1964
🇷🇺☦️ Russian Orthodox priest, Father Nicholas Kotelnikov (66 years of age) has been violently murdered in the Muslim-majority city of Derbent (Russian Caucuses, Dagestan).
The extremists slew the Orthodox priest in the Church itself, cutting his throat.
The Orthodox Christian church guard was armed with a gas pistol, but was not able to stop the intruders and was also killed during the invasion of another Orthodox Church in the next door city of Mahachkala.
Dagestan, the former territory of southern Khazaria & Avaria, is one of the least Orthodox Christian regions in all of Russia:
-20 Orthodox Churches
-1,700 Muslim mosques
- 3 Synagogues (Talmudic mountain variety)
Father Nicholas served as an Orthodox priest for 40 years, had 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
I believe we have just witnessed the suffering of yet another Martyr, or two, for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Memory Eternal Fr Nicholas 🙏🏼
“If you desire freedom, then try first to free yourself from yourself.”
☦️Saint Nikolai Velmirovich
“The only person who is free is the one who lives for Christ.”
☦️Saint John Chrysostomos
“In truth there is only one freedom – the holy freedom of Christ, whereby He freed us from sin, from evil, from the devil. It binds us to God. All other freedoms are illusory, false, that is to say, they are all, in fact, slavery.”
☦️Saint Justin Popovich
Sacred Scripture itself confirms that sulfur evokes the stench of the flesh, as it speaks of the rain of fire and sulfur poured upon Sοбом by the Lord. He had decided to punish Sοбом for the crimes of the flesh, and the very type of punishment he chose emphasized the shame of that crime. For sulfur stinks, and fire burns. So it was just that Sοбомιτεs, burning with perverse desires arising from the flesh like stench, should perish by fire and sulfur so that through this just punishment they would realize the evil they had committed, led by a perverse desire.
☦️Saint Gregory I
CHRIST IS RISEN!!! The only news that really matters!!! Truly He is Risen!!!
Νῦν πάντα πεπλήρωται φωτός οὐρανός τε καὶ γῆ καὶ τὰ καταχθόνια...
☦️Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Δαμασκηνός
Now all things have been filled with light, both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth...
☦️Saint John of Damascus
To say that God turns away from the sinful is like saying that the sun hides from the blind.
☦️Saint Anthony the Great
And thus, when from this life I have passed in the hope of life eternal, may I attain to everlasting rest where the sound is unceasing of them that keep festival, and unending the delight of them that behold the ineffable beauty of Thy countenance. For Thou art the true desire and the unutterable gladness of them that love Thee, O Christ our God, and all creation praise Thee unto the ages. Amin.
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Father Peter makes some great points here…..it’s worth a listen 👂🏼
The elder (referring to Saint Gabriel of Georgia) always paid great attention to the dress of female believers. He wouldn't stand revealing clothing and would often say:
“In the End Times the laity will be distinguished by their dress and the clergy by their works.”
He would get disturbed when he saw women in pants, myself included. One morning when reading prayers and wearing pants, I got ready to go to Mtskheta, putting on a dress. Elder Gabrieli wouldn't be Elder Gabrieli if he hadn't intuitively known about this and confronted me about it in front of other women with a harsh word. He said, "Do not forget that:
'The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.'"
Those who seek union with the Pope ignore two things. The height of Orthodoxy and the depth of Papal worship.
☦️Saint Sophronios of Essex
The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things — herein is the true value of the fast. Accept the fast as an experienced educator by whom the Church teaches us piety.
