MYSTERY and MEANING

2010-08-15T08:09:00.008-05:00

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2010-07-18T19:38:00.037-05:00

MYSTERY and MEANING
Christian Philosophy
&
Orthodox Meditations

by
Gebre Menfes Kidus

Here is a description of my book, from the back cover:

"True religion is the discovery and fulfillment of the meaning of life through the acceptance of divine mystery. The God who created us is infinitely transcendent, yet by ineffable grace He reveals Himself to mortal human beings.

We catch glimpses of God through His universal creation. We glean a partial knowledge of God through His universal laws. We hear the voice of God speaking through our consciences. And we feel His omnipresent existence through human expressions of love, mercy, justice, and compassion.

Yet in spite of these things, God is still holy mystery. He is not a riddle to be solved, but an Infinite reality to be worshiped and adored. And with humble hearts, human beings can experience the Lord of creation in mystical depth. For through the simple but sublime message of the Gospel, God has made it possible for finite human creatures to enter into His eternal embrace. By the power of the Cross, we can indeed know Him Who surpasses all knowing."

[From the Introduction]

Mystery and Meaning is a compilation of inspirational quotes, mystical prose, and philosophical polemics from the mind and heart of Gebre Menfes Kidus ("Servant of the Holy Spirit"). The author’s words provide a unique and valuable perspective on many of the vital religious, social, and moral issues of our time. Gebre Menfes Kidus balances contemplative reflections with impassioned argument, leaving the reader both challenged and inspired. Herein is edification for the philosopher, the theologian, the spiritual seeker, and the lay Christian.

The author addresses a variety of topics, such as:

+ Orthodox Theology

+ Spiritual Warfare

+ Mysticism

+ Social Justice
+ Metaphysics
+ Christian Pacifism

+ Biblical Commentary

+ Human Rights

+ The Teachings of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Gebre Menfes Kidus and his wife, Christi (Amete), have three children: Noah (Wolde), Zion (Haile), and Adayah (Wolete). They are members of St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

I will also be posting many of the thoughts and opinions that frequently emanate from my mind and heart. This blog will additionally include quotations from the Saints and Fathers of the Church, all in an effort to promote Peace, Life, and the Orthodox Christian Faith. Discussion and debate is strongly encouraged, but please keep all comments positive and respectful in tone.

Besime Ab, WeWolde, WeMenfes Qidus, Ahadu Amlak

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God

-Amen-

Selam,

GEBRE MENFES KIDUS

(Servant of the Holy Spirit)

MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

2010-07-17T19:04:00.000-05:00

A FAITH THAT FOUND A HOME:

My Testimony of Baptism into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God,

-Amen-

"For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." [St. Matthew 24:27]

The Lord is mighty, and worthy to be praised. Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ) is the Good Shepherd, and He guideth His sheep with mystical purpose, holy power, and divine protection. Throughout this world, many of the Father's sheep wander apart from the flock. They live in fear and confusion, because they are away from home and separated from the security of the Shepherd's guidance. They are lonely, because they lack the companionship and strength that comes from being united with the fold.

So, these scattered sheep exist without proper spiritual nourishment. They love their Shepherd, and in sincere faith they strive to follow Him to the best of their knowledge. They hear the Shepherd's voice, but it is muffled. They feel the Shepherd's presence, but only faintly. They know the Shepherd's love, yet they struggle to find a home where His love is felt in all of its fullness. They know the Shepherd' commands, but they are cut off from the spiritual power that enables them to endure in obedience. More than anything, they desire to worship the Shepherd, but their houses of worship just don't feel like home.

I was one of these scattered sheep, wandering in search of a home that would satisfy the deepest longings of my Christian faith. I studied the Bible, and I loved my Savior. But the version of Christianity produced by the Western world provided only a taste of what my soul longed to feast upon.

This is my testimony. It is the story of how one wandering sheep finally found his home. To God be the glory!

Pursuing Purpose
As a child, my father exposed me to a variety of Christian Churches and denominations. I am very grateful to him for this. The Catholic Church was the first to make an impression upon me. I felt a sense of awe when I entered the huge Cathedral. There was a solemn reverence and devotion that existed amongst the worshipers. The stations of the Cross adorned the walls. Statues and crucifixes caught my eye. But the Cathedral was a colorless environment, gray and dim. The statues and crucifixes seemed to convey despair rather than hope, and the sound of the Latin liturgy did not resonate within my soul. [Years later I would learn about the egregious actions that the Catholic Church committed against the Christian nation of Ethiopia, none more atrocious than Pope Pius XI giving his blessing to Mussolini's brutal invasion of that sacred land.]

I remember my parents occasionally taking me to the Unitarian Church, where I honestly cannot even remember hearing the name of God mentioned. As a child, this was very odd to me. I tried to understand the teachings of the Unitarian "sermons," but the concepts of God and biblical morality were apparently not the foundations of this particular denomination. The simple mind of a child is always searching for the concrete truths of God and morality. And, although my mind did not understand the amorphous concepts expressed in this Unitarian "church," my childhood soul immediately understood one thing very clearly: this Unitarian environment was spiritually dark and devoid of any real moral substance.

In the Methodist and Baptist Churches, I finally learned some of the famous Bible stories. The clear concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, were ideas that corresponded with what I knew deep inside to be true. I heard of Jesus and His death on the Cross. But I still did not really understand what it all meant. I was deeply saddened that Christ was crucified, and I knew that He was crucified for me. Yet I struggled to comprehend the depth and fullness of the Christian message.

At the age of 19, during my first year of college, I finally realized the essence of the Gospel message. Through a college ministry organized by an evangelical Presbyterian Church, I came to acknowledge my sins and fully trusted in the redemptive power of Christ and the Cross. After years of searching for answers in a variety of sinful pursuits, my soul was finally awakened. It was then that my spiritual journey really began.

I immediately developed an interest in the Holy Bible. For many years I had tried in earnest to read the Scriptures, but I couldn't understand what was written. The words were tedious to read, and my mind and spirit never became engaged. But now it was as if a light switch had been turned on. The words of the Bible finally made sense! It was as if every page was written directly to me and for me. I have loved the Holy Bible ever since. Glory be to God for His divine written revelation to humanity! As Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia said:

"Today man sees all his hopes and aspirations crumble before him. He is perplexed and knows not whither he is drifting. But he must realize that the solution to his present difficulties and guidance for his future action is the Bible. Unless he accepts with clear conscience the Bible and its great message, he cannot hope for salvation. For myself, I glory in the Bible."
[From Selected Speeches of Haile Selassie I]

Wandering in The West
With my newborn faith in Christ and my newfound love for the Bible, I began searching for a Church that would provide the fellowship, teachings, and Christian worship that my revived soul desperately craved. I am deeply grateful for the many righteous and God-fearing Christian people and Christian churches that all helped me along the way. I learned things of great value through each of them. I especially enjoyed my years of education in Bible College and my Philosophy studies later on. But my spirit still longed for something richer and deeper.

The Catholicism and Protestantism of Western civilization seemed full of contradiction and confusion. The more I studied theology, the more I became frustrated by how many competing doctrines existed amongst these Western churches and denominations. I also began to recognize how much damage this did to the Christian community. Instead of unity, there was a spirit of division that separated these Christian churches into isolated groups, each one claiming to have a superior theological understanding.

I also noticed that most churches in our Western society fall into one of two basic categories: Some churches emphasize spirituality while neglecting the temporal problems of man's social welfare, and other churches seem to focus solely on mankind's temporal needs while dismissing spiritual realities. But, as I read the Holy Bible, I noticed that Christ always preached spiritual truth while simultaneously meeting people's physical needs.

Here in America, there is also the unnatural divide between Church and state. There are true Christians who understand that without governance according to biblical morality, the state will inevitably come to chaos and ruin. And then there are the secularists, those who do not want any mention of God or biblical morality intruding upon their unrestrained desires and vain imaginations. The very fact that we even have this church/state divide and debate is indicative of the spiritual darkness that permeates the Western world.

After his seventh visit to Jamaica in 1972, Abuna Yesehaq - Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere - addressed these issues when he wrote:

"Mr. Manley (Michael Manley, who was the Prime Minister of Jamaica at that time) said governments in the Western Hemisphere had lost spiritual inspiration because of the separation of the church and state. He observed further that in the Caribbean the Church was focusing attention on the problems of the people, and this was of tremendous significance. The Church was not only concerned with the spiritual salvation of mankind, but also the temporal sufferings of the people, and this was a healthy development. He strongly believed that 'any government which denies itself spiritual advice impoverishes itself by this denial.' He was right. The real significance of the church and state relationship has been lost in many countries, especially those in the Western world. It should be remembered that the pillar which served as the basis for the evolvement of these governments is that of the separation of church and state. The consequence of this has been the great damage that is evident in the lives of many nations where the spirit of the people is neglected for purely carnal pursuits." [From The Ethiopian Tewahedo Church by Archbishop Yesehaq, pages 215-216]

Rastafari Light
God works in mystical ways, and He always leads His sheep according to His mighty providence. I have always loved reggae music, especially the spiritual music of Bob Marley and other positive reggae artists. The music of Bob Marley was based on biblical themes, which I loved. Through this music, I was introduced to the Rastafarian worldview. This lifestyle seemed to me to be a better expression of Christian principles than that which was practiced by the Western churches. Rastafarians promote peace, social justice, and true respect for all life. Rastafarians avoid politics and other divisive elements that are so prevalent in Western society. Rastafarians also value and uphold the Judaic roots that most Christian churches in the West seem to ignore. But the most significant aspect of Rastafarian philosophy is the importance of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari) and the sacred land of Ethiopia.

I have studied the lives and philosophies of great African leaders and revolutionaries such as Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Sekou Toure of Guinea, Julius Nyrere of Tanzania, and Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Steve Biko of South Africa. But the more I learned about Empereror Haile Selassie I, the more I recognized his value and importance. To me, he was significantly unique among all these other influential African leaders. His uncompromising commitment to his country, his continent, and to his Orthodox Christian faith was exemplary. The more I read Haile Selassie’s words and studied his example, the more I came to appreciate and love this great Christian King.

Haile Selassie was able to defend the Christian Faith without denigrating or mocking other religions. He was able to staunchly articulate the rights of the African continent without crusading against the Western world. His Majesty was able to bring together the various African heads of state, and facilitated peaceful and productive progress by "emphasizing all areas of agreement."

The more I discovered about Haile Selassie, the more amazed I was. I came to deeply admire this great Emperor of Ethiopia. As a Christian, I rejoiced to learn about this Ethiopian King that ruled his Christian nation according to biblical principles and Christian law. I learned that the Emperor was a descendent of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. And as I read his words, I saw that he possessed a Solomonic wisdom that set him apart from all other world leaders.

I read the Kebra Nagast ["The glory of Kings"], and was fascinated to discover the full story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and how the Ark of the Covenant came to Ethiopia (where it remains to this day!). Everything I read and learned about Haile Selassie and Ethiopia seemed to provide the pieces to a puzzle that I had been trying to put together for many years. Why had I never known that the Ark of the Covenant and the true Cross of Christ are now in Ethiopia? And for all the theology I had studied, why didn't I know that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was the oldest Christian Church in existence?

So, I thank God for the Rastafarian movement, because without it I would never have known much about Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Christian nation of Ethiopia. And I thank God for the Rastafarian worldview, because through this path I found a way of life that corresponded more closely to the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour.

But, although I embraced the Rastafarian way, there was one belief to which I could never subscribe as a Christian. Many Rastafarians (but not all) believe that Haile Selassie is Christ Himself, returned to earth in His Second Coming. As a Christian, I did not agree with this. Although I understood why many Rastafarians held this belief, I knew that Haile Selassie himself was a devout follower of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I also knew that Haile Selassie was deeply disturbed by the fact that many people were worshiping him as God.

Therefore, as a Rastafarian and as a Christian, I began to study and emphasize the message and teachings of Emperor Haile Selassie I. And one of his emphatic and repetitive statements was: "I am a man, and man cannot worship man." It is my hope and my prayer that all Rastafarians will eventually come to understand the importance of these words, and that they will in time embrace the true and ancient Orthodox Christian Faith of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.

A Glimpse of Zion
Through the teachings of Haile Selassie and my interest in his nation, I came to learn about the glorious and mystical Church of Ethiopia. My soul stirred whenever I saw pictures of the rock-hewn, cross-shaped Churches of Lalibela that were built with the assistance of holy angels. I loved seeing the pictures of Ethiopian Priests carrying magnificent, ornate Crosses. My spirit rejoiced within me, and I began trying to learn whatever I could about this ancient Christian Faith.

What I discovered was a depth and richness of Christian expression that I never imagined existed. I learned that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church had numerous biblical Scriptures that were either unknown or unappreciated here in the West. As someone who loves the Holy Bible, I rejoiced to know that there were more of God's sacred Scriptures available for my edification and enlightenment. When I read the Book of Enoch, for example, I discovered the full story of the origins of angels and demons, something that had always intrigued me.

The more I unearthed about this ancient Christian Faith, the more my spirit was moved. As I read the teachings and studied the Orthodox doctrines and beliefs, I knew that the answers I had been searching for were being revealed to me. For years, the devil had tried to keep me from this knowledge and truth. But the Shepherd will always lead his sheep to the water!

I finally made a trip to Atlanta (where I was born and raised) to visit Debre Bisrat St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Upon entering the Church, I immediately felt God's holy presence. I did not understand the words of the Liturgy, because it was conducted in the ancient language of Ge'ez. But the sound of this language was sweet to my ears. And although I could not understand the words, it seemed that my mind, my heart, and my soul bathed in the beauty of this mystical sound. I now know why this was the case: This language, Ge'ez, was the very language that was spoken in the Garden of Eden! This was the very speech that Adam and Eve used to converse with the animals and with the Holy Trinity. No wonder that my soul enjoyed the sound of this holy utterance!

One of the first things that appealed to me about the Church was the fact that all of my senses were immediately engaged. There was the ethereal beauty of the liturgical language, the sound of drums and bells, the sweet aroma of Frankincense, the sight of huge colorful holy icons that adorned the Church from wall to wall, and the taste of holy water and holy bread that were shared by the faithful after Church. And, most impressive of all, was the procession of the Priests carrying the "Tabots" (the holy replicas of the tablets of the Ten Commandments) around the Church at the culmination of the Divine Liturgy.

I had never in my life experienced such reverence, holiness, and devotion. And although there was much that I did not understand, it seemed as though I was gazing through a window into the very glory of Zion. I knew immediately that God was leading me home.

The Devil Defeated
I now realize that the source of denominational church division in the West resulted from the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., which divided the nature of Our Lord into two. As soon as I learned the meaning of the Ethiopic word "Tewahedo" ("Unity," "Oneness"), I recognized its significance. Satan knew that if he could deceive men into separating and dividing the nature of Our Lord, then the Christian Church would subsequently be separated, divided, and fractured into a thousand pieces.

So, praise be to God for those faithful Church Fathers that refused to consent with the erroneous Council of Chalcedon. God always preserves a faithful remnant. And because of the righteous conviction and uncompromising faith of these ancient Christians, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has been divinely preserved as the purest manifestation of the Christian faith.

Most of the Western world is still unaware of these beautiful spiritual realities. But glory to God for Emperor Haile Selassie I, who desired that all people should know the true light of the Gospel. And without coercion, manipulation, or force, Haile Selassie ensured that the ancient Orthodox Faith was brought to those of us in the West who thirsted for its richness and depth.
In His Second Coming, Christ will appear from the East. [St. Matthew 24:27] And in a mystical foreshadowing of this event, representatives from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church came from the East to the West in order to establish the ancient Christian religion in this land. Long ago there were Wise Men that came from the East to worship the incarnate God in His infancy. Almost two thousand years later, wise men came from the East to establish the truest and oldest expression of Christianity here in this spiritually dry part of the world.

I am thankful for the Ethiopian World Federation, which provided for the establishment of the true Church here in the West. What Satan intends for evil, God uses for good. [Genesis 50:20] And although the Italian fascist Benito Mussolini endeavored to destroy the Ethiopian people and the Ethiopian faith, he unintentionally helped to spread the light of the true Christian Church to other parts of the world. It was during the Italian occupation that the Ethiopian World Federation was established. This organization provided for the establishment of the Church here in America so that Ethiopians in the U.S. could worship according to their own customs and culture. So, I give thanks to God for the righteous vision and the faithful efforts that made the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Faith available to those of us here in the West.

But I am especially grateful to Archbishop Yesehaq (Abba L. M. Mandefro), who devoted his life to establishing the Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the Western Hemisphere. I am so thankful that he came to us, and I am especially thankful for his missionary efforts to Rastafarians. Without condescension or judgment, Archbishop Yesehaq took the time to understand the source, development, and the frustrations of the Rastafarian movement. A strong but gentle shepherd, Archbishop Yesehaq proclaimed the message of the Gospel and the teachings of the Orthodox Church with faithfulness and patience. And his labors were fruitfully rewarded. Today there are countless numbers of Rastafarians who have abandoned the worship of Haile Selassie and embraced the ancient and authentic Orthodox Christian Faith. Among them was the legendary Bob Marley, whose music and message God would use to eventually bring me home to the Church myself.

The Perseverance of a People
In learning about Ethiopia, I have seen how this sacred country has persevered through the most difficult of adversities and hardships. But in spite of the evil assaults of colonialism, fascism, Islamic invasions, and communism, God has preserved the land and its people. Mussolini instructed the fascist troops to "Kill everyone carrying the Cross." [The Ethiopian Tewahedo Church: An Integrally African Church by Archbishop Yesehaq (p. 161)]

The Italians therefore sought out the Ethiopian Priests, and subjected them to the cruelest forms of torture and death. But evil acts such as these have not deterred the Ethiopian people from their devotion to the Cross of Christ.

Ethiopia as a nation has taken up her Cross, with all of its suffering and affliction, and followed Christ through the centuries with endurance, faith, and honor. As Our Lord said in the Gospel, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." [St. Luke 9:23]

Ethiopia has never abandoned her Christian faith. In spite of the various and numerous Satanic assaults levied against her, Ethiopia has continued to "stretch forth her hand unto God." [Psalm 68:31]

A Calling from God
For the past two years, I have felt the deep desire to be baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. I feel like the Ethiopian eunuch who desired to be baptized by St. Philip the apostle. [Acts 8:26-39] This Ethiopian man desired to know the fullness and truth of the God he worshiped according to Judaic tradition. St. Philip found him reading from the book of Isaiah, and the apostle asked him if he understood what he read. The Ethiopian responded, "How can I, except that some man should guide me?" [Acts 8:31] So, St. Philip proceeded to explain the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy through Eyesus Kristos the Lord. And the Ethiopian's immediate response to the Gospel message was: "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" [Acts 8:36]

I have been studying the Bible for 20 years, yet I have lacked the fullness of its comprehension. Now I realize this is because I did not have the Orthodox Church to guide me in understanding its proper meaning. Like the Ethiopian eunuch, I have loved God and loved His scriptures. And similarly, I now have been exposed to the light of greater knowledge and instruction. Therefore, I have asked the same question: "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" And believing with all my heart that Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ) is the Son of God, I have graciously been told that I may indeed be baptized. Glory to God in the highest!

The devil always tries to make us doubt our motives and intentions. But God alone is the Judge of man's heart. [Hebrews 4:12-13] Whenever we desire that which is good for our souls and glorifying to God, then Satan will try to deter us from it. The devil is the accuser of the brethren [Revelation 12:10], and he always challenges our divine calling. But when God gives a calling, then He will fulfill that call in His servant's life. His calling is irrevocable [Romans 11:39], and His will cannot be thwarted. I have felt the call to be baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and in faith I trust that this calling is authentic and divine.

Recently I experienced a vivid dream that I will never forget. In this dream, I suddenly found myself in Ethiopia. All around me there was bloodshed and death. Ethiopians were being murdered left and right by some brutal and sadistic force. I could not determine who or what this evil force was, but I knew that it was demonic. Bombs, canons, and machine gun bullets were killing the Ethiopian people who themselves had no weapons of defense.

The Ethiopian Christians were being violently murdered as they peacefully followed their Orthodox priests who were carrying crosses. As these Priests were shot, they dropped their beautiful crosses as they fell to the ground. I wept with grief. What had these righteous people done to deserve this cruel and horrible fate?

But I noticed a very curious thing. In spite of all the violence and death being inflicted upon the Ethiopian people, there was no spirit of fear amongst them. No one ran away in panic and terror. They all marched forward with calm determination, following their priests with their eyes upon the Cross. There was extreme sorrow, but there was no fear. And I was amongst it all, feeling the deepest sadness at what I was witnessing. But it was very strange that nobody was afraid.

Suddenly, a priest right in front of me was killed. He dropped his cross as his body fell to the earth. I wanted to reach down and pick up this cross, but because only priests are allowed to carry a cross, I did not know what I should do. Then I gazed across the bloody field, and I looked into the eyes of a fallen priest who was struggling with his last breaths. He gazed at me and nodded, indicating that I should indeed pick up the cross and carry it forward. So I did. I reached down and picked up the beautiful cross that lay before me on the ground. And as soon as I picked it up, my dream abruptly ended.

I will never forget this dream, and I am sure that over time I will come to better understand its meaning. But I interpreted this dream as my call from God to be baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. And I know that I desperately need the strength and blessings of baptism to empower me in my spiritual journey. I need the blessings of baptism to help me endure the afflictions that accompany all those who truly endeavor to follow after Christ.

Coming Home
It would be understandable if this ancient Ethiopian faith and culture closed itself off from any connection to corrupt Western society. It would be natural if the Ethiopian people desired to hide the mysteries of their culture and keep their ancient Christian religion to themselves. But because of the authenticity of their Christian faith, they have a deep desire to share the true light of Christ and the true meaning of the Cross with the rest of the world.

When I first visited St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Atlanta, I was welcomed with warmth and kindness. It did not matter that I was "white." It did not matter that I was unfamiliar with the language or the Liturgy. I felt at peace. I felt at home.

