Knowing the Will of God

“The most precious thing on earth is to know God and at least in part understand God’s will. The soul that has felt God must submit to God’s will in everything and live before God in fear and love. In love, because the Lord is love. In fear, because it must be afraid to insult God by some evil thought.”

“How do you know whether you are living according to the will of God? Here is a sign: if you long for some thing, then you have not submitted to the will of God, even though you may think that you live according to God’s will. Whoever lives according to the will of God does not concern oneself with anything. And if the person needs some thing, then the person submits oneself and that thing to God; and if the person does not receive it, then the person remains content as though having received it.”

“The soul which has submitted to the will of God, fears nothing: neither storm nor bandits; nothing. And whatever should happen, it says, ‘It is God’s will.’ If the body is ill, the soul thinks, ‘Then I am in need of this illness, otherwise God would not have given it to me.’ And so the body and the soul remain at peace”* – Elder Siluan.

*Minimally edited for inclusive language

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Armenian Genocide: 100 Years of Denial

April 24 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, which took place in Turkey from 1915 to 1923. Denied as genocide by the Turkish Government and characterized by it as merely part of the general violence of World War I, remarkably the United States has not yet officially recognized this horrific episode in history as genocide. As the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of this tragedy, the National Council of Churches expresses its profound disappointment that President Obama, while calling for a “full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts,” has refrained from identifying it as genocide.

NCC president and general secretary Jim Winkler said that such an acknowledgement includes the use of the word genocide: “At this moment, I am in Armenia for events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the genocide. Church leaders from around the world have gathered here in solidarity with the church and people of Armenia. I am more aware than ever before of how important it is for people of good will everywhere to stand up and name genocide for what it is.”

The National Council of Churches has long been involved in work to counter genocide, mass atrocities and other crimes against humanity. This work continues through the organization’s involvement in United to End Genocide, for which NCC associate general secretary Tony Kireopoulos has served as board chair. “The Armenian genocide is widely acknowledged to be the first genocide of the last century,” Kireopoulos said. “The most recent genocide was Darfur, and the threat of other genocides looms large in yet other contexts today. Therefore, our work to end genocide is not over, but it begins with an honest appraisal of what has happened in the past.”

The National Council of Churches will be issuing a formal statement commemorating the Armenian Genocide on May 7, when the NCC governing board and church representatives to the NCC Christian Unity Gathering will join Armenian-Americans and others from around the world for the US service at the Washington National Cathedral to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

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Peace and Love

Poustinia Garden

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where these is hatred, let me sow love” ― Francis of Assisi.





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Love: A Priceless Treasure

“Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

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Poustinia Chapel at Pascha

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Orthodox Paschal Greetings

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ανέστη!

Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!

המשיח קם! באמת קם!‎

Христос воскрес! Воістину воскрес!

المسيح قام! حقا قام!‎ المسيح قام! بالحقيقة قام!‎

Хрыстос уваскрос! Сапраўды ўваскрос!

Христос възкръсна! Наистина възкръсна!

Христос васкрсе! Ваистину васкрсе!

Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!

Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес!

¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En verdad ha resucitado!

Chrystus zmartwychwstał! Prawdziwie zmartwychwstał!

Kristus on üles tõusnud! Tõesti, Ta on üles tõusnud!

Kristus nousi kuolleista! Totisesti nousi!

Krisztus feltámadt! Valóban feltámadt!

ქრისტე აღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტად აღსდგა

Asréracht Críst! Asréracht Hé-som co dearb!

Tá Críost éirithe! Go deimhin, tá sé éirithe!

Tha Crìosd air èiridh! Gu dearbh, tha e air èiridh!

Atgyfododd Crist! Yn wir atgyfododd!

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Christ is Risen

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Holy Fire – Благодатный Огонь

Christian Orthodox worshipers hold up candles lit from the miraculous ‘Holy Fire’ as thousands gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City on April 11, 2015, during the Orthodox Easter ceremony of the ‘Holy Fire.’

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Lamentation of the Mother of God

Today the blameless Virgin

saw You suspended upon the Cross, O Word.

She mourned within herself and was sorely pierced in her heart.

She groaned in agony from the depth of her soul.

Exhausted from tearing her hair and cheeks and beating her breast,

She cried out, lamenting:

“Woe is me, O my divine Child!

Woe is me, O Light of the world!

Why have You departed from mine eyes, O Lamb of God?”

Then the bodiless hosts were seized with trembling and cried:

“O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”

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The Passover Lamb

Christ, our Passover Lamb, is voluntary sacrificed for us.

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