Geronda Gregory abbot of Dochiariou Monastery.

The brethren of the Dochiariou monastery, who recently bade farewell to their Geronda Gregory (Zumis), offer this text in his memory.

Geronda Gregory (Zumis)

In October 9/21, 2018, around 10:30 pm, Gerondas Gregory , the hegumen of the Dochiariou monastery for 38 years, reposed in the Lord . The monk-ascetic, the charismatic leader, distinguished by an enlightened mind and a critical spirit, a skilled orator, loving spiritual father, renovator and new builder of the ancient monastery Dochiariou.

Geronda Gregory spiritually “grew at the feet” of Saint Amphilochius of Patmos and Saint Philotheos (Zervakos), abbot of the monastery of Longovard on Paros.

At the age of 29, he became the abbot of the “Mirtie” monastery in “Etoloakarnanii” and then the monastery of “Prusso” in “Evritania”. And, finally, since 1980, he became the hegumen of Dochiariou monastery in Mont Athos.

Body and Soul..Saint Amvrosy of Optino.

Saint Amvrosy.

It is said in the Gospel: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?!." See how precious the soul of man is!. It is more precious than the whole world with all its treasures and blessings. But it is frightening to think how little we under­stand the worth of our immortal soul. It is to the body, that dwelling place of worms, that bemourned coffin, that we direct all our thoughts from morning to night; but to our immortal soul, that most precious and beloved of God's creations, to that image of His glory and greatness…

Hardly one thought is directed in an entire week. To the service of the body are consecrated the most blossom­ing years of our life and to the eternal salvation of the soul,

Spiritual weapons..Saint Nil Sorsky.

Saint Nil Sorsky.

For those who sincerely seek to repent, and who seek God in love and fear, and have Him alone before their eyes and walk according to His commandments, God will accept all of them, granting his mercy and giving them His grace and glorifying them. Thus all of Holy Scripture assures us of this.

In ancient times many Fathers themselves walked in this exem­plary way of life and, directed others accordingly. But now it is not the same, due to a great lack of such spiritual directors. But whoever dedicates himself completely to the work of God, God's very own grace will wisely guide him, being his strength now and for all ages, in the life to come.

Saint Arsenius bishop of Tver(1409).

Saint Arsenios.

Our holy father Arsenius was born in 1350 to pious and humble Serbian parents in the town of Tver, about 150 miles northwest of Moscow, Russia. (His grandparents had migrated to this territory in Russia some seventy-five years before his birth.)

He was a very serious and intelligent boy, excelling in school while also delighting in serving the Lord as an acolyte in his local Orthodox Church. When Arsenius was still a young boy, both his parents became grievously ill; and just prior to his thirteenth birthday, they both fell asleep in the Lord. On their deathbed they asked Arsenius to fulfill one last wish: to live a holy and devout life, remembering the Lord God all his days, and to remember the poor and needy. At this time, because Arsenius was their only child, they willed all their possessions to him.

After the repose of his pious and God-loving parents, Arsenius spent many hours in prayer, seeking guidance from the Lord as to how to carry out his parents’ last request. During this time, two particular passages of the New Testament continually spoke to his heart: “For what is a mall profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

The Myrrbearing Women and the Christian Women of Today.Elder Sofian Boaghiu

Elder Sofian Boaghiu of Antim Monastery (now with the Lord) was sentenced by the communists (in 1958) to 15 years of hard labor in the concentration camps for keeping the true Orthodox Christian faith and refusing to become atheist.

    

Elder Sofian Boaghiu.

As you know, the third Sunday after Easter is the Sunday of the Myrrh bearing women, or the Sunday of the faithful women, keepers of Christian family. You should be joyful that you partake of this special honor from our Resurrected Lord. And through our most pure Mother Theotokos and the Holy Myrrh-bearing women, you have a Sunday a year when you are especially honored. May the Lord multiply in you the grace and gifts of the Holy Spirit and may the gift of Christian love abide truly in you, in order that you may become maintainers of Christian’ warmth and harmony in your family. For many families today are met with disaster… as you know better than me, so I will not speak about it.

How can we paint His form?!. Elder Cleopa of Romania

Q.: God did not become visible to men and therefore no one knows how He appears, nor can they paint His form in an icon or fashion a true likeness of His Countenance. He Himself has said, "Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live." The Evangelist John says the same: "No man hath seen God at any time." Likewise, the Apostle Paul says: " ... who only hath immortality, dwell­ing in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen."

A Letter of Father Archimandrite Moses of Optina to his Cousin the Nun Maximilla.

Most honorable among nuns, dearest sister Maximilla Ivanovna,

    Be strong in the Lord!

    I was glad to receive your welcome letter in good order. I thank you most kindly for everything. Do keep writing to me, and do not make this difficult for yourself. Write to me simply, whatever you feel, and just write as you speak. You do not need to go into detail about your devotion and love for me, because I have known that for a long time.

Write to me mostly about yourself and the kind of spiritual infirmities and trials you have, so that for my part I will be able to show you sympathy for the sake of your spiritual welfare, instead of mere useless affection.

