They Have Committed Every Sin of the Flesh, But I Love Them

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THEY HAVE COMMITTED EVERY SIN OF THE FLESH, BUT I LOVE THEM

[Source: From the book Hieromonk Elder Porphyrios: An Anthology of Advice]

The Elder (Geronda) told me one day: "Boys and girls come to me sometimes. Those poor children, and what haven't they done. They have committed every sin of the flesh, but I love them."

The Elder (Geronda) did not justify the actions of the youth, which he characterized as carnal sins, but at the same time he loved them as precious souls "for whom Christ died". By his love, he attracted them like a magnet and gradually they were healed of their worship of the flesh.

This Patristic attitude of the Elder (Geronda) was misunderstood by conservative puritans, who mourned, and some irresponsible progressives, who rejoiced, for the same reason: that supposedly the Elder (Geronda) "tolerated" carnal sins. They did not understand that sin cannot be combated against with an intolerant condemnation of the sinner nor through guilty legalism of the fall. The Elder (Geronda) effectively fought sin by loving the sinner and helping them become aware of their responsibility for their fall, and the possibility in Christ of them being freed from it and guilt through repentance and forgiveness and the life in Christ. He wanted to guide them to a new life, and not trouble their soul with the past.

The Saint often advised his spiritual children that love, unity, and cooperation of parents and good understanding between them and their children gives a sense of security and confidence to their children. Otherwise, children become unsafe and insecure. Often the insecure children can lead to the "safety" of a gang and/or obtain a violent behavior (as a reaction to a dysfunctional family).

The behavior of the children is related to the situations they experienced in their family. The negative attitude of parents creates wounds in the hearts of the children and leaves scars of injury in their souls that keep during their whole life. These psychological scars are affecting their behavior and their relationship with others, during the rest of their lives.

In other words, the experiences the children carry from their childhood affect their lives and their behavior in relations to others (family, sexual relationship, friends). Children, Saint Porphyrios said, become older, educated, but do not really change. This is obvious even from the most minor events of their life.  (Orthodox Heritage)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Cup of Christ (Part II)

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE

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THE CUP OF CHRIST (Part II)
By Saint Ignatii Brianchaninov

You receive the Cup which seemingly comes from the hand of man. What is to you whether the bearer of the Cup acts righteously or unrighteously? As a follower of Jesus, your concern is to act righteously; to receive the Cup with thanksgiving to God and with a living faith, and courageously to drink it to the dregs. In receiving the Cup from man, remember it is the Cup of Him Who is not only innocent but All-Holy. Thinking on this, remind yourself and other suffering sinners of the words that the blessed and enlightened thief spoke when he was crucified on the right hand of the crucified God-man: "We receive the due reward of our deeds...Lord, remember me when thou comest into Thy Kingdom" (St. Luke 23:41 & 42). And then, turning to the people, you will say to them: "Blessed are you who are instruments of the righteousness and of the mercy of God, blessed are you henceforth and forevermore!" (If they are not in a fit state to understand and receive your words, do not cast your precious pearls of humility under the feet of those who cannot value them, but say these words in thought and heart.) By this alone will you fulfill the Commandment of the Gospel which says: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you..." (St. Matthew 5:44).

Pray to the Lord, on behalf of those who have insulted and outraged you, that what they have done for you should be repaid by a temporal blessing and eternal reward of salvation, and that when they stand before Christ to be judged, it should be counted to them as if it had been an act of virtue. Although your heart does not wish to act in this way, compel it to do so: because only those who do violence to their own heart in fulfilling the Commandment of the Gospel can inherit Heaven. If you have not the will to act this way, then you have not the will to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look deep within yourself; consider searchingly: have you not found another teacher, the teacher of hatred the devil and fallen under his power?

It is a terrible transgression to offend or to oppress one's neighbor: It is a most terrible transgression to commit murder. But whoever hates his oppressor, his slanderer, his betrayer, his murderer, and whoever thinks ill of them and takes revenge on them, commits a sin very near to their sin. In vain does he pretend to himself and others that he is righteous. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer of man, proclaimed Saint John, the beloved Disciple of Christ (I John 3:15).

