TO SEE... Oh, how we go blind

to anything other-worldly / О-о, как не виждаме /нищо духовно/

  C B E T A - (see better?)  
or you better see - and perceive - HOLINESS

PRA-DATED
Микс от Български / English PAGES Mixed
блог на мирянин / a layman blog [+Russian]

Tuesday, May 29, 2012


ON THE ROCOR-MP UNION – by Father ANDREI Erastov
Отец Андрей Ерастов за обединението на РПЗЦ и МП

О. Андрей Ерастов,
монах в Джорданвил преди обединението на РПЗЦ и МП,
понастоящем е йеромонах в Австралия към РПЗЦ (А).
Автор на следната проповед - проникновен коментар
за обединението на РПЗЦ и МП:




В името на Отца и Сина и Светия Дух.

Братя и сестри, обединението на РПЗЦ с МП [Руска Православна Задгранична Църква - Московска Патриаршия] бе подписано преди 5 години, а сега и в Москва, и в Ню Йорк празнуват тази годишнина. Подходящо е да си припомним това събитие, което те празнуват като радостно, а ние считаме за бедствие.

       На епископите е дадена власт в Църквата да поучават и да управляват. Когато, обаче, един епископ поучава, той предава не собствените си идеи, а учението на Христа, Евангелието. В противен случай паството [събранието] няма да слуша този епископ и ще го обвини в ерес.

       По същия начин, когато епископите насочват, те не налагат на Църквата своята собствена воля. Църквата се насочва от Светия Дух, а не от човеци. Епископите са инструментът, чрез който Светият Дух упражнява Своето ръководство, както казват апостолите в решението на техния събор, както четем в Деяния на апостолите: „Защото, угодно бе на Светаго Духа и нам ...” (Деян. 15:28).

       Човек може да каже: „Те са били апостоли, и са могли директно да разпознаят онова, що изглежда добре на Светия Дух, но как могат нашите епископи, обикновени хора, да знаят това?” - Те не могат. Ето защо те трябва да действат със страх и трепет, та да не би да създадат нещо против волята Божия, та да не изглежда сякаш (те) „се противите на Светия Дух” (Деян. 7:51).

       Епископите следва да действат вътре в Църквата не като диктатори. Когато издават постановление, те следва да се вслушват в тайнствения глас на Църквата, дали тя приема или отхвърля това постановление. Защитник на истината в Църквата е цялото събрание [паство] на Църквата.

       Църквата е Тялото Христово, Бого-човешкият човешкия организъм; тя не е светска корпорация, чиито мениджъри могат да я насочват както си искат. Такова едно отношение спрямо Църквата е богохулствено.

       Когато епископите предложиха на Църквата идеята за обединението, те все още не бяха съгрешили; грехът им бе, че те прокараха своето желание, въпреки очевидното противостоене на Църквата.

       Процесът на обединението отне няколко години, през които стана видно, че Църквата не приема тази идея. Беше ли обединението правилно или погрешно? – Нека не забравяме, че за този въпрос окончателният отговор не зависи от логическите аргументи. Окончателният отговор принадлежи единствено на Църквата. И отговорът бе: Не.

       Независимо от това, епископите не промениха мнението си, а вместо това започнаха да насилствено да прокарват обединението използвайки лицемерие, демагогия и интриги. Обединението бе организирано от хора, които си въобразяваха, че имат власт над Църквата и че могат да направят с нея всичко, което си поискат. Те си въобразяваха, че те са Църквата. Грехът им бе, че решиха, че могат да насочват Църквата както си поискат, сякаш тя е [а не е!] една светска корпорация. Това бе грехът на неверието в Църквата, грехът на Сергианството.

       През всичките няколко години преди обединението бе очевидна за всеки безпристрастен наблюдател, че окончателното решение вече е било взето, че то е взето зад (заключени) врати от страна на определена група, – не от Синода или от архиерейския Съвета, а от една влиятелна клика. Очевидно бе, че така нареченият „обединителен процес” е само един фарс; така или иначе, решението вече е било взето.

       Църквата е бил вкарана насила в обединението, но Църквата е свободна и в нищо не може да бъде принудена. Доказателство за това е фактът, че навсякъде, във всички епархии, във всички енории, има вярващи, противостоящи на обединението. Наричат ни разколници, но в действителност това разделение е една здравословна имунна реакция на организма на Църковния организъм към въведената в Църквата неистина; това разделение е доказателството, че Църквата е жива и свободна.

       Църквата не прие обединението. Те поеха по свой път, но Църквата не ги последва. Църквата не е там, където е мнозинството. По времето на древните ереси, понякога едва малцина са оставали православни, а голямото мнозинство се присъединявало към ереста. Но след известно време Православието триумфирало. Така ще бъде и сега. Неистината на обединението със Сергианството ще бъде изложена [на показ] за всички.

       Демагогски оправдаваха обединението с любовта към Русия и руския народ, докато в действителност обединението с Москва бе предателство към руския народ, то бе обединение със неговите потисници. Русия е поробена от нечестива, престъпна власт; Руската църква е поробен от сергианци. В такава една ситуация независимият, правдив глас на РПЗЦ бе безценен за Русия. Този глас се чуваше в Русия дори и зад Желязната завеса, и особено след падането на комунизма.

       След обединението РПЗЦ напълно загуби духовната си свобода и в резултат на това загуби цялата си значимост и влияние, и се превърна в просто една от епархиите на Московската Патриаршия. И така, кой спечели от обединението? – Онези, които свободният глас на РПЗЦ безпокоеше [нарушаваше покоя им]: руските граждански и църковни власти.

       Ние вярваме, че един ден Руската църква ще е свободна от Сергианството, и тогава – не от нас, които те именуват разколници – а от църквата в Русия те ще чуят осъждане на тяхната измяна.

       Казват, че нищо не се е променило в РПЗЦ след обединението. В действителност само ежедневието си е останало повече или по-малко същото. Най-тъжното е, че в резултат на обединението те самите са се променили. Колкото по-дълго човек върви по грешен път, толкова повече той се отдалечава от целта. Пет години те се движеха в грешната посока и са отишли доста далеч.

       Кой би повярвал преди 5 години, че епископ на РПЗЦ ще участва в икуменическа конференция, ще признае римо-католицизма като сестра-църква, какъвто случаят имаше неотдавна; Синодът в Ню Йорк назначи за енорийски пастор [ректор на енория] един лишен от сан по-рано епископ, влязъл в еднополов съюз с мъж. Тези и други подобни факти показват, че духовното им възприятие е помрачено.

