CHICAGO — Metr. Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago has condemned the burning of a crossin Chicago’s Grant Park, describing the incident as a public display of hatred and a desecration of one of Christianity’s most sacred symbols.
They’re just panicking. “We need to shut this guy up quick!” 😭😭
People are waking up to the rot at the heart of the “OO”s spirituality.
The amount of former, and current “OO”s, that have reached out privately on this subject is staggering. Many are inquiring.
Glory to God, Pray for them ☦️
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Abp. Mark of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania has issued an archpastoral message for the Synaxis of All Saints of North America, linking the feast with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and reflecting on the growth of Orthodox Christianity across the continent.
It’s easy to cry with those who cry.
But it’s hard - truly hard - to rejoice with those who rejoice. To feel their success as your own.
To celebrate their breakthrough like it was yours.
To smile from the heart when life smiles on them.
Why?
Because envy quietly poisons the soul.
It steals our joy and blocks the command of God:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
If you can’t rejoice when your brother is blessed, do you really love him?
That is the narrow path of true Christianity.
IMBROS, TURKEY — Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria offered a Trisagion service on June 11 at the graves of members of the family of Patr. Bartholomew, honoring the memory of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s parents and sister during a visit to the island of Imbros.
🔸 June 12 - Saint Onuphrius 🏜️🔸
Today, we commemorate the holy desert hermit Saint Onuphrius of Egypt. His life is known to us through the writings of Saint Paphnutius, a 4th-century ascetic and disciple of Saint Anthony the Great. Desiring to find someone who labored for the Lord more than himself, St Paphnutius ventured deep into the Thebaid desert. There, he encountered a wild-looking man covered in long white hair and leaves. Startled, he initially fled up the hill, but the man called him back.
The man introduced himself as Onuphrius, and proceeded to tell Paphnutius the story of his life: he was raised at the Eratus monastery near the city of Hermopolis, but desired to imitate the desert dwellers whom he had been told received help in their struggles by the Lord’s angels. He was then guided by angels to a cave in the desert which was occupied by an elderly man who instructed him of the ascetic life, and led him to a cave of his own where he struggled for the Lord in constant prayer and fasting.
St Onuphrius had lived in complete isolation in the wilderness for 60 years. St Onuphrius also told St Paphnutius how the Lord had cared for him by bringing forth near his cave a spring of water and a palm tree which bore fruit each month. An angel also brought him the Holy Mysterues each Saturday and Sunday. The pair conversed until evening, and spent the night in prayer. After singing the morning hymns, St Onuphrius glorified God, accepting that the end of his earthly life was near.
St Paphnutius wanted to remain in the cave after the death of Onuphrius, but the holy ascetic told him that it was not God’s will for him to stay there, and that he should instead return to his monastery and tell everyone about the virtuous lives of the desert-dwellers. Having blessed Paphnutius, St Onuphrius prayed with tears before giving up his soul to the Lord. St Paphnutius prayed that the Lord would permit him to remain in the cave of his friend, but suddenly the cave fell in, the palm tree withered, and the spring of water dried up. Realising that he had not been given a blessing to remain, St Paphnutius set out on his return journey to the monastery.
Photos from the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Apostle Bartholomew, Patron Saint of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, celebrated on the island of Imbros (birthplace of His All-Holiness), concelebrated with Their Beatitudes Patriarchs Daniel of Romania and Daniil of Bulgaria.
For those who may have some difficulty following along. My critique of the Coptic church is not that they have scandal. It’s that their liturgical practice has become modernized. They adopt evangelical worship, and as displayed yesterday, in many cases, they’ve adopted dramatic charismatic style public deliverance practices. Which are televised weekly…
These are not merely ‘scandals’ every church has scandal.
This is cancer in the heart of their theological system, their spirituality, their worship.
@rickondatoilet I talk to people about theology all the time.
I just had a conversation with a TO who is returning to the canonical Orthodox Church.
But these chats are in private and not a public platform.
God bless you
Went on a nice walk today, had two LDS dudes approach me. Had a chat about church history, scripture, the great apostasy narrative. They seemed really receptive. Gave them some threads to pull.
Nice guys, pray for them.