A Perilous Situation
The Persecution of Christians in the Middle East
It's
a pity
there is virtually no meaningful or informative conversation taking
place in the United States about the widespread persecution of
Christians throughout the Middle East. Muslims in America
scream and howl at the slightest provocations, yet in the face of the
tragic genocide against Christians throughout the
Islamic world and the 'final solution' for the Christians of the Middle
East, we hear nothing. Prominent Muslim leaders in the United States and
Western Europe remain silent, while Christian Churches in the Middle
East are attacked and burned, and Christians are murdered in the
streets.
The Antiochian Patriarchate is in the most perilous situation, with the impending fall of the Assad regime and the ascendancy of an Islamic government in Syria, yet Christians in the West sit with their collective 'heads in the clouds', with their appeals for peace and brotherhood simply laughed at by the Muslims and ignored by the rest of the world.
Assyrian, Coptic, and Antiochian Christians are suffering some of the worst persecution in history. Christians are leaving the Middle East by the hundreds of thousands, and those who can not leave are facing a genocide that is without precedence, yet the West continues in a state of denial. Linked to the above is the growing problem of Muslim youth engaging in jihadist terror activity that is being brushed off in the West as being racist toward Muslims and making them feel alienated and/or angry, when in fact the root of the problem resides within Islam itself.
It is time we speak out in defense of our fellow Christians in the Middle East, as that which is happening in the Middle East will eventually happen in this country. The Boston Marathon bombing perpetrated by Chechnyan Jihadistsis many be only the beginning. According to Syria's Grand Mufti, the two Orthodox bishops who were kidnapped in Syria, were taken by Chechnyan Jihadists.
The Western world will not be a safer place simply because we refuse to keep our collective heads out of the sand. We must pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the Middle East, and we must speak out in truth, and with courage, lest we be responsible for a genocide that threatens the entire Christian populations in the lands that saw the rise of Christianity in the very beginning. We must not be like the silent German citizens, who refused to speak out when their Jewish neighbors were being rounded up, and sent to the death camps.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
The Antiochian Patriarchate is in the most perilous situation, with the impending fall of the Assad regime and the ascendancy of an Islamic government in Syria, yet Christians in the West sit with their collective 'heads in the clouds', with their appeals for peace and brotherhood simply laughed at by the Muslims and ignored by the rest of the world.
Assyrian, Coptic, and Antiochian Christians are suffering some of the worst persecution in history. Christians are leaving the Middle East by the hundreds of thousands, and those who can not leave are facing a genocide that is without precedence, yet the West continues in a state of denial. Linked to the above is the growing problem of Muslim youth engaging in jihadist terror activity that is being brushed off in the West as being racist toward Muslims and making them feel alienated and/or angry, when in fact the root of the problem resides within Islam itself.
It is time we speak out in defense of our fellow Christians in the Middle East, as that which is happening in the Middle East will eventually happen in this country. The Boston Marathon bombing perpetrated by Chechnyan Jihadistsis many be only the beginning. According to Syria's Grand Mufti, the two Orthodox bishops who were kidnapped in Syria, were taken by Chechnyan Jihadists.
The Western world will not be a safer place simply because we refuse to keep our collective heads out of the sand. We must pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the Middle East, and we must speak out in truth, and with courage, lest we be responsible for a genocide that threatens the entire Christian populations in the lands that saw the rise of Christianity in the very beginning. We must not be like the silent German citizens, who refused to speak out when their Jewish neighbors were being rounded up, and sent to the death camps.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday May 16, 2013 / May 3, 2013
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Martyrs Timothy the Reader and his wife Maura of Antinoe in Egypt (286).
Venerable Theodosius, abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery and founder of cenobitic monasticism in Russia (1074).
Venerable Peter the Wonderworker, bishop of Argos (10th c.).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1941).
Venerables Juliana (1393) and Eupraxia (1394) of Moscow.
St. Theophanes of Vatopedi, metropolitan of Peritheorion (14th c.).
Translation of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople to the Kiev-Pechersk Far Caves (1073).
Pechersk Not-Wrought-by-Hand (1085), "Pechersk" (with Sts. Anthony and Theodosius) (1085), "Sven-Caves" (1288), "Yaskinsky" and Vlakhernsky" Icons of the Mother of God
St. Ansfried, bishop of Utrecht (1010).
Venerable Ecumenius the Wonderworker, bishop of Tricca (Greek).
Translation of the relics of Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion (Greek).
New Martyr Ahmet the Calligrapher of Constantinople (Greek).
New Martyr Mary of Crete. (Greek).
St. Mamai, Catholicos of Georgia (744) (Georgia).
Venerable Fathers Michael and Arsenius the Georgians (9th c.) (Georgia).
Martyr Paul of Vilnius, Lithuania (17th c.).
Great-martyr Xenia the Wonderworker of Peloponnesus.
St. Glywys of Corwall.
Venerable Theodosius, abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery and founder of cenobitic monasticism in Russia (1074).
Venerable Peter the Wonderworker, bishop of Argos (10th c.).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1941).
Venerables Juliana (1393) and Eupraxia (1394) of Moscow.
St. Theophanes of Vatopedi, metropolitan of Peritheorion (14th c.).
Translation of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople to the Kiev-Pechersk Far Caves (1073).
Pechersk Not-Wrought-by-Hand (1085), "Pechersk" (with Sts. Anthony and Theodosius) (1085), "Sven-Caves" (1288), "Yaskinsky" and Vlakhernsky" Icons of the Mother of God
St. Ansfried, bishop of Utrecht (1010).
Venerable Ecumenius the Wonderworker, bishop of Tricca (Greek).
Translation of the relics of Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion (Greek).
New Martyr Ahmet the Calligrapher of Constantinople (Greek).
New Martyr Mary of Crete. (Greek).
St. Mamai, Catholicos of Georgia (744) (Georgia).
Venerable Fathers Michael and Arsenius the Georgians (9th c.) (Georgia).
Martyr Paul of Vilnius, Lithuania (17th c.).
Great-martyr Xenia the Wonderworker of Peloponnesus.
St. Glywys of Corwall.
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
THANK YOU, to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Abbot Tryphon
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
The Scripture Readings
Acts 4:23-31
Prayer for Boldness
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27 “For
truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod
and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were
gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
John 5:24-30
Life and Judgment Are Through the Son
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
I invite my readers to listen to my
Ancient Faith Radio podcasts.
+++Ancient Faith Radio podcasts.
JUNE 9 - "Monasticism Today"
LIVE CALL IN ON
ANCIENT FAITH RADIO
Guest: The V. Rev. Father Tryphon, a monk for almost thirty years, and co-founder and abbot of All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island, WA. Abbot Tryphon speaks with host Kevin Allen of Ancient Faith Radio about all aspects of (Orthodox Christian) monasticism in the 21 century (and perhaps some of his interesting personal journey story).
It will be a live stream -- as AFR is recording it -- but will also be available later as a download on AFR and the AFT archives.
It will stream live via Internet on Ancient Faith Radio TALK is 5 PM - 6:30 PM Pacific (US); 6 PM Mountain; 7 PM Central; and, 8 PM (- 9:30 PM) Eastern.
For foreign countries, please refer to the US standard times and adjust accordingly.
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