I wonder would you consider doing a video to help guide us in how we should approach charity and good works for the benefit of others in society as Christians? For example, I trained as a biologist and felt compelled to help communities better steward their local areas before I encountered God. Now I am an Orthodox Christian I see value in striving to do the job we were put in charge of and help repair the consequences of our sinful failures to tend to God's creation but I no longer think people can achieve this without first seeking God. I also wonder if it is even possible when I read John's Revelation. If I help people to do good works, will it be written in the book of life if they do not do it for God but only to ease their conscience, fears or concern for others? Anyway I could go on but you probably get the idea. If it's something you'd like to offer insight into I'd be interested but only if it suits you. Thanks for your ministry.
That's a good question. My priest also frequently talks about Judas chastising the woman who bought expensive oil to anoint the feet of Christ instead of giving the money to the poor as an example of putting social justice before worship of Christ.
Thank you father for your blessed and holy work from Romania! May our good Lord reward you in the afterlife for your ascetic and theological efforts. Amin! In the same time, please allow me to ask for advice. I ve been thinking a lot in he last year to develop my theological knowledge in order to, humbly, maybe contribute in consolidating our Mother, The Holy Church. But, in the same time, as Bishop Ignatius stated: "Do not attempt to stop it with your weak hand..." and also "Avoid it, protect yourself from it, and that is enough for you. Get to know the spirit of the times, study it so that you can avoid its influence whenever possible. So, do you think that is safer to seek advice, act under blessing of a father and follow a spiritual routine, so I die in God s hands, or shell we move furher, and enter, with our personal posibiities, the theological arena, like we are having a duty?
Prepare yourself to fight - wait for the hand of the Lord to bless you to enter into the arena, with the blessing of the elder. If you do not prepare, are not made worthy, you will not be blessed to enter. The two go together. . . AND ALL MUST BE FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST and nothing else.
There is Divine union and there is fallen union. Fallen mortal man, even if he tries to follow Jesus Christ honestly, he will be lacking. In order to find out why, he must follow the living path, living Word, and living Spirit. Key word = living. However, he is already dead and the Manifestation of his state makes it apparent to the fallen world. The transition from death to Life is a Divine process of the correction of the Spiritual Body. This Ancient Process has many names, but I will mention only two here. From the Ancient Jewish Guardians it is referred to as Kabbalah and from the Ancient Christian Guardians it is referred to as Theosis or Deification. According to the way mortal man thinks, it is ADVANCED and therefore it must come at the end of many years of pounding the basics and eventually the intermediate levels into a person while practicing various methods of worship. Rightfully so!!!! The Masters are mortal men and are not fully corrected themselves and that is the NORM. This is where "the problem" exists for the mortal man when left to visible resources. All of the Ancient Spiritual Disciplines only used practitioners that produced spiritual fruit as true disciples of the lineage and placed them under the most advanced ones (masters). So you get the picture, no need to beat a dead horse. This is not sustainable as population increases, society's secularism advances, etc. The very Truth that is being guarded for advancement by mortal man (they're not ready or can't handle it...) is the starting point. However, the faith required to Trust God Most High is weak if the so called mortal human master is not a true master (fully corrected). †****†****† Kabbalist definition of Israel - the main definition released is "STRAIGHT TO GOD" regarding the Way to correction of the soul. This will result in the Messiah (Straight from God) and joined to God Most High requiring the birth of a Virgin prepared with, in, and through God Most High. The fulfillment picks up with "Straight from God Most High" in Ancient Christianity with the impregnation of the Virgin Mary made Holy by God Most High (Prepared by God Himself for the SACRED MARRIAGE). So what we witness in the Life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day...is the goal of creation for each and every soul. EXCEPT THE BLOOD SACRIFICE which was performed perfectly once for ALL SOULS that sins may be forgiven. We do not do it physically but we do Spiritually during Theosis. We also face our Personal Judgement. We come "face to face" with Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross... our position at the sudden event determines what is best described as the MANIFESTATION PERIOD one will experience. If seated before Him the period will be approximately 30 years, if standing the period is much less according to the Kabbalist sources. I can only speak to the 30 year period (Gospel of John 3:11) as this is my personal testimony with, In, and Through God Most High