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Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Current Events, Media, Perspective

Bush, Rice, Woe to you Cyprus!

No sooner than my lobbing a few truths at the fallacy of Turkey then we read that our illustrious Secretary of State is there, hat in hand, and ready to sell out Cyprus for the price of Turkey’s support on an Iranian war.

From ANA:

The Communist Party further said that “the representative of the U.S. placed the victimiser and the victim in the same sack, Turkey and Cyprus, since she called on Cyprus to proceed with measures which will facilitate ‘northern Cyprus'” and pointed out that “it is obvious that the people of Cyprus cannot be optimistic about the ‘solution’ being prepared on the issue of Cyprus.”

You read it here first (oh well, second or third). The communists are stepping up to state the obvious. Turkey invaded Cyprus illegally, has persecuted Greek and other Christians in its walled enclave, and refuses to get out (mosques and all).

From the Turkish press —“ Zaman Daily: Rice Backs Turkey’s Entry to EU

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she believes Turkey should enter the European Union (EU).

During her visit to Athens, Rice met with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni earlier today.

Following her meeting, Rice informed that she and her team spoke with both Turkey and the European Union, and they encouraged Turkey’s accession to the Union.

“Turkey is a European county,— she added, and —it should carry a European character. I believe Turkey should enter the European Union.”

That’s right, our —Christian— President and his administration!

Perhaps a reflection from Isaiah 5:20-23 would be helpful:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;
who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!

Thank God for the Greeks who are far less likely to capitulate to the horde.

[dels]blogs4god/pundits[/dels]

PNCC

Our Prime Bishop’s 40th Anniversary

Fr. Andrew and I traveled down to Scranton, PA yesterday for the High Holy Mass in honor of the 40th anniversary of our Prime Bishop’s ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

It was a little rainy on the trip down, at least until we reached the Pennsylvania border. By the time we reached Scranton the sun was shinning. It was a magnificent day.

I absolutely loved the Holy Mass. The cathedral was packed of course. There were four bishops present, including the Prime Bishop. There were about 40 or more clergy for the celebration including the Very Reverend Fathers, Priests, deacons, subdeacons, and clerics, all dressed in choir.

You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful liturgy. The traditional liturgy performed by the Prime Bishop is absolutely stunning. I hope I am blessed to be taught by him someday.

The Prime Bishop does everything with great reverence and dignity. Every action, every gesture conveys meaning. No gesture, no word, is forced or uncomfortable. The liturgy is performed gracefully by a man of faith. It is the Holy Mass offered by Christ through His ministers as it should be.

Prime Bishop Nemkovich is truly a kind, generous, holy, and down-to-earth man. May our Lord Jesus Christ continue to reward him and grant him many more years of service in God’s field.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the great High Priest who calls chosen souls to offer Your body and blood in sacrifice and to assist You in saving souls, I beg You to grant our Prime Bishop health and every good grace so that he may continue to serve You at Your altar and bring Your faithful people to You. Amen.

Sto Lat Prime Bishop Nemkovich!

[dels]blogs4god/church, blogs4god/polity[/dels]

Saints and Martyrs

On suffering for the sake of Christ among the Turks

An excerpt from The Suffering of the Martyred Monk James of Kastoria and his two disciples, Hierodeacon James and the Monk Dionysius:

In order to find a plausible reason to kill the innocent sufferers, for he was ashamed to slay him without just cause, the sultan sent one of his pashas to ask the saint what his opinion was of Christ and of Mohammed. When the pasha put this question to the venerable one, the latter replied with firmness that our Christ is perfect God and perfect Man, and then explained to him the mystery of the Incarnation and the entire economy of God’s salvation and His Providence concerning man. “But what thinkest thou of our prophet?” the pasha asked the holy one. “Your Mohammed is not a prophet, but a charlatan and a liar, the enemy of Christ our God and of our Faith. No one man hath so angered God as Mohammed, and whosoever putteth his trust in him and holdeth him to be a prophet shall be damned.” The pasha conveyed all of this to the sultan, who was furious. Then did he send a company of his Janissaries to the prison, promising them his favor if they would but persuade the venerable one to deny Christ, employing whatsoever means they saw fit. And they going, sought earnestly with every machination to bring the saints to their religion. But the saints, all three together, cried out with one voice, “God forbid that we should ever renounce our Lord Jesus Christ, even if you torture us with ten thousand torments.” They, hearing this, reported it to the sultan.

