Св. Иоан Предтеча St. John Forerunner (вгледайте се в тази икона...) (take a deeper look at this icon...)

 Св. Иоан Кръстител St. John Baptist

Тази икона е от пощенска картичка - копие на икона, пазена (недостъпна за публика) в Рилския манастир, която до ден-днешен не съм се удостоил да зърна...

Дали разбираме дадено нещо - или не - предопределението се извършва... И Св. Иоан стана не само Предтеча - а и Кръстител Господен!

А Ню Йорк? А Лондон?

А какво ли още не виждаме...

Или не искаме да знаем, или да чуем...

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(Връзките под иконата водят до беседата на Св. Серафим (Роуз) за последните времена - личби)

ОТ ТУК МОЖЕТЕ ДА СВАЛИТЕ ФИЛМА на руски език "ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛИ НА ХРИСТА" - Давид Гиоргобиани - за светините на Сирия и Ливан

... И се молим с любов...

А във филма ще се подивите на:

Част 1 Честната глава на Великия Пророк и Предтеча Христов Св. Иоан Кръстител

Част 2 Св. Първоапостол Павел – юдеинът Савел – след като Господ му се явил в пустинята – приел Християнство в Дамаск (където Каин убил брат си Авел), а през 67 г. главата му била отсечена в Рим, където и до днес почиват светите му мощи

Св. Аверий
Свт. Иоан Златоуст (нетленната му десница и честната глава е в манастира Ватопед в Св. Гора)
Преп. Иоан Дамаскин („Точно изложение на Православната Вяра)
Първоапостолите Петър и Павел – основатели на Антиохийската църква
Варнава

Част 3 Ев. Лука – Саиднайската икона на Божията Майка ('Шагура' – знаменитата, всеизвестната) е една от 4-те икони, нарисувани по предание на Св. Ап. Ев. Лука – чудотворния образ на Пресв. Богородица на манастирското стълбище – в деня на Св. Христофор (манастир на негово име)

Част 4 Честният пояс на Божията Майка – гр. Хомс, Сирия,църквата Ам Азеннар

Първомъченик Архидякон Стефан

Част 5 Св. първомъченица равноапостолна Фекла (манастир на нейно име има в Сирия, в гр. Маалюля ('вход') – ок. 7 000 жители, които единствени говорят на езика (наречието) на Христа – аарамейски; най-близка ученичка на първоапостол Павел) разтопената скала – за запазване на целомъдрието; деца се молят с „Отче наш“ на аарамейски

Свещеномъченик Игнатий Богоносец

Част 6 Св. Великомъченик и Победоносец Георги (убил змея през 4 в. именно на ливанска земя – гр. Жуми, отпечатък на копито на небесния му кон с диаметър 1,5 м.) – покровител на Грузия и на гр. Москва

Част 7 Св. Великомъченица Варвара – родена в гр. Балбек, Ливан; благоухаещите й мощи и днес намират покой във Владимирския събор, Киев (от 13 в.)

Преп Симеон Стълпник
Преп Давид Горяджийски – пренесъл от Йерусалим благодатния камък
Преп. ... Чудотворец – покровител на грузинските царе
Преп Антоний Мартковский Чудотворец – пренесъл в Грузия неръкотворния образ на Иисус Христос
Преп. Ефрем Сирин
Преп. Андрей Критски
Свещеномъченик Киприан и мъченица Иустина
Свт. Евстахий Антиохийски
Свт. Нина Равноапостолна
Блаж. митр. Илия (Карам) – на когото се явила Божията Майка и предала слова за спасението на Русия и благодарение изпълнението на тези думи и поръчения Русия победила във Втората Световна Война


ДУМИТЕ СА ВСИЧКО, КОЕТО ИМАМ - И ЛЮБОВ!
но ЛОГОС е нещо много по-просто и по-велико
от ЛОГИКАТА, тъй като човешката логика е твърде слаба...  

. . .

This icon is from a postcard - copy of the icon kept (away from the public) at the Rila Monastery (in Bulgaria), which to date I have not had the honor of glancing...

Whether we understand a given thing - or we don't - predestination is taking place... And St. John became not only Forerunner - but also Baptist of our Lord!

And New York? And London?

And what else yet we miss seeing...

Or we miss knowing, or hearing...

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(Links under the icon refer to the talk of St. Seraphim (Rose) on last times - signs)

FROM HERE YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE FILM in Russian "ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛИ ХРИСТА" - David Giorgobiani - on the Holy reliics of Syria and Lebanon

And we keep praing in love...

