Церковные ВѢХИ: SPIRITUAL COUNSEL TO AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑ Ή ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ!

§ 20. For our faith, brethren, is not of men nor by man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ, which the divine Apostles preached, the holy Ecumenical Councils confirmed, the greatest and wisest teachers of the world handed down in succession, and the shed blood of the holy martyrs ratified. Let us hold fast to the confession which we have received unadulterated from such men, turning away from every novelty as a suggestion of the devil. He that accepts a novelty reproaches with deficiency the preached Orthodox Faith. But that Faith has long ago been sealed in completeness, not to admit of diminution or increase, or any change whatever; and he who dares to do, or advise, or think of such a thing has already denied the faith of Christ, has already of his own accord been struck with an eternal anathema, for blaspheming the Holy Ghost as not having spoken fully in the Scriptures and through the Ecumenical Councils. This fearful anathema, brethren and sons beloved in Christ, we do not pronounce today, but our Savior first pronounced it (Matt. xii. 32): Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. St. Paul pronounced the same anathema (Gal. i. 6): I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another Gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. This same anathema the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the whole choir of God-serving fathers pronounced. All, therefore, innovating, either by heresy or schism, have voluntarily clothed themselves, according to the Psalm (cix. 18), ("with a curse as with a garment,") whether they be Popes, or Patriarchs, or Clergy, or Laity; nay, if any one, though an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Thus our wise fathers, obedient to the soul-saving words of St. Paul, were established firm and steadfast in the faith handed down unbrokenly to them, and preserved it unchanged and uncontaminate in the midst of so many heresies, and have delivered it to us pure and undefiled, as it came pure from the mouth of the first servants of the Word. Let us, too, thus wise, transmit it, pure as we have received it, to coming generations, altering nothing, that they may be, as we are, full of confidence, and with nothing to be ashamed of when speaking of the faith of their forefathers. - Encyclical of the Holy Eastern Patriarchs of 1848

За ВѢру Царя И Отечество

«Кто еси мимо грядый о нас невѣдущиiй, Елицы здѣ естесмо положены сущи, Понеже нам страсть и смерть повѣлѣ молчати, Сей камень возопiетъ о насъ ти вѣщати, И за правду и вѣрность къ Монарсѣ нашу Страданiя и смерти испiймо чашу, Злуданьем Мазепы, всевѣчно правы, Посѣченны зоставше топоромъ во главы; Почиваемъ въ семъ мѣстѣ Матери Владычнѣ, Подающiя всѣмъ своимъ рабомъ животь вѣчный. Року 1708, мѣсяца iюля 15 дня, посѣчены средь Обозу войсковаго, за Бѣлою Церковiю на Борщаговцѣ и Ковшевомъ, благородный Василiй Кочубей, судiя генеральный; Iоаннъ Искра, полковникъ полтавскiй. Привезены же тѣла ихъ iюля 17 въ Кiевъ и того жъ дня въ обители святой Печерской на семъ мѣстѣ погребены».

Sunday, March 14, 2010

SPIRITUAL COUNSEL TO AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

SPIRITUAL COUNSEL TO AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky) ROCA, 1981

Remember: you are a son (daughter) of the Orthodox Church. These are not empty words. Remember to what this obligates you.

Life on earth passes by quickly. You will not notice how swiftly it will pass by. But, it will decide your eternal destiny. Do not forget this for one minute. Try to live a pious life. Pray to God in Church, pray to God at home with reverence, with faith, with a devotion to the will of God. Fulfill the holy and saving precepts of the Church, Her rules and commandments. Outside the Church and outside obedience to Her – there is no salvation.

The gift of the word is a great gift from God. It ennobles a person, it elevates him immeasurably above all other earthly creatures. But how does today's depraved humanity abuse it. Guard this gift and know how to use it in a Christian manner. Do not judge, do not speak aimlessly. Beware of cursing and tempting speech like a fire. Do not forget the words of the Lord, the Savior: "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned..." (Mat. 12:37). Do not allow lies. The Holy Scripture sternly warns that: "The Lord will destroy all them which speak a lie..." (Psalm 5:4). Love your neighbor as yourself according to the Lord's commandment. Without love there is no Christianity. Remember: Christian love is self-sacrificing, and is not egotistical. Do not miss an opportunity to do the works of love and mercy.

Be modest, pure and chaste in your dealings, words and thoughts. Do not emulate the depraved. Do not use them as an example and stay away from them. Unless necessary, have nothing to do with the unbeliever – unbelief is contagious. Everywhere and always observe modesty and decency; do not become infected with the shameless customs of our days.

