e-mail:
kontakt@ortodoxkristendom.se
e-mail:
kontakt@ortodoxkristendom.se
|
www.orthodoxchristendom.nu
Faith, experience and manifestation
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After
a profound spiritual
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"I
am the light which has come into the world"
St. John 12:45 I have put together some of the holy texts from the
Christian tradition and drawn spiritual pictures to some of the prayers
of the church, and written texts about how I understand the message
of Christ from the New Testament as it was practised by the desert fathers
and by hesychasts* in Asia Minor, most of the countries included
in the Balkan region, Egypt, Russia, Athos in Greece, and today even
in the rest of the world. * Hesychasm - (from the Greek word hesykia - conscious resting in God) Christian orthodox asceticism using the inner, incessant Jesus prayer, "the prayer of the heart", together with particular breathing exercises, to overcome one's lower, self-centred nature and regain identity with God. |
Troparion in swedish;
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(To
print the whole website, click here)
Christmas
Day, the 25th of December, fall in most of the orthodox countries
according to the Julian church calendar on the 7th of January, 13 days later.
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“The
Orthodox conception of Church is based on the primary idea, that Jesus
Christ founded only one and visible Church. He gave it the power to announce
His truth to the end of time (…). According to the Orthodox conviction
this one Church is just 'the Orthodox Church'. Because it is the very
one, which (…) has preserved the unbroken line from the apostles.
This Church is according to apostle Paul 'the body of Christ', which has
only one authority Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What makes the Church to
one unity is the same, true confession to Him and the uniform, sacramental
and spiritual life in Him.”
“After
some time a part of the Christian organization made an addition to the
confession (…), and added some other new precepts and usages in
Church without first hearing the whole congregation. Instead the bishop
in Rome was appointed Pope, who alone was in authority to decide in important
doctrines, which concerned the whole Church. In this way a departure from
the apostolic principle of solidarity was made. Gradually the gap was
enlarged, to the unavoidable separation between the orthodox eastern and
the western part of the catholic Christian organization, which had appointed
the Pope. The separation was therefore a fact in 1054.” |
“The
eastern (the Orthodox) Church doesn’t except any additions or renounces
from the given form of the contents of the Christian faith; the truth
is one and eternal and indivisible. Accordingly must the Church strive
to carefully preserve the truth of Christianity and to express it without
deviation.”
“The
Orthodoxy lay claim to be global – not exotic or oriental, but simply
Christianity. The word 'orthodoxy' has the double meaning 'right faith'
and 'right worshipping'. Therefore the claim of the orthodox’ may
seem surprisingly high. They consider their Church the Church, which preserves
and teaches the true faith in God, worshipping Him in the right way. It’s
no less than the Church of Christ on earth.” |
The Baptism of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ
Troparion
When in the Jordan Thou wast baptized, O Lord,
the worship of the Trinity was made manifest:
for the voice of the Parent bare witness unto Thee,
calling Thee His beloved Son,
and the Spirit, in the vision of a dove,
confirmed the certainty of the word.
Thou that hast appeared, O Christ our God, and dost enlighten the world,
Glory to Thee.
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The first saint in Sweden
St. Anna of Novgorod
The National saint of Sweden
February 23 (10)
Troparion
"Having
shone forth from the West like a star of heavenly radiance,
thou wast vouchsafed to receive the Orthodox Faith;
and having brought forth right glorious fruit for the Russian land therein,
O holy right-believing Princess Anna, thou didst love Christ with all thy heart,
keeping His statutes and laws.
Wherefore, celebrating thy most holy memory today,
through thy supplications we receive remission of sins."
