leans over all people with genuine compassion and declare that its chief concern is to gather and unify all those who drifted away from Christian truth. </p> <p class="body_text"> Christianity in the light of the upsurging of religions must become once again a robust religious movement capable of touching all human souls. Missionary orders that look for the increase of numbers alone, owe it to themselves to place their mission in the hands of Christ who has said to care "for the least of my brethren" (Matt. 25:40). </p> <p class="body_text">We, in the Americas, strengthened by the martyrdom and martyria of the Great Church of Constantinople and the ancient churches of the East, as well, will continue to grow in the truth and beauty of the Christian spirit, as truly ecumenically minded, being concerned and committed to peace with all religions and to the eradication of bigotry, discrimination, injustice, violence and racial hatred. </p> <p class="body_text">The march in Selma, Alabama, will continue to pave the way from which we shall never deviate along with the frontiers of unity and social justice. Ours is a commitment to true Christianity, to true justice, to the liberation of people still oppressed, and to true peace, the one founded upon respect of life and of each other, as we declare in our Pledge of Allegiance. </p> And so, my beloved, unafraid, armored with all the spiritual weapons of legitimate opposition, we will march forward to a new millennium and a new world, having rolled up our sleeves and ready to rebuild our human society. True, we will find critics, even opponents, even enemies, even faults and errors in our own thinking and the way we understand the immensity of our task, but nothing should ever discourage us or turn us into deserters of the new front. We are called by our Church and country to bravely stand and combat whatever is untrue, dishonest, unchristian or inhuman. So let us march forward, boldly and with definite resolve to win. The moral victory and the new century will be yours.<br /><br />+ + + + + +<br /><br />May his Memory be EternalYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-32132586343797749052009-05-22T10:49:00.000-07:002009-05-22T10:51:56.048-07:00Quote from St. Seraphim of SarovWhen despondency seizes us, let us not give into to it. Rather, fortified and protected by the light of faith, let us with great courage say to the spirit of evil: "What are you to us, who you are...a fugitive from Heaven, and a slave of evil? You dare not do anything to us: Christ...has dominion over us and over all<br />- St. Seraphim of SarovYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-51857666834348262522009-05-20T12:50:00.001-07:002009-05-20T12:50:44.721-07:00Quote from the Fathers about gossip...<span>Hyperichius said, "The serpent whispered to Eve and cast her out of paradise. The man who whispers against his neighbor is like the serpent. He condemns the soul of whoever listens to him, and he does not save his own."</span>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-50992841314464801552009-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:002009-05-18T19:35:42.954-07:00Quote...And yet another quote. I haven't been able to update at all, as I was at the iconography workshop, so hopefully I'll have more time now (at least until June, which is unexpectedly busy).<br /><br />Found this quote by accident, and it's on of my favorite ones. Not exactly religious, but a good one anyways.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">Science arose from poetry... when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends.<br />- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</span>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-67811661114673932222009-05-06T20:21:00.000-07:002009-05-06T20:22:09.512-07:00More Wisdom from the DesertArsenius once asked an old Egyptian monk for advice about his temptations. Another monk who saw this said, "Arsenius, how is it that you, who are so learned in Greek and Latin, are asking that uneducated peasant about your temptations?"<br /><br /><div>Arsenius answered, "I have a lot of worldly knowledge of Greek and Latin but I have not yet been able to learn the alphabet of this peasant."