It's time to protect

Remember when Orthodox Christian empires/kingdoms protected their land to deaths against the Muslim conquests by Arabs, Persians and KEBABS? Well, that's nostalgia for a new day to come.

Back to the present, we Christians are taught to love our enemies. Yes, it's in the bible, we were taught as well back in Christian schools and that's why we, Christians have conscience. But, BUT, as the world is becoming what our Early Church Fathers warned us, should we buy weapons to protect ourselves from these things?

My answer:

Yes, but not just physical weapons. We need weapons for our minds. What would be it? Prayer. Without prayers to God for our safety, our loved ones' safety and the return of peace to the world, our weapons are worthless

If Muslim radicals attack us Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, law-abiding Muslims and others, we must fight or more people will die. We have no choice! In times of war, we must not be pacifists or they will kill, loot, rape and wipe out history, according to what they lust for.

If the Atheist Communists demonize us through propaganda, let's fight with calmness, true Christian values and astonish them by living life to the fullest. We don't harass them, but fight with wisdom and heart.

We must have both faith in God and logic. Protect our faith in God, loved ones and the future we will set for our descendants.

Prayer keeps stress away

Prayers. One of the most forgotten treasures in the secular world today thanks to Liberal Progressive laws. But do people have to pray? Of course! God is with us of course! He is waiting for our sincere prayers of forgiveness and thanksgiving. And why it keeps stress away? I don't have to elaborate a lot but it gets the best for me.

Remember, this secular world we live in. A lot of stress appear because of our desire for money, fame and material but through all the failures, we all need is to pray. Through sincere prayers, we won't think of the problems of this secular world but God, how the saints lived, how a simple family life we pray and hope for and a lot of good things will come to your mind.

I will share my experience. Last year, weeks after my conversion. I felt stress on my heart again because of emotional problems but since starting to pray again and hearing the beautiful and sacred chants in the Orthodox Church, it soothed my rumbling mind and heart. It killed all those emotional problems mostly. There are at times my heart problems because of stress re-appears but sincere prayers make it disappear.

Everytime I close my nightly prayers(from the book and my heart), I pray that "everyone in the world will come back through your original Christian church". It means that someday, everyone will discover the original church of the apostles. The church that survived all the stress it faced since the times of the apostles after Pentecost. Hopefully, people will start to pray again and through these things, stress will never kill our mind and heart.


МОЛИТВА ГОСПОДЊА - ОЧЕ НАШ

Оче наш, који си на небесима,
да се свети име Твоје,
да дође царство Твоје,
да буде воља Твоја
и на земљи као на небу;
хлеб наш насушни дај нам данас;
и опрости нам дугове наше
као што и ми опраштамо дужницима својим;
и не уведи нас у искушење,
но избави нас од злога.

We Need to Pray Sincerely Always

Prayer, the one thing we must not forget. It will lead us more closer to God regardless of what happens. Most people these days praise God when they are successful. That's not how to praise God. Praising God is by thanking him of everything, big or small and how our faith is becoming stronger despite all the bad things that happen as well.

Everything that happens is a way God teaches us.

If something happens bad like what happened to me, I never forget to pray because I know God will deliver me from this thing I am going through.

If something good, I thank God for a new lease in life and even if I don't earn that much, I am thankful I am eating well and healthy.

That's how we sincerely pray, not just when something good happens. Of course, God sees our every move. We shall not let our mistakes and the haunting past destroy our sincere prayers. At the end of the day, we must think, God gave us this life to serve as a reminder to those people who are too complacent of what they have right now.

May everyone be inspired by the Good News and return to God.

Pope Francis destroying Christinaity

From political statements to liberalizing the disgraced Vatican, Pope Francis is obviously a threat even to the Roman Rite Church. Statements like:

“Confessional states end badly…I believe that secularism accompanied by a strong law which guarantees religious freedom provides a framework for moving forward”

“The small criticism I’ll be addressing to France in this regard is that France exaggerates secularism. This stems from a way of considering religion as a subculture and not a whole culture. France should take a step forward on this issue to accept that openness to transcendence is everyone’s right.”

