The Sunday of Orthodoxy and the Current State of Affairs (Photios Kontoglou)

 

The Sunday of Orthodoxy was established in order for the Church to celebrate the restoration of the Icons and the victory of true religion over the Iconoclasts. The Iconoclasts were the modernists of that time, who began with the abolition of iconography, so that they might proceed gradually, as all such people are wont to do, to other destructive reforms, the end result being to leave nothing in Orthodoxy intact. The Icon was the symbol of Orthodoxy, and Byzantium was in turmoil over the Icons, in civil war, for 116 years. In 787 A.D., the Seventh Ecumenical Synod took place in Nicaea. This Synod proclaimed the restoration of the Icons, and put an end to the Iconoclasm which had started in 726, in the reign of Leo the Isaurian. But even after the Seventh Ecumenical Synod, Iconoclasm was revived, and so another Synod took place in Constantinople in 842, and this Synod confirmed the Seventh Ecumenical Synod. Thus did that madness of Iconoclasm cease.

Commentary on the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos)

The “Synodikon of Orthodoxy” is a text contained in the “Triodion” and read on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Lent.

It is well known that through the ages various heresies have appeared which deny the experience of revelation and in fact make use of philosophy and conjecture, doubting the Church’s truth on various dogmatic topics. The Fathers who formed the Synods opposed these errors. The decisions of the Synods on dogmatic topics are called “provisions”. More generally speaking, each decision of the Synods is called a “Synodikon”. Thus we have the synodical tome and the synodical provision, and moreover, each synod has its own synodikon.

The “Synodikon of Orthodoxy” is the decisions of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which refer to the veneration of holy icons. The reading of them on the Sunday of Orthodoxy gave the title “Synodikon of Orthodoxy”. Of course it must be said that later there was also added to the “Synodikon of Orthodoxy” the definition of faith of the hesychastic Councils of the fourteenth century. Thus the “Synodikon of Orthodoxy” comprises the decisions of both the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the Councils of the fourteenth century, which, as will be said below, have all the elements to characterise and regard as a Ninth Ecumenical Council.

An analysis will be made of the “Synod of Orthodoxy” in its central points. There will not be a broader analysis of the whole Council, but what I consider to be the main points will be emphasised, because they express the ethos of the Church. And this is necessary, because the mind of the Church is linked to, and in harmony with the decisions of the Fathers of the Church as it has been expressed with conciliar authority.

The Synodikon of Orthodoxy compiled in 1583

Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I deny before My Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33).

The term synodikon is applied to an official definition promulgated by a synod or council, or to a statement which has synodical origin or conciliar authority. The present synodikon was approved and issued by the Synod of 843 which restored the veneration of icons, i.e., it upheld and re-imposed the authority of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod which had fallen into abeyance during the intervening second period of Iconoclasm (815-842). In the manuscripts, the titles are various: The Synodikon of Orthodoxy, The Synodikon Confirming Orthodoxy Read on the First Sunday of Great Lent, The Synodikon Confirming Orthodoxy, The Synodikon Against All Heresy, and different combinations of all the above. In the printed Triodion, the synodikon is titled The Synodikon of the Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Synod for Orthodoxy. Although not entirely correct, we have retained it because the Synod of 843 did not form any new definitions, but was concerned to proclaim again the authority of the Seventh Council and to re-establish the definition of the Faith propounded there.

Sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (St Ignatius Brianchaninov)

Beloved brethren! The beginning of our sermon on Orthodox Sunday is most naturally the question: What is Orthodoxy?

Orthodoxy is true knowledge of God and worship of God; Orthodoxy is the worship of God in spirit and truth; Orthodoxy is the glorification of God through true knowledge of Him and worship of Him; Orthodoxy is the glorification by God of man, the true servant of God, by the gift of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the glory of Christians ( John 7:39 ). Where there is no Spirit, there is no Orthodoxy.

Description of the feast of Sunday of Orthodoxy

THE HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE SUNDAY OF THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY.

The very first mention of the Triumph of Orthodoxy as such was made only in 899 (in the Clitorology of Philotheus), and it is certain that this celebration became an integral part of the life of Byzantium from 843 onwards. It was in March of this year that Saint Methodius was ordained as patriarch and the veneration of holy icons was restored.

Saint Theodore the Tiro and Great Martyr (+306) and the Feast of Kollyva

The Holy Martyr Theodore lived during the reigns of Emperors Maximian (286-305) and Maximinus (308-313), and resided in the metropolis of Amasea, which is an eminent city of Cappadocia off the coast of the Black Sea, and was from the village of Houmialos. At the time therefore when the Saint was numbered among the soldiers called the Tiron (Tiro means armed soldier, or rather was a newly enlisted recruit), when he was under the regimental command of Vriga, then he confessed that Christ was the true God, and that the idols of the Greeks were lifeless statues, the work of men's hands. Wherefore he was brought before his commander, and he gave Theodore some time and a deadline to think things over. Then the Saint did a great virtuous action, for he took an idol of Rhea, the mother of the gods, which played the Greeks for fools, and he threw it into the fire and burned it.

