The brick and the wheelchair

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?
Just what the heck are you doing?
That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.
Why did you do it?"
The young boy was apologetic. "Please mister ... please, I'm sorry... I didn't know what else to do," he pleaded.
"I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."
With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car.
"It's my brother," he said.
"He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.
Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us.

It's our choice: Listen to the whisper ... or wait for the brick! 

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/10/the-brick-and-wheelchair.html

Prayer of the Heart for the Faithful Living in the World ( Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi )

The question is always being asked, "Is it possible for those living in the world to occupy themselves with noetic [1] prayer?" To those who ask we answer quite affirmatively, "Yes." In order to make this exhortation of ours comprehensible to those interested, but at the same time to make aware those who are unaware, we will briefly explain this, so that no one will be placed in a quandary by the various interpretations and definitions of noetic prayer that exist.

Generally speaking, prayer is the sole obligatory and indispensable occupation and virtue for all rational beings, both sentient and thinking, human and angelic. For this reason we are enjoined to the unceasing practice of the prayer [2].

Prayer is not divided dogmatically into types and methods but, according to our Fathers, every type and method of prayer is beneficial, as long as it is not of diabolic delusion and influence. The goal of this all-virtuous work is to turn and keep the mind of man on God. For this purpose our Fathers devised easier methods and simplified the prayer, so that the mind might more easily and more firmly turn to and remain in God. With the rest of the virtues other parts of man's body come into play and senses intervene, whereas in blessed prayer the mind alone is fully active; thus much effort is needed to incite the mind and to bridle it, in order that the prayer may become fruitful and acceptable. Our most holy Fathers, who loved God in the fullest, had as their chief study uniting with God and remaining continuously in Him; thus they turned all of their efforts to prayer as the most efficient means to this end.

There are other forms of prayer which are known and common to almost all Christians which we will not speak about now; rather we will limit ourselves to that which is called "noetic prayer", which we are always being asked about. It is a subject that engages the multitude of the faithful since next to nothing is known regarding it, and it is often misconstrued and described rather fantastically. The precise way of putting it into practice as well as the results of this deifying virtue, which leads from purification to sanctification, we will leave for the Fathers to tell. We paupers will only mention those things which are sufficient to clarify the matter and to convince our brethren living in the world that they need to occupy themselves with the prayer.

The Fathers call it noetic because it is done with the mind, the "nous", but they also call it "sober watchfulness" [3] which means nearly the same thing. Our Fathers describe the mind as a free and inquiring being which does not tolerate confinement and is not persuaded by that which it can't conceive on its own. Primarily for this reason they selected just a few words in a single, simple prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me", so that the mind would not require a great effort in order to hold on to a long, protracted prayer. Secondly, they turned the mind within, to the center of our reason, where it resides motionless with the meaning of the divine invocation of the most sweet Name of our Lord Jesus, in order to experience as soon as possible the divine consolation. It is impossible, according to the Fathers, for our all-good Master, being thus called upon continuously, not to hear us, He Who desires so much the salvation of men.

Just as a natural virtue that is aspired to can only be achieved by the conducive means, so also this holy work requires some nearly indispensable rudiments: a degree of quiet; freedom from cares; avoidance of learning about and spreading the "news" of things going on, the "giving and taking" as the Fathers put it; self discipline in all things; and an overall silence which stems from these things. Moreover, I don't think this persistence and habit will be unattainable for devout people who take an interest in this holy activity. The good habit of a regular prayer time, morning and evening, always about the same time, would be a good beginning.

With surety we have emphasized perseverance as the most indispensable element in prayer. Rightly it is stressed by St. Paul, "Continue steadfastly in prayer."(Col. 4:2) In contrast to the rest of the virtues, prayer requires effort throughout our entire lifetime, and for this reason I repeat to those who are making the attempt not to feel encumbered, nor to consider the need for endurance as a failure in this sober-minded work.

