Orthodox Wisdom

By Readings from Saints of Holy Orthodoxy

Readings of the Writings and Lives of Orthodox Christian Saints.

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October 17, 2024 On the Moment in Liturgy: "Catechumens Depart!" - Met. Augustinos of Florina
Excerpt from "For Catechumens in the Orthodox Church" by Metropolitan Augoustinos (Kantiotis) of Florina (+2010), from his book “On the Divine Liturgy: Vol. 1"
📖 “On the Divine Liturgy: Vol. 1" by Met. Augustinos:
http://ibmgs.org/chatechetic.html
🎧 For Catechumens in the Orthodox Church - Met. Augoustinos of Florina
https://youtu.be/pE52JnVeueQ
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
_______
Met Augustinos teaches:
The catechumens were permitted to attend Church, to stand in a designated place, and attend a part of the Divine Liturgy, but not all of it. They stayed in church, prayed with others, listened to the readings and preaching; and after the deacon said the Ektenes and other special petitions for the catechumens, he called them to leave the church. Only when they had all left would the Divine Liturgy continue. And because only the faithful attended it, it was called the Liturgy of the Faithful.
In the ancient church, not only the catechumens were obliged to leave, but others as well. Those who were baptized and registered in the books of the Church as faithful, but after baptism had not watched their way of life and had fallen into certain sins, which became known to the community and scandalized the people: fornicators, adulterers, thieves, unjust and greedy people, gossips, blasphemers, those who denied the faith, criminals and murders had no place in the church. Those who sincerely repented were later allowed to stand with the catechumens in church to attend the Divine Liturgy until the preaching was done, when they were obliged to leave. The Church in the time of Her glory was a vigilant guardian of the faith and of morals. She was gentle and compassionate to those who sincerely repented, but severe to those who committed heinous sins and did not show sincere and appropriate repentance. Among these were individuals of high estate whom the whole world held in awe and fear. She closed out general, kings, and emperors and would only allow them entry to attend the Divine Liturgy if they showed true repentance, like that of David.
The ancient Church most certainly did these things. But what is our modern day Church doing? Unfortunately, She leaves Her doors open, and anyone can walk in and attend the Divine Liturgy without exception ‒ individuals who have committed horrible sins, who have scandalized the people, who do not believe in anything the Church teaches, but speak disrespectfully and blaspheme. Many are attached to error, heresy, and anti-Christian organizations. Our Church has become like the unprotected vineyard. The fault rests with us, the bishops, who will not imitate the example of the holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church. Let us hope that new days will come to our Church, when She will again be like She was in the ancient days of Her glory.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
3min
October 16, 2024 On Approaching God in the Heart and the Cause of Humility - St. Isaac the Syrian
A reading of Homily 8 from St. Isaac the Syrian's Ascetical Homilies
📖 Buy “Ascetical Homilies of Saint Issac the Syrian” here: https://www.bostonmonks.com/product_info.php/cPath/75_105/products_id/635
🎧 The Prayers of St. Isaac the Syrian
https://youtu.be/nq5L6RXiH9M
🎧 On the Power of Sin & What Causes Sin To Cease - St. Isaac the Syrian
https://youtu.be/sV8QJ0AcDmg
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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St. Isaac teaches:
Blessed is the man who knows his own weakness, because this knowledge becomes to him the foundation, the root, and the beginning of all goodness. For whenever a man learns and truly perceives his own weakness, at that moment he contracts his soul on every side from the laxity that dims knowledge, and he treasures up watchfulness in himself.
But when a man becomes humble, at once mercy encircles him, and then his heart is aware of Divine help, because it finds a certain power and assurance moving in itself. And when a man perceives [the coming of] Divine help, and that it is this which aids him, then at once his heart is filled with faith, and he understands from this that prayer is the refuge of help, a source of salvation, a treasury of assurance, a haven that rescues from the tempest, a light to those who are in darkness, a staff of the infirm, a shelter in time of temptations, a medicine at the height of sickness, a shield of deliverance in war, an arrow sharpened against the face of his enemies, and, to speak simply: the entire multitude of these good things is found to have its entrance through prayer. From this time forward he revels in the prayer of faith, his heart glistens with clear assurance, and does not continue in its former blindness and the mere speech of the tongue. -(Brackets included in published text from HTM)
All these good things are born to a man from the recognition of his own weakness.
For out of his craving for God's help, he presses on toward God by the petitions of his prayer.
