... incredibly Balkan, and poetic 'You white Danube, you blue Danube'

you, Danube = Dunave

beli, Dunave sini
'You white Danube, you blue Danube'
Konstantin Kazansky

(and his wife are to be held responsible)

BG translation : Monasticism in the 21st Century: A Viable Alternative or a Forgotten Ideal?

Превод от англисйки

МОНАШЕСТВОТО ПРЕЗ 21-ви ВЕК: 
жизнеспособна алтернатива или забравен идеал?

от Матушка Ефросиния от женския манастир в Лесна, Франция

Един брат отишъл да види авва Йосиф и му казал: „Авва, доколкото мога си казвам молитвеното правило, постя по малко, моля се и размишлявам, живея в мир доколкото мога, пречиствам мислите си Какво друго мога да сторя?” Тогава старецът се изправил и протегнал ръце към небето. Пръстите му станали като десет огнени кандила и той му казал: „Ако искаш, можеш целия да станеш пламък”.

Ето това е монашествотото: копнеж за Бога, който няма граници. Това е началото грядущия век, на Царството Небесно още тук, на земята. Църквата нарича монашеството Ангелски Живот. Според Свещеното Предание, в 4-ти век ангел се явил на св. Пахомий, първият от монасите, които се борели в египетската пустиня да установят монашеска общност, и му дал бронзова плочица, на която било изписано Правило, което неговите монасите да следват. От апостолските времена до ден днешен хиляди, стотици хиляди, може би милиони хора са изоставили всичко, което са имали и са презряли всичко, което този свят може да предложи, за да последват Христос и да изживеят Евангелието по-пълно.

В дадени периоди този импулс е бил по-силен, в други – по-слаб, а Светите Отци говорят на монашеството като за барометър на духовния живот в Църквата. Когато монашеският живот процъфтява, вярващите наистина праявт духовни усилия, и обратно – когато малцина намират вдъхновение в монашеския идеал, манастирите се смаляват и биват пренебрегвани, духовният живот сред вярващите е в упадък. В края на 4-ти век, когато престанало преследването на християните и Църквата познала мир за първи път, но ревността на новопокръстените не била охладняла и много християни желаели да дадат всичко [от себе си] за Христос, монашеството дори се превърнало в масово движение. Един от пътуващите писатели от този период, Св. Паладий, разказва за посещението си в „Оксиринкус [Oxyrhynchus], един от градовете на Тебаид (в Египет). Невъзможно е да се отнесем справедливо към чудесата, които видяхме там. Понеже градът е тъй изпълнен с манастири, че самите му стени ехтят с гласовете на монасите. Други манастири го обкръжават отвън... Храмовете и капителите на града бяха изпълнени с монаси; всеки квартал на града бил населен с тях... Монасите били почти мнозинство спрямо жителите миряни... и нямало час от денонощието, в който те да не въздавали Богу слава... Какво може да каже човек за благочестието на ... хората, които като ни видяха нас странниците ... се обърнаха към нас сякаш бяхме ангели? Как би могъл човек да предаде истинска представа за тълпите от монаси и монахини, които не можеха да бъдат преброени? И все пак, доколкото можахме да установим от светия епископ на това място, бихме казали, че той имаше под своя юрисдикция 10 000 монаха и 20 000 монахини. Не е по силите ми да опиша тяхното гостоприемство и любов към нас. Всъщност, наметалото на всеки един от нас бе разкъсано на парчета от хора, които ни дърпаха, за да ни накарат да отидем и да останем с тях”. По-близо до нашето време, в Русия през 1907 г., към края на духовното възраждане през 19-ти век и преди Революцията, е имало 24 000 монаха и 66 000 монахини, [общо] около 90 000 монаха, които живеели в 970 манастира. Откъм безрадостната страна, селските райони на Франция, където е моят манастир, са осеяни от празни манастири в руини, останки от епохата на вярата, както историците наричат средните векове. Те са свидетелства за духовното безплодие на Франция, където повече хора вярват в астрологията, отколкото в Христа, и хората плюят по мен по улиците, защото си мислят, че съм мюсюлманка. Никога не би им хрумнало дори, че една жена, облечена в черно, може да е монахиня. Сцената на летището тук в Отава, когато пристигнах, нямаше нищо общо със сцената в Оксиринкус, когато Св. Паладий прекрачил през портите, и вероятно бихте могли да пропътувате цяла Канада или Америка и да не видите нито един манастир, нито да срещнете поне един монах или монахиня.

no, there's not enough love to go 'round...

                               sympathy...

Now when you climb into your bed tonight
And when you lock and bolt the door
Just think of those out in the cold and dark
'cause there's not enough love to go 'round.

