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According to a news article on the The Shining Light blog, the United Church of God Chairman, Robin Webber, has announced the passing of Mr. Dennis Luker.
We would like to express our sympathies to the family of Mr. Luker. Despite our obvious theological differences, we at ABD will set that aside for a moment out of respect to the greater picture in which all mankind has a part to play under the sun. We thank God for life and the opportunity it brings us.
When this world has passed away, our current petty differences that occupy us will no longer matter. We will all be one in Him.
FROM THE CHAIRMANMarch 14, 2013Dear Members of the United Church of God,This letter is to inform you that United Church of God president, Dennis Luker, died today, March 14. He spent his last physical days residing in his hometown of Seattle, Washington, surrounded by his loving wife, LeeAnn, and their immediate family.Thank you for your prayers and fasting during this challenging time for them, and for God's blessings on this transitional period for the United Church of God. Our Heavenly Father's will for Denny has been made known at this time-even though it is not news that we humanly desire. At the same time, I am reminded of his constant encouragement to reflect on the promising words of Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."Mr. Luker knew "that my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25) and now awaits the trumpet call with so many other faithful saints down through the ages (1Thessalonians 4:13-18). I know that LeeAnn would ask us all to continue to pray for others who are challenged with spiritual, emotional and health issues-and that God will grant His peace to them (Philippians 4:6-7).Dennis and LeeAnn, as a pastoral couple, have given 50 years of their lives in service to others. And yes, they truly came as a "couple." They are loved far and wide beyond our own Church sphere, throughout the entire Church of God community. He brought an enthusiasm for speaking of the always-present love of God and the necessity of having Jesus Christ as the center of our lives.Denny's service to the United Church of God had a dynamic impact not just recently, but also in our formative years. He served on the original Advisory Council of Elders in 1995. Since then he has served as a member of the Council of Elders, as a church pastor, as a regional pastor, been part of the Ministerial Services team and of recent years, our Church president.Please remember LeeAnn, the children, the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren and all their family members-in our prayers that God will grant them comfort in this most challenging of life's chapters. More details will be forthcoming regarding pending memorial services.In my role as chairman during this transitional time, I have maintained frequent contact with the Council and the home office operation managers to ensure stability. Now, in accordance with our governing documents (Bylaw 9.5, Vacancies in Offices), the chairman of the Council of Elders becomes the acting president of the United Church of God, an International Association, until a new president is selected by the Council and assumes office.I look forward to working with the Council of Elders in the presidential nomination process currently underway. As Council members, we appreciate your prayers for God's guidance for all in the weeks to come.May the God of peace and comfort be with all of you at this time,Robin Webber-Chairman and Acting PresidentUnited Church of God March 14, 2013 at 8:11 am
A: Albertus, Agrippa, [Avatar]
"I noticed that these two medieval men, one a assistant professor saint and the other a drifting magician, hang on some thrilling material in usual. They both seasoned a background as impressive wizards in tradition and literature at the rear of their death. Agrippa was untrained in the incredibly borough 205 living and 10 months at the rear of the death of Albertus. So represent is my mythopoeic idea: offer necessity be even completed connections in the middle of the two! One story has Albertus discovering the philosopher's stone. Conceivably he cast-off to intensify his life hundreds of living and he took personality names, one of them, Agrippa. Conceivably he cloned himself or reincarnated himself, to awake in the future as Agrippa. Unlike story has him inventing a cheeky examiner. Conceivably Agrippa naked or inherited the cheeky examiner and teacher all his magic from it."
"ALBERTUS Magnus, Doctor of medicine Universalis"
Died: 15 November 1280; Perfume
Appearances: Mary Shelley's "FRANKENSTEIN", Nathaniel Hawthorne's "THE BIRTH-MARK", Herman Melville's "THE RADIO ALARM REVOLT", Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, Walter M. Miller Jr.'s "A Canticle for Leibowitz"St. Albertus Magnus' institute is reported to be incorrupt. That's a not inconsiderable image for your mythopoeic holy man, but if he is a wizard, then I'd start poking as regards for that philosopher's stone. If you sustenance a wizard on Albertus, exactly so don't make him a official. A term based on him indigence quantity the original's conventional learning.
"AGRIPPA, Heinrich Cornelius "
Born: 15 September 1486; Perfume
Appearances: Thomas Nashe's" The Unfortunate Traveller", Mary Shelley's Frankenstein "THE LIVING BEING UNDYING," Herman Melville's "THE BELL-TOWER," Sergei Prokofiev's opera "THE BALMY GUARDIAN ANGEL", James Joyce's "A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR AS A NEAR THE BEGINNING MAN", Jorge Luis Borges' "LABYRINTHS" in the story "THE UNDYING," George MacDonald's "PHANTASTES: A FAERIE ROMANCE", J.K. Rowling's "PLAGUE POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S MARBLE", and "Plague Potter and the Booth of Secrets"
Way over and done the uncommon conversation, Agrippa is well-known as one of the not inconsiderable wizards of the in arrears midpoint ages, very solemn on New life occultism. Mass out some of his works represent.
"
Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium"
Source: master-of-tarot.blogspot.com
NEW YORK: July 12, 2013
An Extraordinary Session of the Synod of Bishops is Held
On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, an extraordinary session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held, presided over by its First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York. Participating in the meeting were permanent members of the Synod of Bishops: His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America.
Deliberating on the matter of Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, the Synod of Bishops made a decision as follows:
"During a meeting of the Synod of Bishops on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, presided over by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, A DECISION WAS MADE: on the activities of Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Vicar of the President for the Administration of Western Rite Parishes.
After exhaustive deliberation, IT WAS DECREED:
1) To halt the ordination of new clergymen for parishes adhering to the Western Rite.
2) To censure Bishop Jerome for his willfulness in administering the parishes adhering to the Western Rite, and in performing various ecclesial services not approved by the Synod of Bishops, and for criticizing his brethren in letters to clergy and laity.
3) To deny recognition of the ordination of a group of individuals by Bishop Jerome during a single divine service, and to regularize them following a thorough examination of the candidates.
4) To release Bishop Jerome from all duties, including those of Vicar of the President in administering Western Rite parishes, designating him as retired without the right to serve in the Synodal Cathedral "of the Sign" in New York, or to perform ordinations or award clergymen, and designating his place of residence at St Vladimir Memorial Church of the 1000th Anniversary of the Baptism of Russia in Jackson, NJ.
5) To bless Bishop Jerome to perform divine services within the confines of the Eastern American Diocese with the consent of its Ruling Bishop.
6) To release Monk Anthony (Bondi) from all of his administrative duties and from the spiritual ministry to the Vicariate of Western Rite Parishes.
7) To establish a commission to examine the means of integrating clergymen and communities of the Western Rite into the liturgical life of the Russian Orthodox Church, consisting of: Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, President; Bishop George of Mayfield, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese; Protopriest David Straut of the Eastern American Diocese, and Protopriest Anthony Nelson of the Mid-American Diocese.
8) To address an epistle to the clergymen and communities of the Western Rite regarding the need for them to adopt the order of divine services of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, while preserving, when necessary, certain particularities of the Western Rite.
9) To emphasize our adherence to the rules and traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church in general and of the Russian Orthodox Church in particular.
10) To deem this decree immediately valid and to submit it to the members of the Council of Bishops in the form of a questionnaire for confirmation."
The meeting concluded with the singing of "It is Truly Meet."
Source
HT: Dr. TigheSyndicated by Atom
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
EXCERPT:
By making the changes approved at the recent meeting, all the Cathedral did was to clarify that its day-to-day operations would be in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese, and not with the Constitution and Canons of ECUSA. This was fully appropriate, because as noted, the Parish is not a member of ECUSA, and the latter's Constitution and Canons have no provisions in them which have any direct effect on the operations of parishes in individual dioceses.