Ingegerd Olofsdotter
was born around year 1001; she was daughter to Olof Skötkonung, the
first christened Swedish king, who was baptized year 1008. She was married
to Grand Duke Jaroslav of Novgorod/Kiev, with whom she gave birth to 10
children. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church and given then
name St. Anna of Novgorod. St. Anna died year 1050 as
Grand Duchess of Kiev. Her day of celebration is the 23rd of February. |
Further reading: "Viking Princess,
Christian saint", by Rune Edberg, translated by Mrs Theodosia Tomkinson, |
3rd Sunday of Great Lent
Adoration of the Holy Cross
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The resurrection of nature – Life is stronger than death
| "Every spring
the Russians are witnesses to the resurrection of nature. After half a year
of lifeless stillness the life is returning to the Russian country. With
victory fanfares the rivers and lakes are breaking the ice, which has kept
them captivated for several long months. Grass and flowers can during only
one night spring forth on the ground, which has for 1ong been covered with
a thick, white mantle; the birds begin to sing, the air is seasoned with
scents, and humans and animals are feeling enlivened and as if born again.
Life has once again proved to be stronger than death. … Through centuries
have in Russia not only a few pious humans, but the nation as a whole prised
and thanked God for the Resurrection of Christ. The Easter night’s
service is an experience, which has no parallel in the religious life of
other countries." Text translated from the Swedish book "Den Ortodoxa kyrkan", (literally "The Orthodox Church"), by Nicolas Zernov |
Lent - the time of fasting
| "Lent begins
in the East on a Sunday night, which is called the Sunday of Forgiveness.
After Evensong the priest solemnly asks his parishioners to pardon all his
shortcomings and offences, and they in return ask him to forgive them. Then
the members of the congregation address a similar request to each other,
and the same thing is done afterwards at home. Thus, reconciled with everybody,
Christians of the East enter upon the period of fasting and mortification.
Lent makes a profound impression upon the life of all Church members; their
food is altered, their Church services, music, and vestments are radically
changed. The rules of fasting are severe: meat, fish, milk and eggs are
forbidden for seven weeks: the services are long and mournful, and include
many prostrations. It is a time of purification, and reparation for evils
committed in the past. Eastern Christians choose usually one of the weeks of Lent for what is called in Russian Govenie. There is no corresponding word in English; Govenie means a period of self-examination, prayer and fasting, which ends with confession and communion. A person who starts Govenie I expected to spend his time as in retreat, though he usually remains at home. He attends all the daily services; he fasts rigorously, reads books of spiritual edification, gives alms, and seeks reconciliation with those with whom he has quarrelled. Govenie usually lasts for a week and it involves real bodily privation. The Lenten services take at least five hours a day, and regular attendance means standing or prostrating oneself for the whole of that period. If Holy Week is chosen for Govenie, this involves even longer hours spent in church. The severity of bodily mortification is, however, mitigated by the supreme beauty of the Lenten services, by their unique dramatic quality, and by their musical appeal. Some of the highest achievements of religious poetry and music are found in the hymns of Holy Week, and many of the more lax Christians who only seldom go to church, choose this time, since it is difficult to remain unmoved by the power and beauty of the Lenten worship." |
"He endured the Crucifictixion,
He hath destroyed death by death"
St John; verses 17-20
Orthodox Easter
| "Lent ends abruptly on Easter Eve, the greatest feast of the Eastern
Orthodox Church. The midnight service has often been described, for it has
no parallel in the experience of other Churches. Matins begins by a procession,
which leaves the church, goes round the building and returns singing the
triumphant hymn “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death
by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.” Each worshipper
procures beforehand a candle, and as soon as the procession starts the first
candle is lit, its bearer then lighting that of his neighbour, and so on
until the whole church is a blaze of light and warmth. There is no reading,
and everything is sung to what seem almost like dance tunes, and the whole
service is full of movements, life and joy. At its close the priest greets
each parishioner with the threefold Eastern kiss, and the same greeting
is exchanged between the members of the congregation. On their return home
the Russian Christians have their Easter meal, with its special dishes served
only for that feast. Easter Sunday is unlike any other day in the year. There is no service in the morning, all ordinary customs and habits are brushed aside, and instead of usual greetings, everyone is welcomed with the words “Christ is risen”, and the Easter kiss is exchanged with everybody that one meets. Because of the glory bestowed upon human nature by our Lord’s victory over death, Russian Christians do not kneel in church during the period between Easter and Pentecost. Easter is the culminating point of the whole Church’s year; all other Sundays are mere stepping-stones leading up to that unique day, and they are all therefore dedicated to the commemoration of the Resurrection. In fact, the Russian word for Sunday is “Resurrection”." Text from "The Church of the Eastern Christians" by Nicolas Zernov. |
Picture from the book "Kniga o tserkvi" (The book about church), published by Palomnik Moscow -98.
