One of the sister churches of the Indian Orthodox church and a member of the Oriental o'dox church, the Syrian Orthodox church, has been functioning out of Beirut in Lebanon since August '12. It has had a very chaotic history moving from antioch to Homs, then Damascus and now forced out of their own country to Beirut.

Excepting for some monks, the faithful have migrated to US and Europe. The Head Zakka II is in Beirut. The designs of the syrian church to interfere in the Indian church autonomy resulted in alienation of more than 35 lakh believers in the beginning of the twentieth century..

The repeated verdicts of the Indian Supreme Court for truth and justice favouring the Indian o'dox church has been a matter of concern for Syrian church.

The over influence of money and corruption in the selection of bishops in the sIster syrian o'dox church in India has brought shame to all o'dox christians in India.

Will the dying Syria once again host the o'dox church is a very doubtful matter. Either we call them the Lebanon o'dox church or allow the Indian faction to merge with the Indian o'dox church is the call they'll have to take.

In the changed global scenario where Syria is only on map, changing to the times is the need of the hour.

If they forget their differences, we can together be a strong church. Given Indias stategic location, globalised economy, gifted population and total  promise and peaceful tolerant temperament of the people, it is a serious choice which the syrians and their messy supporters in India can never ignore.

George Easaw
Bangalore.

Bible Readings:
Before Holy Qurbana
Exodus 16:1-10
II Kings 4:38-44
Hosea 2: 18-23

Holy Qurbana
I Peter 2:1-10
Philippians 2:12-30
St. Mark 8:1-10

“I have compassion for these people” - St. Mark 8:2

Jesus here repeats the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish.
The first time He acted because He saw a huge crowd like "sheep without a
shepherd". And now He takes pity on them because they have been with Him for
three days and had nothing to eat. This miracle shows how Christ rewards people
who persevere in following Him. The crowd had been following Him and hanging on
His words, forgetful of everything else. We should be like them, attentive and
ready to do what He commands, without any vain concern about the future, for
that would amount to distrusting Divine Providence.

Can anything on earth truly satisfy the hunger we experience for God? The
massive crowd that followed Jesus for three days were hungry for something more
than physical food. They hung upon Jesus’ words as they were hungry for God.
When the disciples were confronted by Jesus with the task of feeding four
thousand people many miles away from any source of food, they exclaimed: Where
in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them? The Israelites
were pressed with the same dilemma when they fled Egypt and found themselves in
a barren wilderness. Just like the miraculous provision of manna in the
wilderness, Jesus Himself provides bread in abundance for the hungry crowd who
came out into the desert to seek Him. The Gospel records that all were satisfied
and they took up what was leftover. When God gives, He gives abundantly -- more
than we deserve and more than we need. He nourishes us with His life-giving Word
and with the bread of heaven.

The sign of the multiplication of the loaves when the Lord says the blessing,
breaks and distributes through his disciples prefigures the superabundance of
the unique bread of His Eucharist or Lord‘s Supper. When we receive from the
Lord‘s table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in His
holy body and blood. This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul
and the strength for our journey heavenward. When we approach the Table of the
Lord, what do we expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for our
soul? The Lord has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The
principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist is an intimate union with Christ. As
bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in
charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to
be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for the bread of
life?

Prayer:

O Father, mold, shape, form me more perfectly into the nature, character, and
lifestyle of Jesus. For you, Lord you are the potter and I am your clay. In his
name I pray. Amen.

Courtesy:
'2013 Lenten Devotionals' published by MGOCSM, Philadelphia

The Canaanite Woman (St. Matthew 15:21-28)
Fr. Jaise K. George, New Delhi

This story is truly about the persistent faith of the Canaanite woman. Jesus
admired her faith as great faith. If Jesus-‘the leader and completer of faith’
(Hebrews. 12:2) has made such a comment we have a lot to learn from her.

I would like to analyze her prayer in an Orthodox perspective.

1. Content of her prayer
Her prayer contained a creed. She addressed Jesus as son of David. This is an
important Christological title of Jesus. Her words are more significant when we
consider description of her as a Canaanite. She is well aware of the ancient
rivalry between the Jews and the Canaanites. She believes He is the promised
Messiah; but if that is true, then He is to her a Jewish king, “Son of David.”
As such, He is sovereign over her and her land, and all she can do is cry for
mercy. Though she was desperate for her daughter, she professed her faith.
The authentic text to understand our faith is our prayer. We don’t have a
practice of defining and documenting everything. So our prayers are faith
proclamations. Let us say for example, the acolyte exhorts “let us respond to
the prayer of the reverend priest”.  Then we say the Nicene creed. Some may ask
whether it is a prayer? some may say, ‘ I didn’t ask for anything’, then hw is
it a prayer?. For many, submitting a list of our demands is prayer. But worship
is an occasion to know God and praise God. Worship is not an intellectual
exercise. We are not praying after knowing everything about God. But we get to 
know Him through prayer. So let us understand the depth of our prayers written
by our fathers and chanted by our parents. An Orthodox Christian is encouraged
to use formal prayers of the Church and he learns day by day, year by year, to
enter more deeply into the mysteries of his faith by using this. If there is no
tradition of extempore prayers in the Orthodox Church this is because the great
richness of the texts of the offices and the large amount of repetition they
contain, both of whole prayers and of particular images and expressions, render
it unnecessary.

	 If we closely analyse her words in this passage we would identify them with the
words which we frequently use in our worship.
	 Lord have mercy on me  - Kurelaison
(  The meaning of Kurielaison is O Lord, have mercy upon us )
	 Yes Lord, 		 - Amen
(Amen means So be it)
	 Lord help me 	 - Moriyo Rahemelainoovadarain
(Moriyo Rahemelain....: Lord have mercy upon us and help us)

Do we really understand the significance of these prayers when we frequently use
these words or do we know the meaning?

2. Gesture of her prayer
“The woman came and knelt before Him” It is the complete submission before the
Almighty. Lent is a period when the church reminds the faithful to practice
prostration. What is the meaning of this practice? Is God so sadist that he
wants us to do some physical effort to please him? We should understand the
meaning of this practice. H.H Baselios Marthoma Paulose II has explained the
essence of prostration in the Makkamkunnu Convention this year. ICON posted the
Malayala Manorama report of the same. When we prostrate each time we kiss the
wound of Jesus Christ. Holy Father continued, “ Do we really know the meaning of
this when  we practice this?”
We are taught to follow certain gestures during prayer like praying towards the
east, making the sign of the cross, stretch our hands and keep our palm open,
bow our heads down etc. Each of this posture has its meaning related with the
occasion of that prayer. But today many have a tendency to question the same.
St. Paul reminds us :  “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly
manner”. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

3. Her persistence in prayer

At first Jesus was silent, no doubt to see if she would persevere--and she did,
following Him down the street crying out. The disciples said, “Send her away.”
The discouraging comments of the disciples and the indifferent attitude of Jesus
didn’t stop her. Her cry denotes her helplessness and her trust upon Jesus. Cry
is the ultimate form of request. We are asked to pray continuously. We may not
be able to  pray seven times a day. But we can pray twice a day.

Jesus prayer has been widely used in Orthodox spirituality. The exact words of
the prayer varies, from a simple form such as "Lord, have mercy" to an extended
form. In the Orthodox tradition the prayer is said or prayed repeatedly. Monks
often have long sessions praying this prayer many hundreds of times each night
as part of their discipline. Its practitioner's ultimate goal is to
"internalize" the prayer, so that one is praying unceasingly there-by
accomplishing Saint Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians to "pray without
ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17). The use of the Jesus Prayer in this way is the
subject of the Russian classic ‘The Way of a Pilgrim’.

