The Catalog of Good Deeds

A conversation with Archimandrite Alexii (Mandziris), the igumen of Xenophon Monastery, with the sisters of St. Elisabeth Convent.

I thank Metropolitan Porphyrius because he provided us as the visitors from Xenophon Monastery, where I ministry as a father superior for more than forty years, with the opportunity to meet with you.

I do not feel that I have achieved something or that I am worthy something, or that I mean something. The Lord has graced me by calling me to the monastic way of life. I feel that all of us, who are sitting here today, are honored by the Lord for He has chosen us among other people in this world and brought us to these holy monasteries.

While vising your convent I felt that it is the heart of this city and this country. Just like the heart pumps blood to the body and keeps the whole organism alive, this convent circulates spiritual blood to this city and to the whole country. Your prayers, the Divine Liturgy served here, and your holy ministry is this spiritual blood.

We are favored by God, because he gives us an opportunity to follow such high ideals. Every monk prays not only for his own salvation, but also for the salvation of his neighbors. As Saint Isaac the Syrian said, “Although the monk has rejected everything, at the same time he makes up one thing with everything.” So when the apostles asked Christ: “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” And He replied: “Assuredly I say to you, that you shall receive a hundredfold, and shall be with me in the Heavenly kingdom forever” (Matthew 19:27-29).

This is the purpose of our life and what we are striving for. This is why, my dear children, I am so delighted with you and so glad that you desire to say, “Lord, let it all be as You wish” and follow Him. And I am especially glad because I have found that you have a spiritual father, a leader. You do not follow this path blindly, but you have a person who leads you by hand and guides you. It is so important to have a spiritual father! We should not think about our own will and do what we want to do. We should obey because it is what our spiritual life is based on. A monk who does not obey is like a bird without the wings – the wind blows and throws it from side to side. The same is with the monk, for he cannot do anything without obedience.

I think that the greatest gift which you can get from the Lord is to have a spiritual father and a mother superior whom you also should obey because she is in charge of you all. The Lord showed us the example of obedience when He obeyed His father. Christ said. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). We come to monastery and become monks not to do our own will, but the will of God, which we hear through the spiritual father and mother superior. The one who is listening to his own thoughts is listening to temptations, which will seize him then. At the same time, the one who obeys is listening to God.

Remember Apostle Paul. When Christ appeared to him and revealed the mysteries of the Heavenly Kingdom, He said: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And Paul asked: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:4-6). You see, Christ did not tell him what he should do but sent him to Ananias: “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” The Lord could tell him everything himself, but He humbled Paul in such a way so that the Apostle could grow in his humility. The same concerns the monk, my dear children, for through obedience he receives blessing. This is why our main goal if to obey relentlessly.

When Elder Ephraim of Katounaki came to our monastery in 1974, we asked him (I was young back then): “Heronda, what should we do for salvation?” The answer of the wise elder was the following: “Reject your own will and obey”. “And what else?” – we asked. He said: “Obedience”. One of us said then: “Heronda, you said nothing about prayer, fasting, ascetics and other feats”. The elder replied: “Obey and thus all the rest will come with that.”

It is said in the Scripture, “The Lord hates your prayers and your fasts.” Why? Because there is no love, no humilty and patience in us. Because we do not forgive and there is no understanding between us. Then the Lord will say, “What should I do with your prayers if your hearts are full of dirt? There is no Holy Spirit in them, which you get through with humility”. This is why we can put an equal sign between obedience and humility.

My dear children, as I have an opportunity to stand here in front of you and have a 60-years-long experience of the monastic life, I would like to share with you the words of Fr. Ephraim: the foundation of the monastic life is humbleness of mind and obedience. I do not want you to feel yourself abused inferior in your place. It is a great honor and blessing that you have become nuns. We will be saved if we strive for it, and we will help others to reach their salvation.

I have a lot to say to you, but I do not want to tire you out. I believe, I have mentioned the main things I wanted to say. I pray that we never forget about the calling entrusted to us by the Lord. May the Lord be always with you and may the Mother of God bless your work.

June 21, 2017

St. Elisabeth Convent

What follows is directions on how to set up a private commemoration book for use in one's private prayers (for commemorations at the liturgy, one should either use the slips provided at the candle counter in their parish, or use a book designed for that purpose). I make no claims to this being the way to organize private commemorations, but it is the way I was shown when still a relatively new convert, and it may be of help to others.