And in the film you will amaze at:

Part 1 Honest Head of the Great Prophet and Christ’s Forerunner St. John the Baptist

Part 2 First Apostle St. Paul – the Jew Saul – after the Lord appeared to him in the desert – he accepted Christianity in Damascus (where Cain killed his brother Abel) and in 67 his head was cut off in Rome, where to this day his holy relics rest

St. Averius

St. John Chrysostom (his imperishable hand and his honest head is at the Vatoped monastery on Mount Athos)

Rev. John Damascene ("True statement of the Orthodox Faith")

First Apostles Peter and Paul – founders of the Antioch Church

Barnabas

Part 3 Ev. Luke - Saidnay icon of the Mother of God ('Shagura' - famous, known to all) is one of the 4 icons painted on the bequest by St. Ap. Ev. Luke – the miracle-working image of the Most holy Theotokos on the convent's staircase – on the day of St. Christopher (a monastery in his name)

Part 4 The honorable belt of the Mother of God - town of Homs, Syria, Am Azennar church

First martyr archdeacon Stefan

Part 5 First martyr equal-to-the-apostles St. Thekla (a monastery in Syria, in the town of Maalyulya ('entry')- ca. 7 000 inhabitants who are the only people on earth who speak Christ’s language (dialect) - Aaramian; the closest disciple of first Ap. Paul), the molten rock - to preserve chastity; children pray with "Our Father" in Aaramian

Priest martyr Ignatius Theophorus

Part 6 St. Great Martyr George the Victorious (he killed the dragon in the 4-th century precisely in Lebanon - town of Zhumi, an imprint of his heavenly horse’s hoof with a diameter of 1.5 meters) - the patron saint of both Georgia and of Moscow

Part 7 St. Great Martyr Barbara - born in the town Balbek, Lebanon; her sweet smelling relics are resting today in the Vladimir Cathedral, Kiev (since 13-th c.)

Rev. Simeon (tower) Hermit

Rev. David Goryadzhiyski - moved from Jerusalem stone blissful

Rev. ... Miracle Worker - the patron saint of the Georgian kings

Prep. Mitr. Anthony Wonder Worker – he moved to Georgia the image not made by hands of Jesus Christ

Rev. Ephraim of Syria

Rev. Andrey of Crete

Priest martyr Cyprian and martyr Iustina

St. Evstahiy of Antioch

St. Nina equal-to-the-apostles

Blessed. mitr. Elijah (Karam) - to whom the Mother of God appeared and delivered words for the salvation of Russia and through the implementation of those words and instructions Russia was victorious in WWII

WORDS ARE ALL I HAVE - WITH LOVE!
but LOGOS is much simpler and much greater
than LOGIC as human logic is too poor...

Матушка Серафима

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

Една усмивка
и светът е светъл!
Една усмивка -
тегоби бледнеят!

Една усмивка -
в райско кътче -
и днес се вижда
като малко кръстче...

От 6 години
тя ни топли,
спасява ни
от страхове и вопли;

добрите трудове
благослови ни -
реколта да събираме
с туй сладко име!

"Че как ще падна!" -
я описва кратко!
И пак говори
кратко, сладко ...

19 май 2010 г.                                                  May 19, 2010

22:30 ч. (ст.ст.)                                                22:30 hr (O.S.)

Matushka Seraphima
Just one smile
and the world is bright!
Just one smile –
toils grow pale!

Just one smile –
in a paradise –
it is seen to date
as a little cross...

For 6 years now
she(it) has warmed us over,
she(it) has saved us
from fears and wails;

she(it) has been blessing
our good works –
harvest to collect
with this sweet name!

"How come I would fall?" –
describes her briefly!
And she speaks to us
brief and sweet...

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LET’S CHERISH THE PRECIOUS BEQUESTS OF SAINT SERAPHIM

An address by archimandrite Sergiy (Yazadjiev) after the holy liturgy on Sunday of All Saints (2004) to the nuns of the «Shroud of Most Holy Theotokos» convent, Knyazhevo, Sofia.

________________________________________

«Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.».

(Luke. 23:28)

       With these cherished words our Lord and God Jesus Christ turned to the women who followed Him while weeping and crying for Him when He was wearing His heavy cross to Golgotha.

