tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43115851647587145412024-03-12T16:44:05.333-07:00Orthodox Thought for the DayPres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.comBlogger1182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-13847911149338253542022-03-04T07:01:00.001-08:002022-03-04T07:01:44.779-08:00Forgiveness is the Key to Healing<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It seems to me that a cornerstone of our growth in Christ and
our spiritual peace is the willingness to forgive offenses and to embrace the
action of forgiveness. Nothing can substitute for the sincere act of
doing so. As long as we refuse to “go there,” we cannot heal. Let
us ask God to help us forgive the unforgivable that He may heal us and bring us
all closer together. For some it may be easier than for others, but we
are all called to this gate of freedom. The question is, are we willing
to unlatch the gate on our spiritual journey? It is up to us,
individually.</span><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we approach the Sunday evening Forgiveness Vespers service, I
would like to share this article found at </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/resentforgive.aspx">http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/resentforgive.aspx</a>.
<span style="color: #740000;">I will share the start of the article below and if
it speaks to you, you can click on the link to keep reading.</span></span><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I also ask general forgiveness of all who will read here, to
forgive me any offenses I have given you recently or over the years. I
confess that I am a sinner and that I have given various offenses to people
over time. Not that I am proud of it, but rather ashamed for not sharing
the love of God, instead, as I have been forgiven much by Him.</span><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kali Sarakosti - Blessed upcoming 40 Days of Great and
Holy Lent,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #740000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Pres. Candace</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV0rAVA06HUqtaXbNY7yNy0bIhBRzBZZef46MRiwjeio_n6t2XSrM6nK13MDmUoIYV99cDEaZI-5hPhDQMNAgEfJXCOZ7I_F6VJDOCw6GSq5OdAbF8MaCNgSES9GckCNUVBqvYHOu5SXmMmkCSomenP1wlIYclt2Hp_AWD8Wk-Wf5KDvlN_sbex2GLEg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="192" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV0rAVA06HUqtaXbNY7yNy0bIhBRzBZZef46MRiwjeio_n6t2XSrM6nK13MDmUoIYV99cDEaZI-5hPhDQMNAgEfJXCOZ7I_F6VJDOCw6GSq5OdAbF8MaCNgSES9GckCNUVBqvYHOu5SXmMmkCSomenP1wlIYclt2Hp_AWD8Wk-Wf5KDvlN_sbex2GLEg=w240-h328" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 7.5pt 0in 1.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: navy; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Resentment and Forgiveness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">by Hieromonk Damascene<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: navy; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">A talk delivered at the Annual
Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America, St. George Serbian
Orthodox Church, San Diego, California, February 28, 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.75pt 0in 1.5pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: olive; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. The Misuse of the Incensive Power<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since we are approaching Forgiveness Sunday, I've
chosen, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Longin, to speak on the subject
of Anger, Judgment, and Resentment, and on their cure: Forgiveness and
Reconciliation. First I will speak about the problem and then I'll discuss the
solution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anger, judgment, remembrance of wrongs, grudges,
resentment: these are passions with which all of us struggle in one way or
another. Why are we prone to them? According to the Holy Fathers of the Church,
the power that causes anger was part of man's original nature, which was
created "good" by God (cf. Genesis 1:31). The Fathers say that man's
soul was originally created with three powers: the intellective or
"knowing" power, the appetitive or "desiring" power, and
the incensive or "fervent" power. Man was supposed to use his
intellective power to know God, his appetitive power to yearn for God, and his
incensive power to courageously repel temptation—beginning with the temptation
of the serpent in the Garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of using their incensive power to repel
temptation, however, Adam and Eve succumbed to their first temptation: they ate
of the forbidden fruit. According to the Holy Fathers, the essence of the
serpent's temptation lies in these words: "Eat of this fruit and you shall
be as gods" (cf. Genesis 3:5). St. John Chrysostom says that Adam
"expected to become himself a god, and conceived thoughts above his proper
dignity." [1] This is a key point which we'll keep coming back to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When the primordial Fall occurred, man's original
nature, created in the image of God, became corrupted. He acquired what the
Holy Fathers call a fallen nature. He still had the image of God in him, but
the image was tarnished: "buried," as it were, under the corruption
of his nature. Now he had an inclination toward sin, born of his desire to be
God without God's blessing. All of us share that fallen nature; there is a part
of each one of us that wants to be God. In popular modern terms, that part of
us is called the "ego."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When man fell, the three powers of his soul became
subject to corruption, along with his body, which became subject to death and
decay. Now man used his intellective power to puff up with knowledge and be
superior to others; now he used his appetitive power to lust after other
people, after the things of this world, after sinful pleasures, wealth, and
power; and he used his incensive power, not against temptation, but against
other people, against things, and sometimes against life and God Himself. The
incensive power expressed itself as sinful anger and wrath. The first man born
of woman, Cain, got so angry and jealous that he murdered his own brother,
Abel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, here we are, all members of the family of Adam
and Eve, possessing a fallen nature that wants to be God, and a corrupted
incensive power that gets angry at the wrong things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Very clear teachings on anger and the incensive
power can be found in the first volume of <i>The Philokalia,</i> in
the teachings of St. John Cassian, a Holy Father of the fifth century.
According to St. John Cassian, all anger directed at other people—all such
wrong use of our incensive power—blinds the soul. He writes: "We must,
with God's help, eradicate the deadly poison of anger from the depths of our
souls. So long as the demon of anger dwells in our hearts ... we can neither
discriminate what is good, nor achieve spiritual knowledge, nor fulfill our
good intentions, nor participate in true life.... Nor will we share in divine
wisdom even though we are deemed wise by all men, for it is written: <i>Anger
lodges in the bosom of fools</i> (Eccles. 7:9). Nor can we discriminate in
decisions affecting our salvation even though we are thought by our fellow men
to have good sense, for it is written: <i>Anger destroys even men of good
sense</i> (Proverbs 15:1). Nor will we be able to keep our lives in
righteousness with a watchful heart, for it is written: <i>Man's anger
does not bring about the righteousness of God</i> (James 1:20)....<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">"If, therefore, you desire to attain
perfection and rightly pursue the spiritual way, you should make yourself a
stranger to all sinful anger and wrath. Listen to what St. Paul enjoins: <i>Rid
yourselves of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and all
malice</i> (Eph. 4:31). By saying 'all' he leaves no excuse for regarding
any anger as necessary or reasonable. If you want to correct your brother when
he is doing wrong or punish him, you must try to keep yourself calm; otherwise
you yourself may catch the sickness you are seeking to cure and you may find
that the words of the Gospel now apply to you: <i>Physician, heal
yourself </i>(Luke 4:23), or <i>Why do you look at the speck of dust
in your brother's eye, and not notice the beam in your own eye?</i> (Matt.
7:3).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">"No matter what provokes it, anger blinds the
soul's eyes, preventing it from seeing the Sun of righteousness.... Whether
reasonable or unreasonable, anger obstructs our spiritual vision. Our incensive
power can be used in a way that is according to nature only when turned against
our own impassioned or self-indulgent thoughts. [2]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here St. John Cassian is telling us that, when we
use our incensive power against temptation—against impassioned or
self-indulgent thoughts—we are using this power as it was originally intended
to be used, according to our original, virtuous nature, created in the image of
God. However, when we use our incensive power against anything else—especially
against other people—we are <i>misusing </i>it, according to
our <i>fallen </i>nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.75pt 0in 1.5pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: olive; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Playing God<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Often anger is evoked in us because of our pride.
This again is a function of our fallen nature: that part of us that wants to be
God. As would-be gods, we want to be in control, we want things to go our way.
When things don't go our way, when other people don't follow our lead and go
along with our program, we get angry. This leads us to judge others. Judging
others is one way of playing God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is King, and He is Judge. Of course, it's best
to be a King. Therefore, in trying to play God, our ego first of all tries to
get above others and above life itself by playing King. We can try to be King
in many ways. It may be by trying to run the show and get our own way. It may
be by seeking acceptance, approval, praise, respect, popularity, earthly
security, or an important position. It may be through our achievements and abilities,
which are used toward ultimately selfish ends. It may be through vanity over
our looks, our intellect, and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even if we were to have the world at our feet all
the time, and thus confirm our King-status in our own mind, we would eventually
feel conflict—for we're not meant to be King. You can see this vividly in the
lives of celebrities, many of whom, having risen to the "top" in the
eyes of the world, are filled with inward conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most of us, however, find it impossible to play
King all the time. The world is not at our feet. We try so hard to get our own
way and make things work out exactly like we want, but it just doesn't happen
that way. People don't want to cooperate with our own way of doing things. We
don't get enough of the respect and admiration we need in order to keep up the
illusion of our Kingship. On the contrary, we often experience the exact
opposite: rudeness, disrespect, neglect, abandonment, injustice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is the ego—our fallen nature—to do in this
case? How can it still play God? How else than by <i>judgment</i>? As we
said, God is King and He is Judge. When we can't be King, we take the <i>loser's </i>way
of playing God: we become the Judge. No matter what happens to us, or what
people have said and done to us, we can always <i>seem</i> to get above
them by being their Judge. For a time it feels great! Other people and the
circumstances of our life made us feel less like a god; they have hurt and
humiliated us. But we can still be a god in our own mind by judging!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judgment brings with it an exhilaration of false
power. Its energy comes from the wrong, prideful use of our incensive power.
But, like playing King, playing Judge eventually leads to inward conflict. If
we are setting ourselves up in God's place, our soul cannot fulfill its
original purpose of worshiping, serving and loving God. Thus, each time we
judge, we're placing a barrier between ourselves and God. A wall immediately
goes up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.75pt 0in 1.5pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: olive; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Resentment<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">If left unchecked, anger and judgment will pass
into what the Holy Fathers call "secret anger," "remembrance of
wrongs," or "resentment."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Resentment—prolonged anger—is deadly to the soul.
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk says: "Just as fire if it is not extinguished
quickly will swallow many houses, so anger if it is not stopped right away will
do great harm and will cause many troubles. [3] The Holy Apostle Paul tells
us: <i>Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for
the devil </i>(Eph. 4:26-7). "If we take St. Paul's saying
literally," writes St. John Cassian, "it does not permit us to keep
our anger even until sunset. What then shall we say about those who, because of
the harshness and fury of their impassioned state, not only maintain their
anger until the setting of this day's sun, but prolong it for many days? Or
about others who do not express their anger, but keep silent and increase the
poison of their anger to their own destruction? They are unaware that we must
avoid anger not only in what we do but also in our thoughts; otherwise our mind
will be darkened by our anger, cut off from the light of spiritual knowledge
and discrimination, and deprived of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. [4]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why is resentment such a deadly sin? The Holy
Scriptures tell us that <i>God is love.</i> Therefore, explains the
Russian Holy Father St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, "Resentment or rejection
of love is rejection of God. God withdraws from a resentful person, deprives
him of His Grace, and gives him up to spiritual death, unless the person
repents in good time so as to be healed of that deadly moral poison, resentment.
[5]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">If for whatever reason we do not forgive someone
and hold onto our anger, it will truly be to our own destruction. It can poison
our entire lives, make us the captives of the devil, and eventually prevent us
from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. To help us not to lose our salvation due
to resentment, God allows us to feel inward conflict. This inward conflict
helps us to become aware of the fatal danger of the malady of resentment, and
to seek to be cured by the Supreme Physician, Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The inward conflict may take many forms. We may
feel weighed down, unable to breathe lightly or freely, as if we are captives.
