StephenS wrote:Sadly the photographs are in the public domain and will shape opinion both within Orthodoxy and beyond. And in this age of fudge, live and let by, and an often ill-informed and spiritually bereft populace it is quite damaging. You may see it but influencing it for the better or effecting a balance is an uphill task.
I note that one rabid NC on OC.net has forecast posters here will be in frenzy, etc. My feeling are one of great sadness.
Indeed, it is a sad time.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.
Let them rave on. Who cares what they think. They sold their souls to the antichrist ecumenists for a mess of pottage as did their spiritual father, Esau. Let them be. They have their reward in this life--the praise and approbation of the world. In the next, they shall be rewarded for leading astray the many right minded and pious Orthodox faithful who trusted them and were deceived by their pretended resistance to the errors of Rome, ecumenism, and such but were really ineffective and uncommitted to keeping the faith unspotted. Hence, they shall have to answer for all the beloved pious and simple and trusting New Calendarist faithful whom they have led astray by talking out of both sides of their mouths but walking a path that leads only towards rapprochement with the heretics rather than seeking to cure the ills of the heterodox.
StephenS wrote:Sadly the photographs are in the public domain and will shape opinion both within Orthodoxy and beyond. And in this age of fudge, live and let by, and an often ill-informed and spiritually bereft populace it is quite damaging. You may see it but influencing it for the better or effecting a balance is an uphill task.
I note that one rabid NC on OC.net has forecast posters here will be in frenzy, etc. My feeling are one of great sadness.
What you have described is the life that our Lord Jesus Christ had to endure. And afterwards, the Apostles. The "public domain" of that time had very negative views of Jesus Christ and it shaped their opinions by the influences of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The public then were "ill-informed" and "bereft". The Apostles also had an "uphill" battle. They paid with their lives (except St. John who witnessed the end of times).
It is sad to witness such atrocities. But, we must also remember that Jesus Christ is calling them to live in faith for Him. And, in this world, it means that they will have to endure persecution because they believe in Him.
It is never easy to stand by and see others suffer for Christ. But, let's take heart that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, does not abandon those who suffer for Him. These monks will be with Him after their struggle. And I am reminded of the young one that got killed by that tractor that overturned because he was trying to move it at night. Does anyone know his name? I want to put it in my book of commemorations.
Let us gain courage from their examples for when we will face our persecutions. Perhaps, God is letting us know about their persecutions in order to prepare us, in our hearts, for our own.
Personally, I feel that I am given great insight about what our Lord and Saviour wants me to know. He has guided me to Orthodoxy and to learn about the faith and witness the struggles, in faith, by others who I have met, or heard about. He is pointing and saying: See this? Pay attention. I want you to follow this way. I want you to understand this situation.
These monks will never know how much their struggle in faith has such meaning in my life.
God bless these monks.
In Christ,
Joanna
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 50)
Have there been any updates about the situation on Mt. Athos and the monks of Esphigmenou Monastery.
Incidentally, St. Gregory Palamas briefly served as abbot of Esphigmenou Monastery.
At just 20 years of age he abandoned the world and followed the monastic life. He became a monk at the Papikion Mountain of Thrace, then on Mt. Athos, then in the Skete of Berea and, finally, again on Athos. There he reached the heights of holiness and received from the Lady Theotokos the gift of theology. For a short period of time around 1335 he served as abbot of Esphigmenou Monastery.
Source: http://www.denver.goarch.org/liturgical ... /pm-06.pdf
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.