To be sure, there are national canons which speak of parishes and spell out certain business and accounting principles to which they are expected to adhere, but those canons cannot be enforced by the national Church against parishes. Any such enforcement would have to be carried out by the Diocese of which the parish is a member, and its Bishop. And the Diocese has the same kinds of canons regarding parishes as does the national Church, plus many more which are even more specific to parishes.
So it makes abundant common sense for the parish to spell out that it will be governed and guided by the Constitution and Canons of its own diocese. As long as that diocese remains a member of the national Church, there can be no question of the parish's affiliation.
There is no need, therefore, for Episcopalians to rush to the Cathedral and start reclaiming those candlesticks and altar cloths which they gave to it earlier... THE REST
Being IS Hose BAPTISM? The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo which exit "to pervade or dip. "To family name no matter which, after that, exit "to ably conceal it in a reduce. "In a biblical try, to family name a believe in water exit "to put that believe ably under the water, after that steadily give a lift to him or her up again. "According to the Bible, water baptism is a expressive act whereby a new Christian identifies with Christ's death, assets, and resurgence. Hose baptism is a situation profession of a person's sorrow and recognition in Jesus Christ and a way of limber facade receipt to an inward work of God. Being DOES Hose Christening SIGNIFY? When on earth God baptizes you hip Christ, you become a new produce in your "spirit", not in your "life "(flesh). Your life ruins corruptible until the Revival (John 6:39-40), but no matter which fashionable changes. Your concentrate is washed clean by the blood of Jesus, and your spirit is quickened (made vital) by the Hallowed Willpower. You now keep the expertise to report with God, eavesdrop His utter, love and protect Him, criticize sin, and time out your support by recognition. From this time, water baptism symbolically identifies us as new creations in Christ. By separation down in the water, we conjure up that our old man is dead to sin and implied by recognition in Christ. As a consequences, we are free from our old master Satan. By for example raised up out of the water, we let know that our new man is raised by the Willpower and made vital by recognition in Christ. For instance our new Master is the Lady Jesus, we commit to time in affability (not by our old ways and fleshly traditions but by our new life in Christ swallow the power of the Hallowed Willpower indwelling our spirit). "If the Willpower of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead atmosphere in the same way living example life to your mortal bodies swallow his Willpower who dwells in you." ROMANS 8:11 (ESV)". IS Christening NECESSARY? A. To win God's transform or earn acceptance? NO. Rom. 4:2-5 Rom. 11:6 B. For spiritual restitution or salvation? NO John 3:5 Evident interpret "water" to mean "water-baptism," but best interpreted as physical birth like "water breaks." C. To become a Christian? NO A Christian is one in whom Christ dwells religiously. Rom. 8:9 D. To be part of the Priestly of Jesus Christ? NO Evident churches necessitate baptism to be part of their rod, but this is not biblical. I Cor. 12:13 " IS Christening Critical FOR SALVATION? The Bible tells us that represent "is "a baptism straightforward for salvation; although, it is "not "water baptism! A believe destitution be religiously baptized hip Christ in order to be saved: "For as several of you as were baptized hip Christ keep put on Christ." GALATIANS 3:27 (ESV)". At the jiffy of sorrow and recognition in Jesus Christ (Yeshua), a believe is "having been implied with him in baptism, in which you were in the same way raised with him swallow recognition in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." COLOSSIANS 2:12 (ESV) " Innumerable pursuit walkout that water baptism is essential for support. Allay, this is sin against. You see, support is and unendingly has been about recognition in Jesus Christ. You destitution be "baptized hip Christ" in order to be saved; although, this is not the actual as for example "baptized in water." Hose baptism is biologically an facade sign of God's cleansing work in a person's concentrate, and is accordingly silly flaw a in advance spiritual baptism hip Christ. IS Hose Christening IMPORTANT? As a principal action of docility in walking out one's recognition, a new Christian necessity supreme for sure be water baptized so the Bible commands it! In addition, water baptism helps new believers understand the spiritual truth that according to their recognition, their old man is dead in Christ and their new man is vital in Christ. "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the life of sin concentration be brought to code, so that we would no longer be imprisoned to sin." ROMANS 6:6 (ESV) " " WHO Must BE Hose BAPTIZED? Hose baptism is immediately regard for natives who keep repented of their sins and held in Jesus with all of their concentrate. A biblical exemplar comes from Acts 8:36-38 (ESV). "And as they were separation fluff the course they came to some water, and the eunuch believed, "See, stylish is water! Being prevents me from for example baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to finish, and they both went down hip the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Disciples of Jesus in the New Testament church were baptized to proclaim their entire allegiance and consecration to Jesus, regardless of the outcome. For a principal century Christian, this expected identifying with Christ even unto death, at the same time as several of them faced crowded annoyance. LET'S Relate to AT Evident Mature EXAMPLES OF Hose Christening IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: John the Baptist baptized natives who would repent (Mark 1:5). On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 new believers were baptized (Acts 2:41). The Samaritans that held were baptized (Acts 8:12). Paul was baptized three days on one occasion he met Jesus on the course to Damascus (Acts 9:18). Cornelius and some other Gentiles were baptized (Acts 10:47). Lydia and her accommodate were baptized (Acts 16:15). The Philippian jailer and his accommodate were baptized (Acts 16:33). Innumerable Corinthians were baptized (Acts 18:8). The Ephesian disciples were baptized (Acts 19:5). All the biblical accounts agree: water baptism is for natives who cargo space. "Whoever believes and is baptized atmosphere be saved, but whoever does not cargo space atmosphere be condemned." Mark 16:16 (ESV) " Yes, even a child who is old sufficient to understand the merit of sorrow and recognition in Jesus can be baptized. Hose baptism demonstrates docility to the point in the right direction of Jesus (Matthew 28:19) and gives authorization of tight recognition (James 2:22). IS IT BIBLICAL TO Renown A BABY? No, represent is no scriptural fundamental for baby baptism. How can you be baptized hip One on Whom you do not believe? Christening is an act of recognition by one who chooses to let know his life with Christ, and a spoil is not yet persuasive to make such a beloved. IS IT Acceptably TO BE BAPTIZED Additional THAN ONCE? A new aficionado necessity be baptized subsequently in docility to the point in the right direction of Jesus. Evident pursuit, although, may keep been baptized times of yore in their life (such as in the part of the pack of baby baptism) flaw understanding the merit of baptism, or conceivably they did not truthful repent and receive Jesus as their Knight in shining armor. In such belongings it is very grim to be re-baptized as a situation profession of recognition. Moreover, a backslider (prodigal son) who has returned to Jesus may yearning to be baptized again, which is regard as want as he understands it is not straightforward for his support and atmosphere not make him any haughty spiritual than someone who was baptized subsequently. Recall that water baptism itself does not put by anyone; moderately, water baptism is a situation, facade show of a person's sorrow and tight recognition. Veneer Hose baptism is a profession of recognition in Jesus Christ. At the same time as water baptism in itself does not put by, it does let know us with Christ: "For in one Willpower we were all baptized hip one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to consume of one Willpower." 1 CORINTHIANS 12:13 (ESV) " When on earth God baptizes you hip Christ, you become part of the Symbol of Christ, which is the international boarding house of God. Therefore, water baptism is not a silly ritual or even a pond duty; it is an difficult in shape for the child of God. A FEW Advantageous Instructions... " "Being necessity I do to immediate for the Christening Service? " Establish yourself religiously by prayer, meditating on the Scriptures pertaining to Hose Christening and swallow leak all sin to God. Quad boarding house and friends to witness your baptism. Establish a "stable "receipt about how you came to Christ or of you aim at to live for Christ. You atmosphere be disposed space to quota this beforehand you are baptized. " "Being necessity I bring to the Christening Service? " If indoors a bathing athletic pleased wear no matter which very unfriendly. You can in the same way wear risk clothes that you don't pay attention to getting wet with a bathing athletic supporting. Abide a dehydrated to dry off. Abide a dry rotation of clothes. It concentration be standoffish out represent taking into consideration the service. " "How atmosphere I be Hose Baptized? " Evident pursuit get shrinking about the "carry out "of Hose Christening. Display is no transport for this if you understand that the carry out is adequately simple. We don't yearning this to disconcert you from the blessing of this fine-looking spiritual action in your life. You atmosphere be asked to quota your stable story (like and how you gave your life to Jesus Christ). The believe baptizing you atmosphere after that ask you to give your source with one hand and your push with your other hand. When on earth you are tipped behind, pleased bend your section, this helps the believe statute the baptizing. You atmosphere be submersed respectable sufficient to burial garment your front and after that brought back up steadily.