We may experience irrational fear, commonly known as anxiety. We may become
susceptible to physical ailments. In most cases, we will feel an inward
emptiness. That emptiness comes from the fact that, by holding onto our anger
and judgment, we have separated ourselves from God. We no longer have His
Grace, His Life, inside us, and without that we are just hollow vessels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our spiritual emptiness may express itself in a
generally dissatisfied and cynical attitude, in which we're always attracted to
negative thoughts and words about others. We may try to fill the void with
drugs or the excessive use of alcohol. Interestingly, the Alcoholics Anonymous
"Big Book" says: "Resentment is the 'number one' offender. It
destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stems all forms of
spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we
have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we
straighten out mentally and physically. [6]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes our resentment hurts the person we are
resenting, sometimes it does not. However, in either case <i>we </i>gain
nothing; we only lose, for in either case we are the ones who are hurt the
most. Let's say someone has actually wronged us. If that person repents, he
will be forgiven by God. But if we hold onto our anger, we will not be forgiven
and will suffer the consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.75pt 0in 1.5pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: olive; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. Forgiveness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 8.4pt 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Having looked at the malady of anger, judgment,
and resentment, let's go on to look at the cure. What are we to do to be freed
of this sickness? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Article continued at this link:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/resentforgive.aspx">http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/resentforgive.aspx</a></span></span>Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-39532008092960675572018-03-08T08:36:00.001-08:002018-03-08T08:37:38.229-08:00A Finished WorkToday I am officially considering this blog a finished work. I will continue to send posts directly to Ortho Thought readers occasionally but will not be further posting here.<br />
<br />
If you would like to be on the direct mailing list, please send me a note at <a href="mailto:orthothought@gmail.com">orthothought@gmail.com</a>. <br />
<br />
Let us always remember to pray because it is the most important work we can do.<br />
<br />
May the love of God and the protection of our Panagia be with us all.<br />
<br />
Your sister in the Faith,<br />
Presbytera Candace<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuqwDh1m3kJvRk9HnkBAnIYBNtmn2xCW1a0yLQrul0DCIeUhJM1P5Id_TX5YgKX54cn4P2ZX44CTNscrGAb2dBmcMJ8u3ZRbNyF_unsp030mqNUFrc8k8tZphiKxROeDvOiVXSEtUKXyn/s1600/Protection+of+the+Mother+of+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuqwDh1m3kJvRk9HnkBAnIYBNtmn2xCW1a0yLQrul0DCIeUhJM1P5Id_TX5YgKX54cn4P2ZX44CTNscrGAb2dBmcMJ8u3ZRbNyF_unsp030mqNUFrc8k8tZphiKxROeDvOiVXSEtUKXyn/s1600/Protection+of+the+Mother+of+God.jpg" /></a></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-10403621014589646932018-01-20T13:14:00.000-08:002018-01-20T13:14:34.407-08:00Love Saves Lives
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #5c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">President Donald J. Trump is the first sitting U.S. President to
directly address the March For Life rally in Washington, DC. The
President spoke live, via satellite, from the White House Rose Garden. This
address occurred January 19 at the 45<sup>th</sup> March for Life, for the
protection of the unborn: </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v77snL8J1i8"><span style="color: #0070c0; margin: 0px;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v77snL8J1i8</span></a></span><span style="color: #5c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #5c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Have mercy, O Lord, on mothers and unborn children. Have mercy
on all those who cherish the gift of life and seek to preserve it and help
others to do so. Help us pursue repentance and heal our nation for the glory of
Thy Name. Bless our President, O Lord, for his courageous leadership in these
days. Preserve him, grant him wisdom, and guide our country on a good path
through his administration. Amen.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-kZ5FABzOIp2ysSZfiOBBX5LfPl5yBgOWHQJqKPr823rhPqGl84_4-65HSzKfMGSTAaltoxsvmNHuJJcOHq7C03emJpWWQLImuP4s7rTzeIsZk8-A5c9Uud4bsOlVH-oUKCOQeDn_cxA/s1600/Mary+and+Elizabeth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-kZ5FABzOIp2ysSZfiOBBX5LfPl5yBgOWHQJqKPr823rhPqGl84_4-65HSzKfMGSTAaltoxsvmNHuJJcOHq7C03emJpWWQLImuP4s7rTzeIsZk8-A5c9Uud4bsOlVH-oUKCOQeDn_cxA/s320/Mary+and+Elizabeth.png" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #5c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Reminder about the Church’s teaching about abortion: <b>The
Didache</b>, the Teaching of the 12 Apostles has to say, "The second
commandment of the teaching: You shall not murder. You shall not commit
adultery. You shall not seduce boys. You shall not commit fornication. You
shall not steal. You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You
shall not procure [an] abortion, nor destroy a newborn child," (<i>Didache
</i>2:1–2 [A.D. 70]). Refer to this past Ortho Thought posting for the
full article: </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://otftd.blogspot.com/2012/12/commemorating-14000-holy-innocents.html"><span style="color: #0070c0; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://otftd.blogspot.com/2012/12/commemorating-14000-holy-innocents.html</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #660000;">The 2018 abortion statistic according to the Guttmacher Institute is<b> 59 Million Persons</b>. That is the number of people whose lives have been lost to abortion since its legalization in the United States in 1973. If that statistic does not move one's heart to action, what will?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">F</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">or pro-life resources, see this 2013 posting:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://otftd.blogspot.com/2013/01/an-estimated-55-million-people-missing.html" target="_blank" title="
http://otftd.blogspot.com/2013/01/an-estimated-55-million-people-missing.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://otftd.blogspot.com/2013/01/an-estimated-55-million-people-missing.html</span></a>. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #660000;">And, p</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #660000;">lease
consider supporting The Martha and Mary Maternity House in the Chicago area, offering a beautiful Orthodox Christian Pro-Life Ministry: </span><a href="https://www.marthamarychicago.org/" target="_blank" title="https://www.marthamarychicago.org/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.marthamarychicago.org/</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-68204240579940458462017-12-27T08:36:00.000-08:002017-12-27T08:36:27.104-08:00The Gifts of the Magi are still with us
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Many
Christian people are unaware of the history and existence of the Gifts of the
Magi.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It shouldn’t surprise the Orthodox
that the Church knows the whereabouts and keeps watch over the gifts that were
presented to Christ even until now.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Enjoy
this informative entry by the author of Trust and Grace Blogspot: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/12/precious-gifts-of-magi-and-monastery-of.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/12/precious-gifts-of-magi-and-monastery-of.html</span></a></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTjJxA4kdOoAyw0sjpmQ-ixDBfwt0oSjl4E3VTxBF1XRH-n2G7_eU1aW-i3-N06HyVPVy3ypKP__jUNDu6Dcyw-acc1kKWImkRREPQG8xhmjmmENPZwwAPJg7QiBa2VImL8K2xRRsJvSi/s1600/Gifts+of+the+Magi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="550" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTjJxA4kdOoAyw0sjpmQ-ixDBfwt0oSjl4E3VTxBF1XRH-n2G7_eU1aW-i3-N06HyVPVy3ypKP__jUNDu6Dcyw-acc1kKWImkRREPQG8xhmjmmENPZwwAPJg7QiBa2VImL8K2xRRsJvSi/s320/Gifts+of+the+Magi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-35418040900939318562017-12-27T08:22:00.000-08:002017-12-27T08:22:09.381-08:00Dec 27--The Stoning of Stephen, Proto-Martyr
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">From
Grace and Truth blogspot (very nicely done!)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/search/label/St.%20Stephen%20the%20Protomartyr"><span style="color: blue;">http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/search/label/St.%20Stephen%20the%20Protomartyr</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA081iSTkLdpveG0hAFj54yI7szRQfStvZe0JTak87O0RomOUe1CWCzCP47MR3uGB6lJfNs1dC56YRhbb1T2mkqkaNzXCBs7BYxNdvqSVtL5ozEg6xlW-alJCVT1Gq4Jufo3HfIUMP81F4/s1600/St.+Stephen+Protomartyr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA081iSTkLdpveG0hAFj54yI7szRQfStvZe0JTak87O0RomOUe1CWCzCP47MR3uGB6lJfNs1dC56YRhbb1T2mkqkaNzXCBs7BYxNdvqSVtL5ozEg6xlW-alJCVT1Gq4Jufo3HfIUMP81F4/s320/St.+Stephen+Protomartyr.jpg" width="236" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">(The Stoning of St. Stephen—portable icon
found at Vatopaidi Monastery, Mt. Athos)</span></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-24701210587878491372017-12-05T12:36:00.000-08:002017-12-05T12:36:38.904-08:00Wondrous is God in His Saints! St. Nicholas of Myra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5gWy4FQcMBUiMJ3b1VwFsMKtlUhJYL_XIIIsx1zqTEx94fSNPbEtcdBncLljXaDCEfUCj-cTgqCW1Mk4n9dImM4ar8uSM1rvwtJojmtfl8qSiBvZ9igZHsKtpkbkaC43J6_VYO9Orlc4/s1600/Myrrh+Streaming+St.+Nicholas+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5gWy4FQcMBUiMJ3b1VwFsMKtlUhJYL_XIIIsx1zqTEx94fSNPbEtcdBncLljXaDCEfUCj-cTgqCW1Mk4n9dImM4ar8uSM1rvwtJojmtfl8qSiBvZ9igZHsKtpkbkaC43J6_VYO9Orlc4/s1600/Myrrh+Streaming+St.+Nicholas+1.png" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/history-myrrh-streaming-icon/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: calibri;">http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/history-myrrh-streaming-icon/</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yOVo5uNtXFOoEKddPSuCVRtZ4vP-XqqadhYXgi9IyFs_lkdx9jZ0D3ojOeF7UDHWIbx6VjP7NYaO8WapD7hWh20cQYAlzS4Qi8dA2JB-xx2cYUX742NftooW33O4B2zybCsNFs4ccnQ/s1600/Myrrh+Streaming+St.+Nicholas+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yOVo5uNtXFOoEKddPSuCVRtZ4vP-XqqadhYXgi9IyFs_lkdx9jZ0D3ojOeF7UDHWIbx6VjP7NYaO8WapD7hWh20cQYAlzS4Qi8dA2JB-xx2cYUX742NftooW33O4B2zybCsNFs4ccnQ/s1600/Myrrh+Streaming+St.+Nicholas+2.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weeping2152.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weeping2152.html</span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-83366486663922011632017-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:002017-12-01T19:15:30.325-08:00KOSOVO--An Advent Update and Your Blessed Involvement<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Many of you know that I am a board member of the Decani
Monastery Relief Fund. The suffering Serbian Christian population is near
and dear to my heart.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Please take time to read this update from our dear brother in
Christ, Fr. Nektarios Serfes, President of the DMRF.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<i><span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Thank you & Blessed Holy Advent,</span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<i><span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Presbytera Candace</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">26 November 2017</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Beloved
Benefactors & Friends of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">May
our gracious and loving Lord God always bless you!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">While
preparing to write to you, three phrases kept repeating in my mind,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 96px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">• KEEP LOOKING UP</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 96px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">• FOCUS ON THE GOOD</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 96px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">• BE A BLESSING</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Whenever