</div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-6359395270587697402009-05-04T09:35:00.000-07:002009-05-04T09:36:59.613-07:00Fr's Homily (letter of St. Seraphim of Viritsa)<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Thinkpad/Desktop/KK/Hunger-Bread-Stone.odt"> </a><form name="Form1" method="post" action="saint-seraphim-of-viritsa-this-was-from-me.aspx?print=ok" id="Form1"> <input name="__VIEWSTATE" value="dDwxNDQ0NzQ0Nzc7Oz5S7cneGXoLb7+ehPIVyRmr2Mcmiw==" type="hidden"> <h1><span style="font-size:100%;">Saint Seraphim of Viritsa's Spiritual Testament</span></h1> <h2><span style="font-size:100%;">"This Was From Me"</span></h2> <h2 class="author"><span style="font-size:100%;">By Metropolitan Manuel Lemeshevsky</span></h2> <p> Have you ever thought that everything that touches you touches Me as well? For that which touches you touches the apple of My eye. </p> <p> You are dear in my eyes, precious, and I have loved you; therefore it is a particular pleasure for Me to educate you. </p> <p> When temptations arise against you, and the enemy comes like a river, I want you to know—This was from Me. </p> <p> Your weakness needs My strength, and your safety comes from giving Me the opportunity to fight for you. If you find yourself in difficult circumstances, among people who do not understand you, who do not take what you like into consideration, who alienate you—This was from Me. </p> <p> I am God, Who arranges circumstances. It was no accident that you find yourself in the place where you are; this is the place I have appointed for you. Did you not ask that I teach you humility? Well, then, look: I have placed you in precisely that place, in that school, where this lesson is learned. Your surroundings and those who live with you are only fulfilling My will. If you find yourself in financial difficulty, if you find it hard to make ends meet—This was from Me. </p> <p> For I have your material means at my disposal. I want you to call unto me, for you to be dependant upon Me. My reserves are inexhaustible. I want you to be confirmed in fidelity to Me and to My promises. May it not be said to you in your need: You did not believe in the Lord your God. </p> <p> Are you in a night of suffering? Are you separated from your loved ones and those close to your heart? This was from Me.</p> <p> I am the Man of suffering, Who has tasted affliction. I have allowed this so that you would turn to Me, so that in Me you would find eternal comfort. If you have been let down by your friend, to someone to whom you opened your heart—This was from Me<em>.</em> </p> <p> I allowed this disappointment to touch you so that you would know that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and to speak to Me. </p> <p> Has someone slandered you? Give this to me, and bring your soul closer to Me, your Refuge, to hide from the contradiction of the nations. I shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. If your plans have been destroyed, if you are downtrodden in soul and tired—This was from Me. </p> <p> You made plans, and brought them to Me, so that I would bless them. But I want you to leave Me in charge of the circumstances of your life, and then responsibility for everything will be Mine, for this is too difficult for you; by yourself you can not manage them, for you are only an instrument, and not the actor. If unanticipated problems of life have visited you, and if despondency has seized your heart, then know—This was from Me. </p> <p> For I want your heart and your soul to be always aflame before My eyes; to conquer faint-heartedness of the soul in My name. If you do not hear from your dear ones and friends for a long time, and in your faint-heartedness fall into despondency and grumbling, know—This was from Me. </p> <p> By this anguish in your spirit, I test the strength of your faith in the surity of My promise and the strength of your boldness in prayer for these dear ones of yours. Was it not you who entrusted them to the Protection of My All-Pure Mother? Was it not you who once entrusted their care to My providential love? If serious illness, either temporary or incurable, has visited you, and has confined to your bed, then know—This was from Me. </p> <p> For I want you to know Me even more deeply in you bodily infirmities, so that you would not grumble over this trial sent to you, that you would not try to penetrate My plans through different means for the salvation of peoples souls, but that you would uncomplainingly and submissively bow you neck under My goodness towards you. If you have dreamed of performing some special deed for Me, and instead haven fallen onto a bed of sickness and weakness—This was from Me. </p> <p> Then you would have been immersed in your activities, and I would not have been able to attract your thoughts to Me, for I want to teach you My deepest thoughts and lessons, so that you would be in My service. I want to teach you to recognize that you are nothing. Some of My best co-workers are those who have been cut off from vital activity, that they would learn to wield the weapon of unceasing prayer. </p> <p> Have you unexpectedly been called to occupy a difficult and responsible position? Go, place it on Me. I entrust these difficulties to you so that the Lord God would bless you for this in all your deeds, on all your paths, in everything that will done by your hands. On this day I put into your hands a vessel of holy oil. Use it generously, My children! Every difficulty that arises, every word that insults you, every obstacle to your work that could elicit in you a feeling of annoyance, every