How to become impoverished
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
It appears that a the prophecy of Elder Theodoros Agiofarangitis from Crete (+2016) is being fulfilled before our eyes.
At the Third Spiritual Dialogue Gathering in Cyprus on May 22, 2019, His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou shared this prophecy told to him by Elder Theodoros:
“My children, one day you will be drinking your coffee and you will hear that the Jews attacked the nuclear program of Persia (Iran). That's when events of greater magnitude will begin. And at the same time, or a little earlier, Erdogan will fall. These will be the signs of the big events to come, so you understand that they are near, at the door."
At the Third Spiritual Dialogue Gathering in Cyprus on May 22, 2019, His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou shared this prophecy told to him by Elder Theodoros:
“My children, one day you will be drinking your coffee and you will hear that the Jews attacked the nuclear program of Persia (Iran). That's when events of greater magnitude will begin. And at the same time, or a little earlier, Erdogan will fall. These will be the signs of the big events to come, so you understand that they are near, at the door."
On the second Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints, each local Orthodox Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown, in its jurisdiction.
“But the souls of the righteous are in God's hand, and death cannot lay hold of them." (Wisdom of Solomon 3:1)
Holy Apostles and all Saints, pray for us, that we may be delivered from dangers, sorrows and afflictions; for we have obtained you as fervent intercessors with the Saviour.
Under thy tender compassion we run to you, O Mother of God. Reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, O only pure, only blessed one.
“But the souls of the righteous are in God's hand, and death cannot lay hold of them." (Wisdom of Solomon 3:1)
Holy Apostles and all Saints, pray for us, that we may be delivered from dangers, sorrows and afflictions; for we have obtained you as fervent intercessors with the Saviour.
Under thy tender compassion we run to you, O Mother of God. Reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, O only pure, only blessed one.
More quotes from Fr. Athanasios Mitilinaios, of blessed memory
☦️”The person of Jesus Christ is the great question mark in all of world history, and no other subject is so important.”
☦️”You will recognize the authentic Orthodox word when it is persecuted.
If you hear words that flatter your ears and lull your conscience to sleep, flee from them.”
☦️”The sicker you are, the more sinful, the more wounded you are, the more suitable you are for Christ to take you in His hands and heal you, save vou, redeem vou!"
☦️”Freemasonry is a gnostic heresy.”
☦️”The person of Jesus Christ is the great question mark in all of world history, and no other subject is so important.”
☦️”You will recognize the authentic Orthodox word when it is persecuted.
If you hear words that flatter your ears and lull your conscience to sleep, flee from them.”
☦️”The sicker you are, the more sinful, the more wounded you are, the more suitable you are for Christ to take you in His hands and heal you, save vou, redeem vou!"
☦️”Freemasonry is a gnostic heresy.”
Each of us “faithful is attacked and led astray by the passions; but if he is at peace with God and with his neighbor, he overcomes them all.
These passions are the 'world' that St. John the Theologian told us to hate, meaning that we are to hate, not God's creatures, but worldly desires. The soul is at peace with God when it is at peace with itself and has become wholly deiform. It is also at peace with God when it is at peace with all men, even if it suffers terrible things at their hands (The Philokalia, vol. 3).”
These passions are the 'world' that St. John the Theologian told us to hate, meaning that we are to hate, not God's creatures, but worldly desires. The soul is at peace with God when it is at peace with itself and has become wholly deiform. It is also at peace with God when it is at peace with all men, even if it suffers terrible things at their hands (The Philokalia, vol. 3).”
"If you manage to correct yourself, one small part of the Church is immediately corrected. Naturally, if everyone did the same, the body of the Church would be in good health. But, today, people concern themselves with anything but themselves. You see, judging others is easy, whereas working on yourself takes effort." ☦️ Saint Paisios
Prophet and Forerunner John, we honour you in love at your nativity, the beginning of your proclamation to the world of the incarnation of the Son of God!
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
“If you say something evil about your brother or sister, even if it is true, your soul suffers an unhealable wound. You can reveal the sins of another only when the sole intention in your heart is the benefit of the soul of the sinner." ☦️ St. Nikon of Optina (June 25)
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
Say "Our Father", even if you do not live as a son; perhaps this would remind you that God is your Father.
Say "Who art in heaven", even if you only think of worldly things; perhaps this would lift your mind to the Heavens.
Say "Hallowed be Thy Name" even if you only glorify your own name; perhaps this would bring you the thought that without God your name is nothing.
Say "Thy Kingdom come", even though if you only seek possessions; perhaps this would urge you to desire the Kingdom of God.
Say "Thy will be done", even though you only do your own will; perhaps this would make you realize that the will of God is your holiness.
Say "Give us this day our daily bread", even if you exclusively cling to the material; perhaps this would free your body from the earthly.
Say "Forgive us today our trespasses", even though you do not forgive others' mistakes against you; perhaps this way you will realize that forgiving is Heaven's door.
Say "Who art in heaven", even if you only think of worldly things; perhaps this would lift your mind to the Heavens.
Say "Hallowed be Thy Name" even if you only glorify your own name; perhaps this would bring you the thought that without God your name is nothing.
Say "Thy Kingdom come", even though if you only seek possessions; perhaps this would urge you to desire the Kingdom of God.
Say "Thy will be done", even though you only do your own will; perhaps this would make you realize that the will of God is your holiness.
Say "Give us this day our daily bread", even if you exclusively cling to the material; perhaps this would free your body from the earthly.
Say "Forgive us today our trespasses", even though you do not forgive others' mistakes against you; perhaps this way you will realize that forgiving is Heaven's door.
Prophecies from the Elders
"America will then perish terribly, completely. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves. It will be so.” —Elder Stefan Karulsky of Holy Mount Athos
"Something will happen that will bring America down to its knees. It will cease to be a superpower. Great evil will come to America.” —Venerable Elder loannis Kalaidis
"The U.S. will feed the world, but in the end it will collapse.” —St. Aristokles of Moscow
“A bloody battle will break out. It will take hundreds of millions of lives. The Lord will allow this tragedy to cleanse the world of those mired in sins. But after the catastrophe, a religious upsurge will begin.” —Elder Joseph of Vatopedi
"America will then perish terribly, completely. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves. It will be so.” —Elder Stefan Karulsky of Holy Mount Athos
"Something will happen that will bring America down to its knees. It will cease to be a superpower. Great evil will come to America.” —Venerable Elder loannis Kalaidis
"The U.S. will feed the world, but in the end it will collapse.” —St. Aristokles of Moscow
“A bloody battle will break out. It will take hundreds of millions of lives. The Lord will allow this tragedy to cleanse the world of those mired in sins. But after the catastrophe, a religious upsurge will begin.” —Elder Joseph of Vatopedi