I make a humanitarian trip to Kosovo (my tenth trip to the region), I remind
myself to KEEP LOOKING UP. Why? Because it is God who is working to sustain the
Christian people who live in impoverished conditions there. They are not lazy;
they suffer oppression by political enemies. They would love to change their
circumstances for the better. However, for now, it appears that God is allowing
things to be as they have been for some years running. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The
needs remain the same, albeit amplified. Even so, the Christian people continue
to look up to God Who is their sustainer and upholder day by
day. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW5Av2E6aBH1US2KiE8rweOD8xJDhx4pw8paZm8-Z5ls5kliwScASOhDsCv7c9B5ySp1Pq2ev5nSIaLEXHe63Hvn1urqFT6IhI1lry2I6QkJYpoSSxT3aXlCAzVaJaGzswWGW_d2UKRY7/s1600/Fr.+Nektarios+Walking+Decani+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW5Av2E6aBH1US2KiE8rweOD8xJDhx4pw8paZm8-Z5ls5kliwScASOhDsCv7c9B5ySp1Pq2ev5nSIaLEXHe63Hvn1urqFT6IhI1lry2I6QkJYpoSSxT3aXlCAzVaJaGzswWGW_d2UKRY7/s320/Fr.+Nektarios+Walking+Decani+2017.jpg" width="179" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">On the Decani Monastery
Grounds</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">How
is it that the Christians remain steadfast when their political and spiritual
enemies prefer they be uprooted from their homeland? Because they look up to
God. They pray. They live with the expectation of God’s goodness, mercy, and
care where little exists they can do to improve their situation. And, God sends
them assistance. He moves the hearts of others with compassion and
generosity over their plight. Then, there is relief and joy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">This
is why the DMRF exists. This is why we partner with you to bring relief and
sustenance to the oppressed Serbians of Kosovo. People continue to live in
vibrant Christian faith because you help make it possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
cannot tell you how many people asked me to give thanks to the supporters of
the DMRF during my recent visit to Kosovo. Such gratitude expressed—it humbled
me to receive it. I replied, “It is not me who provides, it is all those who
are benefactors of the DMRF!” With sincerity I pass on their message to you,
HEARTFELT THANK YOU’s from the faithful Orthodox people of Kosovo!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Four
women’s monasteries comprised of holy strugglers asked me to especially thank
the benefactors of the DMRF for the blessings they’d received from the Fund. In
some cases, this meant not only food and fuel, but also appliances—a cook
stove, a refrigerator, a washing machine. Monasteries and individual families
receive new appliances according to need. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwq51bVPA2rHzkZ5mElHNCJOGQ88wSI5RiHPCZHjQc_U_AfL2q8H5JaBDsIHPCCJnwljR3hS05VFAJ5TT2M7pkKR1aMpiJSlyJhMFwDqA0A1RmNv4ZpgzmZ7c_IU-d9VYtp_9RbIUs0-I/s1600/Decani+Monastics+Nuns+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1024" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwq51bVPA2rHzkZ5mElHNCJOGQ88wSI5RiHPCZHjQc_U_AfL2q8H5JaBDsIHPCCJnwljR3hS05VFAJ5TT2M7pkKR1aMpiJSlyJhMFwDqA0A1RmNv4ZpgzmZ7c_IU-d9VYtp_9RbIUs0-I/s320/Decani+Monastics+Nuns+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe4acTFxwygDFcJ1DS1gBzUXoc9yAd6-UDRdohocxqjWGrmRMq-TThYN79PrOxu0lg0OeOydFPSCGuzpec0yQBdzmL0KbVV3iTahyr1fo965LggLbmgq1hfi0Pu_wWKA6EjB_sCUPYwBf/s1600/Decani+New+Appliances+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe4acTFxwygDFcJ1DS1gBzUXoc9yAd6-UDRdohocxqjWGrmRMq-TThYN79PrOxu0lg0OeOydFPSCGuzpec0yQBdzmL0KbVV3iTahyr1fo965LggLbmgq1hfi0Pu_wWKA6EjB_sCUPYwBf/s320/Decani+New+Appliances+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We
take so many things for granted here in the West. Essential home devices mean
so much for those who’ve lived without them. The Decani Fund gladly provides
efficient home tools so life can be less harsh and more efficient. Someone
wrote, “We live in deprivation, but with the hope of expectation.” This is very
much how it is in Kosovo today.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl8CH5k_v6Jhmli9_IQRItX92JYoSuWB_NA5koxG9zpW0cx_mdUEsf2Ht32eWC0KrY4c6QdtXAtILaQdeNM-do0WLHVANDQj7Rs4uxLnF2xAMSYGDXfb7cfbO8bcNR_fZvpm33wgRfVCd/s1600/Laundry+Machine+%2526+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl8CH5k_v6Jhmli9_IQRItX92JYoSuWB_NA5koxG9zpW0cx_mdUEsf2Ht32eWC0KrY4c6QdtXAtILaQdeNM-do0WLHVANDQj7Rs4uxLnF2xAMSYGDXfb7cfbO8bcNR_fZvpm33wgRfVCd/s320/Laundry+Machine+%2526+Man.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Let
me now FOCUS ON THE GOOD from my recent trip that I hope will inspire you as it
has me:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">During
one of my meetings with Fr. Sava, Abbot of the Decani Monastery, I learned
something new. Six students from Kosovo seek to serve the Church and
enter the seminary in Prizren. What a blessing for the Church! Even with
a population under spiritual and physical oppression, God is raising up young
men in Kosovo to serve His Church. Glory to God! <span style="color: #1f497d; margin: 0px;"></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">These
seminarians have financial needs anywhere from $250-$360 per month to undertake
their continuing education. If anyone would be willing to support a
seminarian on a monthly basis, please contact me, and I will supply details. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh70RGOiY9w0DxGqCI0K1DIgUM8q_-K7OSil3c7QG00snGGPY_1YTTAg0iuo2Uh0GzX_b0iy2wpUHy0an0_k58D6KwrwDSuUh5t66IkI2mqM4pcBGdHw4mGK-_dP6Is-M8WoNLTYHE7ws2/s1600/Seminarians+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh70RGOiY9w0DxGqCI0K1DIgUM8q_-K7OSil3c7QG00snGGPY_1YTTAg0iuo2Uh0GzX_b0iy2wpUHy0an0_k58D6KwrwDSuUh5t66IkI2mqM4pcBGdHw4mGK-_dP6Is-M8WoNLTYHE7ws2/s320/Seminarians+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">Fr. Nektarios and
seminarians</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Up
until recently, there were six soup kitchens supported by the DMRF routinely
serving the impoverished of the area. Now, I can report there are SEVEN soup
kitchens, the most recent one opened in Prekovce. It serves approximately 800
men, women & children daily. More people fed; more needs met. Thank
God for this provision! Thank God for all the people who keep the soup kitchens
up and running, day after day!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKflqAx6y0P1v2Qn_0mydLBzAdSKlt7H1vRHfXuDzdONYDy8GYrw51Zmwag_DF6XCV0quao1dGbPj0O-1gASto4GGwdZPMrEKKi6CBh0khSbkch8OHw0EOyeE_ny0NNzKRb2hLMfdpReJ/s1600/soup+kitchen+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKflqAx6y0P1v2Qn_0mydLBzAdSKlt7H1vRHfXuDzdONYDy8GYrw51Zmwag_DF6XCV0quao1dGbPj0O-1gASto4GGwdZPMrEKKi6CBh0khSbkch8OHw0EOyeE_ny0NNzKRb2hLMfdpReJ/s320/soup+kitchen+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;">Soup Kitchen in Kosovo</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Most
recently, Serbian TV (outside Kosovo) began giving focus to the humanitarian
work offered through the Kosovo soup kitchens. As a result, awareness has
heightened, and another source of support is cultivated. How this will manifest
long term is yet unknown. I can say we are hopeful for the future. Wherever God
is, wherever compassion is, the makings of miracles exist. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Earlier
this month, I had the pleasure of meeting students while making a stop to
distribute cold weather wear. Over 300 scarves, hats & gloves were
given out—the result of our early autumn scarf drive. How generous and
kind you were, dear benefactors! About 80% of the clothing fit children
and 20% fit adults. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I’ll
say this--it would’ve cost a bundle to buy all these items new. Instead,
you gathered, laundered and mailed me beautiful pieces to bring over. It
was your loving effort which made this possible. I was glad to deliver
many ready to wear items in such fantastic shape! Again, THANK YOU!</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">See this cold weather gear
video captured at a school in the village of Osojane:</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6XWXuuQUYY&feature=em-share_video_user"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6XWXuuQUYY&feature=em-share_video_user</span></a>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Food
& heating fuel (firewood) is essential for the cold weather months. That is
our Fund’s primary focus this season. During the week of November 13, the DMRF
transferred just over $5,100 to Kosovo to help cover these needs. Wire
transfers are always met with thanksgiving to God by the fathers of the Decani
Monastery! It allows them to provide practical assistance while demonstrating
God’s consistent care for His people.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Right
now, the DMRF is actively securing firewood to keep homes, schools &
monasteries supplied with winter fuel. Doing so is essential to keep people
healthy, warm and nourished. The Fund recently provided one village with
firewood. A second village then asked for the same. In faith, I said yes, we
would certainly help. Some people came to me and asked, “Fr., will there be
pork roasts for us again for the Nativity Feast?” In faith, I replied, “Yes.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Can
I make this happen? No. Rather, <b>I have faith in the generosity and love of
many people who have given before. I’ve seen loving hands unfold with gifts
that say, “Here, Fr., let’s bless the brethren. Let us do for them what they
cannot do for themselves. It is Christ’s way. Why should we be
disproportionately blessed?”</b> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd8jPmk30ZrGO7I__U8nkiaBYpqJIwWyrIs-VlYiCes0kpU_U8rtNOeSns8-2SEan7983Wv9eg8CaCVqtQHjj_D_I10AtYz8XrH3UmqM1_oY0Kt0YCzbUTA2VFeJIuebFiX7o0_e2lh16/s1600/Firewood+Dump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd8jPmk30ZrGO7I__U8nkiaBYpqJIwWyrIs-VlYiCes0kpU_U8rtNOeSns8-2SEan7983Wv9eg8CaCVqtQHjj_D_I10AtYz8XrH3UmqM1_oY0Kt0YCzbUTA2VFeJIuebFiX7o0_e2lh16/s320/Firewood+Dump.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rIJv72iXxpnKO1XbXHMGzMCXUtBIy8C_HXDaMGx-NHclsoZwxTgsrMmxzLoVAgXRJZ21E3rw2B_GmYFJP8qwdHDsBJJCpfqtRACWeDt43ibftYOhcxYRpxkNsrWyfHXPWbSzqWOhdaMX/s1600/Firewood+Fr.+Isaiah+Villagers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rIJv72iXxpnKO1XbXHMGzMCXUtBIy8C_HXDaMGx-NHclsoZwxTgsrMmxzLoVAgXRJZ21E3rw2B_GmYFJP8qwdHDsBJJCpfqtRACWeDt43ibftYOhcxYRpxkNsrWyfHXPWbSzqWOhdaMX/s320/Firewood+Fr.+Isaiah+Villagers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bh2BFmzBc3NRfYfpFlfOdD7XSCPJosj52yyVm_wT5ENx_w2_2Ot-5Tv3-RNjNQmnmyPwPZdS3pmTN8-Et14kegWcOY4UXj2JSnm2zqLQKCpxFoZVhU2E_oDa-sp-om0nJz1hnbUZd6Do/s1600/Kosovo+children+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bh2BFmzBc3NRfYfpFlfOdD7XSCPJosj52yyVm_wT5ENx_w2_2Ot-5Tv3-RNjNQmnmyPwPZdS3pmTN8-Et14kegWcOY4UXj2JSnm2zqLQKCpxFoZVhU2E_oDa-sp-om0nJz1hnbUZd6Do/s320/Kosovo+children+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">Kosovo kids happy to receive firewood!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Indeed.
<b><i>Why should we with more resources be disproportionately blessed?</i></b>
II Corinthians 9:7 states that God loves a cheerful giver. The word in Greek
for cheerful is <i>hilarós</i>. It describes spontaneous, non-reluctant giving.
Someone asks, and you respond because you are already inclined to give without
reluctance. And, why not? God makes all things possible. Especially for the
non-reluctant, spontaneous giver. The giver already knows that he or she
follows God’s way and that blessings will ensue. Such is part and parcel of a
faithful Christian life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">At
this point, I ask those who can and are willing to BE A BLESSING to one or more
of 200 families who hope and pray to have meat on their table for the Feast of
the Holy Nativity on January 7. These are families who have meat on their table
just twice a year. A pork roast that will feed a family of four for one week
costs USD 100. Would you be willing and able to provide one or more Christmas
roasts for Serbian Christians in Kosovo this season? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">These
dear people will never be able to repay you monetarily, and you will likely not
meet them in this life. Be assured they will thank God heartily for their
benefactor(s) and ask God’s blessing on you. What more can we hope for? To
bless and be blessed in return? To rejoice the heart of God? To have the good
done in faith and love eternally rewarded? To experience genuine joy within?
