| Doubting Thomas We live in a world of great oversimplification and therefore spiritual poverty. “Scientific” or “Unscientific.” People use words like these all the time as if they were self-evident and self-explanatory, and they use them because everyone else also uses them, without reflection, without debate. In fact, they themselves believe these reductions blindly and simplistically, and so any other approach appears to them as neither serious nor worthy of attention. The question is already decided. But is that really true? Unless I see…I will not believe” (John 20:25). So said Thomas, one of Christ’s twelve disciples, in response to the joyful news of those who had seen their crucified and buried Teacher risen from the dead. Eight days later, as recorded in the gospels, when the disciples once again were all together, Christ appeared and told Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” Then Christ told him: “You have believed because you have seen me; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe…” (John 20:24-31). Millions of people today think and speak essentially like Thomas, and assume that this is the only correct approach worthy of any thinking person. “Unless I see, I will not believe…” In our contemporary speech isn’t this the “scientific approach?” But Christ says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” This means that there is, and was, another approach, another standard, another possibility. True, others may say, but that approach is nanve and not rational; it’s unscientific; it’s for people who are backward; and since I’m a person of the modern world, “Unless I see, I will not believe.” We live in a world of great oversimplification and therefore spiritual poverty. “Scientific” or “Unscientific.” People use words like these all the time as if they were self-evident and self-explanatory, and they use them because everyone else also uses them, without reflection, without debate. In fact, they themselves believe these reductions blindly and simplistically, and so any other approach appears to them as neither serious nor worthy of attention. The question is already decided. But is that really true? I just said that we live in a world of great spiritual poverty. And indeed, if the end result of humanity’s interminable development boils down to this pronouncement, “I won’t believe it till I see it”; if the human race looks upon this as the height of wisdom and reason’s greatest victory, then our world truly is poor, superficial, and most all, incredibly boring. If I only know what I see, touch, measure and analyze, then how little I really know! The whole world of the human spirit falls by the wayside, all the intuition and profound knowledge that flow not from “I see” or “I touch,” but from “I think” and, most importantly, “I contemplate.” |
| Борис Горелик Скачать epub pdf Ф фаворский свет – the light of the Mount Fabor фанатизм – fanaticism фанатик – fanatic фанатичный – fanatic фарисей – pharisee фарисейский – pharisaical фарисейство – hypocrisy Фатимская Богородица – Our Lady of Fatima Федеральный совет свободной церкви – Federal Council of the Free Church Федерация христианских церквей святого Фомы – Federation of St Thomas Christian Churches фелонь – chasuble, phelonion феноменология религии – phenomenology of religion феургия – theurgy фибула – fibula филиппов пост – Christmas fast филиппово заговнье – Eve of the Christmas fast филипповский толк – Filippov dissent филокве – filoque фимиам – incense Финляндская православная церковь – Finland Orthodox Church Финская евангелическо-лютеранская церковь – Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church флагеллант – flagellant Фома неверный – Doubting Thomas фомина неделя – Low Week, St Thomas Week фомино воскресенье – Low Sunday францисканец – Franciscan Францисканские братья искупления – Franciscan Friars of the Atonement францисканский – Franciscan фундаментализм – fundamentalism фундаменталист – fundamentalist фундаменталистский – fundamentalist Фундаментальная методистская церковь – Fundamental Methodist Church Х – ханжа – hypocrite ханжеский – hypocritical ханжество – hypocrisy харизма – charisma, grace харизматизм – charismatic movement харизматик – charismatic харизматическая церковь – charismatic church хаугеанец – Haugean хаугеанский – Haugean хаугеанство – Haugeanism хвала – praise хвалебная молитва – prayer of praise, prayer of worship хвалебные – lauds хвалебный – laudatory хвалительные псалмы – lauds херувим – cherub херувимская (песнь) – cherubicon хилиазм – chiliasm хиротесия – laying on hands, entering the church хиротония – consecration, ordination, entering th church хлеб квасной – leavened bread хлеб пресный – unleavened bread хлеб святого Причастия – altar-bread хлебопреломление – the Fraction ходатай – advocate ходатайствовать – to advocate ход (церковный) – procession |
