| John Anthony McGuckin Repentance ANDREI PSAREV In Orthodox thought repentance is the blessed mourning of a person and longing for God (penthos) following after a sense of having moved away from him. It is a conversion to God and, as a result, is what scripture describes as radical change of mind or heart (metanoia, see Mk. 1.15 ). Christ came to save sinners having called them to repentance and belief in his gospel ( Mt. 9.13 ). The parable of the prodigal son ( Lk. 15.11 ) outlines the stages of how Orthodox understand the process of repentance: contrition, aversion from sin, repudiation of evil, confession, reconciliation with God and one’s neighbor. The words from the apostle about the impossibility of repentance for those who, by sinning, crucify Christ again (Heb. 6.4–6) reflect a dilemma of the early church; for in the 3rd and 4th centuries the Novatianists and Donatists permanently excluded from Eucharistic communion those who were guilty of serious sins. The greater church would not accept this rigorist approach, having prescribed in its canons various terms of abstinence from the Eucharist on account of grave sins; but no transgressor was ever to be deprived of the Eucharist at the time of their death (Nicea 1. Canon 13). There are no sins that may prevent a person from entering into the dedicated life of repentance which is monasticism (Quinisext Council. Canon 43). Repentance has been called in Orthodoxy the “second baptism.” Canon 12 of St. Gregory the Wonderworker (3rd century) defines how the church classifed penitents. In early times certain classes of sinners were debarred from full Eucharistic membership and had to stand apart from the community, in the narthex or outside the church building, sometimes for many years. St. Basil the Great (4th century) was not just occupied with the impact of sin on an individual, but also with the spiritual health of the entire congregation (St. Basil. Canon 88). In the same way as sin injures the body of the whole ecclesiastical community, through the healing of each member the entire church body acquires reconciliation with God ( 1Cor. 12.26 ). |
| The Ascension. Giotto, c.1305, Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel, Padua, Italy Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (Heb. 4:14). Let us follow along now mentally, brethren, with the sacred writers, depicting the path of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Ascension into Heaven, in the glory of His Father. This path, ending with His Ascension to the Father (Jn. 20:17) and His receiving of the Heavenly glory which He had in His Divinity before the world was (Jn. 17:5), commenced with His sufferings. Ascending up far above all heavens, our Lord had to descend first into the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:9-10) to disappear into the bowels of the earth, into the depths of the abyss, and be cut off from the land of the living that, having made Himself an offering of propitiation (Is. 53:8-10) for the sins of man, He could present Himself as our High Priest, able to be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15). And we see how this bearer of man’s sin, forsaken among the dead and reduced into the dust of earth (Ps. 88:5, 21:15), is the Victor over hell and death , and binds the strong man, that is, the devil (Mt. 12:29). He Who cometh from Edom … glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength (Is. 63:1), and ascended on high , receives rather the spoils of human souls saved by Him (Ps. 68:18), as the King of glory, entering through the gates of Heaven itself, to appear there as the Forerunner and Intercessor for us (Ps. 23:7-10; Heb. 6:20, 12:23-24). If, brethren, such is the path of the Ascension of Christ Himself into His glory (Lk. 24:26)—that is, a path of suffering and death—then can our path be otherwise? If He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn. 14:6), then how can we come to God the Father, if not by imitating our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 13:15)? If our Lord Jesus Christ sits on the right hand of God, then set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth , for if we have died with Him, then, according to the apostle, our lives must now be hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:1-3). Let us mortify our earthly passions and thoughts (Col. 3:5) in order to have our citizenship in Heaven (Phil. 3:20), and with our purified minds to follow Christ, the Lord of our lives, Who has ascended into Heaven and is drawing us there where He is. Let us prepare our minds with contemplation and prayer for that spiritual joy with which the apostles were filled as they stood watching Christ as He ascended from Earth to Heaven, and afterwards returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Lk. 24:52; Acts 1:10-12). |