In the beginning it is necessary to say the prayer in a whisper, or even louder when confronted by duress and inner resistance. When this good habit is achieved to the point that the prayer may be sustained and said with ease, then we can turn inwardly with complete outer silence. In the first part of the little book (Way of the Pilgrim) a good example is given of the initiation into the prayer. Sound persistence and effort, always with the same words of the prayer not being frequently altered, will give birth to a good habit. This will bring control of the mind, at which time the presence of Grace will be manifested.

Just as every virtue has a corresponding result, so also prayer has as a result the purification of the mind and enlightenment. It arrives at the highest and perfect good, union with God; that is to say, actual divinization (theosis). However, the Fathers also have this to say: that it lies with man to seek and strive to enter the way which leads to the city; and if by chance he doesn't arrive at the endpoint, not having kept pace for whatever reason, God will number him with those who finished. To make myself more clear, especially on the subject of prayer, I will explain how all of us Christians must strive in prayer, particularly in that which is called monological [4] or noetic prayer. If one arrives at such prayer he will find much profit.

By the presence of the Jesus Prayer man is not given over to temptation which he is expecting, because its presence is sober watchfulness and its essence is prayer; therefore "the one who watches and prays does not enter into temptation." (cf. Matt. 26:41) Further, he is not given over to darkness of mind so as to become irrational and err in his judgments and decisions. He does not fall into indolence and negligence, which are the basis of many evils. Moreover, he is not overcome by passions and indulgences where he is weak, and particularly when the causes of sin are near at hand. On the contrary his zeal and devotion increase. He becomes eager for good works. He becomes meek and forgiving. He grows from day to day in his faith and love for Christ and this inflames him towards all the virtues. We have many examples in our own day of people, and particularly of young people, who with the good habit of doing the prayer have been saved from frightful dangers, from falls into great evils, or from symptoms leading toward spiritual death.

Consequently, the prayer is a duty for each one of the faithful, of every age, nationality, and status; without regard to place, time or manner. With the prayer divine Grace becomes active and provides solutions to problems and trials which trouble the faithful, so that, according to the Scriptures, "Everyone that calls on the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21)

There is no danger of delusion, as is bandied about by a few unknowledgeable people, as long as the prayer is said in a simple and humble manner. It is of the utmost importance that when the prayer is being said no image at all be portrayed in the mind; neither of our Lord Christ in any form whatever, nor of the Lady Theotokos, nor of any other person or depiction. By means of the image the mind is scattered. Likewise, by means of images the entrance for thoughts and delusions is created. The mind should remain in the meaning of the words, and with much humility the person should await divine mercy. The chance imaginations, lights, or movements, as well as noises and disturbances are unacceptable as diabolic machinations towards obstruction and deception. The manner in which Grace is manifested to initiates is by spiritual joy, by quiet and joy-producing tears, or by a peaceful and awe-inspiring fear due to the remembrance of sins, thus leading to an increase of mourning and lamentation.

Gradually Grace becomes the sense of the love of Christ, at which time the roving about of the mind ceases completely and the heart becomes so warmed in the love of Christ that it thinks it can bear no more. Still at other times one thinks and desires to remain forever exactly as one finds oneself, not seeking to see or hear anything else. All of these things, as well as various other forms of aid and comfort, are found in the initial stages by as many as try to say and maintain the prayer, in as much as it depends on them and is possible. Up to this stage, which is so simple, I think that every soul that is baptized and lives in an Orthodox manner should be able to put this into practice and to stand in this spiritual delight and joy, having at the same time the divine protection and help in all its actions and activities.

I repeat once again my exhortation to all who love God and their salvation not to put off trying this good labor and practice for the sake of the Grace and mercy which it holds out to as many as will strive a bit at this work. I say this to them for courage, that they don't hesitate or become fainthearted due to the bit of resistance or weariness which they will encounter. Contemporary elders that we have known had many disciples living in the world, men and women, married and single, who not only arrived at the beginning state but rose to higher levels through the Grace and compassion of our Christ. "It is a trifle in the eyes of the Lord to make a poor man rich." (Sir. 11:23) I think that in today's chaos of such turmoil, denial and unbelief there exists no simpler and easier spiritual practice that is feasible for almost all people, with such a multitude of benefit and opportunity for success, than this small prayer.

