October 1--A Short Life of St. Romanos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxpdlesudY

God’s blessings on all those with Romanos as their Patron Saint, who celebrate their Name Day on October 1!

Forgiveness Requires Courage

A blog posting from Fr. Alexis Trader, Orthodox monastic, on his website: https://ancientchristianwisdom.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/forgiveness-requires-courage/

July 8, 2014  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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).

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.

Remember, O Lord, those who have Fallen Asleep

Today we solemnly remember those who lost their lives, suddenly, unexpectedly here in the United States through terrorism attacks on September 11, 2001. 

 What recourse do Orthodox people have in remembrance of all these individuals?  We have a beautiful akathist, The Akathist for the Reposed, which covers all manner of departures from this life and may be prayed for both Orthodox and non-Orthodox people.  It is a consoling canon of prayers.  Here is a link to the akathist:  http://www.orthodox.net/akathists/akathist-for-those-who-have-fallen-asleep.pdf

 

 

Here is a way to bring comfort to the souls that only God really knows.  May His will be accomplished in ways unknown to us, that lie beyond our comprehension.  While we yet have time, let us pray. 

Photographs of those killed during the terrorist attacks* on Sept. 11, 2001.

Photo credit: Jeeny via United States Department of Justice

*missing are photos of 92 additional victims (apart from the terrorists which do not appear above)

A Prayer Against Bad Weather

A Prayer Against Bad Weather

 

O Master, Lord our God,

Who through Thy Consubstantial and Beginningless Word

and Thy Life-Giving Spirit Who is equal in honor,

hath brought everything out of nothingness into being;

 Who hath set sandy barriers to the sea,

and weighed the mountains and the valleys in a balance;  

Who hath measured the skies and holdeth the water in the palm of Thy hand;

Who hath given to this visible world of the senses its laws and rules,

its harmony and order;

 Who hath appointed changes to the weather

and variations in the orbit of the sun;

Who, through the mingling of the elements,

holdeth all things together by Thine inexpressible power,

and keep them from harm and intact:  

Do Thou Thyself, O All-Good King,  

extending to us Thine innate and customary love and goodness,

visit the works of Thy hands. 

Do not deprive us of Thy mercies and Thy compassion,

 and do not destroy Thine inheritance,

 for Thou didst ineffably create us in Thine own image. 

 Thou hast given Thine Only-Begotten Son as a ransom for us,

and through the mystical communion of Thy Spirit

hath made us to share in Thine own Divinity;

forgive, we pray, the multitude of our sins,

in the far greater multitude of Thy mercies. 

Thou didst wash away the sin of mankind

through the Cross and the Blood of Thy Son. 

 Restore the world of nature,

which hath been grievously disturbed into an unnatural state

because of the unruliness and disorderliness

of our lawless and corrupt behavior,

and bring it back to its natural harmony and order. 

Make the great ocean return to its usual calmness,

 bring to an end the tempest and the disturbance of the elements

that threaten us,

 order the winds to blow once more with gentleness and moderation. 

Rebuke the raging of the sea and the unnatural violence of the gales;

allow the spirit of the storm to be stilled, 

and the tempest to be returned to tranquility. 

Through the intercessions of the Most-Blessed Lady Theotokos,

of the God-like Angels and all the Saints,

and through the good pleasure and love of Thine Only-Begotten Son,

with Whom Thou art blessed,

together with Thine All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit,

now and ever,

and unto the ages of ages.

AMEN.

Hurricane Harvey--Providing Relief

From the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) website:

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.

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.

How Can You Help?

IOCC continues praying for the safety and well-being of those affected by this storm. Your gift to our Hurricane Harvey Response Fund 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.

To make a donation, visit:

https://www.iocc.org/

Sincerely,

Pres. Candace

What's happening in Kosovo these days?

Pogrom: 

from the Russian meaning literally

destruction or devastation

(usually referring to a town or country).   

On behalf of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund
+ Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, President

 

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?

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.

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.

Terror is the Game

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.

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! 

 

aka Ethnic Cleansing

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.”

How the EU Spends Money in Kosovo

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.

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.

Neutralizing the Assault

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.

Funds received by the DMRF are applied in these ways:
• Routinely providing staple foods for families and monasteries
• Providing farm animals and farm equipment
• Providing food for six active soup kitchen ministries in the region
• Providing needed medical supplies and equipment
• Providing funds to help cover utility bills for families and monasteries
• Providing a hot lunch for students (a necessity during cold seasons)
• Providing firewood to heat homes, schools & monasteries during cold seasons

Overcoming Evil With Good

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.

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.

You CAN Provide Deliverance--TODAY!

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.

Donations can be made on-line via Paypal on our website: www.thedecanifund.org

Or by mail: Decani Monastery Relief Fund
c/o Very Reverend Nektarios Serfes
2618 West Bannock Street
Boise, ID 83702

You will receive a receipt for your gift.

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.

The Love of God will Reign in Kosovo

Because You Care

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.

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!

God remember your love and reward it eternally in His Kingdom! Thank you!  Peace to your soul!

Humbly in our Lord Jesus Christ,

+ Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
Who always prays for you! 

A Godly Reminder: 1 Timothy 2:1-3