Prophetic Vision of Saint John of Kronstadt

THE VISION OF OUR HOLY FATHER JOHN, THE WONDERWORKER OF KRONSTADT

The Holy and Righteous John of Kronstadt recalled this vision which he had in January of 1901:

After evening prayers I laid down to rest a little in my dimly lit cell since I was fatigued. Hanging before the icon of the Mother of God was my lit lampada. Not more than a half hour had passed when I heard soft rustle. Someone touched my left shoulder, and in tender voice said to me, ‘Arise servant of God John and follow the will of God!’

I arose and saw near the window glorious starets (elder) with frosty grey hair, wearing a black mantia, and holding staff in his hand. He looked at me tenderly, and I could scarcely keep from falling because of my great fear. My hands and feet trembled, and I wanted to speak, but my tongue would not obey me. The starets made the sign of the cross over me, and calm and joy soon came over me. Then I made the sign of the cross myself. He then pointed to the western wall of my cell with his staff in order that I should notice certain spot. The starets had inscribed on the wall the following numbers: 1913, 1914, 1917, 1922, 1924, and 1934.

Suddenly the wall vanished, and I walked with the starets toward a green field and saw a mass of crosses-thousands standing as gravemarkers. They were wooden, clay, or gold. I asked the starets, ‘What are these crosses for’ He softly answered, “These crosses are for those who suffered and were murdered for their faith in Christ and for the Word of God and have become martyrs!

And so we continued to walk. Suddenly I saw an entire river of blood and asked the starets, ‘What is the meaning of this blood? How much has been spilled?’ The starets looked around and replied, This is the blood of true Christians!’ The starets then pointed to some clouds, and I saw mass of burning white lamps. They began to fall to the ground one after another by the tens and by the hundreds. During their descent they grew dim and turned to ashes. The starets then said to me, ‘Look!’ I saw on a cloud seven burning lamps. I asked, ‘What is the meaning of the burning lamps which fell to the ground’ He said, Those are the churches of God which have fallen into heresy, but these seven lamps on the clouds are the seven Catholic and Apostolic Churches which will remain until the end of the world!’

The starets then pointed high into the air and I saw and heard angels singing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbaoth!’ Then a large crowd of people with candles in their hands rushed by with joy on their shining faces. They were archbishops, monks, nuns, groups of laymen, young adults, and even children and babies. I asked the wonderworking starets, ‘What is the meaning of these people’ He responded, These are all the people who suffered for the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, for the holy icons at the hands of the wicked destroyers.’ I then asked the great starets if I could sit down next to them. The starets said, ‘It is too early for you to suffer, so joining them would not be blessed by God!’

Again I saw a large group of infants who had suffered for Christ under Herod and had received crowns from the Heavenly King. We walked further and went into large church. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but the starets said, ‘It is not necessary to cross yourself because this is a place of abomination and desolation!’ The church was very gloomy. On the altar was a star and a Gospel book with stars. Candles made of tar were burning and crackling like firewood. The chalice was standing there covered by strong stench. There was prosphora with stars. A priest stood before the altar with face like pitch and woman was under the altar covered in red with a star on her lips and she screamed and laughed throughout the church saying, ‘I am free!’ I thought Oh, Lord, how awful! The people, like madmen, began to run around the altar, scream, whistle, and clap their hands. Then they began to sing lecherous songs. Suddenly lightning flashed, frightening thunderbolt resounded, the earth trembled, and the church collapsed, sending the woman, the people, the priest, and the rest into the abyss. I thought Oh Lord, how awful, save us!

The starets saw what had happened as did I. I asked, ‘Father, tell me, what is the meaning of this frightening church?’ He responded, These are the earthly people, heretics who have abandoned the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and recognized the newly innovated church which God has not blessed. In this church they do not fast, do not attend services, and do not receive Holy Communion!’ I was frightened and said, The Lord has pity on us, but curses those with death!’ The starets interrupted me and said, ‘Do not mourn, but just pray!’ Then I saw a throng of people, each of whom had a star on his lips and was. terribly exhausted from thirst, walking here and there. They saw us and yelled loudly, ‘Holy Fathers, pray for us. It is very hard for us because we ourselves cannot. Our Fathers and Mothers did not teach us the Law of God. ‘We do not even have the name of Christ, and we have received no peace. We rejected the Holy Spirit and the sign of the cross!’ They began to cry.