A living faith in Christ teaches one to receive the Cup of Christ, and the Cup of Christ inspires hope in the heart of him who receives it, and hope in Christ gives strength and consolation to the heart. What torment of hell to complain or to murmur against the pre-destined Cup from above! Murmuring, impatience, faintheartedness and especially despair are sins before God; they are the ugly children of sinful disbelief. It is sinful to complain of neighbors when they are the instruments of our sufferings; still more sinful is it when we cry out against the Cup that comes down to us straight from Heaven, from the right hand of God. He who drinks the Cup with thanksgiving to God and blessings of his neighbor, achieves holy serenity, the grace of the peace of Christ. It is as if already he enjoys God's spiritual Paradise. Temporal suffering has no importance to the earth and to all corruptible things, and through our coldness towards Christ and eternity.

You are prepared to bear the bitter and repellent taste of medicines, the painful amputation and cauterization of your limbs, the long-drawn-out suffering of hunger, and prolonged seclusion in your room; you are prepared to bear all this to restore lost health to your body, which after it is healed will certainly become ill again, and will certainly die and become corrupt. Bear then the bitterness of the Cup of Christ which brings healing and eternal beatitude to your immortal soul.

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Cup of Christ

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE CUP OF CHRIST
By Saint Ignatii Brianchaninov

Two beloved disciples asked the Lord for thrones of glory He gave them His cup (St. Matthew 20:23). The Cup of Christ is suffering. To those who drink from it on earth, the Cup of Christ grants participation in Christ's Kingdom of grace; it prepares for them the thrones of eternal glory in heaven.

We stand in silence before the Cup of Christ, nor can any man complain about it or reject it; for He who commanded us to taste it, first drank of it Himself. O tree of the knowledge of good and evil! You killed our ancestors in Paradise, you deceived them by the delusions of sensual pleasure and the delusions of reason. Christ, the Redeemer of the fallen, brought His Cup of salvation into this world, to the fallen and to those who are exiled from Paradise. The bitterness of this Cup cleanses the heart from forbidden, and destructive and sinful pleasure; through the humility flowing from it in abundance, the pride of understanding on the carnal level is mortified. To him who drinks from the Cup with faith and patience, the eternal life which was and still is lost to him by his tasting of forbidden fruit will be restored.

"I will accept the Cup of Christ, the cup of salvation" (Psalm 116:13). The cup is accepted when a Christian bears earthly tribulation in the spirit of humility learned from the Gospel.

Saint Peter turned swiftly with a naked sword to defend the God-man, who was surrounded by evil-doers; but the meek Jesus said to Peter: "Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup My Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (St. John 18:11). So you too, when disaster surrounds you, should comfort and strengthen your soul, saying: "The Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

The Cup is bitter: at first sight, all human reasoning is confounded. Surmount reason by faith and drink courageously from the bitter Cup: it is the Father Who gives it to you, He Who is All-Good and All-Wise. It is neither the Pharisees, nor Caiaphas, nor Judas who prepared the Cup; it is neither Pilate nor his soldiers who gave it! "The cup which My Father hath given Me shall I not drink?'

The Pharisees think evil, Judas betrays, Pilate orders the unlawful killing; the soldiers of the government execute his order. Through their evil deeds, all these prepared their own true perdition. Do not prepare for yourself just such perdition by remembering evil, by longing for and dreaming of revenge, and by indignation against your enemies. The heavenly Father is Almighty and All-seeing: He sees your afflictions, and if He had found it necessary and profitable to withdraw the Cup from you, He certainly would have done so.

The Lord as the Scripture and Church history testify has often allowed afflictions to befall his beloved, and often warded off afflictions from them, in accordance with the unfathomable ways of Providence. When you are faced with the Cup, turn your gaze from the people who give it to you; lift your eyes to Heaven and say: "The Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

I will take the cup of salvation, I cannot reject the Cup, the promise of heavenly and eternal good. The Apostle of Christ teaches me patience when he says: "...we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). How can one reject the Cup which is the means of attaining this Kingdom and growing within it? I will accept the Cup the gift of God. The Cup of Christ is the gift of God. The great Paul writes to the Philippians, "For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Phil. 1:29).