       За нас петата годишнина на обединението е важен крайъгълен камък. Сега ще отслужим благодарствен молебен. Отправяме благодарение към Господа, че Той не изостави Своята Църква, че даде мъдрост и сила на Владика Агатангел да поведе Църквата по царския път, без да се отклоняват вдясно или вляво.

       Амин.

Thursday, May 24, 2012


“House of Grace” /
Дом на Благодатта



Стоя в неделната Църква като във Витезда.
Очаквам нещичко да се размърда...
Очаквам чудото да стане...
С пълно упование... немея...

И нищичко не се помръдва!
И нищичко не се променя!
И отвънка, и отвътре...
А всъщност цялата Църква лети!!!

Лети високо, неудържимо,
безпрепятствено
(крилете не се чуват!)
Лети както Земята лети в Космоса.

(„И все пак тя се върти!“ –
едва ли някога е изричано
пред Инквизицията,
на нашите мисли.)

Ти си вътре в летящата Църква
и с олекотения си дух
свръхлеката песъчинка
се слива с Твърдта.

Такова е предначертанието –
а отвън Църквата е все така
прикована към масивно стълбище,
дори и камбанария със работещ часовник...

... И тук се топва Ангелът до нас,
О, чудо! – и там – и не усещаме!
И тука става чудото във нас,
след чудо! – и там – и не разбираме...

Защото всички ние сме
неделни Християни,
безпоклонни, недоразкаяни,
и луднали по външното...

(А все пак...!?!)
((То било четвъртък,
Спасовден,
Светите братя Кирил и Методий))



“House of Grace”
/Bethesda/


In the Sunday Church I am as if in Bethesda.
I expect something driblet to move...
I expect the miracle to happen...
In full confidence... I’m speechless...

And not a thing ever moves!
And not a thing ever changes!
Both from the outside and the inside...
And the whole Church is actually flying!

It flies high and irresistible,
unimpeded
(wings cannot be heard!)
It flies as the Earth does into Space.

(“And yet it moves” [Eppur if muove] –
was hardly ever uttered
before the Inquisition,
of our thoughts.)

You’re inside the flying Church
and with its lightweight spirit
the ultra-light sand-grain
merges into the Firmament.

This has been destined –
and from the outside the Church is still
fixed firm to a massive staircase,
even a bell-tower with a working clock...

... And here, by us, the Angel dips
Oh, wonder! – and there – and we don’t feel it!
And here, in us, the miracle does happen
after a miracle! – and there – and we don’t see...

Because we all are
Sunday Christians,
bowless, not fully repented,
and gone crazy after the outward...

(But yet...!?)
((It proved to be a Thursday,
Ascension Day,
[of] the Saint brothers Cyril and Methodius))

Thursday, April 12, 2012


На всички дървета
... с молитва




Fr. Vsevolod has shared this Story of the Three Trees

http://remnantrocor.blogspot.com/2012/04/story-of-three-trees.html








       О. Всеволод споделя тази история с нас

Отец Всеволод:        Това е историята на трите дървета, която ми изпрати племенникът ми и която ти споменах.                       Ирина Сергеевна.

Имало едно време...

Някога имало три дървета на един хълм в гората.
Те говорили за надеждите и мечтите си и първото дърво казало:

„Един ден се надявам да бъда ковчеже за съкровища. Може да съм пълно със злато, сребро и скъпоценни камъни. Може да съм украсено с фина дърворезба и всички ще виждат красотата ми.”

Сетне второто дърво казало:
„Един ден ще бъда могъщ кораб.
Ще возя царе и царици през водите и ще плавам до краищата на света.
В мен всички ще се чувстват в безопасност, заради здравината на моя корпус.”

Накрая третото дърво казало:
„Искам да израсна да бъда най-високото и най-правото дърво в гората.
Хората ще ме виждат на върха на Хълма и ще гледат с възхита нагоре към клоните ми,
и ще мислят за небето и Бога и за това колко близо до тях достигам.
Ще бъда най-голямото дърво на всички времена и хората ще ме помнят винаги.”

След няколкогодишни молитви мечтите им да се сбъднат при дърветата дошла една група дървари.

Когато един от тях дошъл до първото дърво, той казал:
„Това сякаш е силно дърво, май ще успея да продам дървесината на дърводелец”,
и започнал да го сече.

Дървото било щастливо, защото знаело, че дърводелецът ще го превърне
в ковчеже за съкровища.

При второто дърво дърварят казал:
„Това сякаш е силно дърво. Май ще успея да го продам на корабостроителницата.”

Второто дърво било щастливо, защото знаело, че е на път да се превърне
в могъщ кораб.

Когато дърварят дошъл при третото дърво, дървото се подплашило,
защото знаело, че ако бъде отсечено мечтите му няма да се сбъднат.

Един от дърварите казал
„Не искам нищо специално от моето Дърво,
Ще взема това (дърво).” – и го отсякъл.

Когато първото дърво пристигнало при дърводелците, то било направено
на ясла за животни.
След това било поставено в една плевня и запълнено със слама.
Това съвсем не било онова, за което то се молило.

Второто дърво било нарязано и от него била направена малка рибарска лодка.
Бил сложен край на мечтите му за могъщ кораб и за превозване на царе.

Третото дърво било нарязано на едри парчета и оставено на тъмно.

Годините отминавали и дърветата забравили за мечтите си.

Тогава един ден, мъж и жена дошли в обора...
Тя родила и поставили бебето в сеното в яслата, направена от първото дърво.
На мъжа му се искало да би могъл да направи креватче за бебето,
но ще не ще се задоволил и с тази ясла.
Дървото усетило значимостта на това събитие и знаело,
че в себе си е държало най-великото съкровище на всички времена.

Години по-късно, група мъже се качили в рибарската лодка,
направена от второто дърво.

Един от тях бил уморен и заспал.
Докато били навътре в морето, се извила голяма буря и
дървото не вярвало, че е достатъчно здраво, за да опази мъжете.
Мъжете събудили спящия човек и Той станал и казал:
„Млъкни (Мир)” и Бурята спряла.

Тогава дървото разбрало, че е возило Царя на Царете в своята лодка.

И накрая, дошъл някой и взел третото дърво.

То било носено из улиците,
а хората се подигравали на човека, който го носел.

Когато спрели, мъжът бил прикован към дървото и издигнат във въздуха, за да умре на върха на един хълм.

Когато дошла неделя, дървото осъзнало, че било достатъчно здраво,
за да застане на върха на хълма и да бъде възможно най-близо до Бога,
защото Иисус бил разпнат на него.



Поуката от тази история е
че когато изглежда сякаш нещата не вървят по твоя начин,
винаги знай, че има план за теб.