Therefore, whoever is walking upon the path of God must give thanks to Him for all the things that come upon him, and revile and blame his own soul, and know that he would not have been delivered over by his Provider except for the sake of negligence, in order that his mind might be awakened, or else because he has become puffed up. But he should not be overly disturbed on this account, nor quit the arena and the fight, nor leave himself free of self-reproach, lest his evil grow twofold.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
11min
October 14, 2024 On the Antichrist - St. Ephraim the Syrian
A homily describing the dreadful Antichrist, his deceitful tactics, and how Christians of the last times can remain faithful to Christ amidst intense pressure. As St. Ephraim says, "I entreat you, brethren, being the least among you, let us not be lax, O Christ-lovers, rather let us strengthen ourselves even more by the power of the Cross. The inevitable contest is at the doors. Let us take up the shield of faith.”

This is a reading from "Eschatological Hymns and Homilies" by St. Ephraim the Syrian, p. 117-129
📖 "Eschatological Hymns and Homilies" by St. Ephraim the Syrian, published by St. Anthony's Monastery in Arizona
https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/eschatological-hymns-and-homilies?srsltid=AfmBOoqyfIIWEb5EY1wyOjyHonsNu2R8B3j92hIscVw6f7dXHsXqwc82🎧 The Antichrist Will Be the Natural Result of the Spiritual Direction of Man - St Ignatius Brianchaninovhttps://youtu.be/Y97eoXfZJ_k🎧 Signs of the Times: Antichrist, Zionism, & Jews - St. Paisios the Athonitehttps://youtu.be/V1fKxGkS2Tc
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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St. Ephraim teaches:
Brethren, we must understand with all exactness the odious and illusory miracles of the enemy. Indeed our Lord will come to all of us in the stillness, and will repulse the subtleties of the beast for our sakes. Keeping the steadfast faith of Christ in purity, we will make the power of the tormentor falter. Let us acquire an unwavering and firm reason, and the powerless one will withdraw from us, being unable to do anything to us.
The most despicable one will come as a robber, in a manner such as to deceive all; he will come as one humble, meek, a hater (as he will say of himself) of unrighteousness, despising idols, giving preference to piety, good, lover of the poor, beautiful to an extreme degree, constant, gracious to all. He will especially esteem the Jewish race, since the Jews will await his coming.

Take note, my brethren, of the boundless evil cunning of the beast and the subtleties of his maliciousness, how he begins with the stomach in order that man, when he is brought to a state of extreme want of food, shall be forced to receive the seal of the beast, that is, the impious brand. He will not be required to receive this brand on just any member of the body, but on the right hand and also on the forehead, so that it will be impossible for a man to make the sign of the cross with his right hand, and likewise impossible to sign the holy name of the Lord and the glorious and venerable Cross of Christ our Savior on the forehead. For the wretch knows that the Cross of the Lord, signed upon a man, destroys all his power, and therefore he puts his seal on man's right hand, as it seals all our members with the Cross. Similarly the fore-head, like a lampstand which carries the lamp of light on high, the sign of our Savior.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
24min
October 11, 2024 Duties of Pastors and of the Flock - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, one of the most beloved Russian saints of the past few centuries, describes the duties of the pastor towards his flock and of the flock towards their pastor.
0:00 Beginning
0:10 On the Duty of Pastors (Bishops and Priests)
9:02 On the Duty of the Flock Toward the Pastor
Text is from "Journey to Heaven: Counsels on the Particular Duties of Every Christian" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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St. Tikhon writes:
For the Pastor:
A pastor must without fail teach people, lead them to true repentance, plant the fear and love of God in men's hearts, put the fear of God's judgement in reckless and unrepentant sinners, encourage the troubled and doubtful and those inclined to despair with he mercy of God and the consolation of the Gospel, and root out superstition, schism and heresy. He must draw all this teaching from the wellsprings of Israel, the sacred books of the word of God, and transmit it to the people under him.
When people, whoever they may be, commit iniquity and you know it openly, take extreme care not to be silent, but everywhere reprove their iniquity in your speech, lest you be like a dumb dog that does not bark when thieves break into a house and loot it, and wolves fall upon the flock and devour it.
Without the help of God, the efforts of the pastor himself as well as those of the people will not be discharged or meet with success. For this reason the pastor has an obligation to pray diligently to God for himself and for the people, that He help both himself and all the people.
For the Flock:
Because the pastor speaks the word of God, then to whatever he teaches, pay diligent heed, O Christian, and do it.