in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen. I never knew anything about Kabbalah or Theosis before I experienced the "Process" of Theosis which is the fulfillment of full Correction of the spiritual body, which gives birth to the NEW BODY/CREATURE. During the period of Manifestation our mortal body suffers onward until it is counted as most sinful because we know better. We become the sinner of sinners in our flesh we "live it". After approximately 30 years the "Presence" returns. After that the manifestation begins to unfold. A good stopping point. The main point here is that without having engaged in Theosis one cannot recognize it!!!! So how can a mortal man even begin to place himself in the Place of the Master in order to evaluate the situation at hand. It is impossible for man, but simple for God Most High. Everything in the process is Failsafe and everything is perfect with,in and through God Most High in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen. We (Gospel of John 3:11) know enough to know that until the Process is fully completed/manifested "We do know as we ought to know". Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the First Fruit and Most Importantly he is IT (ALL of IT) and by abiding in Him we are JOINED to ALL OF IT. WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE BECAUSE WE ARE ONE. We recognize that Voice of Oneness that is God Most High that Dwells within through He Who IS THE connection between the Heaven and the Earth Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen. No mortal man can comprehend what God Most High has prepared for each soul personally and communally. Nor can he accept it unless and until the Manifestation of the One that is coming and is already here. Rightfully so!!!! Unfortunately for those attached to the physical/material/visible church/body which in the best case scenario is a visible representation of what is occurring Invisibly places one in a position of choosing between the visible and the invisible, the permanent and the temporary, etc. No worries, we receive the GIFT OF DISCERNMENT directly from God Most High prepared for the end of the age or more precisely the beginning of the end of the age Okay enough of the blah-blah. Practice time is up and it's time to get real. Become what you are already eternally by joining to the eternal...
Thank you for breaking up your talks into edible bites. I seem unable to absorb the importance of what you are teaching in the 2 plus hour format. Forgive me for my sloth and inattentiveness.
Bless Father, as I am coming to Orthodoxy, this information is helpful. Thank you. שלום
I wonder would you consider doing a video to help guide us in how we should approach charity and good works for the benefit of others in society as Christians?
For example, I trained as a biologist and felt compelled to help communities better steward their local areas before I encountered God. Now I am an Orthodox Christian I see value in striving to do the job we were put in charge of and help repair the consequences of our sinful failures to tend to God's creation but I no longer think people can achieve this without first seeking God. I also wonder if it is even possible when I read John's Revelation. If I help people to do good works, will it be written in the book of life if they do not do it for God but only to ease their conscience, fears or concern for others? Anyway I could go on but you probably get the idea. If it's something you'd like to offer insight into I'd be interested but only if it suits you. Thanks for your ministry.
This is what has happened in the Roman Catholic church with this Pope.
That social justice priority, am I right in feeling that to equate to the temptation of Christ to turn the stones into bread?
That's a good question. My priest also frequently talks about Judas chastising the woman who bought expensive oil to anoint the feet of Christ instead of giving the money to the poor as an example of putting social justice before worship of Christ.
Thank you father for your blessed and holy work from Romania! May our good Lord reward you in the afterlife for your ascetic and theological efforts. Amin!
In the same time, please allow me to ask for advice. I ve been thinking a lot in he last year to develop my theological knowledge in order to, humbly, maybe contribute in consolidating our Mother, The Holy Church. But, in the same time, as Bishop Ignatius stated: "Do not attempt to stop it with your weak hand..." and also "Avoid it, protect yourself from it, and that is enough for you. Get to know the spirit of the times, study it so that you can avoid its influence whenever possible.
So, do you think that is safer to seek advice, act under blessing of a father and follow a spiritual routine, so I die in God s hands, or shell we move furher, and enter, with our personal posibiities, the theological arena, like we are having a duty?
Prepare yourself to fight - wait for the hand of the Lord to bless you to enter into the arena, with the blessing of the elder. If you do not prepare, are not made worthy, you will not be blessed to enter. The two go together. . . AND ALL MUST BE FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST and nothing else.
@@OrthodoxEthos God bless you, father!
Is that quote from Elder Athanasius in his Revelation book series? Or was that from a different talk he gave?
