-
As the cross is cast into the Jordan three
times, and the Jordan is sanctified, many
-
Christians, as evidenced by a video
I have, observed the river's current —
-
typically strong in winter due to heavy
rains in Israel — flowing toward the Dead
-
Sea, leading the Jordan toward the
Dead Sea. And indeed, we could see
-
An Athonite Cell —
Joys from the Holy Mountain
-
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
-
ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy,
-
Father, say a prayer! Fr. J: O Heavenly
King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
-
Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life -
-
come and abide in us, and cleanse us
from every impurity, and save our souls,
-
O Good One. Amen.
Fr. T: Our dear ones, we are here with
-
Father John from Jerusalem, with whom
we previously recorded an episode.
-
You need to know that he is quite busy,
but we couldn't miss this opportunity.
-
This podcast will likely air around
Epiphany, so we will discuss everything
-
related to the Baptism of the Lord,
particularly from the perspective of
-
someone with extensive experience in the
Holy Land and the significance of the
-
Baptism on-site. Our first question for
Father John, whom we hold in great
-
affection, is to share his insights
directly from the source—not from hearsay.
-
We’d like him to explain the well-known
phenomenon of the Jordan River's reversal
-
during Epiphany. Does this phenomenon
truly occur? What happens, can you shed
-
some light on it?
Fr. J: “Lord help, Father Teologos!”
-
I am delighted to reunite here in the
garden of the Mother of God!
-
We prepare for the significant feast of
the Baptism of the Lord, the Epiphany,
-
or Theophany, a revelation of God. This
time calls each of us Christians to
-
reconnect with God through fasting,
confession, and Holy Communion.
-
Indeed, I might say that it stands as the
second great feast of Jerusalem.
-
Why the second? Normally, the greatest
feast is the Resurrection of the Lord,
-
marked by the miracle of the Holy Light
descending at the Lord's tomb.
-
We discussed this in our first program.
Normally, the second great feast would
-
be the Nativity of the Lord.
Fr. T: Obviously. Yes.
-
Fr.J: Which we celebrate in Jerusalem and
Mount Athos on January 7, with a beautiful
-
service in Bethlehem at the birthplace of
the Lord. However, in terms of procession,
-
miracle, and the number of Christians, the
Baptism of the Lord emerges as the second
-
great feast of Jerusalem, following the
Holy Light. Fr. T: Oh, I didn't know that.
-
Fr. J: And after that, the third great
feast is the Transfiguration on Mount
-
Tabor. During the night, the Holy Liturgy
is celebrated, and in the morning, after
-
the Liturgy, many Christians rejoice in
the cloud that envelops the peak of Mount
-
Tabor, just as it once enveloped the holy
apostles and from heaven, they heard a
-
voice proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son
in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
-
At the Jordan, the voice of the Father is
heard again when Jesus Christ enters the
-
river to be baptized by John. Indeed, you
asked me if this miracle exists.
-
The miracle of the Jordan’s return exists.
The prophecies speak of this, particularly
-
during the readings from the Old Testament
on the eve and day of the Epiphany,
-
proclaiming, “The waters saw You and they
were afraid,” they returned. The moment
-
Christ entered the Jordan, the river which
flows down to the Dead Sea, – the writings
-
and stories say that – the Jordan turned
back upstream toward the Sea of Galilee
-
where it stars. I will also tell you the
exact course of the Jordan.
-
In the years I served alongside His
Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III of
-
Jerusalem, I witnessed this miracle
firsthand. As the cross is cast into the
-
Jordan three times, and the Jordan is
sanctified, many Christians, as evidenced
-
by a video I have, observed the river's
current—typically strong in winter due to
-
heavy rains in Israel—and then, of course,
you can see the flow of water and the
-
current as it goes toward the Dead Sea,
leading the Jordan toward the Dead Sea.
-
And indeed, I and the Christians who
participated in this great feast could see
-
how, after the blessing of the waters,
large whirlpools are forming, reversing
-
the current and flowing upstream for a
few moments. Fr. T: Seriously? By itself,
-
like that? Fr. J: Yes, by itself. Fr. T:
Clearly, the power of the Holy Spirit.