I followed after the starets. ‘Look!’ he said pointing with his hand. I saw a mountain of human corpses stained in blood. I was very frightened, and I asked the starets, ‘What is the meaning of these dead bodies?’ He replied, These are people who lived the monastic life, were rejected by the Antichrist, and did not receive his seal. They suffered for their faith in Christ and the Apostolic Church and received martyrs crowns dying for Christ. Pray for these servants of God!’

Without warning the starets turned to the north and pointed with his hand. I saw an imperial palace, around which dogs were running. Wild beasts and scorpions were roaring and charging and baring their teeth. And I saw the Tsar sitting on a throne. His face was pale and masculine. He was reciting the Jesus Prayer. Suddenly he fell like a dead man. His crown fell. The wild beasts, dogs, and scorpions trampled on the anointed Sovereign. I was frightened and cried bitterly. The starets took me by my right shoulder. I saw a figure shrouded in white – it was Nicholas II. On his head was a wreath of green leaves, and his face was white and somewhat bloodied. He wore a gold cross around his neck and was quietly whispering a prayer. And then he said to me with tears, ‘Pray for me, Fr. John. Tell all Orthodox Christians that I, the Tsar-martyr, died manfully for my faith in Christ and the Orthodox Church. Tell the Holy Fathers that they should serve a Panachida for me, a sinner, but there will be no grave for me!’

Soon everything became hidden in the fog. I cried bitterly praying for the Tsar-martyr. My hands and feet trembled from fear. The starets said, :Look! Then I saw a throng of people scattered about the land who had died from starvation while others were eating grass and vegetation. Dogs were devouring the bodies of the dead, and the stench was terrible. I thought, Oh Lord, these people had no faith. From their lips they expelled blasphemy, and for this they received God’s anger.

I also saw an entire mountain of books and among the books worms were crawling emitting ? terrible stench. I asked the starets, ‘What was the meaning of these books?’ ?? said, These books are the Godlessness and blasphemy which will infect all Christians with heretical teachings!’ Then the starets touched his staff to some of the books, and they ignited into flames. The wind scattered the ashes. Further on, I saw a church around which was a large pile of prayer intentions for the departed. I bent over and wanted to read them, but the starets said, These prayer requests for the dead have been lying here for many years, and the priests have forgotten about them. They are never going to read them, but the dead will ask someone to pray for them!’ I asked, ‘Who, will they get to pray for them?’ The starets answered: ‘The Angels will pray for them!’

We proceeded further, and the starets quickened the pace so that I could hardly keep up with him. ‘Look!’ he said. I saw a large crowd of people being persecuted by demons who were beating them with stakes, pitchforks, and hooks. I asked the starets, ‘What is the meaning of these people?’ He answered, These are the ones who renounced their faith and left the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and accepted the new innovative church. This group represents priests, monks, nuns, and laymen who renounced their vows or marriage, and engaged in drinking and all sorts of blasphemy and slander. All of these have terrible faces and a terrible stench comes from their mouths. The demons beat them, driving them into the terrible abyss, from where hell fire comes forth. ‘ I was terribly frightened. I made the sign of the cross while praying, Lord deliver us from such a fate!

I then saw a group of people, both old and young, all of whom were terribly dressed, and who were raising a large, five pointed star. On each corner were twelve demons and in the middle was Satan himself with terrifying horns and a straw head. He emitted a noxious foam onto the people while pronouncing these words, ‘Arise you accursed ones with the seal of …..’ Suddenly many demons appeared with branding irons and on all the people they placed the seal: on their lips, above the elbow and on their right hands. I asked the starets, ‘What is the meaning of this?’ He responded, This is the mark of the Antichrist!’ I made the sign of the cross and followed after the starets.

