THE RUSSIAN IS THE SERB’S FRIEND FOREVER?

[Despotovac]

Father Akakije returned from Holy Mountain to Serbia as a monk. The faithful who soon gathered around him asked for his ordination. So no one from the Synod of Greek TOC did not send him as greek mission to Serbia!

[Zilot_Constantinos]

We pray to God, the "Serbian matter" won't constitute an obstacle to the forthcoming union of the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches but to see these "neighbouring True Orthodox Churches to give the Serbian Church a bishop" in a joint concelebration in the near future as Vladimir wrote...

Amen and God may grant us such a great blessing!

AMIN!

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, dear friends,

With a bit of fear and sadness I read about the differences between GOC-Kallinikos and the Serbian True Orthodox Church. For me, I can understand both sides and cause of it I want to remind all of us on this:

"The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour " (1 Peter 5:8)

See, I belong to GOC-Kallinikos and I am very glad and happy that GOC and RTOC are trying to come closer together. The Serbian True Orthodox Church is our serbian sister church and we have to love them very much.

I have a very good friend who is a Priest from RTOC, also a Priest from STOC and clergy of Greek TOC are very good friends of mine. I feel very deep love for them all and they all are fighters for the true faith!

We all true orthodox need to strive for the unity of the true church of Christ. We may not jeopardize that unity, because we are the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, which is indivisible.

We true orthodox people are the last bastion against ecumenism, sergianism, modernism and all the garbage and we never may forget this! We all - the Greek TOC, Serbian TOC and Russian TOC have the same destination: The true and clean orthodox faith!

Православие или смерть! - Православље или смрт! - Ορθοδοξία ή Θάνατος!

Thank you for reading this and I hope you will get the meaning of this message.
I am a chief under the sinners. My words are nothing. compared with the words of true orthodox clergy.

May God's blessing be upon you all!

In love of Christ

Constantinos

[joasia]

I've been out of the loop for sometime, but I did read an explanation that stated that Metropolitan Kallinikos threatened to leave if the GOC joined with the RTOC. Further, he refused to give the STOC their own bishop despite the fact that they are still considered autocephalos and it should have been a temporary situation (being under the GOC omophrion). Arbp. Chrysostomos was in favor of the union, but he fell asleep in the Lord and Met. Kallinikos took the reigns. Why is the Metropolitan being so stubborn? This is what I have always said...that the pride of hierarch's are the cause of our pain. But, maybe it's not about pride. My question is...why would a non-ecumenist, true Orthodox hiearch prevent the union and deny the autocephalosness of the STOC? This is what we need...to be in union of faith. Why do everything to prevent these situations??

In Christ, Joanna

[Ekklisiastikos]

Today Archbishop Kallinikos, during the conselebration on his nameday, consecrated another Serbian cleric, fr. Joseph, for Serbia.

http://www.ekklisiastikos.com/2011/08/2011.html

[Despotovac]

Today Archbishop Kallinikos, during the conselebration on his nameday, consecrated another Serbian cleric, fr. Joseph, for Serbia.

http://www.ekklisiastikos.com/2011/08/2011.html

For whom, and for where the father Joseph consecrated if the side of archbishop Kalinik in Serbia already has one hieromonk - father Haralampie without brotherhood and parish. In the monastery of father Joseph also no exist brotherhood or parish. This looks like a artificially producing of clerics in the race with a group of father Akakios.

[sava]

Hero – Worshipping: The sickness of our Holy Struggle

«Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.»
(Psalm 145:3)

Code: Select all

We mustn't have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints, tomorrow - deniers. Today - sinners, tomorrow - righteous. We must have absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation. «Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God» (Psalm 145:5). Human beings are often treacherous, and the one whom we admire today as a saint and virtuous, unfortunately we may see falling later, whereas someone else who didn't have a good reputation before may prove himself worthy in the circumstances and steady.

The Holy Struggle of the Genuine Orthodox Christians (G.O.C.) from the beginning until today has shown a great number of such examples. But if we search in depth through all the schisms that have taken place in the bosom of the G.O.C. we will find that it is the germ of hero-worshipping that is to blame. This germ coexists with us and when it finds us in favourable conditions, it causes the manifestation of the sickness. Well, let us examine these pestilential conditions, so that we can guard ourselves.

At the beginning of the manifestation of the disease there is required the presence of a spiritual father who has the reputation of being a virtuous man, albeit only in external appearance. It is not the essence that is significant but the external image. To have that it is sufficient not to have given cause for unfavourable comments.

Then it is necessary that this spiritual leader should have a close circle of spiritual sons around him who respect and esteem him. Up to a point, this is understandable.

