Hemorrhaging
The Church is Hemorrhaging Her Youth
Our youth, just as seen in the denominations, are leaving the Church in droves, by the time they leave high school. Most are drawn away because their friends are not church goers, and sports activities and entertainment, along with their friends, become temptations for even the most serious young man or woman, who had been seemingly serious about their faith.
There are, in addition, a myriad of reasons our youth leave the Faith. Some simply don't have the drive to keep their linguistic and cultural heritage alive, as did their parents and grandparents. They are culturally with their friends, and the long services in a language they don't understand, leave them cold. Their faith has been allowed to be on the surface only, for although attending service all their lives, Christ never became personal with them, possibly because they never heard their priest, or parents, share their own personal relationship with Christ. Perhaps they never saw the life changing transformation that takes place when someone has this personal relationship with Christ, in their priest or parents.
If the Church is primarily a cultural preservation society, our youth will leave the Church at the same time they leave their parents home. If their priest appears as a wizard, performing the proper rituals and rites, in the correct language, and with the proper length, our young with be hemorrhaged from the faith of their forefathers, and will move on to find something that is relevant to them, personally.
Our youth must be engaged at a young age with their bishops and priests, and must be made to feel they really do care for them. They must know that their priest loves them. They must know that their bishop is a father to them, and not simply a monarch-like official who ritualistically enters their parish temple a few times a year, and otherwise remaining aloof from them. If our youth do not feel loved and respected by their bishop and priest, they will ultimately walk away. if they feel their world view is dismissed, their ideas discounted, and their doubts dismissed, and their youth culture frowned upon, whatever faith they have will grow cold, and they will be hemorrhaged from the Church.
Parents and clergy must not remain above these young people, overlords of tradition and rules, but must be engaging, loving, thinking, purveyors of the faith. Parents and clergy must live the transformational life that is the result of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, for how can the joy of a life in Christ, and the love that emanates forth from such a life, not be the draw needed, to keep our youth in Church?
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Tuesday September 10, 2013 / August 28, 2013
12th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Venerable Moses the Black of Scete (400).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Job of Pochaev (1651).
New Martyrs Archimandrite Sergius (Zaytsev) and monks of Zilantov Monastery of Kazan (1918) hieromonks Laurecnce (Nikitin), Seraphim (Kuz'min), hierodeacon Theodosius (Alexandrov), monks Leontius (Kariagin), Stephen, brothers Gregory (Timofeev), Hylarion (Pravdin), John (Sretensky), Sergius (Galin) (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1931).
New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1937).
Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose relics repose in the Far Cave of Venerable Theodosius.
Venerable Sabbas, abbot of Krypetsk (1495).
Righteous Anna the Prophetess and Daughter of Phanuel, who met the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem (1st c.).
Martyr Queen Shushaniki (Susanna) of Georgia (475) (Georgia).
St. Amphilochius, bishop of Vladimir, Volhynia (1122).
Righteous Hezekiah, king of Judah (691 B.C.).
Venerable Theodore (Monk Theodosius of the Kiev Caves), prince of Ostrog (1483).
New Hieromartyr Chrysostom, metropolitan of Smyrna (1922) (Greek).
33 Martyrs of Nicomedia (Greek).
Martyrs Diomedes and Laurence (Greek).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Job of Pochaev (1651).
New Martyrs Archimandrite Sergius (Zaytsev) and monks of Zilantov Monastery of Kazan (1918) hieromonks Laurecnce (Nikitin), Seraphim (Kuz'min), hierodeacon Theodosius (Alexandrov), monks Leontius (Kariagin), Stephen, brothers Gregory (Timofeev), Hylarion (Pravdin), John (Sretensky), Sergius (Galin) (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1931).
New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1937).
Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose relics repose in the Far Cave of Venerable Theodosius.
Venerable Sabbas, abbot of Krypetsk (1495).
Righteous Anna the Prophetess and Daughter of Phanuel, who met the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem (1st c.).
Martyr Queen Shushaniki (Susanna) of Georgia (475) (Georgia).
St. Amphilochius, bishop of Vladimir, Volhynia (1122).
Righteous Hezekiah, king of Judah (691 B.C.).
Venerable Theodore (Monk Theodosius of the Kiev Caves), prince of Ostrog (1483).
New Hieromartyr Chrysostom, metropolitan of Smyrna (1922) (Greek).
33 Martyrs of Nicomedia (Greek).
Martyrs Diomedes and Laurence (Greek).
You can read the life of the saint in red, by clicking on the name.
THANKS 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 for the Day
2 Corinthians 5:10-15
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.Mark 1:9-15
John Baptizes Jesus
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”Satan Tempts Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
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