Nativity Fast

ANGELA · Post by **ANGELA** » Fri 11 January 2008 5:43 am

Dear Euthymios,

Having read your thread and some others, I can only apologize for those orthodox people in your life that have caused you to think like this.

I understand that we as Orthodox should practice what we preach. But don't despair. Pray always to God who loves you, and remember that God always test us. Always the ones he loves the most have trials and tribulations.

I read in one of your threads about wanting to go to Mt Athos. Maybe you should. My husband went and and was spiritually rewarding for him. It was peaceful and tranquil and one can feel the presence of God there. .

I am saddened to here how you were let down by some priests. But we will all be judged by God.

Remember that everyones journey to God is a personal one.
Please hang on to your faith and preservere in this life as hard as it is and you will be abundantly rewarded for it.

+Angela

GOCTheophan · Post by **GOCTheophan** » Fri 11 January 2008 6:37 am

joasia wrote:
Get a grip. Orthodox is not hard...we are stubborn.

Dear Joasia,

You are correct. Orthodoxy is not hard. Christ said that His yoke is easy and His burden light.

However Orthodoxy is good and I am far from being anywhere near even what the world considers a "good" person.

Therefore I wrote what I wrote. Please pray for me.

Theophan.

Euthymios · Post by **Euthymios** » Fri 11 January 2008 6:56 am

Orthodoxy is not hard for you because you don't observe it and carry it to its logical conclusion. You don't sacrifice. You have never died to the world.

It was said: I read in one of your threads about wanting to go to Mt Athos. Maybe you should. My husband went and and was spiritually rewarding for him. It was peaceful and tranquil and one can feel the presence of God there.

My Response: You people live in a fantasy world. Athos is now fully ecumenist with the exception of Esphemenon, and they are under psesecution. I wrote the bishop of their abbot. He said he would ask the abbot about me going there. He never responded.

Every directions and move I make I am faced with negativity, struggles, abandonment by God and no results.

I have always been "tested" and punished for what I have no idea. I didn't ask to be born and created.

In this system, God is bent on blood and punishment.

Euthymios · Post by **Euthymios** » Fri 11 January 2008 3:59 pm

Another theory I have is that most Orthodox today have never really had a heart and mind conversion. They are caught on externals. They assume that because they have been baptized, they are Christians. The only problem is that their heart has never been baptized.

The whole "he's a convert" slogan testifies to this delusion. ALL ARE CONVERTS. God has no grandchildren. You will not piggy-back into heaven. Unless each and every heart is converted, no one will be saved. "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

If you are depending on your baptism to be saved, you are in for a huge surprise. Each person must make a personal commitment and decision.

Euthymios · Post by **Euthymios** » Fri 11 January 2008 4:55 pm

Since I reached the half way point in my preparation for monasticism (I've been planning to go to a monastery around June), I have been greatly attacked. I have not been myself. I believe Satan is envious of me and attacking me. I am not usually like this. The recent thing with our land has also brought out tremendous negativity and anger within me. I want to retaliate and seek vengence. My spiritual warfare is very bad these days and I have no support because there are no canonical priests anywhere. I think this is great though because these attacks show I must be doing something right. I'm not stopping. I'll die before I yield to the devil. I keep resisting his temptations and he's furious. Too bad for him because he's not going to turn me from God and the Church, even though he is trying despatetly to. He's so pathetic. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Euthymios · Post by **Euthymios** » Fri 11 January 2008 5:01 pm

Another theory I have is that when a person supresses so many negative and sinful thoughts for so long, this can lead to an eventual erruption and explosion of release of negativity. I believe I've had somekind of recent "snap." I did good throughout the entire year of 2007 in terms of surpressing thoughts. Every fiber and thought within me was temptations and/or reasons on why I should abandon this religion. I resisted it all.

But when I reached the half-way point with my goal, something happened. I need to get back on track. It really started during the last Nativity fast.

Euthymios · Post by **Euthymios** » Fri 11 January 2008 5:05 pm

And power-mongering psychopaths like Greogy in Colorado don't help at all. There should be laws against people like him. I understand the canonical laws, but I'm talking about legal and government laws.