Like this and you’ll find in your ask box an Orthodox Life tip. Reblog this and I’ll send you a quote from the Bible.
Dear Catholic & Orthodox Christians,
I’m just curious why you believe what you do? In other words, Catholics: why are you not Orthodox? Orthodox, why are you not Catholic?
First of all, I have to mention that my country is Orthodox so I was baptized Orthodox. But there are several reasons I strongly believe that Orthodoxy is the truth.
Let me start with the fact of the Schism in 1054. Firstly Christians are all united, then they divided. Pope added in Catholic religion some new things like “Filioque”. Orthodoxy is the only one who hasn’t changed since Jesus was on earth.
Secondly, Infalibility of Pope is not correct according to Orthodoxy.
Also, something that I mention too often is the miracle of Holy Fire. I know that miracles is not the base of our religion but they just help people to believe but this miracle testifies for Orthodoxy.
But as I have heard from some Catholics, they feel that something is missing… Something does not go well.. I never feel like this!
I am so sorry for my bad use of english, propably because of it I can’t explain more. But I can propose you some links :
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/ortho_cath.html
http://journeytoorthodoxy.com/category/convert-stories/non-orthodox-christians/roman-catholics/#axzz1Siho0l4f
Smile from Eternity
A few hours after the burial of Elder Joseph, you published in your website an article with the title “the funeral of blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi” - “Smile from Eternity” describing with few words the event with the help of a few photographs. The photograph of the reposed, smiling not only with his lips but with the full expression of his face, has greatly impressed the world as we see it from the articles and comments in many websites. In fact one could meet people who just reposed with a bright face, or peaceful expression, or with deep restful repose but where is the smile? On one side the spiritual fathers say that the hour of death is frightful for man, on the other side we read in “Gerontika” (Elder Literature) that even the most advanced in the spiritual life through humility they would not lose their courage before they passed on to the other life where there is no more danger. Moreover the elder Joseph suffered from his heart and was greatly tormented by the sickness, so how then did he repose smiling?
The answer is: NO, he did not repose smiling, but SMILED AFTER HIS REPOSE.
From discussions with some fathers of the monastery we bring you the facts of the event.
The two monks who were with him till the last moment, ran to inform Elder Ephraim and the rest of the fathers and did not pay attention to the reposed, who was indeed with his mouth partly open.
They therefore came to prepare him according to the monastic formality. Elder Ephraim ordered not to cover his face. The fathers tried to close his mouth, but it was too late, the mouth would stay open, in fact they tied gauze around to hold his mouth closed, but after they would remove it the mouth would reopen. Some forty five minutes had passed since his repose.
Elder, it will look ugly this way with his mouth open, what should we do?
As he is, do not cover his face!
They stitched the monastic mandya (cloak) as is the custom.
The whole process to put the mandya and stitch it, took some forty five minutes more. They then cut the material around his face, by order, and they found the elder like at last all see him, smiling. Did he hear them and granted them this small favour, so that he may not sadden them? Or did he want to give us an idea of what he saw and the condition in which he is after his departure from the present life?
“The Holy Light testifies for Orthodoxy”
During the Pascha of 1549, the Armenians managed to bribe the Turkish Ruler in issuing a decree forbidding the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Sophronios 4th from entering the Church to perform the ceremony of the Holy Light. The guards closed the Holy Gate and Patriarch Sophronios 4th with his hierarchs and the faithful were left outside praying, and waiting for the development of events. Truly, the response of our Lord was immediate. Despite the hopeless efforts of the Armenian Patriarch, the Holy Light would not light up in the holy Edicule or anywhere else inside the Church. Instead, the Holy Light came out, passing through the column, which to this day appears cracked and blackened and with great surprise, it lit up the candles which the Orthodox Patriarch held in his hands. Subsequently, the Patriarch gave the Holy Light to the Orthodox faithful who were in the courtyard, while the Armenians left embarrassed. The Emir Tounom, who was a guard at the Holy Gate at the time, witnessed this wonderful event. This became the reason for him to believe and become a Christian. The Turks killed him so that no one would learn of the event. According to another version, when he perceived the miracle, he exclaimed to those gathered, “This is the true faith”. The Turks for his conversion burned him alive. His relics today are kept at the monastery of the Great Theotokos. When the Sultan was informed of the miracle, he issued a “firman” (decree) recognizing the exclusive right for the receiving of the Holy Light to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch.
The Orthodox miracle of Holy Fire
PLEASE REBLOG THIS IF YOU WANT ALL CHRISTIANS TO FIND OUT THIS MIRACLE OF OUR LORD!!!
What exactly happens in the Holy Sepulchre Church on Easter Saturday? Why does it have such an impact on the Orthodox Tradition? Why does it seem as if nobody has heard anything about the miracle in the Protestant and Catholic countries?
Unknown in the West
One can ask the question why the Miracle of the Holy Fire is hardly known in Western Europe. In the Protestant areas it may to a certain extent be explained by the fact that there is no real tradition for miracles; people dont really know in which box to place the miracles, and they dont take up much space in newspapers. But in the Catholic tradition there is vast interest for miracles. Thus, why is it not more known? For this it only one explanation suffices: Church politics. Only the Orthodox Churches attend the ceremony framing the miracle. It only occurs on the orthodox Easter date and without the presence of any Catholic authorities. By certain Orthodox this evidence proves the notion that the Orthodox Church is the only legitimate Church of Christ in the world, and this assertion obviously may cause certain apprehensions in Catholic circles.
To find out more about this unknown miracle of Orthodoxy, please visit this link: http://www.holyfire.org/eng/
