Stealth Jihad or "Jihad in Sheep's Clothing"

[Cyprian]

Francis of Assisi was called Francis de Petra.

Alright Maria, but how is this relevant that we should focus on this, and ignore all the detailed evidence I presented over the last couple of days in this thread, regarding both Benedict and Francis? Neither you nor Barbara have specifically addressed any of the evidence I brought forth from the The Da Vinci Code/Angels and Demons, and Hollywood. You both seem to gloss right over it, as if it didn't exist, or as if I never posted it.

I still haven't gotten an answer as to what Benedict did that made him so wonderful or admirable, and pious, and upright, aside from appearing refined and listening to classical music? I always thought Benedict had a diabolical and evil look about him, but I don't allow that to unduly influence me, just as the popes who appear to have a more refined countenance don't sway me either. Benedict's own words, statements, and actions betray his diabolical character.

Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia Equal-to-the-Apostles:

"THE ANTICHRISTS ARE: one, the pope, and the other one, the one who stands over our heads. You understand whom I mean without my saying so. It is sad for me to say this to you, but these Antichrists are lost as they stand now. We practice abstinence, they perdition. We fast, they indulge in gluttony. We practice virginity, they fornicate. We are just, they are unjust."

St. Cosmas was teaching this approximately 240 years ago! How many heresies and blasphemies have the popes multiplied since that time? They have manifestly become much worse. Who is so blind as to not see this?

[Barbara]

We- e - e - ll, I was hesitating to say, since you will - and reasonably so - laugh at my account. I was debating whether to say and decided it was safer to not bring up dreams here. But if you want to hear, I will be glad to tell you. I smell my tea burning, eek !

[Cyprian]

The holy fathers are very explicit in counseling us not to place trust in our dreams. So yes, you should forget about these dreams of yours and not share them with us. I also think it is vain for one to believe that they have the ability to discern who is true and who is deceitful simply based upon their countenance.

The Antichrist will appear much more "refined" and "holy" than that traitor Benedict ever did. If one is so deluded as to believe that Benedict XVI is somehow righteous, and is unable to recognize the evil lurking in him, then they are in grave danger of worshiping the Antichrist.

May God grant us all the discernment necessary to judge truth from falsehood, and may we all be granted entrance into God's kingdom, both in this age, and in the age to come.

[Maria]

The holy fathers are very explicit in counseling us not to place trust in our dreams. So yes, you should forget about these dreams of yours and not share them with us. I also think it is vain for one to believe that they have the ability to discern who is true and who is deceitful simply based upon their countenance.

The Antichrist will appear much more "refined" and "holy" than that traitor Benedict ever did. If one is so deluded as to believe that Benedict XVI is somehow righteous, and is unable to recognize the evil lurking in him, then they are in grave danger of worshiping the Antichrist.

May God grant us all the discernment necessary to judge truth from falsehood, and may we all be granted entrance into God's kingdom, both in this age, and in the age to come.

Cyprian, I joined the Orthodox Church back in 1996. Yes, I was in GOARCH for a few years, and then attended an OCA parish, both of which are New Calendarist, but I had no desire to return to Roman Catholicism. I rejected the increasingly urgent calls by ecumenists in the EP to join forces with the Vatican to institute a New World Order - One World Church.

In the mid 1990s, while I was inquiring into Orthodoxy, I knew of the existence of HOCNA, but there were so many horrible rumors circulating about HOCNA and ROCOR, that I did not want to join either. In addition, Bishop Alexander, with whom we had attended inquiry classes, did not encourage us to join ROCOR as he had been attacked by the people in his own parish and in ROCOR. Bishop Alexander was suffering from cancer and departed this life in the early 2000s. We lost a good friend when he died. He told us to persevere in our prayers at home and that the Lord would not abandon us. That was true.

In December of 2011, my husband and I were baptized into the GOC under Kallinikos, and we honestly thought that we were home, but our journey of faith was not over. Finally, we were Chrismated by the GOC under Stephanos this February of 2015.

From what we have read, certainly the Anti-Christ will appear divine. He will have handsome almost glowing facial features, but we must be careful because Lucifer also appears as a brilliant and beautiful angel who beguiles many. This Anti-Christ will work many miracles and wonders (modern technology), and he will give the citizens of the world what they want for a brief time until he has his spell of delusion over them and has them firmly in his clutches. Then will come the sorrows of sorrows: droughts, famines, plagues. Per St. Ephraim of Syria and other saints, those who have chosen to follow him, and be marked with his sign, will not be able to repent, even though they may regret their decision. We cannot deny our faith, not even for one instant to have one drink of cold water in the scorching heat, because there is no going back, but we must persevere in the Holy Faith.

