Orthodox Wisdom

For a very breif time in 1991, Elder Ephraim (+2019) was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). Compelled to address his reasons for joining the Synod, Elder Ephraim composed this statement explaining the position of ROCOR and its canonicity. His statement is valuable to all Orthodox Christians in today's struggle against the heresy of Ecumenism and for the unity of the Orthodox Church.0:00 Introduction1:52 Elder Ephraim's StatementThe inclusion of the introduction by the editors of Orthodox Tradition (Old Calendarists from Etna, CA) is neither to promote nor demote them. At minimum, their words provide valuable context and are appropriate in setting up the audience for their english translation of Elder Ephraim's original greek. It's up to the listener to draw their own conclusions about the Old Calenderists and more importantly, the words of Elder Ephraim. 📖 Elder Ephraim on the Russian Orthodox Church Abroadhttp://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ephraim_roca.aspx🎧 PLAYLIST: Elder Ephraim of AZ & St. Joseph the Hesychast - Readingshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzFKi22k2KYg5pt1Tvc3lnjd41E9pdR-p🎧 The Church, Ecumenism, and the Salvation of the World - Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizonahttps://youtu.be/Srl9lCkmCM4🎧 Pray the Jesus Prayer with Elder Ephraim:https://youtu.be/pmFA4LTADQE?si=ig5DyyyQgX-WEgOA🎧 On Trials and Temptations - Elder Ephraim of Arizonahttps://youtu.be/yX68hapAbjY⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/🎁Support my work here:https://buymeacoffee.com/orthodoxwisdom_______Elder Ephraim writes:The Apostolic Succession of the Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad cannot be impugned, since all of the present Bishops hold canonical Consecrations from the Bishops of the pre-Revolutionary era and their successors.Patriarch Tikhon, foreseeing a bleak future for the Russian Church, issued a decree to the Bishops outside Soviet Russia, granting them the right to organize self-governing synodal bodies. Despite this, the exiled Russian Hierarchs, having lived in an atmosphere of utmost loyalty to the law and obedience under the Tsar, insisted, during their first few years of exile, on maintaining contact with their base (Patriarch Tikhon and his successors) and to seek from there approval for their more momentous decisions at least—though this was difficult under their circumstances at the time (persecutions, banishments, etc.). This communion was abruptly cut off by the capitulation of the locum tenens and later Patriarch [Sergius] (Stragorodsky) in his infamous declaration—something totally unacceptable to the Bishops in exile—, assuring the full submission of the Church to the atheist regime and ordering the faithful to show full obedience to and pray for the Soviet authorities. In my opinion, this rupture in communion was justified by the Canons, which provide for the cessation of all commemoration of the first Hierarch of a local Church in the event that he preaches heretical teachings; for Marxism is not only a political system, but entails a secular worldview, indeed a heresy.

A spiritual son of St. Porphyrios describes how the elder served Christ with incredible love and devotion in the Divine Liturgy.A reading from “Father Porphyrios: The Discerning, The Foreseeing, The Healer” by Anargyros J. Kalliatsos, p. 52-54🎧 To Be A Christian You Must Become A Poet - St. Porphyrioshttps://youtu.be/sp_NV5zj9wo🎧 Noetic Sound Waves of the Heart - From the Life of St. Porphyrioshttps://youtu.be/n5dWVVDDvhM🎧 Original recording of Saint Porphyrios saying the Jesus Prayer:https://youtu.be/w7XSW7wpCfY?si=w3yUXGV94QMWg4FH📖 Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios:https://www.holycross.org/products/wounded-by-love-the-life-and-the-wisdom-of-elder-porphyrios?srsltid=AfmBOoorE21YcZGUDow6RQlSnMJLerM851JSD-JP01Rl_2lvrmd0tO7n📖Healing the Soul: Saint Porphyrios as a Model for Our Lives. The St. John Chrysostom Monastery in Wisconsin publishes this book. Email them to ask how to obtain a copy:https://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/🎁Support my work here:https://buymeacoffee.com/orthodoxwisdom_______Father Porphyrios was actually living the divine mystery. This was obvious by the way he acted. The consecrated bread was for him really the Body of Christ. And when he cut it, he felt pain in his heart. He was more than sure that he cut Christ's Body itself! During the Prothesis, he was reading the prayers with particular emphasis and such expression that even the most faithless could not fail being moved. It is impossible to forget the way he prayed for the living and the dead: "Remember, Lord, your servant So-and-so." It was asked with such sweetness and in such a supplicatory tone that it was impossible to be refused; not by God, who is merciful, forbearing, and full of love, but even by the worst criminal of the world. I also noticed that during the Divine Liturgy Papouli gave the impression that he was not hearing or seeing. He was not in touch with the world around him. He was living in his own world. Nevertheless, I did not leave him in peace even there. Every now and then, I went near him to show him my love. With full response he made the sign of the cross on my forehead with the sacred spoon' or his cross, or any other sacred object that he had in his saintly hands at that time. That was not done in the way the other priests did it. He crossed with such faith and force on the forehead, the head, or any other part of the body that it was really felt. Sometimes, I had the impression that my forehead started bleeding. Of course, that never happened. What also impressed me enormously was the way he collected the Divine Pearls! His diligence, his devotion, his care, and his fear in case he lost one of them could not be described. He was literally sweating from agony. Finally, I would consider it an omission if I did not say anything, at least two words, about the way father Porphyrios chanted. His chanting bore no relation to the common chanting we hear in most churches today. It had something completely distinct. It was plain, unaffected, low, without high pitches and other vocal techniques reminding oriental songs. He avoided showing off his vocal ability. This does not mean that he lacked such an ability. What he was interested in was to pronounce correctly and clearly what he chanted; on the one hand, to offer the chant to the people comprehensibly and, on the other hand, to have a direct and continuous contact with God. He achieved both because he had great faith in God and he loved Him more than anything else in the world.

