The mysteries

[David Naess]

For a baptised catechumen, is Chrismation necessary before the administration of any of the other sacrements?

OR

Is Chrismation only a necessary prerequisite for Communion?

(The two mysteries that I have in mind are Confession and Holy Unction.)

[Andrew]

You must be received into the Church to be able to partake of any of the sacraments of the Church such as Confession and Holy Unction.

[Father David Moser]

For a baptised catechumen,

I'm really confused here. I have never heard of such a thing as a "baptised catechumen" The baptismal rite is joined to the of chrismation so that barring some very strange manipulation of the service (like stopping in the middle) a person is chrismated immediately after baptism.

Perhaps this is a grave misunderstanding caused by the economia of receiving people by chrismation alone when they have experienced an empty and ineffectual "baptism" in some other Christian confession which is later embraced by the Church and filled with grace (usually by the act of Chrismation). In such a case, the person would not be considered "baptised" until after their chrismation accomplished bringing them (and in effect their formerly empty rite of baptism) into the Church.


Chrismation necessary before the administration of any of the other sacrements?


yes.

Fr David

[David Naess]

Howdy Fr. David!

When I talk about a "baptised catechumen" I am talking about a
convert who was baptised in the name of the Trinity (I got the impression
that such a baptism is viewed as "legitimate" due to the fact that it
was done in the name of the Trinity and is documented with a Baptismal
Certificate.) It sounds like the Russian Church may have a different policy
than some of the other jurisdictions when it comes to what constitutes a
"legitimate baptism."

I am talking about myself in particular. When I finish my study, I will be
accepted into the community by the mystery of chrismation. What I
really had in mind when asking the question was extreme circumstances.

A person has made the decision to join the Orthodox Church and is in the
process of taking lessons.

What if extreme, life threatening, circumstances prevent the completion of
the study?

How about a severe illness requiring drastic surgery before the convert is
chrismated?

OR...

Would an "emergency chrismation" take place based on the person's intentions
which would be followed by completion of the lessons after the crisis had passed?

[Father David Moser]

Would an "emergency chrismation" take place based on the person's intentions
which would be followed by completion of the lessons after the crisis had passed?

definitely this option.

Fr David Moser

[David Naess]

definitely this option.

Fr David Moser
Father bless!

Thank you!

[Anna K.]

Hello dear friends!

Now that I've started lessons for cathecumens, my new life in the Church will hopefully, God willing, start sometime next spring.

These few threads lately about Baptism, Chrismation and this one have made me again remember my confusion about these. Every time I read the discussions, I feel strongly that the way to enter the Church would be Baptism of course. But on the other hand there is Obedience. To my priest, who is obedient to our bishop (we are under the EP). My priest will not baptise me, or any other member of the Lutheran church of Finland. I have talked about this with him and this is the way. Also I have understood that here the practise is such that we go to Confession BEFORE Christmation - that is, before being members of the Church. Also Holy Unction is permitted, for cathecumens.

I wish the Fathers would have a word for me and my brothers and sisters here to give us peace of mind, which one is the more important path to follow, the practise of the Church in general (as I hear it to be from your posts here for example) or wholeheartedly be obedient to my parish priest, not thinking at all about this practise being "wrong"?

Do any of you have quotes from the Fathers or the Canons, to give a direction to my heart, about how to direct it's obedience (I myself would have thought to my parish). I know some people go elsewhere to be baptised but - I don't know.

In Christ,
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

My priest will not baptise me, or any other member of the Lutheran church of Finland. I have talked about this with him and this is the way.

A very difficult predicament, Anna. But I'm astonished and shocked that an Orthodox priest cannot /will not baptise a person such as you. Have you been told why?

[Anna K.]

The reason is , if I understood him correctly, that our bishops have given such directions here. I've also heard from friends that it is the general practise to receive lutherans into the Orthodox Church in my country. (We have been baptised in the name of the Trinity by pouring water on our head three times.)