☦️Saint John Chrysostomos
Clean Monday (Καθαρή Δευτέρα) is the first day of Great Lent. Second to Holy Friday, it is the saddest and most mournful day in the Liturgical year. This is the day that Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise on account of eating (another reason why we Orthodox fast). God sent them out of the garden and placed the Cherubim and the fiery sword at the gate. (Genesis 3:24) In the Vespers service of Clean Monday, we chant, “The sun hid its rays, the moon and stars were turned to blood, the mountains were afraid, the hills trembled, when Paradise was shut.” Adam departed, beating his hands upon his face and crying: "I am fallen: merciful Lord, have mercy on me!” Blessed Lent to all! Kali Sarakosti! ☦️🙏🏼
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When we are accused, when we are slandered, when we are teased, when we are humiliated, when we are wronged, we must also forgive. With what heart, with what strength, with what disposition do we offer our forgiveness, not a hundredfold, but a millionfold will be the corresponding goods we will receive from God. Here is the road! That's exactly how we can be saved! Behold, the gate from which we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
☦️Elder Ephraim of Arizona
It is not the clever, the noble, the polished speakers or the rich who win, but whoever is insulted and forbears, whoever is wronged and forgives, whoever is slandered and endures, whoever becomes a sponge and mops up whatever they might say to him. Such a person is cleansed and polished even more. He reaches great heights. He delights in the theoria of mysteries. And finally, it is he who is already inside paradise, while still in this life.
☦️Saint Joseph the Hesychast
The time is coming when people will be insane, and when they see someone who is not insane, they will attack that person saying: You are insane because you are not like us.
☦️Saint Anthony the Great
Friendly PSA: The idea for “international women’s day” came from Clara Zetkin, a Marxist theorist and communist. Her funeral was attended by Stalin and Lenin’s widow. She was an ardent supporter for the “right” to abortion (infanticide). It doesn’t get much more anti-female than that! Nevertheless, the world today celebrates this day today. Our Geronta Ephraim explains it best:
In our days there is much talk concerning the equality of men and women. However, the struggles for this equality and the so-called feminist movement have appeared quite late. For twenty centuries now, Christianity has resolved the problem. How? It abolished discrimination. It honored the female gender with value equal to that of a man. Furthermore, it honored a particular woman with a claim that no man had, has, or ever will have. This woman is the Most-Holy Theotokos. Christianity, and the church, does not use gender, social status, education, material wealth, or intelligence as criteria to rate and assess people. It grades and evaluates them using a single criteria: holiness. In the eyes of God there is no male and female. There are only people who are sinful and repented, impious and pious, holy and holier.
Looks like an interesting read:
"The Invention of the Jewish People" by Shlomo Sand is a controversial and thought-provoking book that challenges traditional narratives about Jewish identity and history. Sand, a historian at Tel Aviv University, argues that many of the common beliefs about the origins and continuity of the Jewish people are modern inventions.
Here are ten key lessons and insights from the book:
1. The Myth of a Homogeneous Jewish People: Sand argues that the concept of a singular, homogeneous Jewish people with a common origin is a modern invention. He suggests that Jewish identity has always been diverse, with various groups converting to Judaism throughout history.
2. The Khazar Hypothesis: One of Sand’s most contentious points is the revival of the Khazar hypothesis, which posits that the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe are largely descended from the Khazars, a Turkic people who converted to Judaism in the 8th or 9th century. This challenges the traditional belief in a direct descent from the ancient Israelites.
3. The Role of Conversion: Sand emphasizes the significant role that conversion played in the spread of Judaism. He argues that large-scale conversions in the ancient world created diverse Jewish communities, which undermines the idea of a pure, ethnically distinct Jewish lineage.
4. Invented Traditions: Sand contends that many Jewish traditions and narratives, particularly those that emphasize a continuous and unbroken lineage from ancient Israel, were constructed in the modern era, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, to serve nationalist purposes.
5. The Exile Myth: Sand challenges the widely held belief in a mass Jewish exile after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. He argues that there is little historical evidence for a large-scale forced displacement and that many Jews remained in the region or migrated voluntarily over time.
6. Nationalism and Identity: The book explores how Jewish nationalism, particularly Zionism, influenced the construction of Jewish historical narratives. Sand suggests that the desire to create a cohesive national identity led to the reinforcement of certain myths and the suppression of alternative histories.