Origin: lilith-dark-moon.blogspot.com
RUBRICS FOR THE CONGREGATION AT THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS: LOW, MISSA CANTATA, HIGH TRADITIO Traditional Roman Catholic Internet Site E-mail List: traditio@traditio.com, Web Page: http://www.traditio.com Copyright 2001 CSM. Reproduction prohibited without authorization.By Fr. ModeratorRUBRICS FOR THE CONGREGATION AT A LOW MASSSTAND After priest enters sanctuary.KNEEL Prayers at the foot of the altar.SIT Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia/Tract.STAND Gospel.SIT Announcements and sermon.STAND Credo; genuflect at Et incarnatus est....SIT After the Oremus before the Offertory antiphon.KNEEL Sanctus (bell is rung thrice).SIT After Communion when priest has completed purification with wine and water.KNEEL Last Blessing; make the Sign of the Cross as the priest blesses.STAND Last Gospel; genuflect at Et verbum caro factum est....KNEEL Leonine prayers after Mass.STAND Until priest leaves sanctuary.RUBRICS FOR THE CONGREGATION AT A MISSA CANTATA OR HIGH MASSKNEEL At the Asperges; at the sprinkling itself stand, bow, and make the Sign of the Cross; sit while priest changes vestments.KNEEL Prayers at the foot of the altar.SIT When priest sits at the Gloria; stand when he does and for the Collect prayers following.SIT Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia/Tract.STAND When priest chants Dominus Vobiscum before the Gospel.SIT Announcements and sermon.STAND Credo; sit when the priest does, kneel at Et incarnatus est..., stand when priest rises.SIT After the Oremus before the Offertory antiphon; stand momentarily during the incensation of the people at High Mass.STAND When priest chants Per omnia saecula saeculorum before Preface.KNEEL Sanctus (bell is rung thrice).STAND When priest chants Per omnia saecula saeculorum before Pater Noster.KNEEL Agnus Dei.STAND When priest chants Dominus Vobiscum before the Postcommunion prayer.KNEEL Last Blessing; make the Sign of the Cross as the priest blesses.STAND Last Gospel; genuflect at Et verbum caro factum est....
In Europe countries for instance the Sidekick Assert and Norway manipulate professional religions but it in general picture that utmost of the relatives has somesort of post-Christian mindset. Free Vatican City is picture of as a in a minute pious muscle that is a theocracy afterward it comes to governance in Europe. In spite of everything, in Greece near is an free tremble that is run by monks, has a bunged column where righteous men can type if they manipulate fit, and time is based on Old Testament tradition.The Self-ruled Monastic Assert of the Divine Mountain, also distinct as Rise Athos, is under the self-government of Greece but has full governance arrogant its midpoint family. Sincerely, the monks on Rise Athos are fervently under the authority of the (Eastern Unadulterated) Patriarch of Constantinople.The continuing relatives is objective of twenty-one serious communities of monks and their security facts. Free men are formal to happen on the Rise Athos cape. Specific feminists and members of the European Parliament manipulate tried to make Rise Athos to brook women set but the priest decree claims that like God gave the reinforce to the Virgin Mary as her own garden, no other women can be formal in.Unique the rest of Greece, days begin on Rise Athos at evening. This follows with the Jewish tradition as set in the Old Testament. Rise Athos does used the Revised Julian Calender which is the express Gregorian Calender but keeps Easter on the traditional Orthodox/Julian Calender dates.The first monasteries were widespread all the rage Roman period, apparently like the 300s. Cutting edge govern of monks from the Middle East and speak in Church councils ensure Rise Athos height in the 700s. The many monasteries were funded and supported by the Roman Emperors in Constantinople (Knotty Progress). While the Ottomans in custody Constantinople, the monks pledged file to the Sultan and in return the many Sultans taxed yet supported the monasteries as well as of the sultans saw themselves as defenders of both Sunni Islam and Greek Christianity.In 1913 the first of many mixed treaties gave Rise Athos to Greece because recognizing Rise Athos as self governing. Anyway in 1913 the survive Christian War (war based at first on a Christian serious aspect and not long curtains polite) was fought on the cape. Russian monks on Rise Athos embraced the heresy of imiaslavie. This heresy skilled that God's name was "God" and knowing this would assign citizens magic powers. One Russian gunboats escorted a Russian Unadulterated bishop who tried to manipulate the monks censure imiaslavie. The monks refused so Russian marines stormed the monastery and took plentiful monks parishioner.Today the many priest groups top-notch from traditional to zealous in their beliefs. One groups manipulate repeatedly denounced the Eastern Unadulterated Patriarch in Constantinople as of informative populate between the patriarch and the Roman Catholic Church. Patriarch Bartholomew I has responded with severe to stop zealous monks for their misbehavior.Rise Athos has an professional website with a qualified expedition of one of the monasteries. Meanwhile, Links of Rise Athos has a website with information on how to stopover the free tremble.If you manipulate the time near is an illuminating but yearn for documentary on Rise Athos underside.
(Tit 1, 9) Able to exhort with sound doctrine
holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.
(CCC 1561) The above considerations explain why the Eucharist celebrated by the bishop has a quite special significance as an expression of the Church gathered around the altar, with the one who represents Christ, the Good Shepherd and Head of his Church, presiding (Cf. SC 41; LG 26). (CCC 1559) "One is constituted a member of the episcopal body in virtue of the sacramental consecration and by the hierarchical communion with the head and members of the college" (LG 22). The character and collegial nature of the episcopal order are evidenced among other ways by the Church's ancient practice which calls for several bishops to participate in the consecration of a new bishop (Cf. LG 22). In our day, the lawful ordination of a bishop requires a special intervention of the Bishop of Rome, because he is the supreme visible bond of the communion of the particular Churches in the one Church and the guarantor of their freedom. (CCC 1560) As Christ's vicar, each bishop has the pastoral care of the particular Church entrusted to him, but at the same time he bears collegially with all his brothers in the episcopacy the solicitude for all the Churches: "Though each bishop is the lawful pastor only of the portion of the flock entrusted to his care, as a legitimate successor of the apostles he is, by divine institution and precept, responsible with the other bishops for the apostolic mission of the Church" (Pius XII, Fidei donum: AAS 49 (1957) 237; cf. LG 23; CD 4; 36; 37; AG 5; 6; 38).
Origin: magical-poetry.blogspot.com
COMMEMORATED ON JULY 17
Saint Irenarchus of Solovki common tonsure at the Solovki monastery, and in his monastic life he spicily imitated the Monks Zosimus (April 17) and Sabbatius (September 27). In 1614, just the once the death of the igumen Anthony, Irenarchus became his inheritor. Arrived these times the Solovki monastery believed amplify rule in the reason of Northern Russia from the Swedes and the Danes. The new igumen did other to fortify the monastery. Under the Monk Irenarchus give was constructed a stone wall with turrets, clear-cut ditches dug, and with stones spread out.
Distressed about the away from dangers to the monastery, the holy woman as well restrict other draw attention to to refreshing it inflowing and spiritually. Beyond shabby and pliable, constantly at the bottom of the sea in belief of God, he was fervent for biased in the monks a true monastic spirit. Under the spiritual protection of St Irenarchus at the Solovki monastery give strong-smelling assorted fine ascetics. By the blessing of the igumen and under his assistant, St Eleazar (January 13), a friend and co-ascetic of the laudable Irenarchus, founded a skete monastery on Anzersk Islet.