In Christ,
Anna K

[Andreas Moran]

I wonder why the bishops decided that when there is no ban on baptism by the EP.

[Anna K.]

I don't know. But they have, and that means we are to follow that way, doesn't it?

This relationship of obedience and on the other hand "taking the Kingdom of God by force" is unclear to me. Should we do everything we can (go to another country to receive Baptism) or "stay in whichever place we live and not easily leave it"?

Somewhere in my heart I also believe that if God had wanted me to be Baptised, He would have had me be born somewhere where it is the practise... and as Herman said in the Baptism thread, our superiors have their place from God of course. But what a dilemma. Perhaps it will be cleared out with time.

Pray for us.

Please pray for our Church here, I feel we really need your prayers, many things are different here compared to many other Orthodox Churches. For example we have a special permission by the EP to celebrate Easter on the time of the western church, and that makes me sad, and I know I'm not at all the only one. I'm sure many practises stem from our history and have been deemed to be beneficial on the whole for us and the situation of the Orthodox Church as a small minority, but still, please pray.

In Christ,
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

I feel out of my depth here, though I'm disurbed by what you say, Anna. The clergy here will be more helpful than I can be.

[Herman Blaydoe]

There is still obviously a lot of confusion here and clear teaching by our hierarchs would certainly be helpful. But it is my understanding that no heterodox baptism should be considered "valid" or "legitimate" or "correct". When a person comes to join themselves to the True Faith of Orthodoxy, if that person received the proper FORM of baptism prior, it is still not correct or proper or valid or legitimate until it has been corrected (or better, fulfilled) through catechism and Chrismation. That this is possible we have ample testimony, the Good Thief on the cross and the lives of many martyrs who died before they received a "proper" Orthodox baptism (often referred to as "baptism by blood").

These days, with such confusion in the Protestant world, it is probably good to re-examine and be more specific about what constitutes proper form, and a carte blanche policy may be less than edifying for the Church as a whole. The current climate was created, I suspect, in order not to "give offense" to other Churches. I also suspect that the Church simply was not prepared in many cases to deal with "adult" conversions. Older churches have no adult-sized baptismal fonts! These things require decisions, change... Does anyone know or remember the scene in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" with the wading pool? With adults, chrismation is certainly easier and less messy to deal with. We are used to baptising our children naked. This is not so appropriate with older people. What to wear? How do we deal with this? These are decisions that have to be dealt with but are much easier avoided. But new churches are adding adult fonts (or SHOULD be). As we learn to deal, once again, with the concept of adult baptism, I suspect it will become much more common. When in doubt, I do agree it is "better" to baptise, and there is plenty of room for doubt these days. My Metropolitan is pretty straightforward. If there is proof a proper baptism, only chrismation is necessary, but if there is no adequate proof, such as a baptism certificate, then expect to get wet. We have an adult baptismal font, made from a farm water trough, here is what it looks like:

http://www.monachos.net/forum/memberimages/476246706fe70e21f.jpg

And we're not afraid to use it!

[Anna K.]

Thank you Andreas for "listening" and your answers!
I feel relieved having been able to write about this to you all, and feel like someone there knows what I'm talking and worrying about...

Perhaps there is no distinct answer - although I hope there would be, and maybe this is a pastoral question that can not be answered in general by the clergy here.

But our situation can be prayed about.

In Christ
Anna

[Anna K.]

Herman, you posted while I was writing mine, thank you. Our new church also has a Baptismal font for adults. And I know it's been used, but I don't know if the people baptised there were lutheran or not members of any church, maybe the latter.

In Christ,
Anna

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I don't know. But they have, and that means we are to follow that way, doesn't it?

This relationship of obedience and on the other hand "taking the Kingdom of God by force" is unclear to me. Should we do everything we can (go to another country to receive Baptism) or "stay in whichever place we live and not easily leave it"?