       Now that lying before our eyes is the coffin of our dear deceased Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima, our hearts deluge of grief. But we clearly realize that in fact we are not crying for her but we cry for ourselves – we cry, because Matushka left us unexpectedly and we are orphaned. Who will now console our grief-stricken souls? Who will heal our ulcers of the soul with her sweet speech? Who will guide us and instruct us with her wise advices? – Indeed, we seem to have remained inconsolable orphans.

       But look – even in her death our Matushka Hegumenia has begged out for us the weak a consolation from the Lord. For the Lord called her soul on the eve of the All Saints Sunday – on the day when the innumerable multitude of God’s pleasers – Martyrs, Apostles, Saints, Reverend, Silverless – triumph in heavens. It is in this general celebration of All Saints exactly that the triumphant Church in heaven was joined by a soul of the earthly, militant Church – a soul, which has worthily implemented and has fully defended the bequests of her elder – Saint Seraphim. And he, her abba in one with the entire host of the saints, has already welcomed her in the Heavenly abodes.

       I want to remind you something, which I guess no one here remembers, but I was a contemporary of that event. Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima’s father – hieropriest Andrew Lieven of blessed memory, Saint Seraphim’s most faithful assistant in Church matters from 1926 till the end of his life – secretary of his diocesan council, was also taken out of the earthly life on the All Saints’ Sunday. This happened 55 years ago, on 6/19 June 1949. His demise was also surprising to many – because only a week before, on the Holy Trinity Day, at the Russian church (in Sofia) Father Andrew had taken part in the Holy Liturgy, under Saint Seraphim, in which I was fortunate to participate, too. Days after that Father Andrew was hospitalized and on the All Saints’ Sunday he passed away. Saint Seraphim of blessed memory outlived him by only eight months and seven days.

       I'll dare also add the testimony of one righteous soul that years ago, in his Dying hours was honored to be visited and consoled [from] on high: appearing in light to it were the then late Saint Seraphim, accompanied by Father Andrew as a co-worker and participant in His heavenly glorification. Thus revealed to us was a consoling secret – spiritually akin here souls prove also akin in the afterlife and in eternity beyond the grave. There, in the heavenly abodes, interacting with Saint Seraphim are also the souls of Fr. Archimandrite Pantheleymon, Fr. Archimandrite Seraphim, 'Mat' Seraphima and other deceased sisters of ours who we mention every day in Holy Liturgy. We deeply believe that now they – all together – have welcomed the soul of Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima in the celestial spheres of the Lord, Whom she served so sacrificially and Whom she loved so selflessly.

       But the hope that we can again be worthy to be together with Matushka further obliges us and urges us and gives us wings to keep the precious Saint Seraphim’s covenants; to execute also the spiritual advices that our dear Matushka has – for over half a century – taught us, because our allegiance to everything they passed on to us – this is the way on which in these difficult times we can preserve our loyalty to the Lord. Amen.

MAYBE -- a poem Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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MAYBE

To walk in sin

tormented and repentant,

to shudder guilty, shy,

and seized by infinite dismay,

and put up a stern face,

be righteous and brightful,

with vice well-hidden

and virtues but for show ...

To waver in uncertainty,

live in a counterfeited fake,

turning onto God,

obedient to devil;

to pledge yourself to virtues,

and be a slave to evil,

to love life dearly,

and be in grave, but living,

and your struggle to remain

forever lost to others -

it is my fate, this...

And yours, maybe!

Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

03/24/1996 - Vladimir Djambov, translator

Atanas Dalchev – poems [е. е. къминс преводни стиховца] SILENCE, 1964 And the Heart at Long Last Dies

Temporal

 

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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Atanas Dalchev /poet/

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Atanas Dalchev /1904-1978/

       Silence

To Dim. Svetlin

I’ve kept silent – years unending –
with thoughts tearing my brows,
today out of this silence-keeping
I come as if out of a grave.

Hovering above my spirit still
is the void unnamed
of days and nights instilled –
same as the death unblamed.

And numbed with anxiety hot –
albeit this time free! –
the thoughts still cannot
take off the cage and be.

As someone up from illness,
my verse makes little steps,
but my words void of wellness
are full of anger and distress;

and just as brief as writings
on the wall – written in a blast
of daring by a convict in his last
steps to face the shooting squad.

1964

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TRANSLATION FROM BULGARIAN April 2011

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Atanas Dalchev /poet/

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  And the Heart at Long Last Dies    

The rapids of the years all flushes out.
And the heart at long last dies – or!?! –
With indifference you pass your enemy by,
you stop to yearn and look for more.

And if you meet her that you once loved,
not a thing to tell comes to your mind.
The beggar even, decomposed,           
his rough hand before your gaze withdraws.