He suddenly stopped and pointed to the east with his hand. I saw a large gathering of people with joyous faces carrying crosses and candles in their hands. In their midst stood a large altar as white as snow. On the altar was the cross and the Holy Gospel and over the altar was the vosduch with golden imperial crown on which was written in golden letter, ‘For the short term.’ Patriarchs, bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and laymen stood around the altar. They were all singing, ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth’ Out of great joy I made the sign of the cross and praised God. Suddenly the starets waved his cross upwards three times, and I saw mountain of corpses covered in human blood and above them Angels were flying. They were taking the souls of those murdered for the Word of God to heaven while they sang, Alleluia!’ I observed all this and cried loudly.

The starets took me by the hand and forbade me to cry. ‘What is pleasing to God is that Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and shed His precious blood for us. Such ones will become martyrs who do not accept the seal of the antichrist, and all who shed their blood will receive heavenly crowns.’ The starets then prayed for these servants of God and pointed to the east as the words of the Prophet Daniel came true, ‘Abomination of desolation.’ Finally, I saw the cupola of Jerusalem. Above it was a star. Within the church millions of people thronged and still many more were trying to enter inside. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but the starets grabbed my hand and said, ‘Here is the abomination of desolation!’

So we entered into the church, and it was full of people. I saw an altar on which tallow candles were burning. On the altar was a king in red, blazing, porphyry. On his head was a golden crown with a star. I asked the starets, ‘Who is this?’ He replied, ‘The Antichrist!’ He was very tall with eyes like fire, black eyebrows, a wedge-shaped beard, a ferocious, cunning, evil, and terrible face. He alone was on the altar and he reached his hands out to the people. He had claws as those of a tiger for hands and he shouted, ‘I am King. I am God. I am the Leader. He who does not have my seal will be put to death.’ All the people fell down and worshipped him, and he began to place his seal on their lips and on their hands in order that they should receive some bread and not die from hunger and thirst.

Around the Antichrist his servants were leading several people whose hands were bound as they had not bowed down to worship him. They said, “We are Christians, and we all believe in our Lord Jesus Christ!’ The Antichrist ripped off their heads in a flash and Christian blood began to flow A child was then led to the altar of the Antichrist to worship him, but he boldly proclaimed, ‘I am a Christian and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, but you are a minister, a servant of Satan!’ ‘Death to him!’ exclaimed the Antichrist. Others who accepted the seal of the Antichrist fell down and worshipped him. Suddenly roar of thunder resounded and thousand lightning flashes began to sparkle. Arrows began to strike the servants of the Antichrist. Then a large flaming arrow flashed by and hit the Antichrist himself on the head. As he waved his hand, his crown fell and was crushed into the ground. Then millions of birds flew in and perched on the servants of the Antichrist.

I felt the starets take me by the hand. We walked further on, and I again saw much Christian blood. It was here that I remembered the words of Saint John the Theologian in the book of Revelation that blood would ‘be up to the horse’s bridle.’ I thought, Oh my God, save us! At that time I saw Angels flying and singing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord of Sabbaoth!’ The starets looked back and went on to say, ‘Do not grieve, for soon, very soon, will come the end of the world! Pray to the Lord. God be merciful to His servants!’ Time was drawing near to close. He pointed to the east, fell to his knees and began to pray So I prayed with him. Then the starets began to quickly depart from the earth to the heights of heaven. As he did so I remembered that I did not know his name, so cried out loudly, ‘Father, what is your name?’ He tenderly replied, ‘Seraphim of Sarov!’

Image: Saint Seraphim of Sarov, the elder that appeared to Saint John in 1901

That is what ’saw, and this is what ‘ have recorded for Orthodox Christians. A large bell rang above my head, and I heard the sound and arose from bed. ‘Lord, bless and help me through the prayers of the great starets! You have enlightened me, the sinful servant, the priest John of Kronstadt.”

(Translated by Priestmonk Orestes
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Seminary)

Greek saint appears after death in Romania!

