DYNAMIS, Enduring to the End, August 25, 2011, Thursday, 11th Week APe

 

?Saint Matthew 24:13-28 NKJ Gospel for Thursday of the Eleventh Week
After Pentecost
Jesus said to the disciples,
13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come.
15 Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by
Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of
his house.
18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies
in those days!
20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since
the beginning of the world
until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but
for the elect's sake those
days will be shortened.
23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!'
do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs
and wonders to deceive, if
possible, even the elect.
25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go
out; or 'Look, He is in the
inner rooms!' do not believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so
also will the coming of the
Son of Man be.
28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
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Saint Matthew 24:13-28 (8/25-9/7)
Thursday of the Eleventh Week after Pentecost

Enduring to the End: Saint Matthew 24:13-28, especially vs. 25: "See, I
have told you beforehand." Since the Lord Jesus Christ ascended,
tribulations have assailed the Church in this world. One of the most
horrendous seasons of anguish occurred in AD 70, during the Jewish
revolt against the Roman Empire. In the years prior to the revolt,
anger in society was building. Christians were arrested and threatened
by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:3; 5:18). Finally, about AD 36, the Archdeacon
Stephen was judicially stoned (Acts 6:8; 7:59), and the assaults aimed
against the faithful caused many of them to flee the city (Acts 8:1).
In AD 45, all of Jerusalem endured a major famine (Acts 11:28). Again
murders and arrests were aimed at the Christians as scapegoats (Acts
12:2, 4). Records, including Acts (13-28), show that after that date,
the Twelve mostly left Jerusalem, evangelizing and planting churches in
other places. James, the brother of the Lord, remained as head of the
Jerusalem Christians until his murder in AD 62.

But persecution of the Church spread throughout the Empire. In AD 65,
in the city of Rome, at the instigation of Emperor Nero both Peter and
Paul were executed with many others of the faithful - a cover-up for
Nero's arsonist insanity. A year later, the Palestinian Jews revolted.

Ever gracious, our Lord and Savior sought to prepare the Church for the
many assaults and times of affliction that He knew were coming. His
words have aided countless Christians in tribulation. The Lord Jesus'
abiding purpose is encouraging the faithful to endure "...to the end..."
(Mt. 24:13). While His remarks in this portion of Saint Matthew were
aimed to succor the early Church in Jerusalem before and during the
Jewish revolt, four principles underlying His message have aided
Christians in every generation who face and endure affliction.

First, Christ our God tells disciples under attack, "...when you see the
'abomination of desolation'...standing in the holy place...flee to the
mountains" (vss. 15,16). The Evangelist Matthew adds a brief aside:
"whoever reads, let him understand" (vs. 15). He is referring to the
defilement of the Jewish Temple by the pagan general Titus in AD 70.
The Roman troops, in close combat, remorselessly subdued the defenders
of the Temple. Then Titus himself strode into the Most Holy Place -
forbidden to Gentiles. It shocked the pious sensibilities of the Jews.
What principle may we draw from our Lord's warning? Faithful Christians
should not foolishly hesitate to flee and take prudent precautions when
the forces of evil are aroused to desecrate.

Second, there is no special virtue or divine blessing for making useless
gestures against concerted, overwhelming evil storms. Countless records
of the martyrs show that often they withdrew during times of direct
repression, as in the case of the Hieromartyr Polycarp. Still, the
blessed Bishop demonstrated that when one is apprehended and pressed to
deny the Faith, there is no question - the faithful are to accept even
death as he did. Discipleship can be costly.

Third, while the Lord Jesus assures the faithful that we do well to
withdraw when appropriate (vss. 16-22), we always should be ready to
stand up for God's Truth when faced with inescapable affliction (vs. 13)
or immoral compromise (vss. 19,20). Under such conditions, Christ's
disciples' first response should be to redouble prayers before Heaven's
throne (vs. 20).