Pope Francis should stay away from political statements or the facade of the Vatican will be shown. To be frank, the Vatican is nothing more than a political entity but the world still loves him.

There is one thing the Pope can be forgiven of:

Return to it's roots. Until then, it's nothing more than a de jure political entity.

It's my life and my choice

It's been a November for me. I don't intend to make others these or that. When people ask me about my choices, of course, i told them it's my choice, what I like and how God wants me to start. Yet, I have a long way to go since I am just 23. Got kicked out twice, got to live hard and pay debts as soon as possible. It's been a roller coaster 2015 for me but there is one thing I am thankful of. My conversion to Orthodoxy.

When people ask me why I converted, I reasoned out:

1. I feel Orthodox Christianity is the Christian faith I can find my inner Christian life.
2. It is more serious when it comes to faith matters.
3. I can feel how the true church is made since the apostles' times and the ensuing 7 Ecumenical councils.

 I didn't mentioned out what's with the Roman Catholic church since I feel it's unreasonable to mention it. But when people ask me about Roman rite church, all I say is it's deviating away from Christianity to liberalized reformed church and I see how it's own rules are not being practiced by their leaders.

No one forced me to do this things. I researched it myself, read books and searched for it. If dad would debate me, I won't even try to debate it since there is one Christianity and it upholds the Seven ecumenical councils that are the basis of God's faith that is passed down to the apostles and continuing to the church leaders of each independent but equal and connected Orthodox churches.

Orthodoxy is not just a word. It's a life. I may not force people but only God can make things possible through readings, history books and even your own family.

God willing

Such a blessing for me. It took me five years and I was able to put through everything despite my current issues. Regardless of those issues, one of my goals in life was met. November 7, 2015, I got baptized, taking the name Lazar, in honor of the Saint Prince of Serbia, who defended Serbia against the Ottoman Empire in Kosovo to the end. He lost his life and the Serbs lost but it delayed the Ottoman advance through another 50 years.

I was a bit nervous before my conversion but it went smoothly. I didn't expected it to be that smooth but it was worth the 5 years of patience. Now, I have a lot to do more. Being baptized in the Japanese Orthodox Church, this is one of the first step of my new life. I told myself, life starts at 23. I told myself since I live alone and going through a lot of challenges along the way. I know it is rough but with God's presence, nothing is impossible.

Finally, I am partaking with other people and the saints, in a holy liturgy that is passed down through generations, unchanged and firmly holding the teachings of the apostles that spread the Christian faith from the 1st Century AD to this day through the missionaries.

Facing Dad in faith matters

It's still the same. Dad and I can't accept each other. Being stubborn to each other. And being hostile to each others' point of view. Why is it that Dad wouldn't open his heart when it comes to my religion?

I may have failed a lot and lost a lot but it doesn't mean I would follow dad entirely because I desire some things dad cannot give me. Sounds selfish? I am still selfish but not so much. I am praying that eventually, dad and I would reconcile no matter what happens.

For now, religion plays a barrier between me and dad. He couldn't believe it is happening and would play mind games just to make me change my mind. Do I have to change my mind just to appease him? Here's my take. I don't want to be a hypocrite anymore. I am tired of it. I am tired of hiding on his shadows too often. If it is about religion, I don't even need to convert him. What is he thinking all this time?

What dad told me?

It's ok to be a Muslim, Buddhist or a Protestant one but not Eastern Orthodox Christian.

I can live with it. I tell everyone now and will never regret it because God shows me the way no matter how hard I am a sinner or how hard people make a curse about my deeds to scare me.

Holy Week Vacation?

In the Philippines, every holy week, I can't help but to always think of the scenario. Why people use the Holy Week for their own personal use? Can't they wait for sometime or earn money to have their own personal vacation? It's absurd and disappointing that people use the name of God to party and do some crap.

Let me tell you my holy week experience when i was young.

When i was like 5 or 6, i stayed always at home, eat veggies and fish with my family, never ever went to Boracay or other tourist hotspots, pray with my family and watch some Christian movies shown in the Television(some of them are dubbed to Filipino).