Orthodox Miracle – in Romania: The Greek saint Nectarios of Aegina (died in 1920) appears after death in Romanian village and starts working!

In a small village in Romania no priests existed and the residents went often to the Patriarch and demanded him to fulfill the empty spot. However the Patriarch did not have the means of satisfying the demand for a priest. The villagers went over and over again but their was nothing their Patriarch said that was any different… that he did not have any extra priests or else he would send one to the village.

Meanwhile people died unread (no services), others had relationships and children without marriage vows, the children and adults alike were unbaptized.

Then one day, outside of the Church a car pulled up and stopped and out stepped a priest shouting. The village was astonished.

The villagers went to the church to welcome him and asked him, “How did you come to the village after our Patriarch had said that he doesn’t have a priest to send us?”

The priest answered, “Isn’t that what you wished for? You wished for a priest? Now one has come.”

All the villagers were glad in the presence of the new priest.

The priest began immediately working. He went to all the graves and read the (exodio) prayers. He baptized and married everyone in the village and administered Holy Communion.

One day he invited all the villagers to church and told them, “I must leave now, my mission work is done.”

The villagers were saddened and confused by his announcement and asked, “Now that you came, you are leaving?”

However the priest didn’t change his mind and proceeded with his decision.

When the villagers realized that their wasn’t anything they could do, they thanked him.

After days, the villagers went to Patriarch and they thanked him for sending them a priest and to let him know that they would kindly appreciate it if he could send them another priest soon, but the Patriarch didn’t know anything.

He said to them I didn’t send a priest because I don’t have one, however let me check with the Protocingkelo to see if he had sent a priest to you to serve your needs.

He phoned the Protocingkelo but he too didn’t send anyone.

The Patriarch inquired, “What did this priest do for you?”

The villagers answered, “He married us, baptized us, performed funerals for our parents, he did what any other priest would have performed for us.”

Then the Patriarch asked if he gave them any papers or logged the mysteries.

“Of course,” said the villagers, “he gave us papers and he wrote them in the Churches books.”

“Then did anyone see what he wrote? And with what name he signed?”

“All the documents were written in Romanian and we are not well educated and the signature he signed in a language we have not seen before.”

The Patriarch requested they go bring the books in order to see who was this clergyman.

When they returned with the book the Patriarch remained speechless. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Indeed all the documents were written in Romanian while his name was written in Greek with the name of his signature, Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis.

Source: Demetrios Velaoras

Glory to God! May St. Nektarios intercede for us!

Unusual phenomenon at Solovky monastery

Arkhangelsk, September 25, Interfax – On the picture of Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Solovky Monastery, the sixth dome appeared in the rose-coloured shine.

The picture was taken by a pilgrim on her mobile phone.

The Orthodoxy in the Northern Land website reports Friday that it is symbolic that the monastery’s history began with the vision to St. Zosima of a church in celestial shine. The first wooden church of Transfiguration was built at the place of this vision.

SOS: Television broadcasts programs that should be banned!

Moscow Patriarchate urge to struggle against anonymity in Internet

Moscow, October 15, Interfax – The Russian Church is concerned with the danger of spreading extremist ideas in Internet.

“From my experience in Internet and on the radio, I see how differently people behave there. You can know a person at least by his voice on the radio, and thus, when speaking on the radio, people communicate politely, worthily, humanly in 95 percent of cases,” head of the Synodal Church and Society Department Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said on Wednesday at a session of the Pobeda Russian Committee.

“Mutual insults and extremist statements are so frequent” in blogs “where people usually hide behind nicknames,” he said.

Fr. Vsevolod also backed up an idea to set up a cycle of TV and radio programs on spiritual and moral education of youth and stressed, “absence of demand on such programs is a myth.”

The priest cited sociological data voiced at a TV channel, according to which about one third of Russian population prefer to watch documentaries and educational programs and about 90 percent believe that “today, television broadcasts programs that should be banned.”