First off, one should either use spiral notebook (probably best to use a smaller size than 8 1/2 by 11) or one of those blank books that usually can be found in most bookstores.

At the top of each section, put:

Below the cross, each section begins with a prayer, and then you list those in that category that you wish to pray for. Leave a healthy amount of blank pages between each section for additions.

1) For the Orthodox living:

For the first section, on the first line beneath the Cross, write the prayer: "Grant, O Lord, health and salvation to Thy servants..." And then list your family members, your Heirarchs, those in your parish, your God-children (if you have any), people who have requested prayers, and then any other Orthodox people you wish to pray for.

2) For the Orthodox Reposed:

Begin with the prayer, "Grant, O Lord, repose with the Saints to Thy servants..."

3) For the Catechumens:

Begin with the prayer, "Grant, O Lord, that Thy holy will be done with thy servants..."

4) For the Non-Orthodox living:

Begin with the prayer, "Grant, O Lord, that thy servants will be illumined with the light of the Orthodox Faith, and numbered with Thy one, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church..."

5) For the Non-Orthodox reposed:

Begin with the prayer, "Have mercy, O Lord, if it be possible on the souls of Thy departed servants (names), who have departed into eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church: unsearchable are Thy decrees. Do not account this, my prayer as a sin, but may Thy holy will be done."

For awhile I wondered what the origin of this prayer was, but found out when I read The Soul After Death by Father Seraphim Rose. It was the response of a Russian Saint (if I recall correctly it was either the New Martyr Metropolitan Joseph or the New Martyr Metropolitan Benjamin) to the question of how one should pray for a non-Orthodox loved one who has reposed.

This prayer is from St. Lev (Leo) of Optina (1768-1841), who is perhaps more commonly known as Elder Leonid of Optina. He was baptized Lev, became Leonid as a monk, and became Lev again as a schemamonk. He is commemorated on Oct. 11/24, the anniversary of his repose and the day after the commemoration of the Elders of Optina (Oct. 10/23).

The English-speaking world knows him best from the biography by Fr. Clement Sederholm translated into English and published by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (1990), Elder Leonid of Optina.

The publishing house of the Optina Monastery published in 1994 in Russian Life of the Optina Elder Hieromonk Leonid (in schema Lev), a reprint of a 1917 edition, also from Optina. I got my copy of this by mail from Jordanville.

The prayer is from St. Leo's consolation of his young disciple Pavel Petrovich Tambovtsev, who was in despair over the suicide of his father and seems to have died from the effects of this depression soon after, at age twenty-six. He had seen this suffering-to-come in a dream of his own crucifixion.

The prayer is given in the Platina edition on p. 196: "Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father, if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."

That first sentence is an example of the importance of proper punctuation, as the Russian original shows that it needs a semi-colon after "possible" for the importantly correct meaning. So it should be:

"Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father; if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."

In the 1994 Russian reprint of the Life from Optina, there is a footnote that Hieroschemamonk Amvrosy in his time suggested this prayer to those Orthodox who asked him whether and how it was possible to pray for reposed Catholics and Protestants who had been close to them.

And of course the version you have reprinted is an appropriate adaptation.

That concludes the format I was taught, but I have added two things to the back of my commemoration book:

1) From the Old Rite Prayer Book under the heading, "To pray for someone more diligently":

"Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Thy servant(s)________ [bow], Deliver him (her, them) from every tribulation, wrath and need [bow], From every sickness of soul and body [bow], Forgive him (her, them) every transgression, voluntary and involuntary [bow], And do whatever is profitable for our souls [bow]."