And sympathy is what we need my friend
and sympathy is what we need.
And sympathy is what we need my friend,
'cause there's not enough love to go 'round,
no there's not enough love to go 'round.

Now half the world hates the other half.
And half the world has all the food.
And half the world lies down and quietly starves,
'cause there's not enough love to go 'round.

And sympathy is what we need my friend
and sympathy is what we need.
And sympathy is what we need my friend,
'cause there's not enough love to go 'round,
no there's not enough love to go 'round.

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ИЗБРАНИКЪТ НА БОЖИЯТА МАЙКА.

ДУХОВНИЯТ ЛИК НА БРАТ ЙОСИФ МУНЬОС

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St. Martyr Dorothea of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Мученица Дорофея
и с нею Христина, Каллиста и Феофила

Saint Dorothea /Dorothy/, February 6/19

St. Martyr Dorothea lived in Caesarea in Cappadocia, and suffered under the Emperor Diocletian in 288 or 300, along with women martyrs Christina and Callista and martyr Theophilus.

Saint Dorothea was a pious girl, a Christian, distinguished with great meekness, humility, chastity, and wisdom given by God, which astonished many. Caught at an order by governor Sapricius, she firmly confessed her faith in Christ and was subjected to tortures. Failing to break down the will of the saint, the governor gave her to two women – the sisters Christine and Callisto, who were previously Christians, but – fearing the tortures, renounced Christ and began to lead impious life. He ordered them to persuade saint Dorothea to bring sacrifice to the pagan gods. However, the opposite happened: the women – convinced by Saint Dorothea that through God’s mercy salvation is granted to all repentant – did repent and turned to Christ again. For this they were tied back to back and burned in a tar barrel. The saint sisters Christina and Callista died as martyrs, bringing a penitential prayer to the Lord and [He] redeemed their sin of apostasy.

Saint Dorothea was again subjected to tortures, which she suffered with great joy and also happily welcomed the death sentence. When the saint was led to her execution, a certain learned man, (scholastic) Theophilus, told her with a sneer: “You bride of Christ, send me rose flowers and apples from thy Bridegroom’s garden”. The martyr nodded to him in response.

Before her death, the saint asked to be given time to pray [a while]. When she finished the prayer, an angel appeared before her in the form of a handsome youth and handed her – in a clean canvas – three apples and three rose flowers. The saint asked that all this be given to Theophilus, after which she was beheaded by sword.

Having received the [blissful] gifts of grace, the persecutor of Christians until recently was astounded, he believed in the Saviour and confessed himself a Christian. Subjected for this to cruel tortures, St. Theophilus was martyred by beheading by sword.

Santa Dorotea, Rome, Trastevere

The relics of St. Dorothea are [kept] in Rome, in the church of her name; her head is also in Rome, in the Church of the Theotokos in Trastevere.

Santa Maria, Rome, Trastevere

The ancient church of San Silvestro boasts a stone titrated to Sts. Sylvester and Dorothy [Rector Julian De Datis took care of the translation, composing a memorial stone over the remains of Roman times – that stone is still preserved in the Church’s Sacristy and was also titrated to Sts. Sylvester and Dorothy by the second half of XVI c].

Wnn-nfr Ονούφριος

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

“he who is constantly good”
St. Onuphrios the Great



Св. Онуфри Велики


Troparion, Tone 1
Through desire you have reached the spiritual desert,
Oh, divinely wise Onuphrios, and as fleshless
you have worked exploits in it, [you] labor-lover,
competing with the prophets Elijah and the Baptist,
and from the angelic hand you have delighted in the divine mysteries,
and you are now enjoying in the light of the Holy Trinity
together with them. Pray for us to be saved,
we who revere your memory.

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Troparion (Tone 1)
In the flesh you lived the life of an Angel,
you were a citizen of the desert and a treasury of grace,
Oh Onuphrios adornment of Egypt.
Wherefore we honour your struggles as we sing to you:
Glory to Him Who has strengthened you;
glory to Him Who has made you wonderful;
glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.

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Тропарь преподобного Онуфрия Великого

глас1

Желанием духовным пустыни достигл еси, богомудре Онуфрие,
и яко безплотен в ней многолетне подвизался еси трудолюбне,
соревнуя пророкам Илии и Крестителю:
и от руку ангельску таин божественных насладився,
ныне во свете Святыя Троицы купно с ними веселишеся.
Моли спастися нам, твою память почитающим. 

Тропарь преподобных Онуфрия и Петра

глас 4

Боже отец наших,
творяй присно с нами по Твоей кротости,
не отстави милость Твою от нас,
но молитвами их
в мире управи живот наш.

