Terry Mattingly
But something unusual happened recently during the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). An official “ecumenical advisory delegate” -- Father Siarhei Hardun of the Orthodox Church of Belarus -- used his moment at the podium to deliver a message that was courteous and stunning at the same time, if not genuinely offensive to many in the audience.
I would like to note that one of the leitmotifs of the Patriarch’s stay in the Ukraine was the theme of overcoming the schism. As is known, the schism has existed in the Ukraine for some fifteen years now. It is a persistent wound on the body of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and His Holiness, in his addresses to various audiences, repeatedly spoke of the destructiveness of the schism, and the need to overcome it as soon as possible. At its session on July 26 in Kiev, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted an Appeal to the Orthodox Christians in the Ukraine who are in the schism, calling them to return to the canonical Church.
One can tell that the people, the Ukrainian society are entering a period of stability. Actually, something similar happened Russian society also at the turn of the [21st] century. There are many commonalities in the post-Soviet development of many countries on the vast Eurasian land, the former Soviet Union.
Alexei Ilyich Osipov
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
Free will is such an important quality that, when it is lost, the personality becomes completely degraded. But as long as self-awareness is preserved, no one can take authority over this freedom—not another man, nor society, nor laws, nor any regime, nor demons, nor angels, nor even God Himself. Saint Macarius of Egypt (fourth century) said: "You are created in the image and likeness of God; therefore just as God is free and creates what He wants … so are you free. Therefore, our nature is well capable of accepting both good and evil; both God’s grace, and the enemy’s powers. But it cannot be forced."
Vasily Pisarevsky
Rating: 10|Votes: 4
And suddenly I found myself on that very spot, that legendary place, and I was awestruck, how many people are streaming in to venerate the spiritual wellsprings of Orthodoxy. Here indeed there is an unusual atmosphere of peace and spirituality, especially for someone from New York, with its hellish rhythms. This is especially sensed on the island of Anzer, where, according to tradition, elders who were experienced in piety settled to devote themselves to prayerful podvig in the remote peacefulness.