[Barbara]

Surely you are correct, Cyprian. Which is why I didn't say anything. Only when you pressed about it did I reluctantly squeak out something. Never mind, it is not of any importance whatsoever. We will come back to this all.

Maria, this is eye-opening. You said Bishop Alexander [Mileant] was DISCOURAGING you from joining Rocor ??
You wrote "he was being attacked by people in his own parish and in Rocor". Do you mean that not only at that Holy Protection Church in Los Angeles, but in the wider Rocor, he was under attack. WHY ??

The only bad thing was that his wife had run off with a Soviet Jewish man - wasn't that the story ?
How could that be his fault ?
Bishop Alexander was highly successful in the world, with a good engineering job. As a priest, he wrote and published a large collection of misssionary pamphlets.
WHO could complain about him ? To give a contrast, it would likely be difficult to find a more qualified candidate for episcopal office in the monasteries of Rocor-Mp in this decade.
Were people jealous ? Sounds like he really watched out for what he thought were your best interests.
Though I am sorry that you didn't join Rocor. The OCA time must have been a terrible waste.

Do you suppose that the disease he had was caused in part by this feeling of persecution or not feeling "safe" even in his own parish for many years ?

I recall being surprised he reposed so early. Also his funeral partly conducted on the West Coast and partly at Jordanville [ ? ] And that his namesday was St Alexander Nevsky's September 12 feast.

[Maria]

Surely you are correct, Cyprian. Which is why I didn't say anything. Only when you pressed about it did I reluctantly squeak out something. Never mind, it is not of any importance whatsoever. We will come back to this all.

Maria, this is eye-opening. You said Bishop Alexander [Mileant] was DISCOURAGING you from joining Rocor ??
You wrote "he was being attacked by people in his own parish and in Rocor". Do you mean that not only at that Holy Protection Church in Los Angeles, but in the wider Rocor, he was under attack. WHY ??

The only bad thing was that his wife had run off with a Soviet Jewish man - wasn't that the story ?
How could that be his fault ?
Bishop Alexander was highly successful in the world, with a good engineering job. As a priest, he wrote and published a large collection of misssionary pamphlets.
WHO could complain about him ? To give a contrast, it would likely be difficult to find a more qualified candidate for episcopal office in the monasteries of Rocor-Mp in this decade.
Were people jealous ? Sounds like he really watched out for what he thought were your best interests.
Though I am sorry that you didn't join Rocor. The OCA time must have been a terrible waste.

Do you suppose that the disease he had was caused in part by this feeling of persecution or not feeling "safe" even in his own parish for many years ?

I recall being surprised he reposed so early. Also his funeral partly conducted on the West Coast and partly at Jordanville [ ? ] And that his namesday was St Alexander Nevsky's September 12 feast.

He told me that the stress of her leaving him, the rejection he felt in his own parish at the Argyle Street Church (Holy Protection) when he served as pastor there, the rejection he felt from the clergy at Fountain Avenue Cathedral, and then his own poor diet all contributed to the breakdown in his health. No doubt he ate restaurant fare and fast foods because he was doing translations and publications and no longer had the support of his wife to cook for him anymore. She wanted more luxury and more money. Lord have mercy. He donated his time, talent, and treasury to the Church.

[Barbara]

Fountain Ave. ? Would that be the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral , the one built to look like the famous Kizhi church ?

My gosh. Really ! It's hard to believe that clergy and parishes would be SO nasty.
What on earth could they have been complaining about Bishop Alexander ?

Oh, but I do understand the part about the stress of his wife taking off like that. So that's what she wanted ?? Shallow as a pancake. Money and comfort ? I am sure she got what she deserved. Whereas he is probably enjoying a good reward for, as you said so well, giving of his time and energy and money to the Church. Nothing goes unmissed by God !

Did you happen to meet her if you were inquiring at that era before she left him ? Who was she ? From South America or Russian born here presumably ?

Yes ! I somehow remembered that name Argyle St after I had shut down my computer : it came floating in unbidden.
I recall he was the Priest there for something like 30 years ? And his parish REJECTED him ?? What was the matter with THEM ?? Chronic malcontents ?