All these things, yes, are available to the person who participates with
compassionate love. Is that person you? Will you help us spread the
warmth and peace of true Christian love in Kosovo this season?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04_pFZtuxkfZ8cM__PKHtE1txdIb0XcZtmVdZV5N3-__Z8kurIj7sQkzLcmJCyZAb5hDe0rgudXK6apUdt3UJUePm1MV8vhqL3uFkz27l3AIQ5MmS4hnfTTTqGScH3RbheizAScnC8oa7/s1600/Serbian+Orthodox+Christmas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04_pFZtuxkfZ8cM__PKHtE1txdIb0XcZtmVdZV5N3-__Z8kurIj7sQkzLcmJCyZAb5hDe0rgudXK6apUdt3UJUePm1MV8vhqL3uFkz27l3AIQ5MmS4hnfTTTqGScH3RbheizAScnC8oa7/s320/Serbian+Orthodox+Christmas+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">A Serbian Nativity Feast
Remembrance</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">GOAL: To put a pork roast (whole pig) on the
tables of 200 families in Kosovo for the Nativity Feast. </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">PURCHASE PRICE: USD 100. per
roast. </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">PLEASE CONSIDER FEEDING ONE OR MORE FAMILIES
FOR THE NATIVITY FEAST IN KOSOVO (JANUARY 7). </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">WE ASK THAT YOU SEND YOUR GIFT BEFORE
DECEMBER 31, 2017.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Here’s
how to partner with us this season: </span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Donate via <b>Paypal</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">(use the button on our
website: <a href="http://www.thedecanifund.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.thedecanifund.org</span></a>)</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">OR</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Send a check payable to:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Decani Monastery Relief
Fund</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">2618 West Bannock Street</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Boise, ID 83702-4705</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4311585164758714541" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The
Decani Monastery Relief Fund is a 501c3 tax-exempt charity and issues receipts
for donations made. Please send your gift no later than December 31 to
receive a tax receipt for this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">God
love and bless you! Peace to you and peace to your soul!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Humbly
in our Lord Jesus Christ,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">+Very
Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">President
of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Contact
information: Cell Phone 208-860-2479 / Email <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">father@serfes.org</a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-10577039953410964832017-11-06T22:29:00.003-08:002017-11-06T22:29:52.236-08:00The Lord sees our wrest with the Enemy
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 24px;">
<span style="color: #580000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We must always remember that the
Lord sees us wrestling with the Enemy, and so we must never be afraid. Even
should all hell fall upon us, we must be brave.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxIbKf_bUtK_RobY1dZVEa98CxeCvlAuh3HUBAyJlixdnAFDVvgJOoe4oF1K6l1HIkLyV2Yh34ZFrAoAqGG1x8DW52JnYvoyNPdfdOyizDE4B6PXih92V3mkNjIhCfcQ1sxrvJh6vVlye/s1600/St.+Silouan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxIbKf_bUtK_RobY1dZVEa98CxeCvlAuh3HUBAyJlixdnAFDVvgJOoe4oF1K6l1HIkLyV2Yh34ZFrAoAqGG1x8DW52JnYvoyNPdfdOyizDE4B6PXih92V3mkNjIhCfcQ1sxrvJh6vVlye/s1600/St.+Silouan.png" /></a><span style="color: #580000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-32626654635110352042017-10-09T06:06:00.001-07:002017-10-09T06:06:47.235-07:00On Serenity and its Development
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<strong><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">If we look to correct ourselves and look more intently towards our </span></strong><em><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">inner </span></em><strong><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">activity - rather
than our external, giving precedence to divine help - we can, in turn, be of
greater and more positive help to others. We will also achieve an inner
serenity that will quietly help the souls of the people we encounter, because
spiritual serenity reflects the virtue of the soul and transforms souls.</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TR_0MNnn3hdTRdk818WnxlM-0Z0hzbz4FTMlS1rYRivgZJNiuimHif7_qL_HBlDNLNPrfiOANR2t6XReXXJWUXzz9HI_S-bZz0Q1oQzr9F5MIgSk_HkTYLRS5K2I2CHGsUvpEPKlhTV6/s1600/St.+Paisios+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TR_0MNnn3hdTRdk818WnxlM-0Z0hzbz4FTMlS1rYRivgZJNiuimHif7_qL_HBlDNLNPrfiOANR2t6XReXXJWUXzz9HI_S-bZz0Q1oQzr9F5MIgSk_HkTYLRS5K2I2CHGsUvpEPKlhTV6/s1600/St.+Paisios+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">When someone applies himself to external activity, before having polished
his spiritual inner state, he may struggle spiritually; but he will be fraught
with worry, anxiety, lack of confidence in God and frequent loss of
serenity. If he does not improve himself, he cannot say that his interest
for the common good is pure. When he is liberated from the old self and
all worldly things, then he will receive divine Grace; and be not only at peace
with himself, but also able to bring peace to everyone else.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></strong></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-92030186015610956252017-09-30T17:36:00.000-07:002017-09-30T17:36:11.778-07:00October 1--A Short Life of St. Romanos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfvJBPba9pf9UDonPG9DNOLWWR_-l9WT0KVlJtQnKJ0GieDCSdALezWkCf_VjcZnC3JRxWNRDLGaYYILABY5Dz1oBBKl9pr0ljv4RTvFZ2wg60M52c-nYiH7XhSW8AcGoTm4X0QKq94XO/s1600/St.+Romanos+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfvJBPba9pf9UDonPG9DNOLWWR_-l9WT0KVlJtQnKJ0GieDCSdALezWkCf_VjcZnC3JRxWNRDLGaYYILABY5Dz1oBBKl9pr0ljv4RTvFZ2wg60M52c-nYiH7XhSW8AcGoTm4X0QKq94XO/s1600/St.+Romanos+1.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxpdlesudY"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxpdlesudY</span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">God’s
blessings on all those with Romanos as their Patron Saint, who celebrate their
Name Day on October 1!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_nFDi5-PdOaahlMvixwQiVSDc_OR0WQB5yj5B_fUhnpm84Y50cjCuXJmjE-KgPtmpDmqKe6Nahcd9UUPJoUopPEDyHq0PMlODyXkSHZYJA5I0RbK7ditqSiSdeH6dPeqWfThJG6AW_j0/s1600/St.+Romanos+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_nFDi5-PdOaahlMvixwQiVSDc_OR0WQB5yj5B_fUhnpm84Y50cjCuXJmjE-KgPtmpDmqKe6Nahcd9UUPJoUopPEDyHq0PMlODyXkSHZYJA5I0RbK7ditqSiSdeH6dPeqWfThJG6AW_j0/s1600/St.+Romanos+2.png" /></a></div>
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Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-87910058234793134112017-09-29T07:56:00.000-07:002017-09-29T07:56:06.824-07:00Forgiveness Requires Courage<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">A
blog posting from Fr. Alexis Trader, Orthodox monastic, on his website: </span><a href="https://ancientchristianwisdom.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/forgiveness-requires-courage/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://ancientchristianwisdom.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/forgiveness-requires-courage/</span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">July 8, 2014 </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBZXNb50gDuncXRiUT5z3mvJusGjmRH0zYNHhuyNTZFpblHu2WUA4iq1_gnRkkfmwPogsfDf9-JIjlAc_W-Efrtx2ksKrj9HNpV47lk6bLHhN8GKRcDDsmsT6ydWrX7TjXhg6AWA0PAaA/s1600/Lutheran+Rose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBZXNb50gDuncXRiUT5z3mvJusGjmRH0zYNHhuyNTZFpblHu2WUA4iq1_gnRkkfmwPogsfDf9-JIjlAc_W-Efrtx2ksKrj9HNpV47lk6bLHhN8GKRcDDsmsT6ydWrX7TjXhg6AWA0PAaA/s1600/Lutheran+Rose.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Anyone who has experienced forgiving another human being
recognizes that the act of loosening our grip and extending our hand that has
recently been bitten requires courage, courage to act like Christ when our
impulses drive us to act like wounded beasts. We know this on an experiential,
intuitive level. Psychologists, however, have confirmed that fact in their
study of forgiveness.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br />
In his dissertation, John W. Beiter writes, “Thoresen (2001) highlighted that
forgiveness was difficult, demanding and requiring courage.” Courage can be
defined as a willingness and ability to face fear, pain, danger, uncertainty,
hardship, death, or public disapproval. Courage is also required in order to
let go of anger and the desire for revenge when one has been wronged or offended
by another, to leave behind the dog-eat-dog world where we usually live, and to
step into the unfamiliar terrain of the Gospel of Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">That forgiveness requires courage means that forgiveness is not a moral
calculation or a balance on the scales of justice. Courage means we leave those
calculations and balances on the side. Courage is required to forgive our
brother without reflecting upon whether he deserves it. Forgiveness is,
moreover, a courageous act of love that requires patience. Saint Ephraim the
Syrian once said, “The life of the righteous was radiant. How did it become
radiant if it wasn’t by patience? Love patience, O monk, as the mother of
courage.” Patience in keeping God’s commandments provides the courage to do so
in times of trial and temptation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">How is courage linked to forgiveness? In so far that it takes courage to be
a Christian, in so far that it takes courage to be a person of faith, in so far
that it takes courage to be obedient to the Gospel of Christ in a world that
runs on the basis of other laws and criteria, it requires courage to forgive.
After all, Saint Paul described the Christian as a courageous warrior of light:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17). Is courage useful
in forgiveness? In so far as it is linked to doing all to stand, meaning doing all
to be bearers of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, “love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, benevolence, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control” (Galatians 5:23), courage is undoubtedly most useful for those
who long to forgive.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Consider for a moment, the absence of courage. In such a condition is
forgiveness even possible? Saint Isaac the Syrian writes in Homily 40,
“Faintness of heart is a sign of despondency, and negligence is the mother of
both. A cowardly man shows that he suffers from two diseases: love of his flesh
and lack of faith; for love of one’s flesh is a sign of unbelief. But he who
despises the love of the flesh proves that he believes in God with his whole
heart and awaits the age to come. . . A courageous heart and scorn of perils comes
from one of two causes: either from hardness of heart or from great faith in
God. Pride accompanies hardness of heart, but humility accompanies faith. A man
cannot acquire hope in God unless he first does His will with exactness. For
hope in God and manliness of heart are born of the testimony of the conscience,
and by the truthful testimony of the mind we possess confidence towards God.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Saint Isaac makes the important point that Christian courage is the courage
of the humble and soft-hearted, not the courage of the proud and hard-hearted.