revelation of your weakness and inability, shall be anointed with this oil. </p> <p> Remember that every obstacle is a Divine instruction. Every sting will be dulled when you learn to see Me in everything that touches you. Therefore place the word I have declared to you today in your heart: This was from Me. For this is not an empty matter for you—this is your life. </p> <div class="endnotes"> <p><b>Translator's note:</b> Inasmuch as the above text was distributed for from hand-to-hand in samizdat form for several decades, printed versions include competing explanations of its authorship and origin. The most common attribution is to St Seraphim of Viritsa, who was said to have written it in 1937 to a certain bishop, his spiritual son, who was at the time in prison. It is almost entirely certain, however, that the author is in fact Metropolitan Manuel (Lemeshevsky) of Kuibyshev and Syzran (1884-1968). It is known that St Seraphim of Viritsa and Metropolitan Manuel were acquainted, and therefore it could be speculated that this meditation represents the latter's record of the saint's spiritual teaching.</p> </div> <p class="ref"> Translated from the original Russian by Hierodeacon Samuel, Monastery of St Job of Pochaev, Munich, Germany, for the Orthodox Christian Information Center. Posted on 3/6/2008.</p> </form> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">_uacct = "UA-2762750-1";urchinTracker();</script>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-16733137767599310922009-05-01T11:11:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:14:38.665-07:00What? Another quote?!?!I got this quote from Fr. Stephens blog Glory to God for All things (there is a link in the side bar if you are interested...it is a wonderful blog). I'm not sure if he wrote it, or if he got it from somewhere, but never the less, it's a great quote.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knowing God</span><br />The Orthodox “experience” if I can use such a phrase, is the confirmation in the heart of the truth we have received as we grow in grace and in purity of heart. But the truth of the faith must be confirmed in such a living manner or it simply becomes an historical item and the Church would be a collection of antiquarians and not the living temple of God. For my knowledge of God is also my life in God. Life, light, truth, knowledge - all of these have something of a synomymous character.Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-56397194313430812932009-05-01T10:59:00.001-07:002009-05-01T11:08:35.158-07:00Oh yes...some announcementsFor anyone that is interested, there is another iconography workshop coming up May 11-17th. There are still a few spots available. This workshop is an amazing experience, and something that we are truly lucky to have here in Victoria. You learn the traditional way of painting an icon with egg tempera. For more information, and for pictures from the last workshop (November 2008) click <a href="http://iconworkshop.allsaintsofalaska.ca/">here</a>.<br /><br />Also thought I'd mention that there is another amazing workshop, this one for Byzantine Chanting that will be held in Frezno, CA. Amazing music, amazing instructors, if you are at all interested in Byzantine music, this is a wonderful oppertunity at a very reasonable price. For more information about this workshop, click <a href="http://www.koukouzelis.org/index.html">here</a>.Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-1281724475486799192009-05-01T10:55:00.001-07:002009-05-01T10:55:57.377-07:00Sayings from the Desert Fathers..<div>Evagrius once said to Arsenius, "How is it that we educated and learned men have no goodness but Egyptian peasants have a great deal?"</div><br /><div>Arsenius answered, "We have nothing because we go chasing worldly knowledge. These Egyptian peasants have got their goodness by hard work."</div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-48138462071527926072009-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:002009-04-28T10:37:05.770-07:00Another Cool QuoteWe must not compel others to follow in the spiritual struggle. You can not compel him if he does not have the disposition. It is like what happens with food. If one is not disposed to eat and we give him food under compulsion he will vomit it out.