| Tweet Нравится Pan-Orthodox Council: The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today " s World Source: DECR Communication Service February 28, 2016 The contribution of the Orthodox Church to the attainment of peace, justice, freedom, brotherhood and love between peoples and the removal of racial and other discrimination. Draft of document of the Pan-Orthodox Council approved by the Synaxis of the First Hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches in Chambésy, January 21-28, 2016. Published in accordance with the Resolution of the Synaxis of First Hierarchs . The Church of Christ lives in the world but is not of the world (cf. Jn. 17:11 and 14-15).The Church is the sign and image of the Kingdom of God in history, proclaiming the good news of a " new creation " (II Cor. 5: 17) and of a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (II Pt. 3:13), of a world in which God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain (Rev. 21:4-5). It is with this hope that the Church lives, and foretastes it in particular when the Divine Eucharist is celebrated, bringing " together " (I Cor. 11: 20) the scattered children of God (Jn. 111: 52) without regard to race, gender, age, social status or any other station into a single body where there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28; cf. Col. 3:11). In this foretasting of a " new creation, " of a world transfigured, the Church lives in the countenances of her saints who, through their spiritual endeavors in Christ, have already in this life revealed the image of the Kingdom of God, proving and affirming by this that the hope of peace, justice and love is not a utopia, but the substance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1), attained through the grace of God by means of the human person’s spiritual endeavors. In finding constant inspiration in this hope and the foretasting of the Kingdom of God, the Church cannot remain aloof from of the problems of the human person in each historical epoch, but shares his concern and everyday problems, taking upon herself, as the Lord did, the pain and wounds, the cause of which is evil that is active in the world and, like the Good Samaritan, with a word of patience and comfort (Rom. 15:4, Heb. 13:22) and through active love, pours upon his wounds oil and wine (Lk. 10:34). Her word, addressed to the world, has as its aim first of all not to judge and condemn the world (cf. Jn. 3:17) and 12:47), but to offer it as guidance the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, hope and the assurance that the last word in history is not evil, no matter what form it may take, and that we should not allow evil to dictate the course of history. |
| Speech by Archimandrite James (Corazza) Upon His Nomination as Bishop of Sonora, Second Vicar of the Western American Diocese Source: ROCOR Pravmir.com team 07 November 2019 On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, before the beginning of all-night vigil on the eve of the feast day of the Cathedral of the Mother of God " Joy of All Who Sorrow " in San Francisco, the rite of nomination was performed for Archimandrite James (Corazza) as Bishop of Sonora, Second Vicar of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Fr James read the following to those in attendance. Photo: eadiocese.org Your Eminences, Your Graces, Reverend Fathers, Devout Monastics and Faithful: On the Eve of the Patronal Feast of the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” I find myself present before you, the Most Reverend Hierarchs, as one having been called by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to the hierarchical rank. This Cathedral holds many precious memories for me: I often visited here as a college student even before becoming an Orthodox Christian. The Divine Grace here was overwhelming, and like the Russians who visited Hagia Sophia a millennium ago, I did not know whether I was in heaven or on earth. Since then, by God’s mercy, I have been blessed on so many occasions to serve here as a clergyman, and to come with pilgrims to venerate and pray before the Relics of St. John. Now I stand here for an entirely different reason, and I am filled with trepidation and awe. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised His faithful: “Behold, I will not leave you orphans.” (John 14:18) In every generation, He has given bishops (from the Greek word episkopos which means “overseer”) to His flock—these successors to the Holy Apostles, to provide guidance and salvific instruction. As He said to the Apostle Peter: “…Feed My Lambs… feed My sheep…” (John 21: 15-17) He commanded the Apostles to “go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19) Hierarchs are to protect the flock from errant teachings (Matt. 7:15) and to seek after the lost sheep. (Luke 15:4) For precisely this reason, they carry a staff, even as a shepherd carries one in watching over his flock. (Micah 7:14) The Apostle Paul refers to the bishops when he exhorts the faithful to “obey those who rule over you… for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” (Heb. 13:17) The hierarchs are the principal stewards and celebrants of the Holy Mysteries and ordain others to celebrate them. (I Cor. 4:1) |
| How angels help us pass through the tollhouses. Examples from the Lives of the Saints The Way of All Flesh: Conversation 2, Part 5 Archpriest Oleg Stenyayev On the angels’ help for people in life and in passing through the tollhouses That the angels act as intercessors (“those angelic spirits in their boundless love defended and supported me”—see Conversation 2, Part 3 ) is something we find in Holy Scripture, where it is written: Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Heb. 1:14)—that is, their very function consists in helping us struggle against the demons. And if we become the offenders of the defenseless, unfortunate, and “little ones” (Mt. 18:60), then Christ warns us that their special status of being God’s close ones can be used against us: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels (that is, those who we might disdain, insult, or persecute.—Archpriest O. S.) do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven (Matt. 18:10)—it follows that they can intercede for those whom they protect. Without a doubt, the angels watch after the paths of each of us, are not removed from our problems, and experience great joy if we step upon the path of repentance and correction. It has been said, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10); they are the ones who bear our prayers before the throne of God, as it is written: And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand (Rev. 8:3-4). The phrase, “with the prayers of the saints” witnesses to the fact that the prayers of a living or reposed saint reach the Son of God not without the help of the angels, and the Son of God, as the only Intercessor one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5), intercedes for us before His Heavenly Father. |
| John is calling his audience to a full confession of resurrection faith: Jesus is God in the flesh, and therefore his claims cannot be compromised, for synagogue or for Caesar. John will settle for no faith less secure than this. Further, while Thomas " s faith by sight is accepted, the faith without sight expected of John " s audience is greater (20:29; cf. 2Cor 5:6–7 ; 1Pet 1:8 ). It is grounded in the beloved disciplés testimony sampled in the Gospel (20:30–31), confirmed to hearers by the Paraclete (15:26–16:15). 10778 E.g., Ellis, Genius, 297–98; Minear, «Functions.» The «signs» include the resurrection chapter (esp. 20:27, 29) but also the rest of the «signs» in this Gospel (with, e.g., Lightfoot, Gospel, 336). 10779 E.g., Aeschines Timarchus 196; Cicero Fin. 5.32.95–96; Or. Brut. 40.137; Polybius 39.8.3; Dionysius of Halicarnassus Demosth. 32; Thucyd. 55; Musonius Rufus 6, pp. 54.26–56.11 (esp. 54.26; 56.7–11); Aelius Aristides Fifth Leuctrian Oration 43–44; Rhet. Alex. 36,1443b.l5–16; 1444b.21–35; 37, 1445b.21–23; Hippolytus Haer. 10.1; Anderson, Rhetorical Theory, 181–82; less fully, cf. Matt 28:18–20; Rom 16:17–19 . Of course, open or abrupt endings also appear, as in Mark 16 (see our comments on Mark 16:9–20 above, on the resurrection tradition). 10780 E.g., Isaeus Estate of Cleonymus 48, out of fifty-one paragraphs. Often they come at the conclusion of the proofs, though this might be near the work " s end (Cicero Quinct. 28.85–29.90), possibly relevant here; they could also conclude a section (Xenophon Hel1. 3.5.25, ending book 3; 4.8.19, ending only some events; Polybius 2.71.7–10, esp. 2.71.7–8; Cicero Fin. 3.9.31; Quinct. 19.60). 10781 Aeschines Timarchus 111. After his closing summary (Polybius 39.8.4–6), Polybius adds only closing comments (39.8.7–8). 10782 Achtemeier, «Miracle Workers,» 176. Even if redactional, Homer " s claim that Aeneas would rule the Trojans (Il. 20.303–308) is pre-Virgil and virtually invited the sort of development one finds in Virgil Aeneid. 10783 E.g., Valerius Maximus 2.7.5; 3.8.ext.l; Musonius Rufus 10, p. 78.22. Epideictic bards might also complain that time provided the only limit on their praises (Pindar Nem. 4.33–34; O1. 2.95; Pyth. 4.247–248; cf. Heb 11:32). In many oral genres, one should limit onés examples (Menander Rhetor 2.4, 393.25–30). 10787 Dionysius of Halicarnassus Thucyd. 55; Isaeus 19–20; Demosth. 42,46, 58; Lit. Comp. 11. More detailed discussion might await another occasion, but he needed to use most wisely the space that he had (Demosthenes 32; Isaeus 14); he wanted to avoid wasting the reader " s time (Demosthenes 40). |