Because many among the people are not men of goodwill and as they do not love pastoral reroof but wish to live according to their own will, they invent and broadcast no little slander against the pastor. Then when you hear such slander and ill report against the pastor, do not believe it and guard your lips, lest you say anything about it to anyone else.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
14min
October 09, 2024 The Life of St. Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch
A reading of the Life of Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch (February 12) from the Great Collection Collection of the Lives of Saints by St. Dimitri of Rostov
The life of St. Meletius of Antioch is instructive regarding many things, including those of our times who have separated themselves from unity with the rest of the Orthodox Church in their zeal, too often “not according to knowledge.” Long after the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea and the condemnation of Arianism, St. Meletius was elected bishop by a council primarily of Arians. His consecration occurred in 357, thirty-two years after the Ecumenical Council in Nicea. St. Meletius was still in communion with Arians, and participated in a council with Arians, decades after their conciliar condemnation. Undoubtedly, that communion existed between Arians and Orthodox after the first Ecumenical Council is rather surprising to many of us
Though the Arians thought St. Meletius agreed with their confession of faith, he proved after his consecration to be completely Orthodox, confessing the Divinity of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. However, the followers of St. Efstathios, the bishop of Antioch before him who defended the Faith against the Arians at the First Ecumenical Council, refused to recognize St. Meletius as bishop of Antioch because he had been elected mostly by Arians. St. Meletius and the other Orthodox with him did not completely separate from the Arians until after St. Meletius boldly confessed the Faith and the Arians responded by persecuting St. Meletius and driving him out of Antioch. The Efstathians were then led by Paulinus the presbyter, and his followers became known as the Paulianists.
While initially wanting to resolve the schism between the two Orthodox factions, the Paulianists and Meletians, Bp. Lucifer of Cagliari saw that the Paulianists were opposed to reconciling and so consecrated Paulinus to the episcopacy. This intervention by Bp. Lucifer did not heal the schism but actually made matters much worse, and the schism persisted for 85 years. St. Meletius recognized Bp. Paulinus as a bishop and sought in humility to reconcile with him, but the latter in his commitment to being “correct” regarding St. Meletius’ election to the episcopacy refused to be reconciled.
When the Second Ecumenical Council was eventually called to put an end to the heresies that had developed since the First Ecumenical Council, St. Meletius was called upon to preside over the council which included such great saints as St. Gregory of Nyssa who described him as “that bright sail which was ever filled by the Holy Spirit”, St. Gregory the Theologian who called him “a saintly man… a true product of the Holy Spirit”, and St. Timothy of Alexandria. Neither the Paulinists nor the Pope of Rome recognized St. Meletius and neither participated in the council (though Rome accepted the council afterwards).
Despite being rejected by the Paulinists for having been elected by Arians, St. Meletius was honored as a saint, filled with the Holy Spirit, by St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Gregory the Theologian who knew him on earth, and he was afterwards glorified by the entire Church. St. Meletius had baptized St. John Chrysostom and ordained him to the diaconate and had also ordained St. Basil the Great to the diaconate. The greatest saints of this time supported and lauded this holy hierarch whom the zealots of the time broke communion with for having remained in communion with, and been elected by, Arians who had been condemned as heretics by the First Ecumenical Council. Through the prayers of St. Meletius may we be preserved from both heresy and false zealotry.
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📖 Some of the months of this collection of the Lives of Saints are available from St. Herman of Alaska Press:
https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/Lives-of-the-Saints-January-p/jan.htm
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
...more
20min
October 03, 2024 My Meeting With the Most Holy Theotokos - St. Dionysius the Areopagite
Upon meeting the Holy Virgin Mary, St. Dionysius the Areopagite wrote to the Apostle Paul about his experience with her.
This letter is found in the Great Collection of the Lives of Saints of the Orthodox Church on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, August 15th.