I am deeply grateful to the Priest, Tsebate YemaneBrhan, who graciously took the time to meet with me and consider my interest in the Faith. With the many responsibilities and duties he has to his large Ethiopian parish, it would have been understandable if he didn't have time to deal with someone from Mississippi (where our family now lives). But in true Christian spirit, he has taken the time over the past two years to answer my many questions and encourage my interest in the Church. And now I am blessed to soon be baptized by Tsebate, and to have him as my Godfather. I want to sincerely express my gratitude and respect to him. Tsebate has truly been sent by God!

I am so thankful that this sacred Christian Faith has been opened up to me. My appreciation cannot be adequately expressed with words. It is difficult to express the love I feel for a country that I have never even visited, and for the Ethiopian people who have given such spiritual light and hope to the world. Ethiopia was located in the land of Eden, as we know from the Holy Bible [Genesis 2:10-13]. So the spiritual connection I feel with this land, its people, and its faith must be because Ethiopia represents the pure and uncorrupted communion that mankind in his pre-fallen state once enjoyed with God. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve, our first parents. And since they were the first Africans, then the African heritage belongs to all human beings, regardless of race, color, or creed.

As my family and I prepare for our baptism, I feel as if I am coming home from a long, long journey. And yet I know that my journey is really just beginning. My Christian faith has struggled through many ups and downs, and through many trials and tribulations. I have often stumbled and frequently fallen, but Christ my Shepherd has always picked me up and carried me in His arms when I needed Him the most. And now He is bringing me into the true fold of ancient and authentic Christian fellowship.

Through baptism, I will be renewed and cleansed by the very water that poured from Our Lord's side. Thereafter, I will have the blessing of receiving the very body and very blood of Eyesus Kristos into my mouth and into my body and soul. I will have communion with the Saints and Christian martyrs. I will have the protection of the holy Angels. I will have the blessings of the Holy Virgin Mariyam, to whom I can pray for intercession and strength. There will be fasts that will help me to crucify the flesh, and feasts that help us experience the joy of Christ's victory in our lives. I will have my blessed Priest and Godfather, Tsebate YemaneBrhan, to whom I can confess my sins and receive guidance and instruction in the Faith. I will have the sacred Scriptures in all of their fullness. And I will have the Synaxarium (Lives of the Saints), which will give me daily inspiration and encouragement from the exemplary lives of the Saints and Christian martyrs.

I know that after my baptism the struggles in life will continue. But now I will have the spiritual power and guidance to help me endure with greater vitality than ever before. I will be strengthened and encouraged by the five Mysteries, the seven Sacraments, the lives of the Saints, the protection of the Angels, the blessings of the Holy Virgin, the fellowship and communion of the faithful, the Prayers and Anaphoras, the blessings of Holy Icons - and most importantly - the Divine Liturgy, which is the apex of authentic Christian worship.

I am approaching my 40th birthday, having been a professing Christian for 20 years. But I feel like a baby. There is so much that I need to learn, and I look forward to the growth process. I am humbled by the faithfulness and commitment of devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. My flesh is weak, and the devil tells me that I will not be able to adequately practice this Orthodox Christian Faith. But God reminds me that prayer, fasting, and worship are not burdens. These things are blessings for the soul and liberation for the mind and the spirit. God also reminds me that faith is not a competition. We are all at different stages of development and growth. And the Orthodox Faith provides us with the things we need for our proper spiritual nourishment.

People eat different amounts of food according to their nutritional needs and desires. A child may become full from a small portion, while an adult requires a much larger amount. But both are fed and receive what they need for their particular growth and development. It should not be the goal of the child to grow up and eat as much as his parents. Instead, the child must eat according to his needs at the various stages of his growth. And over time, he will realize that he is able to eat more and more. And the more nourishment he receives, the stronger his body will grow.

So, this is the grace of Orthodox Christianity. The prayers, fasts, and other observances are for our spiritual nourishment. They are available to us for our own strength and development in the Faith. These things do not exist for our condemnation. Rather, they exist for our edification and encouragement.
I come into the Church as a spiritual infant, eager to grow and develop. Growth is a slow and difficult process, sometimes even painful. But each stage of development will bring new blessings and new spiritual rewards. And although I am entering as a spiritual babe, I know that the Church is my Mother, and I will be nurtured well by her.

So, I am grateful to be entering into this ancient Apostolic Faith of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It is with humility that I come to my home, seeking to be edified and enlightened in the true Christian religion. I praise my Lord and my Saviour, Eyesus Kristos, who has graciously brought me to where I now belong. I know that the Church will be a blessing to my marriage and to my children. I have peace in knowing that my children will now be raised up in the authentic Christian Faith. I know that the Church will empower me to be more effective in my various ministries. I know that I will also receive divine anointing upon my creative endeavors. And, I am confident that I will receive God's guidance to proclaim the true Gospel of Christ to my Rastafarian brethren that erroneously worship Haile Selassie as God.

I rejoice that the Lord has brought me to the true Faith. I will never look down upon my Catholic or Protestant Christian brothers. I have many dear friends - both Catholic and Protestant - that truly love Our Lord. But I realize that I will not be able to contain my joy at having been brought to the Orthodox Church. As I learn and grow in the Faith, I am certain that I will desire to spread this knowledge to others. But in my zeal, I will remember the wisdom of Archbishop Yesehaq, who wrote:

"A Christian Church, being the Kingdom of God, should not and cannot limit itself to one nation. It must go out and preach the Gospel throughout the world, regardless of race, color, or distance, following the commandment of Our Lord: 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the ages.' The Church of Ethiopia has been a spiritual power and an ancient lighthouse for freedom and civilization throughout Africa, before and after Christ. She will not force anyone to break contract with what he or she is attached to, and she is continuously praying for the entire world that God should hasten His purpose and put in the mind of all the desire for that which is good and expedient. If any different culture or form of worship is introduced to a country, it should be considered as a contribution. It should not conflict with the country to which the individual national group legally belongs."
[The Ethiopian Tewahedo Church by Archbishop Yesehaq, pages 175-176]

What I have written is a very brief and incomplete account of the spiritual journey that has led me home to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. There is much more that I could say, but I hope that God will take these few words and use them to His glory and for His purpose. Sometimes words cannot adequately express the emotions of the heart and the sentiments of the soul. But I feel the same joy expressed by the many Rastafarians who came to the Church through the missionary efforts of Abuna Yesehaq. There is an old Rastafarian chant that perhaps best expresses my feelings. It goes like this:

Michael going to bring them, bring them
To the Orthodox Church
No matter what they say, no matter what they do
Michael going to bring them to the Orthodox Church

Gabriel going to bring them, bring them
To the Orthodox Church
No matter what they do, no matter what they say
Gabriel going to bring them to the Orthodox Church

Sorial going to bring them, bring them
To the Orthodox Church
No matter what they do, no matter what they say
Sorial going to bring them to the Orthodox Church

Raphael going to bring them, bring them
To the Orthodox Church
No matter what they do, no matter what they say
Raphael going to bring them to the Orthodox Church

Thank God, thank God! The Orthodox Church is here!
Thank God, thank God! The Orthodox Church is here!

It is a Church for each and every one
Who accepts this wonderful Faith

Thank God, Glory Alleluyah!
The Orthodox Church is here!

5/27/2008

The Cleansing Water
On June 15th, 2008, my family and I were baptized into the true and ancient Orthodox Christian Faith at St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In God's mystical providence, we were baptized on the Day of Pentecost, the Church's celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as recorded in the Book of Acts, chapter 2. The water that poured from Our Lord's side at His crucifixion was poured over the members of our family three times each. We renounced Satan and all of his evil works, and we received the Holy Spirit through Chrismation, whereby our Priest anointed our heads, our hands, and our faces with Holy Myron (oil) in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God.

I was asked to read aloud the following passage from the New Testament:

Titus 3:3-8
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

After which I read:

"The blessing of the Father and the love of the Son and the gift of the Holy Spirit who came down upon the apostles in the upper room of holy Zion in like sort come down and be multiplied upon me and all of you. Amen"

The Priest read this passage from the Gospel of St. John 3:1-9

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

We then read the Creed of Nicea (325 A.D.)and Constantinople (381 A.D.) aloud as a family:

"We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (aeons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen"

With the exception of these words which were read in English, the rest of the baptismal rite was conducted in the holy liturgical language of Ge'ez. Prayers of the exorcism of demons were said, along with other prayers chanted by the Priests and Deacons as they walked around our family and enveloped us in a circle of sacred Frankincense smoke. After our baptism, we received the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the very body and blood of Eyesus Kristos.

We also received our new Christian names. And, since we were baptized on the Day of Pentecost, Tsebate our Priest gave each of us names that relate to the Holy Spirit. My new Christian name is now "Gebre Menfes Kidus" (Servant of the Holy Spirit); my wife's new name is "Amete Menfes Kidus" (Servant [feminine] of the Holy Spirit); our sons' names are now "Wolde Menfes Kidus" (Son of the Holy Spirit) and "Haile Menfes Kidus" (Power of the Holy Spirit); and our daughter's new Christian name is "Wolete Menfes Kidus" (Daughter of the Holy Spirit). It is our prayer and desire that we will live up to our names, and that as a family and as individuals we will serve, live, rely upon, and manifest the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. I ask for your prayers on our behalf.

After our Baptism, Chrismation and the receiving of the Holy Eucharist, Tsebate introduced us to the Church and asked me to share my testimony. I was honored to address the community of the faithful, and I am sure that my words failed to express the joy and gratitude that filled my heart. Our family was received into St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church with warmth and graciousness, and we pray that God will use us to contribute to the strength and growth of our beautiful new Church community.

There is strength and blessing in the Church. Apart from this mystical body of Christ - this holy institution - a Christian will never fully grow in grace and truth. He will never have the Christian authority, guidance, and accountability that all believers need. The Church not only exists for us, but we exist for the Church. We are to contribute our resources, our gifts, our abilities, our fellowship, our encouragement, and our time to the Church that nurtures and nourishes us in the true apostolic Faith.

I will never forget my baptism. I will remember the grace and power that God granted me through the redeeming water and the holy myron. Now I prayerfully seek to be more closely linked with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Baptism is a beautiful beginning, but now there is much Christian work to be done. My family and I are deeply grateful to our Priest and Godfather, Tsebate YemaneBrhan. And we are deeply grateful to the wonderful and generous community of Debre Bisrat St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. We are honored and privileged to now call this Church our home. We pray that God will make us faithful and obedient servants of Christ and His Church.

It is my prayer and my hope that others will be drawn to the divine light of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. If you are a Christian that has become discouraged or disillusioned by the erroneous expressions of Western Christendom, then know that the Orthodox Faith offers you its open embrace. If you are a spiritual seeker that has avoided the stagnant representations of most organized religion, then the Ethiopian Orthodox Church invites you to come discover the mystical depth of true Christian belief within our community.

Satan may prevail over the individual, the state, the society, and even the family; but the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. [St. Matthew 16:18] So whatever thirst that man may have, only the water of Christ can quench it. And it is through the true Church of Christ that ones may come and partake of the redeeming and life-giving waters. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church simply offers:

"Let him who thirsts come. Whosoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." [Revelation 22:17]

"Grace be with all them that love Our Lord Eyesus Kristos in sincerity. Amen." [Ephesians 6:24]

Besime Ab, weWolde, weMenfesQidus, Ahadu Amlak.
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God
-Amen-

GEBRE MENFES KIDUS

MY PRIEST: TSEBATE GEBRE MARIAM

2010-07-16T02:57:00.002-05:00

Here is some information about my blessed Priest,

Tsebate GebreMariam:

From: http://www.ethiopianorthodoxchurch.info/about.html#anchor_26

+Tsebate has the rank of Qomose (Archimandrite )

+He is a Holy Monk, a teacher.

+The title of Tsebate means "the teacher of Monks".

He was raised and educated at Debre Libanos monastery, a place that is known for producing exemplary leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Within this distinguished spiritual sanctuary, he received his formative education and religious studies beginning at the age of four. Shortly after he was ordained Archimandrite, he was the Abbot, assigned to administer both the women’s convent and the men's monastery of Debre Libanos. Under his leadership he established humanitarian and educational projects. In 2003 he established Debre Bisrat St Gabriel Church in Atlanta, GA. USA.

He was a great friend and respected colleague of Our Beloved Father the late Abune Yesehaq. He was chosen by the Abune to succeed him and to continue his mission after his passing.Tsebate was the main (head) Priest that officiated the funeral services of Abune Yesehaq in New York, Washington, Dallas, and his burial in Jamaica, West Indies.

He also shares the vision of Abune Yesehaq of one unified Church, and also the desire to continue the works of our faithful father in the United States and the Caribbean. His knowledge of our Faith and Practice is immense, and his teachings provide only a glimpse of his tremendous knowledge of the Traditions and sacred scriptures, which are the true underpinnings of our Faith.

May God bless him with eternal strength to continue his great work.

I thank God for my blessed Priest, Tsebate GebreMariam! He taught me the Tewahedo Faith, and baptized our family on the Day of Pentecost, June 15, 2008. He has taken the time to patiently answer my many questions and forgive my many errors. He has shown the grace and mercy of Our Lord to our family. He is a strong and gentle shepherd, guiding our parish in love and Truth. Tsebate is beloved and respected by many, and he is a shining Christian example in this world of spiritual darkness and moral confusion.

May the prayers of Our Lady

And the grace of Our Lord

Strengthen and preserve Tsebate

And the faithful community of
St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church!

Besime Ab, WeWolde, WeMenfesQidus, Ahadu Amlak,

-Amen-

Gebre Menfes Kidus

ORTHODOXY AND PROTESTANTISM

2010-07-15T16:18:00.041-05:00

VARIOUS THOUGHTS ON ORTHODOXY &

PROTESTANTISM:

+ "Over the span of 20 years, Evangelical Protestantism was something with which my mind became intimately familiar, while nevertheless remaining unrecognizable to my soul. Thank God for Orthodoxy!" -GMK-

"We must approach the word of God with a desire to change our hearts. We read the Scripture in order to gain salvation- not, as some Protestants believe, because we are already saved without the possibility of falling away, but rather as those desperately trying to keep the salvation which Christ has given us, fully aware of our spiritual poverty. For us, reading the Holy Scripture is literally a matter of life and death."
-FATHER SERAPHIM ROSE-

+ "In our zeal to proclaim Orthodox Truth, let us be most vigilant in practicing the Truth of Christian love."

-GMK-

+ "Evangelicals claim to love the Bible, but they reject the Church which gave birth to the Bible. They claim to love Christ, but they demean and dishonor the Mother of Christ. They claim salvation by 'faith alone,' but their faith is only in their individualistic and subjective understanding of objectively holy things." -GMK-

+ "The endeavors to reconcile divine paradoxes produce systematic theologies; but they bring us no closer to the experience of God."
-GMK-

+ "The arrogance of the Protestant mind discards holy things because they do not 'measure up' to the criteria of finite human logic. The 'Sola Scripturists' boast of their love for the Holy Bible, yet they sever the Sacred Scriptures from the ecclesiastical context apart from which the Word of God will never be fully understood. Western epistemology has conditioned Western man to lean unto his own understanding rather than bowing before ineffable Holy Mystery and humbly deferring to divine paradox."
-GMK-

+ "As is with politics, theological liberals and theological conservatives are merely two sides of the same coin. Forsaking the True Church and relying on their own arrogant interpretations, they use the Bible as a weapon to elevate their own subjective ideologies while cutting down their fellow man." -GMK-

+ "Evangelicals claim to adhere to the Bible and say they are saved by 'faith alone.' But the only place in Scripture where we find the words 'faith' and 'alone' together is James 2:24, which states that we are 'not saved by faith alone.'" -GMK-

+ "People do not need a 'Reformed Theology;' they need a Church whose Teachings and Truths have remained unchanged and uncorrupted for 2,000 years. The followers of Christ do not seek to reform the ancient apostolic Church, rather they allow the Church to transform their lives. Arrogance seeks to 'reform' the Faith and make it acceptable to human understanding, but humility seeks to conform one's self to the Faith so that one may eternally experience the Author of Faith. Orthodoxy is not 'Reformed Theology,' it is transformational Truth." -GMK-

+ "Protestants think they revere the Bible, but they demonstrate their contempt for the Scriptures by isolating them from the Church which gave birth to them. It's like extolling the benefits of milk while ignoring the cow, or claiming to love eggs while you slaughter the chicken." -GMK-

+ "It's not mere membership, but active participation in the Life of the Church, i.e. the Body of Christ. We cannot claim to have faith if we refuse to continually receive Our Lord through the Sacraments. We cannot claim to have faith if we deny the power of Baptism and reject the very Body and Blood of Our Savior. Spiritual security is only found by remaining within the Shepherd's fold, i.e. His Church. That's why it is so important that we understand what the True Church is, for Our Lord said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Christ never said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against individuals, nations, families, denominations, or governments; but He said that hell shall not prevail against The Church. And the true Church is that which He established through His apostles, whose Teachings and Traditions have remained one and the same for 2,000 years- The Holy Orthodox Church!"
-GMK-

+ "Another important difference between Evangelicalism and Orthodoxy is the idea of 'salvation.' Evangelicals promote the idea that Christ came to punch our ticket to heaven. We just accept Him into our hearts and we are 'saved.' This is an erroneous understanding of God's purpose for our life. We were created to fully experience Him in this earthly life, which is the precursor to the life to come. The purpose of the Cross was to redeem us from sin so that we might become one with God through 'theosis.' As St. Athanasius said, 'God became man so that we might become god.' In other words, by grace we are called to holiness; and through His Church we are given the mystical power to fully experience unity with God in this terrestrial and temporal life. We must stop thinking in terms of being 'saved,' of having our ticket punched to heaven. Instead, we must desire to experience intimacy with Our Lord; for that is why He came to earth and shed His redemptive blood- so that we might experience His fullness, so that we might become 'partakers of the divine nature.' [II Peter 1:4]" -GMK-

"In the Holy Fathers we find the mind of the Church- the living understanding of God's revelation. They are our link between the Holy Scriptures and today's reality. Without such a link it is every man for himself- and the result is a myriad of interpretations and sects."
-FATHER SERAPHIM ROSE-

+ "God alone is the Judge of our hearts. There will be many people in the Kingdom of Heaven who were not Orthodox Christians. But those who willfully reject the True Church having had the opportunity to enter into its grace and truth are rejecting Christ Himself. We cannot just 'do our own thing,' 'go our own way,' believe our own independent doctrines, attend the Church that makes us feel the most comfortable, and then think we have spiritual security. Remember the words of Our Lord Who said, 'Unless you eat of my Body and drink of my Blood, you have no part of me.' [St. John 6:53-56] And many disciples left Him at that point, because Our Lord's words didn't make rational sense to them. So, if we claim to have faith, then we will accept the Teachings and Truth of Christ and His true Church. We will not change the meaning of His words to accommodate our own sin-infested logic. We will not find a 'church' that accommodates our own subjective beliefs. No. Faith in Christ means submission to His Church, acceptance of Orthodox doctrine, and participation in the Holy Sacraments. It is a dangerous thing to live according to our own understanding and claim we are 'saved' simply because we 'believe in Jesus.' As St. James tells us, 'Even the demons believe, and tremble.' [James 2:19]" -GMK-

+ "I used to try and learn so much on my own, but so much of what I learned was wrong. I became 'wise in my own eyes' [Proverbs 26:12] and arrogant in my own misunderstanding. But I could always quote chapter and verse to defend my subjective human theology. But God guided me in His mystical way to His true Church, and He showed me that I need not try to understand Holy things on my own; for Our Lord has provided His Church to guide us in these mystical and spiritual matters. So we need only to pray, fast, and profess what the apostles professed. We need only come to Christ as a little child- thirsty, neeedy, dependent, and humbly trusting in Him. And His Church - not 'church,' but His Church - is the means by which we may draw near to Our Lord in childlike faith, accepting Holy Mysteries that are offensive to sinful logic but satisfying to our thirsty souls." -Lord have Mercy-

-GMK-

+ "For all the love they claim to have for the Bible, Protestants don't even have the entire Bible! So their faith is based on partial truth, not the whole Truth. And partial truth is often the greatest lie." -GMK-

+ "Orthodoxy is not in the business of condemning people to hell (unlike many Evangelical fundamentalists.) Orthodoxy is grace- in its fullest and truest sense. Everything the Church teaches and offers is for our benefit and blessing. Whether or not we avail ourselves of these things is up to us. And while all Orthodox Chiristians are One, we are each at different stages of spiritual development. But in corporate participation in the Sacraments and corporate confession of Orthodox Truth, we are strengthened and preserved unto the Day of Judgment." -GMK-

+ "It is ironic that Evangelicals claim to interpret the Bible literally, yet they dismiss the literalness of Christ's words upon which our very salvation depends: 'Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.' [St. John 6:54]" -GMK-

+ "Protestants may question why the Sacraments, Teachings, and Traditions of Orthodoxy are necessary, since all that matters is having a relationship with Christ. But Christian relationship means interaction with God the Father, and it means availing ourselves of the gifts of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is through the Orthodox Church that Christians will experience the fullness and depth of God's Sacraments, Mysteries, and blessings.

A child who claims to love his father will not disregard and reject his father's embrace, his father's gifts, or his father's teachings. But many professed Christians disregard and ignore the divine revelations, divine expressions, and divine gifts that God offers His children through His Holy Orthodox Church. Christ is the greatest gift given to humanity; and humanity will never be able to experience the fullness of this gift apart from the Church that Christ has established." -GMK-

+ "All manmade religions are the same in that they are unable to lead men to God. Contrary to all manmade religions, the Orthodox Church is the divinely established institution through which God makes Himself available to man. We can go to Heaven God's way, or we can go to hell any way we like." -GMK-

+ "The Church exists to accommodate the needs of our soul, not our individual comforts, preferences, and desires. We are all at different spiritual levels, but we should all be striving for holiness and 'theosis.' So the Teachings, Traditions, and practices of the Church exist to inspire, motivate, encourage, discipline, and comfort us in our spiritual progress. Orthodoxy is about struggle, and it is in the midst of true spiritual struggle that we truly experience divine grace. Any form of Christianity that seeks to eradicate struggle from the essence of the Christian life is a false Christianity preaching a counterfeit gospel.