To have a humble and soft-heart after being wounded requires more courage than
the most lion-hearted soldier, a super-human courage that can only be attained
and sustained through faith and hope in God. To stop nursing one’s wounds and
to start turning to God are acts of courage that are also antecedents to
forgiveness, turning to our neighbors and nursing their wounds. The notions of
courage, faith, hope, patience and a strengthened heart are expressed most
beautifully in psalm 26: “I believe that I shall see the good things of the
Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be thou manful, and let thy
heart be strengthened, and wait on the Lord.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Since forgiveness is central to the Christian life, courage is an
indispensable virtue. It is not possible to live the Christian life without the
heroic courage of the righteous. Saint John Chrysostom remarks, “Sin makes man
a coward; but a life in the Truth of Christ makes Him bold” (St. John
Chrysostom, On the Statues, VIII. 2).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The more we forgive, the more courage we gather within our heart which in
turn makes it easier to forgive the next time, and the time after that, and
seventy-times seven that follow. When we begin living according to a life in
Christ, our world changes, we perceive those around us differently. We begin to
see them as Christ sees them. Most importantly, we recognize the grace of
Christ operative in our lives. We can then echo the words of Saint Paul, “I can
do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phillippians 4:13) and
that includes forgiving everyone, even those who have wronged us grievously.</span></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-48172800818520170352017-09-11T11:51:00.001-07:002017-09-11T11:51:46.620-07:00Remember, O Lord, those who have Fallen Asleep
<span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today we solemnly remember those who lost their lives, suddenly,
unexpectedly here in the United States through terrorism attacks on September
11, 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">What recourse do Orthodox people have in remembrance of all
these individuals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a beautiful
akathist, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Akathist for the Reposed</b>,
which covers all manner of departures from this life and may be prayed for both
Orthodox and non-Orthodox people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
a consoling canon of prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a
link to the akathist:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.orthodox.net/akathists/akathist-for-those-who-have-fallen-asleep.pdf"><span style="color: #4c0000;">http://www.orthodox.net/akathists/akathist-for-those-who-have-fallen-asleep.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp1zgCoLGzpDFQo88j-OaZBSjdBkQmd6yJBGPJLgR-IbbeHH-MMb7nZkJbsP1VPpvDk2kdCIz3wUQRrmj0QNGTJ8rDbM3C3ceeAsL5QLwjApKpWdujmIyNEf63tgAzFeOLh_7-X7-gvRZ/s1600/Book+of+Akathists+Vol+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp1zgCoLGzpDFQo88j-OaZBSjdBkQmd6yJBGPJLgR-IbbeHH-MMb7nZkJbsP1VPpvDk2kdCIz3wUQRrmj0QNGTJ8rDbM3C3ceeAsL5QLwjApKpWdujmIyNEf63tgAzFeOLh_7-X7-gvRZ/s1600/Book+of+Akathists+Vol+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here is a way to bring comfort to the souls that only God really
knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May His will be accomplished in
ways unknown to us, that lie beyond our comprehension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we yet have time, let us pray.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1QS3aTSRh37Z66_s0nrh5J409N9xx9e1l7qjoFFabkipYuEErfD1wZfxhBmlKfyKANNYKzkzoUwHRaJySF4ipQyEE4KfE5dnl9mjjCZ7LOApoiv6hnFjCwWIlrDXZXOh8j8kE9suDxCW/s1600/911+Victims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1024" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1QS3aTSRh37Z66_s0nrh5J409N9xx9e1l7qjoFFabkipYuEErfD1wZfxhBmlKfyKANNYKzkzoUwHRaJySF4ipQyEE4KfE5dnl9mjjCZ7LOApoiv6hnFjCwWIlrDXZXOh8j8kE9suDxCW/s400/911+Victims.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographs of those killed during the terrorist
attacks* on Sept. 11, 2001. </span></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Jeeny via United States Department of
Justice</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*missing are photos of 92 additional victims (apart
from the terrorists which do not appear above)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv3_wS7WXhJC7tvCIaK8iTuCR8Ln9UYSxueWo0ScmuN2b1WuvU6tfq2P9PQ4nhvZ2kH2wJtGxaWhwqo1Xtb-_fMPKBryd6nA6cFR_LrtzkPcXxobwV2zCHBc9KLO6wOx5FeRc7ncK5Ubx/s1600/911+attacks+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv3_wS7WXhJC7tvCIaK8iTuCR8Ln9UYSxueWo0ScmuN2b1WuvU6tfq2P9PQ4nhvZ2kH2wJtGxaWhwqo1Xtb-_fMPKBryd6nA6cFR_LrtzkPcXxobwV2zCHBc9KLO6wOx5FeRc7ncK5Ubx/s1600/911+attacks+map.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2"
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visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title=""/>
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Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-3077187683166430022017-09-09T20:20:00.003-07:002017-09-09T20:20:57.321-07:00A Prayer Against Bad Weather
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">A Prayer
Against Bad Weather</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">O Master, Lord
our God, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who through Thy Consubstantial and Beginningless Word </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and Thy
Life-Giving Spirit</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who is equal
in honor, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">hath brought everything out of nothingness into being; </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who hath set
sandy barriers to the sea, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and weighed the mountains and the valleys in a
balance; </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who hath
measured the skies and holdeth the water in the palm of Thy hand; </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who hath given
to this visible world of the senses its laws and rules, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">its harmony and order; </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who hath
appointed changes to the weather </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and variations in the orbit of the sun; </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who, through
the mingling of the elements, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">holdeth all things together by Thine
inexpressible power, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and keep them
from harm and intact: </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Do Thou
Thyself, O All-Good King, </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">extending to
us Thine innate and customary love and goodness,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">visit the
works of Thy hands. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Do not deprive
us of Thy mercies and Thy compassion, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and do not
destroy Thine inheritance, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">for Thou didst
ineffably create us in Thine own image. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thou hast
given Thine Only-Begotten Son as a ransom for us, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and through
the mystical communion of Thy Spirit </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">hath made us to share in Thine own
Divinity;</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">forgive, we
pray, the multitude of our sins, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">in the far greater multitude of Thy
mercies. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thou didst
wash away the sin of mankind </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">through the Cross and the Blood of Thy Son. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Restore the
world of nature, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">which hath
been grievously disturbed into an unnatural state </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">because of the unruliness and
disorderliness </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">of our lawless and corrupt behavior, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and bring it
back to its natural harmony and order. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Make the great
ocean return to its usual calmness,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">bring to an
end the tempest and the disturbance of the elements </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">that threaten us, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">order the
winds to blow once more with gentleness and moderation. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rebuke the
raging of the sea and the unnatural violence of the gales; </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">allow the
spirit of the storm to be stilled, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and the
tempest to be returned to tranquility. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Through the
intercessions of the Most-Blessed Lady Theotokos, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">of the
God-like Angels and all the Saints, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and through
the good pleasure and love of Thine Only-Begotten Son, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">with Whom Thou
art blessed,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">together with
Thine All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">now and ever, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and unto the
ages of ages. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">AMEN.</span></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-23038618344069863042017-08-28T21:09:00.000-07:002017-08-28T21:09:22.871-07:00Hurricane Harvey--Providing Relief
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">From
the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) website</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #080808; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">IOCC is closely monitoring the
progression of Hurricane Harvey as it continues to impact Southern Texas and
Louisiana. IOCC staff remains in contact with partners, including members of
national and local VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and
expresses concern for the well-being of the people in the path of the storm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #080808; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Additionally, IOCC is activating its
Emergency Response Network, the Frontliners, to deploy in the coming days to
help the people affected by the storm with emotional and spiritual care and
conducting needs assessments. Even after their deployment, IOCC’s work to clean
and rebuild homes will continue into the weeks and months following the storm’s
devastation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; text-transform: uppercase;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; text-transform: uppercase;">How Can You Help?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #080808; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">IOCC continues praying for the
safety and well-being of those affected by this storm. Your gift to our <b>Hurricane
Harvey Response Fund</b> will help us to react quickly and effectively to
conditions in Southern Texas and Louisiana as they unfold. Your help will
provide immediate relief, as well as long-term support through the provision of
emergency aid, recovery assistance, and other support to help those in need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">To
make a donation, visit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.iocc.org/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.iocc.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pres.
Candace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-11282588263121511742017-08-15T17:45:00.001-07:002017-08-15T17:45:25.865-07:00What's happening in Kosovo these days?
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 22pt;">Pogrom</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">from the Russian meaning
literally <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">destruction or devastation
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">(usually referring to a
town or country). </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On behalf of the Decani Monastery Relief
Fund<br />
+ Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, President</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you knew someone was suffering under a
pogrom, would you step in to deliver the person? Would you make an effort,
because if you turned a blind eye or deaf ear, someone’s suffering would
intensify? What if death would result without your intervention? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sounds drastic, doesn’t it? It is. What if
the intent of the pogrom was targeted at members of your family? Today, members
of Christ’s Body, our Christian family, are suffering a pogrom in Kosovo. An
on-going pogrom—now in its 20th year! Hard to believe, isn’t it? Imagine living
with both deprivation and Christian persecution in various forms for two
decades running. It is no small thing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is suffering intensifying in Kosovo &
Metohija? Yes! Could death result without intervention? Yes! Has death already
occurred? Yes! The pogrom in Kosovo has taken various forms over the years. The
express purpose has been to demoralize and drive the remaining Serbian Orthodox
Christian population from their native province.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">Terror is
the Game<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
The on-going pogrom includes various forms of terror—physical harassment and
harm, unexpected deaths. Property damage. Destruction of homes, leaving some
homeless and others now living in shipping containers. Destruction of 160
churches and monasteries in the region, some dating back to the 12th century.
Vandalizing and desecration of 400 cemeteries in the area. Theft of vehicles,
farm equipment and farm animals. Unexpected loss of utility services
(electricity—often resulting in food spoilage, lack of light and water service
in some areas). A growing scarcity of food. High gas prices. Lack of medical
services—only two hospitals in the region are allowed to serve the Serbian
population—and they are very poorly equipped as of this writing. Most pregnant
women opt to take the long ride to Belgrade (a 6 hour drive away) in order to
deliver a child safely. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
All the above are deplorable circumstances, DELIBERATELY inflicted on the
Serbian population by the current Albanian majority to drive them out of Kosovo
for good! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">aka Ethnic Cleansing</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marko Djuric, Republic of Serbia Director
of the Office for Kosovo & Metohija, recently reported, “We should also
bear in mind the fact that two-thirds of Kosovo’s pre-war Serbian population
remain refugees and only about 120,000 still live in Kosovo and Metohija in
poor economic conditions and political isolation while over 200,000 now live in
central Serbia.” He also pointed out that over 80,000 houses and apartments in
Kosovo are now used by other people, and together with security problems, are
the biggest obstacles preventing the Serbs’ return to Kosovo. Those who do return
may find bullet holes in their homes along with routine harassment by their
Albanian “neighbors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">How the EU Spends Money in
Kosovo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s interesting to note that the European
Union has invested the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo with 60 billion Euros
to date. However, for the Serbian population of Kosovo—NOTHING.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Serbs previously driven from Kosovo, who
then want to return, face obstacles as noted. Is it any wonder why the ethnic
Albanians continue to push for their ouster? Thus, the long-standing,
intensified pogrom continues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">Neutralizing the Assault<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
One of the more effective tools used in the pogrom is the lack of available
food. Lack of food is the greatest concern right now. The Decani Monastery
Relief Fund is routinely tapped for assistance in providing food. With your
help we will continue to source and provide needed food for the oppressed
population. Most often this requires us to travel outside the province to
source provisions. This is just one of the many ministries the fathers of the
Decani Monastery provide for the brethren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Funds received by the DMRF are applied in
these ways: <br />
• Routinely providing staple foods for families and monasteries<br />
• Providing farm animals and farm equipment<br />
• Providing food for six active soup kitchen ministries in the region<br />
• Providing needed medical supplies and equipment<br />
• Providing funds to help cover utility bills for families and monasteries<br />
• Providing a hot lunch for students (a necessity during cold seasons)<br />
• Providing firewood to heat homes, schools & monasteries during cold
seasons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">Overcoming Evil With Good<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You can relieve those who are suffering a
spiritual pogrom thinly disguised as a physical one. Yes, this pogrom is
physical and needs are acute. Even so, the Christians recognize the true battle
is spiritual as it is in every place where Christian persecution exists. Now is
the time to save the brethren by your prayers and your material support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Decani Monastery Relief Fund exists for
this purpose. With your support, we will let the brethren know, TANGIBLY, that
they are not forgotten by God. His people remain the lifeline for their support
during these times of crisis and uncertainty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">You CAN Provide
Deliverance--TODAY!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Help us meet this crucial need, please. Let
the persecutors be put to shame by the loving care these Christians receive
from you! There is a genuine need—there is a pogrom in progress and you can be
deliverers in Christ’s name through the Decani Monastery Relief Fund. Your
generous response will speak volumes to the hearts of suffering Serbian
Christians. You cannot know the depth of their need or their appreciation when
they find there is a way to cope with these on-going hardships. Assuredly, God
knows and will reward everyone for their generous and loving deeds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Donations can be made on-line via Paypal on
our website: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedecanifund.org%2F&h=ATOouWnPRt2UJ5goI5MRxeoIYRCorqRVz740EYQRaOLtl-ipf8QirO6SBqnb41u-fxU5AsfhUsqFrz30BuYca1ttIdsgMs4BlOBkm-dYVtjFO05oGX4tqDH-BrWra9k0hsNoUuwz1vKXdYoSmlAe4baXwwwboHsPZxvSL2Uw-t8YEev8ScSKMnb3AFROYeJ39ZSdFgkhgUNJZ-oC4zPLhNr7ZsZJ4QiHtU5YdUIJGvz8rbwiFeckz0REigScr5V8EQ4rvDdaqtDT22witAxGS4OZ23zxABq4jq8gy3Xs6FNL" target="_blank"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.thedecanifund.org</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Or by mail: Decani Monastery Relief Fund<br />
c/o Very Reverend Nektarios Serfes<br />
2618 West Bannock Street<br />
Boise, ID 83702</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You will receive a receipt for your gift. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The DMRF is a tax-exempt charity. For those
who might be wondering, the DMRF runs “lean.” We have no paid staff, all who
serve the Fund do it voluntarily. We are a “no overhead” organization. All the
proceeds given to the Fund go to Kosovo to meet needs there. So, the money you
give yields maximum effect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Love of God will Reign
in Kosovo </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">Because You Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Unless we see with our own eyes we may not
realize the severity and its effect when food runs short. But I assure you, the
situation is critical and the DMRF will help with whatever means God provides.
