Text
1 Text| Constantinople. After almost 100 years of persecution directed
2 Text| with the true faith. After 300 years of the most unequal
3 Text| Sunday of Lent in the year 843 in Constantinople. After
4 Text| Church, the Roman Empire accepted Christ as Lord and Master.
5 Text| believe that it is not by accident but by divine providence
6 Text| human success, of human achievements. What we are preaching tonight,
7 Text| to distort the faith, to adjust it to human needs, to fill
8 Text| Church has preserved for all ages the message of the apostles
9 Text| centuries-Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow.
10 Text| such a long time was an alien faith here, will become
11 | almost
12 Text| when, in the West, a strong American Orthodox Church comes into
13 | among
14 | an
15 Text| baptize, build up the Church, announce the Kingdom of God. And
16 Text| society which was definitely anti-Christian when the persecution was
17 Text| that unity which we are anticipating tonight. ~At the end of
18 Text| centuries-Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow. How
19 | any
20 Text| of us today has to be the apostle of Orthodoxy in a country
21 Text| the victory that can be applied to us today. We have the
22 Text| of Christ Himself. ~As we approach the most important moment
23 Text| commemorate today. ~But let us ask ourselves one question:
24 Text| Orthodox, in a society which is asking us: "What do you believe?" "
25 Text| the Turks, by the godless atheists, after all the troubles
26 Text| following centuries saw many attempts to distort the faith, to
27 Text| Orthodox first of all look back-for in our present life we depend
28 Text| world saying preach and baptize, build up the Church, announce
29 Text| whom it persecuted as the bearers of truth, and their teaching
30 | became
31 | becomes
32 | becoming
33 | before
34 Text| second period of troubles began. ~The following centuries
35 Text| through, today a new day begins. Something new is going
36 Text| faith in that truth, their belief that their Church is truly
37 Text| three events: one event belonging to the past; one event to
38 Text| St. John the Divine, the beloved disciple of Christ, wrote
39 | between
40 Text| persecutions. Again, Orthodox bishops, monks and laymen defended
41 Text| together, to Christ, to His Body, to the Church. Let us feel
42 Text| difficult life, and they built those little Orthodox churches
43 Text| there with all our human calculations, we probably would have
44 Text| victory of Christ had to be carried again and again into this
45 Text| is once more and forever celebrating its own triumph-the triumph
46 Text| of the Orthodox faith for centuries-Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem,
47 Text| At the end of the first century-when the Church was still a very
48 Text| life eternal. They tried to change it, and those changes we
49 Text| today is so complex. It is changing all the time. And the more
50 Text| joy. This man selected and chose twelve men, gave them power
51 Text| also our own faith. We are chosen. We are elected. We are
52 Text| Empire and the powerless Christian Church, the Roman Empire
53 Text| means: the true, the full Christianity, as it has been proclaimed
54 Text| the challenge of modern civilization and reveal to men of all
55 Text| Sunday of Orthodoxy, we close our eyes for a second and
56 Text| all our weaknesses, can come together and say we belong
57 Text| is the content of all our commemorations and of all our joy. This
58 Text| our income, to build up a community. He also has sent us as
59 Text| lonely man on the cross-the complete defeat. And if at that time
60 Text| that our world today is so complex. It is changing all the
61 Text| defended their faith and were condemned and went into exile and
62 Text| confess...." What is the condition of the real triumph of Orthodoxy?
63 Text| years of the most unequal conflict between the powerful Roman
64 Text| five centuries of those conflicts and persecutions and discussions,
65 Text| sometimes feel that our only consolation is to remember the past.
66 Text| Lent in the year 843 in Constantinople. After almost 100 years
67 Text| countries, all cities, all continents of the universe. After that
68 | could
69 Text| faith today has reached all countries, all cities, all continents
70 Text| depend first of all, of course, on the first and the ultimate
71 Text| beginning, one lonely man on the cross-the complete defeat. And if
72 Text| is going on. People were crossing the ocean, coming here,
73 Text| to hope. The world was in darkness. Everything seemed finished.