<br />- Elder PaisiosYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-73097686774739919202009-04-24T22:26:00.000-07:002009-04-24T22:27:05.199-07:00Cool Quote"Only shortsighted people can imagine that Christianity has already happened, that it took place, say, in the thirteenth century, or the fourth, or some other time, I would say that it has only made the first hesitant steps in the history of the human race. Many of Christ's words are still incomprehensible to us even now because we are still Neanderthals in spirit and morals; because the arrow of the Gospels is aimed at eternity; because the history of Christianity is only beginning." - Fr Alexander Men, from a speech delivered the night before his murderYpapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-55327283170998217062009-04-24T10:08:00.000-07:002009-04-24T10:48:57.893-07:00Orthodox UnityI found this great sermon from an orthodox news website, that spoke about orthodox unity, and how it is so important that the orthodox churches all work together, rather than just looking out for their own interests. I think a lot of the time, it gets lost that we are all orthodox first, and the only difference is the different tradition that we follow. For instance, in the greek orthodox church, we follow the Byzantine tradition, and the Americian orthodox church follows the slavic tradition. And really, there is no dogmatic difference AT ALL. All it really means is that the order of service is slightly different, the music style is slightly different, and the vestments are different. All these are cosmetic and surface differences.<br />I've been reading a lot about Orthodoxy in North America, and how all the churches were all under the Moscow patriarch, regardless of their country of origin. It's such a beautiful thing that orthodox people of all cultural backgrounds (greek, russian, ukranian, american/canadian, etc) would all participate together in the liturgy, with there being sometimes three or four different languages used. That is how it should be. This division not only creates division among orthodox people that should not be there, but it also propigates an arrogance that one is better than the other, which is demonic and evil. No church tradition is "higher" or "better" than the other one. It is just different, and that very difference is what makes orthodoxy beautiful.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pres. Melissa</span></span><br /><br />*********************<br /><br /><p><em>Sermon delivered on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Naples, Fl. in March, 2009.</em></p> <p>In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.</p> <p>This invocation of the Holy Trinity which I have just recited is familiar to us all. It is repeated often in every Orthodox service and it is included in every Orthodox prayer. Yet I wonder how many of us have ever contemplated the concept that underlies this invocation, and how that concept is the very core belief which brings us together this evening for the <a target="_blank" href="http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sunday_of_Orthodoxy" rel="external">Triumph of Orthodoxy</a> <sup>[2]</sup>.</p> <p>In the divine liturgy, we affirm the Holy Trinity as one in essence and undivided. In fact, the Church goes even further and confirms that the Holy Trinity is not only one in essence and undivided, but that it is also comprised of three different and distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.</p> <p>The Trinity, in its entirety is the God-head, or in short, God. We, as Orthodox Christians and benefactors of the true faith are called, even commanded, to become “god-like”. Our whole purpose and focus in this life is to strive to that end. What exactly does this mean? Simply put, it means that although we the Orthodox are many in persons, we are to be one in essence and undivided, in concert with the Holy Trinity — the God-head, or God.</p> <p>Consider for a moment, what the situation would be if God the Father decided not to interact with Christ, the Son, because Christ the Son was not Russian. What if Christ, the Son, would not interact with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit was not Greek? What if the Holy Spirit would not interact with either of the other members of the Holy Trinity because they were not Syrian? The Holy Trinity would be completely dysfunctional. Preposterous, isn’t it? Yet this is precisely the condition that many of the Orthodox in this country find themselves.</p> <p>While theologically we are of one essence and undivided, we are physically and emotionally divided. It is important to understand that although the Holy Trinity is made up of three separate persons, those three persons are of <em>one mind</em>. The scriptures confirm this and we affirm this in the divine liturgy when we say “let us love one another that with <em>one mind</em> we may confess, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and undivided”. The Holy Trinity is of one mind because all three persons are in perfect unity with each other. The Holy Trinity is our example. It is our “gold-standard.” We Orthodox fail to be of one mind and perfectly united because of our human frailties. We constantly strive to attain the unity of the God-head, but as humans we often fail.</p> <p>So, how do we improve our situation? How do we practically achieve the unity that so many of us talk about but cannot seem to realize? The answer, for better or for worse, lies within us, both individually and collectively.