-
Fr. J: Of course, we shouldn’t seek these
miracles – we've talked about it, to
-
witness them physically. It is a proof, an
assurance of God, of His presence through
-
the Holy Light, through this moment of the
Jordan’s return, or the cloud on Tabor.
-
Certainly, they strengthen our faith. Yet
we must emphasize that spiritual feeling
-
and know that the presence of the Holy
Spirit is felt very strongly then at the
-
Jordan. Fr. T: It’s good you mentioned
that. Fortunately or unfortunately,
-
there’s this tendency in the church to
outbid miracles, leading to two extremes.
-
Fr. J: Yes, and especially in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, you all know that many
-
videos circulate, including one that has
been around for years. It shows the Stone
-
of Anointing, the place where Christ was
anointed with oils before being laid in
-
the tomb. This ritual was inherited from
the ancient Egyptians during Israel's
-
captivity in Egypt, the practice of
anointing and embalming. And this Stone
-
of Anointing is reddish in color.
Christians constantly apply myrrh to
-
this stone and the light hits it in a
certain way, making it appear red.
-
Many have filmed it, claiming to be blood
on the Stone of Anointing, and these
-
videos reach us in Jerusalem, prompting us
to discern their truth. This is not true,
-
in this case it is not true. It is merely
the myrrh reflecting on the reddish
-
marble, leading people into a frenzy over
the supposed miracle in Jerusalem. No.
-
There are many miracles, but we must
approach them with caution.
-
Fr. T: Obviously.
Fr. J: Even if we feel or experience
-
something there, it is wise to consult
knowledgeable fathers of the Holy
-
Sepulchre and ask them if what we witness
is indeed real. Fr. T: So, folks,
-
seek information from credible sources.
That’s why I have father John here,
-
Not Synced
to share firsthand and spiritual insights
about what truly happens there.
-
Not Synced
The miracle at the Jordan is genuinely
divine, while others are merely viral
-
Not Synced
sensations on WhatsApp or, God knows,
fabrications. I firmly believe that we
-
Not Synced
embrace Orthodoxy for its therapeutic
power, for the experience of grace,
-
Not Synced
and for our healing—not for the sake of
miracles alone. We do not seek spectacle.
-
Not Synced
Where does this miracle occur? What is
the exact location? I understand there are
-
Not Synced
two sites, is that correct?
Fr. J: Yes. The sources of the Jordan are
-
Not Synced
at the base of Mount Hermon in northern
Israel, near the border with Lebanon.
-
Not Synced
The spot where the Jordan springs forth
is truly remarkable. Water bursts forth
-
Not Synced
from the base of the mountain with great
force. Fr. T: I didn't know that.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: There are indeed two springs. In
Aramaic, they are called Iar Den, and
-
Not Synced
these two sources unite as if reflecting
the dual nature of Jesus Christ—human and
-
Not Synced
divine—flowing forth in beautiful,
powerful waterfalls from Mount Hermon.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: So a substantial flow.
Fr. J: A very substantial flow, especially
-
Not Synced
now in winter. The water is pure and
excellent for drinking, much like the
-
Not Synced
waters of the Holy Mountain, and it feeds
into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of
-
Not Synced
Galilee is nourished by the Jordan River.
There are other springs in the Sea of
-
Not Synced
Galilee because it’s worth noting that the
Sea of Galilee is not a saltwater sea but
-
Not Synced
a freshwater lake. From the Sea of
Galilee, the Jordan continues on its
-
Not Synced
journey toward the Dead Sea. Of course,
this site of the Lord's Baptism, near
-
Not Synced
Jericho – as the writings say – is a
valley where the water is murky, rich in
-
Not Synced
sand due to the surrounding desert. If we
travel back thousands of years, we find
-
Not Synced
the Israelites emerging from Egyptian
bondage. Moses remained on Mount Nebo
-
Not Synced
in Jordan, denied by God the blessing to
enter the Promised Land, only able to
-
Not Synced
behold it. When the Israelites first
glimpsed the Promised Land, the impact
-
Not Synced
must have been profound. After wandering
for forty years through the desert, from
-
Not Synced
Egypt to that place, they were met with a
vision of natural abundance. At the time
-
Not Synced
when they saw the Promised Land from this
Mount Nebo, it was a forest filled with
-
Not Synced
animals, as the Jordan River flowed
through a delta, nourishing the Jericho
-
Not Synced
region. And it was a forest of cedars,
with towering trees, lush vegetation,
-
Not Synced
and diverse wildlife. Fr. T: So a place
flowing with milk and honey.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: So that's exactly how it looks
then – milk and honey in this area,
-
Not Synced
being made fertile by the river. In fact,
without the Jordan River, this area
-
Not Synced
would have been uninviting—a mere
wasteland devoid of water.
