New Romanian Saints

Posted on by Fr. Peter
As the true horror of Communism is starting to unfold, new Martyrs for the faith are being revealed. No doubt there will be more as time passes. Here are three new saints in the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Father Hilarion the Confessor

He was born on March 21, 1903, in a village in Hunedoara county in Romania. His father was a priest. In 1926 he graduated from the Faculty of Theology of Sibiu. On July 29, 1927 he was ordained priest. On October 30, 1939 he submitted his doctoral thesis, titled Repentance: Theological and Psychological Approach. He had also written the book Towards Tabor, which is, according to Elder Justin Pirvou the best work to date about Romanian Orthodoxy and a perfect interpretation of the Philokalia. Speaking about the exalted spirituality of Father Hilarion, the greatest Romanian Orthodox theologian of the twentieth century, Father Dumitru Staniloae said: “Father Hilarion has surpassed me.” He was professor of the Theological School of Arad from 1938 until 1948. On September 25, 1958 he was imprisoned and sentenced, along with six other priests from Arad, for a 20 year sentence. He was detained in Gerla and then Aiount, where he died on September 18, 1961. He was buried without a cross, in a grave that is unknown, along with other witnesses of the Romanian nation in Aiount.

Abbot Daniel Tudor

He was born on December 22, 1896 in Bucharest. After the First World War he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. In the year 1929 he traveled to Mount Athos, where he lived for eight months. God saved him often from a violent death. Once, flying his own plane, he was saved from death, saying the noetic prayer. While the airplane was destroyed, he did not suffer anything.

After the Second World War, returning to his house, he learned that his wife had left him. He then decided to become a monk. He sold all his belongings, renewed the Antim Monastery in Bucharest, and became a monk there. From the year 1945, the monastery gathered around it a group of scholars, which was trying to regain, based on the Bible and the Holy Fathers of Orthodox Christianity, true spirituality, having as a center of their efforts the noetic prayer. They were called The Fiery Rug. Later he went to the Sychastria Monastery where Elder Cleopas made him a hermit and later abbot of the Skete Raraou. One day in June 1958, he greeted the brothers and went to Bucharest, having been informed by God that he will re-enter prison, where he will die, confessing Christ. The principal of guilt, as confessed by a court magistrate, was that he wanted to burn Communism with The Fiery Rug.

One day in winter, they put him together with a friend in a storehouse – the White or the Refrigerator – where it was minus 30 degrees. The storehouse had no windows, but a very dirty floor. People who were put in there would die of cold after no more than three days. Father Daniel lay down immediately with his face in the dirt and with open arms, and told the friend: “Sit on me back to back with open arms and say only this, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!'” Immediately as they started to say this, the storehouse was filled by a very brilliant light, and thereafter they did not know what happened next. After eight days (without the two prisoners receiving any water or food, sleep or clothes), the guards came to take their carcasses, but they were alive and fine. When they touched Father Daniel he was hot, and what was around him had melted.

In prison he was one of the few who wore leg chains during his time of incarceration. He died after four years of suffering in Aiount on November 17, 1962. We do not know exactly where his holy body is to be found.

Valeriu Gafencu

Valeriu was born on January 24, 1921 in Vasaravia. In the autumn of 1941 he was imprisoned and sentenced to 25 years of prison. He was then a second year student of the Law and Philosophy School of Iasi. Becoming ill with TB, he was sent in December 1949 to Tirgou-Okna. There, with no medical care, he survived another two years. With many physical wounds, they would continuously discharge pus. Valeriu awaited his death with a serenity which softened the hearts of his guards and tormentors. He was a man of noetic prayer. He was made worthy by God to know the day of his death. He asked to be buried with one cross in his mouth, and another in the right hand so as to be recognized if perchance his bodied was found. He departed to heaven, this “saint of prisons” (as other inmates have called him) on 18 February 1952 and thrown in a common, as of yet unknown, tomb. Read more about him here, here and here.

h/t Mystagogy Blog

A Celtic Prayer for Priests

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Christ is the Priest above us,
Ordained of God for all the living.
Christ is the Priest above us.
The bread, His Body; the wine, His Blood;
Food for the wayward, drink for the lost.
Christ is the Priest above us.
His garden of sorrow, His garden of betrayal,
A Kiss for the King, a Sign for the soldiers.
Christ is the Priest above us.
Nailed to the Cross of terrible agony;
Anguish, distress, crucified pain.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I hear the hills, I hear the seas,
I hear the angels heralding to earth,
Christ is the Priest above us.
His Heart, my heart; His Hands my hands;
My very self belongs to Him.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I bear his name; I speak his voice,
Without envy, or anger, or shadow on heart.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I am the face of Christ the Priest;
I am His servant at the door.
Guide me, guard me, heal me, help me
Be the window through which You shine–
Christ the Priest above us. Amen.
　