Let us be proud of the rich tradition of Orthodox Spirituality. May this Holy
Lent help us to pray and grown in our faith.

Dear all,
 
Last month I visited the St.Paul's Balagram in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh. It is the
home for 36 children, sons of leprosy patients from different parts of India. It
was a fulfilling experience, even though we were there only for a little while.
I have tried to capture my experiences in this blog. Please send feedback.
http://itarsibalagram.blogspot.com/
 
Regards
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY

Arch Bishop of Jerusalem of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Mathias (71),
is elected as the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church,
receiving two-third of the votes cast in an election process conducted on 28th
February 2013. 806 voters who participated in the election were drawn from
Archbishops, representatives of ancient monasteries and 53 dioceses as well as
the faithful, Sunday schools and the clergy.

The rest of the votes were distributed to the other four fathers competing for
the post. Abune Elsaé, Abune Yosef, Abune Matheos and Abune Hizkel received 39,
98, 98 and 70 votes, respectively.

Five delegates from Coptic Orthodox Church also were involved in the election
process The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was under the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox
Church administered by Pope of Alexandria until 1951 when it secured
administrative autonomy. In 1959 the Ethiopian Orthodox Church became Autonomous
and Autocephalous.

Abune Mathias was born Aba Teklemariam Asrat in 1934 Ethiopian calendar (1940/41
European calendar), in Tigray region, Agame awraja, Sebuha Wereda, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Ethiopia's orthodox church has elected a new leader of the influential
body in the predominantly Christian nation. He served in the Holy Trinity
Cathedral, Addis Ababa, from 1964-68 (1971/72 to 75/76) assuming various roles.
Subsequently, he served for three years as a close aide (referred to as "Abune
kesis" and especial secretary) to Patriarch Abune Teklehailmanot. Abune Mathias
is Archbishop of the Church's monastery in Jerusalem when elected as Patriarch.

The enthronement would be held March 3, 2013 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

HH Baselious Pauloe II, Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan is
leading a high level delegation to attend the enthronement ceremony. HH Paulose
II is expected to have an audience with the proposed Patriarch on 2nd March.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the second largest Orthodox Church in the world
second only to Russian Orthodox Church. It is the largest among Oriental
Orthodox Churches with estimated 40 million faithful followers.

Let us earnestly pray for greater unity and communion between various Orthodox
Churches and may the new Patriarch of Ethiopia Abune Mathias be blessed and
favoured by God and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Vinu Thomas, Dubai.

Robin Joseph Baby and Sumit Agrawal, two young Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) officers have put together an exhaustive treatise on securities
laws, which has been published by Taxmann. In the foreword to the book Sebi
Chief U.K. Sinha had said that the journey of securities market reforms in India
over the past two decades has been backed by a comprehensive legislative
framework. He also added that the book Grandnorm of securities laws- Sebi Act
1992 would provide legislative regulatory as well as judicial insight into the
securities laws in India.

Robin Joseph Baby is a member of SGOS. His home parish is Kadeesa Orthodox
Church, Kayamkulam.  At present he lives in Mumbai and is a member of St. Paul's
Orthodox Church, Powai, Mumbai. Robin is the Son of Mrs.  Ashly Mariamma Baby
and Mr. K Baby, members of SGOS. Mr K. Baby is a former Vice President of STOC,
founded by LL HG  Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios.  His sister Mrs. Sherin Susan
Thomas is presently residing at Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.  Robin was a Member of
MGOCSM unit of STOC and has served as the unit's Student Vice President during
1999-2001.

At present Robin is Assistant Legal Advisor with the Legal Affairs Department of
SEBI, Mumbai.  In his tenure with SEBI, he has also served with the Enforcement
Department and the Office of Executive Director (Law) of SEBI. His work involves
inter alia assisting legislative drafting, and addressing issues on policy.
Robin is an alumnus of National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (NUJS)
and has been associated with securities laws programme at the Government Law
College, Mumbai as its Visiting Faculty. He has also delivered lectures at the
K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR), Mumbai,
SYMBIOSIS, Pune; National Law Academy, Kochi; and has been a speaker at forums
hosted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

Robin was blessed with the opportunity of meeting Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios
less than a month before HG’s demise.  Robin’s father K Baby conveyed that Robin
had authored a legal commentary and brought a copy for HG to see. HG tried to
sit up on his bed, looked intently at the book and sought a pen to write his
blessings down in the book. HG wrote the same set of blessings thrice.  HG lay
his hands on the head of Robin and prayed- “Help him to be a good missionary...
”


Moni Kallemparampil, SGOS

The Serbian capital will join celebrations marking 1,700 years since the Roman
Empire granted Christians their freedom with a range of events from April to
October.

Celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, the
proclamation granting Christianity equal status with other religions in the
Roman Empire, start in Belgrade with a new sightseeing tour, "Christianity in
Belgrade", on April 16.

"We want to introduce visitors to the oldest preserved Christian locations where
both Orthodox and Catholic churches were located and, for the occasion, we will
prepare maps of the destroyed churches," Marina Andric from public company
Belgrade Fortress, told daily Politika on February 18.

Belgrade Fortress will organise several concerts at Kalemegdan Fortress, plus
exhibitions on the Sava riverbank and at the gallery at Stambol gate.

During summer the riverbank will host a photographic exhibition that will
present the history of Christianity in Belgrade and the National Library's
collection of manuscripts and prayer books.

The Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Military Museum will present
exhibitions at the gallery at Stambol gate in Kalemegdan Fortress.

A replica of Belgrade's oldest Christian monument, Jona's sarcophagus, dating
from the early 4th century, with an embossed illustration of a biblical
narrative, will be placed in Knez Mihailova Street.

Andric says the events will focus on presenting historic and archaeological
treasures and the celebration will be a unique opportunity for Belgrade's
museums to display their rich heritage.

"We'll try to show when and how Christianity appeared in Belgrade, how the
religion developed and how it was influenced by Islam," Andric said.

Serbia has a special place in marking the Edict of Milan anniversary, as the
Roman emperor Constantine the Great, who delivered the Edict in 313AD, was born
in what is now the Serbian city of Nis.

Nis, thus, joins the cities of Milan in Italy, York in England and Treves in
France as one of the key heritage sites connected to Constantine, Rome's first
Christian emperor.

More than 100,000 believers are expected to attend a liturgy held by the
Catholic Church on September 21 in Nis.

- See more at:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/celebrations-recall-constantine-s-famous\
-edict#sthash.37XyD4Ht.dpuf


George C. Thomas, Kuwait

Patriarch Bartholomew, the church's current leader, was not only born in Turkey
but served in the military there.

But since the secular government of Turkey has confiscated church lands and
otherwise made it difficult for people to practice their religion, Demetrios
explained, there are now only about 2,000 Orthodox Christians left in the
country, down from hundreds of thousands that managed to survive even through
the Ottomon Empire.

In essence, if the Turkish law is not changed, there may come a time when the
Orthodox Church, as old as the Roman Catholic Church, will find itself unable to
elect a patriarch in the land where it was founded by Saint Andrew about 2,000
years ago.

Forty-two states in this country have passed resolutions urging Turkey to grant
the Greek Orthodox Church more freedom.

There are an estimated 6 million Orthodox Christians in the U.S., more than 1
million in Illinois, which has the third largest population in the nation behind
only California and New York.

There are about 250,000 members of the Orthodox faith in the Chicago
metropolitan area, and 350 families are members of Saint Nicholas.