-
Not Synced
Without fresh water you couldn't do
anything in this area, the Promised Land
-
Not Synced
would not exist. Fr. T: I am utterly
surprised by this. Why? Because
-
Not Synced
I have seen the Jordan, and right now, you
could cross it on foot, I mean, it is...
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: The river is about 20 meters wide
and 1.5 to 2 meters deep. Of course,
-
Not Synced
if it rains in this area during this time
of year, the flow increases. But we must
-
Not Synced
remember that during the time of the
Savior, the flow was much higher.
-
Not Synced
Today, much of this fresh water is used
for irrigation. And Israel – they draw
-
Not Synced
fresh water through pipes and use it for
irrigation, Jordan too. The Jordan serves
-
Not Synced
as the boundary between the two countries,
and both utilize this water for irrigation
-
Not Synced
and the greenhouses they have built along
its banks. There is, of course, a stream
-
Not Synced
that flows into the Dead Sea, but it does
not raise its water level because,
-
Not Synced
in summer, the fresh water evaporates
quickly due to the intense heat in this
-
Not Synced
area. Consider that summer temperatures
near the Jordan can reach 50°C during
-
Not Synced
the day. From an archaeological
perspective, we know that the original
-
Not Synced
site of the Lord's Baptism is slightly
within present-day Jordan.
-
Not Synced
Remains of a church built by Empress
Helen, a Byzantine church, have been found
-
Not Synced
there, marking the spot where Christ was
baptized. However, this site is very close
-
Not Synced
to the current course of the Jordan.
Why do I say this? Because thousands
-
Not Synced
of years ago, this area was a delta in a
desert of sand. The Jordan River has
-
Not Synced
changed frequently and easily, especially
during floods. Two thousand years ago,
-
Not Synced
during the time of the Savior, the Jordan
flowed slightly toward what is now Jordan.
-
Not Synced
The baptism likely occurred there, not in
present-day Israel. But it is that area,
-
Not Synced
and we sanctify the Jordan, remembering
symbolically and spiritually that Christ
-
Not Synced
entered these waters. Just as the Divine
Liturgy is celebrated, with countless
-
Not Synced
holy sacrifices on holy altars not only in
Jerusalem or on Zion where the Last Supper
-
Not Synced
took place. The same here, at the Jordan.
Even if there is a difference of a few
-
Not Synced
hundred meters or kilometers between where
we sanctify the Jordan today and where it
-
Not Synced
flowed two millennia ago.
Fr. T: Indeed, and we see that God listens
-
Not Synced
and validates us...
Fr. J: And He shows mercy, of course.
-
Not Synced
And it is truly a beautiful celebration,
with many pilgrims arriving from across
-
Not Synced
the Orthodox world.
Fr. T: Are baptisms performed there today?
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: Yes, I’ve performed baptisms
myself. Not only we enter the Jordan
-
Not Synced
River, sanctifying it and blessing
Christians with its water, we sing the
-
Not Synced
chant of the Lord's Baptism, but we’ve had
baptisms there by the river just like we
-
Not Synced
had when we were children.
Fr. T: Glory to God!
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: We are even preparing to baptize a
young man who studies in Israel. He is
-
Not Synced
half Russian, half Jewish, and he wishes
to become a Christian because he loves
-
Not Synced
Jesus Christ. This was his strongest
argument for wanting to embrace
-
Not Synced
Christianity. Right when I return to
Jerusalem, we will perform his baptism
-
Not Synced
in the Jordan River. Meaning, with all
that baptism means: exorcisms,
-
Not Synced
triple immersion in the Jordan river,
anointing with the Holy and Great Chrism,
-
Not Synced
and Holy Communion. Fr. T: Glory to God!