Молитва преподобному Онуфрию

О преизящный и превеликий пустынножителю, преподобне отче Онуфрие!

Похваляю твоя неизреченная чудотворения и житие пресветлое, еже еси препроводил от юности твоей даже и до старости: никтоже бо изчести возможет терпений и подвигов твоих, пречестне. Удивися преподобный Пафнутий твоему жестокому, еже в пустыни, житию, вкупе же и зело возрадовася, обрет тя единаго толиких подвигов исовершенства суща образ. Сего ради и подлинно испыта о трудех твоих святых и о еже колико имел еси временнаго жития. Темже и написа, яко шестьдесят лет и три в трудолюбии пребывая, в наготе претерпевая мраз и зной, в глубоцей пустыни со зверьми и птицы обитая, молитвы непрестанно творя, пожил еси. Сего ради ныне радость тебе приношу от недостойных устен моих, преподобне отче, преподобному Пафнутию радосте великая: сподобися бо при кончине со львы послужити тебе, погребсти тело твое и с тобою на Небеси жити, Илии Фесвитянину ревнителю, Иоанну Крестителю наследниче, друже Христов и снаследниче истинный, Египту умная красото, фивеом великое светило, Ливии красная доброто, финиксе краснопроцветающий, орле высокопарный, летающий в поднебесная, на Небесех гражданство обретый, идеже и водворися у Престола Владыки славы, с двадесять четырьми старцы жилище обретый, с ними же и пребываеши. И ныне молю тя, пречудный гражданине Небесный, святых ликов Ангельских совсельниче: услыши мя, грешнаго и недостойнаго раба твоего, в час сей и приими сие малое моление мое, великий заступниче, скорый помощниче притекающим к тебе усердно; заглади рукописание дел моих скверных и нечистых, яже держат демонския полки, покрый мя твоим заступлением, причти мя ко уготованному месту молитвами твоими и сподоби мя Вышняго Иерусалима, ибо по Преблагословенней Владычице нашей Богородице и Приснодеве Марии тебе между теплейшими помощниками и заступниками моими почитаю. Присещаеши бо и даеши руку помощи припадающим к тебе в храме твоем повсюду. Темже и аз, недостойный, ныне тебе молюся и призываю: умоли Милостиваго Бога, да отпустит ми вся прегрешения моя вольная и невольная, сотворенная вся злая дела моя и да избавит мя твоим предстательством от вечных мук, научит мя творити добрая дела, наставит мя на путь ко спасению истинному и сподобит мя купно радости вечныя насладитися со всеми святыми ныне, и присно, и во веки веков. Аминь

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...

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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С


В


Е


Т


А


Я

Letter 99 The Responses of Pope Nicholas I to the Questions of the Bulgars, A.D. 866

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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URL адрес                                               MIME тип
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/history_of_the_bulgarian_orthodox_church.htm text/html
http://members.multimania.co.uk/berberian77/bulgaria_runciman1.pdf application/pdf
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/history/19/1881_arhiep_Serafim_Sobolev/index.htm text/html
http://pravoslavie.domainbg.com/20/index.html text/html
http://www.pravoslavie.domainbg.com/11/index.html text/html
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/life/02.06_sv_Fotij.htm#послание text/html
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/history/09/866_responce_pope_Nicholas_I.htm text/html
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/history/09/Chernorizets_Hrabur/index.htm#ватикански text/html

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Click on the links above to read [in English mostly]

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Писмо 99
Отговорите на папа Николай I на въпросите на българите, 866 г. сл. Хр.

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The Royal Path of Moderation in our Age of Excess – AbC Царският път на умереността в нашата епоха на излишък

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ПРЕВОД ОТ АНГЛИЙСКИ

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The Royal Path of Moderation in our Age of Excess – AbC

ORTHODOX TRADITION
Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies
VolumeXXVIII, Number 1, 2011


Царският път на умереността
в нашата епоха на излишък

От слова на архиепископ Хризостом Етнийски със съвети
към братството на манастира „Св. Григорий Палама”