1956                          

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TRANSLATION FROM BULGARIAN April 2011

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Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose relics repose in the Far/Near Cave of St. Theodosius

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St. Amphilochius, bishop of Vladimir in Volhynia (1122).
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, Great Prince Vladimir (in Baptism Basil), Enlightener of Russia († 1015) flanked by
St. Boris and St. Gleb in the center below the Church
and surrounded by
Monk Anthony the First-Founder (July 10),
Monk Prokhoros the Wonderworker, named the Weed-eater (February 10),
Monk John the Faster (December 7),
Nun Juliana the Maiden, Princess of Olshansk (July 6),
Hosiomartyrs Basil and Theodore (August 11),
Monk Polykarp, Archmandrite of Kiev Caves (July 24),
Monk Varlaam, Igumen of the Caves (November 19),
Monk Damian the Presbyter and Healer (October 5),
Monk Nikodemos the Prosphora-maker (October 31),
Monk Lawrence the Recluse, Bishop of Turov (January 29),
Monk Athanasios the Recluse (December 2),
Monk Erasmus the Black-Garbed (February 24),
Monk Luke, Steward of Kiev Caves (November 6),
Monk Agapitos, Unmercenary Physician (June 1),
Monks Theophilos the Mourner and John the God-pleasing (December 29),
Monk Nektarios the Obedient (November 29),
Monk Gregory the Iconographer (August 8),
Hieromartyr Kuksha, Enlightener of the Vyati (August 27),
Monk Alexei the Recluse (April 24),
Monk Sabbas the God-pleasing (April 24),
Monk Sergius the Obedient (October 7),
Monk Merkourios, Bishop of Smolensk (August 7),
Monk Pimen the Much-Ailing (August 7),
Monk Nestor the Chronicler (October 27),
Hosiomartyrr Eustratios (March 28),
Monk Helladios the Recluse (October 4),
Monk Jeremiah the Clairvoyant (October 5),
Hosiomartyr Moses the Hungarian (July 26),
Monk John the Long-Suffering (July 18),
Monk Mark the Grave-digger (December 29),
Monk Nicholas Svyatosha, Prince of Chernigov (October 14),
Martyr Gregory the Wonderworker (January 8),
Monk Onesimos the Recluse (October 4 and July 21),
Monk Matthew the Clairvoyant (October 5),
Monk Isaiah the Wonderworker (May 15),
Monk Abramios the Lover of Labor (August 21),
Monk Niphon, Bishop of Novgorod (April 8),
Monk Sylvester the Wonderworker (January 2),
Monk Pimen the Faster (August 27),
Monk Onuphrios the Silent (July 21),
Monk Anatolios the Recluse (July 3),
Monk Alypios the Iconographer (August 17),
Monk Sisoes the Recluse (October 24),
Monk Theophilosos the Recluse (October 24),
Monk Arethas the Recluse (October 24),
Monk Spyridon the Prosphora-maker (October 31),
Monk Onesiphoros the Confessor (November 9),
Monk Simon, Bishop of Suzdal (May 10),
Monk Nikon, Igumen of Kiev Caves (March 23),
Monk Theophanes the Faster (October 11),
Monk Makarios (January 19),
Hosiomartyr Anastasios the Deacon (January 22),
Twelve Greek Master Architects of the Kiev Caves Great Church in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (February 14),
Monk Abramios the Recluse (October 29),
Monk Isaac the Recluse (February 14),
Martyr John the Infant (commemorated with the 14,000 Infants killed at Bethlehem by Herod on December 29),
Monk Elias of Murom (December 19),
Monk Nikon the Shriveled (December 11),
Monk Ephraim, Bishop of Pereyaslavl (January 28),
Monk Titus the Hieromonk (February 27).

Besides these Saints, there are thirty other Saints among the Kiev Caves Monastics, whose myrrh-producing heads were preserved... Two Angels holding the icon of Dormition of Mother of God above. Holy Spirit above in the center. The icon is painted on the Cypress wooden board. This description is taken from the same icon, so the Saints may be not correctly listed (for lack of time to check).

"On Kappel’s death"

Temporal

 

Gen Kappel
Ген. Капел

       На погребението на Владимир Оскарович Капел (1920 г.) поетът Александър Котомкин-Савински прочел следното стихотворение

       "За смъртта на Капел" 

По-тихо! .. С молитва склонете коляно:
Пред нас е прахът на героя ни роден.
С безмълвна усмивка на устните мъртви
С мечти е той пълен от друг свят родени...