You will be like Saint John the Baptist.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: Saint John the Baptist lived in
this rugged area of the Jordan, where
-
Not Synced
he baptized Jesus Christ.
Fr. T: He's your patron saint, isn’t he?
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: My patron saint because I was
tonsured on January 7, the feast day
-
Not Synced
of Saint John the Baptist, and I know that
he’s your patron saint too because you |
-
Not Synced
resembles him a bit, like that, tougher.
Fr. T: A little bit because I also have
-
Not Synced
Saint John the Theologian. Yes, we need to
be a little bit... Do you feel the grace
-
Not Synced
of Saint John the Baptist there? And his
presence. Fr. J: Considerably!
-
Not Synced
Primarily of Saint John the Baptist, but
think that in this valley of the Jordan –
-
Not Synced
the border between Israel and Jordan
today – thousands of saints lived.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Yes! Fr. J: Through this place,
the people of Israel passed, entering
-
Not Synced
with the Ark of the Covenant, coming from
Egyptian bondage and heading towards
-
Not Synced
Jerusalem the first time they set it up at
Shiloh somewhere near Jerusalem.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Did they pass through there?
Fr. J: They passed through the Valley of
-
Not Synced
the Hozeva and crossed the Jordan right at
the spot we are sanctifying today.
-
Not Synced
The waters separated As the Ark of the
Covenant crossed the Jordan. It was a
-
Not Synced
foreshadowing of what was to happen —
Christ entering the waters of the Jordan.
-
Not Synced
Not far from there, Elijah was taken up to
heaven in his chariot of fire, and Elisha,
-
Not Synced
with Elijah’s mantle, parted the waters
of the Jordan as he crossed into the
-
Not Synced
wilderness. Fr. T: It seems that place is
Fr. J: The same place where Naaman the
-
Not Synced
Syrian was healed by dipping seven times
in the Jordan. Fr. T: Glory to God!
-
Not Synced
So much holiness, great holiness!
Fr. J: Obeying Elisha to enter the Jordan
-
Not Synced
in order to be cured of leprosy. It was
also there that Mary of Egypt crossed
-
Not Synced
the Jordan, seeking repentance for her
sins in the wilderness. Our patron saint,
-
Not Synced
John the Baptist, lived there too. And so
did our contemporary saint, John Jacob
-
Not Synced
the Hosevite, whose whole relics are in
the Monastery of Hozeva. He was the abbot
-
Not Synced
of our Romanian church by the banks of
the Jordan. Fr. T: Please, tell us!
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: Yes, we have three churches in
Jerusalem, as I mentioned in the previous
-
Not Synced
program. One is the Romanian
Patriarchate's representation at the
-
Not Synced
holy sites in Jerusalem. The Romanian
establishment in Jericho, founded in 2000,
-
Not Synced
marks a newer addition, as a cornerstone.
That year, all Orthodox patriarchs
-
Not Synced
gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate 2000
years since the birth of Jesus Christ,
-
Not Synced
during which the cornerstone for the
Jericho establishment was laid.
-
Not Synced
That’s when the foundation stone for the
Romanian Jericho establishment was laid.
-
Not Synced
The two churches—the ones at the Jordan
and Jerusalem—were both established in
-
Not Synced
1935 when their foundations were laid.
So, we have these three churches.
-
Not Synced
In two of them the Divine Liturgy is
served daily, and we hope to restore
-
Not Synced
the third, the Romanian Hermitage at the
Jordan, located on the Israeli bank where
-
Not Synced
about eight Christian monasteries stand.
Unfortunately, all were closed in 1967
-
Not Synced
during the Six-Day War between the Arab
coalition and Israel. Mines and bombs were
-
Not Synced
planted throughout the Jordan Valley,
including in the walls of the monasteries,
-
Not Synced
to prevent any enemy from entering Israel.