If you wish to pray more diligently for someone who is departed, say this Troparion:

"Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul(s) of Thy departed servant(s) (name(s)). [bow] Forgive and have mercy on him (her, them), for whatever sins he (she) hath (or: they have) humanly committed, as Thou art a God who loveth mankind. [bow] And deliver him (her, them) from eternal torment. [bow] Make him (her, them) a sharer(s) of the Kingdom of heaven. [bow] And do whatever is profitable for our souls. [bow]"

2) From Fr. Anthony Nelson's Moleben for the victims of abortion. It is adapted for private prayers from the additions to the Great Ektenia:

"Grant, O Lord, mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for those who strive against the evil of abortion and pardon and remission of their sins. [bow] Have mercy on Thy servants who strive to save the lives of thine innocent children. Fulfill their saving petitions and forgive all their transgressions, whether voluntary or involuntary. Protect them from every visible and invisible enemy; deliver them from all misery, sickness, and affliction; and grant them health and length of days. [bow]

"Have mercy on all those who have fallen into the hands of the Godless civil authority for the sake of Thy Children, and who languish in courts and prisons; look upon them with compassion; comfort, strengthen, and preserve them, deliver them speedily from bondage and oppression. [bow]

"By thine infinite power, O Lord, move to compassion and mercy the hearts of those who hold Thy servants in cruel captivity; restrain them from doing harm or permitting evil to befall Thy servants but rather cause them to relent and to release them; free the captives whole and unharmed, O Lord, and bestow Thy mercy upon them.

"By thy great mercy, O Lord our God, bring to repentance those who contemplate killing their children and those who would aid them in doing so; revive the natural feelings of these mothers and fathers for their children; and prevent them committing this great sin against innocent blood. Render not unto them according to their deeds, but by Thy great mercy convert them, and unite them to Thy Church. [bow]

"Have mercy, O God, on Thy children condemned to death by the unjust judgement of men. Soften the hearts of those that seek their violent destruction and rescue them that are being led forth to the slaughter. [bow]

"Thy vile enemies, O Lord, have annihilated Thy children and persecuted those that would speak out against their murderous deeds. Look down from heaven, therefore, and behold, and forsake us not up utterly, but quickly cleanse this land and the whole world of the wickedness of those that oppose thee, O God, who art mighty in strength and wondrous in wisdom." [bow]

Deacon [now Father] John Whiteford

Source: http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/commemoration.aspx

When contemplating Rublev’s Icon of the Holy Trinity, it is almost inevitable that some will ask: Who’s Who? Though the Three Angels are similar in appearance, their clothing is distinctive, and so certain minds will naturally seek to read meaning into their colours and Who they represent.

Whether the question is even appropriate is a matter of debate, though the very human need to cross every “t” and dot every “i” means that it is certainly not a modern one: answers do exist.

Early icons from the first millennium did on occasion identify Christ among the Trinity at least. An example from the early 5th century is of a mosaic from the Saint Maria Maggiore in Rome. In it, Abraham greets the Three on bended knee; the central of the Three men is cloaked in a mandorla, with his hand raised in a blessing – identifying Him with Jesus Christ, the Son. Identifying the pre-Incarnate Christ among the Three Angels, but not identifying the other Two, crops up in isolated Icons for centuries afterwards. The most usual way of identifying Christ would be to give the central Angel seated around the table a special “I AM” cross-halo, which is only associated with Jesus Christ.

However, this practice was condemned by the Stoglav Council (Стоглавый Собор) of 1551. The Council also recommended that the Icon not explicitly name any of the Angels, but instead carry the inscription Svyataya Troitsa (Святая Троица), i.e.: “Holy Trinity”. This practice spread out from the Russian Church and is now generally followed by all Orthodox Iconographers.

Despite the ruling of the Council, attempts have been made to identify the Three Angels of the Holy Trinity, even those depicted on the beautifully simple Icon by Rublev. The most common explanation is so widespread that it is worth describing here:

To the left is the Father, Who is seated beneath Abraham’s “tent” as described in the Genesis account; yet in the Icon the tent is shown as a magnificent castle: the open-doored House of the Father, the goal of our journey. He is shown clothed in garments which seem to shimmer, reflecting the Heavenly Glory.

To the right is the Holy Spirit, clothed in green and blue hues: the colours of the Earth. These are also the colours of the Holy Spirit, as He “…is everywhere present and fills all things…” according to the Orthodox prayer. In addition, Orthodox churches are decorated in greenery at the feast of Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles), and worshipers wear green. The Holy Spirit is seated beneath a mountain, which represents the spiritual ascent all believers must experience.