Ако положиш доверието си
И изоставиш желанието да контролираш последствията, ще получиш велики дарове.

Всяко едно от дърветата (и всички) получили онова, което искали,
(но) просто не по начина, по който си (го) Представяли.

Не винаги знаем какви са предначертанията за нас.

Просто искай, без да се съмняваш, отдай се (нацяло) и вярвай (безрезервно)---

Thursday, March 22, 2012

DAD 22MAR –
March 9 [Mar 22]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 9 [Mar 22]
" Come unto me!" [Matth. 11:28].

Let us turn away from all that is of the Earth and let us gaze at the crucified Lord, Who calls us, out of the sufferings’ depths to the height of His everlasting Glory, saying [with the words]: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden!"

       But what does it mean to come unto Him? In the quiet hour of solitude, let us remember in what manner have all those, of whom the Gospel narrates, gone to Him. Let’s start with chapter 8 according to Matthew and let’s trace in all the Gospels how did people come unto the Saviour with all their needs and concerns. Let us bring to Him also our spiritual needs, entreating Him to enlighten us, to heal us, to instruct us, to grant us insight, and to save us.

       [All] Those people wist Whom and what they needed, this was exactly why they came unto Him. Let us we, too, call upon the Holy Spirit, begging Him to point to us what we need and what we have to pray for.

       Let us go unto Him and having wist that He indeed is Christ, the Saviour of the world, let us cry out: “My Lord and my God!” [John. 20:28].

       Our Heavenly Father wist that on our own we would not find the path to Him and – in His ineffable love for mankind – He sent His Son to be our Leader and Teacher. He leads us both via internal and external routes, saying: “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” [John. 14:6]. He calls everyone by name – “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” [Is. 43:1] – and to everyone He points the path to go onto. Having been deeply imbued with this awareness, we shall no longer be doubt that everything we encounter on the way – is sent from God, permitted by Him for our benefit. Therefore, we should accept everything with love and in full trust. The wonders of His love are revealed to us each and every day, if only our spiritual deeds were always open, always heedful of these mercies that the Lord surrounds us with. These mercies are manifest in every detail of the daily life. Pondering over them, we would be amazed at every step with that attentiveness, with that never-ending compassion, with which our Lord leads us, step-by step, guarding us, bringing us to our senses and instructing us, like small children. Let us fully trust this loving Leader and come unto Him and with Him, for He has said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” [John. 14:6].


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

DAD 21MAR –
March 8 [Mar 21]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 8 [Mar 21]
"Grant me to see my failings!" [Ephr. the Syrian *].

Again and again, the word of God addresses us: God acts in every possible ways. He never leaves a man in peace, because in such peace of his one tends to get stale [черствеетъ], and one’s soil of his heart – dry and hardened – may at the end of the day prove unable to accept the word of God. It would only touch [upon] the surface, as the parable of the Sower says, and then perish, since the soil inside did not accept it. Thank God for all whom He turns this solid earth with to make it loose and soft, and to open apertures in it for His Word! Need [Poverty], disease, sorrow, our wits’ end troubles, all this reveals to us our emasculation and poverty – this is God’s plough overturning the earth; this is God’s visit. He wants to cut deep furrows in this lifeless recalcitrant soil in order to make it able to take in the living seed. Deep furrows of contrition and awareness of one’s sin – this is the soil suitable for taking in the Word of God, behold, the meaning and the fruit of fasting, which we make a step to in order to commemorate Jesus Christ’s 40 days of fasting for our sins. There are numerous examples in the Old Testament, when fasting was set so that people would come to their senses, humble themselves, and realize their sin, [that they would] confess it and step back from it. In this sense, we now, too, stand firm: “grant me to see my failings!” We repeat this, with our knees bent, many times – but how and what for? Can it be [so] only for our lips to utter our wish to see our sins, but our soul to never even look upon them, or even – seeing them casually, embrace them even closer to our heart and never part with them? To cover our wounds A.S.A.P., to hide them away from our own eye and from the eyes of others and leave them only covered but stinking and rotting within the heart! Why do I need to “see my own failings”? Could it be that the sole purpose is for us to conceal them again within the soul and even calmer go on living with our deadly ulcers [sores]? Satan is assiduously blocking them from us, sticks onto them dirty rags under which they rot more and more and eat away the soul. God reveals the wounds because He is a Doctor of the soul; He reveals [them], tears away the rags in order to heal! This is what we beg for, crying out: “Oh grant me to see my failings!" Were we only cry out sincerely, were we only not looking with ease at this sin, which nailed the Son of God onto the Cross! Grant me “to see my failings”, to be imbued with them, to detest them and reject them forever.

[* – “O Lord and Master of my life...” – this prayer is read at the hours of Wednesday and Friday of Cheese-fare Week and in all of the Holy Great Lent , except on Saturdays and Sundays.]


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

DAD 20MAR –
March 7 [Mar 20]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 7 [Mar 20]
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you" [Is. 51:12].

In moments of deep sorrow, in times of inconsolable grief, only in the Lord can we seek and find solace. We all – who have been through grave ordeals – know from [personal] experience how powerless men’s words are at such minutes. But many of us, if not all, have experienced personally the all-powerful consolation granted us from on high, a stream of grace that besprinkles the dry soil of our aching heart, incomprehensible and inexplicable to ourselves. Let’s recall those cases in the Saviour’s earthly life when He was the Comforter of those who are sad [pained].

       He comforted, simultaneously, in his standing of [both] God Almighty and [of] man to whom all worldly sorrows are well comprehensible. As God, He brought back [to life] to the weeping those who death had taken away from them: – to the widow in Nain He brought back her son; to Jair – the daughter; to Martha and Mary – their beloved brother! But along with this comfort, almighty, supernatural, and healing open wounds, wiping away tears – He comforted also in a human manner, indicating to us [thus] the way to help and to alleviate our brethren’s sufferings. This comfort is available to each and everyone; it is sympathy [which is] sincere, deep, co-suffering with the pains of the suffering brethren. “Jesus wept” [John. 11:35] – these two words express all the power, all the warmth of compassion that has taken hold of Saviour’s love-overfilled heart. Revealed before us in these two words is a path to alleviating and mitigation of the others’ affliction that we are powerless to remove. And now, standing at the grave of a beloved being, we cannot hope for a miracle as performed by the Saviour in His earthly lifetime, but we should not mourn inconsolably, “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” [1 Thess. 4:13], for we “know whom I [we] have believed, and am [are] persuaded that he is able to keep that which I [we] have committed unto him against that day.” [2 Tim. 1:12].