</p> <p>It has been said that extraordinary leadership is extraordinarily rare. If we expect our Orthodox hierarchs to initiate unity from above and pass it down to us, we will be waiting for our life-time, our children’s lifetime and our grandchildren’s lifetime. Orthodox unity will only be achieved when the laity, parish priests and monastics lovingly unify themselves and exhibit that untiy to the hierarchs. One thing those of us in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) have learned from our recent “times of trouble” is that only when the discontent among the laity, parish priests and monastics rose to a fever pitch - only then were the hierachs moved to action. Imagine what could be accomplished if that same level of energy was focused on achieving unity among those at the parish and monastic level!</p> <p>We begin building unity with small steps, growing and expanding as our unity strengthens. This service tonight is a small step, but we cannot simply have a vesper service once a year and expect to achieve unity. We need a series of small steps, community wide. We need to establish Orthodox women’s groups, men’s and teen’s groups, which can come toghether to accomplish tangible goals within the community at large — as a unified Orthodox group.</p> <p>Tangible goals could include food banks and other charitable endeavors. The list of targets is endless. Eventually we may consider opening clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, universities, etc. All of these would be identified as “Orthodox”, but not specifically Russian, Greek, or Syrian.</p> <p>It begins with us. There are at least two thousand Orthodox in Southwest Florida — enough to make things happen if we want them to. However, the desire must be there. If we think that it will not work, or that it is too much trouble or too expensive, then it will go nowhere. Every good neighborhood, every unified neighborhood, requires those neighbors to sacrifice. Sacrifice of time, energy and resources but this is what god commands us to do — go out into all the world and preach the gospel, raising the cross of Christ for all mankind to see.</p> <p>When Christ was on earth, he focused on two things — healing mankind spiritually and physically. That also is precisely what our goal as Orthodox Christians should be. Yet we cannot do it if we are divided, disorganized and dysfunctional. The Orthodox priests and other clergy here tonight want to help and support you, the laity, in any way that we can. We need to work together to meet that “gold-standard” of the Holy Trinity, many in persons, of one mind, of one essence and undivided. This will affirm the true “triumph of Orthodoxy”.</p> <p>Now may he who is the author of all unity help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us by his grace, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.</p> <p><em>Fr. Gleb McFatter pastors <a target="_blank" href="http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-SO-NAPSDM" rel="external">St. Demetrios Orthodox Church</a> <sup>[1]</sup> in Naples, Florida.</em></p>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-83705121830468262292009-04-16T13:25:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:38:19.598-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfGxQM-P4gtJP4RD9d8EOp1PTGIgzw_qpSojRkGf3lwUmqydGZSCx_FOrYvUzDiKGxQ_fKomNhW_V5g3gHR9jrrOqMHn3LH_vZhONE7_31i1NcsUex9s-Z700IKnEKYFYVfVjtisjMSAM/s1600-h/extreme.humility.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfGxQM-P4gtJP4RD9d8EOp1PTGIgzw_qpSojRkGf3lwUmqydGZSCx_FOrYvUzDiKGxQ_fKomNhW_V5g3gHR9jrrOqMHn3LH_vZhONE7_31i1NcsUex9s-Z700IKnEKYFYVfVjtisjMSAM/s320/extreme.humility.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325388234812604162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Antiphon (XII) - troparion, idiomelon of the Hours (Tone 8)</span><br />Thus says the Lord to the Jews.<br />My people what have I done to you, or how have I offended you?<br />To your blind I gave sight, your lepers I cleansed,<br />the paralytic I raised from his bed.<br />My people what have I done to you, and how have you repaid me?<br />Instead of manna, gall, instead of water, vinegar:<br />Instead of loving me you nail me to the cross.<br />I can bear no more. I shall call the Gentiles mine.<br />They will glorify me with the Father and the Spirit,<br />and I shall give them life eternal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Antiphon (XV) - Doxastikon of the Hours (Tone 6)</span><br />Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the tree.<br />The King of the Angels is decked with a crown of thorns.<br />He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.<br />He who freed Adam in the Jordan is slapped on the face.<br />The Bredegroom of the Church is affixed to the cross with nails.<br />The Son of the virgin is pierced by a spear.<br />We worship Thy passion, O Christ.