“The
day of Resurrection!
Let us be illuminated, o ye people!”
“The
fest of feasts and the triumph and triumphs – the Holy Easter. The
Orthodox churches are filled with worshippers. All are received by the
Risen Christ and the Holy Church gives everyone a chance to partake of
the great feast of faith. The entire Earth celebrates and rejoices at the Resurrection of Christ. Everyone who comes to Easter service, seeking the Risen Christ after the manner of the myrrhophores, puts on his best festal garments. Easter the beautiful… ”Now are all things filled with light”. The light of the Holy Easter penetrates the darkness of night and that night itself is called 'radiant'. The light of candles filling the crowded church, the light of quiet paschal joy illuminating the faces of the congregation, the sunshine of the first Easter morning, the glittering vestments of the clergy in the Easter procession… |
‘O
death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?’
Christ
is risen,
and life reigneth!”
Text from the Moscow Patriarcate Journal
Troparion
"Christ is risen from the dead
trampling Death by death
and to those in the tombs
He hath granted Life!"
St John; 20:1-24
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The
Angel cried unto Her Who is full of grace: Rejoice, O Pure Virgin! And
again I say: Rejoice! Thy Son is risen from His three days' sojourn in
the grave, and hath raised up the dead: Rejoice, O ye people! |
Ascension
into Heaven
40 days after Easter
"And I will send out upon you what
was promised by My Father. But you wait here in the city until you are
clothed with power from on high.' |
St Luke 24:49-53 |
Pentecost
10 days after Ascension
into Heaven
"If you love
Me, |
St John 14:15-21 |
"I am a beam of the light of truth"
"Solitaire, not involved with the world,
he is constantly communicating with God alone.
Seing he is seen, loving he is beloved,
light, unspeakable gleaming, he has become."
Simeon the new teologian
Newly writter
prayer about the putity of the soul through the Holy Spirit;
Release
O Lord our suffering world, from the deeds of the darkness,
Let the light of truth shine into all mankind, and preserve the purity of our
souls through the Holy Spirit.
About
sanctification
"Blessed
art Thou, O Lord;
teach me Thy statutes.
The Choir of the Saints have found the Fountain of Life
and the door to Paradise.
May I also find the right way,
through repentance and conversion,
I have failed in my life;
Call me, O Saviour, and save me."
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”God, how wonderful You are in Your saints.”
| These are two texts of many of the hymns of the Orthodox Church. The spiritual meaning of these texts indicates that one who is baptized to Christ by free will and consciously should purify himself from worldly habits and let himself become sanctified. Since the Baptism often is performed 40 days after the birth of the child, it is the godparents duty to make sure that this turning to Christ and identifying with Him is done. The christened child ought to learn listening to the inner, through the Baptism active Christ-identity, and in this way practise to realize God’s will in her life. By man being a true expression of God’s holiness, God can once again recognize His Creation through Christ within man, just like He once created man for His Paradise. This is the only way to be able to pronounce with apostle Paul:
Résumé; *Father Damascene, Russian monk, from “The orthodox Word” no. 221, page 277. Se also “The Saints lives in Christ”, page 262.
God
said: Genesis 1:3
St. John 12:45 ”I am the Light of the world...” St. John 8:12
Remembrance
as a consequence of your christening;
and at the "Resurrection" |
The Seven Holy Sacraments (The Mysteries)
Baptism to Christ.