Joining Demetrios at the news conference in Saint Nicholas were Oak Lawn Mayor
David Heilmann, Father Michael Constantinides, of St. Nicholas, and state Sen.
Billy Brady (R-Bloomington), chief sponsor of Senate Resolution 70.

In 2007, the Illinois House passed a similar resolution, but it failed to make
it out of a Senate committee for reasons that remain murky.

The Turkish government not only has veto power on the patriarch of the Orthodox
Church, but also can control those who vote for him, the Hierarchs, by mandating
that they too be Turkish citizens.

Since the Turkish government does not allow religious schools of any sort
(Jewish, Muslim or Catholic), it also does not allow seminaries.

Therefore, any Turkish resident who desires to become a priest must go to school
outside of the country, further limiting the ability of Turkey to generate its
own candidates for patriarch.

Demetrios said the Turkish government in recent years has loosened its grip
somewhat, allowing about 15 leaders in the church throughout the world to apply
for Turkish citizenship, thereby qualifying them as potential candidates to
become head of the church.

It has also returned about 380 acres of land it had confiscated for the church
surrounding an orphanage.

But the government still refuses to recognize the ecumenical, or world religious
leader status, of the patriarch.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate itself, the equivalent of the Vatican, has no legal
identity.

Therefore, it can't even own its own churches.

Over the past 80 years, the Turkish government has confiscated numerous
properties, including monasteries, church buildings, an orphanage, private
homes, schools and land.

"Left unchecked, the remaining Greek Orthodox community of Constantinople
(present day Istanbul — the cultural heirs of the Byzantine Empire — will be
threatened and ultimately be no more," stated a news release issued by Greek
Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.

While passing a state resolution supporting religious freedom in Turkey would be
the right thing to do, I wonder what impact it would actually have.

Certainly, the U.S. government could apply greater pressure.

But Turkey is a critical ally of the U.S. given its geographic location and
borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran.

It has often aided Iran financially, however, breaking a U.N.-imposed embargo
aimed at deterring that nation's development of nuclear weapons.

Demetrios noted that while the government has imposed religious restrictions
that make life difficult for Orthodox Catholics, it has not imprisoned them or
engaged in physical intimidation.

Given our own country's history of religious tolerance, however, it ought to be
a slam dunk for state political leaders to denounce restrictions imposed on the
church by Turkey.

There are currently only 8 state senators who have agreed to support the
resolution, according to church officials, including Bill Cunningham
(D-Chicago).

At least 30 votes are needed to pass the resolution.

A citizens committee composed of members of the Greek Orthodox Church has been
organized to increase awareness and lobby state legislators in support of the
resolution urging religious freedom.

The feel among church leaders in Illinois is the lack of such a group resulted
in lawmakers failing to focus on its importance six years ago.

I suppose that's possible. But the resolution did pass out of the House and
nothing in Illinois happens without a reason.

"I have heard of no opposition or objections," Brady said Sunday.

If the resolution doesn't make it out of committee this year, I would at least
like to hear someone explain why.

Source:
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/kadner/18295107-452/kadner-orthodox-churc\
h-fights-for-freedom.html

George C. Thomas, Kuwait

Dear Mr.Liju Cherian,

Believers should understand that there are 'out of the world experience' for
people who spent in the Divine world of mystics. This is what is expected from
every one of us. But if he is a lay man, there are are spiritual hierarchies and
the lay majority will try to finish him off from this world. They may even send
Kalpana to dissociate from him, so also the laity will weave and spin to mock
and despise him. Prayer and meditation in odd places and wee hours is an
imperative for this life experience. Instead of making it as a propaganda
machine, pray for Rev.Fr.Mathews so that he may be useful for the suffering and
the sick, because the enemy comes from within, not from without.

E.S.John, Australia

My sister had worked in Zambia during the years 1979 to 1984. She along with her
family is migrating to USA and during the visa process, the US authorities have
asked for police clearance certificate from Zambia for the period she worked
there for issuing the visa. They have also given her the relevant addresses and
explained to her the formalities for obtaining PCC from Zambia. Accordingly she
has been trying for PCC from Zambia for the last 3 months. She sent the first
set of fingerprints along with the draft for 150 US Dollars in December 2012 to
the address given below.

Zambia Police Head Quarters,
Criminal Investigation Department,
P O Box Ridge way 104, Lusaka Zambia.

When there was no response, she again sent another set of fingerprints along
with the draft for 150 US Dollars in February 2013 to the same address. We have
approached the Zambian High Commission in Delhi, but they are also help less.
The time is running out for issue of Visa by US authorities. Nothing has been
heard from the Police head quarters since then. It has been told by The US
authorities that the entire process for issue of PCC will take only one week.

My sister is quit worried what is to be done next. Some people say that a return
DHL envelope should have been attached without which the Zambian authorities are
not going to send the PCC back. Some people say that the address is not correct.

Can any one of our church members in Lusaka direct or help us?

My email id is: m9_george@....


Mathew George
Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Janakpuri, New Delhi

Dear All,

As our ICON volunteer Isaac Thomas, Hyderabad, had posted earlier, the first
batch of students from Yacharam area were given REAP 2012 awards on Feb 17
during the anniversary celebration.  The students were from XIth grade and each
student was awarded Rs. 5,000 each. Eleven students benefited this year.

This is the first time needy students from the neighboring area were reached out
with financial assistance under the banner of Balagram, especially poor girls
who are interested to continue their education.

See the pictures of the students along with rambachen and achen from Yacharam
http://www.icon.org.in/r12/YachaaramDist1.pdf

Education is the best gift we can give to these students. We continue to look
for sponsors to help these kids. Please contact any of ICON volunteers or send a
note to icon.org@...
to know how you can be a part of this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you all for being supportive of these programs.

~ ICON Moderators

Bible Readings:

Evening
St. Mark 7: 24-37

Morning
St. Luke7:1-10

Before Holy Qurbana
I Samuel 7:10-17
Numbers 17:1 - 8
Isaiah 56:1-7

Holy Qurbana
Acts 4:1-12
Romans7: 14– 25
Matthew 15: 26-27

“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” – Romans 7:22

Arriving to the fourth Sunday of Great Lent means that we are more than halfway
through our journey during this Lenten season.  The epistle reading assigned by
the Holy Fathers of the Church for this Sunday is one of the most confusing
readings.  Often times when the deacon or acolyte reads this passage everyone
tunes out thinking they are at one of Shakespeare’s plays rather than the
Church.  The Apostle Paul’s words may be confusing, but the message is clear.

St. Paul speaks to us about the struggle of the spiritual war that is very
present in our lives today.  No matter if you are clergy or laymen, this
struggle is real and it truly shapes who we are.  There is something about us
that draws us to sin, maybe it’s our laziness or our (carnal) passions.  But
there is also something great in us that attracts us to Christ, and we desire to
be holy and pure.  So we have this battle within us.  We know what’s right but
we fail to do it because of our sins, we know what’s wrong and we fall into the
same traps because of our passions and lack of self-control.  So now rather than
being in control of our lives, we have put ourselves on auto-pilot and allowed
the demons to run our course. Our heart desires to be with God but our body
follows after the flesh, who will save us from this dilemma!?

The answer comes from the last verse of the epistle, “I thank God – through
Jesus Christ our Lord!” For this Lenten journey to be real for us, we have to
experience Christ.  Experiencing Christ comes from foregoing the passions
through fasting and prayer.  We must recognize that the spiritual journey to
salvation is a long process, and we can even say that it’s never-ending.  When
we complete this Lenten journey, God willing we’ve overcome at least one sin,
but yet there are still many more to defeat, so we continue with God’s help and
the prayers of the saints.