       Just maybe, that day is not far. In the afterlife – in that marvelous world where there would be neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing – the Lord shall return to us all forever those, whom we mourn and whom He has granted eternal life. And meanwhile we are mourning here, He weeps together with us, He comes to us so he would “not leave you [us] comfortless [orphaned]”, and sends us as comforters to them whom we could not possibly understand, had we not suffered ourselves.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Monday, March 19, 2012

DAD 19MAR –
March 6 [Mar 19]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 6 [Mar 19]
"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." [Rom. 14:13].

Instead of constantly looking for shortcomings and mistakes in our neighbors and find certain pleasure in statements and speculations about their actions, we ought to more strictly watch for ourselves and try and avoid anything that could serve as temptation to our brethren. We too carelessly treat our own shortcomings, forgetting that through our reckless behavior we not only lead into temptation the smaller brethren, but we also sin against the law, which we serve to – by not implementing those rules that we confess.

        We are relentless in denouncing the neighbor and too lenient with ourselves. Let us look into ourselves, let us judge ourselves severely, let us “abstain from all appearance of evil” [1 Thes. 5:22], and without high-flowing words, [but] through our example alone, it may be, we shall bring to the Lord our fallen away brethren. Then our entire life shall be a living sermon, more helpful to the neighbor than reproach and admonition.

       Always aware of our countless vices and shortcomings, we shall “each esteem other better than themselves” [Phil. 2:3], and we shall be granted the grace promised by the Lord: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” [Jam. 4:6].


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Sunday, March 18, 2012

DAD 18MAR –
March 5 [Mar 18]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 5 [Mar 18]
"let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" [Heb. 12:1,2].

We are called to inexorably go along the path indicated to us by the Lord. Often we start well, we rush cheerfully onto the road [journey], and successfully make several steps, but this is still not enough. Having decided to follow the Lord, we have to further our journey with just the same diligence as that we started with. Quite often they say that in every deed the first step is the hardest. No doubt, it requires from us big commitment that is not always easily granted, but perhaps even more difficult and more necessary is the constant endurance during the entire road.

       In early spring trees get covered by the buds, these form leaves, blossoms come forth that promise fruit, but not all the buds reach full blossom. Similarly our good undertakings do not always reach development, they are not always lead to an end. Let us remember that we must move ahead, daily and hourly, driven by our firm hope in the Divine Leader, Whom we must never take our gaze of hope from.

       We shall look at Him incessantly, with full confidence that for us He shall do everything that is beyond our powers, so that we could only continu our road [journey] with patience, not desponding, holding our course no matter what the obstacles.

       Following from afar a floating ship, we cannot see who is navigating it, but its right course indicates that it is not floating alone and that it is being lead by a firm, skilful hand. And if our life starts flowing with consistency, patience, self-denial – all towards the heavenly goal, then it shall be obvious that an invisible driving force acts in us, that the Spirit of God operates dwells in us and leads us – step-by step – throughout the walk of life set out before us.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Saturday, March 17, 2012

DAD 17MAR –
March 4 [Mar 17]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 4 [Mar 17]
"And he [Moses] was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights" [Ex. 34:28].

Already in the Old Testament fasts are to be found, also forty days long; all of them were caused by special circumstances, they all had a special assignment from God, and brought singular fruits. In the very beginning of the Old Testament we read about Moses, the meekest of people, that he has “seen God face to face” [[Gen. 32:30]] At the very outset of his difficult walk of life – a constant, heavy fighting with a people “provoking the Lord, its God" – he went up the mountain “and he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant”. [Ex. 34:28].

       He temporarily suspended his earthly doings, his cares and labors, and went up straight to the Lord. He saw Him, enjoyed Him, was lit by Him – so that his face shone long after, and was with him alone in this wondrous, continuous communion, taking heed of His will and of His words, for forty days and forty nights! There you see, [what] an awesome fast! A fast in close communion and innermost talk with the God. In what manner could he possibly see Him? This we have not been told, words could not possibly describe this. But we surely wot that this meeting actually took place and it has left an indelible trace. “his face shone while he talked with him”, [Ex. 34:29] and his soul, which was before “thy Father which seeth in secret” [Matth. 6:6], received the strength and grace for all his life thereafter. This fast was a close encounter with the God.

       And our fasting seemingly is in pursuit of the God’s Face, like David did, when he said: “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, ... To see Thy power and Thy glory” [Ps. 63:1-2]. Do we retire [in isolation] for an innermost talk with the Lord, which is the Christian life’s secret power? A fast pleasing to God – this is the soul’s convergence and communion with Him, and called to this fast is not only Moses but every one of us.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Friday, March 16, 2012

DAD 16MAR –
March 3 [Mar 16]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 3 [Mar 16]
"And he sought to see Jesus who He was?" [Luke. 19:3].

I this desire to see Jesus and find out who He is, we can lay the groundwork of a thorough change of all our life. Each one of us must figure out for oneself this issue: Who is for me the Lord Jesus Christ, in all circumstances of my life? What place belongs to the Saviour [with-]in my heart? Do I firmly know in “Whom I have believed” [2 Tim. 1:12] – or has the good news [Annunciation] of His everlasting love not penetrated deep into my soul and has only touched its surface? The one who has been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” [1 Pet. 1:19] no longer belongs to oneself. What place does Christ occupy in your home? Do all members of your family, all who are in communication with you, feel that the supreme power belongs to Him, our Saviour, that everything in your home is permeated with His spirit, all is subject to His law? Are you aware of his might – to wash and cleanse you from the sin that has gained command of you? Are you submitting unconditionally to Him all your important and trifle doings and decisions? In your dealings with all those around you is it visible that you regularly [always] resort to His help? In your meekness, in your sincere involvement with the neighbor, and in your selflessness – is a reflection of the everlasting, unconditional love of God visible. Can the spirit of Christ be felt in you? Are you ready to help everyone, to encourage everyone, to [tenderly] befriend – regardless of your personal attitude toward him? When you are asked to help, do you remember how Apostle Peter responded to the people who came to him for help: “And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.” [Acts. 11:12]. Are you ready, too, to go with any, whom God has sent to you, obeying not your inclinations but His Will?


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Thursday, March 15, 2012

DAD 15MAR –
March 2 [Mar 15]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 2 [Mar 15]
"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." [Eph. 4:32].

