Veneration of the Cross

The third Sunday of Lent: veneration of the cross. It reminds us that our salvation is Jesus Christ. If there is something that will remind me of the triumph of God, it's the miracles he gave me. All the trials I experienced the past year were the reasons he is merciful and gives me the right people at the right situation.

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/sunday_of_the_cross/learn/#sthash.WZhjIFYO.dpuf

 On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week.

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/sunday_of_the_cross/learn/#sthash.WZhjIFYO.dpuf

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/sunday_of_the_cross/learn/#sthash.WZhjIFYO.dpuf

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/sunday_of_the_cross/learn/#sthash.WZhjIFYO.dpuf

On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. - See more at: http://lent.goarch.org/sunday_of_the_cross/learn/#sthash.WZhjIFYO.dpuf

Of course, due to language barriers I can't know what is the sermon but I am taking everything by heart. Situations like what I got were the reasons as well I feel more closer to God and will strive hard not to commit much worse mistakes or unintentionally be a part of it.

While there's the opportunity, we need to learn how to use that free will to come back to God and learn what God gave to us. Our cross is our cross and it symbolizes God's triumph against Satan and our sins.

What Food for Lent?

I often ask everyone about what to eat for Lent or if they know some recipes. I know it's a bit weird but I need to be curious because fasting in Lent is not to be taken for granted. I guess I have to eat any meat when I have work since work here in Japan is either fast or heavy and I got the memo from my Spiritual Father but it's still a compliment to fast from meat when I don't have work.

For example, would these food be fine for the whole Lent?

1. Vegetables
2. Fruits
3. Bread
4. Rice

Hope to learn more about the food for Lent. 

Papism is not the answer

One of those instances were you cannot force something on a general population is somehow disastrous. Besides, every forceful things is just not right or a prelude to KARMA. I tell you. Karma.

Coonan Cross Oath

First, the very unique way of the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala, India that they took an oath of strong faith and political independence against the Portuguese and Roman Catholicism. The event was called the Coonan Cross oath. The acts of the established Latin rite system was met with fierce criticism and unrest. The demise of Mar Ahatalla in the hands of the Portuguese Papal yoke was the final straw and made them take an oath on a granite cross. Some people cannot touch it, the reason ropes were spread all through out and the people touching the cross and the ropes mentioned this:

"By the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome."

Second, the Brest Union. Another forceful event during mid 1590's were some members of the Ruthenian Rus joined the Roman catholic church, a true brainwashing event, making a mockery of what God had taught us.

Third, the Nezavisna Država Hrvatska or NDH, continuing the persecution of the Eastern Orthodox Christians in sattelite Croatia during WWII. I discussed Jasenovac before but, the persecution is both religiously and politically motivated.  One of the worst cases of the holocaust and 700,000-1,400,000 Serbs mostly but some Jews, Gypsies and others were killed in cold blood for four years. Four years of hell on earth and an attempted revival by the Vatican to impose an Inquisition like what they did in the sacking of Constantinople and the Spanish inquisition. Pope Pius XII supported this fascist regime and gives his praises to Poglavnik Ante Pavelić and Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac.

Fourth, the continuing crisis in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. As the Ukrainian unrest continues, the Vatican urges the Uniates to support the Kiev Junta. A possible civil war in Ukraine would elevate if this would happen. And as long as there is Orthodoxy, there are heretics like Papism and Uniatism.

Georgia - Gruzija

Georgia-(Georgian:საქართველოSakartvelo)

Is country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. An Asian state geographically and having a European identity. I knew this country even before i want to convert to Orthodoxy. Ever since reading geographical and historical books, i was enchanted in this peaceful, deliquent and resilient state. With people working together and almost everyone doing their part to protect what was left for them, this could be one of the last places on earth to remain committed to Christ and protects their environment, small economy and moral standards than most of Western Europe.

Only second or third in the world for establishing Orthodox Christianity as their official religion(contemporary Georgia is a secular state), is considered to be one of the oldest national church of any state, with Armenia officially the first. A friend of mine before told me that a church named Gergeti was where the people went to pray as a whole when there were times of trouble. 

Georgia survived everything, from the schism of the Armenian church, Latin Roman religious incursions, Mongol invasion, Imperial Russian colonialism and Soviet persecution. But would they survive EU invasion and American geopolitical strategic interests against Russians? Would Russia and Georgia reconcile in the future? Would the old wounds heal between the Armenian and Georgian churches?

Also, i managed to know from a the same friend that, Georgia has one of the best vineyards on earth. How i wish to grt a taste of Georgian wine when i get there. And, it was an honor to everyone that the current Gruzijski Patrijarh Ilija II(Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia) would baptize their infant child since he told everyone that he will baptize every infant, the spark of the birthrate revival which they needed to preserve their religion, culture and way of life.

If that day comes, would i be able to see a Georgia, still one of the most beautiful countries in the world and one of my favorite future pilgrimage destinations? I hoped so.

To the Georgian people, stand united and maintain what God gave you since the time of Saint Nino and the kings and queens of the Georgian state. +++

My faith

As many of you know, i am still Roman catholic. But i desire to be an Eastern Orthodox Christian. What brings me to that faith is something unsual. It doesn't even concern my current views, making myself a proponent of Christian unity only through the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs.

When i was around grade school, i am reading some almanacs around the letter B. And then some pages were torn or couldn't be recognized by my young eyes. Yet, i came to the page were the Byzantine Empire section was located. It enchanted me when i saw icons of Christ, religious relics, icons and of course, the downfall of Constantinople. It made me become curious more about Christianity. During a holy week, i asked dad what is Eastern orthodox church and he anwsered: ''just another false church''. Yet, i was hungry for the truth. These time, in High School, i am reading something about the byzantine Empire and Greek history. I stumbled upon that faith that made me curious and search for what is the origin of Christianity. Since that day, i wanted to know it till i saw that church was just 30 minutes away from home via a jeep and another 5 minutes for a motorcycle ride. As i went there, i saw that church i longed for, went inside and asked questions amongst the two priests(one returned to Greece) and i felt my faith got revived. When i returned home, i told my older sisters i want to be an Orthodox. It met strong criticism from my family clan(Garcia's of Paranaque descending from Spanish-Filipino through my paternal grandfather and Japanese through my paternal grandmother) especially from my parents when they were able to talk to me via yahoo messenger. Since that day, dad cannot forgive me because he is a strong Roman Catholic and most Filipino Roman catholics think that any Christian sect outside of RC and Mainstream Protestantism is like a cult or nonsense. Since i am optimistic those days, i had many icons blessed, a priest gave me prayer books and he taught me good things and told me to be careful of other things that is why i am aware even on my own family. Yet, when i went to Japan and left my icons and other church paraphernalia there, i thought my faith would get stagnated and if my parents would have a vacation, the will dispose my holy icons of Lazar, Isus Hristos, Bogorodice(Bogorodica Ljeviška) and some incense which they did. Since that day, i am secretive if my plans to pursue what God wants for me to discover.

Currently, i am attending divine liturgies, vespers, matins, complines or simply going there and praying to God for forgiveness and help for my future challenges. I know it will not be a secret one day but when i get that freedom, i will practice my faith to the fullest. I assure everyone.