Unction with Chrizm (Confirmation).
Communion.
Penitence.
Holy Orders (Priesthood), only for married men or monks.
Matrimony between woman and man.
Unction with oil (Extreme Unction).
"Meditations on the Divine Liturgy"
by
Nikolai
Gogol
This book is printed by Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York.
Holy
Trinity Monastery
P.O. Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361
Tel: (315) 858 0940
(The
Divine Lithurgy is written by Johannes Chrysostomos. He was born in Antioch,
Asia Minor, and died the 14th of December year 407. He was first working
in Antioch in Syria, but in year 398 he became a patriarch in Constantinople.) |
Picture from the book "Kniga o tserkvi" (The book about church), published by Palomnik Moscow -98.
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"You
shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul,
and with your whole mind" "You
shall love your neighbour as yourself"
|
Holy
fathers
Sergej and German
of Valamo monastery, Karelia
Day
of celebration;
July 11 (June 28)
"Like
shining stars You rose above our Northern dark sky.
With the light of faith and sacred struggle, You lit our country and taught
us how to pray appropriate to God,
and to listen only for Him, and to serve Him with work and with hymns.
REJOICE,
founders of Valamo monastery
REJOICE, fathers of Christ followers
REJOICE, You who preach conversion and improvement in our lives
REJOICE, You who did rise as examples in the struggle against the temptations
REJOICE, You who guide to the secret of God's Kingdom
REJOICE, You counsellors to the presence of Christ
REJOICE, You blessed fathers Sergej and German"
A part of the akatist
The
Mother of God
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"We remain created beings but can still come to unity with God, like Christ in His taking shape as a human throughout the incarnation preserved His divine nature. The created and perishable world is filled with God's creating force, like an uncreated and eternal light; the everywhere present God."
|
Holy
father Serafim Days
of celebration; August 1 (19 July) |
The Troparion
Thou
didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one
and longing to work for Him alone
thou didst struggle in the wilderness with constant prayer and labour.
With penitent heart and great love for Christ
thou wast favoured by the Mother of God.
Wherefore we cry to thee:
Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim our righteous Father.
Spiritual
Instructions of St. Serafim of Sarov - “The light of Christ”
cklick here to read the text
"I shall not leave you as orphans;
I shall come to you. In a little while the world no longer see Me; but
you will see Me, for I live, and you, too, will live. In that day you
will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me and I in you. He who has
my orders and observes them loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved
by My Father. I, too, shall love him and show Myself to him." |
St John 14:18-21 |
Russian icon
The Light of God
through
the Transfiguration of Christ
August 19 (6)
This light belongs to the non-created
divine reality, but is for those blessed by God something fully possible
to experience and literally see, be a part of, |
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”THE RADIANT BEAUTY”
"Spiritual
beauty as the criterion of truth of the Orthodox Church in
Pavel Florensky’s
' The Pillar and Ground of the Truth”
“The spiritual beauty can only accrue to the ascetic*, the one absolutely pure in heart. Only the ascetic can be transparent so that the radiant beauty of the Trinity God can shine through him.”
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“Why
is the asceticism necessary? It removes the veil of the sin, makes the heart
pure: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”.
