He also says that Patriarch Aleksei is ready to kill at all times. One look at this photo would leave the inclination to agree.
Posted on 09/02/2006 4:32:40 PM PDT by Valin
Your observation on the proud and the humble speaks volumes. If a society erects walls to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the result cannot be good. +Isaac the Syrian wote:
"The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire. For its sake the Saviour commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation. And this is the Spirit of divine visions. Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: 'Mysteries are revealed to the humble'. The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries"
How can a proud, self centered society even recognize God? I will grant anyone that God as described in the OT would seem to be a "god" of warriors and the proud, but since the Incarnation mankind has had the opportunity to come to know God "better". One of my favorite modern Orthodox Christian writers, Archmandrite Sophrony of blessed memory once wrote:
"The Holy Spirit comes when we are receptive. He does not compel. He approaches so meekly that we may not even notice. If we would know the Holy Spirit we need to examine ourselves in the light of the Gospel teaching, to detect any other presence which may prevent the Holy Spirit from entering into our souls. We must not wait for God to force Himself on us without our consent. God respects and does not constrain man. It is amazing how God humbles Himself before us. He loves us with a tender love, not haughtily, not with condescension. And when we open our hearts to Him we are overwhelmed by the conviction that He is indeed our Father. The soul then worships in love."
Quite an image, eh? Our ineffable, utterly transcendant God, creator of the Universe, approaches use with humilty!
Sweet! Mandatory Orthodox Jewish religious instruction to all Russian children.
Dang shame that we don't require the same here in the States.
:-)
The British Empire's being officially Christian did not prevent it from going toe-to-toe with Russia and actually helping the Ottoman Empire AGAINST fellow Christians. (See the Crimean War and the threat of war in 1878). At least Russia was defending the Christians there, while Great Britain and especially Germany were betraying them.
"This is why the British and the Germans united to fight off the Russian threat, not out of any fondness for the Turks, but to prevent the Russian acquisition of a strategic foothold and the means to strangle Western trade."
Well that was their reason, I suppose, and from their pov, I similarly suppose I don't blame them, but I can't help regretting that their success prevents me from attending the Divine Liturgy in Agia Sophia. And who is to say that a Christian Turkey under Orthodox Russian influence might not have had a far more beneficent influence on the Middle East than the French, the Germans and the British?
He also says that Patriarch Aleksei is ready to kill at all times. One look at this photo would leave the inclination to agree.
Don't pay attention to people who tell such tales.
I am not a member of the Orthodox Church. That said, I do not believe in passing along vicious rumors.
I take it you are choosing to ignore the Albanian land grab in Kosovo, Macedonia, and southern Serbia then?
Switch to decaf. That's called HUMOR, fellas. The statement is meant to convey the serious manner in which the Ecumenical Patriarch of Moscow approaches his Faith.
And, by the way, I agree with his feelings about those who would proselytise to Russian Orthodox Christians.
Those whose ancestors died for their Faith in Jesus - at the hands of the Bolsheviks (look up the numbers, they're astounding) - very likely don't need to be lectured on Faith.
Battle with Mohammedans is last thing nedeed to Russians. Russian population decreases significantly due to high death rate and very low birth rate. And there are several sufficiently numerous people in Russia, having Islam as their religion. Russia is a home for them, as for Russians, and for some Buddist people too.
All world blamed us the war in Afghanistan, and for war with Chechen terrorists too. Only Western states have a right to wage war with Mohammedans.
Besides, Russia is mostly atheistic. Authorities are trying hardly to find some substitute to communist ideology, but without great success, I think. Orthodox Church made big money during Yeltsin's presidency selling alcohol and cigarettes imported at exclusive conditions. I think sometimes, that new expensive cars of some priests do strenghen atheism.
In 70-th USSR sold uranium fuel to West Germany for they nuclear power stations, and nobody regarded it as proliferation of WMD. For without enrichment such material can not be used in A-bombs. Nuclear research center for personnell training in Iran was built during reighning of Shah Mohammed Reza Pehlevi witout help or consent of USSR.
With Persia/Iran Russia have not waged wars for 200 years. It is too precious tradition to neglect. They did not helped to Chechen separatists and terrorists.
There exists Autonomous Jewish Republic in Russia since 1929. I've red somwhere recently, that last year about 10 000 jews emigrated from Russia, and 50 000 immigrated.
Shhhh! :-)
the United States is becoming more like the way Russia once was.
?
The ACLU and other evangelical atheists are removing mention of Christianity from our classrooms and any vestige of religion from public life with all the fervor of Leninists.
We are becoming less free while Russia is becoming more free.
Wake up, people!
You'd be surprised at the number of people that will say such things in all sincerity, even in a place such as this.
Humor and sarcasm are much more difficult to communicate effectively that most people think.
Good man!
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