Ти мъртъв си... Не, на поета със вярата –
Аз вярвам – ти жив си!.. Макар и застинала
Устата мълчи и няма усмивка в отговор нам,
Макар неподвижна – могъщата гръд,

Но живей красотата на славни дела, за нас
Пътят ти жизнен е символ безсмъртен –
За Родината! В бой! – Призив не издаваш,
Да свикаш при себе си орли-доброволци...

Но планините Уралски с ехо отвръщат,
Откликва и Волга... Тайгата жужи...
И песен за Капел запява народа,

А името на Капел, и подвигът – без мярата
Сред славни герои вовек не умират...
Склони, ти, колене пред Символа на вярата
За Отечеството вдигнете се, мили ми хора!

Александър Котомкин-Савински

=========================================

       At Vladimir Oskarovich Kappel’s funeral (1920) the poet Alexander Kotomkin-Savinsky read the following poem:

       "On Kappel’s death"

Hush, quiet!.. Bend your knees in prayer:
We’re facing before us a hero’s ashes.
A silent smile on his dead lips – with dreams
Otherworldly he’s full, with dreams holy...

You’re dead… No, with belief of a poet –
Believe I – you live!.. Though cold lips are silent
and we get no response with a smile,
And though your powerful chest is not moving,

Alive is the beauty of glorious exploits
Your lifetime’s a symbol immortal to us
For Motherland! Combat! – The calls you keep back
And volunteers eagles – you never summon...

But Ural – the mountains, reply with an echo,
And Volga’s responsive... The taiga is buzzing...
and people start singing a song about Kappel,

Both Kappel – the name, and Kappel – the exploit,
Beyond all greatness, he’ll never die amid heroes – Amen...
Do bend your knees in front of the Symbol of Faith
And rise for the Fatherland, my nation akin!

Alexander Kotomkin-Savinsky

Превод на РЕДАКЦИОННА публикация в блога REMNANT_ROCOR дни преди конференцията в Одеса на тема: "Пътят на РПЦЗ в съвременния свят" - 13-15 юли

Temporal

 

 

Една голяма разлика между положението на SIR (синода на противостоящите) и на РПЗЦ днес

По въпроса за МП и за гръцката държавна църкваРедакционно Remnant_ROCOR

       Не е добре да сме прекалено предразполагащи, като заемаме позиция на благи приказки по отношение на МП и новата й дъщеря, РПЗЦ-МП. И особено, не е добре да се сподавят или разубеждават поддръжниците на РПЗЦ да не изповядват истината за МП.

       Тази особена тенденция, за "благо-приемане" [преструвайки се, или действайки така, сякаш приемането на обединението е просто един "избор" измежду еднакво валидни юрисдикции] спрямо хората [особено духовници] на РПЗЦ-МП би могло да идва от едно погрешно дефиниране, неправилно етикетиране на положението на Руската диаспора и объркването му с хаоса и реалностите на гръцките старо-календаристи (старостилци). Това преструване или претендиране оставя грешно впечатление. Някак си това да си верен все повече се бърка с враждебност и те обвиняват, че си враждебен. Истината и враждебността са две много различни неща.

       Както SIR, така и РПЗЦ, са преследвани от официалната църква - на власт в техните страни. Но има една съществена разлика....

       Макар че, разбира се, ние в РОКА имаме някои централни прилики с някои гръцки старокалендаристи, както със Синода (на противостоящите) SIR, все пак Руската история и нейните реалности са СЪВСЕМ различни, като цяло, от това, пред което е изправен гръцкия Синод (на противостоящите) SIR или в онова, в което той вижда историческата си връзка с държавната [ново-календарна] църква на Гърция.

       Едничката най-характерна и основна разлика е следната: Синодът (на противостоящите) SIR гледа на тяхната държавна църква като на своя автентична Църква Майка, за която той все още се надява, че държавната им църква ще се разкае за своя икуменизъм /ново-календарните нововъведения/ и т.н. и че държавната им църква все още има благодат (в своите тайнства?) и т.н., тъй че с времето всички отново ще се съберат заедно и т.н.

       Руското положение е: Ние, анти-МП хората нямаме сегашна "Майка Църква". Последната такава бе под ръководството на Св. Патриарх Тихон (Белавин), тъй като МП не е валиднаТА Руска църква (т.е. ‘единствената валидна руска църква’ - бел.пр.), а по-скоро бе основана – и все още е управлявана – от комунистите.