       Що се отнася до нашето общество – ако има нещо, което да го описва уместно – то това е думата „излишък”. Разполагаме с повече отколкото се нуждаем. Лакомо не намираме никакво удовлетворение в нашето излишество [до втръсване – тук и по-долу: квадратните скобки са бел. прев. ]. Не се поколебаваме да експлоатираме по оскверняващ начин околната среда. Медиите вече не дават новините с обективност и в дух на сдържаност, така че онова, което чуваме за световните събития, е покварено от сензационност и необуздана емоция, притъпяващи усета за предпазливо, умерено съзерцание на всички явления – били те духовни или светски – към което ни приканват светите отци на църквата. Вследствие на което дори се обадиха някои гласове, прегърнали омразата, разделящото отмъщение и грозотата в името Христово. Замаскирани като благочестие и праведност, вдъхновени и подигравани от Лукавия, различни подстрекатели сипят огън и жупел срещу злините в Църквата с неблагоразумна ревност, като си мислят, че поддържат традиционното православно учение. В действителност, общият дух на излишък в света около нас ни е направил съвсем слепи за смисъла на християнската умереност (която се корени в любовта, подслонява я и я храни) и доведе до една побъркана представа за света и за светоотеческия дух, която е в еднаква степен шокираща и опасна.

       Обществото ни привикна да нарича мира, тишината, сдържаността, внимателното обмисляне и разсъждаването – „топлохладност”, като злоупотребява с предупреждението на Христос за необходимата топлина на нашата вероизповед, нашата любов и нашето братство и обърква тази „топлина вътре в сърцето” със студеното, неуважително, превзето [и голословно] говорене в света – [нека повторя] още веднъж, говорене, което е навлязло в Църквата в дух на озлобление и омраза, противен на християнството. И наистина, когато св. Павел, пишейки до евреите, ни призовава към ревност в това да се „държим (здраво) за Вярата

”, той незабавно съпоставя това увещание с чист и ясен призив към „любов” и „добри дела” (вж. Евреи 10:23 – от ред на англ.). Разделящите ревността от любовта той описва като „потъпкали Сина Божий” със своя гняв и отмъстителност, считайки ги за заслужили наказание за това, че са похулили Духа на Благодатта: “τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς χάριτος ἐνυβρίσας” (Евреи 10:29 – от ред на англ.). И в действителност, умереност в любовта е необходима дори и в защита на нашата вяра, независимо от това в колко голяма степен днес този смисъл остава неразбран и пренебрегнат.

I am with Christ forever - every moment on His narrow path

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

I am with Christ forever -
every moment on His narrow path

And my home is on this narrow countryside Road of Christ -
at 8, November - some Authorities and Kingdoms [Dominions]
would have it changed - to 21, November - but our home is
still the very same! Call us at our house number 8[OS]/21[NS].

Those Authorities and Kingdoms [Dominions] have been demoted -
rest assured! - and authorities and kingdoms are they no more! -
For I have the Powers - and the Will of the Living Word!

And the Thrones are being submerged - lest they be defiled by
Antichrist, who knows all lies.

                                                                      Archangel Michael

The Eighth Day (of indiction)

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The world was created in Six Days
and the Seventh Day was attributed to honor the Creator.
And so the cycle started running in time...
It is called Genesis, week, calendar...

And on the Eighth Day

there came
the hope for salvation,
the beginning of our salvation was born on the Eighth Day of the indiction
(and through Her – the Most Holy Theotokos, Ever Virgin Miriam –
coming to this world was also our Savior),
subsequently (probably) still on that Eighth day
there will come our very salvation...

(For early Christian Fathers the spiritual "Eighth Day"
is Christ's resurrection) or the end of the world...

But is our salvation an end –
[Yes, of course - in English -
yes, this is our ultimate objective!]
or our salvation is an end of the world, of this world?!?

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Epistle of Barnabas

       "Chapter 16. The spiritual temple of God

       Moreover, I will also tell you concerning the temple, how the wretched [Jews], wandering in error, trusted not in God Himself, but in the temple, as being the house of God. For almost after the manner of the Gentiles they worshipped Him in the temple. But learn how the Lord speaks, when abolishing it: "Who has meted out heaven with a span, and the earth with his palm? Have not I?" Isaiah 40:12 "Thus says the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool: what kind of house will you build to Me, or what is the place of My rest?" Isaiah 66:1 You perceive that their hope is vain. Moreover, He again says, "Behold, they who have cast down this temple, even they shall build it up again." It has so happened. For through their going to war, it was destroyed by their enemies; and now: they, as the servants of their enemies, shall rebuild it. Again, it was revealed that the city and the temple and the people of Israel were to be given up. For the Scripture says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the Lord will deliver up the sheep of His pasture, and their sheep-fold and tower, to destruction." And it so happened as the Lord had spoken. Let us inquire, then, if there still is a temple of God. There is— where He himself declared He would make and finish it. For it is written, "And it shall come to pass, when the week is completed, the temple of God shall be built in glory in the name of the Lord." Daniel 9:24-27; Haggai 2:10 I find, therefore, that a temple does exist. Learn, then, how it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak, as being indeed like a temple made with hands. For it was full of idolatry, and was a habitation of demons, through our doing such things as were opposed to [the will of] God. But it shall be built, you observe, in the name of the Lord, in order that the temple of the Lord may be built in glory. How? Learn [as follows]. Having received the forgiveness of sins, and placed our trust in the name of the Lord, we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning. Wherefore in our habitation God truly dwells in us. How? His word of faith; His calling of promise; the wisdom of the statutes; the commands of the doctrine; He himself prophesying in us; He himself dwelling in us; opening to us who were enslaved by death the doors of the temple, that is, the mouth; and by giving us repentance introduced us into the incorruptible temple. He then, who wishes to be saved, looks not to man, but to Him who dwells in him, and speaks in him, amazed at never having either heard him utter such words with his mouth, nor himself having ever desired to hear them. This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord."