Prayer:

Christ our God, who is always merciful to Your children, come now into our lives
and help us.  Our desire is to be with You, to do Your will and not our own, and
to be worthy to be called Yours.  Our hearts desire but our flesh is weak, grant
us strength O Lord overcome our temptations and to triumph over sin as You
showed us.  We rely on You alone, knowing there is no one nor nothing else that
can save us.  we offer praise and thanksgiving to You and to Your Father and
Your Holy Spirit now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!

Courtesy: '2013 Lenten Devotionals' published by MGOCSM, Philadelphia

Dear All,

As our ICON volunteer Isaac Thomas, Hyderabad, had posted earlier, the first
batch of students from Yacharam area were given REAP 2012 awards on Feb 17
during the anniversary celebration. The students were from XIth grade and each
student was awarded Rs. 5,000 each. Eleven students benefited this year.

This is the first time needy students from the neighboring area were reached out
with financial assistance under the banner of Balagram, especially poor girls
who are interested to continue their education.

See the pictures of the students along with rambachen and achen from Yacharam
http://www.icon.org.in/r12/YachaaramDist1.pdf

Education is the best gift we can give to these students. We continue to look
for sponsors to help these kids. Please contact any of ICON volunteers or send a
note to
icon.org@...
to know how you can be a part of this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you all for being supportive of these programs!

~ ICON Moderators

A flow of refugees from Syria and Egypt is pouring into Moscow to escape from
wars and violence in their country of origin bringing to light the inadequacy of
facilities for the reception of immigrants in Russia. The complaint has been
made by a veteran in migrant assistance, the president of the 'Civic Assistance
Committee', Svetlana Gannushkina. In the past week a family of 10 Coptic
Christians, including a child a few months old, presented themselves in their
office. The family say they fled religious persecution from Islamist groups
taking place in f Marsa Matrouh, near the border with Libya. "They threatened us
with death if we didn't convert and make our women and girls wear a veil," Reda,
26, who fled with his 19 year old pregnant wife told AsiaNews. "After the
revolution many activists of the Muslim Brotherhood came - added his brother
Viktor, 30, - who put pressure on us Christians to convert. Our problems started
already in late 2011, but are getting worse 'Last year, after an argument with
the principal of the school who wanted to force my daughter to wear the hijab,
we were told that the presence of Christians in the city was no longer welcome.
" "We sought shelter with a local priest - he concluded - but his church had
already been burned once and so he did not want to further expose himself to
attack."

Now all 10 Egyptians, plus Iraqis and Sudanese, are forced to live in a room of
20 square meters, with only a few chairs and a table, because there is no
temporary accommodation center for immigrants waiting to receive refugee status
in the city.

"Everyone is waiting for an answer from the Federal Service for immigration -
Gannushkina , who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times
told AsiaNews, - which must decide on their possible transfer to Ochyor, in Perm
region, where there is one of only three reception centres for refugees in the
entire country. "

The process, however, can last for weeks and the authorities have not thought of
any temporary accommodation for these people, who do not have a place to live.
"The problem is much worse for the Copts - said Gannushkina - because for them
here, unlike Syrians, there is no large community or network of countrymen ready
to open their homes." "It is winter, and in these conditions they are likely to
die of exposure - she added - so we are forced to accommodate these people in
our offices, but they are not adequate facilities." The small child Cirillus,
who arrived with his mother, father and sister also from Marsa Matrouh, is
already sick and was visited by doctors from Doctors Without Borders.

Last year 700 people turned for help to 'Civi Assistence', including 80 Egyptian
Copts. The new arrivals are in addition to about 30 Syrians who in January of
this year already made a request to Moscow for refugee status. One hundred
Syrians arrived in the last six months of 2012.

Reception centers for refugees fleeing persecution and war are provided in all
countries that have signed the UN Convention on Refugees. In Russia - denounced
the Gannushkina - formally, there are three centers, but in fact only one works,
that of Ochyor for more than 80 people. "This integration does not exist and the
sanitary conditions are very bad," she added. According to rumors circulating in
the press and among NGOs, the Immigration Service is considering even closing it
down. The other two centers are located one in the Tver Region and the other in
the south of Rostov, but are not working at full capacity. "In a country as
large as Russia three centers for immigrants is virtually nothing, if you think
that Poland, which much smaller than us, has 11," added Gannushkina, who has
always declared that if she ever wins the Nobel she will allocate the prize
money to building at least another refugee centre near Moscow.

By Nina Achmatova, Asia News

-George C. Thomas, Kuwait

Faithful In The National Capital Prepare Towards Lenten Retreat. All Are
Welcome!


Lent is a time of not just confession but also a strong pillar of hope for every
Orthodox faithful. It promises a chance to repent, a moment to look back and
meditate and an opportunity to loudly proclaim as St. Thomas Christians "My Lord
and My God". Delhi diocese through its different spiritual organisations have
been in the forefront to provide an opportunity to members and visitors to
rejuvenate and spent time appraising themselves about Lord's plan through our
humble lives by way of Lenten Retreats at the nature's lap, the Aravali Retreat
Centre, a dream project envisaged by first Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios the
blessed. While Lent started by the organizing of the Aravali feast of St
Dionysius by the Youth Movement, the second weekend of this month shall witness
the annual Lenten Retreat organised by the Diaspora Secretariat, the movement of
the young couples and MGOCSM alumni of the diocese. The secretariat has
organised the annual Lenten Retreat this time on 9th, 10th March, 2013. The
theme for study and interaction along with worship and meditation is 'Lent in
our lives'.

One of the looked forward aspects of the annual retreat is the visit of the
faithfuls to the nearby villages and interaction with the communities in the
area and prayers in their home.

Diocesan Metropolitan His Grace Youhanon Mar Demetrios would be with the
delegates for the full two days and would lead the faithful in the sessions. Fr.
Thomas Ninan, Diaspora's first vice-president, would guide in meditation and
confession. Fr Binish Babu would also be present. Metropolitan being the chief
resource person for the retreat, early bookings for stay at the venue has
already begun. Please feel free to call 9810206326, 9811126469 for any further
query or to book space for accommodation.

Parish priests are helping out the young men and women and families to prepare
for the retreat and to facilitate group transport to the venue. A route map
prepared by OCYM is attached for your help to reach the venue.

Let us all be a channel for His glory and to fulfill His commission!

Fr. George Varghese
Vice President, Indian Orthodox Diaspora Secretariat, New Delhi.

Please find attached the 'Parish News', March 2013 edition of St.Mary's Orthodox
Cathedral, Ernakulam.

K.K. George, Ernakulam

Dear Mr.George Easow,

`There are historical pointers that Jesus was learning the good points of Indian
culture, traditions and its great wisdom and knowledge. India cannot thus be
dissociated from Christianity `

`Great men think alike' of the universal truth; it has no geography or boundary.
If Jesus had acquired the scholarly wisdom that He learned from the Elects of
the Spirit, His mother and father of righteous and divine pedigree, also from
the knowledge to discourse with the Gurus at His 12th year, why needed Him to go
to the Orient to learn about mysticism which was rooted in Judaism. The essence
of Judaism, the home of mysticism, was found in the Essane, spelling not sure,
community of anonymously selected and elected members of Rabbis, prophets and
hermits, in which John the Baptists and Jesus and some of the apostles were
attributed to having membership. The authenticity of the same is irrefutable
because its contributions are many-sided. The LEVITES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE
MASTERS OF levitation, the art of floating in the air and mystify their lives,
the reason for them to give certificates for the cure of leprosy, etc. in OT
time The bible doesn't try to reveal its mysticism, but to communicate its
practical wisdom. Read the books, 2 volumes, of `THE BIBLE CODE'. An Israeli
JEWISH mathematician SPREAD THE 5 BOOKS OF Moses in his computer and by chance
he found out without his knowledge that all the modern world events and the
names of people who are involved are given by reading vertically, horizontally
and diagonally. The Israeli Prime Minister Rabin's assassination and the date
and the name of the assassin were a great surprise to him. So many such deaths
and events, such as Kennedy's and the landing on moon and many other modern
events, are recorded in the book of thorah. The bible is for all the ages. Many
Parables and their real mysteries that are also yet to take place, for example
the parable of virgins and the labourers hired for the vineyard, Mt.25, Mt.20.