I felt blessed during those days and i was very protective of myself being a Christian even if I am a sinner. These days, I am sick of people destroying the essence of Filipino Todos los Santos for Liberalism and the cult of partyinf every Holy Week!

Now, I would observe Holy week of the Orthodox Church. But my point is, I would rather stay at home or going to church than to enjoy party and destroy what was instilled in me.

Pope Francis, can you recognize Jasenovac instead?

I am not yet seeing the thing we need to see from him. And that is recognizing the sufferings of the Serbian Orthodox Christians during World War II. Instead...

He is in my homeland. He is misleading not just Filipinos but every Catholic Christians out there for the purpose of religious correctedness with science and also competitions with Protestans, while trying to appease the Orthodox populations, which would not truly give in to a heretical organization for all.

The moral value is that, when you will never recognize Jasenovac, it means the worst holocaust in human history in terms of brutality would never come up in history books or even the worldwide media, which supports Francis's ultraliberal and anti-Christian thoughts.

The importance of relics

                  (Sveti Knez Lazar)

  (Sveti Jovan Zlatousti/John Chrysostom)

        (Sveti Dimitrije/Saint Demetrius)

     (Sveti Jovan Maksimović/Saint John Maximovitch)

As i start this entry, i was thinking more about what are relics? I known them in a while but this is my true chance to share my thoughts about it.

This ia from the Wikipedia article to summarize about relics:

A strong element in favor of glorification can be the perceived "miraculous" condition of physical remains (relics), although that alone is not considered sufficient. In some Orthodox countries it is the custom to re-use graves after three to five years due to limited space. Bones are respectfully washed and placed in an ossuary, often with the person's name written on the skull. Occasionally when a body is exhumed something believed to be miraculous occurs to reveal the person's sainthood. There have been numerous occurrences where the exhumed bones are said to suddenly give off a wonderful fragrance, like flowers; or sometimes the body is said to be found incorrupt despite having not been embalmed (traditionally the Orthodox do not embalm the dead) and having been buried for three years.

For the Orthodox, body and soul both comprise the person, and in the end, body and soul will be reunited; therefore, the body of a saint shares in the holiness of the soul of the saint.

Orthodox venerate saints and ask for their prayers, and consider them brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Saints are venerated and loved and asked to intercede for salvation, but they are not given the worship accorded to God, because their holiness is believed to come from God. In fact, anyone who worships a saint, relics, or icons is to be excommunicated. As a general rule onlyclergy will touch relics in order to move them or carry them in procession; however, inveneration the faithful will kiss the relic to show love and respect toward the saint. Every altar in every Orthodox church contains relics, usually of a martyr. The Church building interiors are covered with the icons of saints.

In one part of the stanzas, there is no EMBALMING to be performed. Strictly. And it should not be worshiped. They are asked for their intercession for our salvation. I wish one day that, i may go to Ravanica, where the relics of my future patron saint, Saint Prince Lazar's headless incorruptible remains are continually reposing and a source of miracles by God for the people to know what we should do while we have life.

Everytime that, something bad happens, some of the relics will make some miracle, like glowing of Saint Prince Lazar before the Balkan flooding of 2014 and others. It means we should return to God's way and not of anti-religious way. It is clear for us who believe in God that, miracles will happen anytime as long as we believe.

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Unity is much better to realize

Ya, it doesn't make sense to me why the Roman Catholic church is asking for unity. Would those who believe in the Orthodox church want that kind of scenario if that is on the basis of theology? If for everyone, it could. But for theological purposes, it will not.

I would raise the question now. Would it make sense if the Eastern and Oriental churches reunite and that they set aside their theological differences, territorial disputes and minor problems?

For me, I thought on that subject even years before. No political pun intended. What is that matter that makes this two seperated Orthodox groups to unite in the future? 

Belief-they have almost the same doctrines.

Religious identity-intact for almost a two thousand years without breaking what the apostles had taught them.

Social identity-Secularly, they are a much better citizen because what good we hoped is what most of them envisioned for the future generations.