Fear and avoid vanity and pride. Pride cast out the highest and most powerful angel from the heavens. Remember: Thou art earth, and to earth you shall return... Greatly humble yourself.

The basic purpose in life – to save one's soul for eternity. This should be the main task and concern of your life. Woe to those who destroy their soul through negligence and carelessness.

May the Lord bless you and help you.

Your spiritual father † Metropolitan Filaret Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky) ROCA, 1981

http://www.roca-sobor.org/node/411

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Holy Trinity

Άγιος ο Θεός, Άγιος ισχυρός, Άγιος Αθάνατος, ελέησον ημάς. Άγιος ο Θεός, Άγιος ισχυρός, Άγιος Αθάνατος, ελέησον ημάς. Άγιος ο Θεός, Άγιος ισχυρός, Άγιος Αθάνατος, ελέησον ημάς. Δόξα Πατρί και Υιώ και Αγίω Πνεύματι, και νυν και αεί και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν. Παναγία Τριάς, ελέησον ημάς. Κύριε, ιλάσθητι ταις αμαρτίαις ημών. Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τας ανομίας ημίν. Άγιε, επίσκεψαι και ίασαι τας ασθενείας ημών, ένεκεν του ονόματος σου. Κύριε, ελέησον. Κύριε, ελέησον, Κύριε, ελέησον. Δόξα Πατρί και Υιώ και Αγίω Πνεύματι, και νυν και αεί και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν. Πάτερ ημών ο εν τοις ουρανοίς, αγιασθήτω το όνομα σου, ελθέτω η βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω το θέλημα σου, ως εν ουρανώ, και επί της γης. Τον άρτον ημών τον επιούσιον δός ημίν σήμερον, και άφες ημίν τα οφειλήματα ημών, ως και ημείς αφίεμεν τοις οφειλέταις ημών, και μη εισενέγκης ημάς εις πειρασμόν, αλλά ρύσαι ημάς από του πονηρού. Ότι σου εστιν η βασιλεία και η δύναμις και η δόξα, του Πατρός, και του Υιού, και του Αγίου Πνεύματος, νυν και αεί, και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν.

Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ

"We define that the holy icons, whether in color, mosaic, or some other material, should be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on the sacred vessels and liturgical vestments, on the walls, furnishings, and in houses and along the roads, namely the icons of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, that of our Lady the Theotokos, those of the venerable angels and those of all saintly people. Whenever these representations are contemplated, they will cause those who look at them to commemorate and love their prototype. We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honor (timitiki proskynisis), but not of real worship (latreia), which is reserved for Him Who is the subject of our faith and is proper for the divine nature. Veneration of an icon is in effect transmitted to the prototype; he who venerates the icon, venerates in it the reality for which it stands." This reality is veneration of the Divine Prototype, Christ the God-Man, in him who has been deified. Seventh Ecumenical Council. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, Υιέ του Θεού, ελέησόν με τον αμαρτωλόν.

Our Lady of Vladimir

Царице наша преблагая, надежда наша, Богородице. Приятилище сирых (убежище сирот) и странных предстательнице (странников защитница), скорбящих радосте, обидимых покровительнице; зриши (видишь) нашу беду, зриши нашу скорбь. Помози нам яко немощным, окорми нас яко странных (направь нас странствующих). Обиду нашу веси (знаешь), разреши ту, яко волиши (облегчи ее, как Сама желаешь). Яко не имамы (потому что не имеем) иныя помощи разве Тебе (кроме Тебя), ни иныя предстательницы, ни благия утешительницы, токмо Тебе (только Тебя), о Богомати, яко да сохраниши нас и покрыеши во веки веков. Аминь. Взбранной Воеводе победительная, яко избавльшеся от злых, благодарственная восписуем Ти раби Твои, Богородице: но яко имущая державу непобедимую, от всяких нас бед свободи, да зовем Ти: радуйся, Невесто Неневестная.