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=6548

С ФОТО АНТИХРИСТА БУДЕТ ТЕЧЬ МИРО

Профессор Московской духовной академии: С фото антихриста будет течь миро

С изображений антихриста и с экранов телевизоров, показывающих его, будет течь исцеляющее от болезней миро, говорит профессор Московской духовной академии Алексей Осипов в книге «Чудеса истинные и ложные», которую издал Данилов монастырь.

«Уже сейчас идет активная подготовка сознания народа, в том числе и вполне православных («избранных») людей к исканию чудес, погоне за ними, – говорит Осипов. – Посмотрите, сколько литературы посвящено им. И, увы, многие православные уже хорошо знают, в каких нуждах каким иконам молиться, к каким святым обращаться, и к каким мощам прикладываться. Мысль о спасении от страстей и греха, от зла, неприязни, зависти, блуда, воровства постепенно отходит на второй план».

По словам Осипова, «через искание земных благ, чудес, прозорливцев» люди придут к тому, что примут антихриста, который будет совершать поражающие воображения чудеса.

Осипов цитирует святителя Игнатия Брянчанинова, который в XIX веке писал: «С течением времени, с постепенным ослаблением христианства, и повреждением нравственности знаменосные мужи умалялись. Наконец, они иссякли окончательно. Между тем человеки, потеряв благоговение и уважение ко всему священному, потеряв смирение, признающее себя недостойным не только совершать знамения, но и видеть их, жаждут чудес более, нежели когда-либо… Мы приближаемся постепенно к тому времени, в которое должно открыться обширное зрелище многочисленных и поразительных ложных чудес, увлечь в погибель тех несчастных питомцев плотского мудрствования, которые будут обольщены и обмануты этими чудесами».

Алексей Осипов говорит, что истинные чудеса, совершаемые силой Божией, происходят редко. Но многие чудеса совершаются благодаря демоническому воздействию, в том числе через колдунов и экстрасенсов. По словам Осипова, мироточение не всегда производится Божией силой. Известно множество случаев, когда мироточили не только православные иконы, но и статуи католических святых, которые, находясь в прелести, принимали бесов за ангелов, а также статуи языческих богов.

По мнению Алексея Осипова, легковерие и заблуждения по поводу чудес «при полном сохранении внешнего православия грозит сползанием нашей веры к прямому язычеству».
Книга «Чудеса истинные и ложные» является сборником статей, в которых объясняется, о чем говорит увеличившееся в последнее время число чудес и знамений, всегда ли полезной бывает встреча с таинственным явлением, и как отличить истинное чудо от ложного.

Источник:

http://xsense.ru/news-00059750/

МОСКВА, 30 декабря (Корр. АНН Алла Тучкова).

Eidetic memory possible: phenomenon of Andriy Slyusarchuk

Prof. A. Slyusarchuk

Lviv has just witnessed two decidedly wacky world records, bringing a much appreciated does of fantasy to the late winter gloom. Medical professor Andriy Sliusarchuk memorized a staggering five thousand one hundred numbers in a mere two minutes flat. Then came record number two, with the prof reciting the value of Pi to its one-millionth decimal place.

Having completed the two mind-spinning challenges, the prof received a rapturous round of applause from his students, fellow professors and representatives of the Ukrainian Book of Records. Bravo from Lviv Life!

Source: http://www.lviv-life.com/news/news/36-As_Easy_As_Pi

Chilean Catholic converted to Orthodoxy

Opening a Door for the Lord in People’s Hearts

Father Alexy Aedo

Father Alexy Aedo, Chilean native and archpriest with the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, is the pastor in Chile of two Orthodox communities—that of St Silouan of Mount Athos in the city of Conception[1], and that of St Nectarios of Aegina in the city of Santiago[2]. While still a youth, being Chilean and Catholic, he converted to Orthodoxy. Father Alexy, a well-known missionary in his country, has devoted a lot of time and energy to preaching Christianity and Orthodoxy among the Chileans.

- Father Alexy, tell us how you became an Orthodox priest and missionary.