https://panagiaquicktohear.com/2016/09/05/the-theotokos-and-st-dionysius-the-aeropagite/
📖 "The Life of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite", including a critical defense of the authenticity of the writings often said to be written by Pseudo-Dionysius:
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Saint-Dionysius-Areopagite/dp/B0CTG6KLJP
📖 "The Divine Names and The Mystical Theology" by St. Dionysius
https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/the-divine-names-and-the-mystical-theology?srsltid=AfmBOoqEkGkDVLzCo8vbQYJ-ulMpHbVVRhaxNFp7-Z-1dVnw8dZPBii7
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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St. Dionysius writes to St. Paul the Apostle:
I tell you as if I were standing in front of God, for me, our great leader, it was beyond any doubt, that aside from the Most High God, there could be nothing, which is so filled with heavenly power and marvelous grace [as Mary], and still it is impossible for a human mind to perceive what I saw with my own eyes. It was not with the eyes of my soul only but with my bodily eyes—I, with my own eyes, saw the most beautiful, the most holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ who exceeds all the heavenly hosts in her holiness. This gift was granted to me by the grace of God, as an honor by the company of the apostles, and also as an unspeakable kindness and compassion of the merciful Virgin herself. And again I testify in front of the omnipotence of God, in front of the grace of the Savior, and in front of the great glory of the Virgin, His Mother. When I, with John—the first among the evangelists and the prophets, who, while living in the flesh, shines like the sun in the sky—was led inside to the beautiful and the most pure Virgin, then a great heavenly radiance that enlightened my soul, poured over me, at the same time I sensed such wonderful fragrance that my spirit and body were hardly able to bear this manifestation of glory and foretaste of eternal bliss. My heart and my spirit were enervated from Her heavenly grace. Let God, who abode in the most pure womb, be my witness, that I would have recognized her for the true God and venerated Her with worship appropriate only to God if the newly illumined soul of mine would not have preserved inside you heavenly instructions and laws. No honor and glory of men who were glorified by God can be compared with the bliss that I, the unworthy one experienced and was honored with at the time. This time was a time of the greatest bliss for me. I thank my most high and most blessed God, the heavenly Virgin, John, who is great among the Apostles, and you as well who is the adornment of the church and the invincible leader, who all so mercifully showed me such a great favor.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
3min
September 30, 2024 On Love for God - St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, one of the most beloved Russian saints of the past few centuries, describes how fitting it is for man to love God and the signs that such love is true and genuine. "Truly is it said by all, 'How can we not love God?'"
Text is from "Journey to Heaven: Counsels on the Particular Duties of Every Christian" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, p. 1-8
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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St. Tikhon writes:
"Whom shall we love, if not God?" God is the supreme good, uncreated, without beginning, without end, existent, and without change. As the sun always shines, as fire always warms, so God is by nature good; He is and always does good, since there is none good, but One, that is God (Matt. 19:17).
O the most beloved and beautiful of God's creation, man, the image of God! He bears it in himself as a royal seal. As the king is hon-ored, so is his portrait. As to God the Heavenly King is due all honor, so to His image, man. God poured forth this goodness on us in our creation, O Christian. How then can we not love God?
As we all call Him, God is the Lover of Mankind; then man must be a lover of God. For nothing can be given in return for love but love and gratitude.
Truly is it said by all, "How can we not love God?" Love, like every other virtue, must also reside in our heart. For if love does not reside in the heart, then it does not exist. God does not say, "Love, be humble, be compassionate, pray, beseech, call unto Me," and so on, to our lips, but to our heart. Then love, humility, compassion, prayer, and the rest, must reside in the heart. And if it abides in the heart, then it will inevitably appear outwardly like a belch from stomach. A hidden fire gives itself away by its heat, and a fragrant balm by its smell.
The true lover of God disdains the world and all that is in the world, and strives toward God, his most beloved. He counts honor, glory, riches, and all the comforts of this world which the sons of this age seek, as nothing. For him only God, the uncreated and most beloved good, suffices.
The true lover of God keeps God ever in mind, and His love toward us and His benefactions. We see this even in human love, for we often remember the one we love. So whoever loves God remembers Him, thinks of Him, and finds consolation in Him, and is enrapt in Him.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
15min
September 27, 2024 The Pope Asks Elders Paisios & Porphyrios: Will You Come to the Vatican?
The Pope wanted Elders Paisios and Porphyrios to visit him at the Vatican…how did they respond?
0:00 Beginning
0:21 The Invitation from the Pope and the Elders’ Response
—Commentary by Elder Savvas Hagiorite on the meaning of the Elders' Response—
1:00 The Pope is a heretic
1:56 Not dialogue, but prayer is helpful
2:58 The Pope believes the Orthodox do not possess the truth
3:44 St. Porphyrios: “The attitude of the Pope has always been to subject the Orthodox Church…”
A reading from “Healing the Soul: St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia as a Model for Our Lives" by Hieromonk Savvas of the Holy Mountain, p. 97-101.