74 Text| bishops, monks and laymen defended their faith and were condemned
75 Text| in a society which was definitely anti-Christian when the
76 Text| transformation, for the deification, for the transfiguration
77 Text| perpetuate their tradition. They didn't think of the future. And
78 Text| all of us, with all our differences, with all our limitations,
79 Text| poor people, they had a difficult life, and they built those
80 Text| small parishes, in small dioceses, we first of all belong
81 Text| 100 years of persecution directed against the worship of the
82 Text| the Divine, the beloved disciple of Christ, wrote these words: "
83 Text| conflicts and persecutions and discussions, the day came which we commemorate
84 Text| centuries saw many attempts to distort the faith, to adjust it
85 Text| Church was powerful, THEN it dominated. But what about the present?
86 Text| historically was limited to the East, now is becoming a faith
87 Text| Orthodoxy. We call ourselves Eastern Orthodox, and yet we are
88 Text| faith. We are chosen. We are elected. We are the happy few that
89 Text| become the victory which eternally overcomes all the obstacles,
90 Text| important moment of the Eucharist, the priest says, "Let us
91 | even
92 Text| joyfully commemorate three events: one event belonging to
93 | every
94 | everywhere
95 Text| condemned and went into exile and were covered with blood.
96 Text| Orthodox Church comes into existence. We can see how this faith,
97 Text| keep the memory, keep the experience, keep the taste of that
98 Text| Orthodoxy, we close our eyes for a second and we rejoice
99 Text| tonight to witness to the fact that Orthodoxy not only
100 Text| fulness of the apostolic faith-all this came here, and here
101 Text| proclaiming this apostolic faith-the faith that has strengthened
102 Text| In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
103 Text| changes, the more people fear, the more they are frightened
104 Text| future. ~Whenever we have any feast or joy in the Church, we
105 Text| And yet, don't we have the feeling that something of a miracle
106 Text| hearts, people who have felt that this victory of Christ
107 | few
108 Text| Orthodoxy. We don't have to fight heresies among ourselves,
109 Text| here, and here we are now, filling this hall and proclaiming
110 Text| the holy icons, the Church finally proclaimed that the truth
111 Text| darkness. Everything seemed finished. And you know what happened
112 Text| simple men indeed, simple fishermen-went out and preached. The world
113 Text| covered with blood. And after five centuries of those conflicts
114 Text| of troubles began. ~The following centuries saw many attempts
115 Text| world, our Orthodox faith forces us to believe that it is
116 Text| that it is once more and forever celebrating its own triumph-the
117 Text| the saints in its purest form, then, my dear friends,
118 Text| is the faith that is the foundation of the world." My dear brothers
119 Text| fear, the more they are frightened by the future, the more
120 Text| it means: the true, the full Christianity, as it has
121 Text| defined, that the truth was fully in the possession of the
122 Text| men. The truth itself, the fulness of the apostolic faith-all
123 Text| promise of Christ, that the gates of hell will NEVER prevail
124 Text| selected and chose twelve men, gave them power to preach about
125 Text| hearts, so that we never give up hope in that future event
126 Text| backgrounds, we proclaim and we glorify first of all our unity in
127 Text| troubles that we had to go through, today a new day
128 Text| Empire, by the Turks, by the godless atheists, after all the
129 Text| The answer comes from the Gospel. The answer comes from Christ
130 Text| another victory. The Church grew, the Church covered the
131 Text| Church was still a very small group, a very small minority,
132 Text| still separated in so many groups, we have so many obstacles
133 Text| we are now, filling this hall and proclaiming this apostolic
134 Text| are elected. We are the happy few that can say of our
135 Text| and preached. The world hated them, the Roman Empire persecuted
136 Text| Orthodoxy," "the truth." Having this wonderful treasure,
137 Text| Christ, that the gates of hell will NEVER prevail against
138 | Him
139 Text| the universe. After that historic weakness of our religion,
140 Text| so that this faith, which historically was limited to the East,
141 Text| just to remember their homes, to perpetuate their tradition.
142 Text| triumph of Orthodoxy, and a hymn sung today states solemnly
143 Text| the worship of the holy icons, the Church finally proclaimed