7. Historiography and Political Agendas: Sand critiques the historiographical methods used to study Jewish history, arguing that many historians have been influenced by political agendas. He calls for a more critical and nuanced approach to understanding the past.
8. Cultural and Religious Plurality: Sand highlights the cultural and religious plurality within Jewish communities throughout history. He points out that Jewish practices and beliefs have varied widely across different regions and periods.
9. The Role of Memory and Myth: The book examines the powerful role of memory and myth in shaping collective identities. Sand argues that historical myths can have a profound impact on contemporary politics and social cohesion.
10. Reimagining Jewish Identity: Ultimately, Sand calls for a reimagining of Jewish identity that embraces its historical complexity and diversity. He advocates for an understanding of Jewishness that is less focused on ethnic purity and more on cultural and religious pluralism.
"The Invention of the Jewish People" by Shlomo Sand offers a provocative and challenging perspective on Jewish history and identity. By questioning long-held beliefs and examining the political and ideological motivations behind historical narratives, Sand encourages readers to critically engage with the past and reconsider the foundations of collective identity.
Remember that the Lord can tolerate any of your sins except pride.
☦️Saint Nikodemos
#pridemonth
“Let him be crucified! Let him be crucified!” 👃
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“Flee from the Papists as you would from serpents.”
☦️Saint Mark of Ephesus
“Those who seek union with the Pope ignore two things. The height of Orthodoxy and the depth of Papal worship.”
☦️Saint Sophronios of Essex
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4iNn53sd82/?igsh=MWlzbzA4Y3NqaWUwcw==
I’m tempted to mess with the Rapturists 🤣
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To fall is human; to persist is satanic.
☦️Saint Philotheos Zervakos
Why Women Wear Dresses and Men Wear Pants
WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/Kg9umYP1Aoc
AMIN — AXIOS 💕☦️!!!
This is the faith of the Apostles!
This is the faith of the Fathers!
This is the faith of the Orthodox!
This is the faith which has supported the whole world!
Blessed and fortunate is the man, the Orthodox Christian, who will confess the Divinity of our Christ before tyrants, atheists, materialists, and rationalists. Our Church believes and proclaims that until the end of this present age, the Saints will not cease to exist; rather she will continue giving rise to holy children worthy of crowns and glory. We must wholeheartedly believe that during the end times, which we are now entering and will journey through, holy people will be they who will confess our Jesus and who will proclaim and thunder that our Christ is the true God Who became incarnate for man. With this confession, they will be crowned and become holy. Imagine how beautiful it will be for a Christian of the present age to bear witness to the Divinity of Christ and the Trinity before impious people, to become a confessor, and have his soul taken by angels who will begin chanting heavenly anthems of victory and praise!
☦️Elder Ephraim of Arizona
In our opinion, John 3:16 is the most grossly mistranslated AND misinterpreted Holy Scripture in history. As I know many of you realize, it's mistranslation/misinterpretation has sadly lead to so many heresies (30,000+ sects of Protestantism, by one conservative estimate).
Most Protestants/Evangelicals affirm that by simply "believing" in Jesus, this guarantees them a ticket to Paradise. What an unfortunate trick the evil one has played on our brothers and sisters with this one.
To understand where they went wrong and what many of them are failing to understand, you have to go back to John 3:7: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." From here the name "Born Again Christians" was spawned. But if you dig a bit deeper, you will see that "born again" is a mistranslation. The original Greek reads "γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν" which means "born from above." What does it mean to be "born from above?" The answer to that is just a few lines back in John 3:5: "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." What does it mean to be born of water and of the Spirit? We know this to mean the Holy Sacrament of Orthodox Baptism! So if a "born again Christian" ever asks you if you want to accept Jesus and be "born again," respond that you have already been BORN AGAIN, OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT in your Orthodox Baptism!