India is also a land of mystics. Jesus didn't have to travel to India to study
the universal truths that are found in every land and civilizations. But Sadu
Sunger says that it was Viswamitran who was the one of the magi, and he went to
witness His public ministry and made miracles in His name, mk.9' 38-40.
Transmigration of the soul or levitation, etc is the medium by which hermits use
to travel around the world in their inner body. How did 3 men from Macedonia
appear to St. Paul? To walk on the waters one doesn't have to go India.  It can
be tried by various yogaic sciences or by being an ELECT of the Spirit. When our
body has no weight one can fly in the air or walk on waters. Ether, a weightless
substance, is the basic component of our body. To be an Ethereal being is a
realm in our existence. India is a land of mystical secrets. There is an
ordinary Irish plumber who wrote over 15 books prior to 1970 under the name of
LOBSANG Ramba and the has sent shock waves in the Christian world that can't
give an answer to the mysteries that he unfolded. I don't know he is still alive
and added his book list. He says that the soul of a Buddhist Lama of old times
migrated into him and the details of the geography of Tibet and important
locations are meticulously written in black and white indisputably irrefutably,
despite the plumber has not gone outside Ireland. He gives the names of the
places Jesus lived in Tibet and Himalayan ranges. I forgot most of the details
that read it before 1970. If we approve that Jesus visited Tibet, it is only by
levitation, because being the Son of Man who took His birth in Jewish community,
the house of prophets, Levites and Essane gurus, He needed no private coaching
of the science of the spirit.

We are all meant to live like ascetics and inner-developed souls; but many are
called but only few are elected as the vehicle of the Spirit of God. A fasting
life of meditation and an unbetrayed heart of purity only are the necessary
ingredients for the extrasensory perception that takes us for the participation
in the infinity. `The Spirit blowed where it listened, jn.3; it doesn't matter
whether he is a Greek, Indian or American or British. It shows how closely the
Orthodox church is integrated with the rich culture, This customs and traditions
of Kerala community. It comes naturally and shows our real affiliation'.

True. The biblical mysteries that, to an extent, go in unison with the Indian
mythologies and the science of the spirit of man the OT ERA, not parables that
Christ used as a medium, portrays the BIRTH of the Prajapathy, kumari jananam,
who is none other than `Mahabali' and Janardhanan, but the majority of the
Orient couldn't recognise Him, despite they were waiting for His birth among
them. Sadhu Suder Singh says that after preaching and doing miracles in His name
Viswamitran, dear ones of the whole world, came back and preached about Christ
in India and the fanatic ignorant followers who waited His birth only in India,
just like the Jews, cut him into pieces and threw him in the Ganges in Banares,
where there is a Temple called `Viswamitran Temple. Sunder Singh talked with
many unidentified Christian Sadhus in Banares. They told him that when the
ground is ready, they would come out publicly. Indian church of St. Thomas has a
rich heritage of yogic culture and tradition, but the materialistic Occidental
churches since the days of mainly the Industrial Revolution began to stink,
culminating in the female and gay clergy, together with so many heretical and
cosmetic symptoms for the complete decay that breaks the camel's back.

E.S. John, Australia

Dear Mr. Abraham Chirackal,

Many thanks for your in-depth review of "From Where the River Flows" by Dr.
Naomi Vettath.

"It is my purpose, if God wills, to dedicate myself to the service of Christ, in
and through His Church. Dated 27-2-1954. Signed, Naomi Mathew."

This pledge has really touched me. Probably this is the pledge to be
administered to each and every Sunday School Child of our Church.

I am personally aware that Dr. Naomi Vettath followed the above oath in letter
and spirit. Years back (early seventies), I attended the VBS at Kangazha MGDM
Hospital Chappel where Dr. Naomi Vettath was the Chief Resource Person. My house
was near to the Hospital (only 1KM). She was teaching and practicing with us
wonderful hymns with the support of very modern musical instruments, which were
unheard-of those days.

We all are greatly indebted to Doctor Naomi and the selfless professional team
there. She continued this for few years and there used to be a one day camp for
the VBS Students on the next Thiruvonam day every year. I am sure, all of those
students who attended her classes are very successful in life and currently
living in various parts of the world.

Still we all remember those golden days of that rural hospital (late sixties and
early seventies) when a team of dedicated and eminent Doctors like Dr. John
Vettath (Surgeon), Dr. Naomi Vettath, Dr S. Joseph (Physician) , Dr. Susy Joseph
(Gynec), Dr Avis Eapen (Ophthal) etc were at service for the ordinary people of
a remote village like Kangazha. The untimely passing away of the Chairman of the
Trust, Mr. Manohar Varghese (an ardent devotee of Vattaseril Thirumeni) has
created a vacuum there and the downfall started. Otherwise it would have been
another Vellore CMC.

Nice to hear about a great personality like Dr. Naomi again. Let God give her
and her husband Dr. John Vettath the strength to continue His work.

Love & Prayers,
George Abraham, Abu Dhabi

==============================

Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:35 pm (PST) .

Dear All,

Recently I read the book "From Where the River Flows" by Dr. Naomi Vettath. It
is brief biographies of her mentors, namely Virgin Mary, her parents, few of her
elder class mates, and a couple people who influenced her. The book gives ample
glimpses of life story of Dr. Naomi herself.

I never heard about Dr. Naomi before. I have seen a couple of messages about her
book in ICON. Out of my curiosity, I requested a copy of her book and she was
generous to send me the book. I am very happy that I did get the book and
privileged to know a few more Godly people.

The book is an easy read and it will take to you a couple of generations back. I
was flabbergasted by the commitment of Dr. Naomi to whatever she touched whether
it is teaching at medical college, working in ill equipped hospitals or spending
time at church with youngsters; she did it all. Her mentors must be proud of
her.

Though all her mentors are Godly people, Dr. Shobha Linton stands out.

As a medical student in Ludhiana, Dr. Naomi renewed her pledge as "It is my
purpose, if God wills, to dedicate myself to the service of Christ, in and
through His Church. Dated 27-2-1954 Signed Naomi Mathew." She kept her word. Her
work was a service to Christ.

(Shouldn't we all pledge like this: "dedicate myself to the service of Christ,
in and through His Church"?)

Dr. Naomi is originally from Kunnamkulam, studied at CMC Ludhiana and then at
University of Oregon, Portland (USA), medical colleges Vellore and Trivandrum.
She served in different village hospitals in Kerala and planted many seeds in
blind rehabilitations and other community services. Bless her heart!

While reading the book, I was asking myself a question: did these people along
with Dr. Naomi really live along with us? And in our church?

If you can, buy the book and read. It is inspiring and her life along with her
mentors is worthy emulations.

Dr. Naomi and her husband Dr. John Vettath now live in Kochi. Dr. Naomi can be
contacted at vettathj@... <mailto:vettathj%40gmail.com>

Thank you for reading this comment.