144 Text| settle here, to increase our income, to build up a community.
145 Text| order to settle here, to increase our income, to build up
146 | indeed
147 Text| above everything else the interests of Orthodoxy in this country.
148 | itself
149 Text| centuries-Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow. How far are those
150 Text| persecution was beginning - St. John the Divine, the beloved
151 Text| first Sunday of Lent, we joyfully commemorate three events:
152 Text| the Church, announce the Kingdom of God. And you know, my
153 Text| Orthodox bishops, monks and laymen defended their faith and
154 Text| Orthodoxy? What is the way leading to the real, the final,
155 Text| strengthened the universe. And this leads us to the event which still
156 Text| differences, with all our limitations, with all our weaknesses,
157 Text| life, and they built those little Orthodox churches everywhere
158 Text| Orthodox people, wherever they live, have gathered on this Sunday
159 Text| themselves, about their lives, about their future. They
160 Text| and in Orthodoxy. We are living very far from the traditional
161 Text| future: At the beginning, one lonely man on the cross-the complete
162 Text| faith, which for such a long time was an alien faith
163 Text| we Orthodox first of all look back-for in our present
164 Text| victories, belong to the past? Looking at the present today, we
165 | me
166 Text| try to understand what it means: the true, the full Christianity,
167 Text| everything else, keep the memory, keep the experience, keep
168 Text| sisters, how those twelve men-very simple men indeed, simple
169 Text| small group, a very small minority, in a society which was
170 Text| feeling that something of a miracle has happened, that God has
171 Text| accept the challenge of modern civilization and reveal
172 Text| can be defined in terms of money, of human success, of human
173 Text| Again, Orthodox bishops, monks and laymen defended their
174 Text| Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow. How far are those cities.
175 | much
176 Text| victory- the defeat of a man nailed to the cross, who rose again
177 Text| In the name of the Father, and of the
178 Text| and reveal to men of all nations, to all men in the whole
179 Text| faith, to adjust it to human needs, to fill it with human content.
180 Text| People were crossing the ocean, coming here, not thinking
181 | or
182 | ours
183 | out
184 | over
185 Text| have so many obstacles to overcome. But today, on the Sunday
186 Text| victory which eternally overcomes all the obstacles, because
187 Text| we are divided in small parishes, in small dioceses, we first
188 Text| triumphed. But then the second period of troubles began. ~The
189 Text| remember their homes, to perpetuate their tradition. They didn'
190 Text| the truth was fully in the possession of the Church. And since
191 Text| other words, we have all the possibilities, we have everything that
192 Text| have faith, all things are possible. We have the promise of
193 Text| chose twelve men, gave them power to preach about that defeat
194 Text| powerful Roman Empire and the powerless Christian Church, the Roman
195 Text| proclaim, if we can only pray for that coming triumph
196 Text| all backgrounds uniting in prayer for the triumph of Orthodoxy.
197 Text| simple fishermen-went out and preached. The world hated them, the
198 Text| achievements. What we are preaching tonight, what we are proclaiming
199 Text| future, the more they are preoccupied by what will happen to them.
200 Text| wonderful treasure, let us preserve it, let us keep it, and
201 Text| disciples; if our Church has preserved for all ages the message
202 Text| gates of hell will NEVER prevail against the Church. We have
203 Text| moment of the Eucharist, the priest says, "Let us love one another,
204 Text| unity which is already here: priests of various national churches
205 Text| our human calculations, we probably would have said: "That's
206 Text| Orthodoxy must answer their problem; this is where Orthodoxy
207 Text| the questions and to the problems and to the sufferings of
208 Text| by accident but by divine providence that the Orthodox faith
209 Text| and of the saints in its purest form, then, my dear friends,
210 Text| love one another. Let us put above everything else the
211 Text| let us ask ourselves one question: Do all the triumphs of
212 Text| Orthodox faith today has reached all countries, all cities,
213 Text| tonight and to understand, to realize, to have that vision of
214 Text| Orthodoxy. The Roman Empire recognized the one whom it crucified