Somewhere in my heart I also believe that if God had wanted me to be Baptised, He would have had me be born somewhere where it is the practise... and as Herman said in the Baptism thread, our superiors have their place from God of course. But what a dilemma. Perhaps it will be cleared out with time.

Pray for us.

Please pray for our Church here, I feel we really need your prayers, many things are different here compared to many other Orthodox Churches. For example we have a special permission by the EP to celebrate Easter on the time of the western church, and that makes me sad, and I know I'm not at all the only one. I'm sure many practises stem from our history and have been deemed to be beneficial on the whole for us and the situation of the Orthodox Church as a small minority, but still, please pray.

In Christ,
Anna


Over the centuries the Church has had many ways of receiving people into the Church. What this always comes down to however is the use of discernment according to the circumstance and disposition of the person involved.

Thus for example over the centuries there have been different formulas to explain why a more or less rigourous form was needed to enter the Church: chrismation to 'fill out' an already correct form of baptism; or Baptism by the Church since this form wasn't previously correct.

But still this all comes down to discernment in how the Church receives those who come to it. Specifically this means does this way match the actual condition of the person who comes to enter the Church? This is important because this is actually I think what we are talking about here and what the unease actually boils down to.

Thus in principle we should be at ease in the way we were received into the Church. Yes it was a real sacramental entry; yes we are really Orthodox. The question however is whether we were received correctly and with a correct understanding of how the Church should respond to those who come to Her?

My own belief is that there is more need of Orthodox Baptism these days. The reason for this is because of our own spiritual condition. A hundred years ago or more a Christian was in general far more devoted to Christ than nowadays. Nowadays many Christians who come to the Church are nominal and/or living by standards our Church could never accept. Thus to maintain that Baptism fulfills what came before becomes almost a magical understanding of the sacraments unless what came before really was a deeply Christian life to which the Church can apply its normal economia about this.

In other words in sacramental theology there must be a consistency between how we receive and the person received. If we do this then we are on safe ground. Following some other principle however will leave the person received unsure of themselves. Yes be assured they are Orthodox. However we should not overlook the unease of the person being received if the fullness they desired was purposely denied them.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Andreas Moran]

I found this:


'Converts to our Faith, coming to us from [churches which baptise with a Trinitarian formula] are received into our Church through the Sacrament of Chrismation. They are not received through the Sacrament of Baptism. Any one that receives such a convert through Baptism and not Chrismation [sic!] will be immediately suspended and brought to a Spiritual Court hearing. This not a new policy or directive. No one has the authority or right to arbitrarily change this practice of our Church.' - Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Archdiocese), 19 May, 1997.

If this is true, I think it's an outrage and an example of western attempts to undermine Orthodoxy. Likewise the permission to celebrate Pascha on western Easter (which can coincide with the Jewish Passover).


My own belief is that there is more need of Orthodox Baptism these days. The reason for this is because of our own spiritual condition. A hundred years ago or more a Christian was in general far more devoted to Christ than nowadays. Nowadays many Christians who come to the Church are nominal and/or living by standards our Church could never accept. - Fr Raphael. I respectfully agree.


In other words in sacramental theology there must be a consistency between how we receive and the person received. If we do this then we are on safe ground. Following some other principle however will leave the person received unsure of themselves. Yes be assured they are Orthodox. However we should not overlook the unease of the person being received if the fullness they desired was purposely denied them. - Fr Raphael. Exactly!

I grow increasingly uncomfortable with what is going on in some Churches in the west which is why I feel more inclined to Moscow.

The practical arrangements for Baptism are not difficult. Herman's picture looks good - my late first wife was baptised in a builder's black plastic barrel decorated with a red cloth!

Economia should remain just that; if it becomes standard practice, it's not economia any more.

[Anna K.]

Thank you Father Raphael, for your reply.

I will trust God that my unease lifts itself with time, trusting that I will God willing be Orthodox.

Your reply is important to me, because I have learned to look forward to your and Father David's responses, although seen that same questions are sometimes replied differently here in domestic circles and I feel a certain "orphan" feeling here - which is not a good thing and I wish I could get rid of it.

