| It is characteristic that Brunner discusses the whole problem exclusively in the perspective of the divine will. For that reason he misses the very point of the paradox. He simply ignores the human aspect of the problem. Indeed, «eternal damnation» is not inflicted by «the angry God.» God is not the author of Hell. «Damnation» is a self-inflicted penalty, the consequence and the implication of the rebellious opposition to God and to His will. Brunner admits that there is a real possibility of damnation and perdition. It is dangerous and erroneous to ignore that real possibility. But one should hope that it will never be realized. Now, hope itself must be realistic and sober. We are facing the alternative: either, at the Last Judgment, unbelievers and unrepentant sinners are finally moved by the divine challenge, and are «freely» converted – this was the hypothesis of St. Gregory of Nyssa; or their obstinacy is simply overruled by the divine Omnipotence and they are saved by the constraint of the divine mercy and will – without their own free and conscious assent. The second solution implies contradiction, unless we understand «salvation» in a forensic and formalistic manner. Indeed, criminals may be exonerated in the court of justice, even if they did not repent and persevere in their perversion. They only escape punishment. But we cannot interpret the Last Judgment in this manner. In any case, «salvation» involves conversion, involves an act of faith. It cannot be imposed on anyone. Is the first solution more convincing? Of course, the possibility of a late «conversion» – in «the eleventh hour,» or even after – cannot be theoretically ruled out, and the impact of the divine love is infinite. But this chance or possibility of conversion, before the Judgment-Seat of Christ, sitting in glory, cannot be discussed in abstracto, as a general case. After all, the question of salvation, as also the decision of faith, is a personal problem, which can be put and faced only in the context of concrete and individual existence. Persons are saved, or perish. And each personal case must be studied individually. The main weakness of Brunner’s scheme is in that he always speaks in general terms. He always speaks of the human condition and never of living persons. |
| So there’s this conjunction, this word, this ‘but’. Let’s not lose heart, then. Let’s not allow despair and disappointment to find a place in our soul. God isn’t concerned with either the multitude or the seriousness of sins. Repentance has priority. When there’s repentance, he, who is long-suffering and full of mercy, will forgive. If we still doubt, let’s listen to Saint John Chrysostom who says: ‘Are you impious? Consider the magi. Are you rapacious? Consider the publican. Are you unclean? Consider the harlot. Are you a cut-throat? Consider the robber. Are you iniquitous? Consider the blasphemous Paul who became an apostle, formerly a persecutor later an evangelizer. Have you sinned? Repent. Have you sinned a thousand times? Repent a thousand times’. Of course, we need to recognize that we’re at fault before God, that we need spiritual therapy. In this vain world, we should have a pervading sense of our sinfulness. So we need sincere self-examination because we often elevate ourselves, as if we’re really something. All that’s left is self-knowledge, the path of humility, reflection and a deeper understanding of ourselves. is why, in our prayers, we ask for kindness, understanding and forgiveness. It is only when we receive the ‘Lord’s mercies’ that we’ll experience the authentic life in Christ. So this ‘but’ is our entreaty, our petition, that divine grace and divine blessing will come upon us. 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. |
| 2010 Epistle from the Ecumenical Patriarch for the (New Calendar) Nativity of Christ BARTHOLOMEW By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy from the Savior Christ Born in Bethlehem Beloved brother concelebrants and blessed children in the Lord, Within the somber atmosphere that recently prevails throughout the world with the diverse affliction of the financial, social, moral and especially spiritual crisis, which has created increasing frustration, bitterness, confusion, anxiety, disappointment and fear among many people with regard to the future, the voice of the Church sounds sweet: Come, O faithful, let us raise our minds to things divine and behold the heavenly condescension that has appeared to us from above in Bethlehem … (Hymn from the 6th Hour, Christmas) The unshakeable belief of Christians is that God does not simply or indifferently observe from above the journey of humanity, which He has personally created according to His image and likeness. This is why the incarnation of His only-begotten Son and Word was from the very beginning His “good will,” His original intention. His “pre-eternal will” was precisely to assume in His person, in an act of extreme love, the human nature that He created in order to render it “a participant of divine nature.” (2 Peter 1.4) Indeed, God willed this prior to the “fall” of Adam and Eve, even before their very creation! Following the “fall” of Adam and Eve, the “pre-eternal will” of the Incarnation embraced the Cross, the Sacred Passion, the Life-giving Death, the Descent into Hades, and the Resurrection after three days. In this way, the sin that infiltrated human nature thereby infecting everything and the death that surreptitiously penetrated life were completely and definitively dispelled, while humanity was able to enjoy the fullness of the Paternal and eternal heritage. However, the divine condescension of Christmas is not restricted to things related to eternity. It also includes things related to our earthly journey. Christ came into the world in order to spread the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven and to initiate us into this Kingdom. Yet, He also came in order to help and heal human weakness. He miraculously and repeatedly fed the multitudes who listened to His word; He cleansed lepers; He supported paralytics; He granted light to the blind, hearing to the deaf and speech to the dumb; He delivered the demonized of impure spirits, resurrected the dead, supported the rights of the oppressed and abandoned; He condemned illegal wealth, heartlessness to the poor, hypocrisy and “hubris” in human relations; He offered Himself as an example of voluntary self-emptying sacrifice for the sake of others! |