Kindness and compassion – this is a great power in life. That evil inflicted by pungent speeches, by the lukewarm indifference to the neighbor, by the lack of understanding the feelings of others, by the constant suspicion – this all is mitigated and covered by just a gust of goodness, by one manifestation of love. Love seeks the good in people, and not the evil, and even – where no good is to be found, it laments the evil and tries to rectify it, rather than condemn it. The excess of our best of feelings pours out in a live stream on our neighbors. Loving them, we put ourselves in their shoes and do to them whatever we would that others should do to us [cf. Matth. 7:12]. We suffer with their sorrows and needs, as if with our own.

       “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; — above all these things put on charity [*love*], which is the bond of perfectness.” [Col. 3:12, 14].

       No earthly good can compare to that emotional mood [of the soul] described by Ap. Paul in these words. How often have we ourselves experienced the power of love and of longsuffering! How often have we – in grave times of our lives – been warmed up by a good, flattering word, and have once again seen the light, which has long disappeared for us!

       Love, called “the bond of perfectness.” [Col. 3:14] – is the living source, urging gleefully out in abundance. It flows out of its fullness and onto the others and turns into an unceasing flow of love. Never dying, this source relentlessly flows on and on into eternity, bringing along the road ever more and more fruits.

       Before a renowned missionary elder there gathered once a multitude of people who have dedicated themselves to serving the poor and wishing to hear from him words of instruction. He spoke at length, with amazing power and ended his speech by saying: “do you wish to hear the three conditions necessary for the success of your mission, amidst people perished in soul and body: the first condition is – be good, the second is – be good, and the third is – be kind. Behold, [this is] what I have derived from my many years of experience.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

DAD 14MAR –
March 1 [Mar 14]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


March 1 [Mar 14]
"The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." [John. 1:5].

A dark, impenetrable night has shrouded the earth, fearsome clouds have veiled the star shine and the tired, lonely traveler – going home through the thick woods, cannot see a single step in front of him, he is close to despair and he feels he would never reach his goal, he would never make his way through to an inhabitable housing. Suddenly, something glints in the thick darkness – way ahead a spark lights up and a ray of hope immediately enters the wanderer’s soul, he sets out bravely on his path and little by little – spark after spark – lights up in front of him; he is no longer alone – he is saved. To him the goal seems achievable, a small town opens up before him, and he hurries to it.

       Is it not just the same in life, as well? In the history of mankind and in the personal life of each and every one of us there are times when all is shrouded in thick darkness. Sin, malice, unbelief, hatred, iniquity – the entire might of the enemy seems to acquire power over all mankind, and – shrouding from us any light – prevents us from penetrating into this impenetrable darkness. But "the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” [John. 1:5] – it should not comprehend it. Suffice it for a single spark to light up and the light spreads further on; a single spark can ignite many a fire, and it will again be light around us. When we go through gloomy times oppressing us with their gravity, it is not pleasing to the Lord for us to yield to gloomy thoughts. He wants us – amid this gloom – to not despond, to always strive after the light, and to shine with our example like a bright fire of truth and goodness. In life we need above all the quiet radiance of love, which is spread by those who are close to its source, to the love of God. A soul that daily steps up in fervent prayer to the throne of the Most High [the Almighty], shall undoubtedly be illuminated by a ray of heavenly light and shall comply with Ap. Paul’s instruction: “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” [Rom. 12:2]. Having been renewed, that light shall be able to exude a quiet radiance of love around and to ignite in others the spark of God. Light then shall – at last – conquer darkness, and the eternal sun of Truth shall rise again upon us.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

DAD 13MAR –
February 29 [Mar 13]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 29 [Mar 13]
"Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not." [Gen. 28:16].

A tired traveler, late hours, walks along the road. Exiled from his parents’ home, he is hiding from the vengeance of his brother, separated for long with his parents and all this – on his own fault. He deceived his too old father and the bitter fruit of falsehood [injustice] now makes the beloved son escape, suffer hardships and become a lonely wanderer. He got tired, it’s dark around, and he lay under the open sky, resting his head on stones. He dreamed of a ladder that “set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven” [Gen. 28:12], and atop, over the dark corner where Jacob rests, the Voice of God: “I am with thee, and ... I will not leave thee ” [Gen. 28:15] ... Jacob awoke and said: “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” [Gen. 28:16].

       At the place of exile, where your sin has brought you, where you are alone, absolutely alone, where you, perhaps, have never searched for God, where He is beside you and searches for your soul for He has love for it and wants to bring it to the awareness of its guilt and of His Love.

       “I will not leave thee” [Gen. 28:15], until you turn to Me, until you put [up] an altar to Me in the heart that knew Me not. It was tough to sleep on a stone, but when the heavenly light illuminated him, when the heavenly voice sounded over him, the stiff stone turned into a monument, [it got] softened by the unction; the desert place was illuminated [consecrated] and obtained the name of ‘House of God’.

       Carefully read this narrative in the Bible and take to heart what it speaks unto us, as well. Amen.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Monday, March 12, 2012

DAD 12MAR –
February 28 [Mar 12]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 28 [Mar 12]
"I will bless them that bless thee, ... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." [Gen. 12:3].

Oh, how many people among us are willing to receive a blessing from on high, but are in fact living only for themselves! They do not understand that the higher, most profound, only genuine good is in this: to live for others, to serve them, to share with them what we ourselves obtain.

       In this alone lies the true meaning of life, in this alone lies freedom. Only the ones blessed by Lord may be a blessing to others. You wish to receive the blessing of Abraham? Follow the LORD, – commit everything. Submit to the Lord, commit all and everything to Him, and [then] thou shalt be a source of living water. You wish to be a blessing to the neighbors? Let yourself be transplanted onto another soil. If you are have united with Christ, [if you have] been co-crucified with Him, [if you have] taken root in His Kingdom, then you become a vehicle of His blessings. Only those who abide in Christ can reach out a helping hand to perishing [unbelieving] brethren.

       “I will bless them that bless thee,” [Gen. 12:3] – speaks the Lord. He shall fit out a [fencing] wall around Abraham, He puts on him His seal. The one who has strengthened one’s heart into the Lord, [the one] whom the Lord has taken under His sacred shroud, that one has nothing to fear of – neither devil’s guiles nor human [intrigues], for to him “all things work together for good” [Rom. 8:28].

       With the source of living water – in the right time, He shall fill up all that is lacking in us. He shall give us faith, hope, patience and strength to go ahead by faith and not by witting [learning ~ВЕДЕНИЕ; ~guiding us].

       Let us put our trust in the Lord, not hesitating. He shall certainly not leave us in the dark and shall illumine our path with heavenly light, “that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”. [Prov. 4:18].


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Sunday, March 11, 2012

DAD 11MAR –
February 27 [Mar 11]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 27 [Mar 11]
"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, ... Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it" [Gen. 13:15,17].