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Beatitudes of Saint Paisios (Part II)

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE BEATITUDES OF SAINT PAISIOS (Part II)
13. Blessed are those children who lived from infancy in a spiritual environment and, thus, tirelessly advanced in spiritual life. Thrice blessed, however, are the mistreated ones who were not helped at all (on the contrary), they were pushed towards evil). But, as soon as they heard of Christ, their eyes glistened, and with a one hundred and eighty-degree turn they suddenly made their soul shine as well. They departed from the attraction of earth and moved into the spiritual sphere.

14. Fortunate, worldly people say, are the astronauts who are able to spin in the air, orbit the moon or even walk on the moon. Blessed, however, is the immaterial Paradise, their place of permanent abode, with the quickest of means and without much fuel, besides one crust of bread.

15. Blessed are those who glorify God for the moon that glimmers that they might walk at night. More blessed, however, are those who have come to understand that neither the light of the moon is of the moon, nor the spiritual Light of their soul of themselves, but both are of God. Whether they can shine like a mirror, a pane of glass or the lid of a tin can, if the rays of the sun do not fall on them it is impossible for them to shine.

16. Fortunate, worldly people tell us, are those who live in crystal palaces and have all kinds of conveniences. Blessed, however, are those who've managed to simplify their life and become liberated from the web of this world's development of numerous conveniences (i.e., man inconveniences), and were released from the frightening stress of our present age.

17. Fortunate, worldly people say, are those who can enjoy the goods of the world. Blessed, however, are those who give away everything for Christ and are deprived even of every human consolation for Christ. Thus it is that they manage to be found night and day near Christ and His Divine consolation, which many times is so much that they say to God: "My God, Thy love cannot be endured, for it is great and cannot be fit within my small heart".

18. Fortunate, worldly people say, are those who have the greatest jobs and the largest mansions, since they possess all possibilities and live comfortably. Blessed, however, according to the divine Paul, are those who have but a nest to perch in, a little food and some coverings (cf. 1 Timothy 6:8). For, in this way, they've managed to become estranged from the vain world, using the earth as a footstool, as children of God and their mind is constantly found close to God, their Good Father.

19. Fortunate are those who become generals and government ministers in their head by way of heavy drinking (even if just for a few hours), with the worldly rejoicing over it. Blessed, however, are those who have put off the old man and have become incorporeal, managing to be earthly angels with the Holy Spirit. They have found Paradise's divine faucet and drink from it and are continually inebriated from the heavenly wine.

20. Blessed are those who were born crazy and will be judged as crazy, and, in this way, will enter Paradise without a passport. Blessed and thrice blessed, however, are the very wise who feign foolishness for the love of Christ and mock all the vanity of the world. This foolishness for Christ's sake is worth more than all the knowledge and wisdom of the wise of this world.

I beg all the Sisters to pray for God to give me, or rather take from me my little mind, and, in this way, secure Paradise for me by considering me a fool. Or, make me crazy with His love so I go out myself, outside of the earth and its pull, for, otherwise my life as a monk has no meaning. I became externally white as a monk, but I justify myself as one unhealthy when I happen to be so; other times, I excuse myself again for being ill, even though I am well, and so I deserve to be thoroughly thrashed. Pray for me.

May Christ and Panagia be with you!

With love of Christ,

Your brother, Monk Paisios  

(Source: Epistle by Elder (Saint) Paisios of Mount Athos, Holy Monastery "Evangelist John the Theologian," Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece (2002).

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

Let Us Pray to the Lord

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

DAILY PRAYERS

Let us pray to the Lord

Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)

It is very important and clear that our personal prayer is grounded in our real and authentic life. Our sins should not stop us from prayer. We should be embarrassed and ashamed of our sins, but they should not keep us from our daily prayers. If our life is contrary to our prayers, or if our prayer is not connected consistently with our real life, then, unfortunately, we must admit that our prayer is inauthentic, only an empty shell, a dead and false form. Still, we must approach our Creator with prayer and give Him the opportunity to forgive our many sins. Prayer is something possible and achievable and certainly most beautiful and holy, something which by nature the spiritual person fervently seeks and often accomplishes by the grace and blessing of our Merciful and All-Loving God.

PRAYER TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are present everywhere filling all things, Treasury of good things, and Giver of life, come and dwell in us. Cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, Gracious Lord.

