CONCERNS ABOUT THE EUPHROSYNOS CAFE

[尼古拉前执事]

Dear in Christ,

Since I will be offline more and OOD will be away too, and not wanting to leave Father Siluan alone in moderating, we have added Anastasios as a moderator. He will only be a temporary moderator through October, but please join me in welcoming him to the fold.

Please, if you have any questions or concerns over the next few weeks, email or PM Father Siluan AND Anastasios so they can take whatever action is needed. I am less likely to be around, so trying to contact me may be futile.

[Stavrophore Monk John]

Dear in Christ: "Lord Isus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, Amin. " Please forgive us elderly monks if we went on too much about our situation here in ND. Tonsured monks are always referred to as fathers, brothers are referred to novices only.

I suggest we all pray for Bro. Nathaniel, show love, and let us truly live as orthodox christians and treat each other with love, the way we would treat Isus Christ Himself, don't you agree. One can state one's opinion, but always have the love of God. We pray we did not hurt anyone by asking for help, or go on about it too long. we are almost in our 6O's, so please, forgive our ramblings, we only wanted to update all on the list, so we as monks ask your holy prayers Southern Orthodox and all on this list, truly, we should not have gone on too much, so THANK YOU dear brother, Southern Orthodox for your input, and we will be silent now that many know our plight...We ask for your holy prayers "Southern Orthodox and all on the list, bowing to the most Holy Trinity within you...We send our love and gratitude for your opinions which we read...We pray we have not offended anyone. Pray for us, and know we send our love and prayers. God Bless You. Stav. Monk Fr. John and Brotherhood of ND.

[SouthernOrthodox]

Father John, please forgive my insensitivity and my careless post of awhile back. I offer my humble prayers asking your forgiveness. Growing up in the Old Rite, I appreciate all you do in service to Our Lord.

[DavidHawthorne]

Christ is among us!

Is it just me or are the tone of the posts in the cafe unusually uncharitable these days? It seems that there has been too much considering crankiness and detraction as fruits of the Spirit.
Certainly there can be a momentary "high" from engaging in verbal body slams against those with whom we disagree and I too have enjoyed the sweet self-congratulatory sanctimoniousness that can only come when one wraps pious words in a snide spirit but this is niether following Christ nor the spirit of Holy Orthodoxy as exemplified in the lives of the saints. It is too easy as Orthodox Traditionalists in our confused times to justify every cranky and accusatory insulting outburst by pretending we're St. Maximos the Confessor reborn and using his example to sanctify our lack of charity for others.
Let's clear the air of so much detraction and pray for others rather than spread their dirty laundry: "He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil. Re- hearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse. Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not...If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee." (from Ecclesiasticus 19)
And, if we think someone is mistaken, HUMBLY try to correct them, being open to correction or repentance ourselves: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Gal. 6:1)
In Christ,
Rd. David

[尼古拉前执事]

By the way, lets not forget the good Brothers in ND, that one is getting kind of old too. Anyhow, enough of my ramblings and on to spiritually up-lifting items.

Dear all, if you are annoyed easily by someone's posts, do not read them. No one is forcing you to read them and get irritated! But if they are making personal attacks on another poster, please write the moderators, as this is against the forum rules.

I suggest we all pray for Bro. Nathaniel, show love, and let us truly live as orthodox christians and treat each other with love, the way we would treat Isus Christ Himself, don't you agree. One can state one's opinion, but always have the love of God. We pray we did not hurt anyone by asking for help, or go on about it too long. we are almost in our 6O's, so please, forgive our ramblings, we only wanted to update all on the list, so we as monks ask your holy prayers Southern Orthodox and all on this list, truly, we should not have gone on too much, so THANK YOU dear brother, Southern Orthodox for your input, and we will be silent now that many know our plight...We ask for your holy prayers "Southern Orthodox and all on the list, bowing to the most Holy Trinity within you...We send our love and gratitude for your opinions which we read...We pray we have not offended anyone. Pray for us, and know we send our love and prayers.

This is a great example of taking anothers words against us well. I only wish that everyone would. However, I will implore Father John not to leave as his posts have helped them to survive this much longer. If someone is irritated with his posts about their needs, then I suggest that they send money to stop the suffering!

Christ is among us!

Is it just me or are the tone of the posts in the cafe unusually uncharitable these days? It seems that there has been too much considering crankiness and detraction as fruits of the Spirit.

Certainly there can be a momentary "high" from engaging in verbal body slams against those with whom we disagree and I too have enjoyed the sweet self-congratulatory sanctimoniousness that can only come when one wraps pious words in a snide spirit but this is niether following Christ nor the spirit of Holy Orthodoxy as exemplified in the lives of the saints. It is too easy as Orthodox Traditionalists in our confused times to justify every cranky and accusatory insulting outburst by pretending we're St. Maximos the Confessor reborn and using his example to sanctify our lack of charity for others.

Let's clear the air of so much detraction and pray for others rather than spread their dirty laundry: "He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil. Re- hearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse. Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men’s lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not...If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee." (from Ecclesiasticus 19)

And, if we think someone is mistaken, HUMBLY try to correct them, being open to correction or repentance ourselves: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Gal. 6:1)
In Christ,
Rd. David

Please, everyone read Reader David's posts and follow this teaching, for it is wise and correct.

James 1:19-27 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

[Stavrophore Monk John]

Dear Brother in the Lord our Christ God, southern orthodox: glory to God. There is nothing to forgive, I only ask your prayers and that many will help us as we have a homeless family moving onto the skete property, and also several folks with mental problems who are ON medication will also come to live near us on the property. I beg your good and holy prayers and KNOW, TRULY KNOW YOU ARE OUR BROTHER AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU. the Elders at Optina in Russia never refused anyone who was in need, so we seek to never turn anyone away....So please pray for those who would monthly send us funds to be able to take care of all who come to our doors.....Know: we love you in our Lord 's Holy love and we ask your prayers for us unworthy monks, sinners, and we, the least of all the Brethren, beg your prayers and forgiveness. We are very, very , grateful to you and all for your prayers. Bowing to the Most Holy Trinity within you dear Brother and all on the list....the least of your Brothers, the Brethren, sending our love in Christ our God and His all Pure Mother and all our God Bearing and Light Illuminating Saints...YOur Brothers:
Stavrophore Monk Fr. John and Brotherhood.

Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Skete -ND