| Appeal of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church We invite all hierarchs, pastors and laymen to manifest again the triumph of Christ’s truth to the world on April 22, the day of Doubting Thomas, by celebrating a moleben and vigil in defence of the faith, the desecrated holy objects, the Church and her good name. We invite to celebrate a moleben and vigil at each cathedral church of the dioceses of the Russian Church. The Appeal was adopted as a result of the meeting of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Supreme Church Council held at the Church of Christ the Saviour on 3 April 2012. The Russian Orthodox Church, while fulfilling her mission of preaching the Gospel, demonstrates an active position on many burning issues and actively participates in the solution of many topical social problems. The help to the thousands of people during fires of 2010, fund raising and collections of material goods for disadvantaged categories of citizens, various kinds of work with children and the youth, and the coming of many thousands of people to venerate the Cincture of the Most Holy Mother of God, have shown the ability of the Church to unite millions of people in prayer, good deeds, and concern for people’s future. Regrettably, not all people rejoice and accept all this. The antichurch forces fear the strengthening of Orthodoxy in the country; they are frightened of the revival of national self-conscience and mass popular initiative. These people are not many, but some of them have influence and are willing to use their financial, informational and administrative resources for discrediting hierarchs and clerics, for engendering discord and alienating people from the church. Joining these forces are those who promote false values of aggressive liberalism, since the Church has an unyielding position of non-acceptance of such anti-Christian phenomena as the recognition of the same-sex marriages, freedom of expression of all desires, unrestrained consumption, and the propagation of permissiveness and fornication. Moreover, the attacks on the Church are profitable to those whose commercial interests are infringed by the programme of building new churches in the densely populated districts of Moscow and of other large cities. |
| “There is a First-Hierarch in the American Church who prayerfully unites us all.” A conversation in Moscow with Archimandrite Zaccheaus Wood, representative of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. On 25 April, the First-Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH, will arrive in Moscow. Father Zacchaeus, could you please tell us what kind of questions Patriarch KIRILL and Metropolitan JONAH might discuss during their meeting. And what is the schedule for his visit to Russia? I will begin with the question about his schedule, since it’s a lot simpler to answer. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah should arrive in Moscow on Saturday, 25 April. He will be met at the airport by the newly-appointed head of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokalamsk. Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov will accompany the First-Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America throughout the course of his visit. From the airport, we will try to arrive on time for the Procession of the Cross at our St Catherine Church of the Field; and thus His Beatitude can immediately after his arrival in Moscow visit the Moscow metochion of the American Church. We hope that he will head the last Paschal Cross-Procession of Bright Week. Saturday evening, Metropolitan Jonah will pray at Danilov Monastery. On Sunday, 26 April, on [Doubting] Thomas Sunday, Metropolitan Jonah and His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill will serve together in the Church of Christ the Saviour. After that will be a very important event for the American Orthodox Church: His Beatitude the Metropolitan will serve a moleben before the relics of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, whom we call the Apostle to America. On Monday, 27 April, a visit is planned to Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra and then a meeting with the US Ambassador to Russia. The next day there will be a meeting of Metropolitan Jonah with Patriarch Kirill, at which they will discuss questions concerning, among other things, the problems of Orthodox unity on the American continent and the perspectives for strengthening relations between the American and Russian Orthodox Churches. Metropolitan Jonah was recently chosen as head of Orthodox Church in America, and His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill recently became head of the Russian Orthodox Church; so this will be the first meeting between the two First-Hierarchs. We certainly hope that, by the mercy of God, this meeting will be very fruitful and important for both Churches. |
| Борис Горелик Скачать epub pdf У убеждение – conviction убеждать – to convince убивать – to kill, commit murder уверение Фомы – Doubting of Thomas убийство – murder убийца – murderer, killer убранство – apparel (на облачении); decoration убрус Господа Иисуса Христа – the vernicle увенчание – crowning уверенность в спасении – assurance of salvation уверовать во Христа – to accept Christ, acknowledge Christ увещание – admonition, exhortation увещевать – to admonish, exhort уводить с пути истинного – to lead sb astray угодник – Saint угодный (Богу) – acceptable (before God) узы – chains Украинская греко-католическая церковь – Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Украинская православная церковь – Ukrainian Orthodox Church умащивать – to anoint умеренное обновление – moderate renewal умилостивить – to propitiate, expiate умилостивление – propitiation, expiation умолять – to entreat умывальница – piscina униат – uniate униатская церковь – Uniate church Унитарианская универсалистская ассоциация – Unitarian Universalist Association унитарианский – Unitarian унитарианство – Unitarianism унитарий – Unitarian уния – union уныние – despondency, despair; впадать в – to fall into despondency упование – hope уповать – to hope for, count for уподобить – to resemble упоение – rapture упокоение – rapture упокоиться – to repose упрекать – to rebuke урна (с прахом) – mortuary urn урсулинка – Ursuline Усекновение главы Иоанна Крестителя – Beheading of St John the Baptist, Apotome усердие – zeal усердный – zealous усопший – departed, deceased Успение – the Assumpmion;(Npecbяmoй Богородицы) the Assumption of the Virgin, the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God, the Repose of the Mother of God уста – mouth, lips устав – lectionary; statute, rule, regulations устав иерусалимский – Jerusalem statute устав монастырский – monastery statute устав религиозного ордена – observance устав Русской православной церкви – Regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church устав студийский – Studite statute устав церковный – church statute |