| Древнейшие масоретские рукописи Книги прор. Михея датируются IX-XI вв. по Р. Х. Важнейшими из них являются Ленинградский (B19a; 1009 г.) и Алеппский (925 г.) кодексы, к-рые содержали полный текст Библии, а также кодексы пророческих книг, в т. ч. Каирский (896 г.), Петербургский (Heb B 3, ок. 916 г.), Нью-Йоркский (ENA 346=JTS 232, X в., текст с отрывком Мих 1. 1 - 5. 5 не сохр.). В качестве основы для совр. критических изданий (BHS, BHQ) избран Ленинградский кодекс (см. в статьях Библия (разд. «Издания ВЗ»); Масоретский текст (разд. «Издания евр. Библии»)). Критические издания древнеевр. текста Книги прор. Михея: BHS. P. 1034-1044; Gelston. 2010. P. 65-83, Синопсис важнейших свидетельств текста из Кумрана, Вади-Мураббаат, Нахаль-Хевер, МТ и LXX: Ego. 2005. P. 89-112. II. Греческие переводы. Наряду с текстами на древнееврейском языке важнейшим свидетельством текста Книги прор. Михея является древнегреческий перевод Септуагинты (LXX). Он был осуществлен, по мнению большинства исследователей, в нач. или сер. II в. до Р. Х. в Египте (скорее всего, в Александрии) тем же переводчиком, который перевел др. книги малых пророков (подробнее см.: Dines. 2015. P. 438-455; Glenny. 2015. P. 1-15). Важнейшие списки - Вашингтонский папирус (W; III в. по Р. Х.) и неск. кодексов: Ватиканский (B; IV в. по Р. Х.), Александрийский (A; V в. по Р. Х.), Венецианский (V; VIII в. по Р. Х.). Свидетельством текста LXX являются также минускулы - древние переводы, осуществленные с греч. языка (старолатинский, коптский, армянский и др.), и цитаты в трудах раннехрист. авторов и отцов Церкви (Критическое изд.: Ziegler. 1984. S. 205-227). Прор. Михей. Мозаика ц. Богородицы Паммакаристос (Фетхие-джами) в К-поле. Ок. 1315 г Прор. Михей. Мозаика ц. Богородицы Паммакаристос (Фетхие-джами) в К-поле. Ок. 1315 г Текст древнегреч. перевода Книги прор. Михея существенно отличается от МТ. Наиболее заметные разночтения - в Мих 1. 10-2. 13; 4. 8-10; 5. 3-6; 6. 8-16; 7. 1-5, 11-12. В некоторых случаях причинами разночтений могло служить наличие особых вариантов в древнеевр. |
| 2. 4QXIIc (4Q78). Frg. 35 - небольшой фрагмент рукописи, содержащий отрывок Мал 3. 6-7. Ранее считался фрагментом кумран. свитка Малых пророков 4QXIIc (4Q78), но затем исследователи пришли к выводу, что он является частью какой-то др. неизвестной рукописи. Текст фрагмента в составе 4QXIIc был издан в 1997 г. ( Fuller. 1997. P. 251. Pl. XLVI). На основании палеографии вместе с 4QXIIc он может относиться ко времени ок. 75 г. до Р. Х. 3. 4QCommentary on Malachi (4QcommMal; 4Q253a) - небольшой фрагмент рукописи, содержащий отрывок экзегетического сочинения (вероятно, комментария на Книгу прор. Малахии). В 4Q253a 1 I 1-5 сохранилась цитата из Мал 3. 16-18. Текст издан в 1995 г. ( Brooke. 1995. P. 233-239; публикация в серии DJD: Brooke. 1996. P. 213-215; Pl. XIV). На основании почерка датируется позднехасмонейской или раннеиродианской эпохой. 4. 5QMalachi Pesher (также 5QApocryphal Malachi; 5QpMal?; 5Q10) - небольшой фрагмент рукописи, содержащей, вероятно, комментарий на Книгу прор. Малахии. Сохранилась цитата из Мал 1. 14 (изд.: Milik. 1962. P. 189. Pl. XXXVIII). Датируется I в. по Р. Х. Цитаты из Книги прор. Малахии зафиксированы также в различных кумранских текстах, написанных на древнеевр. и арам. языках: в «Благодарственных гимнах» (Мал 1. 4 в 1QHa X 10 (II 8); XI 25 (III 24)), в «Уставе общины» (Мал 2. 6 в 1QS X 22=4QSf (4Q260) V 3), в «Дамасском документе» (Мал 1. 10 в CD A 6:12-14=4QDa (4Q266) 3 ii 18-19; Мал 3. 16 в CD B 20:17-20; Мал 3. 18 в CD B 20:20-21), 4QInstruction (Мал 3. 16 в 4QInstructionc (4Q417) 1 i 15=4QInstructiond (4Q418) 43-45 i 12), 4QMiscellaneous Rules (Мал 2. 10 в 4QMiscellaneous Rules (4Q265) 3 2), 4QAdmonFlood (Мал 3. 10 в 4QAdmonFlood (4Q370) I 4-5), 4QMessianic Apocalypse (Мал 3. 24 (4. 6) в 4QMessianic Apocalypse (4Q521) 2 iii 2), 4QpapVisionb ar (Мал 3. 23 (4. 5) в 4QpapVisionb ar (4Q558) 54 ii 3-4). Древнейшие масоретские рукописи Книги прор. Малахии датируются IX-XI вв. по Р. Х. К числу важнейших свидетельств МТ относятся Ленинградский (B19a; 1009 г.) и Алеппский (925 г.) кодексы, к-рые содержали полный текст Библии, а также неск. кодексов пророческих книг, в т. ч. Каирский (896 г.) и Петербургский (Heb B 3, вокализован в соответствии с вавилонской системой, ок. 916 г.). В основу совр. критических изданий (BHS, BHQ) положен Ленинградский кодекс (см. в ст.: Библия , разд. «Издания ВЗ»). |