For 50 years, access to that area was
-
Not Synced
impossible. In recent years, this area has
been cleared of mines, and we are set to
-
Not Synced
take over the monastery for renovation,
rebuilding it so that the flame is lit
-
Not Synced
there too, a Romanian candle for the
Romanian people. It is a profound blessing
-
Not Synced
for us, as Romanians, to have this church
by the Jordan River, the very place where
-
Not Synced
John the Baptist lived, where the Lord was
baptized, and where a saint served as
-
Not Synced
abbot for nearly six years. Our saint,
John Jacob of Hozeva, served as abbot
-
Not Synced
there for nearly six years.
Fr. T: One of the last abbots, since you
-
Not Synced
mentioned there was a period when it was
closed. Fr. J: Yes, he was abbot there
-
Not Synced
right around the 1950s.
Fr. T: Glory to God! I didn't know that...
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: This area holds a rich spiritual
heritage. Many monasteries thrived in the
-
Not Synced
early centuries of Christianity and
thousands of monks and hermits lived
-
Not Synced
there. Tragically, they were all killed,
and the churches and monasteries
-
Not Synced
were destroyed during the first Persian
invasion in 614. The second invasion
-
Not Synced
in 620 obliterated what little remained
from the first. Fr. T: I understand that
-
Not Synced
only the Church of Bethlehem remained.
Fr. J: It is the sole church built by
-
Not Synced
Empress Helen. Your mention of Bethlehem
is timely as we prepare for the Nativity of
-
Not Synced
the Lord. The only church built by
Empress Helen that is still standing,
-
Not Synced
she wanted to build churches in all the
places where Jesus passed.
-
Not Synced
It is the one in Bethlehem, which is also
a UNESCO World heritage site.
-
Not Synced
It is 1,700 years old. While Emperor
Justinian the Great made some improvements
-
Not Synced
the original structure was entirely built
by Empress Helen. Tradition holds that
-
Not Synced
when the Persians entered on horseback—
an act intended to desecrate churches
-
Not Synced
and altars—they found exquisite mosaics on
the walls. Recently uncovered when
-
Not Synced
the church was rebuilt, this Byzantine
mosaic depicts the Magi presenting gifts
-
Not Synced
to baby Jesus, as recounted in the Gospels
And they asked, “Who are these figures
-
Not Synced
dressed in the garments of our ancestors?”
The Christians replied, “They are your
-
Not Synced
forebears, who brought gifts to the
baby Jesus. The star brought them."
-
Not Synced
Astonished, the Persians declared,
“Interesting, we shall leave this church
-
Not Synced
intact.” Thus, it was spared from
destruction, that being the argument.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Glory to God! God's Providence
Fr. J: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
-
Not Synced
was destroyed by the Persians in 614. What
stands now was built by Empress Melisende,
-
Not Synced
the Crusader Empress, in 1614.
Fr. T: Really? So it's not from the
-
Not Synced
Byzantine period? Fr. J: No. Inside, the
Holy Sepulchre showcases a blend of
-
Not Synced
architectural styles. Gothic, Byzantine,
Armenian, these reflect the four major
-
Not Synced
Christian confessions that serve there:
Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Armenians,
-
Not Synced
and Copts—the Christians from Alexandria
—who have a small altar behind the Holy
-
Not Synced
Sepulchre. Fr. T: I see, and that reflects.
You mentioned that you celebrate the
-
Not Synced
Nativity on January 7 like we do.
But the Nativity of the Lord is on
-
Not Synced
December 25, how? Fr. J: It is actually
the same date. The difference lies in the
-
Not Synced
Gregorian and Julian calendars. Many
Christians don’t grasp why we celebrate,
-
Not Synced
for example, the Nativity of the Lord
twice. I myself will celebrate the
-
Not Synced
Nativity of the Lord in Romania
on December 25 and then return to
-
Not Synced
Jerusalem, where we prepare for the
Nativity in Bethlehem. Christ was born
-
Not Synced
only once, obviously. He rose only once.
We see that the calendar is also common
-
Not Synced
for the countries that have this change
from the old calendar to the new calendar.