<br />We worship Thy passion, O Christ.<br />We worship Thy passion, O Christ.<br />Show us also Thy glorious resurrection.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doxastikon of the Praises. (Tone 6)</span><br />Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,<br />now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.<br />They have stripped me of my garments<br />And clothed me in a scarlet robe.<br />They have set upon my head a crown of thorns<br />And have given me a reed in my right hand.<br />That I might dash them in pieces like a potters vessel.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k_G2jgGQjUY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k_G2jgGQjUY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-78635149631975987512009-04-16T13:16:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:46:52.789-07:00The Last Supper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuzjP4eI-edvOOECYZhyI4edsmjW10p6zQQr30XesAfKSfmm_8YASJcC9NZV4sUxiuIES68W8yjidaWn6jVTU7xJE2nzc7FWFnLnCalLv5zKSf5W-Gpdd6dvt7UDVwkdXUWWBd2_FKgPv/s1600-h/lastsupper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuzjP4eI-edvOOECYZhyI4edsmjW10p6zQQr30XesAfKSfmm_8YASJcC9NZV4sUxiuIES68W8yjidaWn6jVTU7xJE2nzc7FWFnLnCalLv5zKSf5W-Gpdd6dvt7UDVwkdXUWWBd2_FKgPv/s320/lastsupper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325386436535679026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Troparion (Tone 8)</span><br />When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet<br />before the supper,<br />the impious Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice,<br />and to the lawless judges he betrayed You the Righteous Judge.<br />Behold, oh lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself.<br />Flee from the greedy soulwhich dared such things against the Master!<br />O Lord Who art good towards all men, glory to You!<br /><br /></div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-23851823538496780472009-04-14T13:45:00.000-07:002009-04-14T14:20:48.852-07:00Behold, the Bridegroom<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsqK2BzWJID6-iZR6dcnQ8gDtjcIC63IqFG-BDDGWLTnlZXt8_2Z88FPbfzXZMWWQgVqn3V1PKpK6ytgL-UVpS0ZT3Ldk3o5OjpVzu43dmocVVNSZ2TD7ZoVFWeV7pR2uHf3Lw6ooqrw/s1600-h/bridegroom_icon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZsqK2BzWJID6-iZR6dcnQ8gDtjcIC63IqFG-BDDGWLTnlZXt8_2Z88FPbfzXZMWWQgVqn3V1PKpK6ytgL-UVpS0ZT3Ldk3o5OjpVzu43dmocVVNSZ2TD7ZoVFWeV7pR2uHf3Lw6ooqrw/s320/bridegroom_icon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324651167863369170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Troparion</span><br />Behold, the bridegoom comes in the middle of the night<br />and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching,<br />and unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless.<br />Take care then, O soul of mine<br />be not overcome with sleep that you will not be given over unto death<br />and be excluded from the Kingdom.<br />But rise up and call out: Holy Holy, Holy are you O God,<br />by the Theotokos have mercy on us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exaposteilarion</span><br />I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Saviour<br />and I have no wedding garment so that I may enter;<br />O giver of light, make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hymn of Kassiani the Hymnographer </span><br />The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, received the dignity of a myrrh-bearer<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>, for with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial. And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless. As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears. As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head, those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear. Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgments, O Saviour of my soul? Do not turn away from me, Your servant, for You have immeasurable mercy.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-19551259929209353252009-04-12T13:52:00.000-07:002009-04-12T14:17:52.320-07:00The Enterence of Our Lord into Jerusalem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUs81S-8VcVKOr1A6QYT5tJu8dqsqG3j2U2OOLxiXEp-ogkru7eRXwQkE7q8DXbptrCRjtkg9rkYrbxiADTkGmH1mvZ0zGun0nVMAMUbnIqazG6nuWkoDHMhFFmac0bQ16gZjyWXHk2E8/s1600-h/Entry_Into_Jerusalem_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUs81S-8VcVKOr1A6QYT5tJu8dqsqG3j2U2OOLxiXEp-ogkru7eRXwQkE7q8DXbptrCRjtkg9rkYrbxiADTkGmH1mvZ0zGun0nVMAMUbnIqazG6nuWkoDHMhFFmac0bQ16gZjyWXHk2E8/s320/Entry_Into_Jerusalem_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323910914541909986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vesper's sticheron - Matins doxastikon (Tone 6)</span><br />Six days before the Feast of Passover Jesus entered Bethany.<br />His disciples asked Him:<br />"Where should we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover?"