HERESY OF “NEO-CHILIASM'' (Archbishop Averky Taushev)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth” ( Rev. 21:1–7 ).

With these words, taken from the Apocalypse, the holy righteous Father John of Kronstadt began his extremely significant final New Year's sermon. In this sermon, which served as a kind of testament to us, since it was delivered shortly before his blessed death, he vividly painted a picture of the terrible moral corruption of the modern world and expressed the opinion that this world is "nearing its end," that "the last times have already come."

In this sermon, as in many other sermons and individual thoughts and sayings in "My Life in Christ," St. John emerges as a powerful denouncer of the terrible heresy of our time, which is fundamentally undermining the Orthodox Christian teaching on salvation. This heresy has become so widespread in our time, yet has so skillfully concealed its destructive heretical nature, that it is now professed even by many within our Orthodox Church, not excluding clergy, some of whom occupy high hierarchical positions.

What kind of heresy is this?

This heresy, in essence, does not represent anything completely new: it is merely a peculiar refraction, or manifestation in modern conditions, in the modern environment of life, of the heresy of the so-called “chiliasm,” or the false teaching about the thousand-year Kingdom of Christ on earth, once condemned by the Second Ecumenical Council.

That is why we call it “neo-chiliasm”.

This is faith in the coming progress of humanity on earth , or in “the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth,” as those who consider themselves to belong to the Church of Christ express it, supposedly called, in their conviction, to realize here on earth for people a heavenly life – complete well-being, peace and prosperity.

The goal and end of asceticism (St John Cassian)

All sciences and arts have their goal (scopon) and their end (telos), in view of which the diligent lover of art willingly endures all labor and expense. Thus, a farmer, enduring now heat, now cold, tirelessly plows and loosens the soil, with the "goal" of clearing it of all foreign debris and making it more fertile; convinced that otherwise he will not achieve the "end ," that is, a bountiful harvest for his own sustenance and the increase of his wealth. So our asceticism has its goal and its end, for the sake of which we tirelessly and with pleasure undertake all labors - for the sake of which the meagerness of fasting food does not burden us, the exhaustion from vigils delights us, the constant reading of Scripture with meditation knows no satiety, and neither incessant labor, nor nakedness from everything and poverty in everything, nor even the horrors of this immeasurable desert frighten us.

What is Fasting? Its Essence and Purpose

In general, the word fast in the biblical understanding, as in the translation from Hebrew "tzum", literally "to tighten the insides" means abstaining from food.

The Latin word for "fast" is "ieiunium," literally meaning "empty intestine." Therefore, fasting is not a division of food into fasting and lean foods, but simply abstaining from food to combat gluttony, so that the spirit can rule over the flesh.

St John of Kronstadt - a shining example of Orthodoxy

 

By Archbishop Averky Taushev

"O wondrous, life-giving, divine Orthodoxy! I see your radiant image!" – this is how our great righteous man, prayer-maker, and miracle-worker, the ever-memorable Father John of Kronstadt, loved to exclaim repeatedly .

And this is understandable! After all, he himself constantly sensed within himself the incomparable grace-filled power and spiritual might of wondrous, life-giving, Divine Orthodoxy—that pure, uncorrupted, unadulterated, genuine Christian faith, the one true, one saving faith, undistorted and uncontaminated by any human delusions or inventions. Where does all the greatness and glory of our wondrous, all-Russian righteous man come from, who acquired worldwide renown, was bowed before, and deeply revered as a true shepherd of Christ's Church, even by many foreigners and non-believers who experienced the miraculous power of his prayers and intercession for them before God, and who only heard of him from others? From Holy Orthodoxy.

Life of Saint Ignatius of Antioch (+108)

Saint Ignatius was born in Antioch, the capital of Syria. Tradition says that he was the child whom Jesus Christ received into His most pure arms and to whom, pointing to His disciples, He said, " Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven ." And, " If he receives such a child in My name, he receives Me" ( Matt. 18:2-5 ; Mark 9:37 ). Saint Ignatius is called the God-Bearer because he was carried by the hands of the incarnate God, and even more so because, as he himself explains in his conversation with Emperor Trajan, he always carried God in his heart through his faith and love for Jesus Christ and through the grace of the Holy Spirit with which his heart was filled.

Life of St John of Kronstadt (+1908)

On October 19, 1829, in the far north of Russia, a weak and sickly child, named John (Ioann), was born in the family of Ilia Sergiyev, church reader in the village of Sura in the Archangelsk province. This child was the future luminary of Christ’s Church.

From his earliest years Vanya went with his father to their poor and humble church, served in the altar, loved the service books, became very pious. His favorite book was the Holy Gospel. All of this became a firm religious foundation for the boy in his later long and glorious life in Christ.

Learning came very hard to Vanya in his childhood, which sorrowed him greatly, but also served to spur him on to especially fervent prayers to God for help. And a miracle occurred! Once, during his sojourn in his religious school, after a fervent prayer during the night, the boy experienced a sudden shiver all over his body, and it was as though a curtain fell from his eyes, as though his mental sight opened up, and he experienced lightness and joy in his soul. After that night the boy immediately began reading with great ease, began to comprehend and memorize everything with the greatest facility. He finished his school at the top of his class, graduated from the Archangelsk Seminary in first place, and entered the St. Petersburg Religious Academy.

Life of St Boniface of Rome (+307)

Once upon a time, there lived in Rome a woman named Aglaida. Her father, Acacius, had once been the mayor of the city. Young and beautiful, possessing rich estates inherited from her parents, and enjoying a free life without a lawful husband, she, overcome by the passions of her frail flesh, spent her days in adultery and sin. She had a faithful slave, young and handsome, who was the steward of her house and estates. His name was Boniface, and Aglaida lived with him in a criminal relationship, satisfying her carnal desires. And there is no shame in speaking of this, for the discussion will further focus on the blessed and wondrous transformation of their lives. For when the saints are praised, their former sins are not ignored, to show that not all were blessed and righteous from their youth, but, like others, had corrupt bodies. Yet, through true repentance, a positive change in themselves, and great virtues, they became renowned for their holiness. This is recounted in the Lives of the Saints so that we sinners would not despair, but would hasten to a swift correction, knowing that with God's help, even after sinning, it is possible to be holy, if only we ourselves desire it and strive for it. Indeed, it is a beautiful, heart-warming story in which we hear how a sinner, seemingly without hope of salvation, becomes, beyond all expectation, a saint and, indeed, a martyr for Christ, like Saint Boniface, who during his life of lust served sin, but later became a confessor, a valiant ascetic, and a glorious sufferer for Christ. During his dissolute life, Boniface was a slave to sin, yet he possessed certain praiseworthy virtues: he was merciful to the poor, loving to strangers, and sympathetic to all who were in misfortune; he gave generous alms to some, lovingly provided comfort to others, and compassionately helped others. Having a firm desire to reform, Boniface often prayed to God to deliver him from the devil's wiles and help him become master of his desires and passions. And the Lord did not disdain His servant and did not allow him to sink further into sinful impurity, but deigned to arrange it so that his impure deeds were washed away by the shedding of his blood, and through this very thing his soul became like a royal purple robe and was crowned with a martyr's crown. This was accomplished in the following manner.

Akathist ''Glory to God for Everything'' (Metropolitan Tryphon Turkestanov)

 

Kontakion 1

Incorruptible King of the ages, who holds in his right hand all the paths of human life by the power of his saving Providence, we thank you for all your known and hidden blessings, for earthly life and for the heavenly joys of your future kingdom. Extend your mercies to us further, who sing:
Glory to you, O God, forever and ever.

Ikos 1

I was born into the world as a weak, helpless child, but Your Angel spread His bright wings, guarding my cradle. Since then, Your love has shone on all my paths, wondrously guiding me to the light of eternity. I glorify the generous gifts of Your Providence, revealed from the first day until now. I give thanks and cry out with all who have come to know You:
Glory to You, who called me to life;
Glory to You, who revealed to me the beauty of the universe.
Glory to You, who opened heaven and earth before me as an eternal book of wisdom; the glory of Your eternity in the midst of the temporal world.
Glory to You for Your secret and open mercies;
Glory to You for every breath of my chest.
Glory to You for every step of life, for every moment of joy.
Glory to You, O God, forever and ever.

The Calendar Question

During the Nativity season, debates emerge about the calendar issue: julian vs gregorian and when should Christmas be celebrated, I wanted to do a brief analysis on this calendar issue:

NEW YEAR - A FEAST OF HOPE

Written by Igumen Tihon

Happy New Year, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ!

Here again, God's mercy grants us a new cycle of time: the old year passes into eternity, and a new one, full of unknown gifts, enters the doors of our lives. The vain world greets it with the noise of feasts and wild joy, thinking that the change of dates can change hearts. But we, children of the Church of Christ, celebrate differently! We greet the New Year not with empty rejoicing, but with spiritual joy, thanksgiving to God, and firm hope, for we know: each new day is a new gift from the Creator, a new opportunity to draw closer to Him, a new step toward eternal salvation.