| Pravmir To Translate Articles from an Orthodox Journal for Doubting, Foma Cover of Foma 2013 edition On April 11, Pravmir.com started working with Foma , an Orthodox journal. Starting from today, Pravmir.com will occasionally publish translated articles from the journal with a link to the original text. Foma is an Orthodox journal aimed at doubting people, hence the name Foma, which means Thomas in Russian, in honor of the Doubting Thomas. It was founded in 1996 by journalists Vladimir Legoyda and Vladimir Gurbolikov. Its mission is to tell people about the Orthodox faith and the Church and its importance in the life of modern society. Foma tries to appeal to various people regardless their religious, political or other views. Foma is not an official journal of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the journal was awarded a vulture “Approved by the Synodal Information Department of the Russian Orthodox Church”. Pravmir.com is looking forward to sharing Foma’s materials with our readers and hearing back from them about what topics and issues are of most interest to them. The first translated article is to be published on April 12. Code for blog Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. Also by this author Today " s Articles Most viewed articles Functionality is temporarily unavailable. Most popular authors Functionality is temporarily unavailable. © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com |
| Even if we live our whole life struggling with doubt, on the eighth day, on the day we enter into eternity, we will know as we are known. On the eighth day all doubt will vanish. I wrote this today because it was on my mind. It is probably too preachy and predictable. Nonetheless, it may encourage someone, so I offer it. There are five Sundays between Pascha and Ascension. The first two Sundays focus on people associated with Christ’s resurrection. The next three Sundays focus on Christ coming to people with various problems: The righteous who suffer, those who fail in their theology and morality, and those who just don’t see. The first Sunday after Pascha focuses on the Apostle Thomas, often called Doubting Thomas. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ even though the other disciples had already seen Him alive. Thomas doubted, but he did not leave the fellowship of the disciples. Thomas remained with those who had seen the resurrected Christ even though he doubted their testimony. And because Thomas stayed with those who had seen, Thomas himself saw. Thomas not only saw the resurrected Christ, but he touched his wounds and put his hand into his pierced side. Because of Thomas’ doubt, the certainty of Christ’s resurrection is made more clear. And not only is the physical resurrection of Christ confirmed through Thomas’ touching of Christ’s resurrected body, but Christ’s divinity is also affirmed, for it was Thomas, the former doubter, who first boldly declares that Jesus Christ is both Lord and God. We too sometimes doubt. Sometimes we go through long seasons of doubt. Doubt is not necessarily a sin. It all depends on what you do with it. If you allow doubt to drive you away from the Church, from those who are confident in Christ’s resurrection, then that doubt has surely led you to sin. However, if despite your doubt you nonetheless trust those who have seen, that is, those who spiritually see or who through miraculous occurrences are sure, or who merely have a simple heart and the gift of faith, if you stay with the Church, with those who do believe, then like Thomas you too may also “on the eighth day” touch Christ. This reference to the eighth day is not a reference to time, but to eternity. Even if we live our whole life struggling with doubt, on the eighth day, on the day we enter into eternity, we will know as we are known. On the eighth day all doubt will vanish, and we will all be embraced by the Light that knows no evening. |
| Metropolitan Onuphry: Being Faithful to Christ Means Fulfilling His Commandments The faith of the heart is not acquired by all in the same way. However, one needs to make an effort and force oneself to live according to the commandments. Photo: news.church.ua In order to be faithful to Christ, one must listen to the Word of God and fulfill it said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine in his sermon during the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra on May 9, 2021, the 2nd Sunday after Pascha, the Sunday of St. Thomas, reports the Information and Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Addressing the believers, the Primate of the UOC explained the meaning of the Savior’s words to the doubting Thomas: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). “These words of the Savior are not clear to everyone. After all, Thomas, like all the apostles, was a disciple of the Savior and heard His words and saw His glorious deeds. Meanwhile, as people who believed in the Savior, not seeing Him, are more blessed than