Current Events

Golgotha of 1915

My thoughts and prayers are with all my Armenian friends and all Armenians throughout the world on this 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

April 24, 1915, marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide – a crime against humanity that led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923. The 500,000 Armenians who survived the horrors of this extermination by the Turks were expelled from their homes and forced to settle in various countries throughout the world.

To this day the Turks refuse to acknowledge the evils their nation committed. To this day Turks, while loudly proclaiming their ‘democratic’ values, persecute Christians.

The Turkish government turns a blind eye to Islamic hegemony in Turkey and Cyprus. Local Turkish communities persecute Christians, churches and monasteries are forcibly co-opted as mosques, clergy are beaten, killed, or must live behind locked doors. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is subject to Turkish rules, has had its property taken, and cannot freely exercise the only true faith.

The democracy of Turkey is a faí§ade covering for the dhimmitude of Christians.

May God save us from the Hagarenes.

[dels]blogs4god/pundits[/dels]

Saints and Martyrs

April 24 – St. George (Św. Jerzy)

Św. Jerzy, dzielny wyznawco Chrystusa, uproś nam u Boga tę łaskę, abyśmy w wierze św. utwierdzeni, nie zachwiali się w niej, miotani tysiącem pokus, zmęczeni zawodami i cierpieniami, ale abyśmy zwyciężyli wszystkie przeszkody jawne i skryte, stojące nam na drodze do zbawienia. Amen.

Everything Else

Хрiстосъ Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!

Pascha

The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom (Read Each Year at Pascha)

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, “You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

Homilies

Second Sunday of Easter

Poor Thomas —“ always the subject of today’s homily.

We subconsciously shake our heads and say, how could he not have faith in the Lord? Didn’t he trust his fellow Apostles?

But it wasn’t about faith nor was it about trusting his colleagues; rather, it was about belief.

Belief is more than faith. Belief is factual. Belief is the solid rock Jesus required His followers to stand on.

Sure, Thomas probably had faith, he probably had hope, and he probably trusted his friends, but what he lacked was belief. Belief is the surety. Belief is the absolute knowledge that something is true.

So Jesus said:

—Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.—

That is what we are called to do. To have absolute confidence that our Lord, Jesus Christ is God, was born, taught, suffered, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and established His Church.

My brothers and sisters,

You are called to be a know-it-all on this subject. You are called to arm yourself with the knowledge of Christ and a firm belief in His reality. You are called to believe even if it makes no sense. You are called to proclaim your belief even though it may be uncomfortable.

There are plenty of people in this world who hate a know-it-all. They especially hate people of faith, people who truly believe in the Lord, and proclaim that belief. There are even ministers, priests, and bishops in some Churches who do not believe in the reality of Jesus; they demure on the resurrection, on the Eucharist, and on basic morality. You would be in some pretty good ‘bad company’ if you didn’t believe.

P.T. Forsyth said:

The age, and much of the Church, believes in civilization and is interested in the Gospel, instead of believing in the Gospel and being interested in civilization.

We are called to be believers and to act on our belief, holding to the Gospel. We are blessed with the absolute knowledge of everlasting life, the way to live, the means to be separate from the world, to be in the world but not of it, and the world does not like that.

Jesus told us:

—Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.—

How true.

Now look at the Christian community in Jerusalem:

With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus

They did, and they converted the face of the earth, all because they believed.

John wrote in his letter:

Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The one who believes is victorious.

My friends,

You may be rich or poor, healthy or sick. You may dance though life or carry a heavy cross. Regardless, you must take your simple faith and allow it, through the mercy and grace of God, to be transfigured into true belief.

At the beginning of the Gospel of John we read:

He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

You, my brothers and sisters, are those people. You are those who were born of God in baptism and by the Spirit. You have the power; you have something special, because you believe. Therefore, put aside childish cares and believe.

Christ is risen, alleluia! Go and proclaim it.

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