There are no Sacraments outside of Orthodoxy, regardless of what the shameful ecumenists of our generation say. Now, who God decides to save is entirely His business and not for us to comment on. Nevertheless, we shouldn't downplay the significance and importance of being Baptized of water and of the Spirit in the One True Faith of Christ. We hope and pray that all of our heterodox brothers and sisters one day come to know the fullness of Christ's Church in Holy Orthodoxy. Pretending that their false religion has validity helps them in no way.
A STORY OF FORGIVENESS & HARDHEARTEDNESS, RETOLD BY SAINT JOHN OF KRONDSTADT
In the Lavra monastery of Kiev Caves, in ancient times there were two monks, a priest-monk Titus and a deacon, Evagrius. Having lived for a few years in peace and friendship they, because of some things, have then acquired enmity and hatred toward each other; their mutual malice has lasted for a long time; and they, without having reconciled with each other, even dared to offer the bloodless sacrifice before God. No matter how much the brethren advised them to put away the anger and live with each other in peace and harmony, it was all in vain. Once, the priest-monk Titus became gravely ill. Having lost all hope in life, he started to cry bitterly over his sin and have sent to his enemy to ask for forgiveness; but Evagrius didn’t even want to hear of that and started to curse him harshly. The brethren, regretting such a great delusion, brought him to the dying man by force. Continued in comments 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
At this time, we're entering the great spiritual arena of the blessed Great Lent. Holy and Great Lent is a time of compunction, for repentance, for tears, for a change in ourselves, for a new stage in the spiritual life. Like an affectionate mother caring for her children, us Christians, the Church has designated this time of Lent as dedicated to the struggle, in order to help its children fight harder, to purify themselves, draw closer to God and to be counted worthy of celebrating the great day of the radiant Resurrection.
☦️Geronta Ephraim of Arizona
Rule the thoughts in yourself, that you may become ruler of all things.
☦️Saint Vasilios the Great
1st Saturday of Souls — Memory Eternal to all of our loved ones 🕯️☦️🙏🏼
“Pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.”
☦️2 Maccabees 12:46
“Memorials serve as the best attorney on behalf of the souls of those fallen asleep. They even have the power to bring a soul out of hell.”
☦️Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
“Protestants generally find the Church's prayer for the dead to be somehow incompatible with the necessity of finding salvation first of all in this life: "If you can be saved by the Church after death, then why bother to struggle or find faith in this Life? Let us eat, drink, and be merry”
— Of course, no one holding such a philosophy has ever attained salvation by the Church's prayer, and it is evident that such an argument is quite artificial and even hypocritical. The Church's prayer cannot save anyone who does not wish salvation, or who never offered any struggle for it himself during his lifetime. In a sense, one might say that the prayer of the Church or of individual Christians for a dead person is but another result of that person's life: he would not be prayed for unless he had done something during his lifetime to inspire such prayer after his death.”
☦️Father Seraphim Rose
“The Orthodox Church is not a denomination, we are pre-denominational. “Denominations” is a heretical concept. It’s based on the modern heresy known as “Branch Theory.” Eastern Orthodox are the only Christians. The others that purportedly follow “Christ” outside of Orthodoxy are heterodox. Remember, there isn’t a single Church outside the Orthodox Church. They are all heretics and schismatics without grace. They cannot be called Churches until they repent of their errors in humility and change their ways.”
☦️Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
"Christ is here, in our Orthodox Church, and he is not in any other church. Do not search for Him elsewhere, for you will not find Him. Therefore, if someone from a non-Orthodox assemblage comes to you and begins to suggest that they have Christ — do not believe it.”
☦️Saint Theophan the Recluse
“And others speak with a false kindness, saying: “We mustn’t expose heretics and their delusions, so as to show our love for them.” Today’s people are water-soluble. There’s no leaven in them. But they’re not Christian. They’re simply indifferent. And their joy is only a worldly joy.”
☦️Saint Paisios