I have thought that maybe this disappointment in my own surroundings is partly the lack of Grace, that I'm not yet part of our Church: maybe I just don't see things here as they are.

Pascha I really do wish we all could celebrate at the same time!!!

Hopefully in Christ
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

It appears that Met. Maximos of Pittsburgh is co-chairman of the Orthodox-Lutheran dialogue and favours the Orthodox Church celebrating Easter with the western churches. It seems some Orthodox do this - 'thank God they do', the Met. is quoted as saying - even though it is uncanonical and can lead to Pascha occurring on or before Passover. It seems to me to be no function of an Orthodox hierarch to go against Holy Tradition and perpetrate a split in Orthodox praxis especially in relation to the Feast of Feasts.

[Andrew]

I wish I would have been received through Baptism... if I were to do things over again, I would have been Baptised in the Church. But anyways, the results are the same I guess; Chrismation fills with grace what was lacking beforehand.

[Nina]

My fiance is baptized Catholic, but he started attending the Orthodox Church with me. Since I have been to the Orthodox church here in this new city and I see people being chrismated when they convert to Orthodoxy I was not peaceful, since I knew different. Therefore I called my spiritual father to ask and receive his advise and blessing, if my fiance should be baptized, or chrismated in case he decides to convert. My spiritual father told me that my fiance should get baptized, if he decides to become Orthodox.

We must not let our Orthodoxy be polluted. We should tell the truth. Otherwise we will end up all at the same church... Or there will be no church left to go. Or we will end up (out of ignorance) worshiping with all religions.

I am struggling so much these last weeks because I went to another Orthodox church (not Greek, but of another jurisdiction) where I was invited and I did not feel like declining because that parish needs support at this moment, so I attended Liturgy there for some weeks in a row. The last Sunday I went there, I see a girl whom I met there previously and who is a Baptist. I see her receive Holy Communion (!). After the initial shock I saw an entire family (grandparents, parents, children), who is Catholic (who gave a donation to that parish) also given Holy Communion.

Since we both knew the religion of these people, my fiance who is baptized RC, turned and told me (while I was trying to keep from gasping): "Oh they are not Orthodox and they are receiving Holy Communion!" Thank God he did not feel offended or "left out", that he can not receive Holy Communion as long as he is not Orthodox (since I have explained that to him form the beginning). I was so thankful to God! Because this giving Communion to the non-Orthodox, might have cost us dearly!

During coffee hour I talked with the girl who is a Baptist, and asked if she had been received in Orthodoxy. She was not. I started explaining about Holy Communion. She said that she receives Holy Communion because she thinks that Christ is everywhere and in every church. I felt bad for the poor girl because she did not know better.

I was advised to never go to that parish again, because by giving Holy Communion to the non-Orthodox, they are being heretical.

[Andreas Moran]

Nina's story is yet another example of what I was talking about. I heard of a parish in this country where a teenager, not Orthodox, was serving the priest in the sanctuary! The danger of this became apparent - he became confused and left the Church altogether. One priest was ordained only about 18 months after becoming Orthodox and with no training whatsoever. I read about a priest in this country saying that the Orthodox should study Buddhist scriptures and learn something from them! But Nina's story takes the biscuit. When will these ecumenist, modernising, Tradition-breaking people be stopped? Who is behind all this nonsense? Perhaps there really are Masons out to destroy Orthodoxy from within.

[Father David Moser]

Do any of you have quotes from the Fathers or the Canons, to give a direction to my heart, about how to direct it's obedience (I myself would have thought to my parish). I know some people go elsewhere to be baptised but - I don't know.


