St. Barsanuphius' 1913 New Year's Homily

Note of interest:  St. Barsanuphius’ New Year’s homily preceded the 1917 Russian Revolutions by four years.  Pres. Candace

Homily on the New Year 

 

St. Barsanuphius of Optina 

I greet all of you gathered here with the New Year. I congratulate you with the joys that I hope the Lord might send you in the coming year. I congratulate you also with the sorrows that will inevitably visit you this year: perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, or in the near future. Incidentally, do not be confused by sorrows or fear them. Sorrows and joys are closely bound up with each other. This may seem strange to you, but remember the words of the Savior: A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world (Jn. 16:21). Day turns to night, and night turns to day, bad weather turns to good; so also does sorrow turn into joy, and joy into sorrow.

The Apostle Paul pronounced threatening words against those who do not endure any punishment that comes from God: If you are left without punishment, you are illegitimate children. Do not be depressed; let those be depressed who do not believe in God. For them, of course, sorrow is onerous, because they know only earthly pleasures. But people who believe in God should not despond, because through sorrows they receive the rights of sons, without which one cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Scorning the impious decree, the Children brought up together in godliness feared not the threat of fire, but standing in the midst of the flames, they sang: 'O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.'" (Irmos of the Nativity of Christ, tone 1, canticle 7).

(Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston)

Sorrows are that very threat of fire, or trial, but we must not fear them; rather we must be like the godly children and sing unto God in our sorrows, believing that they are sent to us by God for our salvation.

May the Lord save you all, and lead you to the Kingdom of Unwaning Light! Amen.

January 1, 1913 (after the Liturgy)

St. Barsanuphius of Optina, Spiritual Inheritance (Moscow: STSL, 2004)

St. Barsanuphius of Optina

31 / 12 / 2012 

Source:  http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/44079.htm

An Admonition from St. Paul the Apostle



 

Another Orthodox Christian Crisis Pregnancy Ministry

Another worthy Orthodox Pro-Life ministry is based in Cleveland called ZOE for Life! http://www.zoeforlifeonline.org/  Please visit their website.  And, as the grace of God moves you, consider supporting their sacred, Life supporting ministries.

ZOE is a non-profit Christ-centered support organization with three major goals: to help women who need confidential emotional and spiritual support during crisis pregnancies; to assist Orthodox Christians seeking to adopt; and to provide an education for Pure Living and other resources.

ZOE maximizes a birthmother's options by providing : 

§     Emotional support 

§     Referrals for professional counseling

§     Orthodox adoption options 

§     Housing

§     Clothing

§     Medical Assistance

§     Prenatal care

§     Spiritual support 

God bless the sacred work of ZOE for Life! (Cleveland, OH) along with Martha & Mary Maternity House (Niles, IL).  Are there other Orthodox Pro-Life maternity homes I should be aware of?  If so, please let me know so I can share the information with others.  Only God knows who might pick up a life-line as a result.

God’s peace,

Presbytera Candace

Blessed are the meek

for they shall inherit the earth.  Matthew 5:5 

Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which remains the same in honor and dishonor.  St. John Climacus 

Learn about the Biblical definition of meekness:  http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/meekness/

 

 

Sunday (Jan 22) US National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Next Sunday is also is the 44th Anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision which legalized abortion in the United States.  Forty-four years of legalized abortion.  And, the tally of abortions performed in the United States since 1973 exceeds 58 million.  A more accurate number will likely be available shortly after the 22^nd.  Can you get your mind and heart around these statistics?  For me, it is mind boggling.  These are missing persons—not to God, but to us.  We must come to grips with the fact that we live in the midst of a Silent Holocaust.  What action are we taking?

As Christians, it follows that we would be Pro-Life.  Some years ago when converting to the Orthodox Faith, I was surprised to find that this idea was unsettling to some other Orthodox I met.  If this is the case for you, would you consider reading at this link?  Can you accept the teaching of the Twelve Apostles (Didache) with an open mind and heart?  http://otftd.blogspot.com/2016/01/jan-17-sanctity-of-human-life-sunday.html  (It’s last year’s posting about Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.)   