- I had wanted to become a priest from childhood. But I was born in southern Chile, and there it was possible to become a priest only with the Catholic Church. I began to study theology and entered a Catholic seminary. Then I became acquainted with some Orthodox families from Palestine. I saw how people in the Orthodox Church live, how they think. When I would start a conversation on some theological topic, they would tell me what the Orthodox Church teaches about it. So I converted to Orthodoxy and was received into the Antiochian Church. While still a layman, I came here, to Santiago, the capital, to complete my theological education. Once, walking home from the university, I found myself near a Russian church. I entered it, heard the Russian choir, looked at old Russian photographs….All this made a deep, deep impression on me. After that, more than once, the thought entered my mind, “O God, how good it would be if I also could someday serve Liturgy in such a wonderful church!” Later, when I was already ordained a priest, the Russian missionary-bishop Vladyka Alexander Meliant—may God rest his soul—invited me to transfer to the Russian Church. While still carrying on my missionary work in Santiago, I also took the first steps in building a church in the southern part of the country, in the city of Conception. I would like very much for a beautiful Russian church to be there, where my children and other young Chileans could go. And I ask God not to take me to Himself until there is a Russian Orthodox Church in the south.

- In addition to Conception, are there any other Orthodox parishes in southern Chile?

- In the city of Valdivia, there are Russians and Palestinians who would like to form a parish. There are also Chileans, not only in Valdivia but also in other cities, who want to convert to Orthodoxy. We hope that God gives us the opportunity to build here also, in Santiago, a large church.

- You are doing a great deal of missionary work now. Was your acquaintance with Vladyka Alexander a stimulus for this?

- Yes. Vladyka Alexander trusted and loved me as a priest. That is the best thing that can happen to a priest—when a bishop trusts him and loves him. For me, it was a gift from God.

- In Russia, many people know of Vladyka Alexander through his website and are familiar with the “Missionary Pages” which Vladyka put out.

- Both the site and the brochures which Vladyka Alexander published were extremely important and needed by us. They help us understand what Orthodoxy is. Thanks to Vladyka Alexander, we have come to understand that it is both possible and desirable to preach the Gospel through the internet: people hear us better, find out about us, get to know us; through the web, we can keep knocking patiently until the people hear us.

- In the main building of Santiago University, you have now built a movable church. Tell us, besides spiritually feeding those students who are your parishioners, do you have any success in reaching other students with the Gospel message?

- We carry on missionary work with the students, but, figuratively speaking, not “through an open door” but “through a window.” Formally, we do not have the right to preach in a secular educational institution, because the students don’t come to the university in order to be “missionized”. The founders and professors of this university are laypersons, secular people. But each time an opportunity presents itself, without pressuring or imposing on anyone, we remind them about God … and talk about the faith. Later, students will come and approach me as someone older, as to a father, in order to ask advice or to share their joys and sorrows.

- And what is the most important thing for preaching Orthodoxy among specifically Latin American youth?

- My feeling is that youth here are seeking religion, seeking the Church, but they can’t find genuine faith. Unfortunately, many join Protestants, or sects, sometimes even non-Christian sects. Young people need people to listen to them, to understand them.

We live in a time when people are weighed down by many sorrows: they are hit by economic difficulties, by war, at times by serious problems with their health. It seems to many people that their whole life is falling apart. People don’t know what they can hold onto for support, what represents authentic values, true moral guidance. Therefore, work with young people should begin with friendship. A person needs to be able to simply listen to them. And when you listen to them, they, without noticing it, begin to hear about Orthodoxy.

- Do literature, the arts, and philosophy help to find a common language with youth?

- Yes, through philosophy and ethics it’s easier for me to find a common language with youth. Young Chileans are inclined to relate critically to the way things are in their homeland, and indeed, to the world in general. And they want something they can grab hold of, like the tiller on a boat or the helm on a ship, that can help them steer their way through the surrounding world. Through this desire for a true moral compass, it is easy to move the conversation to the plane of philosophy and ethics. The next step up is religion.

- After the restoration of canonical relations between the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, several parishes in Chile split off from the Mother Church. What do you think, is this a temporary phenomenon? And what, in your opinion, needs to be done to heal the schism?