And so in the center is seated the Son, or Word of God. His clothes are the typical bright red cloaked in blue, often seen on Icons of Jesus Christ, representing the Divine (red) and human (blue) natures. Over his right shoulder there is a band of gold; as Isaiah prophesied: the Government shall be upon his shoulder. Towering above Him is the oak of Mamre, yet within this icon is revealed as a foreshadowing of the Cross, or tree, from which Jesus would be hung.

With this in mind, we can see that what the Icon shows us is not the three individuals of the Holy Trinity, but the relationship between Them. Of the Three, the Father on the left of the picture is the only figure to be unbowed, displaying a fatherly authority over the other Two. The Holy Spirit and the Son together bow to the Father, so that we can clearly see the Father to be the fountainhead of the other Two: from the Father comes both the Word (the Son) and the Breath (Spirit) of God. Contrary to the formulations of heretical theologians, the Holy Spirit does not bow before the Son, nor is He depicted as the love which flows between the Father and Son, but as a person in His own right, in a relationship with the other Two. The Son of God is shown as though in conversation with the Father, which is what is revealed to us in the Gospels, where Jesus frequently prays to the Heavenly Father. Despite the authority of the Father, all Members of the Holy Trinity are shown equal in size, and the reverence of the Son and Spirit to the Father appears voluntary; it is done out of love, not fear.

Yet we must be careful to separate what is revealed to us by God, and is therefore salvific, from that which is formulated by arrogant “over-philosophizing” and can therefore lead us off in dangerous directions. We can look upon the Icon of the Holy Trinity and contemplate the relationship of the Father with the Son and the Holy Spirit, yet we must not try to concentrate too much on the Three figures as separate beings.

The canons of the Stoglav Council are therefore useful in that they encourage us to look at the Icon in the most beneficial way. We are not invited to look at “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” – three individuals – but instead the Holy Trinity: a Tri-Unity toward Whom our prayers are directed.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

Lord, cleanse us from our sins.

Master, pardon our iniquities.

Holy God, visit and heal us.

For Thy Name’s sake.

Source: https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/whos-who-in-the-trinity-icon/

How well do we know who priests are and what do we know about their ministry? Where did it originate from, has it become obsolete? Who can become a servant of God? Finally, do we really need a mediator between God and people like this, if Christ Himself became such a mediator 2000 years ago?

We chose ten questions about the priesthood, which are often asked by non-believers or those who have doubts. Questions which not every faithful Christian can answer. Fr. Sergius Pravdolubov, a holder of a masters degree in theology, the professor of The Moscow Theological Academy and the rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Troitsa-Golenistchevo village, will answer these questions.

1. Who was the first Orthodox priest?

It is unknown. However, the Book of Acts mentions the “church presbyters” in Ephesus, who were not bishops like Timothy, the disciple of Apostle Paul. In the first centuries of Christianity, there were also chorepiscopus or “country bishops”. Country bishops and presbyters differed slightly.

2. What is “a priest after the order of Melchizedek”, and why does this excerpt refer to Christ? Who is Melchizedek?

Melchizedek was “the king of Salim” and was also a priest (Genesis 14:18, Psalms 110:4). His origin is absolutely unknown and unclear. Salim is often considered to be Jerusalem. But it can also be interpreted as an unlocalized region which has unclear and probably Heavenly, origin. This symbolic obscurity of the place and origin is used in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who embodies God, the King and the Priest in one Person.

3. Why do we need priests?

Do we need any mediator between God and the people after the coming of Christ, if He is a Mediator Himself? This is what the Protestants proclaim and continue to protest against the institute of priesthood for both the Orthodox and Catholic Christians. However, they forget one thing: Christ could solve this issue and cancel resolutely this “cult of priests”. He could pass everything to simple people and the heads of the families all over the world. Nevertheless, Christ blessed to remain this ministry, without which Christianity would soon exhaust and fade. God knows better the reasons why we need priests and the Church with the Holy Sacraments.

4. If Christ calls the faithful people part of the “royal priesthood”, then why are only special people allowed to celebrate The Holy Sacraments?

In the words of Holy Martyr Pavel Florensky, this is the argument of the “protesting priests”.

If someone is in danger of dying such as a new born who can die in the hospital then any Orthodox Christian can baptize that person. In this case the short version of Baptism is performed, with water being poured over the child three times while the required prayers are read. The Sacrament of Baptism has taken place.