-
Not Synced
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, Greece, and
Romania adhere to the new calendar,
-
Not Synced
while Russia, Mount Athos, Jerusalem,
and Serbia follow the old. Yet, we all
-
Not Synced
share the Resurrection of Christ.
The Triodion and Pentecostarion stand as
-
Not Synced
testaments against those who seek to
divide the true faith and the unity of the
-
Not Synced
Church, reminding us that Christ rose
but a single time. Regarding the Nativity,
-
Not Synced
as I was saying, Christians on the new
calendar celebrate it on December 25,
-
Not Synced
while those on the old on January 7;
Fundamentally, these dates converge.
-
Not Synced
Only a service book, the Menaion, differs
in how we commemorate the day and
-
Not Synced
the saint.Consider Mount Athos, which
follows the old calendar but remains under
-
Not Synced
the canonical authority of the Ecumenical
Patriarch of Constantinople, who has the
-
Not Synced
new calendar.
Fr. T: Yes, and he is our direct bishop.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: Indeed, he is our direct bishop,
-
Not Synced
showing no division, hatred, or schism—
unlike Peter of Alexandria, who saw
-
Not Synced
the Savior with the torn shirt. We have
not torn anything because we have
-
Not Synced
preserved unity through the ordination of
bishops, tracing back to the apostles.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Obviously.
Fr. J: Or from the apostles onwards.
-
Not Synced
In fact, this is what connects us and a
prime example is Mount Athos, which has
-
Not Synced
preserved the old calendar yet remains
under the canonical authority of the
-
Not Synced
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
They, having many churches worldwide,
-
Not Synced
follow the new calendar. And they
demonstrate unity. Fr. T: Yes, exactly.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: And obedience, which is essential
in the Church. Fr. T: Essential, and I
-
Not Synced
believe this is the core issue with
the calendar, brethren. It’s not about
-
Not Synced
thirteen days plus minus, it’s about using
this astronomical matter as an excuse
-
Not Synced
to break away from obedience and to
fracture the Church. Brethren, do not
-
Not Synced
fracture the Church! Don't break the
Church! I want to tell you an incident
-
Not Synced
with Saint Paisios the Hagiorite. There
was a man who wanted to break away
-
Not Synced
from the Church's authority, to rebel
against his lawful bishop. He was drawn
-
Not Synced
to the Old Calendarists and carried two
books in his pockets: one from his bishop
-
Not Synced
and another from the Old Calendarists,
who convinced him to leave the unity of
-
Not Synced
the Church. The people from the metropolis
warned him, saying, “Do not do this;
-
Not Synced
it is wrong,” but he was resolute in his
belief. He decided, “I will go to Mount
-
Not Synced
Athos and ask Father Paisios—St. Paisios,
yes—because he will give me the answer
-
Not Synced
I seek.” He hoped that, following the
Julian calendar and being a saint,
-
Not Synced
Father Paisios would affirm his decision.
Upon arriving at Mount Athos, he entered
-
Not Synced
Saint Paisios’s cell without even stating
his name or opening his mouth. St. Paisios
-
Not Synced
immediately said, “That book from the
metropolis in your pocket is good;
-
Not Synced
the other one, burn it. Go! Leave! So I
want to say that the Holy Spirit spoke
-
Not Synced
through Saint Paisios, emphasizing that
the unity of the Church must come first;
-
Not Synced
there is no alternative.
Fr. J: It is a very good argument because
-
Not Synced
we all love Saint Paisios the Hagiorite.
And there is another similar story, true,
-
Not Synced
with Elder Joseph the Hesychast,
Saint Joseph the Hesychast. He faced
-
Not Synced
great turmoil when the calendar changed.
Many disciples sought his counsel,
-
Not Synced
yet he was uncertain whether to follow
the new calendar or not.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: With the monasteries, because he
was at a cell and there were many zealots
-
Not Synced
there at the cell. Fr. J: And he heard a
voice in his heart that told him:
-
Not Synced
obey the Constantinople! Fr. T: Exactly.
My Church is at Constantinople.
