Regarding the following…
Posted: Thu 27 October 2005 4:22 am Post subject: Love and War
"Christ is in Our Midst!
I have found these words from the Prologue helpful in understanding this issue- it is from the selection on May 11 for Sts. Cyril and Methodius:
"In the encampment of the Saracens they asked St. Cyril:
"How could Christians wage war and at the same time keep the commandment of Christ about praying to God for their enemies?"
To that, St. Cyril replied:
"If two commandments were written in one law and given to men for fulfilling, which man will be a better follower of the law: the one who fulfills one commandment or the one who fulfills both?"
To that, the Saracens replied:
"Undoubtedly, he who fulfills both commandments."
St. Cyril continued:
"Christ our God commands us to pray to God for those who persecute us and even to do good to them; but, He also said to us: greater love cannot be shown in this world than if one lay down his life for his friends."
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (St. John 15:13).
That is why we bear the insults which our enemies do to us individually and we pray to God for them; and, as a society, we defend one another and give up our lives, that you would not somehow enslave our brethren, would not enslave their souls with their bodies and would not kill them in body and soul."
In Christ,
Rd. David"
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The following is ‘addressed’ to any Hierarch or Clergyman in this forum who wishes to respond-only. It is a question to which general “opinions” would only 'cloud the issue'.
Thank you and I apologize for any perceived offense.
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America bombed Serbia, an Orthodox country, in the early 1990s. Some of the bombs carried the “message”, and I quote,
“…Happy Easter…”
‘Strange things’ are done in wartime.
Orthodox villages have been bombed, obliterated – including women and children.
Orthodox churches have been destroyed…
All of “this” was done, “in the name of “peace” ”, by Americans, some of whom were Orthodox.
The C.I.S. (former Soviet Union) is now in the process of negotiating, or has completed, a Non-aggression Pact/Treaty with Iran.
Iran will be the next middle-East country which will be invaded…for "peace and democracy", of course.
Once this is accomplished, there will be Russian soldiers stationed in Iran (probably already are there as “advisors”) and will fight.
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In the 1960s and before, there were Communist soldiers in Cuba. Were they Orthodox? At that time one could not be both a Communist and Orthodox as they are diametrically opposed.
In Viet Nam, there were U.S.S.R. Communist soldiers, as “advisors”.
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If Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia accomplish rapprochement…
and presupposing that some of these Russian soldiers will be Orthodox Christians, and war breaks out (‘ostensibly’ to “establish” democracy), and there will be Orthodox Christian Soldiers in the American service there…
One “side” cannot pray for the victory of the ‘other’, can they?
The Russian soldier, be he Orthodox or not, MUST follow the orders he is given. If those orders involve an attack and the killing of Orthodox Christians on the ‘other’ side…he has to obey. War is war.
The opposite is also true, in that Orthodox Christian soldiers who are American, and could very well be of Russian descent, will have to obey orders and attack or defend as the case may be. War is war.
Some time ago an Orthodox friend of mine and his family, joined me for dinner.
He was a former Soviet soldier and had been recruited by the KGB.
We talked about our services…
He then looked at me and said:
“You know, of course, had we met on the battlefield, I would have had to kill you.”
I answered:
“Not if I had killed you first.”
There was a VERY “pregnant pause”, then we finished our meal.
We are still friends and pray for each other - as Orthodox Christians.
Here is a specific case, NOT addressing the following question, which is:
During the Divine Liturgy we pray
“…for our Armed Forces…”
If we are to pray for our country, America, and its victory, how can we pray for the “other side”, our enemy, which has Orthodox Christians in its service?
This is a very serious question, as soon, upon the rapprochement of Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and considering the above-mentioned "world" situation, the very real possibility exists of America - our Country -, which has Orthodox Soldiers, and the C.I.S. which also has Orthodox soldiers could be on opposing sides of a battlefield...
Question, given the above,:
“Which Orthodox Christians are we to pray for during the Divine Liturgy?”
Thank you for your consideration in answering this question.
John Haluska