~Abraham Chirackal, Davenport, Iowa (USA)

Bible Readings:
Morning
Leviticus 16: 1 -17
Amos 6: 1 -9
Acts 14: 19 - 15: 3
II Corinthians 11: 1 - 15
St. Mark 12: 35- 44

“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in
everything all she had to live on.” - St. Mark 12:44

On this 4th Monday of Great Lent, we reflect on the story of the widow’s
offering, taken from Mark 12:41-44. The reading is well known to us; Jesus is
sitting in the temple not too far from where the temple offerings were being
made. Jesus observed those who were rich and wealthy place large amounts as
offerings, after which a poor widow came and deposited only a two meager coins.
Jesus told his disciples, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into
the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she,
out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

When we come before God, He does not look at what you give or how much; what God
asks of us when we come to him is that we give our all to him. When we submit
ourselves to God, we must be prepared to dedicate our lives and our livelihood
to Him. For it is through devotion and discipleship that we become true
followers of Christ.

As in the story of rich man, when asking Jesus what he should do to enter
heaven, Jesus said follow the commandments. The rich man said he had followed
all the laws and commandments given, yet asked if there was anything else he
needed to do. Jesus then said he must sell all his possessions and follow him,
to which the rich man, who had great wealth, turned away in sadness.

From the story of the widow and the rich man, it can be seen that God does not
look at the amount that has been given, rather what that amount means to the
giver. For the widow, Jesus said she had “out of her poverty, put in everything
– all she had to live on.” The rich man could not make this sacrifice, however
the widow, who had so little, by giving up just those two coins, had submitted
her whole livelihood to God.

This passage also has an intended literal message, that we should give offerings
to the Church. Jesus does make references through the Gospel that tithing is
important and that the Old Testament ritual of giving 10% is necessary even now.
Like the widow, we must be willing to sacrifice more than what

Prayer:

Lord we bow our heads and bend our knees before you, our King and Savior. We ask
that You open our eyes that we might see what is of value in this life You have
granted us. Let not our egos dictate our thoughts and deeds, but rather let us
put ourselves aside and let You take control of our hearts, minds and souls. Let
our lives be a testament for what You stand for and represent - unconditional
and sacrificial love. Amen.


Courtesy:
'2013 Lenten Devotionals' published by MGOCSM Philadelphia

Devotional based on texts taken from the Scripture Readings of Fourth Sunday of
Fifty days Lent – Canaanite Woman
Written by Tenny Thomas

“O Physician who have come to visit Your people which was lost, heal my
daughter! Be like David, Your father, who by the sound of the harp put to flight
the Evil One.”

This morning is the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent – the Sunday of the
Canaanite woman. While we go about our daily affairs in the world on the
outside, on the inside the Lenten Fast is leading us in retreat from the vain
noise of the world and into stillness of soul to stand in the presence of God
just as did the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel.

Jesus was journeying through the borderland of Tyre and Sidon when a Canaanite
woman came out to meet Him, beseeching, “Lord have pity on me, my daughter is
tormented by an evil spirit.” In Christ the Canaanite woman saw relief. With
tears and supplications she approached Him and begged Him: “Firstborn of the
Father, deliver the image of Your Majesty, my daughter, from the clutches of the
wicked oppressor that she may have an inheritance with You and that she may
become the dwelling place of Your glory, You who came to save the image which
your hands had fashioned.”

How does Jesus respond to her? He completely ignores her. It says, “He did not
answer her at all.” How often do we bring our concerns, our pleas for help, to
God and we hear nothing? No answer, no sign of hope, nothing comes our way.
Either in desperation or in anger, we begin shouting at God and still nothing.
Do we give-up at this point? The Canaanite woman does not. Even after Jesus’
disciples tell Him to send her away, she draws very near to Him and kneels
before Jesus saying, “Lord, help me.” Does Christ help her now? She’s
persistent, she’s humble and she’s self-less, asking for someone else’s healing.
He should heal her now, right? Christ responds by saying, “No.” Worse yet, He
likens her to a dog, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to
the dogs.” How often has God told us, “No”? How often have we felt that He is
even kicking us while we are down? Do we give up at this point?

The Canaanite woman does not. Accepting Jesus’ canine label, she does not accept
His rebuke but comes back at Him with some profound words, “Yes, Lord, yet even
the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” In other words, “I
am not giving up. I will take whatever little you will offer to me.” How does
Jesus respond this time? Finally, He openly acknowledges her great faith and
grants her wish and heals her daughter instantly.

St. John Chrysostom asked, “Was she silent and did she desist? By no means, she
was even more insistent.” Chrysostom pointed out Jesus knew she would say this.
Jesus wanted to “exhibit her high self-command.” She went even a step further,
demonstrating her profound humility by not calling the Jews children, as Jesus
had done, but “master” (Homily LII, on St. Matthew XV).

This miracle occurred in the land of Tyre and Sidon. Now, scholars tell us that
the word ‘Tyre’ means ‘besieged.’ And the daughter of the Canaanite woman was
exactly in that situation - she was besieged by demons. And the word ‘Sidon’
means ‘those who seek.’ Finally, the word ‘Canaan’ means ‘prepared by humility.’
And that is precisely the case of the Canaanite woman. For if we are besieged by
demons and we seek, prepared by humility, then we shall find Christ, as did the
Canaanite woman. This might be a far stretched explanation, but it does carry
some truth. To follow the Canaanite woman’s lead we too must be committed to
Christ with all our heart. We have to be persistent, tenacious, stubborn,
undiscourageable and joyful. Our Lord often acts in way in order to test the
strength of our faith. Even if Jesus seems to put up a decisive refusal, we must
redouble our faith, come near to Him, worship Him and beg for His help. We must
be like Abraham who pleaded five times with the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah
on behalf of the few righteous people that remained among the abominable
sinners. We must be like Jacob who struggled with God and was rewarded for his
effort.

The question we must ask ourselves is do we give up our faith in God when He
does not answer. We must trust God that whatever answer He gives and whenever He
gives it, He does it to build our character, to make us stronger, to deepen our
appreciation for Him and everything we have. Listen to the Lord’s silence and
follow where His rebuke would take you. It will take you into your heart, and it
will heal you. It will make you one with the Lord who made himself one with us,
so that in Christ, we may offer ourselves to God on behalf of all and for all,
for the salvation of all.

“Merciful Physician who do not turn away from the sick, visit Your servant whom
Satan oppresses.” The Lord said: “Go, your desire is fulfilled.” Blessed is He
who by His word delivers His servants from rebellious spirits. Let us this day,
like the Canaanite woman, also cry out: Have mercy on us, O Lord! Lord help us!
Amen.

“If man does not raise his hands in prayer for himself and for the sake of his
people, even after knowing God, how can we say man is better than animals who
are not wise and cannot think about their future.” – St. Gregorios of Parumala

“Do you fast? Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick,
do not forget the imprisoned, have pity on the tortured, comfort those who
grieve and who weep, be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient, sympathetic,
forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious, so that God might accept your fasting
and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance.” – St. John Chrysostom

Source: NE American Diocese website

For the lectionary for the entire fourth week of the Great Lent, visit
http://www.neamericandiocese.org/news.428/2013-week-4-of-great-fast-devotional-s\
cripture.aspx

The 79th Memorial Feast of LL Saint Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius, a
declared Saint of the Holy Church, was held on 1st March in the UAE Garden City
of Al Ain by the parish named after the revered holy bishop. The Al Ain Parish
is the first Parish in the Malankara Orthodox Sabha to be established in the
name of St. Dionysius, famously known as "Vattasseril Thirumeni".