Take heart. Accept as your example the royal martyred sisters, the Empress Alexandra and the Grandduchess Elizabeth. Both were baptized and raised as Lutherans in their native Prussia. Both were received into the Orthodox Church as willing and voluntary converts (not forced by any political or external pressure) by Chrismation, according to the accepted practice of the Russian Church. Both proved to be pious and exemplary Orthodox Christians participating fully in the life of the Church with no doubt or lack. Both were found worthy by God of the grace of martyrdom, sharing in their own bodies the sufferings of Christ for us. Both are honored and venerated as saints. The relics of St Elizabeth also exude a sweet fragrance testifying to her God pleasing holiness. Here is your example. If you have doubts, then fix your hope on the royal martyred sisters and follow their path.

Fr David Moser

[Nina]

Perhaps there really are Masons out to destroy Orthodoxy from within.

I do not know who the people are, but we know that it is the Satan. Whoever the person is they are prey of Satan and may God have mercy on us all!

By the way I was told that I have "an old world/country mentality". :)

It amazes me how people speak today about the past. I always heard my grandparents speak with much reverence about the ancestors and the past. They even said that people in the past (as referring to their past) were more pious and God-fearing, and churches and icons were filled with grace and performed miracles. These words came from people who were so much more obedient, God-fearing and pious in comparison to us.

Today we tend to collect antiques (which are not even ours! - so ironical), but on the other hand we degrade Tradition and dogmas. We should get over it and accept that we are nothing and humble ourselves. Our Saints and Holy Forefathers knew better and were imbued with the Holy Spirit.

[Kris]

Nina's story is yet another example of what I was talking about. I heard of a parish in this country where a teenager, not Orthodox, was serving the priest in the sanctuary! The danger of this became apparent - he became confused and left the Church altogether. One priest was ordained only about 18 months after becoming Orthodox and with no training whatsoever. I read about a priest in this country saying that the Orthodox should study Buddhist scriptures and learn something from them! But Nina's story takes the biscuit. When will these ecumenist, modernising, Tradition-breaking people be stopped? Who is behind all this nonsense? Perhaps there really are Masons out to destroy Orthodoxy from within.

It's certainly a sad state of affairs. Personally I think it is driven by a genuine zeal, but a reckless one, often the fruit of ignorance.

They bring to mind the following prophecy:
"For from the last of them even to the greatest they have all committed iniquity; from the priest even to the false prophet they have all wought falsely. And they healed the branch of my people imperfectly, making light of it, and saying, Peace, peace: and where is peace? They were ashamed beacause they failed; yet they were not ashamed as those who are truly ashamed, and they knew not their own disgrace" (Jeremias 6:13-15)

[Nicolaj]

Dear Brethren!

Being Orthodox isn't that complex at all, preserving our traditions there is the point. In these days where the masses are striving towards Orthodoxy it is clear that all try to put something in Orthodoxy what they had always in their old situation. It is like you come to an new home and the first thing you do is put your favourite picture on the wall, Here I am!

And of course there are always things where we say that shouldn't happen but there are not that much Orthodox people who open their mouth. Our priest and most of the parishioners ask wherever they see a new face. But there are these new experiences as people who aren't orthodox and don't know enough about Orthodoxy at all, but trying to come in. And that is the angle point. Here it should be clear to every Orthodox christ that we have a patrimony to defend and that Orthodoxy has nothing to do with the mainstreaming of the world outside their doors!

Take a heart wherever you see something that doesn't seem to be the right way, ask why this is done so and when you don't like the answer or you know that they are making a failure then pinpoint them with objections!


In summer it is a act of terror when travel agencies bring to the services autobuses filled with tourists, orthodox. They always come shortly before communion is being spend and they destroy the spirit of the service. Until our bishop put an end to it by sending a priest to this travel agency and offring them to have some sort of service at their hotel.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Nina]

In summer it is a act of terror when travel agencies bring to the services autobuses filled with tourists, orthodox. They always come shortly before communion is being spend and they destroy the spirit of the service. Until our bishop put an end to it by sending a priest to this travel agency and offring them to have some sort of service at their hotel.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

Oh God bless you Nicolaj because I laughed so much with the act of terror of the orthodox tourists!