Orthodox inquirers who say, 'I love the incense and the icons, and the chanting is beautiful. But I don't like all that standing, and the fasting seems so legalistic,' etc. must be quickly disabused of their individualistic approach to assessing the Church. There are plenty of Protestant sects and denominations from which they can choose if they want a 'spirituality' that conforms to their own personal desires.

I am an Orthodox Christian who falls far short in the practice of my Faith. But I realize that there is more spiritual benefit in striving and failing than in not struggling at all."

-Lord have mercy.- -GMK-

"We strive to be at odds with the world in this sinful and adulterous generation, one in which the wisdom of the world has so obscured the Way, the Truth, and the Life that all are in danger of being led into apostasy. This is a time when evil is everywhere proclaimed as good. In such a time, we cling to the Tradition of the Church as it has been preserved through the ages, so that we don't have to rely on our own understanding of the truth, tainted as it is by the spirit of the world. We know also that these are days in which, if we cling to this Holy Tradition, people will kill us and think they are doing God a favor. (St. John 16:2)"

-FATHER MOSES BERRY-

+ ‎"Those that understand love will recognize true theology; and those that do not understand theology will nevertheless recognize true love."
-GMK-

+ "We must speak Orthodoxy to heresy, and strive to let our lives be the most convincing voice." -GMK-

+"A question for my Protestant, ‘Sola Scriptura’ friends:

If the Church Fathers were wrong about infant baptism, icons, the Eucharist, communion of saints, etc., then how can we possibly trust that they were right about which written texts were worthy of biblical canonization?" -GMK-

SHOCKING WORDS TO THE PRESBYTERIANS
By
Terry Mattingly

Scripps Howard News Service 7/21/2010

Anyone who attends one of the national church assemblies that dot the calendar every summer knows that they are highly ritualized affairs.

Officers will be elected.

Political issues will be discussed. Lofty resolutions will be passed.

At least one long business session will include a proposal about clergy benefits and salaries.

In recent decades, gatherings in the "seven sisters" of mainline Protestantism have also -- to varying degrees -- featured battles over sex. These flocks are, in descending order of size, the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Episcopal Church, the American Baptist Churches USA, the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

But as the hours pass, veterans know that they can take breaks whenever the word "greeting" appears in the agenda, marking a polite mini-speech by a visiting civic leader or religious dignitary.

But something unusual happened recently during the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). An official "ecumenical advisory delegate" -- Father Siarhei Hardun of the Orthodox Church of Belarus -- used his moment at the podium to deliver a message that was courteous and stunning at the same time, if not genuinely offensive to many in the audience.

"Frankly, he was pretty sly about what he said and how he said it," noted the Rev. Carmen S. Fowler, president of the conservative Presbyterian Lay Committee. "People are used to dozing off during these greetings, so this caught them off guard. ... Most of the General Assembly yawned its way through the most provocative moment of the whole event."

Speaking in clear, but careful, English, Hardun thanked the Presbyterians for the economic aid that helped Orthodox churches in his land rebuild social ministries after decades of bloody communist persecution. Only 20 years ago, he noted, there were 370 parishes left and, today, there are more than 1,500. He thanked the assembly for its kindness and hospitality.

However, the Orthodox priest ended by offering his take on the assembly's debates as it prepared for another attempt to modernize Christian doctrines on sexuality. Shortly before his "greeting," the commissioners voted 373-323 to approve, for the fifth time in two decades, the ordination of noncelibate gays and lesbians. Regional presbyteries must now approve the measure, which is the stage at which previous efforts were defeated -- by increasingly smaller margins.

"Christian morality is as old as Christianity itself. It doesn't need to be invented now. Those attempts to invent new morality look for me like attempts to invent a new religion -- a sort of modern paganism," said Hardun, drawing scattered applause.

"When people say that they are led and guided by the Holy Spirit to do it, I wonder if it is the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Bible, if it is the same Holy Spirit that inspires the Holy Orthodox Church not to change anything in Christian doctrine and moral standards. But if it is the same Spirit, I wonder ... if there are different spirits acting in different denominations and inspiring them to develop in different directions and to create different theologies and different morals?"

The priest closed with a quote from St. Paul, urging the Presbyterians: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Later in that business day, a slim 51 percent of the assembly voted to defeat a proposal to redefine marriage as a holy covenant between "two people," rather than one between "a man and a woman."

General Assembly moderator Cindy Bolbach -- an outspoken advocate of the gay-rights measures -- offered no comment whatsoever about Hardun's remarks when he left the podium, but quickly moved on to other business. However, before her election she urged her church not to fear the repercussions of an era of change. The denomination has lost half of its members since the 1960s.

"We have to learn how to proclaim the Gospel in a multicultural age where Christianity is no longer at the center," she said. "We have to learn how to tell people who have grown suspicious of institutions why an institution like the P.C. (U.S.A.) can be of value to them. ... And we have to accept the loss of the church we have always known -- as the church transforms itself into something new."

Lutheran World Federation Pushes 'One Church' Efforts
Thu, Jul. 22 2010 11:14 AM EDT

By Audrey Barrick

Christian Post Reporter

Talks of a continued commitment toward ecumenism, or church unity, dominated the stage Wednesday at the Lutheran World Federation's assembly.

Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Mark S. Hanson speaks at the LWF assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, July 21, 2010.

The Lutheran commitment to ecumenism will not end until we can share the Eucharist with other churches, LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson said Wednesday at the assembly, which is being held in Stuttgart, Germany.

"If Roman Catholics and Lutherans [for example] can feed the hungry together, wouldn’t it be good if they could be fed at the Lord’s Table together?" he posed.

LWF is the world's largest communion of Lutheran churches, representing over 70 million Christians in 79 countries. It holds an assembly every six years. This year's meeting drew leaders and representatives from the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the United Methodist Church and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

LWF has pursued deeper relations with each of the global church bodies. One of the landmark ecumenical events was the 1999 signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

"To be the Lutheran World Federation: A Communion of Churches is to be ecumenical," said Hanson in his report. "When a radically inclusive communion is God’s gift to us in Christ and at the center of our self-understanding we will always define ourselves first in terms of our relatedness to others in the body of Christ.

"We gather in Stuttgart as more than fragments who momentarily put together the semblance of a whole. We gather because we are one by God’s grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s gift of unity will be experienced and expressed again and again in the midst of our varied diversity and even our differences."

Regarding differences on human sexuality, Hanson encouraged Christians to begin the conversation by identifying what they have in common – such as "we are all sexual beings" – rather than from a position of judgment. His comments come nearly a year after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, of which he is the presiding bishop, opened the door to allow partnered gays and lesbians to serve as clergy.

He expressed concerns over emerging conversations in some Lutheran churches about what it means to be truly Lutheran.

"I sense that there is a growing desire on the part of some to look at our rich, shared confessions not as a reason for conversation about how we can live in that confessional tradition, but rather as a way of determining who is truly Lutheran and who is not," he said, noting that he desires to see full unity among Lutherans themselves. "That would be an unfortunate breakdown."

Hanson called for not only affirming the theological and confessional foundations they share as Lutherans, but also for renewing a commitment "that to be Lutheran is to be both evangelical and ecumenical."

LWF General Secretary the Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko recalled in his address the statement they adopted in 2007. Rather than see themselves as "the Church," LWF views itself as a movement within the "one Church."

"We are aware that we need other Christians," Noko said.

Interfaith Diapraxis, or practical cooperation across religious borders, has been a special focus of the life of the LWF since 2003, he highlighted.

And continuing that commitment, this year LWF delegates will be asked to take an action that would redefine their relations with Mennonites – a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations.

Noko lamented that the two bodies have been estranged for 500 years and that their Lutheran confessions "have very harsh things to say" about the Mennonites.

Though there are "several reasons given for why churches are not fully sharing the one bread in the Eucharist," Tveit said, "there are even more important theological and moral reasons why we continue to do anything we can do to come to the same table and have a common sharing of the one bread."

LWF will consider an action that asks for forgiveness "for the persecution and violence of which our Lutheran forebears were guilty, and of which we are the inheritors," Noko said.

Also present at the LWF assembly is World Council of Churches General Secretary the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit who lauded LWF's ecumenical efforts.

"You are known for your commitment to peace with justice, to mission, diakonia and to ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious cooperation. Let it be so also in the future," he encouraged.

+^"The question to my beloved Protestant friends is this: How can these 'churches' share the Eucharist when they deny the Eucharist? 'Liberal' and 'Conservative' Protestants suffer from the same disease- they deny, dismiss, and rationalize away the essential Mysteries of the Faith. Superficial ecumenism is the inevitable illness of the heterodox cancer. The above article demonstrates this all too well." -GMK-

ASSURANCE?

+ "Evangelicals frequently ask us Orthodox why we don't speak of having 'assurance of salvation.' Here is a brief response to this question I was once again recently asked :

The word 'assurance' is used 5 times in the New Testament, but the word 'faith' is used almost 200 times. As Orthodox believers, we have faith in Christ which is demonstrated by our:

-Faith in the Church, (against which the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail.) [St. Matthew 16:18]

-Faith in the Sacraments (which demonstrates true repentance and true belief in Christ. For true repentance means embracing the waters of baptism, and true faith means receiving Christ in the Mystery of the Eucharist throughout our lives- not merely receiving Him via a 'one time profession of faith.' And faith is not using mortal rationale to reduce Holy Mysteries to mere spiritual symbols; rather, it is prostrating our entire selves before ineffable divinity and accepting the Teachings and Traditions of the apostolic Faith which have been instituted by Our Lord Himself.)

-Faith in the Scriptures (not faith in our own individual interpretations of Scripture, but faith in in the divinely guided interpretations of the Church.)

Now with faith in these things - which involves active, consistent, and corporate participation on our part - we have a confidence, a hope, and a peace that permeates our lives. We do not live in fear of a wrathful God Whose justice and honor must be forensically appeased; we live instead for our loving and merciful God to Whom we wish to draw ever nearer through the graces He has provided us.

We do not speak of 'assurance of salvation' because we do not want to be guilty of presumption and pride. Rather we speak of divine mercy and grace, in which we not only have faith, but which actually is our Faith. And we know that authentic faith dispels fear, pride, presumption, and despair.

We trust not in our own fickle faith, but in the Faith which has been instituted by Christ, established by the apostles, and preserved by the Fathers throughout the centuries. When our own faith wavers, the Church remains "rock" solid. When our own theological and biblical understanding fails, the Mysteries of the Faith remain certain and salvific.
-GMK-

An excellent article on Orthodoxy and Protestantism can be read here:
http://japocalypse.blogspot.com/2010/08/provocation-of-god.html

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

2010-07-14T02:05:00.096-05:00

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places."

[Ephesians 6:10-12]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ."

[II Corinthians 10:3-5]

"For fearlessness against demons, hold this sign sure: whenever there is any apparition, be not prostrate with fear, but whatsoever it be, first boldly ask 'Who art thou, and from whence comest thou?' And if it should be a vision of holy ones, they will assure you and change your fear into joy. But if the vision should be from the devil, immediately it becomes feeble, beholding your firm purpose of mind."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "Beware of the whisperings of the senses. Beware of natural urges. For whatever feels natural or appeals to the senses may indeed be that which poisons you. Nature is a great teacher, but apart from the Scriptures and the Teachings of the Church, the path of nature can become the road to hell. Nature, as well as our senses, has been affected and polluted by sin. The most unnatural feeling occurs when one subdues fleshly passions for the benefit of the soul. While the senses pine for pleasure, the soul hungers for holiness." -GMK-

"And the sum of judgment was given unto the Son of Man. And He caused the evil ones to pass away and be destroyed from off the face of the earth, and those who have led the world astray. With chains shall they be bound , and in their assemblage place of destruction shall they be imprisoned; and all their works shall vanish from the face of the earth."

[Enoch 69:27-28]

+ "There are two types of darkness: demonic darkness, and divine darkness. Demonic darkness is the privation of Holy Light. Divine darkness is the abundance of transcendent Holy Light, in the presence of which the mortal light of intellectual understanding is rendered impotent and thus we are made free to truly experience God. But this is not a reduction to relativism or mere spiritual subjectivity. For the transcendent and divine Holy Light is the most objective reality of all, and apart from this Light we will never really know." -GMK-

"When the mind, taking refuge in Christ and calling upon Him, stands firm and repels its unseen enemies, like a wild beast facing a pack of hounds from a good position of defense, then it inwardly anticipates their inner ambushes well in advance. Through continually invoking Jesus the Peacemaker against them, the mind remains invulnerable."

-ST. HESYCHIOS the PRIEST-

+ "Never debate the devil, because you will always lose. Satan is the oldest philosopher. He is a skilled theologian, and a crafty biblical scholar. He is a shrewd lawyer and an artful scientist. Satan is the father of lies, and he masks all of his lies as truth. He will even use the very words of God Himself to deceive us, as he did with the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden.

The devil will gladly lure us into a biblical debate; and it is naïve, foolish, and arrogant to believe we can win a debate with the diabolical. The proliferation of errant Christian sects and erroneous Evangelical doctrines are the result of well-intentioned people creating their own arrogant interpretations of biblical teaching and divine truth. As he demonstrated in tempting Our Lord in the wilderness, Lucifer is masterful at 'proof-texting.'

Satan is the author of pride, and he is always manipulating the ego of man for his own insidious purposes. This is why the Teachings and Traditions of the Orthodox Church are vital to success in spiritual warfare. Without the Church, we are vulnerable to Satan's lies and perversions of the Bible. But through the authority of the Church, we are given the proper doctrines and interpretations of God's holy Word. Therefore, we are safeguarded from the demonic errors that result from subjective interpretations that are born from human pride and presumption.

So, do not debate the devil or his minions. Instead, whenever you encounter false doctrines, evil spirits, or demonic lies, make the sign of the Cross and take refuge in the teachings and doctrines of the Church. For against the Cross of Christ and the Church of Christ, the gates of hell shall not prevail!" -GMK-

"Fire makes iron impossible to touch, and likewise frequent prayer renders the mind more forceful in its warfare against the enemy. That is why the demons strive with all their strength to make us slothful in attentiveness to prayer, for they know that prayer is the intellect's invincible weapon against them."

-ST. JOHN of KARPATHOS-

+ "All humans have perceptive and intuitive abilities. And these abilities are hardwired to innate warning signals. We subconsciously tune out much of the spiritual world because we intuitively discern the dangers that lie therein. This is a good thing, because to open ourselves up to the spiritual realm without divine protection is extremely dangerous. Those that presumptuously delve into the realm of angels and demons on their own terms will suffer dearly for this mistake. So tread with caution!"
-GMK-

"Let us apply ourselves to our resolve of Christian discipline; and let us not be deceived by these demons that do all things in deceit, even though they threaten death. For they are weak, and they can do no more than threaten."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "To attribute all unexplained phenomenon to purely natural causes is as superstitious and narrow-minded as attributing all that is unexplainable to the supernatural. In fact, one will never understand the natural world without a proper spiritual world-view. And one will never gain true spiritual understanding without observing and studying the natural world." -GMK-

"For through His name shall they be saved; and the Lord of the Spirits will have compassion on them, for His compassion is great. And He is righteous in His judgment, and in the presence of His glory unrighteousness shall not maintain itself. At His judgment the unrepentant shall perish before Him. 'And from henceforth I will have no mercy on them,' saith the Lord of Spirits."

[Enoch 50:3-5]

+ "The devil aims to turn a responsibility into a burden, and a challenge into a chore. But the laws and commandments of God are intended for our liberation and peace. The devil is very clever in convincing ostensible spiritual leaders to construct chains out of that which was intended for freedom. Whenever you feel pressure from people, from society, or from the world, know that its source is demonic and not divine. Our Lord said:

'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' [St. Matthew 11:28-30]

Christ came to liberate us from the weight of the world and the demands of society. And we will never freely serve God as long as we remain slaves to the standards of the world and servants of human opinion." -GMK-

"And though we fought on earth, we shalll not receive our inheritance on earth, but we have the promises in heaven. And having put off the body which is corrupt, we shall receive it incorrupt."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "The three great enemies of man are the world, the flesh, and the devil. But the world and the devil have no power apart from the flesh. Therefore it is good to discipline the flesh and subdue the passions through prayer, fasting, and bodily exercise. For we cannot resist the enticements of the world or the delusions of the devil if we have not first learned to have some control over our own flesh. As Our Lord told His disciples when they asked why they could not cure the demoniac boy, 'This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.' [St. Matthew 17:21]" -GMK-

"The UFO phenomenon is a sign to Orthodox Christians to walk all the more cautiously and soberly on the path to salvation. The conscious Orthodox Christian knows that man is not to 'evolve' into something 'higher,' nor has he any reason to believe that there are 'highly evolved' beings on other planets; but he knows well that there are indeed 'advanced intelligences' in the universe besides himself: these are of two kinds, and he strives to live so as to dwell with those who serve God (the angels) and to avoid contact with the others who have rejected God and strive in their envy

and malice to draw man into their misfortune (the demons). He knows that man, out of self-love and weakness, is easily inclined to follow error and believe 'fairy tales' that promise contact with a 'higher state' or 'higher beings' without the struggle of the Christian life- in fact, precisely as an escape from the struggle of Christian life. He distrusts his own ability to see through the deceptions of the demons, and therefore clings all the more firmly to the Scriptural and Patristic guidelines which the Church of Christ provides for his life."

-FATHER SERAPHIM ROSE-

+ "Most of us ascribe too much power to the devil. We often blame Satan for the sins for which we alone are responsible. It is easier to say, 'The devil made me do it,' than to confess, 'I alone am guilty, and of my own free choosing.'" -GMK-

"The prince of demons was bound by the Lord as a sparrow, that we should mock him. And with him are placed the demons his fellows, like serpents and scorpions to be trodden under foot by us Christians. And the proof of this is that we now live opposed to him. For he who threatened to dry the sea abd seize upon the world, behold now cannot resist our ascetic discipline, nor even us speaking against him. Let us then ignore his demonic words, for he is a liar. And let us not fear his visions, seeing that they themselves are deceptive. For that which appears in them is no true light, but they are rather the preludes and likeness of the fire prepared for the demons who attempt to terrify men with those flames in which they themselves will be burned."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "Light does not coexist with darkness. Any attempt to mix light with darkness only brings cloudiness, haze, distortion, and confusion. The Light of God came into the world, but the world preferred the darkness. [St. John 3:19] Light will either draw you to it or repel you from it. Light is pleasing to some and offensive to others. Truth is the same. God is the same. But one thing about light is that it will always find you out. A person who closes the blinds and draws the curtains tight doesn't make the sun go away; they only deprive themselves of its benefits. And the Light that is shunned today will become the fire that burns tomorrow." -GMK-

"There are three chief groups of demons opposing us in the practice of the ascetic life, and after them follows the whole army of the enemy. These three groups fight in the front line, and with impure thoughts seduce our souls into wrongdoing. They are the demons set over the appetites of gluttony, those who suggest to us avaricious thoughts, and those who incite us to seek out esteem in the eyes of men. If you long for pure prayer, keep guard over your anger; and if you desire self-restraint, control your belly and do not be gluttonous. Be vigilant in prayer and avoid all rancour. Let the teachings of the Holy Spirit be always with you; and use the virtues as your hands to knock at the door of Scripture. Then dispassion of heart will arise within you, and during prayer your mind will shine like a star."
-ST. EVAGRIOS the SOLITARY-

+ "The world tugs at us, pulls on us, entices and seduces us. The powers and influences of the world want us to participate in their systems and their ism/schisms. Politicians want to divide us. Entertainment industries want to corrupt us. Educational institutions want to deceive us. And false religions want to control us. The world says, 'Give me your mind, your body, your children, and your very soul. Let me feed you, educate you, entertain you, and enlighten you. (I will in fact brainwash you, poison you, enslave and destroy you!)' This is why St. Paul advised,

"Be not conformed to the image of this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." [Romans 12:2] -GMK-

"And I heard the voices of the four presences as they uttered praises before the Lord of glory. The first voice blesses the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever. And the second voice I heard blessing the Elect One and the elect ones who hang upon the Lord of Spirits. And the third voice I heard pray and intercede for those who dwell on the earth and supplicate in the name of the Lord of Spirits. And I heard the fourth voice fending off the Satans and forbidding them to come before the Lord of Spirits to accuse them who dwell on the earth. After that I asked the angel of peace who went with me, who showed me everything that is hidden: 'Who are these four presences which I have seen and whose words I have heard and written down?' And he said to me: 'This first is MICHAEL, the merciful and long-suffering; and the second, who is set over all the diseases and the wounds of the children of men, is RAPHAEL; and the third, who is set over all the powers, is GABRIEL; and the fourth, who is set over the repentance unto the hope of those who inherit eternal life, is name PHANUEL (URIEL). And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits and the four voices I heard in those days."

[Enoch 40:3-10]

+ "They asked me, 'Do you really believe in vampires?'

I answered:

"Let us not have thoughts of cowardice in our heart, nor frame fears for ourselves, saying 'I am afraid lest a demon should come and overthrow me; lest he should lift me up and cast me down; or lest risisng against me he should suddenly confound me.' Such thoughts let us not have in mind at all, nor let us be sorrowful as though we were perishing. But rather, let us be courageous and rejoice always, believing that we are safe. Let us consider in our soul that the Lord is with us, Who put the evil spirits to flight and broke their power. Let us consider and take to heart that while the Lord is with us, our foes can do us no hurt."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "The Scripture teaches: 'Tolerate not a witch or a sorceress even to live.' [Exodus 22:17] However, in this Christian age of grace we are not to execute violent judgment upon evildoers ourselves. Instead, we have confident knowledge that the unrepentant practitioners of sorcery and witchcraft will taste the holy fire in God's perfect time.
But, as Orthodox Christians, we have many divine weapons with which we may fight demonism and evil in this day and age. We have the weapons of prayer and the Holy Scriptures. We have the communion and intercession of the Saints departed and the Holy Angels. We have the Holy Sacraments and the Holy Mysteries. We have the protection of the Church, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. [St. Matthew 16:18] And, above all, we have the Cross of Jesus Christ which defeats all sin, death, and despair, and which provides the ever-present hope for all human beings.

These things are repugnant to all those who work iniquity, be they evil persons or evil spirits. Their sinister deeds cannot prevail against us when we fight them down with the righteous weapons that are at our disposal. Demons are spiritual entities, and they can only be defeated with spiritual weapons." -GMK-

"Many have fought in various ways against circumstances; but without prayer and repentance no one can escape evil."

