"And Mariam laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them
in the inn." Luke 2:7
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.AMEN.
My dearly beloved Orthodox Christians. Though there was no room for
Him in the inn, yet Christ "makes room" for us all if we seek Him
with all of our hearts. But then we must pass through the "comforts
of the inn" to the back yard animal "cave" and enter into the mean
and unpleasant.
And it will be in the cold of winter as well. This is the way of the
Cross even amidst our Christmas Trees of tinsel and "icicles."
There is another "icicle" decoration for our Christmas trees this
year. It can be found in Polsky's "Holy New Martyrs of Russia."
- " On December 10 the Cheka brought +Bp Theophanes of Solikamsk to
the River Kama. He was stripped naked, then his hair was braided in
plaits and a stick was put through it by a giggling mob.
"Benches were placed on either side of a hole in the river's ice,
and two executioners mounted them. Then they slowly lowered +Bp
Theophanes through the hole into the water. After being kept there
for a half a minute, he was raised from the water and then lowered
into it again. Soon the martyr's naked body was covered with a thick
sheet of ice but he was still alive. Many wept.."
My dearly beloved Orthodox Christians. We must all "go forth unto
the holy new "icicle," +Bp Theophanes of Solikamsk, bearing his
shame." Hebrews 13:13
The "shame" that the "holy new icicle" +Bp Theophanes calls us
to, is to take a stand against the MP and the bishops who propose to
vote "yes" in the upcoming "MP/ROCOR union-question" in May of 2006.
The time for neutrality is over. We must all appear "naked" before
the dread judgment seat of Christ. And the holy new "icicle," +Bp
Theophanes, will be in the witness seat.
For the Holy New "Icicle" of Russia +Bp Theophanes -
- ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++ + ++
+ROAC Subdeacon Nathanael
I.m going to stop mark's vote
New - every day @
http://www.livejournal.com/users/sbn_nathanael/
Interviewees Wanted! All Jurisdictions Welcome.
"God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day;
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray..
"O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.
"Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this list,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now do kiss;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth dimiss..
"O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy."
Traditonal English Carol; 1700