       Като така, ние сме принудени – от нашите обстоятелства, да се изправим по определен, реалистичен, силен, категоричен и велегласен начин срещу онази МП-псевдо-църква.

       МП не представлява реална поместна православна църква, тя е едно измислено творение на Йосиф Сталин през 1943 г., една тотално неканонична общност, която претендира, че е църква.

       Това е основната разлика между нас, които сме деца на Руската задгранична църква – ние, които не можехме да приемем онова фалшиво обединение – и Старокалендаристите на SIR (Синода на противостоящите).

       Ние никога не сме признавали МП като легитимната църква на Русия, т.е. тя никога не е била, нито пък сега е – нашата "Църква Майка ", и тя не е просто в 'ерес', но тя – в своята цялост, не е истинска поместна православна църква.

       Старокалендаристите биха могли – ако пожелаят така (или както изглежда, че го желаят), – да гледат на своите ново-календарни държавни църкви като на свои исторически Църкви Майка, и че техните църкви майка са изпаднали (временно, да се надяваме) в някои грешки, някои ереси, от които да се надяваме, те ще се възстановят. По такъв начин, по разбирането на противостоящите (видно) онези държавни църкви, техните тайнства и т.н., все още "имат благодат" и т.н. Оттук следва, че тяхното духовенство е все още истински православен клир (макар и да са в грешка), и че те заслужават необходимото уважение, а пък ние следва да се отнасяме към тях, винаги, уважително и да използваме техните православни духовни титли и т.н.

       Но, подобни представи са абсолютно невъзможни за нас в РПЗЦ по разбирането ни за това кой и какво беше и продължава да бъде МП!

       Нашите РПЗЦ и нашите църкви посестрими, старостилците, са наистина до голяма степен на едно и също мнение по въпроси православни, но нашата Църква майка НЕ е поробената/псевдо църква, наречена МП. Нашата Църква майка е ексклузивно ЕДИНСТВЕНАТА Вселенска Света Православна Апостолическа Църква на Христос. И – в противоречие с апостолските канони е, да се предоставят почетни православни духовнически звания на вероотстъпници и еретици.

       Главният въпрос е следният: Ние в РПЗЦ под управлението на нашия митр. Агатангел трябва да изясним нашите причини за съществование и по този начин ние също така трябва да изясним кое е грешното с обединението и с МП. Противниците ни гледат на тази защита, сякаш ние сме нападателни - груби, противни, нелюбящи, сурови, и т.н. Те си мислят, че всеки, който не би се предал (доброволно) на дълбокото и масово безумие, на което са се поклонили те, просто нищо не струва, (е) зъл, разколник, безблагодатен, неПравославен, неХристиянски, хора, мразещи Русия и т.н.

       Поради необходимост ние в нашата РПЗЦ трябва просто да изясним своите причини за нашето съществуване и да защитим своите позиции и нашата църква, и това само по себе си води до това многото ни противници да ни слагат етикети като "груби, противни" и т.н.

       Онова, което това означава е, че ние не разполагаме с лукса да можем да сме "учтиви" по този въпрос. Използването на духовните титли, например. Погрешно [противоканонично] е ние да се обръщаме към агент на КГБ, който се представя за йерарх, с "Ваше Високопреосвещенство" или със "Негово Светейшество" или дори с "архиепископ" и т.н. Това е подигравка с царственото ни свещеничество. Това се простира не само до известните агенти на КГБ, но и до тези "йерарси", предали РПЗЦ чрез подкрепата си за обединението. Не бива да ни заплашват онези, които биха могли да разкритикуват нашия "тон", за това, че не използваме духовническите титли за предатели. Друг един пример е в това да се извадят на показ лъжите и лошите дела на тези предатели. Не бива да слушаме онези, които биха могли да ни обвиняват, че "осъждаме" или ни обвиняват, че сме "недуховни", защото – предполага се, че не съумяваме да прикрием греха на брат. Не трябва своеволно да извръщаме поглед, когато драгоценната ни църква бива предавана, иначе ние се превръщаме в изкупители и споделяме този грях. Не бива да подпомагаме предателите като им спомагаме да прикрият злодеянията си. Или като измисляме извинения за тях.