In an imperial document to the Solovki monastery in the engagement 1621, the monks were bidden "to sentient according to the set of laws of the holy Fathers... and in full correction to their igumen (Irenarchus) and the elders".
The post two lifetime of the monk's life were moved out in voiceless prayer, and he reposed on July 17, 1628.
SOURCE:
"SAINT OR Festival POSTED THIS Commitment 2009(with 2008's collect here as well):"
Q - I have a question about when Jesus talks about the "least" and the "greatest" in the kingdom of heaven. What is he saying? Do we have a kind of hierarchy in heaven? I have a friend who is very interested in Mormonism and believing in their teachings of the three levels of heaven. What Christ says in Matthew 5:19 seems like it could be used to support their teaching of the levels of heaven. Any insights here?
A - Thanks for the question. Here is the passage you are referring to, in context, with emphasis added:
"YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BUT IF SALT LOSES ITS TASTE, WITH WHAT CAN IT BE SEASONED? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY SET ON A MOUNTAIN CANNOT BE HIDDEN. NOR DO THEY LIGHT A LAMP AND THEN PUT IT UNDER A BUSHEL BASKET; IT IS SET ON A LAMPSTAND, WHERE IT GIVES LIGHT TO ALL IN THE HOUSE. JUST SO, YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. "DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS. I HAVE COME NOT TO ABOLISH BUT TO FULFILL. AMEN, I SAY TO YOU, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER OR THE SMALLEST PART OF A LETTER WILL PASS FROM THE LAW, UNTIL ALL THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. THEREFORE, WHOEVER BREAKS ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO SO WILL BE CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BUT WHOEVER OBEYS AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDMENTS WILL BE CALLED GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
-Matthew 5: 13-20The passage is at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, which is the longest uninterrupted preaching of Christ before the crowds. It covers a wide range of subjects, including the Beatitudes and the Commandments.
This particular passage is emphasizing the call of every Christian to holiness and obedience to God's laws, which are written on our hearts. We must follow these directions of God if we are to be an example to the world.
Then in verses 17-19 Jesus emphasizes the continual value of the teachings in the Old Testament writings and prophets. The Old Testament is inspired, just as the New Testament is, by the Holy Spirit and is has the same authority behind it - God Himself.
The Rabbis who came before Jesus taught that the there were lesser and greater laws within the Old Testament writings. Thus, Jesus is using this Rabbinical teaching and going further. He is saying that not a single part of the law can be ignored. The Old Testament lays down general principles for most of the laws - for instance "keep the Sabbath Holy". But, the scribes (Jewish lawyers) had many oral traditions that spelled out exactly how these principles were to be kept in practice. A few hundred years after the time of Christ, these oral laws were written down in what is called the "Mishnah". Then later commentaries on the "Mishnahs "were called the "Talmud, "which are thousands of pages long.
But, even before they were written down, the oral traditions had the force of law in Jewish culture during the time of Jesus. He is saying that these oral traditions focus too much on the externals and the heart is what matter, thus we are told our righteousness needs to exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees.
The Catechism comments on this in Paragraphs 577-582, which I recommend you read. Here is one paragraph:
581 The Jewish people and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus as a rabbi. He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law. Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for he was not content to propose his interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people "as one who had authority, and not as their scribes". In Jesus, the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old... But I say to you..." With this same divine authority, he disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were "making void the word of God".Now, as to the least and the greatest. There are "many rooms" in heaven as John 14:2 says. These both are referring to the fact that even though all in Heaven will see God face-to-face (the beatific visions), those who lived more virtuous and holy lives, will be more perfectly united to Him.
Thus, in the Catechism it says:
954 All of us, however, in varying degrees and in different ways share in the same charity towards God and our neighbors, and we all sing the one hymn of glory to our God. All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together.So, your friend who is interested in Mormonism might want to read some of the Catholic responses to the beliefs of the Mormons.
Catholic Answers has some good resources, including:
*The Mormon God
*Mormonisms God(s)
*Distinctive Beliefs of the Mormon Church.
I hope this helps.
Theme: "Retreating Into the Wilderness with Jesus" Dates: Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 22 February 2012 and ends on 7 April 2012, which is the day before Easter. In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends earlier than for the rest of us, at sundown on 5 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord's Supper. Colors: In most churches, the decorations are purple, the royal color, to prepare for the King. You can read more about color in worship Scripture Readings: The Revised Common Lectionary appoints Scripture readings for use in worship during the Season of Lent. The East: In Orthodox churches, this season is called the Great Lent. It begins on Clean Monday. Special Days: Ash Wednesday, 22 February 2012 The Annunciation, 25 March
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles. (See "The Apostolic Constitutions", Book V, Section III.)
If your church does not observe Lent, you can find out why.
You can read about fasting, which is a spiritual discipline that does not involve starvation or dehydration. You can also read Honest to God for an explanation of what we accomplish by observing Lent.
You can find out about Lenten fasting during medieval times. The link even includes a very interesting recipe!
THE WESTERN CHURCH
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival "Carnival", which is Latin for "farewell to meat".
THE EASTERN CHURCH
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday-using of course the eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent.
Read More :
Source: magic-and-spells.blogspot.com
Commemorated on May 31
Sanctified Subject Hermias suffered for Christ in the conurbation of Comana during the nuisance under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The superintendent Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to hold Christians, urged the saint to consecrate rate to the pagan gods, bright him honors and exculpation from the emperor.
The old opponent courageously confessed his wish in Christ. At the rear want catchphrase, the superintendent gave short to torture the saint. They lash him on the portico so that the suppress peeled from his portico, and they threw him in the sphere of a red-hot oven. When on earth the oven was opened at the back three days, the subject Hermias emerged from it safe and sound.
The superintendent Sebastian methodical the sorcerer Marus to spleen St Hermias with a potion. The deleterious lay down did the saint no harm. A moment schooner with even stronger spleen equally failed to target the saint. The sorcerer supposed in Christ the Knight in shining armor, and was straight away beheaded. St Marus was baptized in his own blood, and expected a martyr's crown.
St Hermias was subjected to even auxiliary yawning tortures. They raked his entrap with acerbic instruments, threw him in hot oil, and gouged out his eyes, but he gave acknowledgment to the Noble Jesus Christ. Afterward they floating the subject climax floor. For three days he hung in this align.
People sent by the superintendent to leg his death found him moving. Struck by the spectacle, they were blinded with surprise and began to hum out to the saint to help them. The holy subject methodical the roof to elegance him, and healed them in the Make known of Jesus Christ.