Holy Archangel Michael

Стена заградительная людям, Михаил архипосланник, и столп крепкий в бранях, ибо Твоим сильным заступлением побеждаются вражии полки; мы же спасаемые взываем к Тебе: Радуйся земным сильный предстатель, радуйся врагам дивный прогонитель. Радуйся супротивных гордость побеждающий, радуйся советы тайные дарующий. Радуйся родник пречистый благовония Божественного, радуйся цвет неувядаемый обоняния тайного. Радуйся источающий потоки чудес, радуйся подающий благодать просящим. Радуйся людям законопослушным наставитель, радуйся престолу Божию служитель. Радуйся хромым крепость источающий, радуйся слепым свет воссияющий. Радуйся Архистратиг Михаил, со всеми силами небесными! О пресладкий свет Михаил Архангел, во всех сторонах света красота небесная, всех врагов наших видимых и невидимых отгонитель, нынешнее приношение приими, и от всяких нас бед избавь, и всех врагов духовных и телесных Тебе данной от Бога силой защити, и от вечного огня изыми всех поющих Аллилуия!

St Sergius of Radonezh

An example of prayerful meekness From his youth, Holy Sergius Loved God and God's beauty, And instilled serenity and goodness in himself. He filled the wilderness with ceaseless prayer, And transformed the forest into a holy place of God. He cared not for worldly vanity, Nor was he ever angered. He was utterly quiet and meek with everyone, Yet not meek toward the wicked adversary. With the foe of God, the father of all lies, Who seeks to devour the souls of men, Sergius bravely waged a bitter struggle, Tireless and powerful unto the final victory. Thus the elder reposed, but the saint remained As a fiery pillar for the Russian people, Beseeching God for every blessing And bringing blessings down from heaven to his people. Holy Sergius, do not cease to shine, Do not cease to pray to the Most-high God For the good of the Church, for the good of Russia, In the glory of Christ, O Saint Sergius!

St Seraphim of Sarov

О, великий угодниче Божий, преподобне и Богоносне отче наш Серафиме! Призри от горения славы на нас смиренных и немощных, обремененных грехами многими, твоея помощи и утещения просящих. Проникни к нам благосердием твоим и помози нам заповеди Господни непорочно сохраняти, веру православную крепко содержати, покаяние во гресех наших усердно Богу приносити, во благочестии христианстем благодатно преуспевати и достойны быти твоего о нас молитвеннаго к Богу предстательства. Ей, святче Божий, услыши нас молящихся тебе с верою и любовию и не презри нас требующих твоего заступления: ныне и в час кончины нашея помози нам и заступи нас молитвами твоими от злобных наветов диавольских, да не обладает нами тех сила, но да сподобимся помощию твоею наследовати блаженство обители райския. На тебя бо упование наше ныне возлагаем, отче благосердный: буди нам воистину ко спасению путевождь и приведи нас к невечернему свету жизни вечныя Богоприятным предстательством твоим у престола Пресвятыя Троицы, да славим и поем со всеми святыми достопоклоняемое имя Отца и Сына и Святаго Духа во веки веков. Аминь.

Holy New Martyrs of Russia

"We see something else today. With the appearance and consolidation of God-fighting communism in Russia, there began a persecution of the faith unheard of in its cruelty and broad scale. As one Church writer has defined it, Orthodox Russia has been on Golgotha, and the Russian Church on the Cross ... The Russian Church and people have given an uncounted multitude of cases of the martyric endurance of persecutions and death for faith in Christ... not merely hundreds or thousands, but millions of sufferers for faith--an unheard of and shocking phenomenon! But at the same time the Russian land is being purified of this defilement by the sacred blood of the New Martyrs who have suffered for faith and righteousness. The Russian land has been abundantly watered by this blood--watered, sanctified, and cleansed from the senselessness of the atheists and God-fighters! Great and numerous is the choir of the Russian New Martyrs. It is headed first of all by the sacred names of His Holiness, Patriarch Tikhon, the murdered Metropolitans Vladimir and Benjamin; Metropolitan Vladimir occupies a special place of honor in it as the first martyr who placed the beginning of this glorious choir. At the same time, an entirely special place in the choir of the New Martyrs is taken by the Royal Family, headed by the Tsar-Martyr, Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich, who once said: "If for the salvation of Russia a sacrifice is needed, I will be this sacrifice." The great podvig of the Holy New Martyrs is a Feast not only for the Russian Orthodox Church, but also for the entire Orthodox Catholic Church, because the whole Orthodox Church in all its parts is one and lives a single spiritual life. Let this great podvig of the Holy New Martyrs' witness of the Orthodox faith and the beauty of the exploit of martyrdom be not only a general Church solemnity, but also a personal solemnity for each of us! -Blessed Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)

The Third Rome

"For Old Rome hath fallen away from the glory and the faith of Christ through pride and self-will; in New Rome, which is in the City of Constantine, the Christian faith will likewise perish through Hagarene (Muslim) violence; while upon the Third Rome, which is in the Russian Land, the Grace of the Holy Spirit hath shone forth" ... for "there truly is the faith of Christ glorified" ... "and honoured ... more than anywhere else on earth. Two Romes have fallen, but the Third stands fast and a fourth there cannot be. At the end [of the Age] all Christian realms will come together into a single Russian Tsardom on account of the Orthodox Faith ... and the Lord will exalt the Russian Tsar' over many nations."