- This is a very sorrowful, contradictory phenomenon. The deep, painful wounds of the past have still not healed. Many of those who have gone into schism still do not understand that over the course of time, the situation in Russia has changed. However, those dear old priests who have preserved the traditions and cherish tradition have, together with us, embraced reunification, but some young priests have left. It may be that the latter are guided by personal motives—material interests, ambition—in a word, private interests. And at times they forget about obedience to the Church.

One Russian batiushka, a monk, lives on a mountain and abides in silence. Talking with him is like talking with a saint. He also didn’t accept the reunification. But I would prefer that he were a little less saintly and stayed with us.

- Tell us, what to you is the most interesting thing that is happening today in the Russian Orthodox Church?

- Between the West and the East exists a colossal difference in world view. Here in the West, Church and culture are separated. In the Orthodox East, they [Church and culture] represent a single, united whole. Matushka[3] and I were in Greece. In Athens we asked a Greek, “What is more important to you, to be Greek or to be Orthodox?” He answered that they were one and the same thing. Russians think the same way. And I must explain to the Chilians that I am not Greek, not Russian—I am Orthodox. The Russian Church is a kind of model for us, integrating spiritual life with national culture. And I very much wish that the Chilean people would perceive and assimilate the Gospel of Christ in the way that the Russian people embraced the Gospel and integrated it with their own traditions and culture. O Russia! Help us find the path of how to be faithful to our national culture in the light of the Gospel teaching!

- Father Alexy, in Latin America, [the project of] the “Days of Russian spiritual culture”[4] has just been completed. What kind of mark have these days left in the souls of those Chileans who are still not in the Church, who consider themselves to be secular people? From your point of view, could it happen that, after visiting the concerts of Sretensky Monastery’s choir, the exhibition “Holy Russia, Orthodox Russia [‘Rus’[5]]”, and the cinematic festival of Russian films, there will be awakened in them an interest in spirituality, and in true Russian culture, which is closely bound up with the idea of Orthodoxy?

- Of course. I think this [project] will also help them draw closer to the Orthodox faith because during this period of the Days of Russian culture, Chileans have had the chance to converse with clergy—with priests and hierarchs. After 20 years in the priesthood, I have come to the following conclusion: people may be very far from the Church, perhaps not even believe in God … until they become acquainted with a priest. The Lord God literally opens for them a little door, tiny and unnoticeable; and—lo!—faith appears. Such a person suddenly turns to us with a request to bless his home, to bless his children. Then he learns about the heights of monastic life, and is beside himself with joy and wonder about it. He starts reading the lives of saints—Seraphim of Sarov, Silouan of Mount Athos, Herman of Alaska, and other ascetics of piety. He learns about fools-for-Christ and begins to study the holy fathers. For confirmation in the faith, people often don’t need concepts and theories, but simply to see the way which God Himself trod. By God’s grace, a person talks with a priest and finds the footsteps of the Lord.

interview by Hieromonk Paul Scherbachev

Source: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/28636.htm

America intentionally provoked financial crisis

America intentionally provoked financial crisis to gain world domination

Moscow, December 3, Interfax – Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Deacon Andrey Kurayev believes the USA has intentionally provoked the world financial crisis in order to form “new world government.”

“The Western world has absolutely intentionally staked on devaluation of money for more than 20 years, this is “Reaganomics.” I can’t even imagine that American economic and financial leaders failed to predict the results of thoughtless crediting of population and increasing state, corporate and private debts. They’re clever people,” Fr. Andrey has told Interfax-Religion correspondent on Wednesday.

He supposes, it “was absolutely intentional stake on crisis.”

“What is the use of this crisis? I can judge only from very similar signals, words and receipts coming from various Western countries. States all over the globe are saving private companies. However, when saving, they introduce very strict control over them. After cleaning up medium business and nationalization of big one, epoch of “new socialism” will come. In this case, the consequences of the crisis will be similar to those of 9/11/01,” the deacon believes.