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TRANSLATION FROM RUSSIAN

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Homily XI by St. John of Kronstadt
On the Day of St. Archistratigue Michael and the Synaxis of all Heavenly Bodiless Powers

November 8, 1907

       We keep praising Thee, O Christ, Who has most wisely joined the sky with the earth and has made one Church of angels and men. (Stichira for small vespers).
       We celebrate, dear brethren, the bright holiday of the thunder-like Archangel Michael and the other heavenly bodiless powers.
       The history of the Church’s establishing of this holiday is long and we will not tell it now; let those wishing to know it read about it in the church book "Lives of the Saints" [Chetyi-Minhei], and now let us talk about the spiritual countless world of angels, about their features, about their order of lines and about the immeasurable God’s sweetness, Who has associated us, Orthodox Christians, with this angelic Synaxis and Who has constituted one Church out of the angels and men, and then about our obligation to honor them according to dignity and to imitate them in force, as the future fellow citizens of ours in the heavenly fatherland; about which we pray to the Lord God, our common Creator.
       St. Cyril of Alexandria says (see Macarius’s Theology on Angels): if our earth, and it – as just one point in-between the worlds – bears on it such a countless number of people and all [kinds of] beings, then [imagine] how many times more inhabitants abide in the immaterial heaven, so great and beyond limits [comprehension] for any mind?
       Angels have a spiritual, immaterial, subtle, immortal nature – free from any mortality, but a limited one – not like that of the Lord Himself, the Spirit – everywhere consubstantial and one, without beginning and all-pervading. He brought Angels out of non-being into being, sanctified them by His word, and for [the purpose of] intransigence against evil He strengthened them up by the Holy Spirit in a non-falling manner (i.e. they can no longer fall into sin), their nature is full of the wonderful, unquenchable light, holiness, goodness, beauty, [utter] wisdom, power, immortality, ardent love for the Creator and for each other and for men, about whose salvation they rejoice and are [but] willing to have them as their eternal fellow citizens in the country of eternal light and immortality, of peace and joy. St. Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of Apostle Paul, whom the Holy Spirit raised up [in admiration] to the third sky, heard from Him the mysterious teaching on the world of angels, [he] wrote it down and handed it to the Church (Dionysius the Areopagite on the Church Hierarchy).
       The Angelic world divides into nine orders, and these – each [divides] into three lines. The first and brightest-seen angels (Michael and Gabriel) as a bright illumination of the Trinity without beginning, wait immediately on the flaming throne of God, being enlightened by His unapproachable light, and handing down enlightenment and knowledge of God’s mysteries to the their lower lines; and the lower lines are being controlled in a most peaceful manner by the higher [ones]. Such heavenly citizenship, such most peaceful, holy, most bright, gracious Synaxis of the celestial residents is called Heavenly Hierarchy, in line with the earthly hierarchy or the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church.
       Let us marvel at the all-good God and at [His] most wise providence, at His boundless goodness, intending us to our co-interning and bliss without end – along with Angels – in the future fatherland of ours and constituting one Church of Angels – most bright and incorruptible, and men chosen and worthy. What indescribable by any language bliss awaits the faithful Christians, if through the end they abide in faithfulness to their Christian calling! In order for us to qualify for eternal cohabitation and blissful life together with the angels in heaven, we must try and honor them, imitate their holiness, humility, love and wholehearted devotion to God, elevation of thoughts, abstinence, prayer and fasting, mercy and compassion to each other, hot mutual love.
       The holy God-inspired audiences of God’s mysteries and of the angelic visions, the prophets and evangelists have seen how the angels in mysterious visions face each other in a friendly manner and praise consortingly the Holy Trinity. This teaches us, too, to treat each other with warm love and to live in one mind, ardently serving our common-for-all Creator.
       The glory of the infinite goodness of God, Who has prepared eternal kingdom for us, a kingdom of unquenchable light, peace and unfailing bliss, together with the countless Synaxis of Angels.
       Let us make use of the little time here towards prosperity in Christian virtues, so we may inherit this everlasting bliss, which may the Lord grant us all by grace, through His generosity and love for men, through the intercession of the Most Pure Mother of God and through the waiting [intercession] of the honest bodiless heavenly powers, especially the radiant thunder-like Michael and Gabriel, and the holy Angels – our guardians. Amen!