Regalia of the Tsar' of All the Russias

Боже, Царя храни! Сильный, державный, Царствуй на славу, Hа славу нам! Царствуй на страх врагам, Царь православный. Боже, Царя храни! Боже, Царя храни! Славному долги дни Дай на земли! Гордых смирителю, Слабых хранителю, Всех утешителю — всё ниспошли! Перводержавную Русь православную, Боже, храни! Царство ей стройное, В силе спокойное! Все ж недостойное прочь отжени! Воинство бранное, Славой избранное, Боже, храни! Воинам-мстителям, Чести спасителям, Миротворителям долгие дни! Мирных воителей, Правды блюстителей Боже, храни! Жизнь их примерную Нелицемерную, Доблестям верную воспомяни! О, Провидение! Благословение Нам ниспошли! К благу стремление, В счастье смирение, В скорби терпение дай на земли! Будь нам заступником, Верным сопутником Нас провожай! Светло-прелестная, Жизнь поднебесная, Сердцу известная, сердцу сияй!

St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow & All the Russias

"The patriarchate is being restored in Rus' at a terrible time, in the midst of shooting and weapons of death-dealing fire. Probably it will itself be forced to resort more than once to bans in order to bring the disobedient to their senses and restore church order. But as in ancient times the Lord appeared to the Prophet Elijah not in the storm or in the earthquake but in the coolness and the breath of a quiet breeze, so now to our pusillanimous reproaches: 'Lord, the sons of Russia have abandoned Thy covenant, they have destroyed Thy altars, they have fired at the holy things of the churches and the Kremlin, they have slaughtered Thy priests' - the quiet breath of Thy words is heard: 'There are still seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the contemporary Baal and have not betrayed the true God.' And the Lord as it were says to me: 'Go and search for those for whose sake the Russian Land still stands and is maintained. But do not abandon the lost sheep who are doomed to destruction and slaughter - sheep who are truly pitiful. Shepherd them, and for this take this, the staff of goodwill. With it search out the lost sheep, return the oppressed, bind up the wounds of the wounded, strengthen the sick, destroy those who have grown fat and obstreperous, shepherd them with justice.'"

Archbishop Theophan of Poltava

Archbishop Theophan was uncompromising with regard to the teaching of the Holy Orthodox Church. He was deeply pained by the movements of the "renovationists" and "living church" adherents, which disrupted the Church in Russia in the years after the Revolution. Equally strong was his opposition to the teachings of liberal Church thinkers such as Soloviev and Bulgakov, popular among the Russian emigre intelligentsia. He saw that any attempt to modernize or to make concessions to the spirit of the times could only result in undermining the faith, in robbing the "salt" of its savor. Even the modernists, however, could not but respect such a spiritual giant of Orthodoxy. During the Russian Councilor 1917-1918, some of them approached him respectfully: "...The waves of the times flow swiftly, changing everything, changing us; one must give in to them. You, too, must give in, Vladika, to the raging waves,... Otherwise with whom will you be left? You will be left alone." "With whom will I be left?" Vladika meekly answered them. "I will be with St. Vladimir the enlightener of Russia. With Sts. Anthony and Theodosius the Wonderworkers of Kiev Caves Monastery, with the holy Hierarchs and Wonderworkers of Moscow. With Sts. Sergius and Seraphim and with all the holy martyrs, God-pleasing monks and wonderworkers who have gloriously shone forth on Russian soil. But you, dear brothers, with whom will you be left if even with your great numbers you give over to the will of the waves of the times?"

St Seraphim (Sobelev) of Bulgaria

Vladyka Seraphim also showed his zealous dedication to and unwillingness to compromise in the defense of, Orthodox truth, at the Moscow Sobor in 1948. Taking to heart all of the questions troubling the Holy Church, he prepared three lectures from among the four topics offered for consideration: against the ecumenical movement, about the new and old calendars, and about the Anglican hierarchy. Vladyka Seraphim considered the Conference resolution with respect to the new calendar unsatisfactory, and he expressed his dissatisfaction in a “special opinion” (which unfortunately was not mentioned in the Conference Proceedings). In his talk in opposition to ecumenism, he emphasized the idea that the presence of Orthodox representatives at ecumenical conferences even as observers was a deviation from Holy Orthodoxy.