🎧 A reading of "The Orthodox Spirit is the True One - St. Porphyrios":
https://youtu.be/3JgzCGJtfDc
🎧 Ecumenism is "Downright Scum, Spiritual Filth" - St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia
https://youtu.be/QxFFmBHbFqM
🎧 Original recording of Saint Porphyrios saying the Jesus Prayer:
https://youtu.be/w7XSW7wpCfY?si=w3yUXGV94QMWg4FH
📖 "Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios":
https://www.holycross.org/products/wounded-by-love-the-life-and-the-wisdom-of-elder-porphyrios?srsltid=AfmBOoorE21YcZGUDow6RQlSnMJLerM851JSD-JP01Rl_2lvrmd0tO7n
📖 "Healing the Soul: St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia as a Model for Our Lives" here:
https://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/old-style-icons
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
_______
"A certain American woman, a professor, passed along a message from the Pope to an Orthodox clergyman stating that Elder Paisios and Elder Porphyrios were invited to go to the Vatican. The answer from both was the following: No, we cannot go, because the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope are not ready for us yet. They have way too much pride. Not only do they wish to subjugate us, but they also believe that we do not possess the truth. There is no need for us to go. We will better aid the cause through our prayers.”
—Lisikatos Sotirios, ΧΑΡΙΤΩΜΕΝΕΣ ΔΙΔΑΧΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ ΠΑΪΣΙΟΥ [Graced Teachings of Elder Paisios] (Thessaloniki: Palimpsiston Publications, 2004), and http://pigizois.gr/afieromata/paisios/xaritomenes_didaxes.htm
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
5min
September 25, 2024 Ecumenism is "Downright Scum, Spiritual Filth" - St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia
Three accounts of St. Porphyrios' teachings regarding ecumenism and ecumenical meetings.
—"Did he say nothing? Was he never asked by anyone about Ecumenism?" asked Prof. Tselengidis.
—"But," replied the Saint's spiritual child, "he certainly was, Professor! Of course! He told us so... We used to ask him... And he said: 'Downright scum, spiritual filth.'"
0:00 Introduction
0:22 "Those Uniates, this Trojan horse..."
0:50 Ecumenism is "Downright scum, spiritual filth"
2:37 On Ecumenical Meetings, the Pope and Patriarch
These teachings are found in the sources listed below and in the book "Love in Christ or Meta-Patristic Agapology?" by Archimandrite Savvas Hagiorite, published by the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Edessa, Greece (2023) with the blessing of Metropolitan Joel of Edessa.
🎧 A reading of "The Orthodox Spirit is the True One - St. Porphyrios":
https://youtu.be/3JgzCGJtfDc
🎧 Original recording of Saint Porphyrios saying the Jesus Prayer:
https://youtu.be/w7XSW7wpCfY?si=w3yUXGV94QMWg4FH
📖 "Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios":
https://www.holycross.org/products/wounded-by-love-the-life-and-the-wisdom-of-elder-porphyrios?srsltid=AfmBOoorE21YcZGUDow6RQlSnMJLerM851JSD-JP01Rl_2lvrmd0tO7n
📖 "Healing the Soul: Saint Porphyrios as a Model for Our Lives". The St. John Chrysostom Monastery in Wisconsin publishes this book. Email them to ask how to obtain a copy:
https://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
_______
"Don't fear, the Pope has always longed to subdue the Orthodox Church and there will be a day when the dialogue will be cancelled. Nothing will come out of it. Anyway those Uniates, this Trojan horse, more than obviously want nothing else than the Orthodox to recognize the Pope as their head."
—St. Porpyrios, “Anthology of Advice”, p. 290. From the “Orthodoxos Typos” of 3/26/1993, testimony of Archimandrite Pavlos Nikitaras. http://www.impantokratoros.gr/420E74B9.el.aspx
-Prof. Tselengidis: "Did he say nothing? Was he never asked by anyone about Ecumenism?"
-Spiritual Child: "But he certainly was, Professor! Of course! He told us so... We used to ask him... And he said: 'Downright scum, spiritual filth.' Now you will say: Yes, but this is not written. So what? Is the truth only what is written? What, then, is the Holy Tradition of our Church? Is absolutely everything written in the Holy Scripture? Are we Protestants or something? And in any case, all this is being verified by the facts themselves."
