Moderator: Mark Templet
Justin wrote:Who does this man think he is, the pope of Constantinople?
No, he thinks he is the pope of all Orthodox. Bartholomew is a disgrace. I think it is time to get rid of the EP, I know it will never happen but look at how much damage has been done to Orthodoxy by it(such as the calendar). I just hope someday it gets its wings clipped.
What do you expect from a Patriarch that can only become the Patriarch if he is approved of by Muslims! It is absolutely disgusting.
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They say that I am bad news. They say "Stay Away."
Even if he has done horrible things, brethren, I suppose the best we can do at this moment is trust in the fact that, though this ship be tossed among the waves, Christ is still below, safely in our midst! Let us learn from the Apostles and not forget this, nor take it for granted. Soon enough, he will come above deck and rebuke the winds :mrgreen:
Justin,
While I am fond of such thinking, I doubt there a single group calling themselves Christian who does not believe they have Christ "below deck". And of course by this I mean they believe they are the Church.
This reminds me of the explanation I received on why Elder Ephraim is not with us - it was explained to me that his spiritual father Joseph had a vision that he should stay under the spiritual direction of Bartholomew. I asked, what of the 2 visions of our monks and the prophecy of another? This question went unanswered. (That is of course not to say he didn't have a vision from Christ, but if so, then that would be considered private revelation leaving us bound to follow only what we know.)
I believe the truth is the truth without prejudice of any kind. How many visions and miracles do the Latins cite in favor of their heresy?
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How and when the Antichrist will come, no one can say. And it is unknown how many shall be able to recognize him when he comes, because he will come as a benefactor of humanity. For the present, one thing can be said with certainty: all these movements towards union among nations and churches, all these compromises, all this uniformity of humanity gradually produced under the steamroller of technological culture are paving the way for the coming of the Antichrist.
This development of humanity, according to the criteria of the world, is wonderful. But according to Christian criteria, it is a development towards destruction.
This does not surprise or frighten the Christian. He knows that the world has condemned itself. And that is why Christ refused to pray for the world. "I do not ask for the world". The ruler of this world is the devil, and the devil "from the beginning was a murderer".
Death will find the world at the height of its glory, at the height of self-conceit, at the summit of the tower of Babel, when man will be at the zenith of his very old attempt to become god by his own powers, apart from God. When the Son of man comes, he shall find man in the full glory of his satanic mania.
God does not ask the Christian to save the world. Any attempt on the part of Christians to change the course the world has taken would be futile and ridiculous. The world is a sinking ship, and it is sinking because its very structure is rotten. God does not ask the Christian to save the ship, but to save as many of the shipwrecked as he can.
The new Ark, the Church of Christ, sails near the site of the shipwreck. Any who wish to be saved from the waters must seek refuge in her. But in order to find refuge they must forsake the world, not so much geographically as essentially. "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not any unclean thing, and I will receive you" (II Cor. 6:17).
But when the age of the Antichrist approaches, even the Ark of the Church shall be difficult to discern. Many will say, "Behold, here is Christ", and "There is Christ", but they will be false prophets. Whatever will be accepted officially as the Church, having little by little already betrayed the treasures of the Faith, will have been assimilated by the indescribable, unifying marmelade which will retain most of the outward signs of the Church with satanic cleverness. Here and there small groups of faithful with some priest will still preserve the true Tradition alive.
But who will be able to recognize the Church of Christ in those small, scorned groups of faithful that lack all worldly splendor? Yet at the end of time the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church will be just those forgotten and outwardly disunited little parishes which may even be ignorant of the others
The last I heard was this:
November 4, decision postponed : Greece’s highest administrative court has postponed issuing its final decision on Esphigmenou Monastery which was originally scheduled for November 4, 2003. A decision is expected to be made on January 13, 2004.
Any updates now that it is 2 days after the most recent announced postponed date?
This from the people who run the esphigmenou.com site...
What I know is that the 1st Judge who was to render a decision, had stroke. The next Judge who was given the case, became extremely sick with stomach problems, now we are going on to the third judge, and are eagerly waiting to see, what plans the Mother of GOD has for this poor soul.
Therefore the January 13th date has again been postponed, this time indefinitely.
My feeling is, as much as I would want it, and have worked tirelessly, as many others have also, yourself included, for a favorable outcome, that the judgment will be against the fathers, such are the times we live in.
Didn't the LORD HIMSELF say, ...if they persecuted ME, they will also persecute you...one must be tested over and over again to gain salvation. Martyrdom is the life monks choose freely and the Esphigmenou fathers, I believe are being tested for that martyrdom.
We didn't want to post the problems the judges had had, even though we had known it for a while now.
I will keep you posted on any breaking news regarding this matter. I just hope the Mother of GOD continues her help and we get positive news! However, may HIS will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Kali Chronia 2004.