It restores the human being to her origin as the image of God, radiant with
beauty. It makes community with God, and uniting with the whole creation
possible, prepares the coming of the Holy Spirit, that crowns the ascetic
with beauty.” “What characterizes, according to Florensky, the beauty itself? ”Beauty, as a certain manifestation or disclosure of that which is objective, is essentially connected with light, for everything is precisely light. (…) Thus if beauty is precisely manifestation and manifestation is precisely light, then I repeat, beauty is light, and light is beauty. Absolute light is absolutely beautiful. It is Love in its perfection (…).” Florensky, who worked in the Russian religious environment where the hesychasm was common, names it of course as the light of Tabor. It is the light of the Trinity God, The light of Truth, lit in the world with the birth of Jesus. |
The whole liturgy and a great number of hymns testify about this, he points out, and adds that the holy liturgy where created by deeply spiritual people with experience of the light of God. The light is in itself beautiful, yet it makes everything illuminated beautiful. The light of Tabor transforms the body of the saint and makes it radiant.” “From the ascetic the veil caused by sin is removed, so that he is able to see the original, undestroyed, perfect creation – which Florensky calls Sofia** - radiant beautiful. Therefore he loves everything created: the human being and her physical body, the animals, nature and cosmos. He finds himself full of burning love for all living beings, and with an intensive compassion to them, he cannot stand any harm or pain being inflicted on anything created.” “The pure-hearted man has through asceticism restored the image of God from within, and has become a reflection of the radiant beauty of God.” “With their radiant beauty the great ascetics, saints and starets reveal the “true church”, the mystery of the life of church.
* Asceticism – methodical practising to overcome one’s lower self-centred nature to regain identity with God. ** (Teo) Sofia – (God’s) wisdom. Extract from a research work of Anna Smidhammar, who also has translated the book “Salt of the earth”, of Pavel Florensky, into Swedish. |
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Picture from the book "Kniga o tserkvi" (The book about church), published by Palomnik Moscow -98.
"The
Orthodox Church tries to give its members a definite view of life. One
can sometimes hear people say it’s passive and ignorant of the world;
but that is a misunderstanding of the essence and doctrine (teaching)
of the Orthodox Church. The Church doesn’t reject this world –
it is in a living way engaged with it, and invite it’s members to
take part in the subjects for rejoicing. The priests‘ home life,
with their often large families, the large and well-tended estates of
the Russian monasteries and convents, and the starets’* awake interest
in the actual problems of the people looking for their guidance, the official
services including all human life and work, and the blessing the Church
gives to all kinds of food except for meat – all these
things show how well the Church recognize the goodness of all created
and gladly participate in all gifts of life upon earth." * Starets – Spiritually experienced and conscious guide in spiritual matters. |
Dear sisters and brothers
in Christ
I have participated in meals in congregations and in monasteries where priests or managers have requested blessings in the name of Lord Jesus Christ over food consisting parts of animals of all sorts. When we today are very well informed about the condition in slaughter-houses, chicken factories and pig farms etc. etc. etc. how can one even think that a merciful and loving Creator and Father of all beings would bless this infernal treatment man gives these innocent and suffering animals for no other reason than keeping up mans lower and sinful character. Man's richest, and from God Himself given, nourishment is to find among vegetables in the wonderful nature, where crops does not just contain everything man needs for his physical life, but is also called "food for health". One could not imagine slaughter-houses, terrible roaring with agony of death, or the smell of blood in God's Paradise! This kingdom of God that we are invited to seek and manifest first of all, to make it come true we pray "...Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." St. Matthew 6:10. How will this ever happen on earth if we don't let God's will be realized in our lives? The interest for vegetarian food increases today rapidly among young people defending the rights of animals and man to a worthy life, while many Christians still live as meat-eaters of no other reason than their habit. There should
be two different tables for the social gathering in churches and monasteries,
one for vegetarian food, that are to be blessed*, and another table for
other food. Kind regards in Christ from your brother
* "...the
blessing the Church gives to all kinds of food except for meat..." |
The gospel of St. Luke 5 33. And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but Thine eat and drink? And He said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (i.e. eversince the first Easter.) |
To read "Junk food for the soul", an article by archbishop Lazar Puhalo, click here
"Behold
the life of innocent Adam in Eden"
Holy Pavel of Obnora in peaceful company with the wild animals
in the forest.
"Isac the Syrier says, that the human heart must burn with such compassion for the whole creation, that it is ready to break at the sight of suffering of the smallest animal. When the hearts of all human beings are like that God’s creation will be restored.Wild animals approaching holy hermits, licking their hands and showing them their confidence indicates this saying. Isac explains these situations with a fragrance sent forth from such a man, the same divine fragrance as Adam in Paradise sent forth before the Fall of man." |
The
instruction |
St.