Of course, this is just my idealism. But when these two Orthodox groups put an end to its division and truly unite as one, a beacon of hope would be felt on the other major Christian groups that all Christians would come back to the church of Peter, Paul and the rest of the apostles.

Healing the scars or another useless dialogue?

       Patrijarh Vartolomej i Papa Franjo

Historical meeting and Christian unity between the patriarchs of the ancient Christian churches. If not counting my biased views, this would be a great healing of the two sides as far as i am concerned. Of course, Patriarch Bartholomew is a smart and eco-friendly church leader while Pope Francis is the humble and socially able successor of Saint Peter.

Well, if one would think it on both sides, the historical meeting would have an implications as well, especially to the monk of the sacred mountain Mount Athos which rejects any kinds if ecumenisn or interfaith activities. In my opinion, let the church leaders attend only Christian related ecumenism and not interfaith ones. I am not saying Patriarch Bartholomew did good or bad but his decisions are for the better of this contemporary period and renouncing extremism of Old calendarists or alternative synods. On the flip side, if the Vatican wants to talk to the Serbian patriarch Irinej, they should somehow apologize for what happened in Nezavisna Država Hrvatska and the Jasenovac concentration camp, the reason that the Vatican is an evil group to the Serbian people. Not to mention the false pretense of the Brest-Litovsk union in present day Belarus were Eastern Catholics are trying to invade Russian territory via religion and destroy Orthodoxy.

On the Catholic side, of course a few people knew the Pope Pius X Society(SPPX) and other traditionalist Catholic views but they are a threat to Catholicism from the inside because of Vatican II reforms, removing the tridentine mass and the somehow Protestantist preaching of the Roman Catholic church.

If Orthodoxy promotes itself silently, Catholicsm is promoting itself almost everyday. Problems still rise if both sects don't discuss things more openly. For example, Pope Francis wants to open the Vatican archives and let the public knew. Would this make him not just a spiritual hero but a champion of the people? Or the people will knew more about what happened in Jasenovac?

But unlike Pope Benedict XVI known for his extravagant lifestyle, Pope Francis is simple and down to earth guy. Maybe a much bettet scenario would make him much popular to the world like how Pope John Paul II used his charisma for the people.

Patriarch Bartholomew on the other hand is a well respected theologian, environmentalist and the speaker of the whole Orthodox Christian sect. I admire him as well because of his openess and resiliency. He has more problems than the whole Catholic popes whom he got into with. Like the Halki seminary being closed and the line of succession is limited by the Turkish republic to Greeks who were born in Turkish soil. The persecution of Serbian Orthodox Christians in Kosovo and in Macedonia. Old calendarists and alternative synods and growing anti religious movements in Europe. 

With these challenges ahead, we pray that the two leaders would empower there lay people more as the threat of anti-religious norms grow and the ever changing world.

Marriage is sacred

Wedding is a joyous day in every companionship life. What is in stored there is for the future. Loving each other, having babies, working together for the success of their offspring and much more, their lifetime contract to God which means till death do as apart.

During my past entries about my ideal wedding, i described my ideal future wedding as an Orthodox Christian one. Although for now, it is just a dream.

What i don't like about the situation in this modernized world is that, many people think too much of money and tend to forget the true meaning of a good  marriage. There are some questions raised as well like, "is he/she the one?" or "is he/she rich?" or this and that. What kind of mentality are those? For me, i wouldn't mind if she is rich or poor as long as she is the woman i want to love and love with through pain and joys. 

Some weddings are shotguns as well or just because of VISA or just because of any stupid reason i knew ever since i was a kid! Hasn't they learned the true essence or they just weren't educated enough at home?

If someone would ask me about wedding, it is my forever or lifetime contract to God. It is not meant to be broken or a subject to divorce but, of true Christian family through pains and joys, hardships and success, trials and wins. It is not a man made part of our life secularly but spirituality. And i will tell him/her that, only scared/opportunistic people divorce for another person. My views on wedding actually differs from my dad but i know what good things are and those who seize the opportunity to make pleasures of themselves.