215 Text| the Holy Spirit. Amen. ~Rejoicing today in the triumph of
216 Text| historic weakness of our religion, after the persecutions
217 Text| whole world, that it has remained the force of God left in
218 Text| to do but commemorate, to repeat to ourselves how glorious
219 Text| in history. ~Today this responsibility belongs to us. We feel that
220 Text| message of the cross and resurrection and life eternal. They tried
221 Text| modern civilization and reveal to men of all nations, to
222 Text| they knew that He was the risen Lord. And since then, in
223 Text| Christ Himself. Our faith is rooted in that strange defeat which
224 | s
225 Text| we probably would have said: "That's the end. Nothing
226 Text| of the fathers and of the saints in its purest form, then,
227 Text| The following centuries saw many attempts to distort
228 Text| them to the whole world saying preach and baptize, build
229 Text| the Eucharist, the priest says, "Let us love one another,
230 Text| comes into existence. We can see how this faith, which for
231 | seemed
232 Text| of all our joy. This man selected and chose twelve men, gave
233 Text| completely universal in the sense that we will answer the
234 Text| are divided, we are still separated in so many groups, we have
235 Text| West, not just in order to settle here, to increase our income,
236 Text| today states solemnly and simply: "This is the Apostolic
237 Text| a hymn sung today states solemnly and simply: "This is the
238 | sometimes
239 Text| of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
240 Text| in order to win new human souls and to be the transforming
241 Text| persecution was beginning - St. John the Divine, the beloved
242 Text| Orthodoxy, and a hymn sung today states solemnly and simply: "This
243 Text| faith is rooted in that strange defeat which became the
244 Text| faith-the faith that has strengthened the universe. And this leads
245 Text| future when, in the West, a strong American Orthodox Church
246 Text| terms of money, of human success, of human achievements.
247 Text| the problems and to the sufferings of our world. You know that
248 Text| of Orthodoxy, and a hymn sung today states solemnly and
249 Text| the experience, keep the taste of that unity which we are
250 Text| which can be defined in terms of money, of human success,
251 | therefore
252 | these
253 Text| their tradition. They didn't think of the future. And yet this
254 Text| ocean, coming here, not thinking so much about their faith
255 Text| completely universal. ~This is a thrilling moment in the history of
256 Text| living very far from the traditional centers of Orthodoxy. We
257 Text| the deification, for the transfiguration of human life. ~The past,
258 Text| left in history for the transformation, for the deification, for
259 Text| human souls and to be the transforming force in history. ~Today
260 Text| resurrection and life eternal. They tried to change it, and those
261 Text| the first and the ultimate triumph-that of Christ Himself. Our faith
262 Text| forever celebrating its own triumph-the triumph of Orthodoxy. We
263 Text| life eternal. The Church triumphed. But then the second period
264 Text| one question: Do all the triumphs of Orthodoxy, all the victories,
265 Text| faith"; if for one moment we try to understand what it means:
266 Text| the Roman Empire, by the Turks, by the godless atheists,
267 Text| After 300 years of the most unequal conflict between the powerful
268 Text| people of all backgrounds uniting in prayer for the triumph
269 Text| keep it, and let us also use it in such a way that this
270 Text| their future. They were usually poor people, they had a
271 Text| triumphs of Orthodoxy, all the victories, belong to the past? Looking
272 Text| became the most glorious victory- the defeat of a man nailed
273 Text| universe. After that historic weakness of our religion, after the
274 Text| limitations, with all our weaknesses, can come together and say
275 Text| faith and were condemned and went into exile and were covered
276 | Whenever
277 | wherever
278 | why
279 Text| be proclaimed in order to win new human souls and to be
280 | within
281 Text| But we are here tonight to witness to the fact that Orthodoxy
282 Text| For if we believe in that word: "Orthodoxy," "the true
283 Text| persecution directed against the worship of the holy icons, the Church
284 | would
285 Text| beloved disciple of Christ, wrote these words: "And this is
286 Text| first Sunday of Lent in the year 843 in Constantinople. After
287 | your
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