Thomas, who saw the Lord. The fact is that when a person learns something, for example, a student acquires knowledge at school, then the one who hears and sees the teacher assimilates knowledge more easily than the one who does not see him, but only hears,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. He noted that one should distinguish between the faith of the mind and the faith of the heart: “The faith of the mind is born from what is heard, seen, and read; and the faith of the heart is born from the fulfillment of the commandments of God.” According to the metropolitan, the apostles received the faith of the mind more easily than other people who “heard the word of Christ, but did not see Him with their bodily eyes.” “Therefore, the Savior called those who “did not see and believed ”more blessed than those who saw and believed,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. But the faith of the heart, the archpastor continued, is not acquired by all in the same way. However, one needs to make an effort and force oneself to live according to the commandments. |
| Photo (fragment): St. Petersburg Theological Academy/flickr.com For Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:7-8) Early in the morning on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, the women disciples went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. When they arrived, they found the tomb empty. To their amazement an angel of the Lord in brilliant white announced to them the good news: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here!” (Mark 16:6) The angel did not speak to them about an astonishing event that had occurred earlier, an event without content or purpose. He spoke to them of the person of Jesus himself, now risen and alive! Mary Magdalene was the first witness to see the risen Christ (John 20:18). First she mistook Him to be a gardener and asked where the gardener might have removed the body. When Jesus said her name, “Mary,” she instantly recognized Him. She cried out, “Rabboni!” (“My dear Teacher!”). Later she announced the good news to the disciples who were hiding in fear. When she found them, she said: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) When Jesus appeared to all the disciples a week later, including the doubting Thomas, among them, He challenged Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands . . . do not be faithless, but believing!” (John 20:27) Thomas had previously refused to believe in the awesome event of the resurrection. Now, filled with wonder, he offered a ringing confession of faith that echoes in the hearts of Christians throughout the ages: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Thomas encountered the personal presence of Christ and he acknowledged Him personally as Lord and God. And to Paul, the fanatical persecutor of the early Christians, as he was nearing Damascus, Christ appeared in a blinding light which cast him to the ground. Paul heard a voice speaking to him and saying: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And Paul replied: “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus!” (Acts 9:3-5) |
| Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! The Resurrection Accounts Which Most Orthodox Never Hear I hate to tell you this, but most Orthodox don’t know much about Jesus’ Resurrection. Well, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death”, of course. But for years I had the nagging feeling that something was missing about our Resurrection experience in the Orthodox Church, and finally I’ve figured out what it is: most of the Pascha story! Those who come to Sunday Matins (Orthros) hear all the Resurrection accounts on an eleven-week rotating cycle – but things being what they are, not many come to Sunday Matins. Only the minority who attend Holy Saturday morning Divine Liturgy hear Matthew’s summary of the Resurrection story. I’m afraid not enough are in church on the Sunday after Pascha to hear how Doubting Thomas became Believing Thomas. At Sunday Liturgy, Orthodox do not hear the stories of Christ’s Pascha morning appearance to the Myrrhbearing Women and then to Mary Magdalene alone in the garden, of Luke’s account of the Pascha night appearance in the upper room, of the Emmaus Road appearance, of the lovely story of the risen Lord fixing breakfast for the Apostles by the Sea of Galilee, and more. This is not enough. If there was one thing I could change in the Orthodox Church’s unchanging lectionary, this would be it. These stories are mysterious and thrilling. What was it about the risen Lord that was so familiar, yet apparently so hard to recognize? In what way in Luke’s account was he now not “with them”, even while he was obviously there still with them? Why did he tell Mary Magdalene not to touch him because “I am not ascended to my Father and your Father”, while Matthew says the other Myrrhbearing women clung to his feet? And then there was his ability to materialize and dematerialize which (I don’t mean to be irreverent) sounds almost like modern science fiction. There is a certain feeling that hangs over these Pascha stories: luminous, numinous, transcendent, sweet, a profound calm, an immense excitement, great joy – it’s beyond words. They have a dreamy, myth-like quality, but the point is made over and over: This was no illusion. This was Real. Especially when they are read aloud (oh, I wish you would come to Sunday Matins regularly and hear them), the Resurrection stories are wonderful in the literal sense of that word, full of wonder and awe. |
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