-ST. MARK the ASCETIC-

+ "Intuition and perception are only beneficial and constructive when they are guided by discernment. And discernment cannot occur apart from the synthesis of divine spiritual faith, logical analysis, moral character, and ecclesiastical guidance. Seeking to increase one’s intuitive and perceptive abilities by discarding faith, logic, moral judgment, or the Teachings and Traditions of the Church will only open oneself up to the forces of evil and darkness."
-GMK-

"A person who is not detached from worldly cares can neither love God truly nor hate the devil as he should, for such cares are both a burden and a veil. His mind cannot discern the tribunal which will judge him, neither can it foresee the verdict which will be given at his trial. For all these reasons, then, withdrawal from the world is invaluable."

-ST. DIADOCHOS of PHOTIKI-

+ "The original Hebrew language of the Old Testament uses the word 'kashaph' for 'witch.' And Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines 'kashaph' as follows: 'to whisper a spell; to incant or practice magic; sorcery or witchcraft.' This is why the rituals and rites of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church involve vocal prayers, liturgical chants, hymns, and the ringing of bells. Christian righteousness is to be boldly proclaimed and boldly practiced, shattering Satanic surreptitiousness with holy reverberations.

Truth does not rely upon secrecy and subversion, and truth does not fear. But evil is covert, deceptive, and underhanded. Evil does not want to be found out. The devil and his minions whisper into the hearts and minds of men. And those who seek the devil’s source must use whisperings and hushed incantations, done in dark and clandestine places. Why? Because Satan has already lost! He is eternally defeated! Thus he and his demons tremble at the overt light, love, power, and goodness of the true Christian Faith.

Demons must hide behind whisperings, charms, and spells, because they are no match for the bold, clear, resurrected power and glory of Jesus Christ and His Truth! The worship and liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church drives away darkness and deceivers. With loud and joyful praise the Christian proclaims the divine and holy name of Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ), and manifestly venerates His Holy Cross. And by doing so, nightmares are turned into dreams of Zion, demons scatter and flee, and the peace that surpasses all understanding settles into the Christian's mind and heart.

As Psalm 68:4;13 says:

'Sing unto the Lord. Sing praises to His name. Extol Him who rideth upon the heavens by His name JAH, and rejoice before Him. Shout joyfully unto God, all you on earth; sing of his glorious name; give Him glorious praise.'

So away with all you who whisper Satanic lies! Away with those of you who practice evil incantations! Away with fortunetellers, sorcerers, and witches!

'This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.' [St. John 3:19-21]" -GMK-

"Doubtless the demons appear; but in a moment they disappear again, hurting none of the faithful, but bringing with them the likeness of that fire which they are about to receive themselves. Therefore it is not fitting that we should fear them on account of these things; for through the grace of Christ all their practices are in vain."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "To arm yourself against nightmares, carry the divine name of 'Eyesus Kristos' (Jesus Christ) with you into your sleep. This Holy name will scatter the dark and evil thoughts that at times descend upon you in your dreams. Carry with you each night the certain remembrance that Christ has cleansed you from all sin and rules victorious over Satan at every moment.

But to call upon Jesus and to be protected by divine redemption, ones must place their complete faith in Him by entering His Church through baptism and availing themselves of the Divine Sacraments. Remember that the Bible teaches that demons themselves believe in Christ: 'Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.' [St. James 2:19] But the demons are doomed because they have no saving faith in Christ, being in eternal rebellion against Him. Demons have knowledge of Christ, but they are enemies of His Church and the Mysteries (Sacraments) are their poison.

The divine name of Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ) is holy and sacred. Therefore, ones must not call upon this name irreverently or casually. This name is only powerful for those who are in proper relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ and His Church. The very name of Christ will curse those who use His name in vain. But for true Christians, the name of Jesus is a potent weapon for protection against the forces of darkness and evil. The divine name of Our Lord will indeed negate nightmares and all nefarious spirits.

One of the most powerful and effective means of invoking Our Lord's name is 'The Jesus Prayer': 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.' This prayer is a staple of Orthodox Christian life- for clergy, monks, and lay people. This prayer finds its precedence most notably in the exclamation of the tax collector, who in juxtaposition to the self-righteous Pharisee cried out, 'Lord have mercy on me a sinner.' [St. Luke 18:13]

The Orthodox Study Bible states: 'God, be merciful to me a sinner,' is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer, as is the refrain 'Lord have mercy' that permeates our Orthodox worship and personal prayer.' [OSB, commentary on St. Luke 18:13; p. 1402]

The name of Christ - especially as invoked in the 'The Jesus Prayer' - will chase away demons, evil thoughts, and nightmares. But the divine name of Christ is not a lucky charm or a magical incantation. It is the power of salvation for those who have faith in the Cross and who actively participate in the life of His Church.

'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.' [Philippians 2:9-10]" -GMK-

"You have the promise that in heaven the angels remember you for good before the glory of the Great One, and your names are written before the glory of the Great One. Be hopeful; for aforetime ye were put to shame through ill and affliction, but now ye shall shine as the lights of heaven, ye shall shine and ye shall be seen, and the portals of heaven shall be opened to you. And in your cry for judgement, it shall appear to you; for all your tribulation shall be visited on the rulers of darkness, and on all who assisted those who plundered you. Be hopeful, and cast not away your hope; for ye shall have great joy as the angels of heaven."

[Enoch 104:1-4]

+ "The Psalms provide a powerful arsenal for spiritual warfare. Chanting the Psalms brings comfort to our spirits and tranquility to our minds. The Psalms are a great cure for anxiety and depression. They possess profound philosophical wisdom, and they reveal the riches of theological truth. The Psalms bring healing to the Christian and agony to the devil. This is why the Psalms pervade our Orthodox worship. So, chant the Psalms boldly and often!"

-GMK-

"There is need of much prayer and discipline, that when a man has received through the Spirit the gift of discerning spirits, he may have power to recognize their characteristics: which of them are less and which of them are more evil; of what nature is the special pursuit of each, and how each of them is overthrown and cast out. For their villainies and their changes of plots are many. The demons, therefore, if they see all Christians - and monks especially - laboring cheerfully and advancing in the Faith, first make an attack by temptations and place hiderances to hamper our way with evil thoughts. But we need not fear their suggestions, for by prayer, fasting, and faith in the Lord their attack immediately fails. But even when it does fail, the demons do not cease attacking but sublty come again. For when they cannot deceive the heart openly with foul pleasures, they approach in different guise; and thenceforth they attempt to strike fear by changing their shapes, taking the forms of women, wild beasts, creeping things, gigantic bodies, and troops of soldiers. But even then ye do not need to fear their deceitful displays. For they are nothing and quickly disappear, especially if a man fortify himself beforehand with faith and the sign of the Cross. Yet they are bold and very shameless; for if thus they are worsted they make an onslaught in a different manner, and pretend to prophesy and tell the future, and to show themselves of great height and breadth, in order that by such displays they might ensnare those who otherwise could not be deceived by their arguments."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "Why are witchcraft and sorcery so strongly condemned in the Bible? [See Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31; Deuteronomy 18:10-13; Jeremiah 10:2; I Samuel 28; I Chronicles 10:13-14; II Chronicles 33:6; Nahum 3:4; Leviticus 20:6, 27; Micah 5:12; II Kings 23:24; Acts 16:16-18]

Witchcraft, sorcery, and other magical and occult practices involve the sin of blasphemy. It is blasphemous to seek the spiritual answers of life and death from any metaphysical source that does not come from the One who is Lord over life and death. God has created us, He has sent us his prophets and his Scriptures, and He has provided reconciliation with Him through the redeeming blood of Christ, His Son. He has clearly revealed to mankind everything we need to know regarding our creation, our purpose, and our ultimate fate. So, it is a foolish and profane endeavor to consult the chicanery of demonic 'arts' for any reason.

And, also beware of that other demonic deception that offers you false promises and false security: money! Money cannot protect you from the day of divine judgment. Money cannot bring you true peace of mind. And the greatest fortune cannot provide you with a satisfied soul. As St. Paul wrote:

'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greed, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' [I Timothy 6:10]

All the vital answers you seek are to be found in the pages of the Holy Writ, at the foot of Calvary's Cross, upon your knees in prayer, and in the Teachings and Traditions of the Orthodox Faith. Look to no other source than Christ and His Church. All other ostensible sources of truth are fallible at best, and demonic at worst." -GMK-

"When any philosopher - any devout philosopher - fortified with virtue and spiritual knowledge, or with ascetic practice and contemplation, sees the power of evil rising up against him through the passions, like the king of Assyrians risisng up against Hezekiah (cf. 2 Kgs. 18:13-16; Isa 36:1-2), he is aware that only with God's help can he escape. He invokes God's mercy by crying out silently and striving to advance further in virtue and knowledge; and he receives as an ally, or rather as his salvation, an angel, that is, one of the higher principles of wisdom and knowledge, who cuts off 'every mighty man, warrior, leader and commander in the camp' (2 Chr. 32:21)."

-ST. MAXIMOS the CONFESSOR-

+ "Reportedly, there are 'psychic vampires' amongst us. Psychic vampires are actual people who drain the energy and spirit of others. Some of these people may not even be aware that they are psychic vampires, but they seem to thrive on constantly arguing with or berating other people- often even those who are relationally closest to them.

Have you ever noticed that there are certain people in your life who always leave you feeling discouraged and emotionally drained after spending time with them? There are also claims that some psychic vampires can insinuate themselves into other people's subconscious via astral projection in order to sap their emotional and psychological energy.

Now, I'm not saying that I subscribe to any of these theories. But I do know that we are constantly battling spiritual forces of darkness and evil that assail us in a variety of ways. That's why St. Paul said, 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.' [Ephesians 6:12]

So, we must guard ourselves against negativity and evil, in whatever forms they manifest themselves. Be it negative people, negative thoughts, negative actions, negative entertainment, or negative philosophies, we must wed ourselves to positivity and righteousness and flee from these demonic assaults. We must renew our minds, strengthen our spirits, and preserve our souls through prayer and fasting, and through participation in the Church and her Sacraments. Evil is more real than we know; and apart from the security of Christ and His Church, no one is invulnerable to it." -GMK-

"David teaches us to hate the demons 'with perfect hatred' (Psalm 139:22), inasmuch as they are the enemies of our salvation. This hatred is most necessary for the task of acquiring holiness. But who is the man who hates his demonic enemies with perfect hatred? He who no longer sins either in act or in thought. Yet so long as the instruments of our friendship with them - that is to say, the things that provoke the passions - are still present in us, how shall we achieve such hatred against them? For a self-indulgent heart cannot nurture this perfect hatred within itself."

-ST. THEODOROS the ASCETIC-

+ "The evil of abortion is as ancient as the fifth fallen angel (i.e. demon), whose name is Kasdeja. It is this filthy demon who '…showed the children of men the smitings of the embryo in the womb, that it might pass away.' [Book of Enoch 69:12]

Thus the act, promotion, encouragement, rationalization, or justification for abortion is an open invitation for this evil demon to enter into your mind and soul. So, beware!"
-GMK-

"If a man wanting to test his wife's virtue comes to her at night disguised as someone else, and she repels him, he will rejoice at this and welcome the assurance it gives. It is exactly the same with us in relation to the attacks of the evil spirits. Even if you repel the heavenly spirits, they will be gladdened by this, and will help you to participate still further in grace. Because of this proof of your love for the Lord they will fill you brim-full with spiritual delight. So do not from light-mindedness speedily surrender yourself to the visitations of the spirits, even if they are heavenly angels, but be wary, submitting them to the most careful scrutiny. Thus you will welcome the good and repel the evil. In this way you will increase in yourself the workings of grace, which sin, however much it may assume the appearance of good, cannot altogether simulate. According to St. Paul, Satan can even change himself into an angel of light in order to practice his deceptions (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14); yet though he may manifest himself in such a glorious manner, he cannot, as we said, produce within us the effects of grace, and so it becomes quite clear that the vision is counterfiet. For the devil cannot bring about love either for God or for one's neighbor, or gentleness, or humility, or joy, or peace, or equalibrium in one's thoughts, or hatred of the world, or spiritual repose, or desire for celestial things; nor can he quell the passions and sensual pleasure. These thngs are clearly the workings of grace. For the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, and so on (cf. Gal. 5:22), while the devil is most apt in promoting vanity and haughtiness. You may know from its effect whether the intellectual light shining in your soul is from God or from Satan. Indeed, once it has developed its powers of discrimination, the distinction is immediately clear to the soul itself through mental perception. Just as the throat through its sense of taste distinguishes the difference between vinegar and wine, although they look alike, so the soul through its intellectual sense and energy can distinguish the gifts of the Spirit from the fantasies of the devil."

-ST. MAKARIOS of EGYPT-

+ "The reason that many people are drawn to New Age philosophies and the occult is because they seek a spirituality that makes no moral demands and requires no personal repentance. But any ostensible spirituality that does not acknowledge and engage the fundamental problem of sin is a counterfeit and demonic spirituality." -GMK-

"Delusion manifests itself or, rather, attacks and invades us in two ways - in the form of mental images and fantasies or in the form of diabolical influence - though its sole cause and origin is always arrogance. The first form is the origin of the second and the second is the origin of a third form- mental derangement. The first form, illusory visions, is caused by self-conceit; for this leads us to invest the divine with some illusory shape, thus deceiving us through mental images and fantasies. This deception in its turn produces blasphemy as well as the fear induced by monstrous apparitions, occurring both when awake and when asleep - a state described as the terror and perturbation of the soul. Thus arrogance is followed by delusion, delusion by blasphemy, blasphemy by fear, fear by terror, and terror by a derangement of the natural state of the mind."

         -ST. GREGORY of SINAI-

+ "When interpreting our dreams or visions, there are some simple but crucial criteria that will prevent us from being deceived and lured into a satanic trap. First, we must know that any dream or vision from God will never contradict the teachings of His Scriptures or the teachings of His Church. For example, if an 'angel' appears to you in a dream or vision and proclaims to you the specific time of Our Lord's return, do not believe it; for Our Lord declared that no one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven. [St. Mark 13:32] Or, if through a dream you receive an ostensible 'divine revelation' that gives you a new and unique interpretation of sacred scripture, then reject it immediately; for the proper interpretation of Holy Scripture comes only through the Church which God has divinely instituted and established. But on the other hand, if you dream of the Saints worshiping God in heaven or have a vision of an angel that tells you to love your neighbor and forgive your brother, then these are trustworthy things. For these things do not violate the teachings of God's Word or the teachings of God's Church.
       Satan’s minions are prevalent in the world, offering their deceptive services and proffering false answers. Fortune tellers, astrologers, and some secular psychiatrists all claim to be able to interpret your dreams. But God alone holds the answers to mystical questions. And the Lord alone is able to provide man with the spiritual solutions that his soul doth seek. Hear these words from the Book of Daniel:
       "King Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel, 'Can you tell me the dream I saw and its interpretation?' And Daniel answered before the king and said, 'The mystery which the king demanded to be told to the king cannot be revealed by astrologers, magicians, enchanters, and diviners. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known what must come to pass in the last days.'" [Daniel 2:26-28]
       And consider the Wisdom of Sirach:
       'Vain hopes and lying belong to a man without understanding, and dreams give wing to senseless men. Like him who grasps after shadows and chases the wind, so is he who pays attention to dreams. The vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of a face opposite a face. What will be cleansed from an unclean thing? And what will be true from a false thing? Divinations, omens, and dreams are worthless; and like a woman in the pains of childbirth, the heart becomes visible. Unless visions are sent from the Most High in a visitation, do not give your heart to them. For dreams have deceived many, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.' [Sirach 34:1-7]" -GMK-

"Wherefore if they pretend to foretell the future, let no one give heed, for often the demons announce beforehand that the brethren are coming days after. And they do come. The demons, however, do this not from any care for the hearers, but to gain their trust, and that then at length, having got them in their power, they may destroy them. Whence we must give no heed to them, but ought rather to confute them when speaking, since we do not need them. For what wonder is it, if with more subtle bodies than men have, when they have seen them start on their journey, they surpass them in speed, and announce their coming? Just as a horseman getting a head start of a man on foot announces the arrival of the latter beforehand, so in this there is no need for us to wonder at them. For they know none of those things which are not yet in existence; but God only is He who knoweth all things before their birth."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "If the devil can't have control of our souls, then he will fight to control our minds. And it is through controlling our minds that Satan gains access to our wills. The health of the soul is determined by the strength of the will; so, when the will is impotent, the soul is lost.

There is a vital correlation between the mind, the will, and the soul. Therefore, the Bible speaks to the importance of preserving and protecting our minds. St. Paul writes:

'Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' [Romans 12:2]

Commentary from The Orthodox Study Bible explains: 'Mind (Greek 'nous') here is more than the intellect; it is the highest form of human nature, encompassing the mind and heart. With this faculty one sees and comprehends God.'

The apostle St. Paul elsewhere emphasizes: 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.' [Philippians 4:8]

So, let us strengthen our wills and preserve our souls. Let us do so by fighting to protect our minds from the nefarious inducements of the devil and the insidious influences of this world."

-GMK-

"If, while you are praying, you feel frightened, or hear some noise, or if a light shines around you, or something else happens, do not be troubled, but concentrate all the more fully on your prayer. Demonic disturbances, alarms and excursions occur so that you will lose heart and give up your prayer; then, if this happens regularly, you will fall into the demons' power. But if as you pray another light, beyond description, appears to you, and your soul is filled with joy, and you feel a desire for higher things, and tears of compunction flow, know that this is a divine visitation and succor. Should this state continue for a long time, recapture you intellect in case something more happens to you because of the anguish of your tears, and submit it to some physical activity, thereby humbling yourself. If it is your enemies that are trying to frighten you, take care not to abandon your prayer. Be as the child who, frightened by some hobgoblin, dispels his terror by flying into the arms of his mother or father: resort to God through prayer and you will find that you escape the fear which the demons provoke."

-ST. SYMEON the NEW THEOLOGIAN-

+ "An evil spirit will often appear as an agent of comfort, as a 'spiritual guide,' or as an angel of 'enlightenment.' Those outside of Christ and His Church may unwittingly invite an evil spirit into their lives. The evil spirit may appear to give a person special powers, such as astral projection, remote viewing, the ability to predict the future, ESP, etc. A person separated from Christ and His Church may become intrigued by these things, and thus they will increasingly open themselves up to demonic influences.

With their own will, a person acquiesces to a 'spiritual' power that is not of God. And, although they are initially deceived, their conscience and their soul nonetheless bear witness to them that this power is demonic rather than divine. If they willfully despise the innate voice of their heart and ignore their conscience, then they can easily become a victim of demonic possession.

It is important to remember that demonic possession cannot occur without some willful assent on the part of the possessed individual. And therefore, deliverance from demonic possession involves volitional repentance and a volitional acceptance of Christ, the Cross, and true Christian authority.

The divine gift of free will given to man can never be eradicated- even by demonic possession. But it can be severely crippled. Yet, even within the demonically possessed individual, the power of volition remains latent, dormant, and able to be activated through repentance and faith. Satan and his minions can influence the will, but they have no power to destroy the will."-GMK-

"There is within us, on the noetic plane (i.e. the mind), a warfare tougher than that on the plane of the senses. The spiritual worker has to press on with his mind towards the goal (cf. Phil. 3:14), in order to enshrine perfectly the remembrance of God in his heart like some pearl or precious stone (cf. mtt. 13:44-46). He has to give up everything, including the body, and to disdain this present life, if he wishes to possess God alone in his heart. For the noetic vision of God, the divine Chrysostom (St. John Chrysostom) has said, can by itself destroy the demonic spirits."

-ST. PHILOTHEOS of SINAI-

+ "'A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.' [St. Matthew 12:39]

King Saul sought an answer from God, but he did not receive it immediately. So, out of a lack of faith, Saul turned to an alternative 'spiritual' source. He sought an answer from the witch of Endor, and he suffered greatly because of this grievous error.

In contrast to Saul, King David never sought spiritual answers apart from the God of all creation. Often, David's prayers were full of lament. At times, his prayers were simply questions raised from agony and frustration. The Psalms of David reveal a broken heart and a troubled spirit poured out before the Lord. 'Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked seem to flourish?' 'Why is divine justice apparently delayed?' 'Where are You leading me, God? And, what will be my fate?' These are the existential questions and the spiritual angst with which David constantly wrestled. But although David sometimes doubted God's presence and purpose, he nevertheless maintained faith in His divine providence and goodness. He continued to seek God in prayer, even through tears of pain and anguish.

Satan is readily available to give us 'signs,' 'solutions,' and 'answers.' He will present himself as an angel of light, enticing us with false promises and luring us into his nefarious trap. Astrology, fortune telling, tarot cards, crystal balls, and all other accoutrements of the occult are false sources of spiritual guidance. And when God seems distant, and our prayers appear to go unanswered, the devil lays his deceptive enticements before us. 'I have an immediate answer.' 'I can make you feel better.' 'Why should you keep suffering when you can feel good now?' These are the lies with which he confronts us, and they are powerful lies indeed.

But faith is tested in times of struggle and doubt. And faith means trusting God in the midst of pain and confusion. It means trusting God in times of trial and tribulation. It means believing God in the midst of our unanswered questions. Faith means continuing to pray, even when our prayers seem to go unanswered. Faith is forsaking the temporal assuagements of the flesh, in order to preserve and strengthen our souls.

Saul lacked faith, and he turned to ungodly sources for answers and solutions. But David had faith, and he understood that the only real solution to life’s problems is to seek God more deeply and to obey Him more fully.

'Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.' [Hebrews 11:6]

Sometimes the greatest act of faith is simply crying out to God through our tears, proclaiming with the father of the demon possessed boy, 'Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.' [St. Mark 9:24] -GMK-

"Leave behind the senses and the operations of the intellect, and all things sensible and intellectual, and all things in the world of being and non-being, that thou mayest arise by unknowing towards the union, as far as is attainable, with 'Him who transcends all being and knowledge.'

But these things are not to be disclosed to the uninitiated, by whom I mean those attached to the objects of human thought, and who believe there is no superessential Reality beyond, and who imagine that by their own understanding they know Him who has made Darkness His secret place."

