The Terror of the Dread Second Coming and Universal Judgment

“The present life is a wrestling school, a gymnasium, a battle, a smelting furnace, and a dyer’s house of virtue” – St John Chrysostom

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

Leave-Taking of Mid-Pentecost

Dear Ones

Blessings.

The Terror of the Dread Second Coming and Universal Judgment

An ascetic Elder said: ‘If it were possible, after the General Resurrection of the dead during the Second Coming, for the soul to depart once more from the body, assuredly all men would die from fear and from horrible and terrifying astonishment. For how is it possible for one not to be scared to death at seeing the heavens open up and God appear in wrath and anger, at seeing the innumerable ranks of the Heavenly Powers descending with Him and all men gathered together in the same place? So, let us think always about such things and live with the thought that to such a Judge and before such a terrifying Tribunal we will be called to stand to and account for our deeds.

Evergetinos

Apocalypse Soon: An Exposition of the Revelation

Schedule of Classes

Lecture #1 Rev. 1 The Vision of the Glorified Christ – 4/22

Lecture #2 Rev. 2-3 The Messages to the Seven Churches – 4/29

Lecture #3 Rev. 4-5 Almighty God’s Throne and Book – 5/13

Lecture #4 Rev. 6-7 The Seven Seals – 5/27

Lecture #5 Rev. 8-11 The Seven Trumpets – 6/10

Lecture #6 Rev. 12-14 The Seven Symbolic Histories – 6/17

Lecture #7 Rev. 15-16 The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath – 6/24

Lecture #8 Rev. 17-18 The Seven Messages of Judgment on Babylon – 7/8

Lecture #9 Rev. 19- 20 Satan’s Doom – 7/29

Lecture #10 Rev. 21 – 22 The Final Reality – Heaven is a City – 8/5

Ambulance Drones

https://WWW.youtube.Com/embed/y-rEI4bezWc

Pray for Juliana George, Assyrian Christian Teen (16) Abducted in Bagdad, Iraq

Can you imagine living like this as Christians in the Middle East? Always wondering if your girls will be stolen?

A 16 year-old Assyrian girl, Juliana George, was abducted from her home in Baghdad 7 days ago. A person knocked on the door of her home and when she answered she was abducted by 4 men and placed into a taxi which sped away. Her grandfather Joseph, who is a priest, chased the taxi on foot and grabbed on to the door, but as the taxi sped away he could not hold on and fell to the side. A man riding a bicycle witnessed the incident and followed the taxi. He recorded the license plate of the car and returned and gave it to Fr. Joseph.

The police were able to find the taxi and its owner, who is in custody but has refused to talk.

In a telephone conversation with AINA, Juliana’s father said she called him once and asked for ice cream, but he had not heard from her or the kidnappers again. “I used to tuck her into bed and cover her every night,” he said, weeping. “Who is doing that now, who is feeding her? It has been 7 days now and no one seems to care, no one is doing anything.”

There is no information on the whereabouts of Juliana and the 3 kidnappers.

Beautiful Video of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery

If you read EVERYDAY SAINTS (and I hope you did!) you can see in this video many of the beautiful elders mentioned in the book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySj8Mw1BkqU

Professor Clay Christenson of Harvard on How Democracy Only Works with the Support of Religion

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjntXYDPw44

News on the Immoral Vaccination Bill Being Pushed in Ca’s Legislature

http://www.cogforlife.org/2015/05/11/pressvaxca/

Orthodox Participation at March for Marriage on the National Mall

http://www.crownthem.org/blog/

See pictures of participants, hear Fr Hans Jacobse’s talk (featured by proponents of same-sex marriage on rightwingwatch.com – a true compliment to Fr Hans!)

Great Summary of Oral Arguments in the Supreme Court about Same-Sex Marriage

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/biology-vs.-feelings-the-supreme-court-asks-what-defines-marriage-in-oral-a?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5807524fbc-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac-5807524fbc-397566645

Sign the CitizenGo Petition Asking the Supremes Not to Force Same-Sex Marriage on the Nation

http://citizengo.org/en/21900-dont-impose-same-sex-marriage-usa?m=5&tcid=12289897

Rod Dreher Post : Orthodox Christianity vs. LGBT War

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/lgbt-christianity-war/

Memory Eternal! Father Roman (Braga)

Deeply respected Elder and spiritual father, Roman (Braga) fell asleep in Christ on April 28th at the age of 93 at the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Rives Junction, MI. See http://www.fatherromanbraga.com for more info and please pray for the repose of his soul. May God grant him Paradise. Christ is risen!

Fellowships Sponsored by the GOA for the UN

https://goarch.formstack.com/forms/un_fellowship

Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Fellowship at the United Nations

Application

Submission Deadline: May 31, 2015

Requirements & Basic Instructions

Applicants must be an Orthodox Christian already enrolled in a graduate or post-graduate program by the start of the fellowship.
Recent graduates (up to five years) from graduate and post-graduate programs may also apply.
Applicant must complete all required fields of this application.
Applicants will be contacted to schedule a Skype interview for the week of June 22 – 26.

Service Schedule

Wednesday 6pm Paraklesis to St. Nektarios for the Healing of the Sick, 7pm Lecture #3 The Throne that Governs All – in the Series Apocalypse Soon: An Exposition of the Revelation of St. John

Thursday 5pm Vespers

Saturday 530pm Great Vespers

Forgive me.

Fr Josiah