Metropolitan John of St Petersburg

"Do we remember, do we know what it is to be Russian? Is it enough to have the corresponding indication in your passport or is something else required? In this sense, the concept of Russian is not just a racial characteristic. It includes anyone who recognizes that to take part in serving the Russian people has a divinely established aspect to it, anyone who identifies himself with the Russian people in the spirit, goal and meaning of their existence, regardless of their national origins". With his simple, kind-hearted, Russian peasant face, he oriented Russians back to their historic Orthodox roots and fearlessly defended the memory of the Royal Martyrs. He spoke out tirelessly against the evil deeds of the godless Soviet regime in Russia, in which he saw only ‘anti-Russian terror’. ‘The Russian Orthodox Tsar was taken away from the earth and rivers of martyrs’ blood ran red in Russia’. At the end of the twentieth-century Russian tragedy, amid the mafia rule of the 1990s and the futility of the western consumer society then being foisted onto Russia, he referred his people back to the Tradition. To the devilish imbecilities of the State, he opposed the Orthodox family, for totalitarian States always set about destroying family life. As it is said of him: ‘He feared no-one and nothing, except God’. Metropolitan John called his people back to the purity of Orthodoxy and national unity under the banner of the Church. He gave hope amid the decadence of late Soviet and then post-Soviet life, with its crime, alcoholism and general immorality. He saw through both Communism and the satanic myths of ‘Western democracy’, with its ‘new world order’, globalization and ecumenism. (That is why ‘Orthodox’ modernists, who then ruled the roost in London for example, refused to sell his books). Metropolitan John quite understood what members of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia had understood for decades: that western secularism is the path of Antichrist and that Soviet Communism was merely a local and passing form of that same western secularism. Whatever its name, Communism or Democracy (‘Demonocracy’), he understood that all this was merely a persecution of Holy Russia. He understood that the whole past millennium of western history had been about the Unchurching of the West and it was this secular West had been brought to Russia. However, as he said, it was no good blaming others, those responsible for the catastrophe were themselves Russian. They had allowed this to be done to their country, they had done it to themselves. A courageous Orthodox confessor and profound patriot, Vladyka’s programme was no less than the Resurrection of Holy Russia.

Count Sergei Iu Witte

The program of industrialization, "the Witte system," as he called it, included (1) intensive railway building; (2) protectionism and state subsidies for private entrepreneurs; and (3) a great influx of foreign capital to industry, banks, and state loans. Never before in Russia had state economic intervention been used so widely and effectively. The state acted by purely economic means through the state bank and institutions of the Ministry of Finance, which monitored the activities of joint-stock commercial banks. In order to penetrate the markets of China, Mongolia, Korea, and Persia, the Ministry of Finance founded the Russo-Chinese, Russo-Korean, and Loan and Discount Banks. Witte's program achieved the desired results. In the period from 1892 to 1902, state finances were strengthened, foreign investment capital poured in (over 3 billion rubles or 1.544 billion dollars), and a stable monetary system was formed. The highest rates of economic development in Europe were attained (from 1883 to 1904 the volume of industrial output increased 2.7 times, or 6% per year). The annual growth rate of the national income averaged nearly 3.5 percent. The intensive economic development of Russia was accompanied by the improvement of the living standards of the broad masses of the population, as data on the increase in the height of recruits testify. Infrastructure + Indigenous Industry + Investment + Market Hegemony + Favorable Balance of Trade = Creation of National Wealth, Industrialization, Prosperity

They seek great upheavals while we demand a great Russia!

Россия — священная наша держава, Россия — любимая наша страна. Могучая воля, великая слава — Твоё достоянье на все времена! Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Братских народов союз вековой, Предками данная мудрость народная! Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой! От южных морей до полярного края Раскинулись наши леса и поля. Одна ты на свете! Одна ты такая — Хранимая Богом родная земля! Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Братских народов союз вековой, Предками данная мудрость народная! Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой! Широкий простор для мечты и для жизни Грядущие нам открывают года. Нам силу даёт наша верность Отчизне. Так было, так есть и так будет всегда! Славься, Отечество наше свободное, Братских народов союз вековой, Предками данная мудрость народная! Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой!