Life of Saint Glicherie of Romania (+1985)

 

Link of the pdf of the full text:

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7ksI4aE-muajhfSLUiu5oMn1RkUsj-B/view?usp=sharing

Life of Saint Yakov Arkatov (+1991)

Once at the end of a hot summer’s day a wanderer with a pack on his back and a staff in his hand appeared in the small village of Alexandrovka, Kurgan uyezd, in the Altai mountains of Siberia. He went up to the gates of the house of Theodore Arkatov and stopped, fixing his eyes on a three-year-old child who was playing in the sand. For a long time he looked at him, and then when the mistress of the house came out he asked for a bed for the night. It was the year 1906.

On the Antichrist (Archpriest Boris Molchanov)

"You know the signs of the Antichrist;

remember them not only yourself, but also generously share them with everyone."

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

 Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build My Church , and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” ( Matthew 16:18 ). What does “the gates of hell” mean?

“The Jews had a custom of gathering under the chairmanship of the elders at the city gates to discuss political, judicial, and social matters. These assemblies were the highest authority in all matters; all of God’s commands were also proclaimed here. They enjoyed a certain authority among the people. References to this Jewish custom of holding meetings at the city gates can be found in the book of Ruth ( Ruth 4:1, 11 ). In the description of an active wife in the book of Proverbs ( Proverbs 31:23 ), it is said that “her husband is always well dressed” and that “he is well known in the gates,” i.e., he is invested with public trust and he takes an active part in important meetings (Prof. V.V. Bolotov ).

Therefore, the "gates of hell" signify not simply the forces of hell, but the "general headquarters" of the forces of hell—their most important meeting, dedicated to developing a plan for a decisive battle with the Church. The Church and hell are presented as two warring forces. And in this war with hell, the Church, according to Christ, will remain unconquered.

The hellish plan to fight the Church in Holy Scripture is called “the mystery of lawlessness” ( 2 Thessalonians 2:7 ), which has been in effect for centuries and will end with the appearance of the Antichrist ( 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ).

The Antichrist can only come as a result of a worldwide apostasy, i.e., the people's apostasy from God and from His ways, when God's grace departs from people. "When the apostates have fulfilled the measure of their iniquities, then shall a king arise, bold and skillful in deceit" ( Daniel 8:23 ). "His coming is after the work of Satan" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ).

Orthodoxy and Extremism (Riassophore-nun Paisia Reid)

 History offers many lessons, and the nearly 2,000 year existence of the Church is replete with illustrations of what and whom to emulate and what to avoid. The following essay concentrates on two celebrated hierarchs who, although widely separated in time and culture, were both faced with periods of severe ecclesiastical unrest which threatened to tear the very fabric of the Church. The fourth-century Cappadocian Father, Saint Basil the Great, and Patriarch Nikon of Moscow from the 17th century, are an unlikely pair. But the similarity of their respective situations allows for an interesting comparison of the effects they had on their times, and the divergent legacies they have left the Church. Patriarch Nikon's character and attitudes foreshadowed in many ways the temperament often found in Orthodoxy today, and his effect on the Church in Russia offers a timely warning whose importance cannot be minimized. St. Basil, on the other hand, provides a sobering and inspiring counter balance, to the trend of much current Orthodox inclination.

Orthodox view on various topics

 

https://orthodoxyforall.blogspot.com/p/orthodox-view-on-various-topics.html

Life of Saint Maximus the Greek (+1556)

A zealot for truth and piety, the Venerable Maximus , a monk of the Athonite Vatopedi Monastery, was a Greek by birth, but by his great deeds he fully belongs to the Holy Russian Church, for which he was a luminary during his life and remained a luminary after his death in his writings.

Saint Maximus's hometown was the city of Arto in Albania, near Epirus. He was born around 1480 to pious and wealthy parents, Manuel and Irene, of Greek descent, which is why he is always referred to as "Greek."

Life of Saint Maximus the Confessor (+662)

 

Great not only by name (827 ) but also by life, Saint Maximus was born in the great imperial city of Constantinople. Descended from high-ranking and pious parents, he received a rigorous scholarly education. He thoroughly studied philosophy and theology, achieved the highest glory for his wisdom, and was respected even in the royal palace. Emperor Heraclius (828) , seeing his intelligence and righteous life, honored him, against his will, with the title of first secretary and included him among his advisers. Saint Maximus enjoyed the love and respect of the courtiers and was of great service to the entire royal city.

Petition against the ecumenist activities of the bishops

Our faith is being mocked by these bishops, they instead of professing the True faith and preaching repentance to the heterodox and call them to return to the One Holy Catholic  and Apostolic Church (*catholic meaning whole and universal in greek), the Body of Christ, they engage in common prayer and treat them as brothers and sisters in Christ, which is blasphemy and a lie both in relation to the heterodox and to the Orthodox, how are the heterodox going to return to the True Faith when they are being confirmed in their heresy?! Ecumenism destroys the meaning of the Church as the Body of Christ that is always One and states that there are various churches that need to unite, this goes against all the Ecumenical Councils, Local Councils and the teachings of saints.

The Theology of The Spiritual Homilies of Saint Macarius the Great (Fr George Florovsky)

The Spiritual Homilies are not a theological discussion. They are rather the intimate confessions of a contemplative who teaches and edifies from personal experience. He describes this experience in a definite philosophical language — the influence of Stoicism is felt most strongly. However, the author mentions external philosophy merely in order to contrast Hellenic wisdom with the true and beneficial philosophy. "The Hellenic philosophers learn to master the word. But there are other philosophers who are ignorant of the word, who rejoice in and are gladdened by God's grace." Genuine philosophy is ascetic diligence, courting of the Spirit — the Spirit of Wisdom and Reason. The true "wise" person is the Spirit-Bearing contemplative or seer of secrets — this is a fairly common idea in ascetic documents.

Life and Sayings of Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt

Life

Macarius (Makarios) the Great (the Egyptian), born c. A.D. 300, was a former camel-driver, who traded in nitre. He was one of the pioneers of Scetis. He was ordained priest and lived as an anchorite in a village until he was falsely blamed for the pregnancy of a girl there; when he was cleared, he went to Scetis. Like many of the early monks, he traveled about and was not fixed in any one place, as these stories show. Cassian said of him, ‘He was the first who found a way to inhabit the desert of Scetis.' He was much influenced by Anthony the Great and visited him at least twice. He died in A.D. 390.