Whenever one is seated, moving about, or working, and if need be even in bed, and generally wherever and however one finds oneself, one can say this little prayer which contains within itself faith, confession, invocation and hope. With such little labor and insignificant effort the universal command to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17) is fulfilled to perfection. To whatever word of our Fathers one might turn, or even in their wonderful lives, he will encounter hardly any other virtue given so much praise or applied with such zeal and persistence, so that it alone constitutes the most powerful means of our success in Christ. It is not our intention to sing the praises of this queen of virtues, or to describe it, because whatever we might say would instead rather diminish it. Our aim is to exhort and encourage every believer in the working of the prayer. Afterwards, each person will learn from his own experience what we have said so poorly.

Press forward you who are doubtful, you who are despondent, you who are distressed, you who are in ignorance, you of little faith, and you who are suffering trials of various kinds; forward to consolation and to the solution to your problems. Our sweet Jesus Christ, our Life, has proclaimed to us that "without Me you can do nothing." (Jn. 15:5) Thus behold that, calling upon Him continuously, we are never alone; and consequently "we can and will do all things through Him." (cf Phil. 4:13) Behold the correct meaning and application of the significant saying of the Scripture, "Call upon Me in your day of trouble and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Ps. 49(50):15) Let us call upon His all-holy Name not only "in the day of trouble" but continuously; so that our minds may be enlightened, that we might not enter into temptation. If anyone desires to step even higher where all-holy Grace will draw him, he will pass through this beginning point, and will be "spoken to" [5] regarding Him, when he arrives there.

As an epilogue to that which has been written we repeat our exhortation, or rather our encouragement, to all the faithful that it is possible and it is vital that they occupy themselves with the prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me", the so-called "noetic prayer", with a sure faith that they will benefit greatly regardless of what level they may reach. The remembrance of death and a humble attitude, together with the other helpful things that we have mentioned, guarantee success through the grace of Christ, the invocation of Whom will be the aim of this virtuous occupation. Amen.


by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi (Spiritual Child of Elder Joseph the Hesychast)
 
source :http://orthodoxinfo.com/search.aspx?q=Jesus+Prayer

“Πές του Χριστούλη να με δεχθεί” - Και ξεψύχησε. (Μιά συγκλονιστική πραγματική ιστορία)

Σύριγγα θανάτου – μετάνοια ζωῆς

 Στὸ Εὐαγγέλιο διαβάζουμε ὅτι στὸν Γολγοθὰ τὴν ὥρα τῆς σταυρώσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἕνας ἐκ τῶν ληστῶν, ποὺ σταυρώθηκε μαζί του, εἶπε στὸν Χριστό: «Μνήσθητί μου, Κύριε, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου» (Λουκ. κγ´ 42). Καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς τὸν διαβεβαίωσε ὅτι ἐκείνη τὴν ἡμέρα θὰ εἰσερχόταν στὴν Βασιλεία Του.

  Οἱ Πατέρες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἑρμηνεύοντας αὐτὸ τὸ γεγονὸς ἀποκαλοῦν τὸν ληστὴ θεολόγο, ποὺ θεολόγησε ἀπὸ τὸν σταυρό, ἀναγνωρίζοντας ὅτι ὁ Χριστός, ποὺ καταδικάστηκε νὰ πεθάνη διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ εἶναι Θεός. Ὁ ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος ἔχει μιὰ τέτοια ὁμιλία.

 Τὸ γεγονὸς αὐτὸ ἐπαναλαμβάνεται ποικιλοτρόπως σὲ κάθε ἐποχή. Πόσοι ἄνθρωποι δὲν ὁμολογοῦν τὴν θεότητα τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ δὲν προσεύχονται σὲ Αὐτόν, ἀκόμη καὶ τὴν ὥρα ποὺ πεθαίνουν! Πόσοι δὲν τελειώνουν τὴν ζωή τους μὲ μετάνοια καὶ συντριβή!