-
Not Synced
It was the Mother of God. Saint Ephraim
the Katounakiotis found himself in a
-
Not Synced
similarly challenging predicament. His
abbot, a simple man suffering from nervous
-
Not Synced
ailments, father Nicephorus said, "Well, I
have this calendar and I stick to it
-
Not Synced
and that’s it." And St. Ephraim saw
something like an air that hindered grace.
-
Not Synced
During every Liturgy, he witnessed the
descent of grace upon the Holy Gifts,
-
Not Synced
yet felt this obstruction. Only through
tears could he serve the Divine Liturgy
-
Not Synced
and witness the transformation of the
Gifts. And after he came with the Church,
-
Not Synced
with Constantinople, so with the lawful
bishop of the place, it was gone.
-
Not Synced
Struggling internally with this conflict,
he had a vision. He stood on a high cliff
-
Not Synced
by the sea when a piece of rock broke away
and fell into the sea. In a remarkable leap,
-
Not Synced
he jumped from the crumbling cliff that
was crashing into the roaring waves,
-
Not Synced
only to land safely on solid ground, free
from danger. And he questioned,
-
Not Synced
"What is this?" Then he truly heard the
voice of the Mother of God, "The grace
-
Not Synced
says this is the Church; those who have
rejected it are the old calendarists."
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: We know, Father, that God has
often made concessions to us, His people.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Yes, exactly.
Fr. J: To show His love for us.
-
Not Synced
The same happened with the calendar.
Initially, it was a matter of astronomy,
-
Not Synced
then politics have possibly played a
role in this distinction. Yet, Christ
-
Not Synced
has revealed the truth through the
wonderful saints contemporary with us.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Obviously.
Fr. J: Because contemporary saints
-
Not Synced
were needed to demonstrate this.
He showed us the right path.
-
Not Synced
And in the Church, obedience is essential,
father, because we cannot hold on to
-
Not Synced
the others. In our secular society, where
the influence of platforms like TikTok
-
Not Synced
brainwashes our youth, destroys their
brains and so on, the importance of
-
Not Synced
obedience cannot be overstated. Education
at home, at church, catechization of
-
Not Synced
young people – these are essential things.
Fr. T: Indeed, because loneliness is
-
Not Synced
a foretaste of hell. Fr. J: Loneliness
comes from the devil. And young people
-
Not Synced
ask us, it comes to my mind now, “well,
yes, but doesn’t “monk” mean being alone?
-
Not Synced
“Because you’ve distanced yourself from
the world, father,” they say to me.
-
Not Synced
I am not alienated because I live in the
heart of Bucharest, or in the center of
-
Not Synced
Jerusalem, I’m anything but alienated.
True, I don't have a biological family,
-
Not Synced
but I have a greater family than my
spiritual children because they are
-
Not Synced
my family. Fr. T: That's right.
Fr. J: The spiritual family.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: And you are united with all through
God. Fr. J: The term "monk" – "monachos"
-
Not Synced
in Greek – means alone, alone with God.
A person can never truly be alone.
-
Not Synced
There’s no other way. You are either with
God or with the devil. Fr. T: Obviously.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: What’s happening in society today
shows that the devil is taking a heavy
-
Not Synced
toll by destroying our youth. I urge
young parents to remember how their
-
Not Synced
grandparents and parents raised them.
They should raise their children the same
-
Not Synced
in the fear of God and instill a love for
the traditions we still hold dear in
-
Not Synced
Romania. Fr. T: Yes... Glory to the Lord!
Fr. J: We possess these traditions even
-
Not Synced
more than the Greeks do.
Fr. T: Indeed, much more, yes.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: Not to mention the Israelis.
They are quite secularized.
-
Not Synced
Fr. T: Let's remain optimistic!
Fr. J: We are, but we must also be
-
Not Synced
realistic. Fr. T: Yes, that's right, a
realistic optimism.
-
Not Synced
Fr. J: That’s what our beloved Father,
His Eminence Justinian of Maramureș,
-
Not Synced
the voivode of Maramureș used to say,
“Father John, neither optimists
-
Not Synced
nor pessimists. Realists.”
Fr. T: So help us God!
-
Not Synced
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
-
Not Synced
have mercy on us! Amen