Christophobia
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| Photos of the Monastery's library and community room. |
Christianity Under Attack
The cover of the February 13th addition of Newsweek
magazine displayed a photo of a blood stained Coptic Orthodox icon of
Christ, with the headline, "The War on Christians". This article is the
first of note that has appeared in the mainline media, and one would
hope other publications will take note of this under reported, but
growing trend.
According to the article, terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia increased 309% from 2003 to 2010. It is apparent that in some cases the persecution of Christians is not state sponsored, but the fact that the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted has only served to encourage radical Muslims to inflict terror and violence upon their Christian neighbors. In the case of Egypt, the Bombing of the church of Two Saints in Alexandria was said to be done by the state but covered up. The Maspero incident last October, where around 27 Copts were killed and hundreds injured by its own Egyptian Army, was terrorism that was clearly sponsored by the state. TV reports stated on live television that Copts were attacking the Army and that "all honorable Egyptian citizens must go and defend their army", scores of Muslims took to the streets and hunted Copts like they were animals!
Anyone who openly embraces the doctrine of the Trinity, is considered a blasphemer, and the death penalty is mandated. That Muslims consider us to be monotheists like themselves, is simply not true. Islamist believe the Christian teaching regarding the Holy Trinity is blasphemous, and that we Christians worship three gods. Our view that Christ is both God and man, and is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is falsely seen by Muslims as to mean that God the Father had sex with the Holy Virgin, Christ being the offspring of this relationship. Such a teaching would be considered heretical to any true Christian, for we know that Christ, as the Logos, was from all eternity, One with the Father.
That the Western press would tout an age of democratic ascendancy in the Middle East, because of the Arab Spring, demonstrates a blatant willingness to ignore the dramatic increase in attacks on Christians. As our American government pressures the Syrian government to cease it's bloody attacks on their own citizenry, the obvious threat to the Christian minority within Syria, once their government falls, is ignored.
Our government's portrayal of Islam as a peaceful religion, without insisting that Islamic countries move swiftly to protect their Christian citizens from further persecution, is a travesty of major proportion. That our country has a tradition of religious tolerance is of no value if we continue to send billions of dollars in aid money to countries that do not protect their own religious minorities. It is time we demand that not one more dollar of aid money be sent to Muslim countries, unless the rights of religious minorities are protected. Enough is enough!
According to the article, terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia increased 309% from 2003 to 2010. It is apparent that in some cases the persecution of Christians is not state sponsored, but the fact that the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted has only served to encourage radical Muslims to inflict terror and violence upon their Christian neighbors. In the case of Egypt, the Bombing of the church of Two Saints in Alexandria was said to be done by the state but covered up. The Maspero incident last October, where around 27 Copts were killed and hundreds injured by its own Egyptian Army, was terrorism that was clearly sponsored by the state. TV reports stated on live television that Copts were attacking the Army and that "all honorable Egyptian citizens must go and defend their army", scores of Muslims took to the streets and hunted Copts like they were animals!
Anyone who openly embraces the doctrine of the Trinity, is considered a blasphemer, and the death penalty is mandated. That Muslims consider us to be monotheists like themselves, is simply not true. Islamist believe the Christian teaching regarding the Holy Trinity is blasphemous, and that we Christians worship three gods. Our view that Christ is both God and man, and is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is falsely seen by Muslims as to mean that God the Father had sex with the Holy Virgin, Christ being the offspring of this relationship. Such a teaching would be considered heretical to any true Christian, for we know that Christ, as the Logos, was from all eternity, One with the Father.
That the Western press would tout an age of democratic ascendancy in the Middle East, because of the Arab Spring, demonstrates a blatant willingness to ignore the dramatic increase in attacks on Christians. As our American government pressures the Syrian government to cease it's bloody attacks on their own citizenry, the obvious threat to the Christian minority within Syria, once their government falls, is ignored.
Our government's portrayal of Islam as a peaceful religion, without insisting that Islamic countries move swiftly to protect their Christian citizens from further persecution, is a travesty of major proportion. That our country has a tradition of religious tolerance is of no value if we continue to send billions of dollars in aid money to countries that do not protect their own religious minorities. It is time we demand that not one more dollar of aid money be sent to Muslim countries, unless the rights of religious minorities are protected. Enough is enough!
Abbot Tryphon
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| Click on photos to enlarge |
Friday February 17, 2012 / February 4, 2012
Week of the Prodigal Son. Tone two.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Fast. Fish Allowed
St. George, prince of Vladimir (1238).
Venerable Cyril, abbot, wonderworker of New Lake (Novgorod) (1532).
New Hieromartyr Methodius bishop of Petropavlovsk (1921).
New Hieromartyrs Eustaphius, John, Alexander, Sergius, John, Theodora, Aleksander, Nicholas, Alexis, Nicholas, Alexis, Alexander, Arcadius, Boris, Michael, Nicholas, Alexis, Andrew, Demetrius, John, Peter priests, Martyr Seraphim, Virgin-martyrs Rafaila, Anna, Catherine, and Martyrs John, Basil, Demetrius, Theodore, and Demetrius (1938).
Venerable Abraham and St. Coprius, monks, of Pechenga (Vologda) (15th c.).
Martyrs Jadorus and Isidore who suffered under Decius (249-251).
Hieromartyr Abramius, bishop of Arbela in Assyria (ca. 344-347).
Venerable Nicholas the Confessor, abbot of the Studion (868).
St. John, of Irenopolis (325).
Venerable Aldate, hieromartyr of Gloucester, England (6th c.) (Celtic & British).
St. Modan, abbot of Stirling and Falkirk.
Martyr Theoctistus (1686) (Greek).
St. Jasim the Wonderwoker (1686) (Greek).
New Martyr Joseph of Aleppo (1686) (Greek).
Hieromartyr Phileas, bishop of Thmuis and martyr Philoromus the Magistrate (303).
St. Evagrius, fellow-ascetic of St. Shio of Mgvime (6th c.) (Georgia).
We are hoping to be able to retire the mortgage debt of 250 thousand dollars. Your prayers and contributions are most appreciated. Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
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| Metropolitan Laurus Memorial Library and Community Room. |
2 John 1:1-13
Greeting the Elect Lady
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Walk in Christ’s Commandments
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And
now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to
you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one
another. 6 This
is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the
commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk
in it.
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses
and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who
abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
John’s Farewell Greeting
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Mark 15:22-25
22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
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The PodCast is always different than the blog article.
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God Bless you Father.
ReplyDeleteWith love in Christ!
fr.Ambrose