The Truth of Orthodoxy

By Blessed Seraphim (Rose)

Orthodoxy is not merely a “tradition” like any other, a “handing down” of spiritual wisdom from the past; it is God’s Truth here and now — it gives us immediate contact with God such as no other tradition can do. There are many truths in other traditions, both those handed down from a past when people were closer to God, and those discovered by gifted persons in the reaches of the mind; but the full Truth is only in Christianity, God’s revelation to mankind. I will take only one example: there are teachings on spiritual deception in other traditions, but none so thoroughly refined as those taught by the Orthodox; and more importantly, these deceptions of the evil one and our fallen nature are so omnipresent and so thorough that no one could escape them unless the loving God revealed by Christianity were close at hand to deliver us from them. Similarly: Hindu tradition teaches many true things about the end of the Kali Yuga; but one who merely knows these truths in the mind will be helpless to resist the temptations of those times, and many who recognize the Antichrist (Chakravarti) will nonetheless be deceived — only the power of Christ given to the heart will have the strength to resist the antichrist. (Christ the Eternal Tao, p. 448)*

*Edited with use of inclusive language by Father Vladimir Vandalov

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Feast of St. Vladimir the Great

Troparion, Tone IV —

Seated on the high throne of Kiev, the mother of cities saved by God,/ thou didst emulate the merchant who sought the goodly pearl,/ O Vladimir glorious in might,/ and examining and sending emissaries to the Imperial City to learn about the Orthodox Faith,/ thou didst find Christ the priceless Pearl, Who chose thee as a second Paul/ and in the holy font removed thy blindness, spiritual and bodily./ Wherefore, we, thy people, celebrate thy repose./ Pray thou, thy land Rus, be saved,// and that peace and great mercy be granted to the Orthodox people.

Kontakion, Tone VIII —

Emulating the great Apostle Paul in thy maturity, O most glorious Vladimir,/ and putting aside all thy zeal for idols as childish thoughts,/ thou hast adorned thyself with the purple robe of divine baptism./ And standing now in gladness before Christ the Savior,/ pray thou that, thy land Rus, be saved,// and that peace and great mercy be granted to the Orthodox people.

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Saint Aquila, Disciple from the 70

Commemorated on July 14/27

It is possible, that he was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (Commemorated on February 13/26). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the Jews were banished from Rome. Saint Aquilla and his wife were compelled to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while afterwards the holy Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and laboured together with him over the making of tents.

Having accepted Baptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself set off to Jerusalem, in order to be present there for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus Aquila and Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a new-comer from Alexandria, the Jew Apollos, who had been instructed in the fundamentals of the faith, but knew only the baptism of John the ForeRunner [i.e. John the Baptist]. They called him over to themselves and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord.

After the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recollects about his faithful disciples: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, who put forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household” (Rom. 16: 3-4). Saint Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made him a bishop in Asia. Saint Aquila zealously laboured at preaching the Gospel in Asia, Achaeia and Herakleia: he converted pagans to Christ, he confirmed in the faith newly-converted Christians, he established presbyters and destroyed idols. Saint Priscilla constantly assisted him in the apostolic work. Saint Aquila finished his life a martyr: pagans murdered him. According to the tradition of the Church, Saint Priscilla was killed together with him.

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A Broken Vessel

In childhood I found myself preoccupied with angst and prayerful hope for peace between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. My maternal family roots derive from Wales, Scotland, and England; my maternal great mother’s surname was Stuart, allegedly a descendant of “Bloody Mary” Queen of Scots. I really detested Elizabeth!

Concurrently I anguished over the Soviet’s power and it’s systematic destruction of Russian culture and all remnants of “Holy Rus”. After the initial funeral scene in the film “Dr. Zhivago”, my sentiments and sensibilities were tortured throughout the remainder of the movie. I immaturely fantasized and prayed for the return of the Tsar, who would surely right all wrongs and reestablish an Orthodox Christian empire before the final reign of the antichrist and Armegeddon.

Likewise the conflict in the Middle East has always weighed very heavily on my heart. Having been raised with both Jewish and Arab friends, I was regularly exposed to divergent perspectives, leaving me confused and anxiety-ridden like a stalemated ping-pong match.

Sadly, after 40 years, things have not really changed much. Although there have certainly been periods of respite and brief sighs of exhilarated hope, the current media headlines again report renewed conflict in Northern Ireland, civil-strife between Russia and Ukraine, and aggressive massacres between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rather than despair, I find myself spiritually drawn to more fervent prayer, seeking God to enlighten me how this unworthy and broken vessel might incarnate the justice of God and be an “instrument of peace” in the place I’ve been planted. Such contemplation brings to mind our Savior’s words: “Blessed are the peacemakers… Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Realm of Heaven. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Fr. Vlad, a sinner

Poustinnik at Ploss Lake

“Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved” – Saint Seraphim of Sarov (Russian: Преподобнный Серафим Саровский)

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Acquire the Spirit of Peace

“Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.” – St. Seraphim of Sarov

Hope

True hope seeks the one Realm of God and is sure that everything necessary for this mortal life will surely be given. The heart cannot have peace until it acquires this hope. This hope pacifies it fully and brings joy to it. The most holy lips of the Saviour spoke about this very hope: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Mercy

It is necessary to be merciful to those wretched and wandering. The great lightgivers of the Church took great care concerning this. In relation to this virtue we must try by all means to fulfill the following law of God: “Be merciful, just as God is merciful” (Luke 6:36). The wise heed these saving words, but the foolish do not heed them. For this reason the reward is also different, as is said: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Non-Judgment and the Forgiveness of Offenses

It is not right to judge anyone, even if you have seen someone sinning with your own eyes, as is said in the word of God: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Mt. 7:1). Someone busy trying to understand oneself has no time to notice the shortcomings of others. Judge yourself and you will stop judging others. It can happen that someone might appear to be doing something bad to us, but in reality, because of the doer’s good intentions, it is a good deed. Besides, the door of penitence is always open, and it is not known who will enter it sooner — you, “the judge,” or the one judged by you.

Troparion of St. Seraphim

You loved Christ from youth, O blessed one, and longing to work for Him alone you struggled in the wilderness with constant prayer and labor. With penitent heart and great love for Christ you were favored by the Mother of God. Wherefore we cry to you: Save us by your prayers, O Seraphim, our righteous Father.

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Numbers Up – Attendance Down

Originally posted on Again and Again:

H/T: Interfax-Religion here

Number of Orthodox up in Russia but only few go to church, pray regularly – poll

Moscow, July 4, Interfax – The share of Russian citizens considering themselves Orthodox grew from 52% in 1997 to 68% in 2014, sociologists of the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) said citing a poll.

According to the survey conducted in late May in 100 cities, towns and villages in 43 Russian regions and involving 1,500 respondents, 19% of Russians do not consider themselves religious, 6% are Muslims, and 1% refer to themselves as non-Orthodox Christian confessions (Catholics, Protestants, Uniates, Baptists etc.).

Only 13% of the Orthodox believers go to church once a month or more, take communion regularly, know church prayers and read morning and evening prayers, the survey showed.

Moscow Orthodox respondents can be called half-church-going (29%) or little-church-going (27) but in 2014 both groups decreased 4%, while the share of…

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