Thus he was arrested and confessed that it was he who burned the idol. First he was hung up and scraped, then he was put in a flaming furnace, in which he was perfected, and received the crown of martyrdom. His Synaxis is held in his martyric Temple which is in Phorakion, on the Saturday of the first week of the Fast. This is when the miracle with the kollyva took place through him, by which he liberated the Orthodox Christian people from the polluted foods of the pagans.

A Reflection on Fr Alexander Schmemann's book ''For the life of the world'' concerning mission in Orthodoxy

As the author sited the Gospel words: You are witnesses to this...

This is very true, the apostles are the real witnesses of Christ the incarnate God, They listened to His teachings, saw His miracles,His betrayal,Death and Ressurection and His appearences during the 40 days.Also on the 50th day during Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of flames.So they had experiencial knowledge of God, This helped them greatly during their mission to spread the Gospel, This was the reason why they had such boldness to proclaim the truth in front of rulers and a mass of pagan people. They were ready to even give up their lives and endure the worst possible tortures. Such was the zeal they had.

Why is confession necessary? (Igumen Tikhon)

Question:
- Father, if God knows everything, then why confess? After all, He sees everything in my heart...

The Life of Our Venerable Father Martinian and the Holy Women Zoe and Photinia (V century)

In Palestine, near the city of Caesarea there is a mountain called the "Place of the Ark." Many hermits labored there, among them the blessed and praiseworthy monk, filled with divine grace—Saint Martinian. From a young age, he loved God and began to lead a monastic life. The handsome Martinian, at eighteen years of age, left the city and his relatives, renounced worldly vanity, and came to this mountain for a life of silence and solitude. Living like incorporeal angels, he remained here for 25 years. For his virtuous life, he was deemed worthy to receive from God the gift of healing ailments and diseases. Many, through his holy prayers, were healed of various ailments; many, possessed by evil spirits, came to him on the mountain and were freed from the wiles of the evil one. God performed many other miracles through the prayers of His saint. Day by day, Martinian became increasingly successful in his ascetic endeavors; the fame of his virtuous life spread far beyond the borders of that land; all who heard of him came to him for spiritual benefit. But the enemy of mankind, the devil, could not tolerate such a virtuous life of a young ascetic, so adorned with spiritual struggles. At first, he began to tempt blessed Martinian in every way and tried to intimidate him in various ways. Then the ancient envy of mankind used the same weapon with which he once expelled Adam from paradise, wishing to expel this ascetic from his silent wilderness and deprive him of eternal bliss.

Follow God and not the world

 

Let me be different God, I don't mind.

Satan's strategy is simple:

Make sin seem normal and righteousness strange. The closer you are to God, the stranger you are to people. Don't fall for that. If your heart is not grounded in the truth, you will be carried away by everything that is popular.
Compromise always distances you from Christ. God did not create you to fit in.
He chose you to stand out. You are not strange for walking in obedience - you are walking in wisdom.
If the path you are taking seems easy to you, if everyone greets and praises you... it is probably not the narrow path. The Lord's path has always been a challenge to the culture.
He gave his life for it, and His followers paid the same price.
Your obedience to God is more important than the world's opinion.
The Lord Jesus was perfect, they still hated him. Stop seeking validation from a world that crucified its Creator. God’s approval is worth more than the applause of the whole world. I don’t care who laughs at me, I will boldly say:
I would rather stand with God and be rejected by the world than stand with the world and be rejected by God.
If you choose God over culture, if you would rather be singled out than accepted…you probably feel like a “white sheep” in this dark world…
But God singled them out on purpose.

Source: Repost from ''End Times''

How to live the Orthodox faith - A spiritual instruction (Igumen Tihon)

1. Start your day with prayer.


When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you do is turn to God with gratitude. Prayer isn't just a duty, but an opportunity to establish inner peace before starting a new day. Even a short prayer will set the right mood and provide spiritual support.


2. Treat every person with love and respect.


Whenever you meet people—whether colleagues, family, or random passersby—remember that each of them is created in the image and likeness of God. Showing patience, respect, and compassion is a daily way of fulfilling the commandment to love one's neighbor.

The essence of fasting (Priest Seraphim)

 

The time of Lent is a time of special attention to the struggle with one's passions. It is given as a reminder of what a Christian must do in his personal life. He must turn his attention inward, to his soul, and pay attention to himself with the goal of eradicating his sinful, passionate desires and feelings and, in their place, cultivating and instilling virtuous desires and feelings of the soul, turning to God for help. One must devote one's attention to this inner work , especially during Lent. And then, when the fast ends, one should not abandon it, but continue it throughout one's life.

