It’s getting cold out there…

Mr Obama, too, promised his followers to contain ‘Russia’s aggressiveness,’ in true Biden spirit, using the very words that State Secretary Rice is mouthing. Change? Don’t make me laugh… The Good Book says, ‘No one puts new wine into old wineskins’ (Luke 5:37). Alas, ours is a different case. The skin may be new, but [...]

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Battling Russian Bureaucracy One Bite at a Time

During a quarrel with his ex-wife, who was staying in his flat, the man tore out the page showing her right to live there and ate it…
I tell you what, since living in Russia I’ve wanted to take a few bites out of various things as well…

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 20/ July 3

(1 Cor. 1:1-9; Matt. 13:24-30) The good seed had been sown but the enemy came and sowed tares in with the wheat. Tares are heresies and schisms in the Church and in every one of us bad thoughts, feelings, desires, and passions. A man that accepts the good seed, the words of God, decides to [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 9/ June 22

(Rom. 11:25-36; Matt. 12:1-8) “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” So, in order to be delivered from the condemnation of sin it is necessary to develop a merciful heart. A merciful heart not only doesn’t convict apparent violation of the [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 5/ June 18

(Rom. 9:18-33; Matt. 11:2-15) “…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” The Kingdom binds itself, that is with poverty with labour, with effort and podvig; therefore, the one who reaches the Kingdom is the one who lives life through much labour and podvig. With this, on the way [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 4/ June 17

(Rom. 5:1-10; Matt. 6:22-33). “If therefore your eye is good [pure, clean], your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” The eye here stands for the mind and the body the whole soul. Thus, when the mind is simple then in [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 2/ June 15

(Rom. 9:6-19; Matt. 10:32-35(36), 11:1) “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Is it difficult to confess the Lord? In no way is it difficult. How is it difficult to say, when it is demanded, that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: June 1/ June 14

(Rom. 8:22-27; Matt. 10:23-31) “…there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Consequently, as we hide ourselves with our sins there is no profit. The time approaches – is it long in coming? and everything will come into the open. How will we be? It is [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 31/ June 13

(Rom. 8:2-13; Matt. 10:16-22) “…he who endures to the end will be saved.” And what do we have to endure? – you will not be lacking in things to endure. The field of suffering for everyone is wide; it will be your salvation, by the work of your own hands. Endure all to [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 29/ June 11

For anyone who’s actually reading these: sorry for the lull, they have been rather difficult to translate of late.
(Rom. 7:1-13; Matt. 9:36-10:8) Sending the holy Apostles to preach the Lord commanded them to proclaim to all that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” that is, the Kingdom has come – enter into it. [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 23/ June 5

(Rom. 4:4-12; Matt. 7:15-21) “Beware of false prophets.” In the beginning of Christianity and even up to now there hasn’t been a time which hasn’t had this warning. The Lord didn’t show in what way exactly to beware of false prophets or how to determine them. They change, like fashion, and every time [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 21/ June 3

(Heb 11:22-12:2; Matt 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30) Every day the Holy Church remembers the saints but since there were saints of God, having struggled in obscurity, not being revealed to the Church, in order not to leave them without a celebration the Holy Church established a day, in which all those pleasing to God from all [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 19/ June 1

(Rom. 2:14-29; Matt. 5:33-41) “But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil”; otherwise you give yourself up to sacrifice to wayward and evil people. Is it possible to live that way? Don’t worry – the one who gave this command is our guide and guardian. When with complete faith, from all your soul [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 18/31

(Rom. 1:28-2:9; Matt. 5:27-32) “Whoever looks at a woman…has already committed adultery with her”. How is it possible to live in society and not look upon women? After all, not simply looking upon a woman is committing adultery but looking with lust. Look but keep your heart on a leash. Look with the eyes of [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 17/30

(Rom. 1:18-27; Matt. 5:20-26) “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” The characteristics of scribes is such-knowledge of the law without a life according to the law. The characteristics of the Pharisees is such-correctness in external conduct without genuine working [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 15/28: The Day of the Holy Spirit

(Ephesians 5:9-19; Matthew 18:10-20) Consoling His disciples, the Lord said that it is better that He ascends to heaven; for, having ascended He will send in His place and Comforter-Spirit. The Holy Spirit, having descended and remaining in the Church accomplishes in every believer the works of Christ. Every Christian is a participant [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 14/27

This is a rather rickety translation but you should get the idea. Once again, if any happen to read Russian go here and tell me how it should really be translated.
(Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12) Accomplished is the economy of our salvation! The activity of the complete person of the Holy Trinity in this action [...]

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St. Theophan: Thoughts: May 10/23

This is my ‘umble translation of St. Theophan’s Thoughts for every day of the year. (If you want to compare the original go here)
(Acts 23:1-11; John 16:15-23) The Lord says to the holy apostles before his crucifixion: “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see [...]

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A Retrospect

So I graduated in absentia on Sunday (I figured, correctly, that partaking in the Eucharist is a little more important than the parody of bestowing a recognition of “education” on someone). Thus ends my college career (I think seven years is length enough to consider it a career). Follow are observations of this journey…
The average [...]

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A new ascetical exercise?

In the presence of men who have committed their lives to Greek Orthodox monasticism, Lagos tied a babushka under her chin and wore a long skirt. There must not be any distractions.
I would think it would be hard to tie a babushka under the chin but if you can do it you definitely deserve a [...]

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