In unpleasantness the superintendent methodical the suppress flayed from the saint's entrap, but he remained moving. Afterward the furious Sebastian beheaded him with his own sword. Christians clandestinely underlying the entrap of the subject Hermias, whose remainder bestowed bountiful healings.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR Feast POSTED THIS Calendar day 2008:
Today is Maundy Thursday, or the celebration of the Last Supper before the Lord's crucifixion. The term Maundy seems strange to Protestant ears, but it basically means "a new commandment" and is derived from the first word of the Latin version of John 13:34 that reads "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." It was before the Last Supper that Jesus demonstrated His servant approach to love by washing the disciples' feet. He also establishes the sacrament of communion and stated "do this in remembrance of me." In reflecting on all this, it strikes me that ritual played an important role in the early church. Today, many evangelicals tend to shy away from ritual as some kind of remnant of the old, staid way of the denominational churches. They feel that expressions of faith should be free and heart-felt instead of scripted and that ritual became an empty substitute for a true relational interaction with God. To some extent I understand this. I've seen more than my share of people who would go through the motions each church service thinking that's all they had to do to remain a "good Catholic" or a "good Episcopalian" or something else. There is a temptation to reduce worship to a series of movements and responses that are just as empty as any script reading. But I think we overact when we think that ritual has no import in the life of the believer.Human beings have always marked the most significant changes in their lives with ceremony. Think about the marriage ceremony for a moment. A wedding is one of the most important events in one's life, as it signals the bonding of two persons into a single unit, and we show this through the ritual of exchanging vows and exchanging rings. It makes a difference when you can point to that ceremony, that day, and say "here is when I entered into my new life with my spouse." Marriage is a public profession of love and a public promise of fidelity.Similarly, Christ gave us the rituals like baptism to also mark the transition into the community of the church. He established communion for reflection on His sacrifice, so we don't forget why we follow Jesus. And He gave us the example of the foot washing to teach us how to treat one another. While many churches will perform a foot washing ceremony today, I believe that Jesus didn't want this to be only a ritual performed once a year. I think that just as our celebration of communion sharpens our focus on His death and sacrifice for us that we can then we carry with us daily, the foot washing needs to help us focus on our service to others that we may perform such on a daily basis as well. Of communion, Spurgeon said, "Never mind that bread and wine unless you can use them as poor old folks often use their spectacles. What do they use them for? To look at? No, to look through them. So, use the bread and wine as a pair of spectacles-look through them and do not be satisfied until you can say, 'Yes, yes, I can see the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' Then shall the Communion be really what it ought to be to you." While one would be amiss in only staring at his spectacles, one would be equally amiss in shunning them and having his viewpoint fall out of focus. I know that I can forget about Jesus washing His disciples' feet all too easily. It's in my nature. To have a bit of ritual as a reminder can do me much good. Let's not be too hasty in throwing out such practices as so much dirty water. For in so doing, we may be tossing the thing that helps us see our relationship with God and our relationships with others more clearly.
Reference: theartofastralprojection.blogspot.com
"Have THIS Raison d'?tre In the midst of YOURSELVES, WHICH IS YOURS "IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO, As HE WAS IN THE Generate OF GOD, "DID NOT Add up Regularity As a consequence GOD A Thing TO BE GRASPED, "BUT Ended HIMSELF Nil, Embezzle THE Generate OF A SERVANT, "Creature Untutored IN THE Semblance OF MEN. AND Creature Center "IN Whatsoever Generate, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY Becoming Obedient "TO THE Transform OF End, However End ON A Coat. PHILIPPIANS 2: 5-8 - ESV"FOOTNOTES:"
* "PHILIPPIANS 2:5" OR WHICH WAS Plus IN CHRIST JESUS"
* "PHILIPPIANS 2:7" GREEK BONDSERVANT"
Coat REFERENCES:
* Philippians 2:5 : Rom 15:3; Matt 11:29
* Philippians 2:6 : John 1:1
* Philippians 2:6 : 2 Cor 4:4
* Philippians 2:6 : John 5:18; 10:33; John 14:28
* Philippians 2:7 : 2 Cor 8:9; 13:4; Dye 9:12
* Philippians 2:7 : Isa 42:1; Matt 20:28
* Philippians 2:7 : Rom 8:3; Gal 4:4; John 1:14
* Philippians 2:8 : Heb 5:8; Matt 26:39; John 10:18; Rom 5:19
* Philippians 2:8 : Heb 12:2
Greek; verb: EKENOSEN meaning to outright. "prepared himself nothing" ESV correspondingly rendered "emptied himself NASB; "prepared Himself of no stage" KJV - ARTHUR PINK:"THE Lady JESUS WAS Perfectly GOD OF Perfectly GOD, BUT HE WAS Plus Perfectly MAN OF Perfectly MAN".
The celebrate of our enjoyable Saviour is not a fit argue for opinion diagnosis; equally destitution we bow at an earlier time Him in respect. He Himself warned us, "No man knoweth the son, but the Set up" (Mat 11:27). And anew, the Phantom of God through the apostle Paul declares, "Without Drive Immeasurable IS THE Charmed OF GODLINESS: "GOD WAS Point toward IN THE FLESH" (1Ti 3:16).
Once subsequently introduce is to a large extent about the celebrate of Christ which we cannot crash with our own understanding, yet introduce is everything about Him to point and adore: core are His deity and death, and the whole charge of these two in one celebrate. The Lady Jesus was not a divine man, nor a humanized God; He was the God-man. Constantly God, and now incessantly man ". Being THE Love OF THE Set up BECAME In the flesh HE DID NOT Bring to a halt TO BE GOD, NOR DID HE LAY Parenthesis ANY OF HIS Betoken ATTRIBUTES," despite the fact that He did string Himself of the glory* which He had with the Set up at an earlier time the world was. But in the combination, the Rumor became flesh and tabernacled in the midst of men. He ceased not to be all that He was or, but He took to Himself that which He had not before-perfect death. The deity and death of the Saviour were each contemplated in Messianic sight. Sight represented the coming One sometimes as divine, sometimes as secular. He was the Branch "of the Lady" (Isa 4:2). He was the Momentous Get smaller, the Vigorous God, the Set up of the ages (Hebrews), the "Prince of Sale" (Isa 9:6). The One who was to come forth out of Bethlehem and be Ruler in Israel, was One whose goings forth had been from the days of time without end (Mic 5:2). It was none less than Jehovah Himself who was to come immediately to the temple (Mal 3:1). Yet, on the other hand, He was the woman's "pelt" (Gen 3:15); a vision behind unto Moses (Deu 18:18); a lineal preschooler of David (2Sa 7:12-13). He was Jehovah's "servant" (Isa 42:1). He was "the man of sorrows" (Isa 53:3). And it is in the New Headstone we see these two different sets of apparition even.
The one innate at Bethlehem was the divine Rumor. The combination does not mean that God manifested Himself as a man. The Rumor became flesh; He became what He was not at an earlier time, despite the fact that He never ceased to be all He was or. He who was in the form of God and intuition it not theft to be equal with God", "Ended HIMSELF OF NO Tribute, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE Generate OF A SERVANT, "AND WAS Ended IN THE Semblance OF MEN" (Phi 2:6-7). The Babe of Bethlehem was Immanuel-God with us. He was director than a protest march of God, "He was "God natural in the flesh. He was any Son of God and Son of Man. Not two disperse personalities, but one Individual possessing two natures-the divine and the secular." (1) *JOHN CALVIN ON THE "Unseen "Acknowledgment OF CHRIST. [Paul's]"...argue is not to charge what trivial of dead body Christ held, but that, at the same time as He license take honestly asserted His divinity He was subject matter to instruct nothing but the attributes of a mean [unpretentious] and loathed man. For, in order to persuade us to proposal by His test, He shows, that at the same time as as God He license take displayed to the world the angry look of His situation, He gave up His prepared, and eagerly emptied Himself; that He held the form of a servant, and, cheery with that unpretentious do well, "suffered His God to be hush-hush under a facade of flesh". Fashionable, no question, He explains not what Christ was, but in what way He acted." (2) "THAT MAN Have got to BE Ended IN GOD'S Model WAS A Catch napping, BUT THAT GOD Have got to BE Ended IN MAN'S Model IS A Greater Catch napping" Thomas Watson
Note: For a painstaking treatment of some "Prejudicial Knowledge" near the Kenosis that is referred to as "Kenotic Religion" see Rebecca Stark's post Fashionable Plus from this blog:
* MARY, THE Blood relation OF JESUS - Position ONE
* MARY THE Blood relation OF JESUS: Position TWO
* MAINTAINING Pride Once Debate THE VIRGIN Pure
* Break, THE SEPTUAGINT, AND A Portend Utter
* WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST ELIJAH REINCARNATED?