The Lord Jesus' other remarks in this passage center around a fourth
principle: be ever and always especially alert against deception during
tribulation. Christians often foolishly say, "This is 'The Tribulation'
attendant upon Christ's return." But what does our Lord say? "Do not
believe it" (vss. 23,26)! And how does He guide us away from such
delusion? He says plainly: do not second-guess His return; it will be
obvious to all when it happens (vss. 27,28).

O Lord, grant us the light of Thy truth in affliction as may be most
expedient for us.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Experiencing Archbishop Dmitri’s Last Week and Hours

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Parishioner

Posted on OCA Truth. 

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The liturgy today, August 28th, 2011, at St Seraphim’s Cathedral in Dallas culminated for me an amazing and transformative week in which I was blessed to be able to witness the repose of Archbishop Dmitri, who having set an example to all Christians on how to live a godly life, remained true to form and showed us how to fall asleep with happiness and peace in the sureness of his faith.  This time was a remarkable blessing to all those who were able to witness it or hear about it.

Having spent nights with him in his room and hospital over the past weeks I often saw and heard him late at night in his semi-consciousness pray aloud for those he knew.  Many who spent time with him in these last days will attest to this fact.  This was a constant prayer that went through the night when he had the strength to speak.  He was never seen to show despair despite enduring an exhausting and sometimes painful deterioration in his health.  When he had the strength and alertness to speak he wanted his spiritual children around him and took great joy in telling stories and listening to what others wanted to tell him.  By God’s grace his loving and jovial manner remained with him to the end.

When I saw him last Sunday, August 21st, Archbishop Dmitri had become exhausted after his stay in the hospital and had not had the strength or will to eat or drink.  He was anxious and jittery in his bed and his speech was nearly incomprehensible.  His doctor, one of his parishioners at St Seraphim’s who devoted large amounts of his time to caring for Vladyka, was there to help keep him comfortable and ensure that he was able to repose in his home.  Archbishop Dmitri was extremely adamant on this point.  By Monday morning his condition had declined further.  He was either non-responsive or barely able to respond at all.  An Unction service had been scheduled on Tuesday the 23rd, but due to his condition permission was given for another service to be conducted in his bedroom Monday afternoon.  I have said what Vladyka’s condition was prior to the service.  As the Unction was conducted those who were there witnessed Archbishop Dmitri slowly respond to the prayers and chants of the choir.  He began opening his eyes and looking around.  He began smiling.  Eventually he could be heard singing.  By the end of the service Vladyka’s melodious one-of-a-kind Texan voice was heard by all participating in the service.  All were struck by his joyful recovery.  This service was attended by over 30 people in Vladyka’s 2nd story bedroom next to the Cathedral.  It was nearly 110 degrees that day and he had only one window unit and several fans in his room.  The combination of body heat, candles, and incense brought the temperature of the room to around 90 degrees, but after standing witness to this remarkable transformation in our beloved Archbishop no one was greatly bothered by the discomfort.  I stayed with Vladyka that night and realized how much he had recovered after seeing him ask for coffee and cough drops, two simple pleasures he loved.

The next day Archbishop Dmitri was brave enough to be taken next door to the Cathedral for the previously scheduled Unction service, an exhausting experience for him but a gift to his spiritual children.  As Fr. John Anderson said, the events that occurred at the beginning of this week were a blessing to all of us.  He personally did not need to remain with us, but we needed him.  Vladyka was always ready to leave this life, and in a way that I can only hope to achieve.  Having a few more days with him and being able to witness his grace and joy as he left us was an experience beyond words.