Written in 1972, Fr. Seraphim Rose draws attention to the significance of St. Paisius Velichkovsky (+1794) for us today, stating, "...for Orthodox Christians of the 20th century there is no more important Holy Father of recent times than Blessed Paisius Velichkovsky."A reading of Fr. Seraphim Rose's Introduction to: "Blessed Paisius Velichkovsky: The Man Behind the Philokalia" by Schema-monk Metrophanes📖 Read the Introduction here:https://jordanville.org/news_121129_2http://orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/intro_bpv.aspx📖 Currently available books by Fr. Seraphim:https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/Fr-Seraphim-s/1817.htm🎧 On Prelest (Spiritual Deception) - Fr. Seraphim Rosehttps://youtu.be/Pt00jwZ37ik🎧 The Holy Fathers of Orthodox Spirituality, Pt. I - Fr. Seraphim Rosehttps://youtu.be/ZEDGphNMUw0🎥 Experiences with Fr. Seraphim Rose - from Archpriest Paul Babahttps://youtu.be/w2Ej6Z8e90w🎧 See my playlist of readings of Fr. Seraphim Rose:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzFKi22k2KYjDHTp3rJVE7B66juR7bDzI⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/🎁Support my work here:https://buymeacoffee.com/orthodoxwisdom_______Fr. Seraphim writes:"...for Orthodox Christians of the 20th century there is no more important Holy Father of recent times than Blessed Paisius Velichkovsky. This is so not merely because of his holy life; not merely because, like another Saint Gregory Palamas, he defended the hesychast practice of the mental Prayer of Jesus; not only because he, through his many disciples, inspired the great monastic revival of the 19th century which flowered most notably in the holy Elders of Optina Monastery; but most of all because he redirected the attention of Orthodox Christians to the sources of Holy Orthodoxy, which are the only foundation of true Orthodox life and thought whether of the past or of the present, whether of monks or of laymen.It is these very same sources—the Divine Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers—which are the foundation of all genuine Orthodoxy in our own times. The observer of the Orthodox world today can see easily enough what "Orthodoxy" becomes when these sources are not made the foundation of life and thought.The followers of unenlightened custom are themselves innocent; they merely accept what has been "handed down" to them. But not seeing the meaning and not knowing the sources of what has been handed down, they are easily led into error, accepting customs which the Church has allowed only out of her condescension or economy as if they were the best of Orthodoxy, and also improper customs of recent heterodox origin and inspiration, together with the pure and meaningful Orthodox customs handed down from the Holy Fathers. Under strict yet prudent pastors, such people can be guided in the true path of Orthodoxy; but in our own time of such widespread irresponsible Church leadership, these people are more often guided gradually into a path of ever greater and more senseless innovation and reform, the clearest example of which is perhaps the Greek Archdiocese of America, where pews, organs, and Uniat spirituality and theology have become the new "customs" of an unfortunate people whose Orthodoxy has been stolen from it.