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TRANSLATION FROM RUSSIAN

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Vision of Joseph Munoz

       A number or a day, or the year...? What prompted me to publish this? - I cannot understand. Perhaps Vladyka Philaret’s date of demise? Indeed, it has been 25 years now.

       …

       "Let me remind you of a portentous vision given to Joseph in the night of 20th against the 21st November 1985 – just a few hours before Metropolitan Philaret died.
       You were the first person whom Joseph told about this vision of his shortly after the news came of the Metropolitan Philaret’s demise.
       On November 24th (the Iberon icon’s feast day) 1985 Metropolitan Philaret was buried. Immediately thereafter Joseph came to us in Washington for a few days [stay] and on the very first evening, under the fresh impression of the vision he told us about it in details. This was also attended by Fr. Theodore Shevtsov.
       In the words of Joseph on the night of November 20th he felt very tired and went to bed. The holy Icon hanged on the wall opposite his bed – so that when lying he could gaze at it. Soon after he lied down, the icon-lamp hanging in front of the icon went out. He lit it up again but it went out for the second time. Then Joseph changed the oil, the wick, washed the lamp-glass, and filled it up again. But soon the lamp went out for a third time... This upset him, because he felt that the Mother of God intimately suggested to him that something significant was going to happen, since shortly before that the lamp in front of the Iberon Icon went out on three occasions – before the terrible earthquake in Mexico and before the eruption of the volcano in Colombia, in result to which thousands were killed. Joseph stood up for prayer. Under the icon, by the wall there was a [small] bench. Joseph knelt down to his knees, leaned against the bench and began praying. During the prayer he fell asleep.
       In the dream, a panoramic view opened to him – very much like a huge wide screen – and he was presented one such vision. Wooded nature with rocky soil. On the trail he saw – standing on his knees with a haggard face – Metropolitan Philaret. On the back of the Vladyka and on his right shoulder there lay a large heavy cross. The cross look was terrible – iron and cold (it lacked any life-giving heat, which gently emanates out of a wooden cross), it was an ugly color – dark green-brownish. Metropolitan Philaret was falling under the weight of the cross and was unable to budge. But, suddenly, unexpectedly, Metropolitan Philaret bent forward and with a decisive movement from right to left he dropped the cross onto the ground (the motion was strange as the Metropolitan could simply drop his right shoulder down and the cross would slide to the ground).
       Once the cross touched the ground, the Metropolitan disappeared. Joseph was seized with fear by what he had seen and out of horror he hid his face with his hands. When he finally dropped his hands before another picture appeared to him. He saw a land that has turned into a desert due to a terrible disaster. Instead of Metropolitan Philaret – standing on his knees was Vladyka Vitaliy with that same cross on his back, only the cross was more terrible, darker and heavier. Although with enormous labors, but still somehow the Vladyka budged little by little on.
       In a last, third part, of the vision Joseph saw a cross – purely black in color in that same desert, and crucified on it was – in full vestment, with miter – Bishop Vitaliy...”.

       …

       A few hours after this vision the world learned of the repose of Metropolitan Philaret... Maybe this vision – sent to Joseph – was the most significant of all signs of the Iberon Myrrh-streaming Icon. Maybe by this prophetic vision the Mother of God warns us about what might happen – lest it happens. Maybe we are currently witnessing the last part of the/a vision. God forbid! When at your insistence Joseph told You about his vision, tears came into Your eyes and You told him that the first part of the vision was clear, but the next [one] You did not want to interprete and preferred not to think about [it]... "(an excerpt from a letter bt Fr. N. to M. V.)

== CLICK BELOW за БЪЛГАРСКИ===

It looks like love but is reversed …

A poem by Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.
стихотворение от проф. Цочо Бояджиев

MIRROR

It looks like:
a trace of bright dream before dawn;
a breath of pigweed and saltbush at the bottom of the yard;
steps of a drunken cricket across the bridge over the river;
quinces arranged on the drawer in the kitchen;
clothes thrown on the chair by the window;
truth spoken without words…

It looks like love
but is reversed

Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.

photo by Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.