You are right in everything. You are also right when you say that always the new faces are asked before receiving communion. That is what my priest in the previous city where I lived here in US, did. He asked the person approaching if he/she is Orthodox and their name of baptism.

I did not tell the story to sound self-righteous or anything like that because my multitude of sins is just that: multitude and these non-Orthodox may be so pure as angels. But we must- like you say -speak up in case we see something, to keep the ignorance from spreading (and I read that ignorance about God is a sin) and also if I see it and I do not do anything about it, I may be considered participant in that sin.

[Nicolaj]

But we must- like you say -speak up in case we see something, to keep the ignorance from spreading (and I read that ignorance about God is a sin) and also if I see it and I do not do anything about it, I may be considered participant in that sin.

Dear Nina, dear Brethren!

As far as I know it is sure a sin where we see something that isn't according to our Orthodoxy Faith happening and don't show up to speak against!!
Even the Fathers who lived in the farthest deserts came to the cities and the councils to speak against the threads of Orthodoxy, that was more important as sitting in peace in the desert.

And be sure, there is an unseen warfare going on against Orthodoxy ever since our Jesus our Christ came to Earth!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Andreas Moran]

Take heart. Accept as your example the royal martyred sisters, the Empress Alexandra and the Grandduchess Elizabeth. Both were baptized and raised as Lutherans in their native Prussia. Both were received into the Orthodox Church as willing and voluntary converts (not forced by any political or external pressure) by Chrismation, according to the accepted practice of the Russian Church. Both proved to be pious and exemplary Orthodox Christians participating fully in the life of the Church with no doubt or lack. Both were found worthy by God of the grace of martyrdom, sharing in their own bodies the sufferings of Christ for us. Both are honored and venerated as saints. The relics of St Elizabeth also exude a sweet fragrance testifying to her God pleasing holiness. Here is your example. If you have doubts, then fix your hope on the royal martyred sisters and follow their path.
This is, if I may say so, wise advice from Fr David. If baptism is not available as an option, then better to be Orthodox by Chrismation than not at all. There are no second-class Orthodox. What many of us are concerned about is the degradation of the Orthodox faith by a wilful and, as I suggested, perhaps mischievous, failure by some in the Church to follow Tradition. But that would leave the difficulty of observing Easter at a different date - in separation - from the great body of Orthodox faithful. That I could not stomach - I'd have to go to the nearest canonical church to keep Easter. Nina is absolutely right - we must try to keep faith with those before us, the Church Triumphant, who kept the faith in far harsher circumstances than we have now.

[Andreas Moran]

And be sure, there is an unseen warfare going on against Orthodoxy ever since our Jesus our Christ came to Earth!

In this Nikolaj is right. We should not be surprised; since the Orthodox faith is the true faith, we can expect the devil and his supporters to make it their especial target.

[Yuri Zharikov]

Andreas,
sorry, what do you mean by this - "which is why I feel more inclined to Moscow."

Yura

[Anna K.]

Dear friends in Christ!

Thank you for all your responses!
Father David, I'm grateful for your advice and beautiful post! I will take heart and remember those saints and be happy to be taken into the Church the way I will God willing be received.

Also on the thread on jurisdictions, Nina, thank you for your post about priests and superiors, it was very helpful for me here also.

The Pascha-timing-issue is still one that worries me, but I don't see what I can do about it. It has been that way from the 1920's if I've understood it correctly, in every case several decades, and many generations before me have lived with it. But I just was so surprised when I learned about it.

We have a parish of the MP here in my city but it would be a huge canyon to cross here - for many reasons that I don't even understand all about. But the smallest one not being not understanding a word.


In Christ
Anna

[Andreas Moran]

Andreas,
sorry, what do you mean by this - "which is why I feel more inclined to Moscow."