  Διάβασα σὲ περιοδικὸ ὅτι ὁ μακαριστὸς Ἐπίσκοπος Πατάρων Εἰρηναῖος, ποὺ ἀνήκει στὸ Οἰκουμενικὸ Πατριαρχεῖο, καὶ ὑπηρετοῦσε στὴν Ἱερὰ Ἀρχιεπισκοπὴ Θυατείρων καὶ Μεγάλης Βρετανίας, στὸν Πρόλογο τοῦ βιβλίου του μὲ τίτλο «Λουλούδια ἀπὸ τοὺς κήπους τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας μας» ἀναγράφει ἕνα συγκλονιστικὸ περιστατικό:

«Προχθές, γυρίζοντας ἀπὸ ἕναν Ἑσπερινὸ πέρασα ἀπὸ τὴν Ὁμόνοια. Πλῆθος νέων ἦταν μαζεμένοι γύρω ἀπὸ ἕνα παιδί. Στὸ χέρι του κρατοῦσε τὴν τελευταία σύριγγα τοῦ θανάτου. Τὸν πλησίασα καὶ μὲ δακρυσμένα μάτια φώναξε: “ Βοήθεια, πεθαίνω…”. Ἔτρεξα κοντά του τὸν ἀγκάλιασα. Μὲ σπασμένη φωνὴ μοῦ εἶπε: “ Παππούλη, πεθαίνω διάβασέ μου μιὰ εὐχή“ . Γονάτισα, τοῦ διάβασα μία εὐχή. Ψέλλισε δύο λέξεις: “ πὲς τοῦ Χριστούλη νὰ μὲ δεχτεῖ” καὶ ξεψύχησε μέσα στὴν ἀγκάλη μου, ἄγνωστος μεταξὺ ἀγνώστων. Φεύγοντας, ψιθύριζα μία προσευχή. ”Χριστέ μου, μία λέξη εἶπε ὁ ληστὴς καὶ τὸν δέχτηκες στὴν βασιλεία Σου, δέξου καὶ τὴν ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ τοῦ παιδιοῦ σου”» (Περιοδικὸ «Ἐρῶ», Ἀπρίλιος-Ἰούνιος 2011).

Τὸ περιστατικὸ αὐτὸ εἶναι πολὺ χαρακτηριστικό. Τὸ παιδὶ αὐτό, ποὺ ἦταν πληγωμένο ἀπὸ τὴν σύγχρονη μάστιγα τῶν ναρκωτικῶν πέθανε στὸν δρόμο, ζητώντας προσευχὴ καὶ ἐπιθυμώντας νὰ τὸν δεχθῆ ὁ Χριστὸς στὴν βασιλεία Του. Ποιός ξέρει πόσα βάσανα πέρασε στὴν ζωή του, γιὰ νὰ καταλήξη στὰ ναρκωτικὰ καὶ ποιός ξέρει πόσες πληγὲς δέχθηκε ἀπὸ τὸ στενὸ καὶ εὐρύτερο κοινωνικὸ περιβάλλον καὶ ἀπὸ τοὺς ἐμπόρους τῶν ναρκωτικῶν, τοὺς ἐμπόρους τοῦ θανάτου! Καὶ ὅμως πέθανε μὲ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τὴν αἴτηση γιὰ τὴν Βασιλεία Του.
. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν Κληρικῶν εἶναι μεγάλη, ὅταν ἀνοίγουν τὴν ἀγκαλιά τους σὲ τέτοιες πληγωμένες ὑπάρξεις, ὅταν δέχωνται τὸν πόνο τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅταν χύνουν κάποια δάκρυα γιὰ τοὺς νέους ποὺ βασανίζονται σκληρά.