Adapted from the Gaelic by E. R. Barr

h/t Anamchara

Great and Holy Wednesday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Two women – say the more discerning interpreters of the Gospel – anointed the Lord with myrrh; the one, a long time before His Passion; the other, a few days before. One was a harlot and sinner; the other, chaste and virtuous. The Church commemorates this reverent act today. While mentioning herein the person of the harlot, it also mentions Judas’ betrayal; for, according to the account in Matthew, both of these deeds took place two days before the Passover, on Wednesday.

That woman, then, anointed Jesus’ head and feet with very precious myrrh, and wiped them with the tresses of her hair. The disciples, especially the avaricious Judas, were scandalized, supposedly because of the waste of the myrrh, which could be sold for a great price and given to the poor. The Lord Jesus reproved them and told them not to trouble the woman. Indignant, Judas went to the high priests, who were gathered in the court of Caiaphas and were already taking counsel against Jesus. On agreeing with them to betray his Teacher for thirty pieces of silver, Judas sought from that time opportunity to betray Him (Matt. 26:14-16). Because the betrayal took place on Wednesday, we have received the tradition from Apostolic times to fast on Wednesday throughout the year.

The Great Myrrh Being Prepared at Antim Monastery

Posted on by Fr. Peter
(OBL)On 29 March 2010, the preparations for the consecration of the Great Myrrh began at the chapel dedicated to the Saint Prophet John the Baptist, at Antim Monastery of Bucharest.

His Eminence Laurenţiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, celebrated the consecration service of the Holy Water, as delegate of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, together with His Grace Mihail of Australia and New Zealand, His Grace Ciprian Câmpineanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest and His Grace Ioachim Băcăoanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, assisted by a group of priests and deacons, including reverend archimandrite Timotei Aioanei, cultural exarch to the Archdiocese of Bucharest and great ecclesiarch of the Patriarchal Cathedral – informs “Lumina” newspaper.

After the consecration of the holy water, the ingredients and vessels prepared for consecrating the Great Myrrh were sprinkled with holy water. His Eminence Laurenţiu lit the fire that would boil the decoction, while the priests washed the vessels with holy water.

“We glorify God for this beginning of the preparation for the Great Myrrh, as a sacramental work of the Church, a special work invested with the highest canonical authority because only an autocephalous Church can consecrate the Great Myrrh”, said His Eminence Laurenţiu.

His Eminence explained the usage of the Holy Great Myrrh, saying that this preparation “is a very important work from a spiritual point of view for us, because the Great Myrrh prepared here and consecrated on the Holy Thursday, will be distributed to all the churches of the Romanian Patriarchate and used first of all in the Sacrament of the Holy Myrrh of the Holy Unction, because it is the matter consecrated not only by a single hierarch, but by all the bishops of Holy Synod. The Holy Great Myrrh will be used for consecrating the churches, for preparing the table of the Holy Altar just like the tomb of Jesus Christ, our Lord, for consecrating the antimises that will replace the Holy Table. These are the objects absolutely necessary for celebrating the Divine Liturgies, expressing, at the same time, the relation of the priest with his hierarch, because the Holy Antimis is signed by the local hierarch. The Holy Great Myrrh will be kept at the Patriarchate for the needs of all the religious units of all our churches over the year.

Tomorrow morning, after the celebration of the Hours service, the preparation of the plants decoction will begin, which will be mixed on Wednesday with olive oil, and on the Holy Thursday, will be consecrated by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, within the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great.

The olive oil for preparing the Great Myrrh was offered by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy and by the Metropolitan See of Corinth (Greece) as a present, and the wine by the Archdiocese of Tomis. The fifteen spices and most of the thirty essential oils were acquired from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, France, Bulgaria, Spain and Jerusalem, as Trinitas Radio Station informs us.

Romanian Orthodox Church Consecrates the Holy Great Myrrh

Posted on by Fr. Peter
During the first three days of the Holy Week of the Passions of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, (29 – 31 March 2010), the Great Myrrh will be prepared at Antim Monastery of Bucharest, and consecrated during the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, assisted by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the Holy Thursday (1 April 2010).

The consecration of the Holy Great Myrrh represents the visible manifestation of the synodality of an Orthodox Autocephalous Church and her full pastoral responsibility.The Great Myrrh is prepared and consecrated when the myrrh quantity present is almost run out of, according to the requirements of the pastoral-missionary work of the Church.

The Great Myrrh is prepared out of the following ingredients: best olive oil, white wine and many spices and flavoursv which symbolise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. After consecration, the Great Myrrh is called the HOLY GREAT MYRRH. It will be used for the Ointment Sacrament (after Baptism), consecration, re-consecration of the churches and for the consecration of the antimises.

In order to prepare the Great Myrrh this year, the olive oil was offered by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy and by the Metropolitan See of Corinth as a present, and the wine by the Archdiocese of Tomis.