(Vattasseril Thirumeni was a holy a man of prayer, determination and dynamism.
HG is meaningfully revered as the 'Malankara Sabha Bhasuran' (the great luminary
of Malankara Orthodox Church) for his brave fight to establish the Catholicate
in Malankara in 1912. An eminent scholar and orator, he prepared the
Constitution of our Church and served as a Metropolitan of our Church for over
25 years. He wrote "Mathopadesasarangal", which dealt on the basic doctrines of
our church and was responsible for preparing the Malayalam version of our Holy
Qurbana).

HG Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios, Bishop of UK, Europe and Africa was the chief
celebrant.

The feast began by reception of numerous pilgrims who arrived on foot
(Padayatra) led by Rev. Fr. TJ Johnson and leaders of OCYM,UAE Zone. They were
received by HG Mar Thimotheus and Parish Vicar Rev. Fr. Saji Abraham, other
Priests, MC members and Al Ain OCYM members by 5 pm at the Saint Dionysius
Church building (whose outer concrete shell has been beautifully completed).

The memorably touching Holy Quirbana which richly reverberated our worshipping
in wholesome faith and revered memory of the departed holy father, was led by HG
Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios assisted by vicar and a number of priests at the
adjacent Mar Thoma Church, which overflowed with devotees from all over UAE who
had arrived for the feast by chartered buses and various means of transport.

HG Mar Thimothios strongly exhorted the faithful to harness the resources of
every Orthodox Christian as savings in the promised heavenly kingdom just as
wise and holy Mar Dionysius Thirumeni did during his lifetime. HG wished and
prayed that the feast next year could be held in the new Church that is nearing
completion.

Dr. George Mathews, Medical Advisor to Ruler of Al Ain, complimenting Mr. Jacob
Tharakan of Abu Dhabi Parish who contributed Dhs. 100,000/- for construction of
the new church said that Al Ain parish members have a 'big heart' but 'less
money' and all the well-wishers with 'big heart and more money' should help the
Al Ain Church to complete its building.

Prizes were awarded for the winners of various competitions by HG Dr.
Thimothios.Though a small parish Al Ain had its candidate come first in the 12th
standard Sunday School Examination from the whole of outer Kerala which
reflected good academic spiritual leadership.

The celebrations ended with benediction, followed by Love Feast.

Dr. Vinu Thomas, Dubai.

Dear All,

Here is a leaf from our everyday fast life.

Getting things done is the most important aspect in everyday life. Whether it be
crossing the junction or picking something from a fast emptying basket or being
first and ahead of the 'other guy' in a queue; we need to do our act in the
first available instance itself. We just cannot allow the 'other guy' to do it
first while coolly waiting for our turn, even if what we do may be a bit unjust.
We need to be fast, and loose no time to accuse the 'other person' while being
slow to understand and accept. Survival of the fittest is the principle followed
very blatantly in all those situations. Hurry and get it the first time - as
probably sometimes advertisers say about their product. Waiting, observing,
pondering, understanding or giving the 'other guy' a chance if he is the one who
deserves it - cannot be the principle, at least when you live in India.

Given an option, i.e. in the absence of a big brother watching us; will we ever
be able to choose positivity? Does positivity offer any benefit as compared to
the material and monetary benefits, which negativity or selfishness can offer?
Only the fittest can survive the best; that is the unchangeable law of nature.
Positivity may sometimes result in lost opportunities or may have riches lost or
at least may have some convenience lost. That is the reason why nations play
negative (play safe) in roundtable meets; nations are mostly sovereign - big
brother's involvement is minimum! Can we afford to loose the benefits of
selfishness/negativity; sometimes?

For many of us, at least on few occasions; we can afford to loose some
convenience or money or materials and let the 'other unknown confronting person'
have those things. We can afford to willingly give it to the 'other unknown guy'
and be a looser; not even anticipating the customary 'Thank You' from him. The
deep running habits of ours can be a hindrance to show that magnanimity - the
Spirit may be willing, but habits may not allow. Let our habits not prevent us,
in those occasions, from showing that rare sparkle of positivity.

The benefits? Yes, we are still after the benefits - experience it post the
action. And do not continue it; if found "Not Sufficiently Useful" over a period
of time!

Abey Jacob, Bangalore.

Background of the Mission

Orthodox people appeared on the territory of modern China in XIII century. By
mutual agreement of Peter I and Kangxi - the fourth emperor (May 4, 1654 -
December 20, 1722) of Manchu dynasty — an official mission was sent to China in
1712.

Orthodox China today

Now in China there are four churches belonging to the Chinese Autonomous
Orthodox Church. But unfortunately no service is conducted there because there
are no Chinese priests in China. According to Chinese laws non-citizens are not
allowed to engage in religious activities.

Celebrations to mark the round anniversary conducted jointly by the Institute of
Sino-Christian studies, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the local
Orthodox Brotherhood of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul at the temple in Hong
Kong led by rector Archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyaev. Representatives of different
regions, countries and nationalities were among the guests and participants who
attended the ceremony, great sinologists from Russia and Russianists from China
came, as well as the Orthodox clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church and the
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Russian delegation was led by Bishop Ephrem (Prosyanok) of Bikin, vicar of
Khabarovsk diocese and provost of Khabarovsk Seminary, with the blessing of His
Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.

Honorable and especially anticipated guest was one of the oldest Chinese
Orthodox clergy: 87-year-old Archpriest Michael Li (Australia and New Zealand
Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad). He was ordained by Bishop Victor
(Svyatin) half a century ago in China.

In 1999 at the invitation of the Chinese expat community Father Michael moved
from Shanghai to Australia for the pastoral care of the Chinese Orthodox
community of Sydney

Source: http://orthodox.cn/contemporary/hongkong/20121220hk300anniv_en.htm

George C.Thomas, Kuwait

Part 2

God is the only absolute truth; all other truths are relative through the
all-powerful entity, God. This is how God created Nature and man synchronised
together with the moral order of the universe, the reason for creating the
planets and Nature first and then the animal kingdom for man to use. The essence
of man is the product of Nature that is nurtured by the planets, which are also
inter-dependent one another by the force and attraction. Animal nature and the
influence of Nature in him are interacted in man, so that planets and Nature and
animal kingdom work together harmoniously to strike a blend for animals and man
happily live in near -perfection blend before the fall of man who used fruits,
but began as a meat eater after the fall because amorous relationship resembles
the latter. But man and animals cannot live without the crude breath of God,
air, pervading and saturating the terrestrial plane. Thus life without God is a
kaleidoscopic dream. A force that has no super conscience cannot bridle or
control the planets and the food chain that is remote-controlled by a predatory
system, which is the outcome of the bitter taste of the forbidden fruit. This is
why tamed animals expresses their gratitude to the master, so also a humble man
that is run with the puff of the wind bows his head and prostrates at the feet
of the Almighty Creator, whereas the arrogant atheist 'will go to the generation
of his fathers, who will never more see the light. Man cannot abide in his pomp,
he is like the beasts that perish', Ps.49, 19-20. Dated marriage in early
lustful youth is always detrimental because he/she is connected by the animal
magnetism that drift apart when the real life problems prop up, though there may
be some problems in all marriages, as two persons from two different families
are united together.

Just as the 3 personae dwell in the Triune God harmoniously, our body must
function without any discord, so that body, mind and soul should work smoothly
for its everyday running. Just as the Trinitarian God is holy, our body must be
kept holy because it is the holy temple of God, 1.Cor.3, 6. God indwells in our
common worship temple, church, and also in our body temple, the two places God
broods on earth. Thus one who attends the church should clean up his inside and
all his family members doing the same, so as turning the family as the temple of
worship in miniature form. It is not the building that we live in or attend the
place of worship makes the things holy, but it is the assembly of holy men in
the unity of minds is the real worship, ecclesia.