However, this sickness is manifested when the spiritual sons are changed into disciples of the leader's person. This takes place as follows: The leader-spiritual father perhaps has some ability through which he attracts people. He may be ascetical, have fervent zeal, be an orator, or charitable. But he may also be simply clever, plotting several tricks through which he attracts the admiration of his spiritual sons. He may truly be virtuous at the beginning. However it is possible that he is full of hatred, carefully hiding his hate-filled side and overemphasizing some of his positive elements. Well, then, the germ of hero-worshipping surrounds such spiritual sons as belong to his immediate environment. It starts with flattery. When the elder's intimate environment is formed by monks or nuns, and the elder allows himself to be infected by the incense of those who cense him with flattery, then the sickness appears.

If the elder rejects flattery and breaks the cloud of the incense of flattery, and if he keeps the flatterers at a safe distance, then he is saved.

However, if the Elder does not oppose this, then, alas! a wicked circle is created in which the Elder inspires hero-worshipping in his worshippers and then gathers it back to himself from them like the incense of flattery. Then even if the elder is still virtuous, made dizzy by the cloud of flattery, he tends to believe himself that he has abilities which he does not have. He is convinced that he is a new Saint Mark Evgenikos, a new Saint Theodore the Studite, a new Saint Maximos the Confessor, a new pillar of Orthodoxy.

The close circle of disciples (the «Cherubim» and «Seraphim» of the Elder!) undertakes with zeal to advertise the admirable capabilities of the Elder to those who are found in the wider circle. For around the Leader's circle concentrical circles are formed. The widest of these consists of the «newly converted», to which the «rays» of the Elder reach after being intensified by their passage from the «Cherubim», «Seraphim», «seven-wing angels», etc. of the Elder. They characterize him as «The Teacher», «the Holy Father», «our Little Father» and «the Holy Elder». Above this proclaimed «saintly» Elder there is only God, from Whom he receives Divine inspirations. No Church Authority surpasses the «holy Elder», neither Bishops nor Synods. «Even if an angel from heaven» speaks to them against the teachings of the adorable person of the Elder «let it be anathema» for his disciples, who are subjected to the psychology of the mob.

The «Elder's» pictures cover completely the walls of his disciples, like the pictures of singers and athletes in the bedrooms of modern youth. And the hero-worshippers have in their cells more pictures of their «holy Elder» than icons of Christ!

They declare unblushingly that wherever their «Elder» goes, they will follow him even if he goes to Hell! Whatever the admirable «Elder» says is considered a dogma of faith. They invent yearly celebrations of the «Elder», icons of the elder are painted while he is still alive and after his death his bones are carried around in golden boxes like the ark of the testament! His grave is venerated and his personal objects are given as prizes. Nobody becomes accepted in the ranks of the disciples if they do not fall on their knees to venerate the imaginary icon which they have themselves created of their Elder.

The most tragic consequence is the effect on the person of the Elder himself, whom the flatterers of the close circle have created as another golden calf for veneration by the mob. Perhaps these flatterers have a greater responsibility than the Elder himself, who was driven by them to different illegal actions, such as schisms and divisions. They led him to believe that he himself is the «Saviour» of the Church!

Intense prayer and continuous attention is required so that nobody may be found in the situation of these people, and it is especially important that all our clergymen are afraid of the flatterers. Our ancient ancestors were correct when they stated that they «were afraid of the flatterers and they were in favour of the crows because the crows eat flesh while the flatterers tear the souls to pieces».

By Bishop Photios of Marathon

Епископ Фотије Маратонски

ОБОЖАВАЊЕ ЛИЧНОСТИ

БОЛЕСТ НАШЕ СВЕШТЕНЕ БОРБЕ

(Глас Православља[1], јул–август 2007.)

„Не уздајте се у кнезове, у синове људске, у њима нема спасења“

(Пс. 145.3)

Не треба да имамо апсолутно поуздање у људе по питању нашег спасења, било које достојанство [αξίωμα[2] = положај, функција, звање, достојанство] да имају. Људи су промењљиви. Данас светитељи, сутра одрицатељи, данас грешници, сутра праведници. Апсолутно поуздање треба да имамо једино у Бога и у Њега да полажемо наду на наше спасење. „Блажен је коме је Бог Јављев помоћник његов, уздање је његово у Господа Бога својега“ (Пс. 145.5). Људи издају, и онога коме се данас дивимо као светом и врлинском, нажалост видимо да касније пада, док се други о коме раније нисмо имали високо мишљење показује достојан околности и постојан.

Свештена борба И.П.Х. (Истинитих Православних Хришћана) од почетка до данас може да покаже безброј таквих примера. И ако дубље истражимо све расколе кроз време у наручју И.П.Х. открићемо као кривца клицу обожавања личности. Ова клица постоји међу нама и када наиђе код нас на повољне услове проузрокује појављивање болести. Истражимо, дакле, ове услове који проузрокују болест, да би се и ми сачували.