By Friday it was apparent that he would soon depart from us.  His consciousness slowly slipped away.  When I saw him Saturday morning he was virtually non-arousable.  His breathing was regular but weak.  He was not moving voluntarily.  I left him around lunchtime with Metropolitan Jonah and Fr Seraphim Hipsh quietly praying over him.  I returned that night at 9 to stay with him overnight.  He was surrounded by those who loved him who quietly sat at his bedside while turns were taken to read the Gospels.  He took shallow breaths and did not move.  Through the course of the next few hours his situation remained the same.  People who knew him or were inspired by him trickled in and out pray at his bedside.  His room was dark and dimly lit.  He was without any suffering.  At midnight there were about 15 people left with Vladyka, including some who have known him and been close to him for decades.  Fr Seraphim held Vladyka’s hand and stroked his head as others gathered around him.  At midnight, which began th Dormition of the Theotokos, Bishop Alejo, who had been there since I arrived, stood and said some prayers for him in Spanish.  Vladyka must have been overjoyed by this.  For the next two hours Archbishop Dmitri remained the same, slowly breathing in the faint light of his bedroom.  At 2 AM, he suddenly took a big breath, perked up his head and opened his eyes.  I was sitting right at the foot of his bed and he looked right at me.  He looked like he was about to speak.  Everyone came to him immediately and put their hands on him.  He slowly let out his breath and departed this life.  As everyone held tightly onto him Fr Seraphim immediately began to pray.  Archbishop Dmitri was completely at peace.

Over the next hour Fr Seraphim prayed for Vladyka.  I called Fr John Anderson who came immediately and performed a Panikhida with Fr Seraphim.  Others who loved him came as well when they were notified.  At around 3:30 Fr John and Fr Seraphim began to prepare the Archbishop’s body as a deacon and subdeacon read the Scriptures.  I was blessed to be able to help with this, and will never forget how I was struck by the tremendous care and affection with which his body was handled.  It was such a great testament to the immense love which we had for him.  I also will always remember that despite having departed us hours earlier and having been sick for some time, Archbishop Dmitri’s body had a lively hue that I am not accustomed to seeing in the deceased.  After he had been properly cleaned and dressed, people continued to trickle in to silently pay their respects to this godly man.

I went home to sleep for a couple hours until the Liturgy.  Besides the other things I have mentioned that will stay with me, I will also remember with happiness and tears Metropolitan Jonah’s homily, in which he charged us to keep Archbishop Dmitri’s memory eternal, and to model our lives after his example.  The deacons’ voices cracked as they chanted prayers for his soul.  There was sadness that we will not see Vladyka again in this world, but great rejoicing that God sent him to us and brought him back home.

A friend asked me to write recollections down of what I witnessed over the past week, and I thank him for it.  As I write this I’ve been eating a handful of Vladyka’s cough drops.  That, combined with the smell of incense still on my clothes, is bringing tears to my eyes as I become nostalgic for my remarkable experiences with him over the past weeks..  I’ve only known him personally for a few short years.  I was never able to witness the full force of his personality, but I was able to be transformed by the gravity of his influence.  One did not need to know him on a deep personal level to be affected in this way.  Just the way that he would smile at you as he walked through the crowd after the Liturgy on Sundays would make you want to follow him.  I rejoice that I was able to be a part of the end of this great man’s life.  He was truly an example of how we should live our lives in Christ.  May his memory indeed be eternal!

– James

Concerning the resurrection of the Historic Pentarchy

The patriarchate of Constantinople is still seeking the complete domination of the Orthodox Church. It's current stressing of the Historic Pentarchy is just one more example. Since the Ecumenical Patriarchate has all but made the Patriarchates of Alexandria and Jerusalem as well as the Archbishopric of Cyprus subservient and Autonomous Churches, rather than the Autocephalous Churches that they were in times past. This makes the Pentarchy in fact a oligarchy ruled by two Churches both struggling under the Turkish yoke.

Since a Church that is under the dominatiion of a Moslem country has to consider certain factors if it is to survive, and until the end of the subservience of the thrones of Jerusalem and Alexandria to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is imperative that the pan-Orthodox council or at least some historically justifiable format that includes the Slavic Churches (which by the way contain the bulk of the Orthodox faithful of the world) must be followed.

The Truth is that a Pentarchy that speaks for the whole of the Christian faith cannot be restored unless and until the See of Rome repents and returns to the fullness of the Orthodox Faith. Then, with a place at the table for Slavic Orthodoxy, which did not come into being until after the apostasy of the West and the fall of Constantinople, and if Autocephaly is returned to Alexandria and Jerusalem, Historical Pentarchcracy could be a viable option.

Metropolitan Symeon of Denver