Paisij Velitchkovsky,
Put
together and translated Philokalia into the Slavonic language
Day of celebration; Novmber 28 (15)
Troparion;| O Paisij, the joy of Russia, the boast of Athos and the wonder of Moldavia, by thy divinely inspired teaching, thou dost direct us to the found of wisdom and salvation. And now enjoying in heaven the vision of Christ God, entreat Him to grant us His great mercy, and save our souls. |
"Starets Paisij sent his disciples from Secu to Bucharest in order to study the Greek language. To two such disciples...the elder wrote a letter of warning because they were being persuaded, with the blessing of a bishop, to eat meat. The elder wrote to them thus: 'It seems to me that, in accordance with the correct understanding and ordinance of the Holy Orthodox Church, one should not obey even an Angel in this matter. After the Flood the Lord, because of human weakness, permitted the eating of meat, but the order of monastic life corresponds to the life in Paradise, where there was no eating of meat. And although at the beginning of monastic life there was in places a falling away from this order, especially in large cities, nevertheless St. Sabbas the Sanctified confirmed the non-eating of meat; and such become the general order in all lands. Therefore, one cannot say that the non-eating of meat is only a local custom; and this cannot be left to the free choice of everyone, and it is not true that abstaining from meat harms the health. One should not be put under constraint by those who eat meat, but one must please God rather than men; and those who tempt you, when they see your firmness, will themselves praise you.' The Elder referred his disciples to the work of the Elder Basil of Merlopolyany on the monastic tradition of not eating meat,* and reminded them that the brethren of the monastery and the desert-dwellers would be scandalized and grieved if they knew that these brothers had begun to eat meat.**"
"* Slavonic text of this work in the Optina Life of Blessed Paisij, pp. 134-157. ** This paragraph is from Chetverikov, vol. II, pp. 45-46." Text
from "Little Russian Philokalia, vol. IV: St Paisij Velitchkovsky",
page 145.
“You, then, are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” St. Matthew 5:48
Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." 1:27 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." 1:29 "And God said; 'Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." |
For further information about the significance of food in one's spiritual life, click here
Book recommendation:
"Animals
and Man - A state of blessedness"
and
"Animals Sanctified: A Spiritual Journey."
both by Joanne Stefanatos D.V.M.
Order from: St. Paisius Abbey, P.O. Box 130, Forestville,
CA 95436
"Vildåsnan"
- Christian vegetarian organization in Sweden
www.vildasnan.se
When
did we loose our compassion and respect for animals? Text by
Simon Andersson
click
here to download pdf-file
Stephanie's
blog
http://www.everydaysynergy.blogspot.com
My prayer
becomes credible
when the words
coming from my mouth
is the same as the life
I live in the presence of God
in relation to human beings,
animals and nature;
the holy creation of God
To
live without hurting.
To live with compassion
sympathy and respect
for everything created,
through
Christ;
the emanation of God,
our Lord.
Simon
Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female ceated He them." |
Leviticus 19:2 "...Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy."