<br />He answered "When you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.<br />Follow him into the house which he enters<br />and tell the master of the house: The Teacher says to you:<br />Here I shall eat the Passover with my disciples."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">From Vespers</span><br />By Your command, O loving Lord, You have raised Lazarus Your friend from death!<br />His flesh had been given over to corruption! He was in the power of death four days!<br />By this You have foretold Your Holy Ressurection for us!<br />Today, You mount an untamed colt as Your charriot, foretelling the conversion of the gentiles.<br />Your beloved Israel offers You a hymn of praise from the mouths of innocent children,<br />as they see You enter the holy city, O Christ, six days before the feast of Passover.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer at the Blessing of Palms</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">O Lord our God, Who sits upon the Cherubim, You have reaffirmed Your power by sending Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world through His cross, burial, and resurrection. When He came into Jerusalem to suffer His voluntary passion, the people that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death took boughs of trees and branches of palms as signs of victory, thus foretelling His resurrection. Do You, Yourself, O Master, keep and preserve us who, in imitation of them, carry palms and branches in our hands. As we join the crowds and the children who sang Hosanna to you, may we, with hymns and spiritual songs, attain the life-giving resurrection of the third day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doxastikon of the aposticha from Holy Monday Matins (Tone 8)</span><br />The serpent found a second Eve in the Egyptian woman<br />and plotted the fall of Joseph through words of flattery.<br />But, leaving behind his garment, Joseph fled from sin.<br />He was naked but unashamed, like Adam before the fall.<br />Through his prayers, O Christ, have mercy on us.<br /><br /></div></div></div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-39601680309945616272009-04-11T11:13:00.000-07:002009-04-11T11:32:05.573-07:00Raising Lazarus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0MaAKFwju7t37mQg1nnHuXzxk4si8hwxi0Wtb4JJANpciUhOcEottVRi2lb66q9g2OICRjKizE3grvFmTw0F7Hc9tZIOFDULgTQ8n45naCB9D0hrRr3a0vzTIjaFQmc8PqV36n_Zb_EO/s1600-h/lazarus_(smaller).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0MaAKFwju7t37mQg1nnHuXzxk4si8hwxi0Wtb4JJANpciUhOcEottVRi2lb66q9g2OICRjKizE3grvFmTw0F7Hc9tZIOFDULgTQ8n45naCB9D0hrRr3a0vzTIjaFQmc8PqV36n_Zb_EO/s320/lazarus_(smaller).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323499831526654802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Troparion (tone 1)<br />By raising Lazarus from the dead before thy passion,<br />Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God.<br />Like the children, with the palms of victory, we cry out to Thee,<br />O Vanquisher of Death, Hosanna in the Highest!<br />Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.<br /><br />Kontakion (tone 2)<br />Christ - the Joy, the Truth, and the light of all<br />the life of the world and the Resurrection -<br />has appeared in His goodness to those on earth.<br />He has become the image of our ressurection<br />granting divine forgiveness to all<br /><br />From Vespers<br />Oh Lord, wishing to see the tomb of Lazarus -<br />for you were soon to dwell by your own choice within a tomb-<br />You asked, "Where have you laid him?"<br />And learning that which was already known to You,<br />You called to him whom You loved, "lazarus, come forth."<br />And he who was without breath obeyed the One who gave him breath,<br />the Savior of our souls.<br /><br />Oh Lord, wishing to give Your disciples an assurance of your ressurectionfrom the dead.<br />You came to the tomb of Lazarus and called to him by name.<br />Then was hell despoiled, and it released the one that had been dead four days,<br />as he called upon You, "O blessed Lord, glory to You.<br />Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296861513536217713.post-7593964908235109432009-04-05T09:37:00.000-07:002009-04-05T09:44:01.118-07:00St. Mary of EgyptSince today is one of the days that we commemorate Saint Mary of Egypt (the other one being April 1st I believe, which is when people named after her celebrate their name days), I thought I'd post a link to a podcast that Father and I were listening to last night from Fr. Tom Hopko. Here is the link <a href="http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko">http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko</a> And the podcast is (obviously) the one titled St. Mary of Egypt.Ypapanti Orthodox Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232057250168974840noreply@blogger.com0