There is Divine union and there is fallen union. Fallen mortal man, even if he tries to follow Jesus Christ honestly, he will be lacking. In order to find out why, he must follow the living path, living Word, and living Spirit. Key word = living. However, he is already dead and the Manifestation of his state makes it apparent to the fallen world. The transition from death to Life is a Divine process of the correction of the Spiritual Body. This Ancient Process has many names, but I will mention only two here. From the Ancient Jewish Guardians it is referred to as Kabbalah and from the Ancient Christian Guardians it is referred to as Theosis or Deification. According to the way mortal man thinks, it is ADVANCED and therefore it must come at the end of many years of pounding the basics and eventually the intermediate levels into a person while practicing various methods of worship. Rightfully so!!!! The Masters are mortal men and are not fully corrected themselves and that is the NORM. This is where "the problem" exists for the mortal man when left to visible resources. All of the Ancient Spiritual Disciplines only used practitioners that produced spiritual fruit as true disciples of the lineage and placed them under the most advanced ones (masters). So you get the picture, no need to beat a dead horse. This is not sustainable as population increases, society's secularism advances, etc. The very Truth that is being guarded for advancement by mortal man (they're not ready or can't handle it...) is the starting point. However, the faith required to Trust God Most High is weak if the so called mortal human master is not a true master (fully corrected).
†****†****†
Kabbalist definition of Israel - the main definition released is "STRAIGHT TO GOD" regarding the Way to correction of the soul. This will result in the Messiah (Straight from God) and joined to God Most High requiring the birth of a Virgin prepared with, in, and through God Most High.
The fulfillment picks up with "Straight from God Most High" in Ancient Christianity with the impregnation of the Virgin Mary made Holy by God Most High (Prepared by God Himself for the SACRED MARRIAGE). So what we witness in the Life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day...is the goal of creation for each and every soul. EXCEPT THE BLOOD SACRIFICE which was performed perfectly once for ALL SOULS that sins may be forgiven. We do not do it physically but we do Spiritually during Theosis. We also face our Personal Judgement. We come "face to face" with Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross... our position at the sudden event determines what is best described as the MANIFESTATION PERIOD one will experience. If seated before Him the period will be approximately 30 years, if standing the period is much less according to the Kabbalist sources. I can only speak to the 30 year period (Gospel of John 3:11) as this is my personal testimony with, In, and Through God Most High in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen. I never knew anything about Kabbalah or Theosis before I experienced the "Process" of Theosis which is the fulfillment of full Correction of the spiritual body, which gives birth to the NEW BODY/CREATURE. During the period of Manifestation our mortal body suffers onward until it is counted as most sinful because we know better. We become the sinner of sinners in our flesh we "live it". After approximately 30 years the "Presence" returns. After that the manifestation begins to unfold.
A good stopping point.
The main point here is that without having engaged in Theosis one cannot recognize it!!!! So how can a mortal man even begin to place himself in the Place of the Master in order to evaluate the situation at hand. It is impossible for man, but simple for God Most High. Everything in the process is Failsafe and everything is perfect with,in and through God Most High in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen.
We (Gospel of John 3:11) know enough to know that until the Process is fully completed/manifested "We do know as we ought to know". Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the First Fruit and Most Importantly he is IT (ALL of IT) and by abiding in Him we are JOINED to ALL OF IT. WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE BECAUSE WE ARE ONE. We recognize that Voice of Oneness that is God Most High that Dwells within through He Who IS THE connection between the Heaven and the Earth Jesus Christ of Nazareth Crucified on His Holy Cross and Resurrected on the third day. Amen.
No mortal man can comprehend what God Most High has prepared for each soul personally and communally. Nor can he accept it unless and until the Manifestation of the One that is coming and is already here. Rightfully so!!!!
Unfortunately for those attached to the physical/material/visible church/body which in the best case scenario is a visible representation of what is occurring Invisibly places one in a position of choosing between the visible and the invisible, the permanent and the temporary, etc.
No worries, we receive the GIFT OF DISCERNMENT directly from God Most High prepared for the end of the age or more precisely the beginning of the end of the age
Okay enough of the blah-blah.
Practice time is up and it's time to get real. Become what you are already eternally by joining to the eternal...
Thank you for breaking up your talks into edible bites. I seem unable to absorb the importance of what you are teaching in the 2 plus hour format. Forgive me for my sloth and inattentiveness.