Whether your a Christian or a Muslim or Jew or any religion it doesn't matter as long as you have the good ideals and sacred heart to fulfill your wedding vows because God will be the only one who will know that you value your marriage enough to be called a good father or mother.

Arab Nationalism and the role of Christians for their Muslim Brothers and fellow Christians

The conflicts in and around Syria is somehow fueled by Western powers to introduce Saudi Style terrorism and intolerance. Jihadists and foreign mercenaries(John McCain included with some Bosniaks) poured in and are now on a stalemate to their own checkmate by the Syrian Arab army that is united by Sunnis, Shias and Christians who are willing to defend their homeland from external influence.

I don't want to mention Hezbollah coz it is led by a Shia group although they protect either Lebanese or Syrian Christians but in conflict with Sunnis.

So, some of you might wonder who are influential Arab nationalists who told in their ideology that Islam and Arabism is one? Was it Muslims mostly? Wasn't Christians included to be as one? Is this my historical contradiction and not finding much better facts in the internet alone?

May i start now.

Here is a list of well known Arab Nationalists and ideologists:
-Michel Aflaq(Syrian/Greek Orthodox Christian)-ideas played a significant role on Ba'athism and believed Islam will play a major role on Arab Nationalism despite not wanting Islam to be imposed on society.
 -George Antonius(Lebanese/Greek Orthodox)-Arab Nationalist Historian citing Muhammad Ali Pasha's Egypt was the start because of its dormancy and revival by Western missionaries of the Arabic language.
-Shakib Arslan(Lebanese/Druze)-Advocated an Islam that is charged with political and moral assertiveness.
-Zaki Ar Asuzi(Syrian/Atheist)-Unification of the Arab nation
-Butrus Al Bustani(Lebanese/Maronite Catholic)-Education of the Arab nation by mass publishing of literature throughout the Middel East.
-Izzat Darwaza(Palestinian/Sunni Islam)-Supported the unity of Syria and Palestine and his Nationalism was influenced by Islam.
-Constantine Zureiq(Syrian/Greek Orthodox)-In order to revitalize the Arab society, Zureiq demanded that there must be a radical change in Arab life. He called “for science and productivity,” and warned that the advancement of Arab society is dependent on whether that notion became a part of Arab’s “feelings and thoughts and a source of their will”.
-George Habash(Palestinian/Greek Orthodox)-founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
-Ibrahim Al Yaziji(Lebanese/Maronite Catholic)-translator of the Bible to Arabic
-Sati' al Husri(Syrian/Islam?)-Al-Husri saw localist tendencies as the main obstacle to the realisation of nationalist goals, but pointed to the German and Italian experiences as indications that they would eventually be overcome. Communist internationalism was also a threat, but by the mid-1920s, with the Caliphate abolished, al-Husri was confident that the challenge posed by pan-Islamism was vanquished.
-Adnan Pachachi(Iraqi/Sunni Islam)-Arab Secularist
-Abd al Rahman al Kawakibi(Syrian/Islam)-Although Al-Kawakibi did not have a tremendous amount of support during his lifetime, his message and legacy passed onto Pan-Arab nationalists such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, even though Al-Kawakibi was not a Pan-Arab nationalist but instead believed in Arab unity and solidarity. The founding of Islam in Arab land was a key reason for Al-Kawakibi to suggest the entire Muslim world to unite under the Arabs. Many Islamic and Arab reformists have also used Al-Kawakibi as an influence.
-Ameen Rihani(Lebanese American/Maronite Catholic)-On the political front, he advocated several causes and worked tirelessly towards these goals: the rapprochement between East and West as a major step towards global cultural dialogue, the liberation of Lebanon from the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and the Advocating for Arab nationalism and promoting what he called “The United States of Arabia”

Different thinkers. One unity. Christian and Islam would play better roles as one in a volatile society. Only outside factors will try to destroy them as one. Those Arab nationalists may not want their Republican systems be conquered by Western and Saudi anti-infidel and terrorist  influenced people. Look at Syria. Syria and Lebanon is the perfect example of Arab nationalism and continues its tolerance to all religions, maintaining unity and perfect Brotherhood.