-ST. DIONYSIUS the AREOPAGITE-

+ "New Age philosophy, parapsychology, and many forms of Eastern mysticism are based on the idea that the mind or the psyche must be liberated from all forms of attachment. Enlightenment is therefore viewed as total liberation from any material, rational, or emotional adhesion. It is presumed that when 'enlightenment' is attained then peace is the result, because the enlightened individual no longer experiences the tumult of the passions, pleasures, and anxieties that often accompany various forms attachment.

But the fallacy of this worldview is that by condemning attachment it condemns God- because God's creation and design is good, in spite of the imperfections due to the fall of man. God has ordained relationship, and relationship is meaningless without attachment. We have been created to relate to the natural and physical world, to relate to our social environment, and to relate to our fellow man. And it is through relationship and attachment - and all the accompanying pains and pleasures - that we truly learn about ourselves and learn about our God. We will never experience God by detaching ourselves from the glories of His creation. And we will never attain peace by severing ourselves from all relationships.

But we must not confuse attachment with bondage, or relationship with idolatry. We are dwellers in God's creation, but we are not to worship the creation. We are to serve and honor our fellow man, but we are not to worship or become enslaved to our fellow man. We must neither detach ourselves from logic, emotion, and the material world, nor allow these things to master us. True spiritual enlightenment is not emptying ourselves of all thought, emotion, and desire. Instead, it is the result of conforming all of our thoughts, emotions, and desires to the divine will. For God created us with mind, heart, and will; and true spiritual liberation results from the righteous application of these blessed human faculties.

True spirituality is attaching ourselves to God, His Church, His commandments and laws, and to the service of our community and our fellow man. Detaching ourselves from these things will not lead to enlightenment; it will only lead to an isolated loneliness of darkness and despair." -GMK-

"The angels are ordained to serve the Creator effectively and their appointed role is to be ruled by God. But they are not appointed to rule over beings inferior to themselves unless they are sent to do so by the Soveriegn Ruler of all. Yet satan presumptuously yearned to rule contrary to the will of the Creator, and when together with his fellow apostate angels he forsook his proper rank he was rightly abandoned by the true Source of life and illumination and clothed himself in death and eternal darkness. But because man was appointed not merely to be ruled by God but also to rule over all creatures upon the earth, the arch-fiend looked upon him with malicious eyes and made use of every ploy to deprive him of his dominion. Being unable to use constraint, since he is prevented from doing so by the Sovereign Ruler who created all intelligent nature free and self-determining, he deceitfully suggested such counsel as would abolish man's dominion. He beguiled him or, rather, persuaded him to disregard, disdain and reject, and indeed to oppose and to act contrary to the commandment and counsel given him by God. In this way he induced man to share in his apostasy, and so to share also in his state of eternal darkness and death."

-ST. GREGORY PALAMAS-

+ "The physical world is ensconced in a spiritual realm. The spirits surround us at all times- angels and demons. Their numbers, hierarchy, nature, and distinctions are beyond the grasp of mortal comprehension. We know much about them from the Holy Bible, especially the Book of Enoch*. And St. Dionysius the Areopagite** has given us valuable information in his work The Celestial Hierarchy. But a mere academic knowledge of spiritual matters is not only insufficient, it is also dangerous. Thus, as Christians, it is imperative that we avail ourselves of the spiritual shields provided to us by God. These spiritual protections are prayer, fasting, fellowship, worship, the Holy Bible, the sign of the Cross, holy icons, and the holy Sacraments***. But these safeguards are only efficacious within the proper ecclesiastical context. And we will not be able to accurately discern the spirits unless we are in right communion with God's true Church. "

*Book of Enoch- The Book of Enoch is included in the biblical canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is one of the most important books in early Christianity, used widely by the early Christians. It predates everything in the New Testament, having been written in the second century B.C. One of the primary influences of the book is its explanation of evil entering into the world through the arrival of the fallen angels. Scholars attest that the influence of the Book of Enoch on the New Testament is greater than that of all other apocryphal and pseudo-epigraphic books combined. This sacred text discloses the reality of the supernatural realm, as well as the reality of metaphysical visions and visitations.

**St. Dionysius the Areopagite- Dionysius the Areopagite was one of the few Greek philosophers who responded to St. Paul's preaching in Athens and was baptized by the Apostle. [See Acts 17:34] Prior to his baptism, Dionysius was raised in nobility in the city of Athens, where he was schooled in philosophy. After his conversion to the True Faith, St. Paul made him Bishop of Athens. He was eventually martyred by beheading under Emperor Domitian in 96 A.D. Four theological works are attributed to Dionysius: The Divine Names, Mystical Theology, The Celestial Hierarchy, and The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy.

***Sacraments- There are five sacraments for all Orthodox Christians: Baptism, Chrismation, Penance, Holy Communion, and Divine Unction. The other two sacraments are for some believers, but obviously not for all; these are Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

-GMK-

"It is a good bodily discipline to recite the Psalms- that is to say, in prayer expressed in a bodily way through Psalms and prostrations. This is in order to gall the body and humble the soul, so that our enemies the demons may take flight and our allies the angels come to us, and we may know from where we receive help. Otherwise in ignorance we may grow arrogant, thinking that what we do is due to ourselves."

-ST. PETER of DAMASCUS-

+ "There is only one foolproof and unerring protection from the metaphysical forces of evil and darkness. The simple formula is this: repentance from sin, faith in Christ, and participation in the sacramental life of His Church." -GMK-

"The single-phrased Jesus Prayer - 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner' - destroys and consumes the deceits of demons. For when we invoke Jesus, God and Son of God, constantly and tirelessly, He does not allow them to project in the mind's mirror even the first hint of their infiltration - that is to say, their provocation - or any form, nor does He allow them to have any converse with the heart. If no demonic form enters the heart, it will be empty of evil thoughts, as we have said; for it is the demons' habit to converse with the soul by means of evil thoughts and so deceitfully to pervert it."

-ST. HESYCHIOS the PRIEST-

+ "The spirit of Antichrist is ever on the rise. This spirit is not new, by any means; but this spirit delivers its age-old lies in contemporary packaging so that people are deceived into believing they are actually embracing revolutionary solutions to human ills.

The spirit of Antichrist masquerades as a spirit of 'unity,' 'brotherhood,' and 'peace.' The spirit of Antichrist preys upon three basic human instincts and desires: 1) the material instinct (i.e. the desire to be fed, clothed, sheltered, and physically nurtured); 2) the community instinct (i.e. the desire to have peace and unity with our fellow man); and 3) the amoral instinct (i.e. the desire to be rid of the angst of conscience and the dilemma of moral decision).

Thus the Antichrist spirit is ubiquitously active in the agendas of rulers and states. Political theories and political leaders are always concerned with unifying the people, providing for the people, and making laws that determine for the people what is right and wrong. And the undiscerning masses conveniently ignore the atrocities that must be committed in order to insure that they are fed, unified, and free from the agonizing responsibility of moral choice.

The Nazi holocaust, slavery, and legalized abortion all exemplify the spirit of Antichrist working through rulers and states to seduce the people and anesthetize their souls. And this evil spirit will soon manifest into the very person of Antichrist himself. This Antichrist will perhaps be hailed by many as the great peacemaker, the great unifier, and the great eradicator of prejudice and war. In fact, the Antichrist may indeed bring a temporary end to war between nations and appear to end world hunger. Because of these things, many will idolatrously worship this person as Christ Himself.

But the Antichrist's environment of peace will be predicated upon the murder of true Christians and the silencing of all who speak out against immorality and wickedness; for he will convince the masses that the greatest threat to world peace is the 'intolerance' of those that promote Christian morality. The antichrist may in fact bring about a superficial unity of races and cultures, but this 'unity' will be based upon the lie that every ideology and every worldview has equal validity. Those who claim to know absolute Truth will be condemned as the greatest threat to human unity, and thus they will be persecuted, tortured, or killed in the name of the preservation of 'peace,' 'brotherhood,' and 'human progress.'

But the world of the Antichrist will merely be a more complete manifestation of the evil schemes that mankind has concocted for the past seven thousand years of its existence. Lost and deceived humanity will revel in the Antichrist's system as something 'new' and 'revolutionary.' But this New World Order will be based upon lies as old and as insidious as that ancient serpent who whispered into the heart of Eve, and it will easily ensnare the weak in its diabolic trap.

The words of Dostoevsky's 'Grand Inquisitor' prophetically portray the mentality of the antichrist and his minions:

'They will find us and cry to us, 'Feed us, for those who have promised us fire from heaven haven't given it!' And then we shall finish building their tower, for he finishes the building who feeds them. And we alone shall feed them in thy name, declaring falsely that it is Thy name. Oh, never, never can they feed themselves without us! No science will give them bread so long as they remain free. In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet, and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us.' They will understand, at last, that freedom and bread enough for all are inconceivable together, for never, never will they be able to share between them! They will be convinced, too, that they can never be free, for they are weak, vicious, worthless and rebellious. Thou didst promise them the bread of Heaven; but, I repeat again, can it compare with earthly bread in the eyes of the weak, ever sinful and ignoble race of man?'

So do not be captivated by the spurious schemes of Satan, for as King Solomon said:

'What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun. Who will speak and say, 'See, this is new'? For it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.' [Ecclesiastes 1:9]
-GMK-

"He stayed in the wilderness as a fasting man, was tempted by the devil and He degraded the rulers of darkness through the power of His divinity."

-ANAPHORA of ST. DIOSCORUS-

+ "It would be utter foolishness to argue with the devil about the existence of God. Satan knows better than any mortal creature that God exists; so, why would I waste my time arguing with the devil's human surrogates?" -GMK-

"When demons come by night to you and wish to tell the future, or say 'we are angels,' give no heed, for they lie. Yea, even if they praise your discipline and call you blessed, hear them not, and have no dealings with them; but rather sign yourselves and your houses, and pray, and you shall see them vanish. For they are cowards, and they greatly fear the sign of the Lord's Cross, since of a truth in the Cross the Saviour stripped them, and made an example of them."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "Deception only occurs with the acquiescence of the one who is deceived. The serpent was cunning, slick, beguiling, and deceptive; but Eve willingly listened to his lies, and therefore she was guilty. The deceived are not innocent, for by their own choosing they allow themselves to be misled.
       No one can be hypnotized against their will; they voluntarily undergo hypnosis. Nobody can be deceived by a magician unless they willingly desire to be entertained by the magic show. Similarly, no one can be duped by politicians or deceived by evildoers apart from the volition of their own free will. Therefore, it is no excuse to say, 'I was deceived.'
       God has given His commandments, sent His prophets, provided the salvation of Christ and the Cross, and revealed His natural and written revelations to mankind. Every thought, word, action, and deed of man must be appraised in the light of God's Truth. If we do this, then we will not be deceived. But if, like Eve, we turn aside from the word and direction of God and willingly listen to the cunning lies of Satan, then we will surely be led astray. And we will surely pay the price.
       Society mesmerizes us in a variety of ways. Politics, entertainment, drugs, astrology, the occult, false religion, and pornography can all have a hypnotic effect on us if we allow them to. We can be easily enticed by these things, and subsequently we can become morally and spiritually anesthetized. Our consciences can be numbed, and our spiritual perception can become clouded. And when our moral and spiritual faculties are weakened, then we become susceptible to demonic possession and spiritual suicide.
        If you don't want to be brainwashed, then don't submit to hypnosis. If you don't want to be tricked, then don't watch the magician. If you don't want to be deceived and disappointed, then avoid politics. And if you don't want to be damned, then heed the Word of the Lord, not the voice of Satan.
       Christians must be especially wary of listening to unorthodox voices of 'biblical reasoning.' Satan has always twisted the words of God to mislead and deceive humanity. Many professed Christians allow themselves to be deceived by false spiritual leaders that give an interpretation of the Bible that is unorthodox and contrary to the Teachings and Traditions of the Church. This is why dangerous cults and erroneous sects arise and lead so many astray.
       If Satan cannot succeed in causing men to deny God, then he will seek to undermine their faith with false teachings and demonic doctrines. If we arrogantly assume that we can fully understand divine Truth apart from the Church that has been divinely instituted to disseminate that Truth, then we will be held responsible for our own deception. So let us not foolishly choose to be deceived, as did Eve. Rather let us choose instead to listen only to the true voice of God, as did Our Lady the Virgin St. Mary." -GMK-

"The fear of God compels us to fight against evil; and when we fight against evil, the grace of God destroys it."

-ST. MARK the ASCETIC-

+ "True spiritual freedom is the result of our dependence upon God and our connection to our fellow man. Those who seek to be completely self-sufficient, totally independent, and absolutely free may ironically find themselves to be the slaves of satanic forces." -GMK-

"The demons try to undermine your inward resolution by buffeting your soul with an untold variety of temptations. Yet out of these many tribulations a garland is woven for you; Christ's power 'comes to its fullness in us in our weakness' (2 Cor. 12:9). It is usually when our situation is most gloomy that the grace of the Spirit flowers within us. 'Light has shone in darkness for the righteous' (Ps. 112:4) - if, that is, 'we hold fast to our confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firmly to the end.' (Heb. 3:6)."

-ST. JOHN of KARPATHOS-

+ "The devil will gladly indulge your temporal desires. In fact, he is not even opposed to helping you achieve a façade of inner peace. Many people have encountered 'spirit guides' that offer them unique psychic powers and promise to provide them with esoteric insights. And these 'spirit guides' usually deliver on their beguiling promises. The world is full of spiritual seekers that are actually in rebellion against God, and demonic forces disguise themselves as angels of light in order to appease their misguided spiritual curiosities. These evil entities promise serenity, success, personal power, and many other individual benefits. Preying upon human beings' naïveté, desperation, and rebellion against Christ, demonic forces gladly offer their subversive services to lost individuals.

So, we must understand that true spiritual power is revealed in the mundane aspects of daily life. Being faithful to friends and family, demonstrating integrity in the workplace, forsaking temptation, serving our neighbor and our community, speaking the truth even when it is unpopular, praying faithfully, and reading the Bible on a consistent basis - these are the things that require and disclose true spiritual power. They are not always accompanied by feelings of pleasure or mystical ecstasy, but they cannot be achieved without divine help and guidance. And a faithful, honest, and morally sound life is the only thing that will bring true inner peace and true spiritual rewards." -GMK-

"Whenever the soul remains fearful there is a presence of the demonic enemies. For the demons do not take away the fear of their presence as the great archangel Gabriel did for Mary and Zacharias, and as the angel did who appeared to the women at the tomb; but rather whenever they see men afraid they increase their delusions that men may be terrified the more; and at last attacking they mock them, saying, 'fall down and worship.' Thus they deceived the Greeks, and thus by them they were considered gods, falsely so called."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "To effectively fight evil, we must first properly identify it. And all evil is in reality sin. So if we truly want to wage war against evil, then we must wage war against sin. And the most important battle in this war is the battle against the sin in our own lives. We will never be able to fight evil in the world unless we first address the evil that lies within." -GMK-

"The demons cunningly withdraw for a time in the hope that we will cease to guard our heart, thinking we have now attained peace; then they suddenly attack our soul and seize it like a sparrow. Gaining possession of it, they drag it down mercilessly into all kinds of sin, worse than those which we have already committed and for which we have asked forgiveness. Let us stand, therefore, with fear of God and keep guard over our hearts, practicing the virtues which check the wickedness of our enemies."

-ST. ISAIAH the SOLITARY-

+ "Do not think that because wars cease, the hungry are fed, and unity appears to exist among men, that the peace of Christ has prevailed. It may in fact be that these conditions will only exist in the vacuum of true Christian faith. The age of Antichrist will be a wondrous age indeed, but it will not be a Christian age." -GMK-

"God deserts those engaged in spiritual warfare for three reasons: because of their arrogance, because they criticize others, and because they are puffed up about their own virtue. The presence of any of these vices in the soul prompts God to withdraw; and until they are expelled and replaced by radical humility, the soul will not escape just chastisement."

-NIKITAS STITHATOS-

+ "St. Ignatius of Loyola once received some excited visitors that reported seeing a holy man who radiated a supernatural glow and levitated three feet off the ground. 'He must be a great saint!' they said. 'Perhaps,' replied St. Ignatius. 'Tell me, how does he treat his wife? What do his children say about him?'
We know that the Antichrist will perform many supernatural signs and wonders [II Thessalonians 2:9]. So, in discerning the source of supernatural spiritual phenomena, we should look at the works and deeds of individuals who manifest such things. Righteous character and altruistic actions are more indicative of the divine presence than supernatural feats." -GMK-

"If the demons find us faint-hearted and cowardly, they mightily increase our terror by their delusions and threats; and with these the unhappy soul is thenceforth tormented. But if they see us rejoicing in the Lord, contemplating the bliss of the future, mindful of the Lord, deeming all things in His hand, and that no evil spirit has any strength against the Christian, nor any power at all over anyone - when they behold the soul fortified with these thoughts - they are discomfitted and repelled backwards."

-ST. ANTHONY of EGYPT-

+ "I have lost many battles, and I may lose many more. But by His Cross I shall win the war!" -GMK-

+ "The devil and his surrogates will lure us into discussions and debates about religion or spirituality. As Orthodox Christians we must stand firm in our proclamation of the Teaching and Truths of the Church. The devil will always outsmart us, be we can defeat him with wisdom. And wisdom dictates that it is better to lose the argument but win our souls."
-GMK-

"Do not rejoice in this, that the demons are subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

[St. Luke 10:20]

"LORD JESUS CHRIST

SON OF GOD

HAVE MERCY ON ME

A SINNER"

Besime Ab, WeWolde, WeMenfesQidus, Ahadu Amlak

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God
-Amen-

A PORTRAIT of the GOSPEL

2010-07-13T02:15:00.003-05:00

A PORTRAIT OF THE GOSPEL

September 7, 2010

As I watch my wife breastfeed our infant daughter, I see a beautiful portrait of the Gospel. Our little baby is completely dependent upon my wife to feed and nourish her. My wife has everything our daughter needs for sustenance and growth. If my wife does not feed her, our infant will not survive. Yet our daughter must struggle to receive the milk from her mother's breast. I witness our little girl labor to latch on and nurse. I see her exert tremendous energy and effort to receive the life-giving nourishment she needs. But my wife initiates the feeding, cradling our daughter in her loving arms and coaxing her to drink the vital nutriment from her sustaining bosom. I observe a profound oneness that occurs between mother and child during the suckling process- a mystical cooperation that results in our baby's physical and emotional development and growth.

Similarly, God initiates and provides everything necessary for our salvation; but we must "latch on" and struggle to avail ourselves of the spiritual nourishment we desperately need. Our spiritual efforts do not earn us God's love any more than my infant daughter's efforts to nurse earn her the love of my wife. God loves us unconditionally; and He is ever reaching out to us, coaxing us, cradling us, calling us to exert all of our energy and strength in the effort to receive His divine nourishment. Our Lord never withholds His love, His mercy, or His grace. He offers it freely to all people, unconditionally and unmerited. But divine love is only received with the same faith, effort, and struggle of an infant child who is completely dependent upon its mother's suckling sustenance.

As with mother and nursing child, the Gospel is a synergistic cooperation between God and man. We are completely dependent upon the grace of Christ, His Cross, and His Church. But this spiritual dependence involves striving, effort, cooperation, and struggle on our part. Certainly, when our efforts fail and we grow weak in our striving, the unconditional love and strength of God will preserve us- just as a loving mother preserves and protects her infant child. But although our redemption is freely given to us by God, we must cooperate and struggle to avail ourselves of its salvific grace.

I have never seen my wife happier than during the moments when she has nursed one of our infant children. And I have never seen my children more content than during those moments when they suckled from my wife's breast. In analogous fashion, God is never more glorified than when we cling to Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. And we are never more at peace than when we strive with all of our being to be at one with our God.

There is profound poignancy in the simple endeavor of a mother nursing her infant child. And through this vital act in the cycle of life, God provides a clear portrait of the mystical work of salvation. We are little children, completely dependent upon our heavenly Father. But we must struggle with the faith, innocence, and effort of a newborn infant who clings with all of its essence to the vitality of its mother's bosom. Certainly, this is what Our Lord meant when He said,

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter into it." [St. Mark 10:15]

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven." [St. Matthew 18:3]

Gebre Menfes Kidus

PEACE and LIFE

2010-07-12T01:44:00.023-05:00

+ "It is impossible to take up arms when your arms have taken up the Cross." -GMK-

+ "There can be no peace in the world if there is no peace in the womb." -GMK-

+ "There is only one victor in war: Death."

-GMK-

+ "I believe in peace, tolerance, and human rights; and abortion is one of the most violent, intolerant, and inhumane practices ever devised by man." -GMK-

+ "Violence and weapons of violence have demonic origins. For a detailed account of this, read the The Book of Enoch.* It was the demon Gadreel who '...showed the children of men all the blows of death and showed the weapons of death to the sons of men; the shield and the coat of armor, the sword for battle, and all the weapons of death to the children of men. And from his hand they have proceeded against those who dwell on the earth from that day.' [69: 6-7] It is therefore clear that any acts which involve the intentional destruction of human life are purely demonic acts."

*The Book of Enoch is included in the biblical canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is one of the most important books in early Christianity, used widely by the early Christians. It predates everything in the New Testament, having been written in the second century B.C. One of the primary influences of the book is its explanation of evil entering into the world through the arrival of the fallen angels. Scholars attest that the influence of The Book of Enoch on the New Testament is greater than that of all other apocryphal and pseudo-epigraphic books combined. This sacred text discloses the reality of the supernatural realm, as well as the reality of metaphysical visions and visitations.

-GMK-

+ "They asked me, 'Do you really believe in vampires?'