—Tselengidis Dimitrios, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, "Dogma and Life, An Indivisible Co-Existence", transcribed extract from the Professor's homily in the Cultural Centre of Kalambaka Municipality, on 11/26/2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEwns3MvuD8
“You cannot say," St. Porphyrios said, "to the Papists that they have Grace and Mysteries. The Patriarch should not have journeyed to Rome, because it is only to their own benefit, without them being corrected, and Orthodoxy loses. Papism is sheer pride. Orthodoxy is sheer humility. I saw with my discernment the Cathedral of Saint Peter, and the Vatican making every effort to impress with the ceremony. The Patriarch stood stern and thoughtful." "However," Hieromonk Damascene said, "in the same way as some distort the conversation between Christ and the Samaritan woman, or distort even the Holy Fathers, they also distort Saint Porphyrios and present him as allegedly approving inter-religious dialogue, to support their fallacies."
—Hieromonk Damascene (Holy Community of Philadelphou, Mount Athos), Ο Άγιος Πορφύριος, ο Παπισμός και το Άγιον Όρος [Saint Porphyrios, Papism and Mount Athos]
https://orthodoxostypos.gr/ο-άγιος-πορφύριος-ο-παπισμός-και-το-άγι/
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!
...more
7min
September 23, 2024 The Orthodox Spirit is the True One - St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia
St. Porphyrios, our God-bearing Elder abounding in love and divine gifts, is not known for addressing contemporary issues of dogma and how Orthodoxy compares to other religions. However, the Elder did address these topics and in these two recorded conversations we hear his views plainly expressed: he embraces Orthodoxy as the only true religion, the only faith inspired by the Spirit of God, and rejects ecumenism and its evil philosophies.
0:00 Beginning
0:10 Introduction from the Publisher
2:33 First Conversation
27:26 Second Conversation
30:49 Quote from First Conversation
"The Orthodox Spirit is the True One" is published in greek by the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, Melesi, Greece. The Elder entrusted all his material to this convent, which he helped establish, before his repose in 1991.
📖 Full text of "The Orthodox Spirit is the True One"
https://www.oodegr.com/english/oikoumenismos/porphyrios_orthodox_spirit.htm
🎧 Original recording of the conversations included in this podcast:
https://youtu.be/QkhE7Vs-zQw?si=WRrr4o81EOY5T-kO
🎧 Original recording of Saint Porphyrios saying the Jesus Prayer:
https://youtu.be/w7XSW7wpCfY?si=w3yUXGV94QMWg4FH
📖 Buy "Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios":
https://www.holycross.org/products/wounded-by-love-the-life-and-the-wisdom-of-elder-porphyrios?srsltid=AfmBOoorE21YcZGUDow6RQlSnMJLerM851JSD-JP01Rl_2lvrmd0tO7n
📖"Healing the Soul: Saint Porphyrios as a Model for Our Lives". The St. John Chrysostom Monastery in Wisconsin publishes this book. Email them to ask how to obtain a copy:
https://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
_______
St. Porphyrios teaches:
VISITOR: But don’t all religions teach love, Elder?
ELDER: Bah! What kind of love do they teach? Don’t be so gullible! Hush now! True love is only Christ’s love. Don’t imagine that it’s like parents who love their children.
Can you imagine, if there were rumors that I have a “free spirit” and that I acknowledge all religions? Well, I don’t. Regardless who tells me – even if an angel comes and tells me – that “the way so-and-so believes is the right way”, I will say “No, you are lying. You are not a benevolent spirit. You are an evil spirit for saying so.” That’s what I will say to the angel… I won’t believe it… (…) Of course I don’t want you propagandizing here and there, saying that “all religions are one, there aren’t any differences between them, all of them are God’s, you can go to any one of them, and you can worship any God you want…” I don’t want such things – I can’t tolerate them. That’s how my spirit is.
Look, there are Masons, there are all sorts of things and people believe them all, and they go along with Satan and they have all sorts of satanic events and mysterious things, because they exist, and Satan exists, and mysterious things exist… evil things.
ELDER: I’m telling you, that... I personally love you very much…. And that my love has not diminished on account of these things. I may of course complain a little, worrying why such good youngsters are involved in such fallacies and aren’t Orthodox Christians… I feel truly sorry… but I do pray that God will enlighten you so that you realize our faith – Orthodoxy – has nothing to do with other religions. But nowadays, everyone has all sorts of mentalities… different people, even older ones, who don’t even believe that God exists… they are of the opinion that there shouldn’t be many religions because they cause divisions among people and generate hostility among them. So, everyone – young and old and nations and entire … are striving to ensure the creation of one religion. And it will be accomplished in such a way – by claiming that “all religions are the same”; that “we shall form a new religion”… This is being done by something they call Zionism.
...more
32min

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