Your gift today will nourish people physically. In doing so, you will save this
now Christian minority population from a severe humanitarian crisis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We ask, too, that you remember and sustain
the brethren of Kosovo and Metohija spiritually through your prayers. They pray
for you, too—their benefactors!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">God remember your love and reward it
eternally in His Kingdom! Thank you! Peace to your soul!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Humbly in our Lord Jesus Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">+ Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios
Serfes<br />
Who always prays for you!</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-77396781302663623202017-08-04T07:05:00.000-07:002017-08-04T07:05:14.722-07:00A Godly Reminder: 1 Timothy 2:1-3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-65254633260515355782017-08-01T07:38:00.002-07:002017-08-01T07:38:53.547-07:00Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol speaks on the Signs of the Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #5c0000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beautiful and inspiring talk given by Metropolitan Athanasios:</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://pemptousia.com/video/metropolitan-of-lemesus-athanasios-signs-of-the-times/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://pemptousia.com/video/metropolitan-of-lemesus-athanasios-signs-of-the-times/</span></a></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-55298061814375670572017-07-28T07:41:00.001-07:002017-07-28T07:41:29.892-07:00The Armor of God
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 0.67em 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Putting on the Armor of God: </span></span></h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 0.67em 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Being a Warrior When it’s Popular to Be a Weaner</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being a warrior for Christ has no minimum age or athletic
qualifications. All warriors for Christ, however, must want to “be men” or “be
manly”. It means to be what a human is really meant to be: brave, courageous,
and authentic in obedience to God.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #909090; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.pravmir.com/author/user_1289841250/"><span style="color: blue;">Archpriest Thaddaeus
Hardenbrook</span></a> | 08 November 2014</span><span style="color: #909090; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saint Nestor was only a teenager when he decided he’d had enough
of the local Christians being slaughtered in forced combat against a giant
named Lyaeus. The Emperor Maximian had set up a raised platform in the center
of Thessaloniki where he forced Christians to fight for their lives against the
seemingly unconquerable Vandal mercenary “who was a beast in both appearance
and character.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nestor was thin and not very tall, but apparently that did not
concern him. He visited Saint Demetrios in prison and took his blessing to
challenge Lyaeus. The saint made the sign of the cross over his head and heart,
prophesying, “You will both be victorious and suffer for Christ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nestor entered the city center and approached the combat platform.
Around the platform were numerous spears set into the ground. Lyaeus had made a
name for himself by hurling his defeated victims down onto the spears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">So young and slight of build was Nestor that both the emperor and
the Vandal hesitated to accept his challenge. But when he explained he would be
victorious by the power of Christ, both men longed to see him dead. Mounting
the platform, Nestor cried out, “O God of Demetrios, help me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lyaeus charged at him from across the platform, and wonder of
wonders, Nestor engaged him, deftly steered his momentum, and threw him from
the platform onto the very spears that had killed so many Christians. The crowd
exploded spontaneously, “Great is the God of Demetrios!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Soon afterwards, both Saints Demetrios and Nestor were put to
death for their faith. Yet clearly they were not “afraid of those who kill the
body, and after that have no more that they can do” (Lk. 12:4). They had “put
on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:11). They stood, girded their waists with
truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod their feet with the
readiness of the gospel of peace, and took up the shield of faith, the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. They were warriors of Christ and
victors to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being a warrior for Christ has no minimum age or athletic
qualifications; the child-martyr Kyriacos was only three years old, but that’s
another story. All warriors for Christ, however, must want to “be men” or “be
manly” (1 Cor. 16:13). This doesn’t mean to be masculine (the term “manly” is
used to describe female saints as often as male); it means to be what a human
is really meant to be: brave, courageous, and authentic in obedience to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">When we are little, obedience to our parents teaches us how to
obey. As “men,” adults, we put that ability into action in our relationship
with God. Obeying God is manly; it’s what authentically mature humans do. And
that obedience leads us to a courageous and brave Christian existence. It leads
us on the way of being warriors for the heavenly kingdom, where we vanquish, by
the power of Christ, “principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of
this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Spiritual
battle is the life, and the identity, of the Christian warrior, the grown-up
Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I was a kid, my grandfather once took me to look over a bunch
of young calves on the ranch next to his. They were in a large corral, newly
separated from their mothers, mooing mournfully, and clearly unhappy with the
new arrangement. Some fretted their loss, some lashed out angrily at their
neighbors, while others just found a corner to mope in. “All of them just got
finished being weaned from their mothers; that’s why we call ’em weaners. It’s
time for them to grow up whether they want to or not. It’s just the way life
is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">He laughed aloud as he surveyed the self-pitying critters. “Take a
good look at them, the way they’re all acting as if life’s too tough.” Then he
turned to me with a little “get-ready-for-some-words-of-wisdom” in his eyes.
“You can be a lot of things in life, but don’t be a weaner.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Through the prayers of the holy warriors Demetrios and Nestor!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.slocc.com/newsletter/GV_11_07_14.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">St. Lawrence Orthodox Church</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.pravmir.com/putting-armor-god-warrior-s-popular-weaner/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.pravmir.com/putting-armor-god-warrior-s-popular-weaner/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-76749905904949323712017-07-20T07:59:00.000-07:002017-07-20T07:59:19.329-07:00Overcome Evil With Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87OabXSEUJYTXQ_zOkFy3czvWj5oVKKgFSEw5zLcxn8BW7SH2fqM60i8Pwm26WiKuH9sAZi99TzY6zI65cYBsD2D8xuouHx9WilkzXxvHCabQbShy8AH6_IXzAQH4lHCf8mosqNhGNBqi/s1600/Romans+1221.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87OabXSEUJYTXQ_zOkFy3czvWj5oVKKgFSEw5zLcxn8BW7SH2fqM60i8Pwm26WiKuH9sAZi99TzY6zI65cYBsD2D8xuouHx9WilkzXxvHCabQbShy8AH6_IXzAQH4lHCf8mosqNhGNBqi/s1600/Romans+1221.png" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: #6c0000; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Give thanks to God for
everything. Try to be manly. Pull yourself together a bit. Do you know what
Christians are suffering in other countries? There are such difficulties in
Russia! But here many exhibit indifference. There’s not enough disposition to
kindness, love of devotion. You see, if we don’t begin to make war against
evil, to expose those who tempt believers, then the evil will grow larger. If
we throw aside fear then the faithful will be emboldened a bit. And those who
wage war against the Church will have a harder time. In the past our nation
lived spiritually, so God blessed her, and the saints helped us in miraculous
fashion. And we were victorious against our enemies, who always outnumbered us.
Today we continue to call ourselves Orthodox Christians, but we don’t live
Orthodox lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_k4rgFVG69BwdiAzCogJxMX4vaHorcp10RzHQJLe-UJWulkYHcaB1FT3WFZI3kdpkZzLg3ImM0bx2Xmb8fhayLI1lfOafxtS7Wi_uZdtgdI8tBK8PyP9e4TLa65jvs7nUc2gQ0fCqx4h/s1600/Ephesians+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="533" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_k4rgFVG69BwdiAzCogJxMX4vaHorcp10RzHQJLe-UJWulkYHcaB1FT3WFZI3kdpkZzLg3ImM0bx2Xmb8fhayLI1lfOafxtS7Wi_uZdtgdI8tBK8PyP9e4TLa65jvs7nUc2gQ0fCqx4h/s320/Ephesians+6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-63700873798030807222017-04-23T17:40:00.000-07:002017-04-23T17:40:05.129-07:00Great Martyr George & Thomas Sunday
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well
done video on the life of St. George here:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://trisagionfilms.com/project/holy-great-martyr-george/"><span style="color: blue;">http://trisagionfilms.com/project/holy-great-martyr-george/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>PLUS</b>:</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 16pt;">We are More Blessed than
the Apostles</span></b><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLQGsdXl4aL25M7OLswfq4EpUVNmXCaB4Ddd359H_mxrpydmxBmZHCi_vjSPugCzgqJVBSpbNurqPQEah0K5I5kM6smAY455bFmTkUwm9SS_pAq1FUgjhxiUN2sE5N99dnw-DNSE0TmME/s1600/Thomas+Sunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLQGsdXl4aL25M7OLswfq4EpUVNmXCaB4Ddd359H_mxrpydmxBmZHCi_vjSPugCzgqJVBSpbNurqPQEah0K5I5kM6smAY455bFmTkUwm9SS_pAq1FUgjhxiUN2sE5N99dnw-DNSE0TmME/s320/Thomas+Sunday.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Christ is Risen! </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">We heard in the Gospel
reading today about what assurance one of the twelve apostles—the apostle
Thomas—received. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The Lord appeared to the
disciples after His Resurrection. When He appeared, He showed them His hands
and feet as proof of His Resurrection, and did so more than once. But the
apostle Thomas, who was not present with them, expressed some <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/63249.htm"><span style="color: blue;">doubt</span></a>, and responded to
the words of the disciples about how they had seen the Lord, <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Except I shall see in his hands the print
of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand
into his side, I will not believe</span></em> (Jn. 20:25). </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Eight days later the
merciful Lord again appeared to the disciples, gathered in one house behind
closed doors, and said to Thomas: <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust
it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing</span></em> (Jn. 20:27).
The apostle Thomas’ doubt has become to some extent proverbial, has grown
wings, and become common knowledge, and often causes us modern Christians to
even condemn the apostle Thomas. We wonder, how could he have doubted? In
reality, even in the Gospels we see that there is nothing surprising in this.
The apostle Thomas was not alone in his doubt.</span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">If we look closely at the
Gospel events after Christ’s Resurrection, we see with what doubt the apostles
often responded to what was happening. They did not believe <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/95900.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Mary Magdalene</span></a> (cf. Mk.
16:9-11), and they did not believe Luke and Cleopas, when the Lord appeared to
them on the road to Emmaus (cf. Lk. 24:1316), but they constantly doubted.
