12/1/2011
John Sanidopoulos
Rating: 7,9|Votes: 14
It has been generally believed that the book was written by an anonymous author. Various writers have been identified with its authorship, among them being Saint Theophan the Recluse or Saint Ambrose of Optina. Paisii Fedorov, abbot of Saint Michael the Archangel Monastery of Cheremis in Kazan, first published the book in 1881, and in this edition there is no indication as to who the author is.
On the Cross the Lord Jesus sat upon His Throne as what Pilate perceived to be the King of the Jews, but being rejected by the Jews, He in fact sat as the King of Glory, for His kingdom was not of this world.
John Sanidopoulos, Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Rating: 6,3|Votes: 20
I want to say that without people of the Old Calendar knowing, although it is the Orthodox and most correct calendar and most blessed, however, because over time people were not catechized well in things and the truth, when they were returning to the Old Calendar because they said the calendar should be kept with exactitude, and as a rebuke to the Church of Greece, they arrived at the point where they made it a dogmatic and ecclesiastical offense. So when they heard it was a dogmatic error in the Church, they shrunk back and began to look at the matter differently. But it is not a dogmatic issue, but an ecclesiastical matter that simply deals with the calendar.
Rating: 6,2|Votes: 33
Many Christians are inclined to interpret the story of Jonah in the Old Testament as an allegory that was never meant to be understood as actual history. However, allegories or parables in the Bible are always either said to be so, or made evident in the context. The Book of Jonah, however, is written as a historical tale with a historical prophet mentioned in II Kings 14:25 and confirmed to have existed by Jesus Christ in Matthew 12:40-41. Christ here compares the experience of Jonah to His own approaching death and resurrection.
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
The ancient martyrology of the Church of Rome marks February 14th as the remembrance of "the martyr Valentine, presbyter of Rome" (Valentinus means "vigorous" in Latin).
Rating: 8,3|Votes: 6
The notorious criminal Kostas Passaris, the man who was described as "the beast of the Balkans" and since 2001 is held in the maximum security prison Gkerlas in Romania, appears to regret his sinful past.
Rating: 8,1|Votes: 8
A prisoner, Anthony Papadatos, representing the sixth ward of prisoners in the prison of Korydallos, wrote a letter in which they express their gratitude to the Elder Ephraim and thanked God that He brought him near them!
John Sandinopoulos
Rating: 10|Votes: 16
The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved on October 4th the canonization of Eldress Sophia, the holy ascetic of Panagia Kleisoura Monastery which is dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos. The official Act of Canonization by the Ecumenical Patriarchate is still awaited.