I answered:

       'I know they exist. They walk amongst us every day. They disguise themselves as human, but in reality they are houses of demons ensconced in bodies of flesh. But their deeds reveal their true nature. And I observe their evil deeds and recognize them for what they are.'
       So, beware of those that thirst for blood. Beware of those who love war and execution, abortion and euthanasia, and "scientific research" involving the destruction of human life. Beware of those who devise sophisticated weapons of mass destruction and invent modern methods of cruelty and torture. Beware of those who seek financial profit at the expense of the poor, the needy, and the weak. They may appear human, but they are in actuality 'soulless vampires'." -GMK-

+   "The evil of abortion is as ancient as the fifth fallen angel (i.e. demon), whose name is Kasdeja. It is this filthy demon who '…showed the children of men the smitings of the embryo in the womb, that it might pass away.' [Enoch 69:12]
       Thus the act, promotion, encouragement, rationalization, or justification for abortion is an open invitation for this evil demon to enter into your mind and soul. So, beware!" -GMK-

+ "Satan is the hater of good. He is the hater of truth. The devil hates faith, love, innocence, purity, hope, joy, grace, and everything that makes life worth living. And he hates whatever and whoever manifests these positive spiritual things. This is why he hates children and babies, and why he wages full-scale warfare against them.
       Therefore, the Christian must fight to preserve these precious members of the human race. For children and babies are the best reflections of God's holy image. Our Lord loved the little ones in a special way; and unrepentant child abusers and murderers of the unborn shall not escape a harsh and severe judgment. In the three synoptic Gospels, Christ stated:
       'Whosoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.' [St. Matthew 18:6; St. Mark 9:42; St. Luke 17:2]
       And in the Didascalia* we read:
       'Thou shall not slay thy child by causing abortion, nor kill that which is begotten; for everything that is shaped and has received a soul from God, if it be slain, shall be avenged, as being unjustly destroyed.' [Didascalia, book VII 3:15]

       *The Didascalia (also known as The Didascalia Apostolorum) appears to have been written by the Apostles at the time of the Council of Jerusalem (see Acts 15:1-29); however, some scholars conclude that it was composed in the third century. The Didascalia is in part a detailed elaboration on the earlier Church work, The Didache. Originally written in Greek, the work appears to be based upon an original Jewish work intended for Christian converts from paganism. It is a document of great authority for Christians and for the Church.
-GMK-

+ "Throughout history, the innocent have often been slaughtered in the name of peace, justice, and human rights. From Pharaoh to Herod to Planned Parenthood, innocent babies and children have been targeted for destruction. And the infanticide is always executed under the guise of nationalistic interest or personal freedom.

But the purest litmus test for discerning the moral value of an individual or a society is their treatment of the most vulnerable members of the human race: babies, children, and the unborn. So beware of those who speak about peace, justice, and human rights while they rationalize, defend, and promote abortion; for not only are they hollow voices of hypocrisy, but they are also serpentine voices of Satan." -GMK-

A CHRISTIAN EVALUATION of VIOLENCE

When evaluating the appropriateness of violence, we must examine Our Lord’s teaching about love for our neighbor. Jesus never tells us to esteem one individual more highly than another, and the Bible is clear that we must be as aware of our own sins as we are of the sins of others. It is a dangerous presumption to decide to harm or kill one neighbor in the attempt to rescue another. The Lord has not given us the authority to make a distinction between who is our neighbor and who isn’t. We are to love all our fellow men equally; and that love entails speaking for the voiceless, giving hope to the desperate, and warning the wicked. But nowhere in the New Testament do we see a divine command to kill.
Evildoers, in spite of their nefarious deeds, are still our neighbors. And we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is admittedly difficult, but nevertheless it is what God commands. While they were nailing Our Lord to the Cross (and let us not forget that "they" are actually "we," for the nails that pierced His hands and feet were formed by our very own sins), He asked His Father to forgive them. [St. Luke 23:34] Certainly, the omniscient Christ knew the suffering and martyrdom that His followers would thereafter face, yet He did not slay His enemies in order to defend the Jewish victims of Roman tyranny. Instead, by sacrificing His life for His enemies, by meeting hate with unconditional love, by returning evil with good, and by forgiving those who persecuted Him, our Lord provided atonement, salvation, and hope for a sinful world.
We are called to be ambassadors of Christ [II Corinthians 5:20], and we misrepresent and blaspheme His message, His Gospel, and His name when we rely on the violent weapons of human fallibility rather than on the spiritual weapons of an infallible God.

Selam,

-GMK-

THE IMPOTENCE and ARROGANCE of VIOLENCE

When we begin to grasp the essence of our Lord’s commands, the option of violence is abrogated. Violence may bring about temporary change, but it can never establish abiding justice and it will never usher in the peace of God. Violence also negates the possibility for redemption. Those who use violence to correct an injustice make two grave errors: 1) they usurp the authority of God; and 2) they presume that the evildoer is beyond the hope of divine redemption.
          When the wicked man is killed, hope dies with him and the Gospel is nullified; for the essence of the Christian Gospel is that hope exists for sinners. The evil oppressor is a slave to this materialistic and godless world, and he is a slave to his own sin. Yet there is still hope for him. And we must never take it upon ourselves to cancel that hope. God alone retains the authority to remove hope and bring recompense; and His divine timing is always perfect.
          Violence cannot establish peace, for by their very definitions these terms are mutually exclusive. All violence is contaminated with the motives of punishment, retribution, or vindication. But the Bible is clear that vengeance belongs to God. [Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:19] And in order for violence to be just, it must be neither retaliatory nor vindictive. Yet regardless of the nobility of the intention, the violence of man is never devoid of retaliation or vindictiveness, and therefore it never truly establishes justice.
          However, we must never confuse violence with confrontation or fighting for a righteous cause. Prophetic voices proclaiming the truth of God will always disturb and disrupt the superficial peace of society. The world will always hate God’s prophets and reject God’s message. Those who come in the name of the Lord will be ridiculed, beaten, and imprisoned; and often, they will be killed. Those who refuse to cooperate with unjust systems or condone unjust laws will not long be tolerated.
          Christians must always confront injustice and fight against evil. But the methods we use must be those of the Lord in whose name we fight. So, let us boldly and aggressively strive to end the abominations of injustice and inhumanity, wherever they may be found. But let us do so in the manner of Christ. Let us fight vigilantly, but let us do so with the weapons of Scripture, the Spirit, and Christian love.
          Let us reject the impotence and arrogance of violence. Let us renounce violence as a solution to the evils we seek to conquer and prepare instead to renounce our own lives if need be. Let us move and act in the true way of Our Lord, trusting that God will work through us to bring peace to mankind and justice to the world.
[St. Matthew 11:12, 28-29; 5:9; I Corinthians 10:32; Romans 12:17-21; Colossians 3:15-17; James 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23]

Selam,

-GMK-

CULTIVATING a CONSISTENT PRO-LIFE ETHIC

People of pro-life conviction are always disturbed by the euphemistic misnomer, "pro-choice," and rightly so. The advocates of abortion are no more pro-choice than were the proponents of slavery. The tortured logic of the "pro-choice’" propagandists is: “If you’re against abortion, then don’t have one.” I imagine slave owners felt the same way: “If you’re against slavery, then don’t own any slaves.” It’s all just a matter of personal choice after all. Or at least that's what they want us to believe.
          But I am afraid that the "pro-life" moniker might also be a misnomer at times. Many professed pro-life people are more accurately "anti-abortion" rather than "pro-life." I, for one, will gladly concede that I am anti-abortion (just as I am anti-slavery). But, I am more accurately pro-life. It is time for the people of God to affirm the value and purpose of human life in all areas. We must not only defend the sanctity of human life, but we must also work in those areas that will preserve and enhance the quality of human life. And, it is time for the Christian community to oppose any and every endeavor that involves the deliberate destruction of human beings.
          We must understand that war always victimizes the blameless in its effort to defeat the guilty. The military endeavors of man always leave pools of innocent blood in their wake. And, sadly, we have learned that capital punishment has extinguished the lives of many individuals that were innocent of the crimes for which they were wrongly convicted and executed. Whenever man misappropriates the sword of the God, regardless of how noble the cause, then he always ends up perpetuating cruelty and impeding justice.
          Thus, in order to be authentically “pro-life,” we must not only labor to abolish abortion but we must also oppose war, capital punishment, and all other acts that involve the deliberate killing of human life.
          In cultivating a consistent pro-life ethic, we must also focus on eradicating the desire for abortion rather than only on trying to overturn the law. The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery, but the Civil Rights Movement reconstructed the consciousness of the nation, eroding racist hearts and changing prejudiced minds.
          I will certainly rejoice if Roe vs. Wade is overturned, but that is not the ultimate victory we should seek. We must labor to reconstruct the consciousness of America so that people will value human life more than money and material possessions. We must labor to reconstruct the consciousness of America so that abortion will not be seen as a solution but instead viewed for what it really is: a destructive, dangerous, inhumane, and soul-scarring act of hopelessness and despair. We must labor to reconstruct the consciousness of America so that motherhood is recognized as the great and valuable achievement that it is, and so that every woman with child will be uplifted with hope rather than dragged down to the depths of despondency, darkness, and destruction.
          It is also important that we stop the stigmatization of unwed mothers. The religious community in particular must be the first to embrace and affirm unwed mothers, offering them unconditional love and providing them an authentic community of Christian faith that will assist them with their economic and spiritual needs. If we are to reshape the consciousness of America, we must begin with our own Christian community. As Christians, we must offer ourselves as an authentically compassionate community that people in dire straits will seek out for comfort and assistance. Also, we must never accept the term "illegitimate child." Every baby that is conceived is a gift from Almighty God, and to view a child as anything less is a blasphemous insult to the Lord of LIFE.
          So, if we really want to stop abortion, we must first cultivate a consistent pro-life ethic. We must seek to revolutionize the collective conscience of our nation, and we must begin by sharpening our own individual and religious consciousness. Let us oppose everything that destroys human life. Let us work to make abortion not merely illegal, but undesirable. And let us embrace unwed mothers and help them to know that there is no greater honor, privilege, or blessing than to conceive, birth, and nurture human life.

Selam,

-GMK-

A MESSAGE ON THE KILLING OF ABORTIONIST GEORGE TILLER

I was saddened to learn of the killing of George Tiller today (May 31, 2009), the abortionist in Wichita, Kansas who specialized in performing late-term abortions. My sorrow does not stem from any admiration for this despicable man, but rather from the fact that as a Christian I am unconditionally wedded to peace and nonviolence. All human life is sacred, because all human life reflects the very image of the God Who created us. And therefore even if our enemies do not respect our life or the lives of the innocent, we must nevertheless respect theirs.
          Already the media is galvanizing their propaganda efforts and utilizing this tragedy to elicit sympathy for the pro-abortion cause. So the killing of Mr. Tiller is not only morally questionable, it is also strategically erroneous. This regrettable act of violence in no way conformed to the teachings and example of Our Lord, and its repercussions will quite possibly do more to promote abortion than to stop it.
          As an Orthodox Christian I will pray for George Tiller even in his death. And I will most certainly pray for his friends and family. At the same time, I will most vigilantly pray for "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." And peace on earth and goodwill toward men will never be achieved until the rights of the most innocent members of humanity are honored, preserved, and protected. If human life is not safe in the womb, then human life is not safe anywhere.
          None of us can evade the immutable spiritual law of reaping what we sow. And as long as men sow violence, then they will inevitably reap the same. Today Mr. Tiller experienced the reality of this harsh truth before he repented of his evil acts; and his killer is no less immune from this reciprocal law than he.
          Any news of human death brings sorrow to my soul; and when human life perishes from acts of violence then the sorrow I feel is greatly multiplied. Feelings of anger, frustration, and helplessness well up within me; perhaps because so much death is so unnecessary. Peace is not unattainable, in fact it is so very simple to achieve. All we have to do is NOT KILL! Do not wage war, do not murder the baby in the womb, do not practice execution, DO NOT KILL. Period.
          But men do not want to heed this simple rule of respect for life. They perpetuate bloodshed and cruelty, and then act horrified when the seeds of their evil sprout to bear bitter fruit in their own backyards.
          So I pray that this unfortunate act of killing that occurred today will teach us all a lesson. For God's sake, let's stop all the killing! The reality is that if babies were not being murdered, then Mr. Tiller would not have been killed today; and likewise, if those few misguided individuals who professed to be "Pro-Life" would have not killed the three or four abortionists that they did, then perhaps abortion would have been outlawed a long time ago.
          George Tiller obviously had no respect for human life, but I nevertheless had respect for his life. Thus I will mourn his death, and I will mourn for the countless lives of the babies and women he destroyed while he was on this earth.
O race of man, put away thy sword!

Selam,

-GMK-

Abba Moses the Ethiopian was a repentant murderer and thief who renounced the world and embraced the ascetic struggle of Christian monasticism. His genuine repentance was demonstrated by his total commitment to peace and nonviolence. He was murdered in his monastery cell by a band of marauders that he refused to violently resist. His martyrdom proved his true change of heart.

"A truly great nation is a compassionate nation. And no nation can be truly great unless it has a concern for 'the least of these.'"

-DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.-

"Is there any greater injustice in the world today than the legalized slaughter of the most innocent and helpless members of the human race?" -GMK-

"Our Lord was once a little babe in His mother's womb. The glorious Mystery of the Incarnation reveals many Truths, and the value of unborn human life is one of the holiest Truths we must heed." -GMK-

"POLITRICKS IS THE DEVIL'S BUSINESS! DON'T BE DECEIVED!"

"We are profoundly opposed to the un-Christian use of force, and we are attached to the pacific settlement of disputes." -H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"My people, do not repay evil with evil. Do not stain your souls by avenging yourselves on your enemies."-H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"Surely, until there is enough food for all, the infant and the young have first claim to what there is." -H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"There is no peace without cooperation." -H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"As we do not practice or permit discimination within our own nation, so we oppose it wherever it is found."-H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"If man is to survive on this planet, the arms race which today clutches mankind in its inexorable grip must be halted." -H.I.M. Haile Selassie I-

"As Our Lady the Virgin St. Mariyam carried Christ in her womb, so may we carry Him in our hearts and honor Him by loving all unborn children as well as their mothers." -GMK-

The War Prayer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yruRt7mQWgg&feature=related

The War Prayer

Mark Twain

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came -- next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams -- visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation

*God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!*

Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory --

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued with his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, "Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said:

"I come from the Throne -- bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import -- that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of -- except he pause and think.

"God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two -- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this -- keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

"You have heard your servant's prayer -- the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it -- that part which the pastor -- and also you in your hearts -- fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. the *whole* of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory--*must* follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

(*After a pause.*) "Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits!"

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

THE CRUCIAL ISSUES
By
Howard Thurman

Teach me to affirm life this day!

Teach me to affirm life. Always I am making decisions. There are some decisions that are deliberately negative. They cut across everything in me that is positive and affirming. They may involve much or little as far as my immediate destiny is concerned.

It is a crucial thing to come to a point of decision, to weigh courses of action, to sense the meaning of directions. It is in such a moment that a man knows whether he is on the side of life or death, and the choice is his to make. To affirm life is to accept growth, to accept challenge, to move with all of one’s full-orbed intent in response to the deepest that stirs within. Then the miracle takes place; the deepest thing in a man somehow makes contact with the deepest thing in life, and he knows that the decision is right – that the decision is on the side of life and not death. Of course, it may be difficult, it may cause much headache and disturbance of a kind, even upheaval; but the issue is never in doubt. It is a terrible thing to make a decision which a man knows, somewhere in the profound recesses of his spirit, is against life. Something dies within; and from that death where can rebirth be found?

Our Father, in whose hands abides the ultimate destiny of Thy children, be with us, stir actively within us, when we are face to face with the crucial issues of our spirits. Teach us to overcome our fear of life; and in that freedom may we learn tounderstand life and, in our understanding of life, to love life. Steady us that we may cast our vote for and not against life. Teach us to affirm life- this moment!

THE BLESSEDNESS of SUFFERING

2010-07-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

Suffering is the common denominator of human life. It is the inevitable fate of all who live. But most of us revolve our lives around the avoidance of suffering. And ironically, the more we pursue pleasure, the more pain we usually store up for ourselves in the long run.
     No one enjoys suffering, and no one should deliberately seek to suffer out of masochistic motivations. But if we learn to understand and embrace it, then suffering can actually become a blessed gift. And as we learn to experience the blessedness of suffering, then we will also be able to ease the pain of those around us.
     In order to understand and embrace suffering, we must first recognize and identify its causes. All suffering emanates from four primary sources: 1) suffering caused by our own sins; 2) suffering caused by others; 3) suffering caused by circumstances; and 4) suffering caused by the pursuit of righteousness. But regardless of what brings it about, how we respond to our suffering will determine whether it will strengthen us or destroy us.
     Bitterness is the first obstacle we must overcome. Disappointment, heartache, frustration, and anger are natural responses to pain and suffering. And even when we acknowledge that our own sin is to blame, the consequences of our sin often seem more severe than we deserve.
     So, how should we respond to the suffering that we have brought upon ourselves through our own wrongful actions? First, rather than cursing the consequences that we ourselves have manufactured, we must embrace the suffering rather than fight it.
     Anesthetization is never permanent, and unless we treat the disease that causes the pain, then the pain will only proliferate in the long run. Therefore, as we experience the consequences of our own sin, we must recognize that our suffering is proof that God is just and that His moral laws are immutable.
     We can take solace from this realization, for the God that convicts is also the God that heals. The repercussive suffering that our own sin produces is actually an act of divine mercy. For if we embrace our temporal suffering in this life and allow it to drive us to repentance, then we will save ourselves from eternal suffering in the life to come.
     Physical pain is a natural warning that our bodies need mending, and the suffering we face because of our own sin is a natural warning that our souls need healing. And when the suffering we endure seems more severe than the sin we have committed, we should remind ourselves that it is better to be purified by the trials of life than to be punished by the fires of hell.
     This brings us to the second cause of suffering: that which is caused by others. Unfortunately, in this fallen and sin sick world, the righteous often suffer more than the wicked. There is so much suffering inflicted upon the innocent by cruel, callous, and godless men. The wicked prosper and flourish as their evil goes unrestrained. At times, it seems that the God of justice is asleep. But King Solomon’s insight is very instructive here:
     "Because the sentence against evil-doers is not promptly executed, therefore the hearts of men are filled with the desire to commit evil – because the sinner does evil a hundred times and survives. But indeed it will be well with those who fear God, for their reverence toward Him; and it shall not be well with the wicked man, and he shall not prolong his shadowy days.” [Ecclesiastes 8:11-13]
     Suffering is inflicted not only by the overtly wicked, but also by selfish and thoughtless individuals who cause misery by their sheer disregard and lack of concern for others. The routines and responsibilities of daily life are made more difficult simply because people have abandoned the basic habits of courtesy, consideration, and respect.
     How then should we deal with the suffering that is caused by others? Again, we must start by forsaking bitterness; and we must not allow the desire for vengeance and retaliation to take root in our hearts. Our ability to embrace the suffering that is inflicted upon us by others will bring us closer to God. And as we endure suffering without hatred or retribution, we can have a profoundly positive impact on those who caused our pain. Suffering embraced and endured is not only redemptive for the victim, but it is also potentially redemptive for the victimizer. In fact, the Cross of Christ is the greatest proof of this spiritual truth.
     The prophets and Saints of history have demonstrated the power of forgiveness. It is always a great temptation to avenge the wrongs that are done to us; but this never brings about healing or peace. The incarnate God endured the sin and darkness of our defiled world, and He died the cruelest of deaths at the hands of sinful men. But Our Lord forgave even as He was being slain. He abdicated his divine right to save Himself, sacrificing His life for the sins of the world. The undeserved suffering of Jesus provides the model for us to follow. In fact, Christ commands us to follow his example- in every way.
     Many sages and spiritually minded social activists have emulated Christ by their embrace and endurance of unearned suffering. Their courage and consciousness helped to correct social injustices and change the hearts of erring men. And their sacrificial suffering made the roads of life a little less rocky for the rest of us. So whenever we suffer from the actions of others, we must remember that our response is critical to both the conditioning of our own souls and to the contribution of a healthy society.
     The third cause of suffering is that which results from circumstances. Sometimes this can be the most agonizing type of suffering. This agony stems from the acts of chaos, confusion, and senselessness that permeate the planet. This global chaos seeps into our own small corners of the world, and none of us are unaffected by it.
     But the efforts to rearrange our circumstances never result in the satisfaction we seek. History is abundant with examples of sociopolitical movements that sought to establish an egalitarian utopia, but ultimately created only more misery and suffering. And, as individuals, we frequently fall into the same trap. We believe that more money, new relationships, a bigger house, or a better job will bring us the happiness we desire. In the futile endeavor to alter our circumstances, we often starve our souls and cripple our spirits. And those who are spiritually anemic usually make life more miserable for those around them.
     However, by understanding the fact that our world will never be perfect, and by realizing that life will always be accompanied by unfavorable circumstances, we can focus instead on the cultivation of a productive response to our difficulties and hardships. We will preserve our sanity by accepting and embracing the reality of life's adversity, for many people drive themselves crazy trying to change things which are beyond their control.
     Helen Keller said:
     "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
     The fourth type of suffering is that which results from the pursuit of righteousness. It is an invariable truth that light and goodness will be met with opposition from the forces of darkness and evil. The Bible says:
     "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." [II Timothy 3:12]
     But those who willingly suffer in order to advance the cause of righteousness will always be blessed. The world is replete with political movements and social organizations that do everything except suffer for the sake of righteousness. Yet, Christ actually made suffering a prerequisite for following Him: "If any man wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me.” [St. Luke 9:23]
     True spirituality involves choosing to bear the cross of suffering for the cause of righteousness. It means practicing those disciplines that contribute to the cultivation of our souls and the enlightening of our minds. It means pursuing Paradise rather than pleasure.
     Fasting, service to others, working for social justice, prayer, worship, and self-denial are spiritual exercises that may involve suffering to some degree. These things do not earn us God’s grace, but they develop our spirits and bring us closer to the God with whom we are already in relationship.
     Our Lord said:
     "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you." [St. Matthew 5:11-12]
     St. Peter gives us this encouragement:
     "…even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you… it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil… As a result, those who suffer in accord with the will of God hand their souls over to a faithful Creator as they do good." [I Peter 3:14, 17; 4:19]
     And St. Mark the Ascetic* wrote:
     "Those who suffer for the sake of true devotion receive help."
     Suffering has many positive benefits. For example: It is punitive, pointing us to repentance. It is healing for those who understand and embrace it. It is educational, teaching priceless spiritual principles to those who are willing to learn. It is productive, bringing about spiritual growth. And it is enlightening for all those who accept the purpose and design behind it. Therefore, know that suffering always has a remedial and redemptive effect. If we view our trials and adversities from a spiritual perspective, then we may find that suffering is in fact a blessing rather than a curse.
     How sad it is that so many people spend their entire lives in the futile attempt to avoid suffering. In order to evade suffering, they fall prey to materialism and carnal pleasures; and tragically, many resort to the exploitation and oppression of others in the process. The result of this is always the increase of suffering as addiction, disease, and the insanity which results from a perpetual violation of the conscience sets in. The more that people try to elude the law of suffering, the more pain they bring to themselves and to the world around them.
     Yet by understanding and embracing suffering, we can find hope and we can find God. This is the blessedness of suffering; and what a beautiful blessing it is! The Creator always presents us with a choice. Will we choose to suffer for righteousness? Will we choose to embrace suffering when we experience it as the result of our own sin? Will we choose patience and forgiveness when others have harmed us? Will we choose to embrace the opportunity to strengthen our souls when the circumstances of life are bitter and difficult?
     All of us will suffer. This is an unavoidable fact of life. But the question is: how will we respond to the suffering that befalls us? The Creator has allowed us to determine whether our suffering will be for us a blessing or a curse. The choice is ours, and a wise response will bring blessed rewards.