God gave Abraham the Promised Land in ownership. To you, as well, the Lord gives [the same] in a spiritual sense. Reclaim [(Adopt) for yourself] – on that spiritual soil – what this unswerving ‘promise’ has bestowed on you. This is your possession, the good part of which can fully sate your soul. Arise and walk by faith [in] your own land, take possession of it [and begin its utilization]. Arise, walk the entire length and breadth of what has been bestowed on you in love; look closer into it, adopt it, begin to walk in the power of this love.

       It may well be that you will meet a trial or a secret grief. Oh; seek then the depths of the love of Jesus Christ! It is, after all – your possession. It shall penetrate to the bottom of your sorrow, of your cares.

       Are you worrying about a creature dear to you? Are you craving to help him? Arise, arise and walk across the breadth of what has been bestowed upon you. Let the breadth of Christ’s love pervade you, [a love] embracing all the souls you care for and yourself, [and] ready to pour out blessing and peace on [both] them and on you. Seek it, its breadth, all the wealth of its sympathy, plunge into this abundance, and walk in it.

       Are you worried over a separation from your friends (and relatives), whose withdrawal from this you would like to monitor, step-by-step, and you cannot [do so] because you’re far away – then think about the length of Christ’s love, which is everywhere and reaches all, which stretches out where your hands cannot reach to. Commit everything to this love and calm [down].

       Are you grieving about a beloved creature who is no longer on earth, are you craving to unite with it in the coveted homeland and accelerate the hour of meeting – then grab hold of the height of Christ’s love, which – while being with the heavenly [things], comforts the earthly [things] and unites all [and every one]. This love comes down to you from on high and lifts you up where God Himself wipes away every tear from the eyes. Hold tight onto this love, let it pervade you, together with your loved ones, and be comforted.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Saturday, March 10, 2012

DAD 10MAR –
February 26 [Mar 10]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 26 [Mar 10]
"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." [Ps. 145:14].

When we reach the place of rest and we’ll be given to “know even as also I am [we are] known” [1 Cor. 13:12] – then, glancing at all the our life elapsed, we’ll see the connection between the ordeals suffered and the goal achieved through them. Then we shall be giving thanks with all our heart to the Lord, Who has loved us so much as to not spare us, when – in our ignorance, we begged for this. We shall comprehend then that He has indeed been “melting and trying”, in a fiery temptation, His elect ones in order to clean them and turn them to Himself. [Jeremiah. 9:7, 1 Pet. 4:12]. What has enbittered us more than anything else in our lives, has probably produced in us an internal turnaround to hoavesaved us from the dangers threatening our soul. The time shall come when we shall bless that trial, which has forced us shed a lot of tears and we shall say, like David did: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.” [Ps. 119:71].

       What we thought to be unhappiness, shall for us turn to be good and that glory which shall be revealed, shall make sweet for us unto the ages all afflicted sufferings. But let us remember that Apostle Paul said these words while still on earth, amidst the sorrows and vexations surrounding him. He foreboded, had a foretaste of the heavenly glory because in the midst of the very fiery [melting] pot he “looked not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for ... the things which are not seen are eternal” [2 Cor. 4:18].

       May God grant us, too, to live “by faith, not by sight” [2 Cor. 5:7] and “patience of hope” [1 Thes. 1:3] to walk our earthly path, measuring the love of God, not against our attempts but against the Cross of Jesus Christ!


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Friday, March 9, 2012

DAD 9MAR –
February 25 [Mar 9]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 25 [Mar 9]
"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." [Ps. 145:14].

O Lord, love eternal, embracing the entire universe, a Lamp lit for every man, coming into the world – enlighten the darkness of my sinful soul, take away all bitterness from my heart, fill me in with Thy light so that in Thy light I may see light! Fill me in with Thy love so that in this love I may come to love everything created by Thee. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus ”! [Rev. 22:20].

       Open our spiritual eyes, grant us to understand the all-encompassing truth of Thy commandments, through which we shall all be brought – [both] rich and poor, smart and unwise, noble and paltry – all in an equal manner – to that eternal life prepared by Thee for them that love Thee. Cleanse me, Oh Lord, wash me, and only then shall I be pure! Because Thou needest no external piety but genuine righteousness, penetrating the depths of thoughts and feelings.

       Cleanse me, wash me! Deliver me from my secret sins and fill in my whole being with Thy eternal truth!

       Do with me whatever Thou pleasest – test me, chastise me; but even me – who [all too] often fall - support, renew, and bring [me] to Thyself!


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Thursday, March 8, 2012

DAD 8MAR –
February 24 [Mar 8]



..................................
DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 24 [Mar 8]
"The word of the LORD was precious [*rare*] in those days" [1 Sam. 3:1].

There are times in the history of nations, when the glory of God is manifest more clearly. Then the Kingdom of God comes into force. Established then is some kind of visible communion between the God and men; miracles, prophecies are repeated more often. The same as in the creation the light was separated from the darkness and the heavenly bodies were lit, the moral world is then illuminated by an unearthly light, bringing it to reason and guide it onto the right path. But thereafter there often follow such eras in the life of mankind when the Voice of God cannot be heard, when His might is not manifested in all its strength.

       Such times are sent as the greatest trial of our faith: for us exactly then the sky is closed, and we keep hearing constantly the grumbling of infidels demanding a sign from heavens and incessantly repeating: – “Where is thy God?” But, although we do not see in our time how sick men are instantly healed and how the dead are raised – the power of God has not weakened; His Voice sounds even when we do not hear: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”, speaks the Lord. [John. 5:17].

       What happens in mankind’s history is repeated in the life of each and every one of us. And in our moral world, a plentiful harvest alternates with drought and hunger, our soul thirsts and hungers for truth, and our reserves prove insufficient.

       Often, after we’ve experienced fervent enthusiasm, tender emotions and spiritual joy, all of a sudden it seems to us that the Lord has departed from us, that His word has fallen silent; a desperate wail boils up and we cry [together] with David: “but thou, O LORD, how long?” [Ps. 6:3]. Or – “Arise, O LORD, ... and awake for me”! [Ps. 7:6].

       We understand that Jesus does not respond to Pilate’s inquiries, but when we – with full confidence – appeal to Him and get no answer, when our Teacher is seemingly asleep, at that time when He Alone could possibly appease the storm around us, this seems to us difficult and inexplicable.

       But if the Lord keeps not answering us on the minute, He shall speak [out] when His hour comes. If only we would tun up to Him in faith and patiently wait for a response to our prayer, that answer we shall beyond any doubt receive when it will be more needed than ever [anything else].