Prayer on the First Day of Lent (Igumen Tihon)

All-Merciful and Long-Suffering Lord, I now enter upon holy Lent to cleanse my soul from the bonds of sin and draw closer to You. Do not reject me, a sinner, but grant me the strength and wisdom to walk this path with repentance, humility, and love.
Cleanse my heart from judgment, pride, and vanity. Grant me true fasting—not only physical abstinence, but also abstinence from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. May my fast not be hypocritical, but pleasing to You, O God!
Enlighten my mind with the light of Your truth, so that my prayer is not empty, but becomes a living communion with You. Fill my soul with love for my neighbors, so that by forgiving and humbling myself, I may inherit Your grace.
Help me remember eternity, not to become attached to earthly things, but to seek first Your Kingdom. May this fast be a step toward purity, peace, and joy in You, Lord, for You are the Light and the Truth, and to You be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Life of Saint Charalampus (+202)

During the reign of the impious Roman Emperor Severus , with the spread of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, the worship of demons began to decline and idolatry itself ceased. At this time, in the city of Magnesia , lived the holy Bishop Charalampus. He guided people on the path to salvation and taught them the word of God. He said: "My Emperor Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, sent apostles and prophets so that people, enlightened by their holy preaching, would steadfastly follow the path of truth. Your Emperor Severus, however, forces people through cruel torments to offer sacrifices to soulless idols and thereby consigns their souls to eternal death." Jesus Christ, my King, through the prophets and apostles, has given us the words of heavenly life—and through this preaching, our enemy is cast out, the serpent is trampled, unbelief is transformed into faith, demonic teaching perishes, and all enemy power falls in its cruel fall. Therefore, it is better to believe the words that guide us onto the path to eternal life than to stand for a cause that brings eternal destruction."

Two stories of forgiveness from the lives of the saints

 

1. St Martyr Nikephoros ☦️

In the great city of Syrian Antioch, there lived a certain priest named Sapricius and a simple citizen named Nicephorus. They loved each other so much and were so close that some considered them brothers.

After many years of such friendship, the devil, who hated everything good, became envious of them and sowed such weeds of enmity in them that they did not even want to meet each other on the road: so they hated each other; and as much as love and friendship had previously reigned between them, so much later, through the action of Satan, hatred and enmity boiled up between them.

Forgiveness Sunday

 

Blessed Forgiveness Sunday and approaching Great Lent to all brothers and sisters!

May God forgive us all!

Forgive me and I also forgive you!

Prayer for Travelers

"Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and living path, who deigned to wander into Egypt with your supposed father Joseph and your Most Pure Virgin Mother, and who journeyed to Emmaus with Luke and Cleopas! We humbly pray to you, Most Holy Master, that you now also, with your grace, accompany these servants of yours (names) , and, as with your servant Tobias, send them a guardian angel and guide, who would preserve and deliver them from every evil danger, from visible and invisible enemies, guide them to the fulfillment of your commandments, accompany them in well-being and good health, and bring them back safe and sound. And grant them to successfully fulfill their good intentions for your pleasing and for your glory. For it is in Your power to have mercy and save us, and we send up glory to You with Your Beginningless Father and with Your Most Holy, All-Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen."

Source: https://azbyka.ru/.../Feofan.../trebnik-na-russkom-jazyke/54

How can we become humble (Hieromonk Savvas Aghioreitis)

 

I remember a contemporary Elder on Mount Athos whom I once asked:

 — How can we become humble?

And he told me this:

— When we accuse ourselves.

With which “universal church” are they teaching us to unite? (against the Pope). (Averky Taushev)

 

"The Pope is a divine man and a human God. Therefore, no one can judge him or about him. The Pope has divine authority, and his authority is unlimited. He can do on earth the same thing as God can do in heaven. What the Pope does is the same as what God has done. His commandments must be fulfilled as the commandments of God. Only God alone is like the Pope; the Pope commands heavenly and earthly things. The Pope is in the world what God is in the world, or what the soul is in the body. The authority of the Pope is higher than any created authority, for it in some way extends to things in heaven, earth, and the underworld, so that the words of Scripture may be justified in him: 'You have put all things under his foot.' Everything is given over to the power and will of the Pope, and no one and nothing can resist him. If the Pope were to drag millions of people into hell with him, none of them would have the right to ask him: 'Holy Father, why are you doing this?'

An Analysis of the Roman Error about the Primacy and Infallibility of the Pope (Bishop Mitrofan Abramov)

 

The primacy of the pope

The cornerstone of all the errors of the Catholic Church is the doctrine of papal primacy. The essence of this doctrine is as follows: the Roman Pontiff, Catholics teach, is the supreme ruler of the entire Church founded by the Savior; he is God's vicar on earth and the head of all believers. As such, the Pope is superior to the Ecumenical Councils, which receive their confirmation and sanction from the Pope.

On what do Catholics base this anti-Christian teaching about the visible primacy of the Roman Pontiff in the Church?