снимка на проф. Цочо Бояджиев

Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev) (1912-1993)

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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by Elena Kalcheva [a post in Bulgarian of September 27, 2009]

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Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

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TRANSLATION FROM BULGARIAN

       Archimandrite Seraphim (Stoyan Georgiev Alexiev in the world) was born on February 25 (9 March old style) 1912 [+ 13/26 January 1993] in Gorno Brodi in Serres (Macedonia) as the youngest son in a large family of devout poor parents. His father Georgi Alexiev was in bell-casting – a craft that he bequeathed to his two senior sons Dimitar and Atanas. The junior son – Stoyan, stood out for his keen church spirit and deep Orthodox faith.
       After the family resettled in Sofia (due to the two Balkan wars of 1912-1913) he joined the Sofia Seminary and graduated with honors. In 1934 he was sent to study at the old-Catholic Theology faculty in Bern (Switzerland), where he gained the scientific degree of doctor of theology, defending a thesis on: "The Meaning of the Requirements of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount" (173 pages), printed in the German language in Sofia in 1938.
       After his return to Bulgaria he was appointed a lecturer at the Plovdiv, and later at the Sofia Theological Seminaries. In the latter, on February 3, 1940 he accepted monasticism with the name Seraphim, in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov, whom he deeply revered during all his life and to whom he later dedicated one of the best favorite books for Bulgarian Orthodox readers – namely, 'St. Seraphim of Sarov' (1957), reprinted many times in Bulgaria.
       A turning point in the life of the young monk was his convergence with the residing in Bulgaria Russian Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) (1950). From him he took up the live sense of Orthodox faith and a fine sense of spiritual life, which he subsequently taught himself to his numerous spiritual children.
       On Annunciation in 1943 he was ordained a priest and began his soul-benefitting pastoral activity of a dedicated confessor, which lasted nearly half a century.
       After two years of service as protosingel with the Sliven Metropolia, Fr. Seraphim was promoted to the rank of Archimandrite in January 1947 and was moved to the office head of cultural and educational department with the Holy Synod in Sofia. In that difficult time for the Church Archimandrite Seraphim repeatedly valiantly defended the Orthodox faith. At the new office, he developed tireless activity as organizer of pastoral guidance courses for priests, as an inspired preacher – in his lectures that he regularly read and as the author of numerous articles and more extensive works. The most important of these are:
"Our Faith"

(Catechism)
"Our Hope" (talks on Beatitudes) and
"Our Love" (talks on the Ten Commandments),
       as well as brochures on spiritual and moral topics:
"Pride and Humility",
"Enmity and Reconciliation",
"The Meaning of Sufferings",
"The Self-Proclaimed Judges",
"Sick and Sound Mysticism",
"The Forgotten Medicine" and others.
       Archimandrite Seraphim had also a rare poetic gift that found expression in numerous poems and verses featured in church publications as well as in two books of poetry collections: "Insights" and "Songs About Life and Death".
       All this published and unpublished spiritual works expected yet to be assessed and evaluated.
       In 1960, Archimandrite Seraphim was appointed professor at the department of dogmatic theology of the Theology Academy of the St. Kliment of Ohrida, Sofia, and was soon confirmed as an Associate Professor with his habilitation work criticizing the Roman Catholic dogma of the Most Holy Theotokos’ Immaculate Conception. As an associate professor he published in that period (1963-1969) in the Yearbook of the Theology Academy a series of theological studies, including:
"Two Extreme Views of Western Religions regarding the Most Holy Theotokos",
"The State of Man Prior To and After the Original Sin, from the Orthodox, Roman-Catholic and Protestant Points of View",
"Redemption as the Work of God's Love and God’s Righteousness",
"Franz von Bader – a Roman Catholic Philosopher and Theologian in the Search for Orthodoxy and Its Catholicity",
"The Bogomil Heresy from the Point of View of the Orthodox Dogmatic Foundations of Presbyter Kozma and of Orthodox Dogmaticism in General",
"The Church-Missionary Work of Constantine the Philosopher – St. Cyrill" (unpublished).
       After ten years of teaching at the Theology Academy Archimandrite Seraphim was forced to retire in 1969 as [one] ideologically disagreeing with the introduction of the new calendar style in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and in general [disagreeing] with the ecumenical tilt of church policy in Bulgaria – a result of the BOC’s membership of the World Council of "churches".
       Outside the Academy Fr. Seraphim furthered his much-beneficial creative [writing] activities. In the years that followed he wrote a series of books of ideological and of spiritual-and-moral content. The most important of these are:
"The Orthodox View on the Old and the New Style of the Calendar" (1972),
"Our Prayer",
"Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian in the Light of the Patristic Teaching",
"Life After Life",
"The Optina Elders" and others.
       Most of these books are still awaiting to reach [their] readers.
       In the last years of his life Archimandrite Seraphim devoted especially great attention and efforts to a thorough critique of ecumenism as a God-repulsive and soul-slaying heresy that eats away Christian Orthodox Church of today and prepares the way for the coming antichrist. The last bequeathal work of Archim. Seraphim [co-authored with his brother in Christ Fr. Serghiy (Yazadjiev) (Feb 15/28, 1924 - May 21/Jun 3, 2008)]
"Orthodoxy and Ecumenism" (Sofia, 1992) was published only three weeks before his death, that came on 13/26 January 1993. This grand work – the fruit of a quarter century of intensive research – gives an exhaustive answer to the question: "Why we are not and cannot be ecumenists?" in a number of justifications, documented and substantiated with numerous quotations from the Holy Scripture, the Holy Fathers and the theological literature.
       With this work of his Archimandrite Seraphim crowned his rich spiritual-and-writing activities which elevated his name to enviable heights among Orthodox activists and sowers on the God's field, to have fulfilled the cherished words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:19)."