У почетку, појављивање болести захтева присуство једног духовног оца, који има глас врлинског мужа, иако (само) према спољашњости. Нема толиког значења суштина, већ спољашња слика. Довољно је да није дао повода за неповољне коментаре.

Затим, неопходан услов је постојање једног уског круга духовних чада око овог духовног вође, који га поштују и цене. До ове тачке то је разумљиво.

Али појављивање болести се дешава, управо, када се духовна чада претварају у следбенике личности вође. А то се дешаа на следећи начин: Вођа-духовни отац можда има неку способност због које привлачи људе. Може да буде подвижник, да има ватрену ревност, да је добар говорник, милосрдан, али може да буде и вичан и да се служи разним обманама помоћу којих ће да привуче дивљење својих духовних чада. Може у почетку да буде заиста врлински, али може да буде и потуно злобан [εμπαθής][3], пажљиво скривајући своје зле стране и пренаглашавајући своје позитивне особине.

Тада, дакле, клица обожавања личности окружује нека духовна чада из уског окружења. Почиње ласкање. Када се уско окружење старца састоји из монаха и монахиња и старац се упусти у пијанство изазвано од стране оних који га „каде“ ласкањем, тада се појављује болест.

Ако старац одбаци ласкања и разбије облак који је створен од „кађења“ ласкањем, а задржи на безбедностној раздаљини ласкаче – спасава се.

Али у случају када се старац не успротиви – авај! Ствара се зли круг у коме старац удахњује дух обожавања [његове] личности својим обожаваоцима и у наставку га наплаћује као „кађење“ ласкањем са њихове стране. Тада, ако је старац и био врлински, опијен од облака створеног ласкањем, тежи и он сам да поверује да има способности које обично нема. Убеђен је да је он нови свети Марко Евгеник, нови Студит, нови свети Максим Исповедник, нови стуб Цркве.

Уски круг следбеника (старчеви „херувими“ и „серафими“!) прихвата с ревношћу рекламирање чудесних старчевих способности онима који се налазе у ширем кругу. Јер око вође обликују се концентрични кругови следбеника. Најшири је круг „новопросвећених“ у који старчеви зраци стижу довољно пренаглашени због проласка кроз „херувиме“ и „серафиме“, „седмикриле анђеле“ итд. старца, који је окарактерисан као „учитељ“, „преподобни отац“, „свети отац“, „наш оцо“, „свети старац“. Изнад на тај начин прокламованог „светог“ старца постоји једино Бог, од Кога он добија божанска надахнућа. Никаква црквена власт није изнад „преподобнога старца“. Ни епископи, ни сабори [синоди]. „Чак и ако им анђео са неба“ проговори против поука обожаване личности старца „нека је анатема“ за следбенике, код којих влада психилогија масе.

Фотографије старца покривају зидове соба следбеника, као фотографије певача и спортиста у спаваћим собама модерне омладине, а обожаваоци имају више фотографија „преподобног старца“ у својим келијама, него икона Христових!

Бестидно изјављују да где год иде њихов „старац“ пратиће га – чак ако иде и у пакао! Шта год изусти чудесни „старац“ сматра се за догмат вере. Измишљају се „старчеви“ годишњи празници. Живопишу се његове иконе још док је жив, а након смрти његове кости окружују се златним кивотима као ковчег завета! Њиховим гробовима се поклања, а његови лични предмети деле се као награда. Нико није приман у редове следбеника ако се паднувши на земљу не поклони измишљеном лику који су сами створили о своме старцу.

Најтрагичнија у овим околностима је личност самога старца, коју су створили ласкачи из уског круга као друго златно теле за поклоњење масама. Ови ласкачи вероватно имају већу одговорност и од самога старца, који је подстицан са њихове стране на различита ванзаконска деловања, као што су расколи и одвајања, привучен у то да верује и сам да је спаситељ Цркве!

Потребна је појачана молитва и непрестана пажња, да се не нађе неко на месту ових личности и пре свега треба се бојимо ласкача сви ми из нашег клира. Били су потпуно у праву наши древни преци који су се „више од гавранова бојали ласкача, јер први цепају тело, а други душу“.

[1] званични часопис Цркве И.П.Х. Грчке

[2] У енглеском преводу „dignity“

[3] Ова реч може да се преведе као пристрастан, острашћен, злобан, пакостан. Уенглеском преводу стоји „full of hatred“

[Despotovac]

It is a loyalty to the idea and fight for the interests of the Serbian Orthodox Church, not the adoration of personality. Greek bishops use episcopal authority to confuse the Serbian flock and serbian fighters those who fight for defend the interests of the Serbian True Orthodox Church called rebellion and disobedience.