Therefore, to confirm them in faith, the Lord gave confirmation of His human
nature, by eating before them and showing them His wounds. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">But what fruit the
apostle Thomas’ doubt brought the Church! The Lord again proved that He is the
true God, and that He is risen from the dead. And the Church even lauds this
unbelief of Thomas in its hymns today, thanks to which we are strengthened in
faith. Faith only asserts itself by this unbelief. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">nd the apostles, having
often betrayed Christ, having feared just like normal people, and having
experienced doubts, proved this faith with their whole lives and their
apostolic ministries. They were stronger than the rulers of this world,
stronger than the laws, stronger than pagan teachings, and stronger than the
Pharisees with their ancient traditions; and they feared nothing, preaching the
Gospel to all ends of the universe. They gave their lives for Christ, and like
their Teacher, they also proved that life is mightier than death, and that the
Lord is more important for us all than the temporary fulfillment of our
passions. The apostles belonged to the family of those who saw Christ and
believed. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Returning then to today’s
Gospel reading, the Savior’s words, addressed to the apostle Thomas and the
other disciples, acquire a particular importance for us. After the Lord showed
Thomas His wounds, he said, <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">My
Lord and my God!</span></em> (Jn. 20:28). This is the witness he brought. And
Jesus answered, <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Because thou hast
seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed</span></em> (Jn. 20:29).</span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">This firstly refers to
the following generations of Christians, to the disciples of the apostles, the
disciples of those disciples, and to us all. We have not seen Christ, come into
the world in the flesh, and therefore we are worthy of such blessedness—having
not seen Him, we believe. The fathers of the Church say that this bliss is a
pledge of great blessings for us, perhaps greater than the holy apostles were
accounted worthy of, but on condition that we, like the apostles, full of this
blessedness, must give our entire lives to Christ, and serve His Gospel evangelism.
This is the condition for felicity. Such a great gift the Lord gives us: We are
more blessed in this world than the apostles.</span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">There is another kind of
people, who saw Christ and heard the Gospel message, but remained unbelieving.
First among these was the Pharisees and the <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/102269.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Sadducees</span></a>, who
understood Who it was that stood before them, Who came into this world. These
were people of the Scripture, perfectly knowing the prophecies, but they did
not receive Christ. And we, Christians, knowing the Gospel, often find
ourselves in their place. Sometimes our knowledge as if further removes us from
Christ. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">It is especially
important for people who have studied theology. How often, as historical examples
tell us, people who have seemingly reached the heights of mental knowledge of
God, having studied everything, having read everything, become terrible cynics
and lead others into yet greater destruction. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">May it not be so with us,
dear brothers and sisters; may we be along with the apostles simple, faithful,
sincere, and, of course, to the best of our ability, students and preachers of
the risen Christ; may we be bearers of the good news of the all-conquering
Gospel truth. </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Christ is Risen! </span></div>
<div class="os" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/authors/729.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov)</span></a><br />
Translated by Jesse Dominick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/46223.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pravoslavie.ru</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">23 / 04 / 2017</span>Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-57040552831146171002017-04-21T07:46:00.001-07:002017-04-21T20:17:50.778-07:00Five Rules of Paschal Joy<em></em> Source: <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/102789.htm">http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/102789.htm</a><br />
(Photos which are part of this article may be viewed at the link above).<br />
<em></em><br />
<em>According to what rules does Paschal joy abide in the soul, and what should we do if this joy leaves us?</em> <br />
<div class="os" data-enum="p2" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p3" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<em>Irina Sechina of</em> Milorsedie.ru <em>speaks [Russian] with Archpriest Konstantin Ostrovsky, head of the Krasnogorsk Deanery near Moscow:</em> </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p3" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p4" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
It is disappointing that after all the labors of <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/68863.htm">Great Lent</a>, <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/102781.htm">Paschal joy</a>, having barely given comfort to our souls, quickly vanishes. We sadly eat our shish kebab and despondently watch our TV series—we are finally allowed to do that. But maybe our sorrow is not about this? </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p4" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p5" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Joy does not depend on the feast.</strong></div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p5" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p6" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
It is a common occurrence when we, like other sinful people, immediately after <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/61202.htm">Pascha</a> return to the habits that we gave up for the time of Great Lent. Father Konstantin believes that spiritual “backsliding” of this kind is in the order of things.</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p6" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p7" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“Through this the Lord shows us our weaknesses, so that we might learn humility. Many good virtues in us are poisoned by pride. This happens to each of us when as a person gets proud of his spiritual accomplishments.”</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p7" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p8" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
True, it is disappointing that we tend to quickly and to no purpose squander all that we gained over Great Lent. But we are disappointed not because we lose something good and precious but because we thought that we were able to preserve all this, that we would be good forever. It seemed we had enough strength to do it.</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p8" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p9" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“According to <a href="https://www.google.ru/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjXj6j23a3TAhVPSZoKHZw0B3YQFggsMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pravoslavie.ru%2F76729.html&usg=AFQjCNG2sHGdjjcAhuDhl0_bJzWiTNG_rA"> St. Theophan the Recluse</a>, if a humble person commits some minor sin, it does not surprise him. But if an arrogant person commits a sin, it comes as quite a surprise.” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p10" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
And the latter may lose heart. In Fr. Konstantin’s view, the Lord teaches us in this way, and our main task is to reconcile ourselves to it. Then peace and joy will reign in our souls, and it will not depend on feasts or daily life. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p10" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p11" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“The life of every single person is in the hands of God. Each one of us. In order to feel it with all our hearts we need to commit our own selves into the hands of God, so that our only desire is to do the will of the Almighty. And the Lord also leaves something in us for training, in order to comfort us when we are meek and to humble us when we are arrogant.” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p12" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="content_image center link zoom" data-href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102358/235847.b.jpg" data-id="1" style="width: 550px;" title=" Photo by Photosight.ru.">
</div>
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p12" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Joy does not tolerate <a href="https://www.google.ru/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwiZ3o6T3q3TAhUzS5oKHXqCBcgQFgguMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pravoslavie.ru%2Fenglish%2F71829.htm&usg=AFQjCNFDbDqO5HbC1O35_GOjO86MfQN7LQ"> pride</a>.</strong></div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p12" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p14" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
In Fr. Konstantin’s opinion, our pride mingles with all aspects of our life, which are poisoned by it; thus, our spiritual joy as well as genuine repentance are transient. “We are unable to rejoice in God because we always rejoice in ourselves as well. We say, ‘I am so good, I have prayed so perfectly, the experience of Gospel events touch me so deeply—I truly grieve for Christ’s Passions, I truly rejoice at Pascha…’ Thus, joy cannot abide long in our souls, which are like vessels full of holes.” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p14" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p15" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.google.ru/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwibnMej3q3TAhVFEpoKHWpoAYAQFgguMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pravoslavie.ru%2F89683.html&usg=AFQjCNEhU0FZzw2j-UxdNQJNDwdT2SavXQ">St. Seraphim of Sarov</a> heartily greeted everybody with the words: “Christ Is Risen!” He always witnessed to the Resurrection of Christ, and not only on Pascha, but all year round, because he sincerely believed and felt that Paschal joy accompanies us at all times. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p15" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p16" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Most of us do not feel Pascha that way—and that is normal. It is not necessary to artificially engender the feeling of joy. “In order to avoid disillusionment we should admit that we are not like St. Seraphim of Sarov and are unable to greet all with the words, ‘Christ Is Risen!’ with all our hearts,” Fr. Konstantin says.</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p16" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p17" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“Now many write about joy. They say, ‘Why are modern Christians so gloomy if Christ called upon everybody to have joy.’ I think that to propagandize joy is absolutely incorrect. We come to church in order to pray and receive the Holy Body and Blood of Christ—our Church unity is based precisely on these things, not on emotions. This is what the Church is like.</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p17" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p18" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“Calling forth some emotions is a dangerous mistake. These emotions will be false. Many Church Fathers even counsel us to conceal from others the gift of abundant spiritual joy (if God should grant it to you).” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p19" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="content_image center link zoom" data-href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102358/235848.b.jpg" data-id="2" style="width: 550px;" title="Photo from Infovoronezh.ru.">
</div>
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p19" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Joy does not seek for itself.</strong></div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p19" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p21" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
As a matter of fact, the Church gives us all that is needed for natural, not artificial, joy. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p22" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Even if we just go to church on <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/69889.htm">Holy Week</a> or <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/78768.htm">Bright Week</a>, we will certainly find the right spirit there. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p22" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p23" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Many people read the Gospel, so even if it is hard for them to concentrate, they will still find it easy to understand the meaning of Church hymns and chants. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p23" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p24" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Our relationship with God is much deeper than our emotions.</strong></div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p24" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p25" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Fr. Konstantin gives an example: “A mother of many children is tired. She grows faint from exhaustion and all she wants to do is sleep. But it does not mean that she no longer loves her children at the moment or loves them less than when she is nursing them or smiling at them.</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p25" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p26" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“We know that many saints had different [spiritual] states. The <em>podvigs</em> (ascetic labors) of some saints were seen by everybody, while others did not perform any special outward spiritual labors, yet they achieved perfection and were glorified by God. One striking example is <a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/60473.htm">St. Dositheus</a>. Outwardly he did not exceed any of the brethren in ascetic labors. Nobody noticed that he was performing the great labor of obedience. He cut off his own will for the sake of God’s will.” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p27" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="content_image center link zoom" data-href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102358/235849.b.jpg" data-id="3" style="width: 550px;" title="Photo from Photosight.ru.">
</div>
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p27" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Joy cannot be earned.</strong> </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p27" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p29" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
As is generally known, after the midnight Paschal service everybody breaks his fast. There is the cracking of eggshells, the smell of sausage, joyful hugs and toasts… At last! And shish kebabs in the country-houses, premieres at cinemas, rock music in our earphones instead of the “boring” classical music are ahead of us. And so, there is an impression that we regard Church life as our “obligation”, and Great Lent—as a prolonged mining shift. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p29" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p30" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
So when the feast comes, our “interval between the shifts” comes with it: We take our hard hats off, wash the coal dust from our faces, and hurry to the fields to drink and make merry until the next shift… Meanwhile, the time of fasting, the opportunity to pray at the Liturgy, to receive Communion and all that happens at the Church are God’s great gifts of to us, and not our duties to Him. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p31" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Fr. Konstantin holds that we must be happy with these gifts and thank God even for several hours of Paschal joy: </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p31" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p32" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“During the period of the Fast, God loosens the fetters of passions with which we are bound. The Fast is a gift of the Church, a gift to all of us. And Paschal joy after Great Lent is another gift and evidence of the reality of Divine grace—so that when Paschal joy is taken away from us (and it will inevitably be taken away), we might remember it, remember that it is really possible to rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ.” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="content_image center link zoom" data-href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/102358/235850.b.jpg" data-id="4" style="width: 550px;" title=" Photo from Vseverske.info.">
</div>
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Joy lives by hope.</strong></div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p35" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Our feelings are short-lived and weak, they deceive us. We have tasted a little Paschal joy, but after two movies and three evening parties our joy disappears and it is replaced with sorrow at our own weakness. How can we keep our balance? How can we not feel despondent, and at the same time, not indulge ourselves in our humility: “I am so weak, O Lord, there is no getting away from it. I admit that I am not St. Seraphim of Sarov, so let me go and watch the next TV series!” </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p35" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p36" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Fr. Konstantin is of the opinion that humility is not enough—repentance is also needed. “Not only must we be conscious of our inability to refrain from watching entertainment shows, but we must also repent of it instead of giving way to despair. Imagine an inmate of a Nazi concentration camp who has joined an insurgent committee and is now preparing for an uprising. But while the revolt is being organized, he continues working at the fascists’ factories! Of course he is not particularly enthusiastic about it, but he does it with the hope that the uprising is underway, and that with the help of the allied army it will succeed. </div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p36" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="os" data-enum="p37" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
“In our case, with the help of God we are freed from passions. So not only should we accept ourselves as we are, but we should also pray to God and ask Him to strengthen us in this struggle. ‘I have frittered away time throughout the week, have watched various rubbish on TV, have not thought about God, so I have lost the joy of the Resurrection of Christ. But I believe in Him, I believe that the Lord will reform me—however painful it may be for me to accept this—and will awaken my heart to love and joy’.” </div>
<div class="clear" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="author" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/authors/5240.htm">Irina Sechina</a></div>
<div class="author" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
Translation by Dimitry Lapa</div>
<div class="istochnik" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.miloserdie.ru/article/pyat-pravil-o-pashalnoj-radosti/" target="_blank">Miloserdie.ru</a></div>
<div class="date" data-enum="p33" data-field="paragraph" style="text-align: left;">
18 / 04 / 2017</div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-72855390175427595172017-04-16T07:59:00.003-07:002017-04-16T08:00:21.546-07:00Thank You for an Outpouring of Paschal Love<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">In excess of $5,000 was given in less than a week to assist in
blessing our Orthodox Christian brethren in Kosovo on this sacred Feast.