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

==== Pray PROPER ====

life eternal

[is just behind the corner in your eye..]





Triumph of Orthodoxy, TODAY
bishop Photios, 2012



==== LIVE proper ====


/my shutting-up excuse.../

DAD 7MAR –
February 23 [Mar 7]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 23 [Mar 7]
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." [Matth. 17:21].

The Saviour Himself commands us to fast. In the Holy Scriptures each fast is closely linked to God Himself. Each people’s fast expressed contrition for the sin to have separated from God, and called again to Him. We shall not object, like many others do, that Moses and Elijah were men not quite common, not like us, and that to us what they did is inaccessible. Although we are not saints as they are, and we are not assigned a particular ministry but the call to meeting the God, to communion with Him, to obeying Him – is addressed to us all by Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world” – not just certain individuals – and this world – we – are the seal of death and the sacrifice of Christ is [blamed] upon us all, with no exception, “for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons” [2 Chron. 19:7]

       And this is our single and general right. Christ died to make us partakers of His Kingdom and Glory. He parted with us and His Father by saying: “unto my Father, and your Father” [John. 20:17]. And with this appeal to the Father He has opened the access and the path to Him. Fasting and prayer – closely related in between, as if supplementing each other – help us and support us on this path. Our wounds are deep, our moral infirmities – tenacious, our temptation – unrelenting; let us persevere, as well, in constant fight against this kind that “goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

DAD 6MAR –
February 22 [Mar 6]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 22 [Mar 6]
"And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon." [Rev. 5:4].

John is crying not for himself but for the whole world, which deprives itself of the Redeemer, he weeps over mankind just as Christ wept over Jerusalem; he does not grieve for the material needs of his brethren, what he grieves for is exactly the fact that no man has been found worthy to answer the Angel’s call and “to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof” [Rev. 5:2].

       This book of God’s Revelation, of God’s love – shown in mankind’s redemption, is locked and sealed for those people who live by the flesh and only for this world. While they are covered by unrepentant, unwashed sin, they wish not and cannot even glimpse into this book. The crafty one [the devil] veils it from them: they are blind and helpless. But thank God, when the awareness of this spiritual blindness arrives, the Holy Spirit opens up the inner eyes and directs a broken-hearted soul to the slaughtered Lamb [of God], the immaculate, Who – as a Winner over sin and death – takes the book in His Hand and opens it. The soul sees the One [and only Who is] Worthy, sings to Him a new song of praise and accepts from His mouth – word by word – of that cherished book, which has locked sin away for it. And the Lamb invests, engraves holy Words into a thirsting soul.

       If you’re complaining – together with John, of their small number; if you feel sorry seeing so many heedless, ostensible [feigned] Christians, then urge them to Christ with alive, humble words and example, and with [your] entire life - devoted to Him.


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Monday, March 5, 2012

DAD 5MAR –
February 21 [Mar 5]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 21 [Mar 5]
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." [1 Pet. 5:7].

Apostle Peter does not speak: cast [away] your big cares upon Him, but [cast] – all [your] cares. The One Who can do everything – can do both the small and the great. The Lord redeeming us from the deep sorrows of ours and such [deep?] sins [of ours], also bears for us any burden of ours.

       The often repeating everyday concerns – annoying and oppressing us with their duration, frequently turn for us into genuine trials, [very much] like a single speck of dust to have gotten into the eye temporarily takes away the sight and causes pain.

       But life is not one indivisible whole: it is all comprised of different parts, each [and every one] with its own importance and its [own] benefit, for the general outcome. Life is a fabric woven from different threads – woolen, silk, golden, paper, each and every thread [being] needed for this fabric’s strength and beauty, and as soon as one of them gets cut, the equilibrium is upset and we suffer.

       Of course, no mother would treat with disdain the tears of her child, who confides in her its grief over a broken toy, or over a pleasure missed, and just the same our Heavenly Father takes lovingly from us the burden of cares oppressing us – even the most insignificant [ones].

        A Christian cherishes the awareness that one may offer up a prayer to Him, Whose [never-ending] patience is inexhaustible. No matter if we have chanced on an obstacle on the path of life, if we have felt fear for tomorrow, if we have been bearing a morbid desire in the soul, if family life has been shattered, or our labors have gone beyond our strength: let us put everything with the Lord, in the full faith to receive from Him both help and support, “for he careth for” us. [1 Pet. 5:7].


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

Sunday, March 4, 2012

DAD 4MAR –
February 20 [Mar 4]



DAY AFTER DAY / ДЕНЬ ЗА ДНЕМЪ
SHORT SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY
Published after the 1908 issue


February 20 [Mar 4]
"What doest thou here, Elijah?" [1 King. 19:9].

Elijah at that moment was hiding into a cave. After the great exploit on Mount Carmel, he got exhausted, his strong spirit was seized by temporary despondency, he was even asking [it seemed] death for himself. But his Lord raised him, elated him, strengthened him with food and sent him to the Horeb Mountain where he walked for forty days and forty nights. He came up to the peak, there he took refuge in a cave, where a voice from heaven penetrated to him, asking him: “What doest thou here, Elijah?

       Elijah complains to the Lord about his frustration, his loneliness and anguish. He has labored, cared wholeheartedly for God’s glory, he has put all efforts to this end – and so what? He is being persecuted, he has remained alone and he sees before him only destroyed [sacrificial] altars of God, [only] hatred for His prophets and apostasy of the people. What does the Lord comfort him with? With an appeal to a new ministry and obedience. Instead of lamenting – get to work! Avert eyes from your own self and from [what’s] your – apparently – unsuccessful affairs, and from people’s disloyalty. Look up, to Him Who has accepted and purified your honest labor and has elated you, giving you new assignments and showing you what the clouds of your despondency have kept hidden from you. You think you are alone – look, I have another 7,000 faithful souls [people] in Israel; they have not bowed to the idols, I know them and appreciate [them] and I want you, too, to learn about them.

       Elijah set out with the ministry indicated, and soon a heavenly whirlwind carried him to God, but not before he has performed – cheerfully and zealously, his assignment. God gave him no time to lose in complaints: He sent him to minister.