Yura

Dear Yuri,

I was received into the EP and for many years, I was in the Greek sphere with many Greek and Cypriot friends, but my wife whom I married four years ago is Russian, from Moscow, and I have built up contacts with the Russian Church as contacts with the Greeks have diminished for one reason or another. I find certain aspects of Russian Church life appealing, and it seems to me that the Russian Church is not given to the sort of lapses from Tradition that have been mentioned here. I enjoy going to church in Russia though I don't understand Church Slavonic. It's not only my feeling. I have a friend who found that there were so many serious departures from Tradition in the parishes where he lives that he felt he could not attend any of them, and made a longer journey to the nearest Russian parish. That all said, I worship usually at the monastery here in Essex (EP) where Tradition is upheld, or sometimes at a church where all is as it should be.

[Nina]

Dear Anna,

The words of Saint Kosmas Aitolos are very precious for me also. Those sites provide his words which are so wonderful. He did not live geographically far from you so you are near by this saint. :) Before being martyred, Saint Kosmas made the sign of the cross and blessed north, south, east and west. I am amazed at his love for all and his self-sacrifice!

[Yuri Zharikov]

Dear in the Lord Andreas,
Thank you for the explanation. I thought that was what you meant but just wanted to make sure. In today's Russia incidents described in this thread would cause great scandal, and I think this is very good.

In Christ,
Yura

[Andreas Moran]

In today's Russia incidents described in this thread would cause great scandal, and I think this is very good.

Just so. You should have heard what my wife said when she learned of some of the things that are going on in the west - I didn't understand (I don't know Russian) but it really took no translation!

[Anna K.]

Nina, thank you for telling us about Saint Kosmas Aitolos making the sign of the Cross in all directions!

Actually, I lived for a while even closer to him than now, when I was a bit over 10 years old, my family lived in Athens for a couple of years, and that's why I always feel Greece is a small part of my heart.

We lived in a suburb called Filothei, and just recently I learned that she is a Saint of Athens! I was so happy and felt that was a blessing even though I didn't know it at the time!


Also, the first book I read about Orthodoxy, that made me get "hooked", was a book published by an organisation here in my country named after St Kosmas Aitolos...

In Christ
Anna

[Nina]

Nina, thank you for telling us about Saint Kosmas Aitolos making the sign of the Cross in all directions!

Actually, I lived for a while even closer to him than now, when I was a bit over 10 years old, my family lived in Athens for a couple of years, and that's why I always feel Greece is a small part of my heart.

We lived in a suburb called Filothei, and just recently I learned that she is a Saint of Athens! I was so happy and felt that was a blessing even though I didn't know it at the time!

Yes, dear Anna!!! Saint Filothei is the patron saint of Athens! So nice you have such a connection to her! :) Her relics are in the Cathedral Church of Athens. There have been many miracles from her relics.



Also, the first book I read about Orthodoxy, that made me get "hooked", was a book published by an organisation here in my country named after St Kosmas Aitolos...

In Christ
Anna

Wow, this is wonderful! What is the title of the book, please?

[Anna K.]

The book is written by Archimandrite Georgios Kapsanis (of one of the Athos monasteries, the name of which I don't have here now). The title is (as translated from Finnish) "Theosis as the goal of human life". I think it is a very good book, I don't know if it's in English, but it consists of speeches that the Archimandrite Georgios has had around Greece over some period of time. And you know Greek, don't you?

I bought the book from New Valaam monastery bookstore on my first visit and did certainly not know what was waiting ahead of me! :)

In Christ,
Anna

[Nina]

Ah, that book is beautiful! I found it on line by chance some months ago and there is where I read it:

http://www.greekorthodoxchurch.org/theosis_contents.html

[Andreas Moran]

Grigoriou is the monastery where my friend Hieromonk Philotheos lives - he sends me these books as they are published. It seems a good monastery.

[Nina]

Grigoriou is the monastery where my friend Hieromonk Philotheos lives - he sends me these books as they are published. It seems a good monastery.

If it is in Mount Athos, of course it is a good monastery. Panagia's Garden has only good monasteries. She is the Protectress.

Here is one of my most favorite icons, you may click on it:

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