This Visitation Icon by the hand of Eikona Studios -- Christine Uveges Iconographer. The prototype of this icon is in an Orthodox Church in Lebanon. 

Reflecting on last year’s posting, while doing some research on Pro-Life topics this evening, I came across this article:  http://www.lifenews.com/2017/01/13/russian-city-bans-abortions-for-one-day-to-remember-king-herods-massacre-of-the-innocents/

 

Plenty of Orthodox Christians are Pro-Life.  In recent years, the Church has participated in the annual March for Life held in Washington, DC.  The March is comprised, predominantly, of Christians from across the country from a wide range of denominations.  It is amazing this event pulls everyone together in Christ’s Name.  This year’s March is planned for Friday, January 27.  The Orthodox Church bands together across jurisdictions in the March.  Maybe some of you might like to take part this year.  When I learn more details, I will post it for you. 
 

Not only does the Orthodox Church come together to March for Life, but they are involved year ‘round in crisis pregnancy ministry.  The Martha & Mary Maternity House (Chicago area) is an Orthodox Pro-Life ministry that helps women & babes before and after birth.  Helping women & children, saving lives, imparting hope, faith & practical skills is their ministry focus.  They deserve support and prayer.  Please help them with this ministry if you can.  By partnering with them as a donor, you can become a life saver in the truest sense:  http://www.marthamarychicago.org/

 

 

God’s peace, with love,

Presbytera Candace

O Come All Ye Faithful!

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him! 

Blessings to all the brethren who are celebrating the Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar today!  Please take a few moments to read this lovely meditation by Abbot Tryphon of the All-Merciful Savior Monastery on Vashon Island, Washington:  http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/morningoffering/2017/01/the-nativity/ 

Our Serbian Orthodox brethren in Kosovo are also celebrating Christ’s Holy Nativity today.  With heartfelt joy, I share news from Fr. Nektarios Serfes of the joy of the Decani (monastic) fathers who received $7,313.45 in recently collected funds to feed the Orthodox families with meat—pork roasts—for this feast.  Five thousand dollars went to purchase meat and the remainder to purchase firewood to warm the faithful Christians in the area—those in homes, in monasteries, and in schools.   

THANK YOU!  Those two words don’t seem much in and of themselves, but they are sent to us from grateful hearts in Kosovo on this precious and holy day.  Again, we have the witness that God does not forget His people but helps them through one another.   

 

Love in Christ,

Presbytera Candace

An invitation to prayer

A few weeks back, a couple Orthodox Thought readers joined me in a discipline of praying an akathist a day—to the Holy Archangel Michael and to St. Cyprian, one a day, on alternate days.  Our initial commitment has been through the end of January.  We would invite others to join us, to strengthen the bond of prayers being offered to these great Saints and intercessors before God.

I am reminded of two Scriptures, Luke 18:1 and I Thessalonians 5:16, in particular.  

 

 

Perhaps we forget or become complacent because we are used to feeling safe, generally, and having our needs, and to a great extent, our wants, met here in the United States.  Nevertheless, spiritual battles are being stirred up with greater intensity everywhere it seems.  It is likely more and more people will feel the effects of these upheavals as a result.  We cannot say what will happen now or later, but we can say we have a mandate from God to keep our canoe upright on the water and help others do the same. 

God speaks to Christians of all ages with admonishment and encouragement in His word.  I think it’s important to keep balance by remembering the Scriptures and stepping up prayer.  If one is not already doing so, let’s take up the tools that God has given us to push back and help effect good in Christ’s name for the benefit of all.     

If you would like to join us in the discipline of praying a daily akathist to Archangel Michael and St. Cyprian on alternating days, please let me know.  The current commitment for this discipline is through the end of January.  It will be good to know that this ring of prayer is expanding. 

God’s peace to all for this calendar new year 2017.

Your sister in the Faith,

Presbytera Candace