       And you, what doest thou here? You are, maybe, desponding, bemoaning your lot, looking around you or into yourself, complaining about your situation and you never raise your eyes to That God Who has all your steps calculated. He wants to and can turn even what is most oppressive and hopeless into your benefit and into His Own glory, and He also speaks to you: “Arise, and go” thou. ([2 Kings. 8:1] cf. Acts. 9:11; Luke. 17:19; 1 Kings. 17:9 [Ezek. 3:11])


“Let all your things
be done with
charity
{love}
[1 Cor. 16:14]

4U2C

4U2C

A Prayer Before Communion
by St Dimitry of Rostov


Open, O doors and bolts of my heart
that Christ the King of Glory may enter!
Enter, O my Light and enlighten my darkness;
enter, O my Life, and resurrect my deadness;
enter, O my Physician and heal my wounds;
enter, O Divine Fire, and burn up the thorns of my sins;
ignite my inward parts and my heart with the flame of Thy love;
enter, O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin;
sit on the throne of my heart and [You] alone reign in me,
O Thou, my King and Lord.

Чудесная молитва
Архангелу Михаилу.

Source HERE
Господи Боже, Великий Царь Безначальный, пошли, Господи, Архангела Своего Михаила на помощь рабу Твоему (имя), изъяти мя от врагов моих видимых и невидимых,
О, Господень Великий Архангеле Михаиле, излей мира благого на раба Твоего
(имя).
О, Господень Великий Архангеле Михаиле, демонов сокрушителю, запрети всех врагов, борющихся со мной, сотвори их яко прах пред лицом ветра.
О, Господень Великий Архангеле Михаиле, хранителю неизреченный, буди мне великий помощник во всех обидах, скорбях, в печалех, в пустынех, и на реках, и на морях тихое пристанище. Избави мя, великий Михаиле, от всякия прелести диавольския и услыши мя грешнаго раба Твоего
(имя), молящегося Тебе и призывающего имя Твое святое; ускори на помощь мою и услыши молитву мою.
О, Великий Архангеле Михаиле, победи вся противящиеся мне силою Честнаго, и Животворящаго Креста Господня, молитвами Пресвятыя Богородицы и святых ангел, и святых апостол, и святого Николая Чудотворца, и святого пророка Илии, и святых великомучеников Никиты и Евстафия и преподобных отец и святителей, мученик и мучениц, и всех святых Небесных Сил.
О, Великий Архангеле Михаиле, помози мне грешному рабу Твоему
(имя), избави от труса, потопа, от огня и меча, от напрасныя смерти и от всякаго зла, и от всякаго льстиваго, и от бури наносимыя, и от лукавого избави мя, Великий Архангеле Господень всегда, ныне и присно и во веки веков. Аминь.
(Молитва эта была написана на паперти храма Архистратига Михаила в Москве, в Кремле, в Чудовом монастыре)
... но молитва осталась. Это ли не чудо Архистратига Михаила в Хонех?
Чудо в Хонех (Колоссах).
Source: HERE
О, святый Михаиле Архангеле, светлообразный и грозный Небеснаго Царя воеводо! Прежде Страшнаго Суда ослаби ми покаятися от грехов моих, от сети ловящих избави душу мою и приведи ю к сотворшему ю Богу, седящему на херувимех, и молися о ней прилежно, да твоим ходатайством послет ю в место покойное. О грозный воеводо небесных сил, предстателю всех у Престола Владыки Христа, хранителю твердый всем человеком и мудрый оружниче, крепкий воеводо Небеснаго Царя! Помилуй мя грешнаго, требующаго твоего заступления, сохрани мя от всех видимых и невидимых враг, паче же подкрепи от ужаса смертнаго и от смущения диавольскаго, и сподоби мя непостыдно предстати Создателю нашему в час страшнаго и праведнаго суда Его. О всесвятый великий Михаиле Архистратиже! Не презри мене грешнаго, молящагося тебе о помощи и заступлении твоем в веце сем и в будущем, но сподоби мя тамо купно с тобою славити Отца и Сына, и Святаго Духа во веки веков. Аминь.

ГОРЧИЛКАТА НА НАШЕТО ПРЕДАТЕЛСТВО...

Давам ви най-ценното - опитвам се -
но то не може да не е и горчиво!


А сега следва и най-трудното:


ВЪВ НИЩО ДА НЕ ПРЕДАДЕМ ХРИСТА!

Да - Тайны Будуть Явными



Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Greece "Proposals for Curing the Eschatological Fear of Marks (Seals) and Numbers" http://www.synodinresistance.org/pdfs/2010/12
A Prayer of Supplication
for the Correct Understanding of What Is To Happen in the Last Times






Sergianism - who is scared of condemning
The 'End of Day' is nothing to fear
Hear the Trumpets sounding
or read how to read the
signs of times



St. Leah [Liya]
Святая Праведная
Праматерь Лия

"Жены ми две разумей, деяние же и разум в зрении, Лию убо деяние, яко многочадную, Рахиль же разум, яко многотрудную; ибо кроме трудов ни деяние, ни зрение, душе, исправится"

         (Великий канон Андрея Критского)



Тропарь, глас 2
Верою праотцы оправдал еси,
от язык теми предобручивый Церковь:
хвалятся в славе святии,
яко от семене их есть Плод благославен,
без семене Рождшая Тя.
Тех молитвами, Христе Боже, помилуй нас.



Кондак, глас 6
Рукописаннаго образа не почетше,
но Неописанным Существом защитившеся, треблаженнии,
в подвизе огня прославистеся,
среде же пламене нестерпимаго стояще, Бога призвасте:
ускори, о Щедрый, и потщися, яко Милостив, в помощь нашу,
яко можеши хотяй.




Неделя святых праотец - в честь святых праведников Ветхого Завета.

Празднуется в предпоследнюю неделю перед Рождествомвоскресенье приходящееся между 11/24 и 17/30 декабря).

В этот праздник Церковь чествует лик святых праотцев – праведников живших в ветхозаветные времена, которые спасались верой в грядущего Мессию-Спасителя. Воспоминание святых праотцев предваряет встречу великого праздника Рождества Христова, когда совершилось чаемое ими пришествие Христа.

За Литургией читается зачало 76 Евангелия от Луки, с притчей о званных на вечерю (Лк. 14, 16-24).



* * * * * Служба недели праотцев * * * *
http://www.lestovka.ru/minea/Praotets.html
[Ламинированная иконка по поиску...
Laminated copy available upon request...]


[Please remember to supply mailing address to my email - see on top]

* * * * * GENESIS / БИТИЕ * * * * *
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. [29:17] Лия имаше болнави очи, а Рахил имаше хубава снага и хубаво лице.
And Jacob loved Rachel; [29:18] Иаков обикна Рахил

* * * * * The Book of RUTH * * * * *
The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: ... [4:11] ...Да даде Господ, щото жената, която влиза в къщата ти, да бъде като Рахил и като Лия, които и двете въздигнаха дома Израилев; ...


Beauty, Truth, Light and Love...
/Игнатий/ May 13, 2011