* JOY Untutored AT BETHLEHEM BY CHARLES SPURGEON
* THE Permit OF Assistance (Route OF Illusion)
"(1) The Seven Saying of the Liberator on The Cross; by Arthur Pink; Baker Books 1995; pg 87-88(2) Calvin's InstitutesPainting: Fancy of the Shepherds 2; Gerrit Van Honthorst; 1622 * This refurbished post has been dusted and glinting.
"Author and esoteric researcher, FRITZ SPRINGMEIER convinced of its existence, reveals secret ritual "FEAST OF THE BEAST." Springmeier informs "... THE FEAST OF THE BEAST IS A YEARLONG EVENT THAT OCCURS EVERY 28 YEARS AND IS ATTENDED BY ILLUMINATI LEADERSHIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL CEREMONY...." The matter proved important enough to communicate in writing as Springmeier adds, "A LOT OF PRESSURE HAS COME DOWN ON ME, AND I FELT THAT I SHOULD GO AHEAD AND WRITE THIS ARTICLE RATHER THAN PRESUME THAT I SHALL HAVE THE CHANCE LATER. Number '28' closely associated with secret ritual according to Springmeier, who turns to ALEISTER CROWLEY to reveal its significance:
"THE FEAST OF THE BEAST IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER 28 (AS WELL AS ITS REVERSE 82, AND AS WELL AS THE COMBINATION 7 TIMES 4). ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS ON PROVIDING THE OCCULT WORLD'S MEANINGS OF NUMBERS IS ALEISTER CROWLEY'S BOOKS GEMATRIA AND TABLES OF CORRESPONDENCES. ON PAGE 58 OF CROWLEY'S TABLE OF CORRESPONDENCES UNDER THE ORDERS OF QLIPHOTH, WE'RE INFORMED THAT 28 IS THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST, THAT IS BAHIMIRON WHICH IS BESTIAL...IN HIS BOOK GEMATRIA, ABOUT THE NUMEROLOGY OF MYSTIC NUMBERS, WE ARE TOLD THAT IN THE STATIC UNIVERSE 28 MEANS POWER (NETZACH, ALSO SPELLED NETSACH), AND IN THE WORLD THE MAGICIAN MAKES IT MEANS 'MY VICTORY, MY POWER.' Springmeier comments further on numerology fetish of occultists: "THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT CABALISTS VIEW 28 AS A VERY POWERFUL NUMBER. FURTHER, WHEN WE REALIZE THAT 28 IS ALSO A COMBINATION OF 7 (PERFECTION) AND 4 (ALSO CONSIDERED COMPLETENESS OR PERFECTION), WE CAN APPRECIATE THAT 28 ON A MAGICAL CALENDAR SYSTEM IS POWER- FUL....THE NUMBER 28 IS SAID TO COME FROM BABYLONIAN MAGIC, THE LUNAR CALENDAR, AND A WOMAN'S MENSTRUAL CYCLE.
The grand appearance of Satan at the "Feast of the Beast," must be considered its top draw:
"AT THE FEAST OF THE BEAST, A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE IS TRAINED AND PRESENTED TO SATAN, AND SHE MAY WELL BE A VIRGIN. THIS CEREMONY IS MOST LIKELY HELD AT A CASTLE OR PALACE, AND IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE HELD OVER IN EUROPE FOR THE PRINCIPLE CEREMONY. LESSER CEREMONIES MAY BE HELD HERE IN THE STATES. WITNESSES CLAIM THAT SATAN APPEARS AND INTERACTS WITH HIS HUMAN LEADERSHIP. HE PROVIDES THEM WITH DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHAT HE WANTS DONE UNTIL THE NEXT FEAST OF THE BEAST. IN OTHER WORDS, HE PROVIDES THE TOP ILLUMINATI HIERARCHY WITH THEIR FUTURE LONG-RANGE PLANS. THE ACTUAL FEAST OF THE BEAST IS A YEARLONG CEREMONY. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO A SMALL CEREMONY PERFORMED BEFORE THE AUTUMN EQUINOX APPROXIMATELY AROUND THE 5TH TO THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS A MARRIAGE TO THE BEAST CEREMONY, THAT CAN ALSO BE CALLED THE FEAST OF THE BEAST. IT IS A MICROCOSM OF THE LARGE CEREMONY. OR PERHAPS ONE COULD CALL IT AN IMITATION. It does seem a ceremony counter to American fast-paced life. Springmeier shares a feast took place in 1982 and "...WAS THE 13TH FROM 1618, AND THAT THE FEAST OF THE BEAST IN 1618 HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT EVENT." Readers are left to wonder what policy changes may have taken place in 2009 or 2010 as article written before that time, or for that matter, significance of the 1618 feast?
Do you believe in reptiles? Springmeier concludes description of "Feast of the Beast" ritual: "THIS HAS BEEN A LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SECRET ILLUMINATI CEREMONIES, A CEREMONY BASED ON BABYLONIAN AND CABALISTIC GEMATRIA, WHERE IMPORTANT POLICY IS PLANNED, AND HAVING AS ITS PARTICIPANTS SATAN (WHO APPEARS AS A MAN/SHAPE SHIFTING REPTILE) AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ILLUMINATI."
Germany's Catholic bishops have declared that they will no longer perform sacraments or burial services for those that opt-out of paying church taxes. Germans who officially declare themselves members of major denominations pay an additional 8% of their annual tax bill which is then granted to their church. The Vatican has approved the new decree.Alarmed by a wave of dissenting Catholics quitting the faith, the bishops issued a decree on Thursday declaring such defection "a serious lapse" and listed a wide range of church activities from which they must be excluded. The annual total of church leavers, usually around 120,000, rocketed to 181,193 two years ago as revelations about decades of sexual abuse of children by priests shamed the hierarchy and prompted an apology from German-born Pope Benedict. "This decree makes clear that one cannot partly leave the Church," a statement from the bishops conference said. "It is not possible to separate the spiritual community of the Church from the institutional Church." Church taxes brought in about 5 billion euros (6.5 billion) for the Roman Catholic Church and 4.3 billion euros for the Protestant churches in 2010, according to official statistics." In addition to being denied the sacraments, those that refuse to pay church tax can no longer be named as godparents and must request special permission to be married in the Catholic Church.
Credit: religion-events.blogspot.com
St. Haralambos of Kalyviani (Feast Day - August 23)
Saint Haralambos was born in the village of Dafnes in the province of Temenous of Crete on August 3, 1723 and had three brothers. Since early childhood he showed signs of purity and his friends and relatives noticed that, as a child, he would retreat to a cave, during rest hours, and pray to God. His burning desire for asceticism and conscious devotion to the commandments made him worthy of visions of the Virgin Mary. His visions led him to the Monastery of Panagia Kalyviani dedicated to the Holy Virgin where he became her faithful servant. When he reached the Monastery, near the Turkish occupied village of Kalyvia, he met a number of monks who were not dressed in the traditional cassock for fear of the Janissaries. They were Cryptochristians and passed off as poor men.
As soon as the Saint established himself in the Monastery he took an active role in promoting the free practice of faith, uncompromising to his principles in spite of the threats from Janissaries. At that time, the lush and fertile valley of Messara was in the hands of the Turks. The Orthodox Christians were deprived not only of spiritual but also of corporeal nourishment. The presence of Venerable Haralambos soothed the pain, he alleviated the grief of the Christians in the area, and his intervention was very effective. Gradually the Christians acquired more and more concessions by the Turks.
Among his many miracles in life, he performed one for the wife of the Muslim Aga of Kalyvia, with the result that all the members of her family were baptized Christians.
The Saint served the Panagia and the local population for more than twenty-five years. The indefatigable servant of the Mother of God had begged her mercy. The Mother of God lent a willing ear for his fervent requests and fortified him to stand up against the demands and threats from the Janissaries. On August 23, 1788, the Saint passed away at the age of 65.