"Suffering is the reality of the human condition and the beginning of true spiritual life. If used in the right way, suffering can purify the heart, and ‘the pure in heart shall see God.’ [St. Matthew 5:8] The right approach is found in the heart which tries to humble itself and simply knows that it is suffering, and that there somehow exists a higher truth which can not only help this suffering, but can bring it into a totally different dimension."
-Father Seraphim Rose-

*St. Mark the Ascetic- St. Mark the Ascetic lived in the early fifth century and was a disciple of St. John Chrysostom (“The Golden Mouthed”). Known as “Mark the Monk” or “Mark the Hermit,” his spiritual treatises have had a profound influence on Orthodox Christian theology and thought. St. Mark the Ascetic wrote important discourses on baptism, repentance, and against Nestorius (Nestorius was a heretic who denied the unity of Our Lord’s humanity and divinity, and who denied Our Lady the Virgin Mary as the “Theotokos”, i.e. the Mother of God.) Some of his writings are included in The Philokalia**

**The Philokalia- (Translated in Greek as “Love of the Beautiful” and in Russian as “The Love of Spiritual Beauty”) is a collection of ascetic and mystical writings composed by the Fathers of the Eastern Orthodox Church between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. It was first published in 1782, and elucidates the contemplative life of prayer and fasting. Although this work is much more prominent amongst Eastern Orthodox Christians, it contains valuable spiritual principles that are beneficial to all people of all spiritual faiths.

Gebre Menfes Kidus

ETHIOPIA

2010-07-09T03:09:00.001-05:00

“Ethiopia shall continue in the Christian faith until the coming of Our Lord, and she shall in no way turn aside from the word of the Gospel, and it shall be so even as we have ordered until the end of the world.”

-The Kebra Nagast 100:7-

"Ethiopia has been a Christian nation for nearly two thousand years, and for most of that time it has officially been a Christian monarchy. But the Ethiopian people have endured apostate kings, Islamic invasions, and most recently a communist coup. And yet, the devout Christian Faith of the Ethiopian people has remained intact. Various governmental and political forces have worked to undermine the Gospel and subvert the authentic and ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Church. But the righteous leadership of true Christian Kings - such as Menelik II (1865-1913) and Emperor Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) - has affirmed and upheld the true Christian Faith that is inherent in Ethiopia and its people. And the Faith of Ethiopia is sustained by the historical examples of heroic Saints who defended Christian purity with personal sacrifice and selfless martyrdom.

The righteous example of Ethiopia demonstrates that genuine faith is not contingent upon worldly governments or national political forces. Rather, the strength of a nation, its government, and its people hinges upon the authenticity and steadfastness of its religious faith."

-GMK-

"Look to the East, to Ethiopia, and there you will find the purest Christian Church and the richest Christian faith. The Ark of the Covenant resides in Ethiopia. Part of the true Cross of Christ can be found in Ethiopia. And Ethiopia is the only nation in history that made the natural transition from Judaism to Christianity. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church possesses the most extensive canon of biblical Scripture in all of Christendom. And Ethiopia is the first country mentioned in the Holy Bible. [Genesis 2:13] So if you truly want to understand the fullness and depth of authentic Christian Faith, look to the true and ancient Church of Ethiopia- The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church." -GMK-

"Ethiopia is a land of mysteries. And mystery is not synonymous with fairy tale or fable. Mystery does not mean fantasy or fiction. Spiritually speaking, mystery is a reality or truth that is deeper, higher, richer, and fuller than the comprehension of the mortal mind.

So please do not describe the sacred land of Ethiopia as if it were a nation of superstition and a people of ignorance. Revere, respect, and extol its sacred mysteries, or leave it altogether alone. To mock and disparage holy things simply because you do not understand them is a dangerous and foolish endeavor." -GMK-

"Ethiopia is the cradle of civilization and the location of the Garden of Eden. [See Genesis 2:10-13] There is a strong link between Ethiopia and Egypt, and this link is a Christian link. The Egyptian Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are sister Churches of the Non-Chalcedonian Tewahedo Orthodox Faith. Both nations are mystical lands. Ethiopia is the only truly Judeo-Christian nation in the world (being that Ethiopia is the only nation to make the natural transition from Judaism to Christianity), and it is the land where the Ark of the Covenant and part of the original Cross of Christ reside today. And Egypt has mystical Christian significance because Our Lord took refuge there as an infant. [St. Matthew 2:13-23] Christians in Egypt have suffered severe persecutions for many centuries; and of course, we know the Old Testament history of Moses versus Pharaoh.

       But today there is a lot of inaccurate historical propaganda about Our Lord Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ) being a reinvention of the pagan Egyptian god 'Osiris.' There is a current fascination with 'Egyptology, and many people are deceived by the seductive pseudo-spirituality of this ancient occultism. We must remember that Our Lord said, 'I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.' [Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13] So, Christ is Lord of creation from time eternal. Christ alone is the True God, and Christ will soon return to burn Osiris and all other false gods with divine fire! As He said, 'I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled!' [St. Luke 12:49]
       But I want to be patient with those that are caught up in this confusion, because I think that the fascination with Egyptology comes from the rejection of an erroneous Western Christianity and Western culture that worships the image of a white, blue-eyed, blond-haired Jesus. So, this is why the knowledge and understanding of Ethiopia is so crucial. We must return to the roots of the Christian Faith. We must go back to the Garden. We must return to the true and ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
       The truly righteous heritage of Africa is not to be found in its affiliation with Pharaoh, Osiris, or Egyptology. Instead, it is to be found in the biblical truths that attest to its glory and significance. Adam, the first man, was African. And the Bible declares:
       'Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.' [Psalm 68:4] 'The kings of Ethiopia shall offer gifts unto the Lord.' [Psalm 72:10]
       There is a divine Light that emanates from the East. It is the light of the sacred land of Ethiopia. It is the light of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. It is the Light of the Ark of the Covenant and the Cross of Our Lord. And, it is the light of the true and ancient Christian Faith that is professed and practiced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church." -GMK-

"I am so thankful for the legacy and light of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia! The corrupt powers of this fallen world continually try to suppress any knowledge and understanding of this wonderful King. But by the power of God, Haile Selassie's light penetrates the dark corners of our world, enlightening minds and uplifting hearts. The words of His Majesty provide guidance and wisdom in these tribulation times of injustice, sin, and oppression. They illuminate the issues of social justice, world peace, divine morality, spiritual strength, and the brotherhood of man. But most importantly, the life, example, and teachings of Haile Selassie point to the Gospel of Our Lord and to the true Christian Faith of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church." -GMK-

"Emperor Haile Selassie I was born in Ethiopia on July 23rd, 1892 as Tafari Makonnen. He was given the baptismal name of Haile Selassie, which means “Power of the Holy Trinity.” This mystical and holy name became the name he took upon inheriting the Ethiopian throne in 1928.

       It is interesting to note that the year of his birth, 1892, was exactly 400 years after Christopher Columbus “sailed the ocean blue” in 1492. Those who know their Bible will remember that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. Thus Haile Selassie, this Christian King, was divinely sent to spiritually conquer the seeds of slavery, materialism, and genocide that were sown by this Christopher Columbus who continues to be revered today in history textbooks.
       In 1928 he was proclaimed Negus of Ethiopia, and two years later he was officially crowned with the title “Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Root of David, Elect of God.” The Christian Kings of Ethiopia have always been ascribed titles that bear witness to their Orthodox Christian faith.
       Haile Selassie was a descendent of the Solomonic lineage. The Bible relates the historical account of Makeda, Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia), and how she traveled to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon and learn from his wisdom. Solomon revealed to her the knowledge and worship of the One True God-'Jehovah,' 'Yahweh,' 'JAH.'
       Solomon and Makeda fell in love, and she conceived a son- Menelik the 1st. As Menelik came of age, he traveled back to Jerusalem and then returned to Ethiopia bringing with him the Ark of the Covenant, which remains in Ethiopia to this very day.
       For a full account of this history and truth, read your Bible. [See I Kings 10:1-13; II Chronicles 9:1-12; and the Song of Solomon] Also read the Kebra Nagast, which means “The Glory of Kings.” This book is a sacred text of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tradition, and it provides a detailed record of Solomon’s relationship with the Queen of Sheba and how the Ark of the Covenant came to reside in Ethiopia.
       Haile Selassie was a devout Christian who was known as “Defender of the Faith.” Through his efforts, Abuna Yesehaq was sent to be the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere, proclaiming the true and ancient Apostolic Faith, and establishing God’s true and Holy Church. The legendary Bob Marley, whose music and message brought international attention to the importance His Imperial Majesty, was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church by Abuan Yesehaq prior to his passing.
       So, know your Bible and know your history, and you will know the truth." -GMK-

       "Ethiopia has been ruled by Christians for nearly two thousand years, and it has officially been a Christian monarchy for most of that time. In this earthly life there is no perfection, and Ethiopia has at various times been ruled by apostate Kings. But most of Ethiopia's monarchs have been avowedly Christian. And no King ruled more righteously than Emperor Haile Selassie I, who reigned from 1930 to 1972.
       Haile Selassie ruled as an Orthodox Christian King without apology. During His Majesty's rule, Ethiopian citizens of other faiths were never persecuted or disparaged. But in this great Christian land, no one was allowed to disrupt or desecrate Orthodox religious ceremonies, customs, or icons. The law of the land was based solely upon biblical principles, Church doctrines, and Christian belief. There was no erroneous notion of separation of Church and state. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was the primary authority, to which even the Emperor himself was submissive. In fact, the Orthodox Church is what defines Ethiopia to this present day. The Church is the heart, the soul, and the spirit of the country. Those who do not like this situation have always been free to go elsewhere.
       Of course, true Christian practice will always invite persecution. And in the name of "democracy," the communists have infiltrated the Christian nation of Ethiopia. They are steadily trying to weaken the power and authority of the true Church and the true Orthodox Christian Faith. But Ethiopia has survived for centuries, and she will survive these current assaults as well. For 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church' [St. Matthew 16:18], and Ethiopia shall continue to 'stretch forth her hands unto God.' [Psalm 68:31]"
-GMK-

"As Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, we make the sign of the Cross over our face and over our body. With our right hand, and with our fingers in the form of the Cross, we make the sign from above downwards. This symbolizes the Incarnation of Our Lord, when God came down from heaven to earth. Then we make the sign from left to right, which symbolizes the salvation of Christ, who took us from a sinful life to a right life.
Making the sign of the Cross is a form of prayer. It reminds us of the source of our salvation, the source of our spiritual power, and the victory we have over sin and evil. The sign of the Cross encourages the hearts of Christians. It brings our minds into proper spiritual focus. By making the sign of the Cross we resist the devil, we dispel demons, and we cast away all evil thoughts." -GMK-

Following are some excellent videos about our Church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJfbtupcGbs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhOJOdBE8h0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WidZv_GYC9w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29TJLQ3SE6w&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/user/TTEOTV#p/u/11/dNnijppRo4M

http://www.pahte.com/Ethiopia_Religion.html

ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX ICONS

2010-07-01T00:08:00.003-05:00

WISDOM of the HOLY FATHERS

2010-05-07T22:13:00.093-05:00

WISDOM of the HOLY FATHERS

"Christ is my God and my hope. His Cross is the rod of my faith. His pierced side is the flood of my baptism. The blood of His scourging is the oil of my anointment. His apostles are the guide of my way. My lady Maryam is the door of my salvation."

-Abba Giorgis of Ethiopia-

"Orthodox Christians! Hold fast to the grace which you have. Never let it become a matter of habit. Never measure it by merely human standards or expect it to be logical or comprehensible to those who understand nothing higher than what is human. Let all true Orthodox Christians strengthen themselves for the battle ahead, never forgetting that in Christ the victory is already ours."

-Father Seraphim Rose-

"For a person to become a Christian, he must have a poetic soul. He must become a poet. Christ does not wish insensitive souls in His company. A Christian, albeit only when he loves, is a poet and lives amid poetry. Poetic hearts embrace love and sense it deeply."

-Elder Porphyrios-

"Living a chaste Christian life is sometimes more difficult than suffering a martyr’s death."

-St. Mark the Ascetic-

"You greatly delude yourself and err, if you think that one thing is demanded from the layman and another from the monk. What has turned the world upside down is that we think only the monk must live rigorously, while the rest are allowed to live a life of indolence."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Acquire the Spirit of Peace and thousands of souls around you will be saved."

-St. Seraphim of Sarov-

"If you are a true theologian you truly pray. If you truly pray you are a true theologian."

-St. Evagrius Ponticus-

"Feeding the hungry is a greater work than raising the dead."

-St John Chrysostom-

"Long-suffering, humility, and reverence to God- these three will lead you to eternal life. Envy, presumption, vanity- these three will pull you down to the depth of eternal fire."

-St. Teklye Haymanot of Ethiopia-

"All you need, dear brother, is to meet with Christ, and speak to Him, to listen to Him and form a relationship with Him, and you will find in Him all that you will ever need. With Christ you will lack nothing. Give Him your heart, and then you will feel all the triviality of the world, and you will be happy with God's love."

-H.H. Pope Shenouda III-

"If the first man formed out of the earth brought in universal death, shall not He who formed him out of the earth bring in eternal life, being Himself the Life?"

-Saint Cyril of Jerusalem-

"In times past, God, without body and form, could in no way be represented. But now, since God has appeared in the flesh and lived among men, I can depict that which is visible of God….[for Christ is "the image of the invisible God. (Col. 1:15.)] I do not venerate the matter but I venerate the Creator of matter, Who became matter for me, Who condescended to live in matter, and Who, through matter accomplished my salvation; I do not cease to respect the matter through which my salvation is accomplished."

-St. John of Damascus-

-Father Seraphim Rose-

"We are commanded to have only one enemy, the devil. With him never be reconciled! But with a brother, never be at enmity in thy heart."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"When our hearts are reluctant we often have to compel ourselves to pray for our enemies, to pour out prayer for those who are against us. Would that our hearts were filled with love! How frequently we offer a prayer for our enemies, but do it because we are commanded to, not out of love for them. We ask the gift of life for them even while we are afraid that our prayer may be heard. The Judge of our soul considers our hearts rather than our words. Those who do not pray for their enemies out of love are not asking anything for their benefit.

Jesus, our Advocate, has composed a prayer for our case. And our Advocate is also our Judge. He has inserted a condition in the prayer that reads: 'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' Sometimes we say these words without carrying them out. Thus our words bind us more tightly."

-St. Gregory the Great-

"Prayers not for the remission of our own sins, but for revenge on our enemies, is merely to thrust the sword against ourselves."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"The world is going mad in mutual bloodshed. And murder, which is considered a crime when people commit it singly, is transformed into a virtue when they do it en masse. The offenders acquire impunity by increasing their ravaging."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"Prayer for our enemies is the very highest summit of self-control."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"We must mark a Christian not by the style of his dress, but by the disposition of his soul."

-St. Basil the Great-

"If you happen to fall into temptation, do not let the guilt of sin be an obstacle to prayer. If you cease praying till you repent, you will never repent, for prayer is the door to genuine repentance.

-St. Abba Kyrillos VI-

"Why do you sow where the field is eager to destroy the fruit? Where there are medicines of sterility? Where there is murder before birth? You do not even let a harlot remain only a harlot, but you make her a murderess as well. Indeed, it is something worse than murder and I do not know what to call it; for she does not kill what is formed but prevents its formation. What then? Do you condemn the gifts of God, and fight with His laws? What is a curse you seek as though it were a blessing? Do you make the anteroom of slaughter? Do you teach the women who are given to you for a procreation of offspring to perpetuate killing?"

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Nothing is so characteristically Christian as being a peacemaker."

-St. Basil the Great-

"Do the words sting? This is what I desire, that you should suffer the pain caused by the words, in order to be delivered from the disgrace caused by the actions."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Philosophize through your works about man's will and God's retribution. For your words are only as wise and as profitable as your works."

-St. Mark the Monk-

"Disputes merely about words must not be suffered to divide those who think alike."

-St. Athanasius the Great-

"The tongue, which is created by Christ, cannot bear to utter anything against Him. Do not deceive yourselves, God cannot be mocked, He judges us according to our own mouth, He justifies us by our words, and by our words, He convicts us."

-St. Basil the Great-

"What earthly joy remains untouched by grief?"

-St. John Damascene-

"God did not in fact make man for tears but for joy and happiness, just like the angels. But since he fell into sin, man needs tears. Where there is no sin there is no need to weep."

-Abba Longinus-

"If we despise our brother, we despise God who made us, since man was made in the image of God."

-St. Abba Besa the Archimandrite-

"Repentance needs a humble heart. The one who persists in his pride and dignity would not be able to repent."

-H.H. Pope Shenouda III-

"The woman who purposely destroys her unborn child is guilty of murder. With us there is no nice enquiry as to its being formed or unformed. In this case it is not only the being about to be born who is vindicated, but the woman in her attack upon herself; because in most cases women who make such attempts die. The destruction of the embryo is an additional crime, a second murder, at all events if we regard it as done with intent. The punishment, however, of these women should not be for life, but for the term of ten years. Women also who administer drugs to cause abortion, as well as those who take poisons to destroy unborn children, are murderesses."

-St. Basil the Great-

"Fasting of the body is food for the soul."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"All the saints accept that the only true path to virtue is pain and hard work."

-Theophan the Recluse-

"He who knows the mystery of the Cross and the Tomb, knows also the secret essences of all things."

-St. Maximus The Confessor-

"Seest thou what fasting does: it heals illnesses, drives out demons, removes wicked thoughts, makes the heart pure. If someone has even been seized by an impure spirit, let him know that this kind, according to the word of the Lord, 'goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.' (Matthew 17:21)."

-St. Athanasius the Great-

"There is both a physical and a spiritual fast. In the physical fast the body abstains from food and drink. In the spiritual fast, the faster abstains from evil intentions, words and deeds. One who truly fasts abstains from anger, rage, malice, and vengeance. One who truly fasts abstains from idle and foul talk, empty rhetoric, slander, condemnation, flattery, lying and all manner of spiteful talk. In a word, a real faster is one who withdraws from all evil. As much as you subtract from the body, so much will you add to the strength of the soul. By fasting it is possible both to be delivered from future evils and to enjoy the good things to come. We fell into disease through sin; let us receive healing through repentance, which is not fruitful without fasting."

-St. Basil the Great-

"Do you fast? Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned, have pity on the tortured, comfort those who grieve and who weep, be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient, sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious, so that God might accept your fasting and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your Mother."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"There is wise love that profits its owner although it causes pain, for it is edifying to his soul and to his eternal fate. There is also foolish love that destroys its owner although it exhibits features of kindness and tenderness."

-H.H. Pope Shenouda III-

"As bodily food fattens the body, so fasting strengthens the soul; imparting it an easy flight, it makes it able to ascend on high, to contemplate lofty things and to put the heavenly higher than the pleasant and pleasurable things of life."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"And I motioned to them with my hand saying: 'Be silent and listen, Israel.' And when they were silent, I continued and said to them: 'Do you accept the four Gospels?' They said: 'Yes. Certainly. He who does not accept the four Gospels is not a Christian.' I said: 'You have spoken well. When the Christ was summoned to the wedding, was he summoned as man or as God?' They said: 'As man.' I said to them: 'Correct.' I said to them: 'When he caused the miracle to happen, did he perform it as man or rather as God?' They said: 'The matter is obvious. He caused the miracle to happen as God.' I said to them: 'So then, understand for yourselves that the divinity was not separated from the humanity for a single moment nor for a twinkling of an eye. Behold then, I have taken you at your very own word."

-St. Dioscorus-

"It is necessary most of all for one who is fasting to curb anger, to accustom himself to meekness and condescension, to have a contrite heart, to repulse impure thoughts and desires, to examine his conscience, to put his mind to the test and to verify what good has been done by us in this or any other week, and which deficiency we have corrected in ourself in the present week. This is true fasting."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Perhaps the most distinguished quality in love is sacrifice. This is the big difference between love and lust: love always seeks to give, and lust always seek to take."

-H.H. Pope Shenouda III-

"Do not say to me that I fasted for so many days, that I did not eat this or that, that I did not drink wine, that I endured want; but show me if thou from an angry man hast become gentle, if thou from a cruel man hast become benevolent. If thou art filled with anger, why oppress thy flesh? If hatred and avarice are within thee, of what benefit is it that thou drinkest water? Do not show forth a useless fast: for fasting alone does not ascend to heaven. The point is not only that we should come to church each day, that we should continually listen to one and the same thing, and that we should fast for the whole Forty Days. No! If we, from continually coming here and listening to the teaching, do not acquire anything and do not derive any good for our soul from the time of the fast ¬ all this does not procure for us any benefit, but rather serves for our greater condemnation, when despite such concern for us by the Church we remain just the same as before."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Nothing in this world can distress or perturb me, for I take refuge in the impregnable fortress of the Church. I am reassured in the bosom of God's mercies. Comfort and blessing continuously flows from Him. The Lord's grace flutters its wings and casts away all sadness, and heals the heart with its indescribable balm. Oh, how sweet it is! No one can withstand the trials of this world without His care or power. Our Fathers compare this Grace with a mother teaching her child to walk. She stands at a distance and when she sees that he is about to fall she hurries to him and wipes every tear from his eyes. Such is the way that God's Grace deals with man. Amid his struggles, God's Grace distances itself just a little in order to train him to walk in the path of virtue. But when he is found to be saddened or discouraged, this Grace hurries to comfort and encourage him."