Explore the spiritual afflictions of boredom and despondency as discussed by St. Seraphim. Discover how boredom manifests in monks, leading to restlessness and distraction during prayer. Learn practical remedies like prayer, labor, and scripture reading to combat these challenges. Delve into the nuances of despondency, understanding its demonic origins versus natural weariness. Finally, find out how meekness of heart serves as a powerful antidote to these temptations.

Delve into the wisdom of St. Paisios as he shares profound insights on battling inner passions. Learn how God's gifts can become misused and transform into detrimental habits. Discover the power of directing anger and ego towards spiritual growth, and how humility invites divine assistance. Explore the significance of recognizing and uprooting faults while striving for self-improvement. St. Paisios emphasizes the necessity of effort in inviting God's grace and achieving spiritual progress, offering guidance for those on their journey to a virtuous life.

Explore the nature of paradise and its significance as described by St. John of Damascus. Discover how the tree of knowledge served as a test of obedience for Adam and Eve, leading to their loss of innocence. Delve into the dual aspects of Eden—physical and spiritual—and the metaphorical meanings of the trees. The discussion highlights the dangers of premature knowledge and contrasts material sustenance with the immortality promised by the tree of life. Join in on a journey that examines divine purpose and the pursuit of God's kingdom.

Dive into the profound teachings of St. Gregory Palamas as he illuminates the nature of the Triune God. Discover the crucial difference between believing God and believing in Him, and understand why both are essential for true faith. Explore the timeless nature of the Father and the eternal begetting of the Son, who incarnated as the Redeemer. Learn about the Holy Spirit's procession and distinct hypostasis, culminating in a powerful confession of one tri-hypostatic Godhead that rejects heresies and ungodly doctrines.

Discover the profound teachings of St. Seraphim on the supremacy of peace in Christ, which conquers all spiritual warfare. Learn how turning inward fosters divine grace that brings true peace and joy. Explore the importance of humility and self-examination before helping others. The discussion highlights the value of silence and restraint in the face of offenses, promoting a joyful spirit over despondency. Ultimately, it emphasizes maintaining peace and watchfulness to receive divine gifts in one's soul.

The discussion delves into battling intrusive thoughts, highlighting St. Silouan's assertion that humility is key in this spiritual struggle. Listeners learn how wrongful thoughts can drive away grace, and the importance of confession and repentance. The podcast emphasizes immediate rejection of distracting thoughts to protect prayer and cultivate compassion. It warns against the pitfalls of pride and the necessity of a spiritual father. Finally, it encourages deep humility and reliance on divine mercy to ward off spiritual delusions.

Edifying excerpts from "The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way" concerning Jews and Orthodox Christianity. This reading is from the R.M. French translation of "The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way", p. 112-114, 139-140"Starets" means "Elder" in Russian🎧 Full audiobook:https://youtu.be/wh2Orojo1z0?si=LsyAccwIt7IzK94B⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodox-world.org/https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/_______From his very earliest years he was preparing to be a rabbi and studied hard at all the Jewish chitchat which was meant to disprove Christianity. One day he happened to be going through a Christian cemetery. He saw a human skull, which must have been taken out of some grave that had been recently disturbed. It had both its jaws, and there were some horrible-looking teeth in them. In a fit of temper he began to jeer at this skull; he spat at it, abused it, and spurned it with his foot. Not content with that, he picked it up and stuck it on a post-as they stick up the bones of animals to drive off greedy birds. After amusing himself in this way, he went home. The following night he had scarcely fallen asleep when suddenly an unknown man appeared to him and violently upbraided him, saying, "How dare you insult what is left of my poor bones? I am a Christian—but as for you, you are the enemy of Christ.”I listened to this story with reverence and humility, and I thought to myself, "How good and kind our Lord Jesus Christ is, and how great is His love! In what different ways He draws sinners to Himself. With what wisdom He uses things of little importance to lead on to great things. Who could have expected that the mischievous pranks of a Jew with some dead bones would bring him to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and be the means of leading him to a devout life?"One day a pilgrim came to see us. He complained bitterly about the Jews and abused them. He had been going about their villages and had to put up with their unfriendliness and cheating. He was so bitter against them that he cursed them, even saying they were not fit to live because of their obstinacy and unbelief. Finally he said that he had such an aversion for them that it was quite beyond his control. "You have no right, friend," said the starets, "to abuse and curse the Jews like this. God made them just as He made us. You should be sorry for them and pray for them, not curse them. Believe me, the disgust you feel for them comes from the fact that you are not grounded in the love of God and have no interior prayer as a security and, therefore, no inward peace._______Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!