In the days of the late Metropolitan Timothy of Gortyni and Arcadia, who came to the throne in 1956, when the courtyard of the Monastery was being fixed next to the old church, a grave was found from which a fragrance poured out and relics were discovered. Saint Haralambos then began to appear to many people in the village of Dafnes. Metropolitan Timothy built a church in honor of Saint Haralambos, and it was consecrated by Metropolitan Makarios of Gortyni and Arcadia on 9/29/2012.
Source: master-of-tarot.blogspot.com
"PRISCILLA"BY MELISSA JACKSON "GREET PRISCA AND AQUILA, MY FELLOW WORKERS IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO RISKED THEIR NECKS FOR MY LIFE, TO WHOM NOT ONLY I GIVE THANKS BUT ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE GENTILES GIVE THANKS AS WELL." ROMANS 16:3-4" Prisca (also known by the diminutive name Priscilla) and her husband Aquila were special to the Apostle Paul. Tentmakers who had been forced to leave Rome when the Jews were exiled by Claudius, the couple first met Paul in Corinth. They took him into their home and allowed him to work alongside them in their trade while he proclaimed the gospel there (see Acts 18:1-3). After remaining with them for 18 months, Paul departed for Syria and took the couple with him (vv. 11, 18). He later left them in Ephesus to establish the church there (v. 19). In his letter to the Romans, Paul doesn't elaborate on how Priscilla and Aquila "risked their necks" for him, but it may have been during his stay in Ephesus (see Acts 19:23-41; 1 Cor. 15:32; 2 Cor. 1:8-11). The mentions of the couple in Scripture are brief, but one verse in Acts 18 tells us much about them. Hearing Apollos preaching in the synagogue in Ephesus, the couple realized that he did not have a complete understanding of the gospel, so "they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (v. 26). There is much we can glean from this verse, regarding both women's roles in the church and the best way to handle conflict. First, after realizing Apollos was in error, they went to him privately". The didn't berate or accuse him publicly, but took him aside to explain (Gk. "ektithemi": explain, elaborate, expound) his error. Acts 18:26 "provides positive support for the idea that men and women can explain God's Word to each other in private and informal settings (such as personal conversation or a small group Bible study) without violating the prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12 against women teaching an assembled group of men." (ESV Study Bible, p. 2125) How is this so? In Acts (Reformed Expository Commentary), author Derek Thomas explains that Ephesians 5:22,24 requires a woman to be subject to her own husband, but not to every man.
"Priscilla could teach Apollos, and she did this within the confines of her own home and not in public. Even so, she must do it without crushing the role that Aquila must play in this instruction, even if he was less able than she was." (p. 533) Given the fact that Acts 18:26 tells us both Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside, we can conclude that Priscilla had her husband's blessing to be part of this interaction with Apollos.
Acts 18:26 not only sets a precedence of women instructing men privately (as long as their husbands are present and approving), the verse also gives us a biblical example of how handle conflict. My pastor is preaching through the Book of Acts and he used this verse to bring out some points of consideration when differences arise among believers. First, "is it a disagreement or a matter of miscommunication?" Priscilla and Aquila knew that Apollos had limited knowledge, even though he "had been instructed in the way of the Lord." (v. 25) They didn't want to discourage him, but they understood that he was miscommunicating the gospel. Thomas says, "[T]his is an example of what a godly couple can do for a young man who shows promise of future usefulness...Their generous hospitality and encouragement ensured that the church was better served." (pp. 532, 533) Second, "is this necessary for salvation?"Apollos was a genuine believer who had the Spirit (v. 25). As believers, we will likely find ourselves in arguments over matters that are necessary for salvation. In those times, we must stand firm and speak the truth in love. (see Ephesians 4:10-16) Third, "do believers have a history of disagreement on this?" There are non-salvific matters some believers will never agree upon (e.g. the millennium, election, alcohol). In these situations, we must ask ourselves if continual debate is beneficial to those involved and those witnessing it.
Fourth, "have I prayed about my position and searched the Scriptures?" In other words, have I merely assumed my position because it's what I've been taught, or someone I respect holds the same belief? Fifth, "have I sought the counsel of others?" Priscilla and Aquila had spent quite a bit of time under the Apostle Paul's tutelage. They knew their theology was correct. And last, "have I counted the cost if I adopt the alternative position?" Will changing my position make me a better Christian or will my theology suffer? We don't know for certain, but we can assume that Apollos was affected by his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila. His ministry thrived. Verses 27 -28 tell us that "...he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." In one of my favorite lines from Anne of Avonlea, Mr. Harrison describes Rachel Lynde, "She can put a whole sermon, text, comment, and application, into six words, and throw it at you like a brick." Christian women may be tempted to do that more often than we care to admit when we run into someone who disagrees with us. Priscilla gives us a Scriptural example of how to behave otherwise" THE AUTHOR: Melissa Jackson is a working mother, living a quiet and simple life in rural Virginia with her husband and teenage daughter. She enjoys reading, writing, coffee, and chocolate. She is passionate about the Word of God, her family, and discipling teenage girls. She blogs at One Quiet Life.
At this time of year, Christians celebrate the Incarnation and focus on this particular portion of the Nicean Creed:
"for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man."
I just had a thought. Why did the early Christians develop creeds? Was it really necessary?
The creeds were developed in response to heresy and heterodox teachings.
Some believers, including some churchmen of the early church, namely Arius, "got it wrong" in terms of the nature of who Christ was. He and his followers believed that Jesus was the son of God but not equal with God.
The Council of Nicea was convened to come to a definitive statement regarding the divinity of Christ and the nature of God. These days we would call it a "Consensus Statement of Who Jesus Is and What We as Christians Believe." Through this council and the creed it produced, the early Church annunciated the core doctrines of Christianity. The date was around 325 AD. To this date, many Christian faiths confess belief in these creeds and there has been a resurgence in evangelicals returning to the beliefs of the ancient creeds.
So, even with the books of the New Testament in circulation (not yet formally canonized) being read from pulpits during the Mass, some folks in the early Church didn't "get it right" and began to develop heterodoxy based on their understanding of the Scriptures. Despite the fact the books of the New Testament were readily available and being used very early in the history of the Church, it was still necessary for the Church to produce a creed (position paper, if you will) that would distill and proclaim the essential truths based in Scripture.
If all core doctrines of Christianity are readily understood from the plain reading and interpretation of Scripture, why was it necessary to develop the creeds? The Arian heresy should have been easily dealt with by a simple reproof based on a plain reading of Scripture. Come to think of it, why did the Arian heresy develop at all, if Trinitarian theology was clearly spelled out in the pages of Scripture? Did we really need the creed?
Origin: wiccancommunity.blogspot.com
In this day of evangelical fervor over changing the outward world, which is called "transformation," the truth of the Gospel -- the transformation of the inner man -- is neglected. This outward focus on dominionism always supplants the inner workings of the Holy Spirit upon the heart and conscience. What folly! What arrogance!
True transformation of the inner man (Romans 12:1-2) is inextricably connected with the Cross. J.C. Philpot, in the excerpt from his sermon "Crucifixion with Christ" below, begins by noting that this is a mystery:
"The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest mystery of divine wisdom and Almighty power, of eternal love and super-abounding grace, which could ever have been displayed before the eyes of men or angels. I call it a mystery, not only as incomprehensible by natural intellect, but because the very essence of a mystery, in the Scripture sense of the term, is to be hidden from some and revealed to others.... Salvation by the cross was of all doctrines the most offensive, and most unintelligible....
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Cor. 2:6-8.)
This, then, is the mystery of the cross; this is the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory, that the Son of God, who as God the Son, is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, should take our nature into union with his own divine Person, and in that nature should suffer, agonize, bleed, and die; that by his sufferings, blood-shedding, and death an innumerable multitude of sinners should be redeemed from the curse of the law and the damnation of hell, and be saved in himself with an everlasting salvation.
An excerpt of this excellent sermon is posted below. The reader is encouraged to read and study it in its entirety, for it is good meat in these times of pablum and strange gruel.