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Leviticus 20:7 "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord which sanctify you." |
Leviticus 20:26 "And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." |
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St. Mattew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." |
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In Christ
dear brothers and sisters
Letter in time of fasting
About God as Love and as devouring fire
and about egocentric sexuality, perversion, and abnormity
Click
here
Se
also article below
"The
Russian patriarchate breaks the relation
with the Swedish Lutheran church"
"MOSCOW (27th Dec. 2005 Interfax) The Moscow patriarchate has broken the relation with the Swedish Lutheran church, since it decided to adopt a ceremony for blessing homosexual couples. 'We have with great disappointment and sadness received the news that the Swedish Lutheran church does not oppose so-called homosexual marriage, but has even decided to adopt an official blessing ceremony', said the holy synod of the Russian Orthodox church in a pronouncement at its conference in Moscow today. The members of the synod consider the decision of the Swedish Lutheran church to be contrary to the apprehension about family and marriage of the Bible 'and the testimony of the holy Scriptures leave us without doubts that homosexuality is comprehended as sinful and delusion', as it is said in the pronouncement. 'The Christian church has always considered the marriage between man and woman as a sacrament, while it is a union that gives rise to new life', as one can read in the declaration. The attempt to interrupt this tradition 'and present the distortion as a norm' is 'an open resistance to God’s will, offence to the order of the holy Scriptures and the old church’s traditions', as one can read in the declaration. The acceptance of homosexual marriages is a serious destruction of the system for European spiritual and moral values 'formed with influence by Christianity', says the declaration. 'This kind of modern ideas undermine the moral ground of the Europe civilisation and inflict irreparable harm on its spiritual influence with the world', is there to read in the declaration." Translation from a Swedish Orthodox magazine “Ortodox tidning”, no 2, 2006, p. 28. |
| Picture from a Swedish Orthodox magazine "Ortodox tidning". |
"The difference between life and death, the present and eternity heaven and earth come to an end in Christ. God becomes physical, man becomes divine. The opportunity is given man not just spiritually but fully physical to become irradiated, as a person to be absorbed in the Light." Tito Colliander |
Blessing of the priest, from the orthodox book of prayers
"In Your light, we see light" |
List of contents;
Pictures from the hermitage,
where
we did return frequently from the "the world"
during the period when we lived in the big city
to
live in stillness, meditation, reflection and fasting
- govenie
Since
then we have moved to our permanent heremitage in the middle of Sweden,
see picture at the bottom of the site.
"...the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it..."
Our friends in Christ
Natalia, Nikolaj and Andreas
We give thanks to God for everything!
St. Mattew 16:28
"Verily
I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death,
till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom."
St. Luke 17:20-21
"And
when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God
should come, He answered them and said 'The kingdom of God
cometh not with observation,
Neither shall they say, Lo here!, or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom
of God is within you."
St. Mark 10:15
"I
assure you, whoever fails to recieve the kingdom of God like a little child,
will not enter it at all."
My
soul, my soul arise, why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near...
(Kontakion of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete)
"It is later than you think" Serafim Roose
A church model.
Day
in commemoration of the enlighters of the Karelia land
Greetings in Christ
from the new heremitage -07
where we moved for permanently living
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The
construction is continuing
through the blessing of The Lord
for the enlightenment and happiness of men
Pictures from year 2009
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| 1. | Church model for the heremitage. |
| 2. | The place for the church, picture montage. |
| 3. | Simon and Nikolaj is cutting down wood for the church building. |
| 4, 5, 7. | Cottage is being built for govenie; stillness, meditation, inner prayer and reflection. |
| 6. | Hilding-Emanuel is helping with hammer and nail. |
| 8. | Anna is working in the garden. |
| 9. | Nikolaj, Natalia and Andreas on recreation trip in the canoe. |
| 10. | Nikolaj is getting down some flowers for tea (quite high above the ground). |
| 11. | Natalia in the eremitage. Where the cross is placed, the church will hopefully be built. |
| 12. | A new member of the family, Signe-Elina, born on July 12th 2009. |
| 13. | November 2009, the cottage for govenie is prepared for silence, meditation and inner prayer. |
Donations for the building of the church is gratefully accepted, contact through e-mail:
The Baptism to Christ
Signe-Elina was baptised by father Vladimir from the Russian Orthodox church
the 15th of September 2009
after the Russian Grand Duchess Olga Elena from Pskov
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Signe-Elina in Godmother's arms |
The Baptism |
Mother
and daughther |
"All
who are baptized to Christ
are
dressed in Christ"
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To see pictures from the work with building the church
and the consecration, click here.
To see a film from the consecration, click on part 1 and part 2.
Year 2011.
Humbly we want to announce the decease of Simon
on the 8th of December
Simon's last words:
"Never leave your faith in God,
no matter how despairing the silence can be."
Holy
father Sergej
