And a love that will never cease.
When I fear, He shows me there is hope,
And blesses me with a way to cope.
-poem by Ally, age 8. I love being a child of God. How about you?
21/03/2012
When I worry
And a love that will never cease.
When I fear, He shows me there is hope,
And blesses me with a way to cope.
-poem by Ally, age 8. I love being a child of God. How about you?
Karoulia, Mount Athos
Impressive, aerial photography from the Karoulia hermitages. Watch the hermit ... in the backyard, to observe the uninvited guest.
12 Questions and Answers on Orthodox Confession and Worship.
12 Questions and Answers on Orthodox Confession and Worship.
Transcribed by A.D Kondogianakopoulou
On
Monday 5 September, following an invitation from a Protestant
theological school (postgraduate level) located outside Seoul, the Most
Reverent Metropolitan of Korea, Fr. Ambrose, gave two lectures to 35
postgraduate students, all pastors. The lessons, within which the
lectures were given, were on missions and the Liturgy. We have recorded
the discussions for the most part that followed after each lecture and
provide it below since we believe that the topics raised as well as the
manner of their delivery of the Orthodox confession in Korea is of
particular interest.
***
1st Question: What is your understanding of missionary activities in the Orthodox Church?
Answer: To
start with, the term “mission” does not express the spirit of the
Orthodox Church. We use it compromisingly because it has universal
prevalence. Instead we prefer the term “witness.” The term mission,
which derives from Western theology, does not exist in Holy Scripture,
while the corresponding term, witness, is found many times. The teaching
of the Gospel does not mean to say beautiful words about Christ but to
give a daily witness of Christ with one’s words and with one’s silence,
with works and by example. And if need be, if necessary, to martyr for
Christ, namely, to spill one’s blood for Christ, as was done by millions
of martyrs and confessors of the faith.
2nd Question: What is your opinion on proselytism?
Answer: In
the Orthodox Church we consider proselytism a great sin because it does
not honour man. It tramples upon the precious divine gift of freedom
and debases man’s personality. Proselytism means to impose on someone
else your beliefs by lawful and unlawful means, while confessing Christ
means to struggle, to live according to Christ and to repeat by one’s
words and life, the perennial “come and see” of the Apostle Philip to
any well-intentioned “Nathanael” – your neighbour. The disastrous
results of proselytism of the so-called missionary countries by Western
Christianity, which we face to this day, I believe, does not leave any
margin for the indefinite condemnation of the proselytising process.
3rd Question: What process is followed in the Orthodox Church for someone to work as a missionary?
18/03/2012
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