The fifteen flavoured plants and the most part of the thirty essential oils needed were acquired from abroad, from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, France, Bulgaria, Spain and Jerusalem, with the financial support of the Romanian Orthodox eparchies from the country and abroad. The other essential oils were offered to the Romanian Patriarchate by Rev. Archim. Prof. Dr. Qais Sadiq on behalf of the Patriarchate of Antioch, because he studied theology in Romania and visits periodically the Arab Orthodox faithful of our country.

Due to the importance of the Holy Great Myrrh in the Church and in the life of the faithful, it is kept in a place of honour, in the Holy Altar and used, with all proper honour, only in case of need.

After the consecration of the Great Myrrh this year, every eparchy of the Romanian Patriarchate will receive five litres of Holy Great Myrrh in a stainless amphora made in Greece for the purpose. A part of this amount will be kept in every eparchial Cathedral for consecrating the antimises, for consecrating and re-consecrating the church, while another part of it will be distributed to the parishes of the eparchy for celebrating the Extreme Unction Sacrament.

The Great Myrrh was consecrated for the first time in the Romanian Orthodox Church on the Holy Thursday (25 March), in 1882. The consecration was celebrated by the Primate Metropolitan Calinic Miclescu and by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod during the Divine Liturgy officiated in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Bucharest, three years before the recognition of the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1885).

After the raising of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the rank of Patriarchate (1925), the Great Myrrh was consecrated for the first time by Patriarch Miron Cristea and by the members of the Holy Synod on 1 April 1926. The Great Myrrh was consecrated for 20 times in the Romanian Orthodox Church so far (1882, 1894, 1906, 1921, 1936, 1934, 1942, 1950, 1955, 1958, 1965, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2007).

The consecration of the Great Myrrh this year, for the 21st time in the Romanian Orthodox Church, is part of the manifestations of 2010, the Holy Synod proclaimed as Homage Year of the Orthodox Creed and of the Romanian Autocephaly.

PRESS OFFICE OF THE ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE

Great and Holy Tuesday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today we bring to mind the parable of the ten virgins, which our Saviour related as He was coming to His Passion. This parable teaches us that the accomplishment of the great work of virginity should not make us careless in other matters, especially in almsgiving, wherewith the lamp of virginity is made radiant. Furthermore, it teaches us that we should not be remiss about the end of our life, but should be prepared for it at every moment, like the wise virgins, so that we may meet the Bridegroom, lest He come suddenly and the doors of the heavenly bridechamber be shut, and we also, like the foolish virgins, hear that dread sentence: “Amen, I say unto you, I know you not” (Matt. 25:1-13).

Troparion

Soul, mindful of your final hour, and dreading the fate of the fig tree, cultivate with diligence the talent you were given. Endure, be vigilant, and say: “May we not be shut out of the bridal chamber!”

Sex and the Pope

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Okay do I have your attention?

These seem to be the headlines the last few days at the Pope Benedict facing continuing criticism for his handling, or lack there of, of sex abusers during his time in Germany and after. How does one handle all of this.

Some of you who read this blog will think it is okay because after all he is Heterodox! Well I say that is just rubbish. We are all Christians and we need each other and should be praying for each other.

Much of the criticism comes from those who would not support this particular Pope regardless of what he does. Some feel the Church needs renewal and some think the church is okay right where it is. You are always going to have people who criticize what you do if they disagree with you. Some will say he is going too far, and some will say he is not going far enough. I pray for His Holiness everyday, as I pray for many people. It is difficult to be in a position of leadership in the church be it pastor or supreme pastor.

In what could only have been a foreshadowing of the attacks he was to face, during his installation he spoke there words: “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.” The wolves are at the door for sure!

The real test of a leader is how they hang in there. Do they cut and run when the going gets tough or do they hang in there and fight it out. As pastor of a parish, I am the shepherd of my community during the good times and the bad. Early on during some bad times I wanted to cut and run, but that is the easy thing to do. The hard part is to stay and face the music. Sticking with the shepherd visual, when the sheep are on the hill and all is well, the shepherd has time to relax, just a little. Then the wolf comes and it is the shepherds job to protect his sheep. Did this always happen, no. Was it intentional, for some maybe yes, but for most no. (I am speaking of the cover up here) The shepherd, at great risk to his own life, protects the life of his sheep.

Pray for the Pope, pray for your bishops, pray for your pastors and other church leaders. Trust me we all need it. The wolf is always at the door. Sometimes the attack comes from within. A good friend of mine just went through a rather nasty period in his ministry and he said, you know sometimes the Devil is in the Choir! How true is that!

Your Holiness, if you read my blog (what? it is possible) then know that I am praying for you.

” Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Blog

Great and Holy Monday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
On Great and Holy Monday we commemorate Joseph the Patriarch, the beloved son of Jacob. A major figure of the Old Testament, Joseph’s story is told in the final section of the Book of Genesis (chs. 37-50). Because of his exceptional qualities and remarkable life, our patristic and liturgical tradition portrays Joseph as a prototype of Christ. The story of Joseph illustrates the mystery of God’s providence, promise and redemption. Innocent, chaste, and righteous, his life bears witness to the power of God’s love and promise. The lesson to be learned from Joseph’s life, as it bears upon the ultimate redemption wrought by the death and resurrection of Christ, is summed up in the words he addressed to his brothers who had previously betrayed him, “Fear not… as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he reassured them and comforted them (Gen 50:19-21). The commemoration of the noble, blessed and saintly Joseph reminds us that in the great events of the Old Testament, the Church recognizes the realities of the New Testament.Also, on Great and Holy Monday the Church commemorates the event of the cursing of the fig tree (Mt 21:18-20). In the Gospel narrative this event is said to have occured on the morrow of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:18 and Mk 11:12). For this reason it found its way into the liturgy of Great Monday. The episode is also quite relevant to Great Week. Together with the event of the cleansing of the Temple this episode is another manifestation of Jesus’ divine power and authority and a revelation as well of God’s judgement upon the faithlessness of the Jewish religious classes. The fig tree is symbolic of Israel become barren by her failure to recognize and receive Christ and His teachings. The cursing of the fig tree is a parable in action, a symbolic gesture. Its meaning should not be lost on any one in any generation. Christ’s judgement on the faithless, unbelieving, unrepentant and unloving will be certain and decisive on the last day. This episode makes it clear that nominal Christianity is not only inadequate, it is also despicable and unworthy of God’s kingdom. Genuine Christian faith is dynamic and fruitful. It permeates one’s whole being and causes a change. Living, true and unadulterated faith makes the Christian conscious of the fact that he is already a citizen of heaven. Therefore, his way of thinking, feeling, acting and being must reflect this reality. Those who belong to Christ ought to live and walk in the Spirit; and the Spirit will bear fruit in them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-25).

From Great Week and Pascha in the Greek Orthodox Church

Alkiviadis C. Calivas

Christ the Bridegroom

Posted on by Fr. Peter
During the first three nights of Holy Week we are reminded of the Second Coming of Christ. These are called the Bridegroom services. Why the Bridegroom?

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king, who gave a wedding feast for his son” (Matt. 22:2).

A wedding is traditionally celebrated with a grand feast and a most joyous time. Christ is the Bridegroom and we are His bride. He invites us all to a great feast in His kingdom of heaven. When the Bride accept one in marriage the Bridegroom pledges His inheritance and glory. It is a union where two become one. As we join with Him as His bride we become one just like the bride and groom become one in the marriage ceremony. But with this invitation comes a warning. In the words of the King, “The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy” (Matt. 22:8).

It is us who are not worthy? Will we be accep[ted in His Kingdom. Will we become His bride? On one of several occasions, the Lord was asked why His disciples did not observe the prescribed fasting periods of the Jewish faith, Christ responded, “Can you make wedding guests fast, when the bridegroom is with them (Luke 5:34)?” And He went on to say, “The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them… (Luke 5:35).”

Read the Rest

Ten tips for Holy Week and Pascha

Posted on by Fr. Peter
1. Make participation at the Services a priority.

2. In our homes we should strive to “keep out the world” and enter into the peace, solemnity, and theology of the events of the last days of our Lord.

3. Be sure to read the last chapters of the Holy Gospels that speak of the Passion, Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.

4. If you are visiting another parish and wish to receive Communion, make sure that the priest knows who you are and that you are prepared. This should be done in advance by phone, email, or any other way.

5. Last year’s palms and pussy willows should be placed outside in an area to decay where they will not be disturbed. They are holy and should not be simply thrown out with the garbage.

6. Before venerating Holy Objects, such as the Cross, the Chalice, Icons, or the Winding-Sheet, make sure to wipe off your lipstick or chapstick. Reminder: we do not kiss the face of our Lord, His Mother, or the Saints; in-stead kiss the hands or feet.

7. If you haven’t yet made your Confession during Great Lent, try to make it during the beginning of Holy Week. Speak with your priest to arrange a time.

8. Try to make amends with those we may be upset with or those who are upset with us, so that on Pascha we can joyfully sing, “Let us call brothers, even those that hate us, and forgive all by the Resurrection!”

9. Try to stay after the “Midnight Service” on Pascha morning for the blessing of baskets and festive meal. Let us share in the joy of the Lord’s Resurrection with fellowship and love.

10. During Bright Week, sing or read the Paschal Hours instead of your “normal” morning and evening prayers. Let the joy of praising the Lord’s Resurrection accompany you throughout Bright Week, the Paschal season, and your whole life.

h/t Byzantine Texas

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