Orthodox Word

COVERDALE PSALTER for Orthodox worship

COVERDALE PSALTER
for Orthodox worship

[DOC format, dating unidentified,
divided into kathismata
by the servant of God, Silouan]

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First Kathisma
First Stasis
Psalm 1

       BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners: and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side: that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
His leaf also shall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.
Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment: neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

       WHY do the heathen so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
Let us break their bonds asunder: and cast away their cords from us.
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet I have set my King: upon my holy hill of Sion.
I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord in fear: and rejoice unto him with reverence.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,) blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from the presence of his son Absalom

       LORD, how are they increased that trouble me: many are they that rise against me.
Many one there be that say of my soul: There is no help for him in his God.
But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill.
I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have set themselves against me round about.
Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.

Sts. Gervase and Protase Св. Св. Гервасий и Протасий 14/27 октомври October

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

Life in Russian

КОНДАК
Явихте се като светли светилници, божествени мъченици,
и озарявате творението със светлината на чудесата,
като прогонвате дълбоката нощ на недъзите
и се молите на Христа, Единия Бог,
за всички нас.

Св. св. Гервасий и Протасий
14 / 27 октомври

прославени през 386 г.; светите им мощи са намерени
през месец юни от св. Амвросий Медиолански;

над мощите им в Милано е била построена
'Базилика на мъчениците' - сега "Св. Амвросий" / Сент Амброджо

"Божественото Писание нарича длъжник онзи, който е получил нещо даром от Господа
и не го дава на други, защото той като че краде от църквата , когато укрива онова, което
може да бъде полезно на останалите. Затова Давид е казал [ПС 39:11]:
'ТВОЯТА ПРАВДА НЕ СКРИВАХ В СЪРЦЕТО СИ, ВЪЗВЕСТЯВАХ ТВОЯТА ВЯРНОСТ
И СПАСЕНИЕТО ОТ ТЕБЕ, И НЕ ЗАТАЯВАХ ТВОЯТА МИЛОСТ И ТВОЯТА ИСТИНА
ПРЕД ВЕЛИКОТО СЪБРАНИЕ.' И като че желаейки въздаяние за това дело, добавил:
[ПС 39:12] 'Не спирай, Господи, Твоите щедрости към мене.' "

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Kontakion
You appeared as bright lamps, o, divine martyrs
and you illumine the creation with the light of miracles
by driving away the dense night of infirmities
and praying to Christ, the One God,
for us all.

Sts. Gervase and Protase
– October 14 / 27
glorified in 386 AD, their holy relics were found
in June by St. Ambrose of Mediolana

;
built above over their relics in Milan was
the 'Basilica of the martyrs' – now of St. Ambrosius / St. Ambrogio

"The Divine Scripture calls a debtor he who has received something as a gift from the Lord
and gives it not to others because he then is as if stealing from the church when hiding
what may be useful to others. Therefore David said [Ps. 40:10]:
'I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared
Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy loving kindness
and Thy truth  from the great congregation.'
And as if he wanted bestowal for this deed, he added:
[Ps. 40:11] 'Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me'

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Four Martyrs of Milan AND St. Cosmas
The Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus of Milan AND Kosmas

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Let us praise the fourfold company of martyrs: Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus. For they preached the Trinity to all and by their contest dispelled the worship of idols. Through their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us all.

Kontakion in the Second Tone

In shedding the light of miracles like shining lamps, O Martyrs of God, ye make the whole creation bright, at all times dispelling the deepest night of sickness and maladies and without cease pleading with Christ, the only God, that He grant His mercy to us.

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...