Fr. Andrey noted that after terrorist attacks of September 11, western citizen “was told he was attacked and thus should be under police escort. He started living under vigilant police guard and was deprived of his right to privacy, cameras always follow him, and he is asked to have electronic documents, fingerprints and a passport, which hasn’t happened in England since World War II.”

“The space of private freedom was abruptly restricted. Under pretence of struggling against mythic Al Qaeda, they started spying on ordinary citizens of the European Union and the USA! The same thing will happen to big business. State will now spy on legal entities instead of physical persons. And again – it will be done only for common good,” the interviewee of the agency believes.

According to him, “the most terrible tricks were played for the sake of “equality” in the 20th century, while the world will be reconstructed and freedom dismantled for “security” reasons in the 21st century.”

“Thus, I believe that crushing of two New York towers and crushing of local stock exchanges are chapters of the same scenario that aims at setting up “new world government” with very totalitarian ambitions,” the professor concluded.

Source: http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5445

Theologian not sure Hadron Collider will bring happiness to people

Theologian not sure Hadron Collider will bring happiness to people

Moscow, September 25, Interfax – The well-known theologian, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Alexey Osipov suggests that scientists are insufficiently responsible in realizing the project of the Hadron Collider’s launch.

“I cannot estimate all the goals of making this giant machine, but it’s at least announced that it has been done, in particular, to learn how the Universe happened. Oh well, we learned it. What’s next? I never heard the answer to this question,” Osipov said to Interfax-Religion.

He also said that he hadn’t heard a clear answer to the question, “would the launch of the Collider lead to scale negative consequences.”

“Without answering these two questions the assessment changes immediately: we can neither reject nor cheer this experiment,” Osipov said.

The professor noted that “every time when something similar is created we’d most like if scientists to foresee at first all the possible consequences and to answer above all a question – what will the creation give the man as a creature looking for good, advantage, happiness.”

According to the Church point of view, he said, “we should know something, but exactly what is needed for our mortal life, just even biological existence.”

“But when it extends beyond the boundaries of solutions of this kind of issues, this is already a big issue, because an empty curiosity is not a virtue from the Christian point of view – when there is no enough arguments indicating that this study is really necessary for us,” Osipov said.

He noted that human progress has some driving forces, and “one of them is curiosity.” “Though there are things of quite a different order in the scientific and technological progress which are quite positive in terms of enabling a person to have more prosperous existence and a possibility to supply needs – necessary needs, as I can note,” the professor said.

He recalled the rule “which is wonderfully expressed in the Hippocratic Oath: do no harm.”

Osipov also pointed that “when we find ourselves in the face of unknown, we always accept risk. And the more major the experiment is, the more backgrounds of existence, even material, it touches, the more risk we have.”

“That’s why it’s always necessary to model the result we’ll get it the case of resolving the scientific problem,” he added.

According to the professor, even in terms of philosophy, not only Christian, “we can never prove that our mind can adequately comprehend all the things it investigates. We try to prove our mind’s ability with it’s own help, so there’s a vicious circle.”

Source: http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5195

Dangers of exorcisms

The Russian Orthodox bishop is concerned with the fashion on exorcizing prayers among Orthodox believers

Moscow, February 8, Interfax – Bishop Longin of Saratov and Volsk, who is also a member of the Russia’s Public Chamber, is concerned with the believers practicing mass trips to the clerics to drive out of demons.

‘No one wonders if a person really needs it. No one knows why normal people are going through exorcism procedure. I know some examples when healthy people became demon-possessed after the rite,’ the bishop stated as quoted by Noviye Izvestia daily on Friday.

Moscow Theological Academy’s professor Alexey Osipov has roundly condemned modern exorcizing practice. ‘Firstly, how do we know that a person gets better when demons are exorcized? Secondly, some people get even worse after the procedure,’ he said.

According to him, ‘the Lord prohibited the demon-possessed to speak and now demonic madness is filmed, and these records circulate all over Russia: hey, listen, what the demon says!’

‘Thirdly, the priest who practices it without having any spiritual gifts harms himself and those who come to him,’ Osipov added.

Source: http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4251