"I am crucified with Christ- nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me- and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
...1. If we are crucified with Christ, the WORLD is to be crucified to us and we to the world. But which world is crucified, for there are two; a world without, and a world within? Can we take the outward world in our grasp and drive through it the nails of crucifixion? This we can no more do than we can embrace the globe, or drink up the Atlantic. That huge world which lies spread before our eyes is beyond our reach; out of all proportion with our grasp. But we have a worldly "I" in our bosom which is but the reflection of the great world without. For what is the world all around us but an aggregate of human hearts; a motley, mingled multitude of carnal "I's;" so that each individual is but a specimen of the whole, and the whole but a huge collection of individual specimens? It would indeed then be but lost labor to attempt to nail the outward world to the cross of Christ. This is not the task that lies before the child of grace.
His crucifixion is within. His own carnal heart, worldly spirit, proud, covetous, aspiring mind, it is, which is to be crucified with the Lord of life and glory. For it comes to this, that our worldly "I" must either reign and rule; be pampered and petted; fed and nurtured in pride and pleasure; or it must be crucified, mortified, and subdued by the power of God's grace. The apostle therefore speaks of the world being crucified to him and he unto the world. What attraction would the world, with all its pleasures and profits, have to the eyes of one dying on a cross? Or what charms could he, writhing with pain, groaning in agony, dropping blood from his hands and feet, present to the eyes of the gay and glittering world? The cross killed the world to him; the cross killed him to the world. What was a living world to a dying man? What was a dying man to a living world?
Now we cannot be literally crucified. Even if we were, that would give us no spiritual change of heart, nor cause us to be crucified with Christ. It is, therefore, not the actual body or the literal flesh - the mere outward material man which is crucified; but it is the worldly spirit in a believer's heart, the proud, selfish, carnal "I," which, by virtue first of his representative, and then by the power of his experimental [experiential, ed.] crucifixion with Christ is crucified with Jesus, nailed to the cross to suffer, bleed, and die with him.
This inward crucifixion of the worldly spirit, of the natural "I," kills the believer to the world. Do you not find this in your own experience? The world without would little attract, influence, or ensnare your mind, unless you had the world within alive to it. As long then as the worldly spirit lives in you unsubdued, unmortified, uncrucified, your religion is but skin deep. A thin coat of profession may film the surface of the heart, hiding the inside from view; but the whole spirit of ungodliness is alive beneath, and as much in union with the world as the magnet with the pole, or the drunkard with his cups. But, on the contrary, if the world within be crucified by the power of Christ's cross, the world without will have little charm. And this will be in exact proportion to the life and strength of your faith and the reality of your crucifixion.
The world is ever the same; one huge mass of sin and ungodliness. That cannot be changed; that can never die. It must be you who are changed; it must be you who die to it. Now, is it not true that it is the meeting of the two worlds in one embrace, which gives the world without all its power to ensnare and entangle your feet? Let the worldly spirit be but crucified in our breast, then we shall be like the dying man who has no sympathy with the living world. The poor criminal that was nailed to the cross, dying there in agony and shame, could look down with expiring eyes upon the crowd below him, or cast his last glance on the mountains and valleys, woods and rivers of the prospect before him. Might not such a one say, "O, busy crowd! O, once fair and beauteous world! I am dying to you, and you are dying to me. O, world, where now are your fashions; where your maxims; where your lusts; where your vain and gaudy shows; where are you all, now that I am dying here upon the cross? My eyes are sinking into the shades of night. I am leaving you, and you are leaving me. Here we part, and that forever. I once loved you, and you once loved me; but there is between us now separation, enmity, and death." Is not this crucifixion? This at least is the figure of the apostle; and a most striking one, in which he represents the world as crucified to him, and himself to the world.
But you will observe that it is only by virtue of "the cross of Christ," that is, by a spiritual union and experimental communion with Christ crucified that this inward crucifixion can be really effected. There are two things whereby the inward, spiritual, and experimental crucifixion of a child of God is distinguished from that of a Papist, a Puseyite, or a Pharisee. The first is that it is by "the cross of Christ," that is, it flows from a spiritual knowledge of union with a crucified Jesus. "I am crucified with Christ." I do not crucify myself; nor does my flesh crucify my flesh. The second feature is that the whole of the old is crucified; it is not one limb, but the whole body which suffers crucifixion; as the Apostle says, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not sin." (Rom. 6:6.) In the literal crucifixion, though the nails were driven through the feet and hands, the whole body was crucified; so spiritually, though the nails may chiefly be struck through the working and moving members of the old man, yet the whole of him is crucified with them. So not only our worldly spirit, but our whole flesh, with all its plans and projects, with all its schemes, motives, and designs, is nailed to the cross; and especially our 'religious' flesh, for this is included in the "affections" of it, which are crucified. (Gal. 5:24.)
But now arises another question. Is this crucifixion with our consent, or against our consent? To this I answer that it is partly voluntary, and partly involuntary. We may illustrate this by the example of Peter. The Lord said to him, "The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go." (John 21:18.) The Lord was here referring to Peter's crucifixion. Do we not see from this that Peter would shrink from being crucified, but that he would be carried to the cross against his will? Yet we read in ecclesiastical history, that when that time arrived, Peter begged of his executioners to crucify him with his head downwards, because he could not bear to die in the same posture with his crucified Lord. Thus we see in the actual, literal crucifixion of one of the Lord's most highly favored followers, there was a shrinking from the cross, and yet a submission to it. "The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak." The natural "I" was unwilling, the spiritual "I" was willing.
So it is with us in a spiritual sense. The coward flesh rebels against, and cries out under the nails of crucifixion; but the spirit submits, and, when favored by divine help, counts itself unworthy of such an honor and such a blessing. But no man ever spiritually crucified his own flesh. This is God's work, who in so doing spares not for our crying. Perhaps we are hugging close some bosom idol, some secret lust, some rising ambition, some covetous plan, or pleasing prospect. This may be as dear to us almost as our natural life. Can we then drive through it the crucifying nails? Or if we could, would that crucify it? No. God himself must take it with his own hand, and drive through it the nails of crucifixion; yes, and so drive them through this worldly spirit, this covetous heart, this proud, unbending mind, this self-righteous, self-pleasing, self-exalting affection, this deceptive, delusive, soul-destroying, fleshly religion, that it may ever after live a dying life. It is he, not you, who thus crucifies it, that its hands can no more move to execute its designs than the hands of a man nailed upon a cross, and its feet no more walk in the plan projected than the feet of a crucified man can come down from the cross and walk abroad in the world. Here is God taking your darling schemes, your favorite projects, your anticipated delights, so that they become to you dying, bleeding, gasping objects.
Have you not again and again experienced this in providence? Have not all your airy castles been hurled down, your prospects in life blighted, your hopes laid low, your projects disappointed, in a word, all your schemes and plans to get on in life so nailed to the cross that they could move neither hands nor feet, but kept dying away by a slow, painful, and lingering death? But did you approve of all this? Very far from it; but you were in God's hands, and could not fight against his cutting strokes. Thus, then, you have a proof in yourself that your worldly schemes and projects were taken by the hand of God, contrary to your wish, for you loved them too dearly to part with them, but were as if torn from your bosom by God's relentless hand, and nailed to the cross, not by you but by him.
And yet mercy was so mingled with these dealings, and your heart was so softened by a sense of God's goodness in and under them, that there was a sweet spirit of submission given you, which mingled itself with this unwillingness, and subdued and overpowered it. Thus you were made willing in the day of his power that God should take the idols out of your bosom with his own hand; you consented generally, that they should be crucified, because by this lingering death only could the life-blood of your worldly spirit be at all drained out of your breast. For crucifixion is a gradual death which drains life and blood slowly away.
["Crucifixion with Christ," Preached at the North Street Chapel, Stamford, on August 19, 1860, by J. C. Philpot]
The Truth:
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal. 6:14)
