Uskrs 2016/Easter 2016

My first Easter as a member of the Orthodox Church/Pravoslavna Crkva was a moment to remember because it's my first time to serve and as well, read the Gospel in Filipino language. It's indeed true fasting is part of Lent and the anticipation of our Lord and God Jesus Christ's resurrection and destroying death by his death last Good Friday.

Serving was tiring to my body but not to my heart and mind. I did, while sick with pollen fever or maybe an actual fever and sore throat because of my body exhausted due to lack of sleep. It doesn't matter if your sick or not, if you want to serve God, go for it! We were given the free will to progress to God and not to regress. Keeping the Christian tradition and essence of Easter makes the celebration more solemn and joyful.

I am late to write this article because I am finding the time to sleep  since I am recovering from this illness and exhaustion but it's worth it to share the wonderful experiences.

God is risen, Indeed he is risen!
Hristos Voskrese, Vaistinu Voskrese!

My first Veliki Petak with Pravoslavna Crkva

Later, I will go to the church for the Veliki Petak service in the Orthodox Church. It will be my first as well, so it will be new to me this day. I am fasting(thankfully) from meat and rice since I don't have work until May 8. I will eat any meat again by Sunday morning during the Easter dinner.

So, getting to my article.

Every Veliki Petak, I recount all the sins I have committed and how I can become a much better person. This is the day the Lord died for our sins. How do we think when we commit sins? Of course, I do sins but makes sure to limit it because I want to change, knowing the error of my ways.

It's our conscience that makes us go to confession and our free will. How many times we sin is nothing, when God sees our hearts and we, humans makes sure we will not sin more often.

While writing this article, I kinda think of those around me and how I want to give them my effort and become the reminder that God is with us no matter how hard life is and all the temptations we face. That's why Jesus became man and saved us from our sins.

 That's the essence of Good Friday. Remembering the Death of our Lord and God Jesus Christ.

The day of Christ's death is the day of sin. The sin which polluted God's creation from the breaking dawn of time reached its frightful climax on the hill of Golgotha. There, sin and evil, destruction and death came into their own. Ungodly men had Him nailed to the Cross, in order to destroy Him. However, His death condemned irrevocably the fallen world by revealing its true and abnormal nature. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/holy_friday/learn/#sthash.SpbTFFKT.dpuf

The day of Christ's death is the day of sin. The sin which polluted God's creation from the breaking dawn of time reached its frightful climax on the hill of Golgotha. There, sin and evil, destruction and death came into their own. Ungodly men had Him nailed to the Cross, in order to destroy Him. However, His death condemned irrevocably the fallen world by revealing its true and abnormal nature. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/holy_friday/learn/#sthash.SpbTFFKT.dpuf

The day of Christ's death is the day of sin. The sin which polluted God's creation from the breaking dawn of time reached its frightful climax on the hill of Golgotha. There, sin and evil, destruction and death came into their own. Ungodly men had Him nailed to the Cross, in order to destroy Him. However, His death condemned irrevocably the fallen world by revealing its true and abnormal nature. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/holy_friday/learn/#sthash.SpbTFFKT.dpuf

The day of Christ's death is the day of sin. The sin which polluted God's creation from the breaking dawn of time reached its frightful climax on the hill of Golgotha. There, sin and evil, destruction and death came into their own. Ungodly men had Him nailed to the Cross, in order to destroy Him. However, His death condemned irrevocably the fallen world by revealing its true and abnormal nature. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/holy_friday/learn/#sthash.SpbTFFKT.dpuf

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.