Only after the child has recovered, a priest will anoint the child with the Holy Chrism in church. According to the life stories of saints, up until the 10^th century a layman with a blessing of the priest could take the Holy Communion from only in case of emergency, and he give the Communion to another person. However, the Church, in which the Holy Spirit lives, took a decision to stop this practice and to forbid it in the next millennium.

5. What is the origin of the Sacrament of Holy Orders (Ordination)?

It originated from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His Apostles. Apostle Paul asked his disciple Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6). If this practice did not fully correspond the words of Christ, then Apostle Paul and other Apostles would have certainly rejected and forbidden it. The early Christians did not leave any written commentaries on the issue, as it was clear for them. While our goal is to preserve this Apostolic and Holy Tradition.

6. Why are priests allowed to forgive our sins? Who give them this right? It is the right that belongs to God alone.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave this right to the Apostles. This event is clearly mentioned in the Holy Gospel: “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:22-23) Bishops were ordained through the laying on of the apostles’ hands and received this right and those in turn thought ordination passed down this right to priests. Everything is very clear and simple.

7. How do people become priests? Who can become a priest?

Any person, who is “the husband of one wife”, who is kind and passionate by nature, who has necessary education and has gone through the practice of prayerful and ascetic life, can become a priest.

8. Do priests make any vows? Or do they have any specific prayer rule or restrictions?

A man of the age of 30 can become a priest (according to the canonical rules). At the age of 25, one can become a deacon. Exceptions are possible (for example, Bishop Timothy, the disciple of Apostle Paul), but only exceptions – not the rules. A priest must be the husband of one wife in the full sense of these words. A young man who is going to become a priest is not allowed to have carnal relations with a woman. It is a vital rule that is quite difficult to fulfill, but it is very essential. It is not obsolete, so we need to follow it and to explain children that otherwise it will be impossible to become a priest since their childhood. This is how our grandfathers and fathers taught us. And this is how I taught my own children. In my opinion, we must be firm in this question until the very death, just like in our faith – until martyrdom.

The same concerns the issue of the second marriage. It is forbidden. Either you serve as a priest, or leave this ministry if you are going to get married for the second time. This is the source of sorrows for the clergy, but we cannot reject this principle. Otherwise, the Church will fall with the course of time, and we ourselves will be blame for that.

Priests do have a prayer rule, just like laypeople do have one: you need to read the morning and evening prayers. Before every liturgy, you have to read the Prayers before the Holy Communion adding certain specific prayers for priests.

9. Is it true that for an Orthodox Christian layperson the word of the priest is the law? What does it mean to have “have despised the word of a Priest”? What is the extent of the priests influence?

Unfortunately, not all lay person and not all priests realize the fearsome power of the weapon that is the word. Although from personal practice it is known how dangerous and scary it can be. Despised would mean to stamp on. This is something that should not be done. If you are not ready to do as the priest says then do not ask since no one has taken away your freedom to do as you wish. But if you did ask then listen. This is the concept is more appropriate in relation elders. Saint Seraphim (Romanstov † 1976) would tell my elderly father: “Please, dear priests, try not to be too specific and force someone to do something but instead quote a saint or a recommendation of another priest. Because if you end up being to specific and demand too much and the person you tell it to does not obey then he will face difficulties, hardships and it will not be to his benefit. Hold yourself back from commanding other». These are very wise and very practical words.

Most priest do not realize the extent of their power. Saint John Chrysostom best describes this in his words about priesthood and Saint Siluan the Athonite mentions the same topic.

10. Who is a spiritual father and how does one become one?

A priest can become someone’s spiritual father by default and because a person goes to certain church. The church that a person goes to and the priest that he confesses to can become his spiritual father. If a person is still searching for one then prayer would be the answer. God will send you the right spiritual father whom a person can understand, more responsive and someone who leads by Christ’s example. In Ancient times, the elder and wise priests were chose to be spiritual fathers. Here in Moscow we have two spiritual fathers for all of the clergy. As priests were also need to confess on a regular basis. A spiritual father is not required to be an elder or a saint. It is only required for him to be humble and simple, without being prideful over his parishioners, one who prays and fasts. Overall it should a regular and simple priest and thank God that we still have plenty of such priests.

Translated from: http://foma.ru/10-voprosov-o-svyashhenstve-i-svyashhennikax.html

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