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Having risen from sleep, we fall before You, O Good One, and sing to You, Mighty One, the Angelic Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O, God. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

As I rise from sleep, I thank You, Holy Trinity, for because of Your Great Goodness and patience, You were not angry with me, an idler and sinner, nor have You destroyed me in my sins, but have shown Your unsurpassed Love for me. And when I prostrate in despair, You raised me to glorify with Your power. Enlighten now my mind's eye, open my mouth to study Your words and understand Your Commandments, to do Your will and sing to you in heartfelt adoration, and praise Your Most Holy Name, of the Father and the Son and that of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. 

THANKSGIVING PRAYERS AFTER BREAKFAST

We thank You, Christ our God, for You have satisfied us with earthly gifts. Do not deprive us of Your heavenly Kingdom, but as You, O Savior came among Your Disciples and gave them peace, come among us also and save us. Amen.

PRAYERS BEFORE DINNER

The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and they who seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall live to the ages of ages.

THANKSGIVING PRAYERS AFTER DINNER

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Kyrie eleison, Kurie eleison, Kyrie eleison.

Lord, You have gladdened our hearts in Your creation, and we have rejoiced in the work of Your hands. The Light of Your Countenance has shined upon us, Lord. You have gladdened our hearts. We have been satisfied with the good things of the earth. We shall sleep in peace and repose in You, for You alone, Lord, have sustained us in hope.

PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to Holy Spirit.

Now that the day has passed, I glorify You, Master, and I entreat that the evening with the night is without offense.  Grant this to me, Savior, and save me. Amen.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Now that the day has ended, I praise you, Holy One, and entreat that the evening and the night be undisturbed. Grant this to me, Savior, and save me.

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

Lord Jesus Christ, You received the children who came to You, receive also from the lips of Your child this evening prayer. Shelter me under the protection of Your wings that I may lie down in peace and sleep. Awaken me in due time that I may glorify You, for You alone are Good and Love All People. Amen.

More to come...

In Christ,

+Father George

The Beatitudes of Saint Paisios

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE BEATITUDES OF SAINT PAISIOS

1. Blessed are those who loved Christ more than all the worldly things and live far from the world and near God, with heavenly joys upon the earth.

2. Blessed are those who managed to live in obscurity and acquired great virtues but did not acquire even a small name for themselves.

3. Blessed are those who managed to act as a fool and, in this way, protected their spiritual wealth.

4. Blessed are those who do not preach the Gospel with words, but live it and preach it with their silence, with the Grace of God, which betrays them.

5. Blessed are those who rejoice when unjustly accused, rather than when they are justly praised for their virtuous life. Here are the signs of holiness, not in the dry exertion of bodily asceticism and the great number of struggles, which, when not carried out with humility and the aim to put off the old man, create an illusion.

6. Blessed are those who prefer to be wronged rather than to wrong others and accept serenely and silently injustices. In this way, they reveal in practice that they believe in "one God, the Father Almighty and expect to be vindicated by Him and not by human beings who repay in this life with vanity.

7. Blessed are those who have been born crippled or became so due to their own carelessness, yet do not grumble but glorify God. They will hold the best place in Paradise along with the Confessors and Martyrs, who gave their hands and feet for the love of Christ and now constantly kiss with devoutness the hands and feet of Christ in Paradise.

8. Blessed are those who were born ugly and are despised here on earth, because they are entitled to the most beautiful place in Paradise, provided they glorify God and do not grumble.

9. Blessed are those widows who wear black in this life, even unwillingly, but live a white spiritual life and glorify God without complaining rather than the miserable ones who wear assorted clothes and live a spotted life.

10. Blessed and thrice blessed are the orphans who have been deprived of their parents great affection, for they managed to have God as their Father already from this life. At the same time, they have the affection they were deprived of from their parents in God's saving bank "with interest".

11. Blessed are those parents who avoid the use of the word "don't" with their children, instead restraining them from evil through their holy life- a life which children imitate, joyfully following Christ with spiritual bravery.

12. Blessed are those children who have been born "from their mother's womb" (St. Matthew 19:12) holy, but even more blessed are those who were born with all the inherited passions of the world, struggled with sweat and uprooted them and inherited the Kingdom of God in the sweat of their face (cf. Genesis 3:19). (Source: Epistles by Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Holy Monastery "Evangelist John the Theologian," Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece (2002).

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

beatitudes