    Of course you and I, who are feeble, have no need to con­verse about great feats of asceticism and exalted virtues­ just about weaknesses and the trials of life. I was pleased with this last letter of yours-that is what they should always be like. You write to me straightforwardly and trustingly concerning your infirmity.

Last Words of Father Zachariah (+1936)

  In his last months the elder lay in bed almost all the time. He spoke seldom, and if he did say anything, it was for the benefit of souls. "Do not forget that the first commandment of the Gospel summons us to repentance: "Repent and believe in the Gospel. These are the words of the Lord Himself" (Mark 1.15).

   "Acquire virtues, which oppose sins."

   "Never be depressed on any occasion or under any circum­stances. Depression is a hangman which kills the energy essen­tial for the receiving of the Holy Spirit in one's heart. A depressed person loses the ability to pray and is dead as far as spiritual feats are concerned."

   The elder's illness was so terrible that anyone else would simply have shouted with pain and complained unceasingly, but the elder Zachariah suffered in silence, offering up thanks to God for everything he sent.

   The elder's face became like a face painted on an icon. It was obvious that he was retreating entirely into deep and secret prayer.

On the Joy in Christ.

Mother Gavrilia.

Frescoe in the Church of the Nativity
of the Mother of God - Saint John the Baptist
Monastery - Douma

   Question: Joy is an integral element in the life of a Christian, is it not?. When you believe in Christ aren't you always joyful?.

   Mother Gavrilia: Indeed, you are. For Christ said: "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth" ... And again... "that My joy might remain in you" ... This joy is like the Grace of God. It dwells in us. We do not wait for the other one to give us joy, since Christ gives it first.

   Question: This is what I have noticed. Though you see every day people who are sick, poor, helpless ... yet you are joyful!...

   Mother Gavrilia: Yes. Because I love with all my heart those whom I see. I link their life with my own and, at the same time, I think: If I, a mortal and a sinful person, can love them so much, how much more must God love them - God Who created them and Whose children they are. In other words: He is the first to care for them. He knows why they are sick. He knows what effect their sickness will have on their soul. He knows the reason of all things. I can neither judge nor fathom any further. So, this is what I do. I take this sick person in my heart. I make a fervent prayer, with all my love, and I place him at the Feet of Christ. That is, I say: “My Lord, give him Your Pardon, give him Your Mercy, give him Light, give him Health of body and soul. Make Your Will manifest itself in his life".

Who is Man?.

By Bishop Kallistos Ware.

   What kind of an animal is man?. What is it that, with­out separating us from the other animals, yet serves to distinguish us from them?. I say "without separating," because several of the characteristics that we commonly choose to designate as uniquely human turn out to be present, at any rate in a less devel­oped form, in many of the other animals. For example, many animals think, in the sense that, when confronted with an ob­stacle, they puzzle over it until they work out a solution.

   Many animals have a memory, recalling the past with fear or joy: a horse, separated from its human owners for weeks or years, on meeting them again will show alarm or happiness, de­pending on the treatment it has once received. Some animals form lifelong monogamous unions, and show grief, or something very similar to it, when they lose their partner; and so on. Yet, de­spite all this, can we not identify a specifically human vocation set before us?.

The Repose of Hieroschemamonk Paisius (Olaru).

Three ascetics of prayer: Hieroschemamonk Paisius,
Archimandrite Cleopa and Protosingel Joel of Sihastria.

   The relationship that existed between the renowned spiritual fathers of Romania during the latter part of the 20th century was truly a bond of spiritual love. These were the fathers and shepherds of souls who encouraged and comforted the vast multitudes of faithful who were suffering under the repressive and atheistic yoke of communism. The fathers, all advanced in age, never expected to see the days when Romania would once again be free. The events of the December, 1989 Revolution that overthrew the tyrannical rule which had held their land in an iron grip for over forty years came as an unexpected blessing to these elders: It was something that would certainly place new demands on Fr. Cleopa in his last years.

On the Honourable Veneration of the True Cross.

   Inquirer: I hear many that are astonished to learn that we venerate the True Cross. Father, what do you have to say?.

   Elder Cleopa: The True Cross was the altar upon which was offered the true sacrifice on behalf of man for all ages. Jesus was the Offering and the Offerer, the Sacrifice and the High Priest Who administered the sacrifice, granting us our salvation. Holy Scripture testifies to this: "But Christ, being a High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is to say, not of this building), neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal re­demption for us. For if sprinkling the unclean with the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your con­science from dead works to serve the living God?".

Les Psaumes et le Christ selon la tradition de l'Eglise.