       Ако ние, които отхвърлихме това огромно предателство, и които знаем кое е правилно и кое не е, КАТО ИЗПОЛЗВАМЕ УМА, КОЙТО ДОБРИЯТ ГОСПОД НИ Е ДАЛ, не говорим истината по тези въпроси, тогава КОЙ ЩЕ ГО НАПРАВИ? По този начин, ние сме принудени от нашите обстоятелства да изповядаме истината, която виждаме. Това е една голяма ВОЙНА – една битка за умовете и душите на хората. Тези, които си мълчат по този въпрос, или които сякаш насърчават или говорят деликатно (неясно, съчувствено, отстъпчиво) по това масово вероотстъпничество, са – какво?

Фото: Николай Трейман

Православна е оная църква, в която като кажеш 'грешник', имаш предвид себе си! А като кажеш 'грешници', имаш предвид 'ние' – и най-вече 'най-малкият и най-окаян аз – пръв сред грешниците'!

Temporal

 

Orthodox is that church in which when you say 'sinner'
you mean yourself! And when you say 'sinners'
you mean 'we' – and particularly
the 'least and most wretched I
– first among sinners'!

Неделя на всички български светии
и на всички преподобни и богоносни отци от Св. Гора

Sunday of all Bulgarian saints
and of all blessed and God-bearing fathers of Mount Athos

St. Spyridon’s Eyes Elin Pelin /writer/ 'Under The Monastic Vine' cycle

Temporal

 

[click here for a link to the St. Spyridon's Miracle in the Cathedral in Karistos, Greece, 1930]

 

Saint Spyridon

St. Spyridon’s Eyes – © Elin Pelin

             Saint Spyridon was a poor shoemaker. Crouching over his low little worktable across which his tools were scattered, and immersed in blissful reflections about God, he worked all day. His sole rest was when he sat to eat quietly and slowly his dry bread or when he lifted up his eyes to look through the little window out to the beautiful picture of God's world, which always touched him.

             White cold winter and hot golden summer brought him equal joy. In springtime, when the sun melted the snow, St. Spyridon loved to listen in to the smooth uniform noise of the droplets falling from the eaves of his shabby stall, and to look how in the opposite garden in front of the little Church lilac puts forth buds and the apple flowers up. The sweet aroma of the blossoms filled the entire small quiet street, it entered in waves the narrow stall and incited even more the youth’s soul to purity. On such days St. Spyridon was thinking with special joy and hope of heaven, and sometimes he got up the low chair and peeked through the window to look up at it.

             He was young and pretty, but flattery and praise failed to ravage his soul with sinful vanity. With exploit and repentance, he craved for praise from God alone, but reckoned himself unworthy of it, although he had no sins. His only thought was to cleanse his soul so it would blossom as the apple in front of the opposite temple and its fragrance would feed the virtues just as the white apple blossom feeds the bees.

             His spiritual beauty extended its appearance also to the mortal shell – the body. That poor young man was marvelous. His face beamed with holy purity and running across his wise forehead – and merging barely visibly, were white and pink clouds as if across a dawn May sky. His blue eyes – always contemplating with joy the divine things, had a lake depth, where the reflections of all heavenly bodies quivered.

             Rich and beautiful maidens from the city passed frequently along this remote street where the shoemaker’s of the youth was, and sought a chance to see him, wanting to order festive shoes with him. This horrified the pious young man and whenever he heard cheery female speech and noise of silk dresses, he bent his pure eyes down and never raised them until outside the cheerful and quiet calmness – that the small street had – reigned in again.

             To avoid any temptation that might come he had placed in front of his stall’s threshold a small chest with ashes. Any woman who came to him to order stepped there and from the step’s mark the shoemaker took measure for his work. For the pure youth chased out of his soul any desire for a woman that could disturb his holy bliss, and kept his eyes [away] from the shadow of temptation and kept his hands away from contact with a body born for lust.

             Once, when St. Spyridon had stood up from the tripod stool and wanted to look out the window and delight in a little white cloud, with which some invisible little angel was playing in the heavenly azure, a gilded carriage stopped before the stall and a young Turkish woman stepped down from it and knocked on the door. Her yashmak was slightly open and St. Spyridon hurried to lower his heavenly eyes to the dusty floor, so as the beauty of temptation would not sneak through them into his soul.

             The woman opened slowly and entered. Entering together with her – and standing aside in the dark and poor stall – was also the nice spring day that reigned outside. St. Spyridon heard the brisk noise of the fountain, the love scrimmage of sparrows, some song of a young girl, [and] the masculine laughter of young men. That cheerful vanity of life came in together with the unknown woman and stood aside in the small stall.

             The young man bowed his head further down and did not know what to say.

             Then the woman gently, softly and imperatively told him to take measures for new shoes.