-St. Abba Kyrillos VI-

"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity."

-St. Basil the Great-

"The devil brought death through Eve; God brought life through the Virgin Maryam. Because of a woman we were far from God; Because of a woman we are nearer to God. Satan gave Adam and Eve hope of becoming gods; St. Gabriel gave Maryam Hope of giving birth to God. Seed from a wood brought us quarrel with God; Cross from a wood brought us forgiveness from God."

-Abba Giorgis of Ethiopia-

"The virtues are analogous to separate individual pearls in need of being bound together with string; love is the string that binds all virtues. Without love there is no cohesiveness or consistency amongst the various virtues."

-St. Abba Kyrillos VI-

"The Catholic Church is one body, and we are commanded in the holy Scriptures to maintain ‘the bond of unity and peace'."

-Saint John Chrysostom-

[The above written 600 years before the Roman Catholic Church was separated form the Holy Orthodox Church. At time the world had only 'one' church. We refer to this church today as the Orthodox Church.]

"If one does not acknowledge Mary as Theotokos ('Mother of God'), he is estranged from God."

-St. Gregory of Nazianzus-

"Concerning your body, and the passions which afflict its members: reverence the honor with which God has dignified the body, and do not reduce it to the vile conditions of sinful lust."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"In the sixteenth year of the age of my flesh, the madness of raging lust exercised its dominion over me through sexual desire, and my invisible enemy trod me down and seduced me. In my sexual involvements, I drew my shackles along with me, terrified to have them taken off me. What made me a slave to lust was the bait of satisfying an insatiable momentary urge."

-Blessed Augustine of Hippo-

"Only the lifeless are exempt from the battles of lust. We know, then, that the struggle of flesh and the spirit is extremely useful to us- to gain self-control and mastery over our desires."

-St. Cassian the Monk-

"The princes of evil have blinded me with their passions and by their cunningness they have robbed me of the beauty of my youth. What can I do, now that I have lost my purity? I will cry out to Christ, that He might return my beauty to me- and then will the evil ones be ashamed. My Savior cries out to me, to His disciple: 'Do not despair of the salvation; I will restore you and forgive you your sins. I have found you and I will not leave you; for I have redeemed you with my very own Blood.' Cry out, O sinner, with all your might, and spare not your throat; for your Lord is merciful and loves those who repent. As soon as you return, your Father will come out beforehand to meet you. He will slaughter the fatted calf, clothe you in a fine robe, and rejoice in you."

-St. Ephraim the Syrian-

"Do you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in Church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, 'This is my body,' and made it so by his word, is the same that said, 'You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.' Honor Him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"But I say to you, the Lord says, 'love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.' Why did He command these things? So that He might free you from hatred, sadness, anger, and grudges; and that He might grant you the greatest possession of all- perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one who loves all equally in imitation of God."

-St. Maximus the Confessor-

"Remembrance of wrongs is the consummation of anger, the keeper of sin, hatred of righteousness, ruin of virtues, poison of the soul, worm of the mind, shame of prayer. You will know that you have completely freed yourself of this rot - not when you pray for he person who has offended you, not when you exchange presents with him, not when you invite him to your table - but only when, on hearing that he has fallen into bodily or spiritual misfortune, you suffer and weep for him as for yourself."

-St. John Climacus-

"A liberal arts education can do more harm than good. The first Christians never had one - indeed were sometimes illiterate - and yet they overturned the world. True wisdom and true education consist only in the fear of God."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Both the Emperor’s commands and your personal authorities must be obeyed if they are not contrary to the God of heaven. But if they are contrary to God, not only must they not be obeyed, but they must be resisted."

-St. Euphemia-

"Let us praise with reverent hymns of peace the Divine Peace, which is the Source of all mutual attraction. For this Quality it is that unites all things together and begets and produces the harmonies and agreements of all things. Hence, it is that all things long for it, and that it draws their manifold separate parts into the unity of the whole and unites the battling elements of the world into concordant fellowship.

Let us, then, describe that Peace -inasmuch as it transcends all things - as ‘Unspeakable,’ ‘Unknowable’; and, so far as it is possible for man, let us examine those cases where it is amenable to our intuitions and language through being manifested in created things. The first thing to say is this: God is the Fount of Very Peace and of all Peace, both in general and in particular, and that He joins all things together in a unity without confusion."

-St. Dionysius the Areopagite-

"The demons struggle to have you as their slaves and servants, and they get hold of all who do not struggle to their utmost for their own salvation- as we do, who after being persuaded by the Word, renounced them and now follow the only unbegotten God through his Son. Those who once rejoiced in fornication now delight in self-control; those who made use of magic arts have dedicated themselves to the good and unbegotten God; we who once took most pleasure in the means of increasing our wealth and property now bring what we have into a common fund and share with everyone in need; we who hated and killed one another and would not associate with men of different tribes because of their different customs, now after the manifestation of Christ live together and pray for our enemies and try to persuade those who unjustly hate us, so that they, living according to the fair commands of Christ, may share with us the good hope of receiving the same things. The teachings of Christ were short and concise, for He was no philosopher, but his word was the power of God."

-St. Justin Martyr-

"Where the Savior is named, there every demon is driven out. Again, who has ever so rid men of their natural passions that fornicators become chaste and murderers no longer wield the sword and those who formerly were craven cowards boldly play the man? In a word, what persuaded the barbarians and heathen in every place to drop their madness and give heed to peace, save the faith of Christ and the sign of the Cross? What other things have given men such certain faith in immortality as have the Cross of Christ and the resurrection of His body?"

-St. Athanasius-

"Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor. Be crucified, rather than be a crucifier. Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly. Be oppressed, rather than zealous to oppress. Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice."

-St. Isaac the Syrian-

"Whoever loves true prayer and yet becomes angry or resentful is his own enemy. He is like a man who wants so see clearly and yet inflicts damage on his own eyes."

-St. Evagrius the Solitary-

"For what advantage is it, that the world enjoys profound peace, if thou art at war with thyself? This then is the peace we should keep. If we have it, nothing from without will be able to harm us."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Ponder paradise, where Cain, who destroyed his brother through jealousy, does not return. Ponder the kingdom of heaven to which the Lord admits only those of one heart and mind. Ponder the fact that only those can be called the sons of God who are peacemakers, who, united by divine birth and law, correspond to the likeness of God the Father and Christ."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"Without love to others, and without - as far as it depends on me - peaceableness towards all, I cannot be called a worthy servant of Jesus Christ."

-St. Basil the Great-

"I am a soldier of Christ. To fight is not permissible for me."

-St. Martin of Tours-

"No one of us fights back when he is apprehended, nor do our people avenge themselves against your unjust violence though numerous and plentiful. Our certainty of the vengeance which is to come makes us patient. The harmless give way to the harmful; the innocent acquiesce in the punishments and tortures with certain confidence that whatever we suffer will not remain un-avenged, and that the greater the injury of the persecution, the more just and serious will be the vengeance for the persecution. Long ago divine Scripture said: 'Vengeance is mine, I shall repay, says the Lord.' And let the Holy Spirit again warn us saying: 'Say not: I will avenge myself on my enemy, but wait on the Lord so that He may aid you.' Thus it is clear and manifest that not through us but for us do all these things happen which come down from the anger of God."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"As it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears malice, can enjoy the holy Communion. I forewarn, and testify, and proclaim this with a voice that all may hear! 'Let no one who hath an enemy draw near the sacred Table, or receive the Lord’s Body! Let no one who draws near have an enemy! Do you have an enemy? Draw not near! Do you wish to draw near? Be reconciled, and then draw near, and touch the Holy Thing!'"

-St. John Chrysostom-

"The world is soaked with mutual blood. When individuals commit homicide, it is a crime; it is called a virtue when it is done in the name of the state. Impunity is acquired for crimes not by reason of innocence but by the magnitude of the cruelty."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"Love those whom you hated before; esteem those whom you envied with unjust disparagements. Imitate the good, if you can follow them; if you cannot follow them, surely rejoice with them and congratulate your betters. Your debts will be forgiven you, when you yourself shall forgive. Your sacrifices will be accepted, when you shall come to God as a peacemaker."

-St. Cyprian of Carthage-

"The Saviour has taught men what they could never learn among the idols. It is also no small exposure of the weakness and nothingness of demons and idols, for it was because they knew their own weakness that the demons were always setting men to fight each other, fearing lest, if they ceased from mutual strife, they would turn to attack the demons themselves. For in truth the disciples of Christ, instead of fighting each other, stand arrayed against demons by their habits and virtuous actions, and chase them away and mock at their captain the devil. Even in youth they are chaste, they endure in times of testing and persevere in toils. When they are insulted, they are patient, when robbed they make light of it, and, marvellous to relate, they make light even of death itself, and become martyrs of Christ."

-St. Athanasius the Great-

"The peace which removes the enticements of the passions and calms the perturbations of the spirit is loftier than that which puts down the invasion of barbarians. For it is a greater thing to resist the enemy inside you than the one far off."

-St. Ambrose of Milan-

"God is fire that warms and kindles the heart and inward parts. And so, if we feel in our hearts coldness, which is from the devil — for the devil is cold — then let us call upon the Lord and He will come and warm our hearts with perfect love- not only for Him but for our neighbor as well."

-Saint Seraphim of Sarov-

"All things belong to God. All our brothers and sisters. Among us it is best that all inherit equal portions."

-St. Gregory of Nyssa-

"He who is able to pray correctly, even if he is the poorest of all people, is essentially the richest. And he who does not have proper prayer, is the poorest of all, even if he sits on a royal throne."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"When evening comes, collect your thoughts and ponder over the entire course of the day: observe God's providential care for you; consider the grace He has wrought in you throughout the whole span of the day; consider the rising of the moon, the joy of daylight, all the hours and moments, the divisions of time, the sight of different colors, the beautiful adornment of creation, the course of the sun, the growth of your own stature, how your own person has been protected; consider the blowing of the winds, the ripe and varied fruits, how the elements minister to your comfort, how you have been preserved from accidents, and all the other activities of grace. When you have pondered on all this, the wonder of God's love towards you will well up within you, and gratitude for His acts of grace will bubble up inside you."

-St. John the Solitary-

"Not only should we pray unceasingly in accordance with God’s will and in the name of Jesus Christ, but we are bound to reveal it and teach it to others, to everyone in general - religious and secular, learned and simple, men, women and children - and to inspire them all with zeal for prayer without ceasing."

-St. Gregory of Thessalonika-

"Before partaking of sleep, it is a sacred duty to give thanks to God, having enjoyed His grace and love. As a result, we can go straight to sleep."

-Clement of Alexandria-

"Resist the devil at the first available opportunity. As long as you extend the time entertaining the devil’s temptation, your resistance will fail as happened to Samson with Delilah when she pressed him daily; his soul was vexed unto death and he told her all that was in his heart (Judg. 16:15-17). Do not say, 'I shall bear this thought to know its end!' Believe me, you know its end very well, so do not deceive yourself. The mere opening of the gates of your mind to the devil is dishonesty toward God. Do not indulge in his intrigues and do not delay, but resist him firmly saying 'Away with you, Satan!' (Mt. 4:10) If you firmly refuse all the thoughts of the devil, he will be in awe of you. The devil is intelligent enough to discern serious resistance. He knows who refuses him with a pure heart and who refuses him by his lips alone whilst submitting to him in their heart. The devil is able to know he who has the will to resist him unto death and he who will submit if pressed a little further. So resist zealously, with all your might and with all your heart."

-H.H. Pope Shenouda III-

"The whole life of the spiritual man is a holy festival. His sacrifices are prayers, praises, and readings in the Scriptures before meals. They are Psalms and hymns during meals and before bed – and prayers also again during the night. By these, the spiritual man unites himself to the divine choir."

-Clement of Alexandria-

"I beg you, remember this without fail, that not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life. We do not possess our own wealth but theirs."

-St. John Chrysostom-

"No one on earth can give us unshakable, inner peace. Money cannot give us peace; neither can fame, honor, a high ranking position, nor even our closest friends and family. The only Giver of peace and life is the Lord. He gives peace, stillness and joy- to the angels and the saints, to us and to every created being. Therefore, we must repent and turn to the Lord."

-Blessed Elder Thaddeus of Serbia-

THE SACRED REVOLUTION

2009-10-17T00:19:00.002-05:00

THE SACRED REVOLUTION

As humanity crosses the threshold of a new millennium, we find ourselves in yet another corridor of war, famine, cruelty, and injustice. Human history has provided the Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, the ideals of Romanticism, and the Industrial and technological revolutions; but human suffering is still not abated. The twentieth century demonstrated that neither Communism nor Capitalism could cure the ills of human society, and rather than eradicating man’s inhumanity to man, they only increased it. The gadgets we have produced, the expanses we have crossed, and the amusements we have pursued have only left us mired in more misery and despair. And human inventions and ingenuity have brought us neither closer to each other nor closer to God.

The fallacious endeavors of man to reconstruct society according to ill-conceived mortal philosophies and ideologies always lead to disaster. But the inanity of the human mind is ever at work, seeking to rearrange the world according to its own arrogant designs. This is the poisonous pursuit of politicians. And who can reasonably deny that the net result of human politics has always been violence, division, and discord? Those who attempt to revolutionize society without first seeking a revolution of their own individual spiritual condition are the fools who victimize the masses by their folly.

The remedy and hope for humanity is therefore a sacred revolution. And the sacred revolution is not a mortal ideology or ism; it is simply the Holy power that infuses individuals, communities, and societies when they submit to Christ, His Word, and His Church. It is ignited when individuals allow themselves to be cleansed and renewed by the redemptive mercy of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos (Jesus Christ). It is the divine spiritual fire that is fueled by the collective worship and service of the body of Christ. By forsaking the worldly fetishes of selfishness, greed, lust, profit, promotion, politics, and pride - and instead embracing the Holy call of sacrifice and service - Christians become the truest revolutionaries.

Sincere analysis will reveal that all of the world’s problems ultimately stem from people seeking something for themselves at the expense of others. And the world is replete with people who attempt to elicit subjective justice while ignoring objective truth. But Our Lord calls us to deny ourselves so that others may gain. He calls us to live for truth even though it causes us to personally suffer. This is the sacred revolution that the world desperately needs before the human race destroys itself by its own wickedness.

Truth recognized, embraced, and followed is the most revolutionary force in the universe. And one individual soul that is divinely awakened will inevitably reach out to revolutionize others. So let us examine ourselves. Let us assess whether our lives are creating healing in the world or havoc. Are we revolutionaries or fools? Know that today can be the beginning of a revolutionary life. It is up to us. And as we become fools for Christ, we become the truest revolutionaries.

GEBRE MENFES KIDUS

THE CHRISTIAN MYSTIC (posted 1/4/2011)

2009-01-04T01:49:00.005-06:00

THE CHRISTIAN MYSTIC

The Christian mystic is a spiritual rebel. He rebels against every form of idolatry that "…exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ." [II Corinthians 10:5] The Christian mystic always begins by tearing down the idolatrous forces within his own being. He abandons all illusions of mortal knowledge. He jettisons the false security of human logic and fact-based assumptions. The mystic recites the Creeds, meditates upon the Holy Scriptures, immerses himself in the teachings of the Church, and allows the presence and power of God to flood every aspect of his being. And, he recognizes that it might take an entire lifetime to simply fight the idolatry that dwells within his own heart, mind, and soul. To the worldly minded, it seems that the way of the mystic is nearly impossible; but for the mystic himself, he finds in time that his is the easiest path of all.

       We are not all called to the monastic life. We are not all called to the sacrament of Holy Orders. We are not all able to pursue the life of full time contemplation and ascetic discipline. But, all Christians are mystics in a sense. We are mystics when we pray. We are mystics when we worship. We are mystics when we commune with our Christian brothers and sisters in holy fellowship. We are mystics when we meditate upon the Holy Bible. We are mystics when we faithfully follow the Christian commandments. We are mystics when we participate in the Sacramental life of the Church. We are mystics when we experience the divine touch of grace upon our lives, and respond to it with emotions that transcend human understanding.

       Mysticism is essentially the intimate experience of that which is above and beyond all human comprehension and definition. It is the acute awareness of our relationship with a holy God. The mystical experience may come about through much prayer and fasting, or it may be found in a momentary flash of an awareness of the divine presence.

       So, as Christians, let us all strive to be mystics by rebelling against those sinful forces within us that deprive us of the awareness and experience of God. Let us remember that every time we make the sign of the Cross we are rebelling against Satan and his nefarious works. Every time we read and chant the Scriptures we are rebelling against the lies of this world. Every time we pray, we are entering into direct communion with Our Heavenly Father. Every time we do the work God has called us to do, we are rebelling against our flesh and strengthening our souls. And, most certainly, when we love one another - and love even our enemies - then we reveal the reality of the mystical presence of Our Lord. Truly, the mystic path is the path of every Christian.

-Gebre Menfes Kidus-

THE STRUGGLE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT (posted 1/4/2011)

2009-01-03T19:08:00.003-06:00

THE STRUGGLE ACCORDING to the SPIRIT

As Christians, we often fail because we struggle according to the flesh. We fail because we struggle merely according to our own energies, efforts, and abilities.

When David was preparing to fight Goliath, King Saul clothed him with armor and a sword. But David removed the armor and sword, and instead took up his staff and selected five smooth stones for his sling. [I Samuel 17:38-40] The armor of King Saul symbolizes human and material strength, which are liabilities rather than assets in spiritual warfare. David saw the challenge of Goliath as a spiritual battle, and therefore he approached the giant with the weapons of faith.

David's staff symbolizes the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Good Shepherd that protects His sheep. [St. John 10:11-14] And the Holy Spirit is the Comforter of the righteous. [Psalm 23:4; St. John 14:16, 26; 15:26] David's wooden staff also typifies the Cross, which defeated sin and death.

Theologians have speculated about the significance of the five smooth stones. What do they represent? And what is the significance of David choosing five? My personal opinion* is that these five smooth stones symbolize three things:
1) The five wounds of Our Lord
2) The five commandments that are to be kept according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
3) The five pillars of Mystery according to the Orthodox Tewahedo Faith.

The five commandments of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are:

1. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength." [St. Luke 10:25-28] This commandment contains all our duties towards God and every commandment having any reference to God.

2. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." [St. Luke 10:27] This contains all our duties towards Christ, who became Neighbor to us, and whom we ought to love as He also first loved us. In this is every commandment referring to Christ.

3. "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye love one another." [St. John 13:34-35] This contains all our duties towards our brethren and the brethren of Christ, and every commandment having reference to the Christian Brotherhood.

4. "Ye shall love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you." [St. Luke 6:27-28] This contains all our duties towards the enemies and persecutors of the faith and teaching of Christ, and every commandment having reference to this order of men.

5. "All things therefore which you would that men should do to you, do even so to them." [St. Matthew 7:12; St. Luke 6:13] This contains all our duties to all men whether ill disposed towards us or friendly, and every commandment having reference to them.

These commandments are not laden with the harsh legalisms of the old covenant. Instead, these five commandments center on the law of love, through which there is liberation, strength, power, and victory.

The Five Pillars of Mystery are:
1. The Mystery of the Holy Trinity
2. The Mystery of the Incarnation
3. The Mystery of Baptism
4. The Mystery of the Eucharist
5. The Mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead

The Church is established upon these five pillars of Holy Mystery. To accept and embrace these divine mysteries is to accept Our Lord Jesus Christ and enter into communion with His Church. These Holy Mysteries are necessary for our Christian development, and they provide us with the spiritual power to overcome sin and Satan.

We all face Goliaths in our lives. And as long as we fight these giants with our own strengths and abilities, then we will continue to be defeated. Therefore, we must understand that the Christian struggle is a spiritual struggle that must be fought with spiritual weapons. Struggle is fraught with temporary failures and setbacks, but apart from struggle there can be no hope for victory. We must also remember that grace is most profoundly present in the midst of struggle. So let us struggle with vigilance; but as we do, let us also be aware of the grace of Our Lord in which our souls find rest. There is spiritual security in the Good Shepherd's fold; but apart from the Shepherd's presence, we are vulnerable and powerless.

Our Lord told His disciples, "If any man will come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." [St. Luke 9:23]
But He also said:
"Come unto to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." [St. Matthew 11:28-30]
It is a mystical paradox that we only truly find divine rest when we carry the cross of suffering and struggle.

Instead of focusing on Goliath, we must focus on God. Instead of comparing the enemy's power with our own power, we must focus only on divine power. We must place ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and then we will have the power to conquer our spiritual giants. As St. James writes:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [St. James 4:7]

Victory over sin, evil, temptation, and demonic forces comes when we stop struggling by our own strength, and rely upon the power of Our Lord. How this occurs cannot be put into any succinct formula. It is a mystical experience that is ultimately indefinable. But those that have experienced spiritual victory have a clear understanding of how it works.

David did not write any books on "The Art of War." He simply wrote Psalms of praise to God who alone is able to provide spiritual power for spiritual victory. Therefore, let us stop wrestling against the flesh and blood of this world. Let us instead rely upon the redemptive Body and Blood of Our Lord by which we receive Him into our lives. Let us focus less on laboring against the world, and focus more on loving our neighbors who are in the world. Let us stop striving to understand spiritual truths via the power of the intellect; instead, let us trust and rest in the mysteries of the Holy Orthodox Church. As we struggle according to the Spirit, we will surely see the giants in our lives begin to fall.

-Gebre Menfes Kidus-

*In offering my own speculative opinion on this particular point, I do not mean to state with authority that this is the official Teaching of the Church. I am confident that this opinion does not contradict Church Teaching, but nevertheless I do not want to promote it as anything more than my own humble personal opinion.