On Dormition, our moon, Luna, will turn dark red!

[尼古拉前执事]

See the Moon turn red
On August 28, the Moon will plunge through Earth's shadow, and the United States' West Coast sees the best show.

The spectacular eclipse occurs the morning of August 28. Circumstances favor observers west of the Mississippi, who missed out on the March lunar eclipse. Better still, this event marks the first central lunar eclipse since 2000.

A central eclipse is one where part of the Moon passes through the center of Earth's shadow. This results in a longer-lasting eclipse, and it likely will result in a more darkly colored Moon at totality. The Moon's northern edge passes through the shadow's center, which means its northern half will look noticeably darker than its southern half.

The penumbral part of the eclipse begins at 3:54 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The first hint of shadow won't be visible to East Coast observers until at least 4:30 a.m. Watch the Moon low in the southwest as the limb near Oceanus Procellarum gradually darkens.

See more at http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.as ... 5912&r=rss

[Lenexa]

A fearful sign indeed!

[Helen]

We had this type of eclipse on the east side of Australia last year - it was quite spectacular. Fearful?....I'm not sure...but beautiful indeed.

[Lenexa]

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;"
Apocalypse 6:12

Yes I know that this obviously is not the event being forecasted on the Dormition, God-allowing, however the idea of the moon turning blood red on the Dormition does fill my mind with a bit of unease. I might find it beautiful when I see it but I also love Thunderstorms filled with thunder, rain, and lightning so what do I know? I do recall seeing the moon move low in the sky and turn blood red many years ago as a child and getting un-nerved yet fascinated.
You are more than likely right Helen. Maybe in a sick way it is just the eustress of imagining terrible end-time events being frightfully nearful?
Forgive me for my vanity.

[Helen]

P.S It wasn't blood red - it was a rusty red brown. But blood red sounds so much more fascinating doesn't it, although the less dramatic colour doesn't detract from it's beauty.

I agree that we are probably living in the last times, but who knows how long these last times will last? It could be another hundred years for all we know. Most things in life can be interpreted into a 'sign of the times' - but who wants to live like that? Always in suspicion, always in fear. I know some people who for their whole lives have been waiting for the antiChrist and are still waiting for the time to come - living in expectation - but meanwhile life is passing them by while they are waiting. All they can talk about is the end times (it's actually quite a strong passion in itself - the love of sensationalism and fear) and some monks, quite sick of their ramblings, have actually said "You stay with the antichrist, we just want to be with Christ" - meaning these people are actually achieving that which they would avoid ie., being with the antiChrist.

We have to prepared not only for the end times (which may not come in our lifetime) but more so for the end of our lives (which is guaranteed to come in our lifetime and could in fact even happen today). So why waste our precious God-given energy and talent worrying and sensationalising, when we could be using that energy and talent for God-pleasing works.

P.S. Lenexa I'm not saying you're doing the above - but since it is a discussion forum I'm just adding my two cents worth on the subject.

[Lenexa]

Christ is Risen!
"There is nothing of which it is more dangerous to speak than the Apocalypse. Futile and over-literal speculation on apocalyptic events is an only too obvious cause of spiritual harm; and no less so, I think, is the facile way in which many of our contemporaries refer to the "apocalyptic" character of the times, and in doing raise in others deep fears and hopes which their own vague pronouncements are far from satisfying. If a Christian is going to speak of the Apocalypse at all, it is quite clear that - in this as in everything else - his words must be sober, as precise as possible, and fully in accord with the universal teaching of the Church."
-Blessed Seraphim of Platina

Thank you for your sobering comments Helen! I really need to stop drinking Red Bull while operating a PC! I am a bit prone to sensationalism. I suppose many are like me though? anticipating the final end of the world in these weird and often terrible times.
Yet the sun still dances on Pascha! and a glimpse of the Future Heaven and Earth gets through!
Christ is Risen!

[Cyprian]

Christ truly is risen indeed!

Some, in their lack of understanding, are of the mistaken opinion that one must necessarily leave off the things that pertain to Christ when seeking to understand the devices of Antichrist.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Antichrist imitates Christ.

The more one meditates upon the things that pertain to Christ, the more one learns about how Antichrist will imitate Him. The reason many are ignorant of the devices of the Counterfeit is because firstly they are ignorant of the devices of the True.

When one handles true currency on a regular basis, it becomes rather easy to spot the counterfeit.

Many like to speculate about the kingdom of Antichrist. First they ought to learn to expound on the nature of the kingdom of Christ.

For both kingdoms share the same name.

Many like to engage in vain speculation about the mark of the beast, and always my response to them is this: "First, demonstrate that you possess understanding of what the mark of Christ is, and only then will you be able to teach anything useful about the mark of Antichrist."

If they cannot even identify the sign and seal of Christ, what hope do they have of teaching anyone regarding the sign and seal of Antichrist?

O man, you wish to expound to me regarding Babylon, the city of the devil?

First tell me (if you are able) the name and characteristics of the city of God...

For they both share the same name.

Cyprian