Saint Paisios of Mount Athos to an Orthodox Christian

From a letter by Saint Paisios of Mount Athos to an Orthodox Christian, written at the Holy Skete of Iveron on 8 May, 1966. Translated from Modern Greek to Russian by Tatiana Samoylenko, and from Russian to English by Aviv Saliou.

... The further I withdraw from the problems of the world, the more I am able to help others in the problems of the world. Because these attempts to help will not be human efforts, but rather, the Lord God Himself will interfere in the world's problems without infringing upon man's free will.

Man has the right to make supplications about his neighbor insofar as we are all brothers in the flesh (from Adam and Eve), and in spirit. Because “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” And: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female...” (Galatians 3:27-28).  What is more, it is our duty to make supplications concerning all of our brothers in the flesh, so that they come to an awareness of the truth, in order for them to become our brothers in spirit as well.

What a holy gift God has given us – to be Orthodox Christians!

Therefore, we will not be able to make excuses, since we have been shown this great mercy, and since the Lord has continually bathed us in the bounty of His Grace, in His Holy Sacraments.

I will not bore you, my brother, with many words. I will just end by asking God to give you His Enlightenment and everything necessary for the salvation of your soul.

Many blessings to your family from Christ and the Mother of God.

With Love in Christ,

Your brother,

Monk Paisios

FATHER DANIEL SISOYEV’S POSTHUMOUS MISSION: THREE STORIES

On November 19, 2009, priest Daniel Sisoyev was killed. He was a missionary, a preacher, and a talented orator, whose word both spoken and written roused people from their spiritual torpor and led them to Christ. Fr. Daniel’s followers speak different languages, live in various countries, and have varying experience in preaching, but they are all united by one thing—they know that it is their duty to spread to as many people as possible the truth of these words: “there is no salvation outside the Church”.

Read more: Three Stories about Fr. Daniel

Russia

     I love Russia, it is my fourth homeland, after America, Guinea and Switzerland... All of which I also love. I fell in love with Russia in the year 2002, having first loved her great authors, poets and composers. And then, having lived, suffered, grown, studied, taught and learned in St. Petersburg for five years, I left the country with a deep sense of affiliation with Russia and Russians. Finally, I married a Russian woman and we are raising a child whose first language and culture is Russian. Through them, I am Russian.

    But most importantly, God's Orthodox Church has found refuge in Russia, and has grown. And as the Church is our True Homeland and eternal calling, a natural patriotism has been forged in me, and many like me, for Russia.

    Nonetheless, one should be careful when making the connection between our earthly home, through which we enter our Heavenly home, and our Eternal Homeland. For the latter supersedes in all respects and beyond our reason, anything earthly, material, political or even human...

    Our earthly homeland, even our Local Church, are but stepping stones, from where we may lift up into Heaven.