   Le Psautier est le résumé, le condensé, de toute l'Ecriture. La tradition juive et la tradition chrétienne en ont eu vivement conscience. On conçoit aisément que les interprètes chrétiens y aient retrouvé, autant et plus que dans tous les autres livres inspirés, les mystères du Christ, de l'Eglise et de ses sacrements, les souffrances et les résurrections spirituelles du chrétien, et l'annonce de la fin des temps. Avant même d'en faire le manuel fondamental de sa prière, l'Eglise a lu les Psaumes dans ses assemblées liturgiques comme des prophéties. Saint Athanase, dans sa Lettre à Marcellin: qui est l'une des meilleures introductions à la lecture chrétienne des Psaumes, a établi une liste (non exhaustive) des passages les plus classiques où la tradition a vu des témoignages du mystère du Christ.

The Miracle of Our Lady of the Living Spring in Her monastery in Loggovarda.

   Here below is an account of one of the miracles that Our Lady of the Living Spring had performed in her monastery in Loggovarda through her servant the abbot of the monastery Elder Philotheous*.

   On May 14 1944, an English submarine bad docked at an inlet behind the city of “Livadi” and some soldiers debarked and went up to the village of “Tsibido” where they captured 7 German soldiers while the Germans slept, killing 2 Germans and wounding the airport commissioner, Lieutenant Tabe, and 2 wires were found cut. In the morning, the Ger­mans captured a youth named “N. Stellas” at the airport, and suspecting him to be an accomplice; they hung him from a pole on a high place so that his corpse could be seen from all the neighboring villages to frighten them. The army commissioner, “Grafonbereyberg”, demanded that the presidents of the committees of Paros and Antiparos hand over one hundred and twenty five youths to him by an appointed day for execution.

The Resurrection and the Cross.

Metropolitan Anthony Bloom.

   We must at no moment forget that the end of our journey is our meeting with the Risen Christ. Some people, whilst admitting the importance of the Resurrection in the experience of the Apostles, wonder how this apostolic experience can have the same central significance for us. But is it enough for us simply to believe in the words of others and to found our faith on something totally unverifiable?. Of all the historic events in the world, the Resurrection of the Lord belongs equally to past history and to present reality. Christ dead on the Cross on one particular day, Christ risen from the tomb in His glorified human flesh on one particular day belongs to the past as an historic fact; but Christ, once risen, living forever in the glory of the Father belongs to the history of each day and each instant, because living, according to his promise, he is with us, now and always.

The importance of praying for the dead.

   How important commemoration at the Liturgy is may be seen in the following occurrence: Before the uncovering of the relics of St. Theodosius of Chernigov (1896), the priest-monk (the renowned Starets Alexis of Goloseyevsky Hermitage, of the Kiev-Caves Lara, who died in 1916) who was conducting the re-testing of the relics, becoming weary while sitting by the relics, dozed off and saw before him the Saint, who told him: "I thank you for laboring for me. I beg you also, when you will serve the Liturgy, to commemorate my parents" - and he gave their names (Priest Nikita and Maria). ''How can you, O Saint, ask my prayers, when you yourself stand at the heavenly Throne and grant to people God’s mercy?", the priest-monk asked. "Yes, that is true", replied St. Theodosius, "but the offering at the Liturgy is more powerful than my prayer."

Father Elias... The Monk and Teacher of Antiochian Monasticism...

The Prince of peace is born!.

He Who made the ages, and existed before the ages,
and in profound silence created
the heavenly Powers of the holy angels.

   Christ is born to save everyone. Therefore, rejoice and exult with the angels and shepherds and all of creation, beloved children of Jesus.

   First of all, like the Magi, I bring you the splendid news that our sweet Jesus is born, and all creation exults and is fragrant, for it sees its Creator held in the Virgin's arms. The angels rejoice together with it and chant melodically, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!". For God, the Prince of peace, is born - He Who made the ages, and existed before the ages, and in profound silence created the heavenly Powers of the holy angels. He is held today in the arms of His sweetest Mother. He is fed with milk and warmed in her bosom in order to save us all.

The Forty Liturgies.

Elder Daniel of Katounakia

   Elder Daniel recounted this story about Demetrius and his son George:

   "As soon as I arrived (in Smyrna), I considered it my inviolable duty to first of all visit George, the son of the ever­ memorable Demetrius." (Demetrius was a simple Christian, but his great virtue and piety had furnished him with wisdom "from on high," so that he became famous for his good counsels and admonitions. His wisdom and instructions had strengthened many souls, including Elder Daniel in his younger years.) "I questioned him minutely about the death of his father (Demetrius), of whose repose I had heard from many people”.

   In response to the wish of the monk from Katounakia, George described in detail the repose of his virtuous father, accompanying every point in the narrative with tears. One event was so remarkable that we must record it.

Concerning Trials

   

They are Blessings

   Events which now seem like misfortunes, later on, prove to be God's blessings.

   

Trial and Reward

   Let us not reconcile the unreconcilable to avoid the cross and to secure our ease. Let us not seek little pillows on which to rest our guilty conscience. Because then, God will allow us both to suffer harsh trials and also not have a reward in heaven.

The Purpose of Afflictions

   If afflictions did not exist, we would not seek Paradise.

Just Like Operations!.

   We should accept afflictions just as we accept the hardship of a surgical operation in order to secure our health. Pain humbles man. And the more he is humbled, the more he approaches God.