| And they deny that thus God " s threat of judgment is proved to be false even though He condemn no man, any more than we can say that His threat to overthrow Nineveh was false, though the destruction which was absolutely predicted was not accomplished. For He did not say, Nineveh shall be overthrown if they do not repent and amend their ways, but without any such condition He foretold that the city should be overthrown. And this prediction, they maintain, was true because God predicted the punishment which they deserved, although He was not to inflict it. For though He spared them on their repentance yet He was certainly aware that they would repent, and, notwithstanding, absolutely and definitely predicted that the city should be overthrown. This was true, they say, in the truth of severity, because they were worthy of it; but in respect of the compassion which checked His anger, so that He spared the suppliants from the punishment with which He had threatened the rebellious, it was not true. If, then, He spared those whom His own holy prophet was provoked at His sparing, how much more shall He spare those more wretched suppliants for whom all His saints shall intercede? And they suppose that this conjecture of theirs is not hinted at in Scripture, for the sake of stimulating many to reformation of life through fear of very protracted or eternal sufferings, and of stimulating others to pray for those who have not reformed. However, they think that the divine oracles are not altogether silent on this point; for they ask to what purpose is it said, How great is Your goodness which You have hidden for them that fear You, if it be not to teach us that the great and hidden sweetness of God " s mercy is concealed in order that men may fear? To the same purpose they think the apostle said, For God has concluded all men in unbelief, that He may have mercy upon all, Romans 11:32 signifying that no one should be condemned by God. And yet they who hold this opinion do not extend it to the acquittal or liberation of the deviland his angels. Their human tenderness is moved only towards men, and they plead chiefly their own cause, holding out false hopes of impunity to their own depraved lives by means of this quasi compassion of God to the whole race. Consequently they who promise this impunity even to the prince of the devils and his satellites make a still fuller exhibition of the mercy of God. Chapter 19.– Of Those Who Promise Impunity from All Sins Even to Heretics, Through Virtue of Their Participation of the Body of Christ. |
| Festival in honour of the foundress of Sts Martha and Mary Convent to be held in the center of Moscow Moscow, July 17, 2013 The open-air festival will be held on July 18 in Sts. Martha and Mary Convent in commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the martyrdom of Grand Duchess Elizaveta (Elizabeth) Feodorovna Romanova, reports Miloserdie.ru. A concert with the participation of singers from the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera center and the “Vek” (“Century”) Children’s hareographic school will take place on the stage near the Church of Protection. The festival’s visitors will have free refreshments and a tea party. In the Convent’s garden, graduates of St. Dimitry’s School for Sisters of Mercy will teach all those who wish how to give first medical aid. The sisters of mercy will give a master class on bandaging, show how to stop bleeding, and explain how to help someone in case of a heart attack. The guests will try their hands at special mannequins. Theme games and souvenirs are being prepared for the youngest guests of the festival. The excursions will be held the whole day in the Protection Church of the Convent and in the house-museum of Duchess Elizabeth, where unique exhibits are collected: items of everyday life and writing, photographs of Grand Duchess Elizabth. Before the festival begins, a prayer service and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated; the Liturgy will be headed by Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevo, head of the Synodal Department for Church charity and social ministry. Sts. Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy was founded by Grand Duchess Elizabeth in 1907 after the tragic death of her husband, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov from the hands of a terrorist. The poor and orphans, the disabled and elderly were those whom the sisters of the convent tirelessly took care of. Today, 25 sisters living in the Convent are continuing this service. They visit old lonely people and the disabled at their homes. Various projects of the Orthodox aid service called “Miloserdie” (“Mercy”) are working at the Sts. Martha and Mary Convent: children with severe forms of cerebral spastic infantile paralysis have rehabilitation here and a children’s visiting palliative service works as well. Gravely sick people with neurogenetic diseases, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are also given support. |