Thank you for your care, beloved readers!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-64352479664043564172017-04-16T07:52:00.000-07:002017-04-16T07:52:44.192-07:00CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sending you the joyous Paschal greeting, “Christ is Risen!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #700000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Presbytera Candace</span></i></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-17002576132136793612017-04-16T07:34:00.000-07:002017-04-16T07:34:08.271-07:00On the Paschal Joy
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 0.67em 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #700000; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bypassing Paschal Joy</span></h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 0.67em 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #700000; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or</span></h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 0.67em 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #700000; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why Are We Never Happy?</span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #909090; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.pravmir.com/author/user_1431410056/"><span style="color: blue;">Archpriest Andrew Lorgus</span></a>
| 07 May 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #909090; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Why are we always unhappy about something; why can’t we rejoice
and give thanks for all we have? We moan, grumble, and complain. This kind of
behaviour, however, puts us at the great risk of missing out on the true joy of
Pascha, of misunderstanding it, of not comprehending it… Protopriest Andrei
Lorgus, the Rector of the Institute of Christian Psychology in Moscow, speaks
out on this subject. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">I was an altar boy, when one Pascha, during the feast itself, I
suddenly realised that I did not feel the joy of Pascha, of the Resurrection,
as I had felt it before. It was a new feeling for me, very unsettling. I
saw it as a kind of symptom, an indication that something within me was not
right; an indication that I was badly prepared for the Paschal feast: I might
not have fasted properly, or spent Great Lent unwisely; I might have broken a
rule or done something wrong forgetting to confess it later. In other
words, I assumed that the whole problem lay in my not having spent Great Lent
well, and that was why the Paschal feast did not produce bright Paschal emotions
in me. And Pascha, the Resurrection of Christ, did not resonate in me
with the joy that could have been.</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">And yet, the whole point of Great Lent is to prepare for Pascha,
for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ; it has no importance of its
own. Apostle Paul says that if Christ is not raised, then our faith is
vain (1 Cor. 15:17). In other words, our faith is futile, if we do not
believe in the Resurrection of Christ. And this makes us contemplate that
which is most important and most significant in Christianity, namely, faith in
the Resurrection of Christ the Saviour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">This is why it is important. We all know that we all are
mortal. Approximately around the age of six to seven or eight to ten we
learn that one day we too will die. We know that everything on
earth changes and that everything will come to an end. Everything will
come to an end for us as well. But the soul cannot accept it, which is
why the most terrifying affliction for anybody on earth is death. Death
is what demeans all our joy; it demeans our youth, demeans love, it demeans
domestic happiness, achievements, careers, and creativity. For if I am to
exist no more, what is the point of it all? If everyone has to die, who
am I labouring for, etc.? In other words, death is the main obstacle to
life and human happiness. People live in an unceasing, almost constant fear of
death. Fear of death is like the background of life. From the
moment a child becomes aware of his mortality, fear of death becomes a
constant, sometimes conscious, at times unconscious, background of his
life. This fear of death consumes all joy; it consumes the satisfaction
with one’s life, the joy of love, the joy of parenthood, the joy of creative
success, and the joy of prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">So Christ comes and says, “There will be no more death. I
have conquered death.” This is the Christians’ main happiness – the
happiness of knowing that there is no more death. This is the joy that
comes to us on Pascha. It is the joy of our own and each and everyone’s
personal immortality. We are now immortal in Christ; we have nothing to
fear from now on; we can be happy. The joy of Pascha should mean endless
rejoicing, the resounding of bells, the singing of “Christ is Risen,” and love,
an “all-embracing” love, as the Paschal stichera say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11pt;">Photo:
<a href="http://foma.ru/"><span style="color: blue;">http://foma.ru/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #303030;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life is Not a Zebra</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">However, what happens to a person who does not experience such
joy? Not just Paschal, but everyday joy. This is when we ask the soul,
what is happening within to prevent you from rejoicing? Some say, and
justly, sins deprive us of happiness. That is true. Sin,
unrepented, unrecognized, and misunderstood, stands between us and the Risen
Christ. There is Confession though, isn’t there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Often you hear believers say, “I repent, and I confess, and I
commune. I commune every Sunday of Great Lent, but I experience no joy. I
seem to be doing everything right; I attended Holy Unction, went over my whole
life and confessed all my sins, but there is still no joy.” In that case,
we must assume something else. Sins, forgotten or unconfessed sins, are not the
only problem; there is something else. Sin is no longer a barrier between
us and Christ; something else has become a barrier. Could it be a lack of
faith in the most important, in the very victory over death?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Some say, “It could be a lack of belief in the resurrection of
Christ,” and that is true. We go back to the words of St. Paul, “If
Christ is not raised; our faith is vain.” Could it really be that our faith is
vain? Could it be that our lack of faith in the resurrection of Christ
robs us of the joy of Pascha? Very often, when faithful Christians say,
“I believe in Christ’s resurrection, but I have no joy,” something is going on
there, in the depths of their souls. There is an eclipse there; an
eclipse of life itself, not only of the joy of Pascha. The essential purpose of
life is eclipsed; the joy of simply living. The joy of this morning’s
sunrise; the joy of the blue sky; the joy of smiling back at a person who is
smiling at me because I love him and he loves me, because I am meeting the
image and the likeness of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">The ability to rejoice is at the very heart of our soul. I
should say rather that the very nature of our soul, the spiritual substance,
the spiritual essence is in itself rejoicing, is in itself blessedness, for it
is an aspect of the being given to us by God. He said, “You will be in My
image and My likeness.” And He is Spirit, He is Love, He is All
Blessedness. The reflection of this blessedness is in the nature of our
soul. In other words, the soul is in its very nature Christian, as
Tertullian said. It is important to add that our soul in its very nature
is also happiness and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">So why aren’t we rejoicing if our souls are a torrent of love and
the energy of joy? It is because our souls are obscured and not only with
sin. We obscured it with fear; we concealed it beneath a thick armour of
self-preservation. Sometimes people cannot rejoice just because they
think they will have to grieve. Have you never heard the expression,
“Life is like a zebra; first, comes a light streak, then a dark one.” Nothing
can be more blasphemous. Life is not a zebra. If life is with God, it is
a life of light, of joy, and of love despite all the existing suffering and
tragedies. Joyful is not the same as carefree; joy is not devoid of sorrow;
happiness is not without suffering. Yet, joy and happiness overcome suffering.
They overcome it because they are stronger, just as the Lord is stronger than
the devil, because light is stronger than darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Our Paschal joy is the deep conviction that just as Christ is
Risen, joy is stronger than sadness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #303030;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lent: Tuning into Joy</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">I think that Great Lent naturally creates a feeling of
expectation, creates festive emotions. It introduces us into the context
of the events of the Gospel, into the philosophy of the Church, into an
ecclesiastical understanding of what happens to a person’s soul and of what
happened to Christ two thousand years ago. I think there is more to it
though. Our experience of joy is lastingly connected to the internal
perception of the life we lead and which was given to us by the Lord. This
perception of life is like a backdrop of our entire existence. And this holds
true not just for Great Lent, not just for Pascha, it applies to our entire
being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Very often I am approached by people who no longer desire to
live. In these cases, it is almost impossible to speak to them of the joy
of Pascha, because for them life is a burden and constant suffering. And
don’t assume that I’m referring to people suffering physically from pain,
disabled people, or people afflicted by grief or tragedy. Absolutely
not. I’m speaking of those who lost their purpose in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">I think that Great Lent can help guide people in their search for
a purpose simultaneously providing them with a very important framework for
it. This framework is planted in the texts of the Great Canon of St.
Andrew of Crete, and in other texts read during Great Lent, in the texts of the
Lenten Triodion, in the texts of the Menaion and of the Octoechos, in other
words, in the liturgical books that are read daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Those texts meditate on the heroes of the Old and New Testaments,
on people searching to encounter God, who lived, suffered, rejoiced, sinned,
and repented. In other words, these texts contain, if I may say so,
models of all human conditions, models of all our actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">The ability to enjoy life is a special skill for adults, a skill
that it is possible to acquire. Traditions, culture, and the framework of
life are all part of it. Moreover, it is obviously an inner skill, an
inner virtue – to live joyfully, to sense that life is joy, a gift, the
greatest gift. It is gratitude to God! Knowing that your soul is a
gift that will never be taken away, a priceless gift. This kind of inner
disposition is faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">The disposition of the soul is the foundation of the
personality. On the contrary, fear and anxiety are like a veil that comes
between the person and the world – a special perception of the world, a
mistrust of the world…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">For this reason, we can learn to rejoice. Joy is an
achievement; I would even call it, a commandment. It is for this very
reason that St. Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in
all circumstances.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Oksana
Golovko spoke to Protopriest Andrei Lorgus</span></em></span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Translated
from the <a href="http://www.pravmir.ru/mimo-pasxalnoj-radosti-ili-pochemu-my-vsem-nedovolny-video/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #225da9;">Russian</span></a> by Maria
Nekipelov<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Source: <a href="http://www.pravmir.com/bypassing-paschal-joy-or-why-are-we-never-happy/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.pravmir.com/bypassing-paschal-joy-or-why-are-we-never-happy/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311585164758714541.post-5888045405682556202017-04-14T20:00:00.000-07:002017-04-14T20:00:09.943-07:00Recurring Miracle of the Holy Flame
<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">The coming of the Holy Flame (which lights an oil lamp held by the
Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem every year on Holy Saturday) is a recurring miracle in the Orthodox Church. The miracle has been documented consecutively since
1106 AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the lighted oil lamp, the Patriarch ignites candles
and shares the flame with the faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzkmyBXZk5frLSl_6-Aq2MO5QFdG3tp7r6f0Ytd1bwQnLWjvAxq53sJdYKwpyuFOrjhrhajAkllPHF4laJ8JkxToHekWE4hhUgwYIIgVx2FSiuVqAqEmcUuAT8QEHpYktZkQnuN1HVmMH/s1600/Holy+Fire+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzkmyBXZk5frLSl_6-Aq2MO5QFdG3tp7r6f0Ytd1bwQnLWjvAxq53sJdYKwpyuFOrjhrhajAkllPHF4laJ8JkxToHekWE4hhUgwYIIgVx2FSiuVqAqEmcUuAT8QEHpYktZkQnuN1HVmMH/s1600/Holy+Fire+1.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">This miraculous flame that comes to the Patriarch while he is
praying in Christ’s tomb (located within in the Holy Sepulcher Church, Jerusalem)
intrigues people—whether believers of not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Pravoslavie.ru website has posted an excellent, if not somewhat
lengthy, article titled <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Holy Flame:
the Greatness of the Miracle, and the Helplessness of the Skeptics</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s worth reading—and sharing with others
who might have interest, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Link to article:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/31899.htm"><span style="color: #0070c0;">http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/31899.htm</span></a></span><span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfwm-17csL7hjyvShzii52OBaux6NDnxPXn6_22ehWlnPj_xemGIZ_gv_VWI8kl93mowNW0K93kvWtSG2WkgKPVSlnfMyfuyL1K6FVAZko2wYugCVf3RKxHUMHyBPAvTE37-fUxeX-y0z/s1600/Christ%2527s+Tomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfwm-17csL7hjyvShzii52OBaux6NDnxPXn6_22ehWlnPj_xemGIZ_gv_VWI8kl93mowNW0K93kvWtSG2WkgKPVSlnfMyfuyL1K6FVAZko2wYugCVf3RKxHUMHyBPAvTE37-fUxeX-y0z/s1600/Christ%2527s+Tomb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;">Kali Anastasi to all!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #540000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt;"><em>Presbytera Candace</em></span>Pres. Candacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350824376407958059noreply@blogger.com0