| 2 Cor. 4:13/Psalm 116:10 – I believed and so I spoke (past tense). Hebrew – I believe, for I will speak (future tense). 2 Cor. 6:2/Isaiah 49:8 – I have “listened” to you. Hebrew – I have “answered” you. Gal. 3:10/Deut. 27:26 – cursed be every one who does not “abide” by all things. Hebrew – does not “confirm” the words. Gal. 3:13/Deut. 21:23 – cursed is everyone who hangs on a “tree.” Hebrew – a hanged man is accursed. The word “tree” does not follow. Gal. 4:27/Isaiah 54:1 – “rejoice” and “break forth and shout.” Hebrew – “sing” and “break forth into singing.” 2 Tim. 2:19/Num. 16:5 – The Lord “knows” those who are His. Hebrew – God will “show” who are His. Heb. 1:6/Deut. 32:43 – let all the angels of God worship Him. Hebrew – the Masoretic text omits this phrase from Deut. 32:43. Heb. 1:12/Psalm 102:25 – like a “mantle” … “roll them”… “will be changed.” Hebrew – “raiment”… “change”…”pass away.” Heb. 2:7/Psalm 8:5 – thou has made Him a little “lower than angels.” Hebrew – made Him but a little “lower than God.” Heb. 2:12/Psalm 22:22 – I will ” sing” thy praise. Hebrew – I will praise thee. The LXX and most NTs (but not the RSV) have “sing.” Heb. 2:13/Isaiah 8:17 – I will “put my trust in Him.” Hebrew – I will “look for Him.” Heb. 3:15/Psalm 95:8 – do not harden your hearts as “in the rebellion.” Hebrew – harden not your hearts “as at Meribah.” Heb. 3:15; 4:7/Psalm 95:7 – when you hear His voice do not harden not your hearts. Hebrew – oh that you would hear His voice! Heb. 8:9-10/Jer. 31:32-33 – (nothing about husband); laws into their mind. Hebrew – I was a husband; law in their inward parts. Heb. 9:28/Isaiah 10:22 – “to save those” who are eagerly awaiting for Him. Hebrew – a remnant of them “shall return.” Heb. 10:5/Psalm 40:6 – “but a body hast thou prepared for me.” Hebrew – “mine ears hast thou opened.” Heb. 10:38/Hab. 2:3-4 – if he shrinks (or draws) back, my soul shall have no pleasure. Hebrew – his soul is puffed up, not upright. Heb. 11:5/Gen. 5:24 – Enoch was not “found.” Hebrew – Enoch was “not.” |
| 2.2. The New Testament shows that Christ, who did not have to die, because He was without sin, stepped into the sphere of death, humbled Himself, having been obedient even unto death, the death of the Cross (Phil 2:7; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 3:18) and died for us (1 Thess 5:10; compare with Mark 10:45; Rom 5:6; Heb 2:9). By His Resurrection He conquered the Devil and death and holds the keys of Hell and death (Heb 2, 14-15; Rev 1:17-18). Then Christ had destroyed the power of death over those that believed in Him, i.e. those who were baptised into Christ (Rom 6:3-4) and died with Him for the world and for sin (Rom 7:6; Gal 6:14; Col 2:20). A Christian goes through death in Christ and is separated not from God, but from the world and from sin. The world and sin die within him, because the life of Jesus is opened to those who believe (2 Cor 4:10; 5:1-15; Col 3:3). In other words Christ grants life or raises from the dead. Moreover, this does not happen in the Last Days, but in the same instant, immediately. Everyone who entrusts himself to Christ crosses over from death to life (John 5:24) and will never see death (John 8:51-52), although the whole world already exists in a state of death (Rev 3:2) and is moving towards a second death, to eternal separation from God (Rev 20:14). Christians remain mortal, they die in the physical sense, but they die in Christ (1 Thess 4:16) or fall asleep in Him (Acts 7:60; John 11:11-14; 1 Cor 7:39; 15:6, 18; 51; 1 Thess 4:13-15). Physical death is the last enemy destroyed by Christ (1 Cor 15:26), but He gave us this victory as a potential and death itself continues to afflict the bodily life of a particular individual (Rom 8:9-11). However, it has been deprived of its sting and it cannot separate a Christian from Christ; on the contrary, it brings him closer to Christ (Rom 8:38-39; 2 Cor 5:1-10; Phil 1:20-21). He, having risen from the dead, the firstborn of the dead, calls all the faithful to a new life, resurrecting and transfiguring their bodies, and then the spirit and body will exist in perfect harmony (compare with 1 Cor 15:20; Col 1:12). |
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