| Metropolitan Jonah then greeted his fellow archpastors, clergymen and laity, expressing his joy over the joint celebration of Divine Liturgy with Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. His Beatitude also expressed his confidence that this concelebration is very symbolic in that it took place at St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral on the namesday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. As a sign of fraternal love and in prayerful memory of the Liturgy we celebrated, Metropolitan Jonah gave the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad a portion of the relics of the Illuminators and Missionaries of America, St Herman of Alaska and St Alexei (Toth). Responding to the greeting from the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Hilarion, who noted his certainty that “an historic event has taken place, on the feast day of the Illuminators of the Slavs, Equals-to-the-Apostles, as we have gathered at St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral to celebrate Divine Liturgy together with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and to congratulate His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.” Metropolitan Hilarion gave Metropolitan Jonah a gift of a portion of the relics of St John of Shanghai, in whose honor one of the monasteries of the OCA is devoted. The heads of the OCA and ROCOR, as well as Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Jerome, greeted Archbishop Justinian: “Today is truly a great day: in these bright days of the Pascha of Christ, we share the joy of common prayer on the namesday of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who gathered us all here at St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral. “This day will enter the history books of our Churches and will remain in the memory of many Orthodox Christians. The canonical demands, the claims of one part of the Orthodox Church against another have erected high walls which separate the One Church, and it seemed to each side that it is correct in its demands, and right in its view of the life of the Church. But the Lord judges us by His mercy, and He desires the same mercy from us in our interrelationships, for if He judges us by the law, then we shall have no forgiveness. Commissions established by the American Church and Russian Church Abroad worked in the spirit of brotherly love and the desire for Eucharistic unity, and their Councils of Bishops approved the need for Liturgical communion, and today I wish to thank everyone who labored for the sake of today’s celebration. But first of all, we thank His Beatitude Vladyka Jonah and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, who as divinely-wise Archpastors of the flock of Christ, took upon themselves the noble duty and brought their flock to join service at Divine Liturgy.” |
| With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Mission in Pakistan and the parishioners of Saint Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Church Sargodha Pakistan on November 01, 2015, celebrated the feast of our righteous father John of Kronstadt. Righteous father John had the greatest gift of prayer , and so the solemn celebrations were begun with prayers to Saint John of Kronstadt. The prayers were taken from the spiritual diary of Saint John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ . The following prayers were translated by Fr. Joseph Farooq and recited along with the faithful: Other prayers were also said for the health and many good years of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia, and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Divine Liturgy: After this prayerful session the Divine Liturgy was celebrated for the Orthodox faithful in Pakistan. We commemorated the dead who have lost their precious lives in the Egypt plane crash on October 31. The sudden crash of the Russian airline in Egypt on Saturday with 224 people on board killed, including children, May God receive their souls into His heavenly kingdom, forgiving them all their sins for His love for mankind. May the Divine Mercy of our Lord and God comfort the grieved families. May their Memory be eternal! Sermon: After the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Joseph Farooq preached to the faithful about the life and miracles of St. John of Kronstadt . The following key points were preached in the sermon: The Life of Saint John of Kronstadt and his services in the St. Andrew Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt, which is near St. Petersburg. Miracles of John of Kronstadt: St. John of Kronstadt Fr. Joseph Farooq told the faithful that there were many miracles performed by St. John of Kronstadt, especially the healing of the sick, and these miracles were witnessed by thousands of individuals around the world. The gift of miracle-working made St. John renowned far beyond the boundaries of Russia. Thousands of people from all ends of Russia daily arrived in Kronstadt, seeking help from St. John; he received an even greater number of letters and telegrams. Further Fr. Joseph Farooq told the Orthodox faithful in Pakistan that, “ Our great wonderworker, righteous father John of Kronstadt filled the whole world with his miracles, like Saint Nicholas. |
| Patriarch Bartholomew: The Church invites everyone to the restoration of the divine image to its former and original beauty As we celebrate once again this year the Feast of the Byzantine Indiction, and as we inaugurate a new year of the Lord’s grace, we address the blessed plenitude of the Orthodox Church and the entire world, inviting all people to continued vigilance, consciousness and mobilization of their resources in order to return to the state that reflects – if not the absolute Eucharistic and doxological condition of Adam and Eve – at least the condition inspired by God’s grace and mercy. Patriarchal Encyclical for the Ecclesiastical New Year To the Entire Church: Grace and Peace from the Creator, Sustainer and Governor of all Creation, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ Blessed brothers, sisters, and children in the Lord, The common Mother of all Orthodox, the Church of Christ, the Body of our eternal Lord and divine-human Jesus Christ, compassionately ministers through all of its activities but especially through the Divine Eucharist, by offering its holy gifts to their Creator in the mystery of salvation. It does this with proven boundless and indiscriminate love toward all of its members to the degree also demonstrated by our heavenly Father. In its prayerful memory, the Church always bears in mind the presence of its children, maintaining a vivid interest and concern for all that relates to and influences their lives. This is why it does not remain unmoved or indifferent by the ongoing and daily destruction of the natural environment resulting from human greed and vain profit, which in turn implies an essential turning of the Lord’s face and results in consequential turbulence in nature and fracture in its crown, namely human existence, whose very survival is threatened. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and we have for many years assessed the signs of our times as well as the Eucharistic obligation of the Orthodox Church. Thus we declared and devoted the commencement of the ecclesiastical year, namely September 1 st , as a day of prayer and supplication for the preservation of God’s creation, which has been inherited by us as our environment. On this day, we bow our heart and soul, invoking God’s Word to look down upon His creation with loving kindness that He might overlook our sinfulness and greed, “opening up His hand to fill all of creation with goodness” and bring an end to the destructive path of the world. |
| Metropolitan Onuphry: One Who’s Grateful to God Receives Even More Blessings When a person considers themselves unworthy of Divine gifts, their spiritual condition is correct. A person who humbles themselves and thanks God for what he or she already has, receives even more blessings said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine in his sermon during the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral of the Svyatogorsk Lavra on October 10, 2021, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, reports the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Speaking about the spiritual lessons of the Gospel parable about the miraculous fishing (Luke 5: 1-11), the metropolitan noted that the first thing this story teaches us is the power of faith. “One’s faith makes a person capable of containing the uncontainable. The Gospel says that the righteous by faith “quenched the violence of the fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight” (Heb. 11:34). Faith makes a person a victor over the devil and over every evil in the world. Faith makes a person capable of containing eternal life and eternal salvation,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. He reminded those present that there is faith of the mind and faith of the heart. “Faith of the mind is when we recognize God, but we do not live by the rules of faith, and live by our own rules. This faith is insufficient for salvation. Faith of the heart is born from the fulfillment of the Divine commandments,” the metropolitan explained. The second lesson we learn in this parable is to strive for humility. “We all live by God’s mercy, God’s power, and God’s grace. If a person correctly organizes their spiritual life, then their spiritual feats increase their humility. We must consciously say: “Lord, I am not worthy of what I have!” When a person considers themselves unworthy of Divine gifts, their spiritual condition is correct, ”said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. |
| With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan HILARION, Archbishop of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. On January 7, 2015 natives of Pakistani Orthodox Believers outside Russia in Pakistan celebrated Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox Traditions and Faith. They participated in all religious activities with joy and spiritual passion. All the religious services on New Year and on Christmas Day were full of orthodox worshipers in Pakistan. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those kind donors who have generously contributed with pure heart for the Christmas gifts, ration for widows and warm clothes for children. May the Most Holy Mother of God save them all. For the first time St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Mission in Pakistan has distributed Christmas gifts and warm clothes among the orthodox children and ration among the poor orthodox women. Here I am also thankful to the Heavenly Father that almost 250 Orthodox faithful and about 60 Catechumens attend the festive Divine Liturgy and received the special blessings of the day. I am grateful to His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion who shared his special Christmas Message and greetings with ROCOR Community in Pakistan. This is worth mentioning that just like other churches on 25 December in Pakistan, the youth of St. Sergius Orthodox parish also voluntarily and with full zeal and zest decorated the Church Arena with buntings, stars, banners and colourful ribbons. On Christmas day during the Divine Liturgy special prayers were offered for peace in suffering land of Pakistan and Middle East and other parts of the world, we also offer prayers for the health of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, for the Orthodox clergy and orthodox faithful all over the world. Festive lunch was served among the faithful. The Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia was founded in the year 2011 is now flourishing rapidly by the divine Mercy of our Heavenly Father and under kind protection of the Holy Angels. In these four years we are working devotedly and preaching the holy orthodoxy in Pakistan though we have meager financial sources. We do not have the land for the worship and we celebrate the Divine Liturgy and other feast days in open place under the tents. |
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