Jesus cleansed the Jerusalem Temple by driving out the mob that was selling all
the sacrificial animals, which brought money for the middlemen and also for the
Temple. Our churches are also meant for the real worship, not for converting as
ordinary places by inducting all forms of businesses before and after the grand
sacramental celebrations in exuberance. The Unity of mind that evaporates many
kinds of party spirits and partying is the essential elements in our family and
church life. Jesus could boldly say that He could build the temple on the third
day, indicating His resurrection on the third day, after dismantling it.
Anything holy cannot be destroyed because it can find its life again. Even in
our earthly plane nothing can be created or destroyed because it appears in a
different form again. If a plant is burnt, its ashes are good manure to make
other plants to grow in abundance.  No human soul is destroyed because it
belongs to the universal Creator. God is super human conscience from whom
everything emanates and pervades in His realm. The Lord cleaned up the Temple
after providing them super wine by converting water into wine at Cana, Jn.2. If
we are pure water, it will be converted to wine that in 3 days' period, 3 epochs
that will take us up to New Jerusalem after the Last Judgment. The wine and
bread that prepare at the altar which becoming the Body of Christ is the real
Bread of life. O taste and see that the Lord is good, ps.34, 8. This can happen
only when we do the inner purification that is also by the grace of God. To sum
up, if the marriage at Cana on the third day resemble the betrothal in the
bridal chamber in the beginning of the third epoch, the rebuilding of the Temple
on the third day, resurrection of Jesus on the third day, reminds us of the
resurrection of the departed dead at the end of the third epoch to stand for the
last judgment and inherit New Jerusalem.

Angels fear to go where the devil tread. Atheists and agnostics are propelled by
demonic powers. Unless they accept that that there is a Benevolent Creator who
propel everything in the universe, God and angels won't interfere with them
owing to the freedom that is once given to them. `You believe that God is one;
you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder', James.2, 29; Mk.5'7. When
the Devil fear and shudder in the existence of God, are these atheists and
agnostics superior to Beelzebub? Only a fool in his heart says that there is no
God.

Will continue in part 3

E.S. John, Australia

Bible Readings:

Evening
St. Matthew 20: 1-16

Morning
Numbers 28: 1-8
I Samuel 21: 1- 9
Acts 14 : 8 – 22
I Corinthians 16: 13-24
St. Matthew 11: 25-12: 8

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. -
Mathew 11:28-30

In context this verse describes the Jews as suffering under a load of
responsibilities laid on them by priests, rabbis and Pharisees. Like the Jews,
we to tend to be weighed down from our everyday tasks and duties and seek refuge
in worldly things.

A yoke is defined as a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulder of an ox
or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment that oxen are to pull. The
harnesses that we carry are the heavy burdens of sin, persecution, demands of
spiritual, professional and personal responsibilities and the weariness that
comes in search of God.

God is the only one who can give us complete rest by freeing us from all these
burdens. He loves us so much that He sent his only Son to shatter the prison
walls. We are all free to rest. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing
and peace with God.

Taking Jesus’ yoke emphasizes the labor, challenge and obstacles that you may
encounter in joining with Christ in life. We tend to forget that in the effort
of staying true to God and our everyday responsibilities weighing us down,
Jesus’ yoke remains the better choose compared to everything else in this world.

Remember that the life God intends for us is not meant to be easy, the yoke is
still our tool for working hard but it’s a shared yoke with the weight falling
on bigger shoulders than yours.

Prayer:

Father, in my darkest hour you have saved me, when I thought all was lost, you
found me. You are my faithful redeemer and your promise to never leave nor
forsake me, strengthens me. Help me to learn to trust, turn, and seek your grace
and love. You are the only one who can make our yoke easy and burden light and
in turn get rest for our souls.
Courtesy:
'2013 Lenten Devotionals' published by MGOCSM, Philadelphia

Abey Jacob <abcjacob@...> wrote:
>Does positivity offer any benefit as compared to the material and monetary
benefits, which negativity or selfishness can offer? Only the fittest can
survive the best; that is the unchangeable law of nature.

I think law of nature is the law of the Lord, because He is the one who has
created the world and all in it and maintaining it. Survival of the fittest is
the law established by men, not by nature or God.
If survival of the fittest is the law of nature, the shepherd boy David could
not have killed the powerful Goliath. There are many instances in the Bible
where the meek and powerless succeeds by the power of God. How Israelites were
redeemed from slavery of the powerful Egyptians. How the stutterer Moses could
lead them to their promised land.

Our problem I think is that we connect God, positivity and all good things in
this life to material and monetary benefits, peace and happiness, a rich life
style etc.. etc.. in this world.
If that was the case, perhaps the God's begotten Son, the King of all kings
should not have  born in a manger and should not have hanged on a cross.

And he said  the peace  I give you is not this world's peace; but MY peace  I
give it to you. That peace is our readiness to accept whatever He gives whether
it is suffering or pleasure, richness or poverty with a lot of gratitude. We
need to understand that Lord's blessing can come in the form of sufferings too
in order to purify us and make us more closer to him. I am yet to see a single
rich or affluent person who sincereley lives a godly life.
There is a very recent research on Mother Theresa and her sainthood and the
theory is that she did not want to uplift the poor from their poverty and
sufferings because she sincereley believed that godliness can be achieved only
through sufferings in our this worldly body. We have to get in to the mindset of
accepting sufferings too as a gift of God.

St. Paul had no reason to go through all those sufferings after he followed
Jesus. But, he had more peace and contentment in his life with Jesus than the
monetery and materialistic life he had before.

In conclusion, one who has faith in God will remain always positive and has no
reason to be negative or selfish or to run after all " good " things we see as
good in this world.

Ronnie Daniel
Toronto, Canada

Bible Readings:

Evening
St. Matthew 17: 22-27

Morning
St. John 3: 13-21

Before Holy Qurbana
Numbers 21: 4-9
Psalms 34: 1-9
Zechariah 12: 6-14

Holy Qurbana
Acts 15: 22 -33
II Corinthians 9: 1-15
St. John 3: 13-21

“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom.
But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against
Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert?
There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food! Then
the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many
Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke
against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away
from us.So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake
and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. So Moses
made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a
snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”- Numbers 21:4-9

This passage from the Old Testament which is read on Mid-Lent before Holy
Qurbana holds a great deal of significance. When the Israelites spoke out
against God and complained about the lack of food, He punished the people for
losing their faith in God. The Israelites soon realized their mistake and asked
Moses to pray and intercede for forgiveness from God on their behalf. Moses put
a bronze snake on the pole that was placed in the center of the camp so that all
who looked upon it could be healed. In this same manner, we erect a blessed
Cross, known as the Golgotha, in the middle of the church on the 25th day of the
Great Lent to represent our Lord who died on the Cross. We do this so that all
the faithful who enter the church can meditate upon the Cross and be healed of
their spiritual and physical illnesses.

In our daily lives, we are continually seeking spiritual nourishment and growth.
During Lent, we fast and pray to overcome the evils and temptations we face.
Yet, we still struggle with our own journey through the Great Lent. We continue
to sin, to fail in our endeavors, and endure trials and tribulations. Though we
are fatigued and tired, we must not stumble. Looking at the Cross reminds us not
only of Christ's crucifixion, but also His resurrection, and with it eternal
salvation. Ultimately, we must take up His Cross so that we can follow Christ
and can be a light that shines and can be seen by others.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that You continue to bless us during this Holy
Lenten Season as we look towards Your blessed Cross for healing, strength and
guidance. Amen.

Courtesy:
'2013 Lenten Meditation' published by MGOCSM, Philadelphia