             "Step outside in the ashes in the chest. I'll take measure from your step, good lady", St. Spyridon said meekly.

             The woman laughed resonantly and nice and the pious young man thought that crowds of young people stood in front of his stall and threw inside thousands of fresh fragrant flowers. He covered his eyes with his hand and repeated his request with such humbleness that the heart of the young Turkish woman shrank.

             "No”, she said and paused. Then she added: "I want you to take the measure from my foot."

             Then St. Spyridon stood up, took the measure and without raising his eyes, approached the unknown woman. She – gathered up her longish silk dress, raised her beautiful leg and stepped on the low tripod stool. St. Spyridon gropingly wrapped the lace around the sole. At that moment the holy youth lost the thread, which linked his blissful thoughts to God and he – devoted to his work – looked up to see what the measure showed. Then one corner of his eye saw the exquisite foot, gently wrapped in a dark silk stocking. In the soul of the pious youth something tumbled. A little longer, and he would have been ruined forever. But the firmness of his faith did not leave him. Holiness, which had sustained him for so long, had strengthened his will. It rebelled against the awoken desires and St. Spyridon speedily snatched from the table the awl and with a firm hand gouged out the eye inclined to temptation. Together with the strong pain St. Spyridon felt and heard exultation of the soul saved from destruction and in an ecstasy from the blessed delight he did not take down his hand but hit harder with the awl and pricked out the other eye, too. It had no fault. But in his thirst for purity the holy youth wanted to close the windows of his soul, through which rays could pass reflected by seductive and sinful things.

             Having remained without eyes, St. Spyridon could work no more. He closed his stall and went into the woods where a big river flowed between banks overgrown with willows and osiers. Gropingly he cut rods, sat in the sun knitting baskets and gave these away in exchange for a piece of bread to the peasants who passed there on their way to the city.

             It was so quiet, calm and happy around him. He listened to the splash of little fishes that sometimes played in the river and stood long in silence by the bank. The murmur of the bees and the weak noise of the white-stemmed birches growing around filled up his relieved soul with delight. When he passed groping his way from one place to another, he prayed to God to guide his feet so he would avoid squashing ants and small insects that crawled through the grass. The forever young and new breeze, which came to birth in the morning and in the evening and died at noon, robbed the flavor of all grass-blades, flowers, and lime-trees, brought it to the blind hermit and melted his soul into pleasure.

             Amidst that strange silence St. Spyridon’s thoughts – cleansed hundredfold, went out to God and for hours on end contemplated His wise, forgiving smile.

             Only one thing troubled the holy man – the love singing of birds that filled the woods. St. Spyridon could hear how doves, turtle-doves, nightingales and all other birds sat on the boughs and their love caresses troubled him. He gathered stones and threw them at random through the forest, shushed, waved his hands and was trying to chase them away. But they continued to shout, sing, to call each other. In the saint’s mind – despite his efforts – emerging inadvertently were the pictures of their passionate indulgence and one day the young saint realized with horror that there, inside his heart, there are other eyes that he could not prick out.

             And bent down over the basket he was knitting, he was pondering and understanding that by contemplating the world with his bodily eyes, he had never before felt pain like now when he contemplated it with the eyes of his closed soul. Restlessness possessed him. Not knowing whence the reason for this cometh, he thought he had committed some sin before God, and began spending his days and nights in prayer. But day by day his spiritual peace was disappearing more and more.

             Once, placing the last braids of a basket, he was presented with the alluring picture that made him prick out his eyes. He saw clearly with the eyes of his soul the beautiful woman standing before him with skirts slightly raised under which an exquisite foot in silk stocking showed. St. Spyridon wanted in vain to expel that image – so clear and alluring, but was unable to. Wherever he turned his blind face, he saw that woman and heard her laughter. The saint cried out loud, bemoaning his lot and began calling onto God for help. In vain. The seductive image grew and conquered him. He began to see it as he had not seen it and he would not see it then when his blue eyes still shone. And so terrible desires began pushing the blood in his veins. He wanted to pray, but his mouth uttered ardent love words, which resounded in the silent woods like the cry of an owl.

             "God, why are you tormenting me! I cut off my eyes, in order to achieve You – and I'm still away from You. Teach me how to achieve You. Make a sign, Oh Lord!"

             And St. Spyridon fell down with his eyes to the ground in order to make a bow. As he rose up again and turned his head to the sky the blue nice eyes shone up anew on his young face with the depth of a lake in which all heavenly bodies reflected.