Συγκινήθηκα διαβάζοντας αὐτὸ τὸ περιστατικό, γιατί θυμήθηκα μία παρόμοια σκηνή. Κοντὰ στὴν Ὁμόνοια τῆς Ἀθήνας κάποια κοπέλα 25-30 ἐτῶν, ποὺ ἔμοιαζε μὲ 60 ἐτῶν, σκελετωμένη ἀπὸ τὰ ναρκωτικά, πονεμένη στὸ πρόσωπο, ποὺ ἦταν σκαμμένο ἀπὸ τὸν πόνο καὶ τὰ βάσανα, μὲ ἐκλιπαροῦσε: «Παππούλη, κάνε μιὰ προσευχὴ γιὰ μένα, γιὰ νὰ σωθῶ» καὶ μοῦ εἶπε τὸ ὄνομά της. Ἀκόμη καὶ τώρα, ὕστερα ἀπὸ χρόνια, ἔχω μέσα μου ἔντονα τὴν ἐνθύμηση τοῦ προσώπου της. Εἶναι παιδιὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ποὺ ἀναζητοῦν τὸν Πατέρα τους, ποὺ μὲ τὸν τρόπο τους ζητοῦν ἀγάπη καὶ στοργή, τὴν ὁποία τοὺς τὴν στέρησε ἡ «ἀκοινώνητη κοινωνία».

  Ἡ ἱστορία τοῦ Γολγοθᾶ ἐπαναλαμβάνεται καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἐξακολουθεῖ νὰἔχη φίλους ἀπὸ τὸ πιὸ πληγωμένο μέρος τῆς κοινωνίας, ἀπὸ τοὺς «ἀνασφάλιστους»! 

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/10/blog-post_5310.html

"Σήμερα πρέπει νὰ ψάξουμε καὶ νὰ βροῦμε νέους τρόπους ἱεραποστολῆς". ( Γεροντας Παϊσιος )

 
Βλέπω μερικοὺς γονεῖς πόσο ὑπερβολικοὶ εἶναι καὶ πόσο παράλογες ἀπαιτήσεις ἔχουν ἀπὸ τὰ παιδιά τους. Κάποιος μου ἔλεγε ὅτι ὑποχρεώνει τὰ παιδιά του νὰ ἐκκλησιάζονται κάθε Κυριακὴ καὶ τὰ χτυπάει ὅταν τοῦ ποῦν ὅτι δὲν θέλουν νὰ πᾶνε στὴν Ἐκκλησία. Αὐτὰ ὅμως δὲν εἶναι σωστὰ πράγματα, γιατί μὲ τὸ ζόρι δὲν μπορεῖς νὰ κάνεις τὸν ἄλλο νὰ ἁγιάσει. Ἀλλὰ καὶ μερικοὶ κληρικοὶ εἶναι ἀπόλυτοι καὶ μιλοῦν γιὰ τὸν Θεὸ μὲ ἕνα τρόπο ποὺ σὲ τρομάζει. Ἐγὼ βλέπω ὅτι ἡ σημερινὴ ἐποχὴ ἔχει ἀλλάξει καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος σήμερα σκέφτεται καὶ ζεῖ διαφορετικὰ ἀπὸ τὴν ἐποχὴ τὴν δική μας. Ἐμεῖς σὰν παιδιὰ τρώγαμε ξύλο ἀπὸ τοὺς γονεῖς καὶ τοὺς μεγαλύτερούς μας. Τώρα αὐτὰ δὲν περνοῦν καὶ δὲν φέρνουν καλὸ ἀποτέλεσμα.

Κάποιος ἄλλος μου ἔλεγε ὅτι τὶς ἐλεύθερες ὧρες τοῦ μπαίνει στὰ λεωφορεῖα, κάνει σύντομο κήρυγμα καὶ μοιράζει στοὺς ἐπιβάτες θρησκευτικὰ ἔντυπα ποὺ μιλοῦν γιὰ τὴν ἐξομολόγηση. Μοῦ εἶπε ἐπίσης ὅτι ἔχει πρόβλημα μὲ τὰ παιδιά του, γιατί ντρέπονται μὲ τὴν ἱεραποστολὴ ποὺ κάνει. Τοῦ εἶπα ὅτι εἶναι καλὰ αὐτά, ἀλλὰ ὑπερβολικά,γιατί σήμερα πρέπει νὰ ψάξουμε καὶ νὰ βροῦμε νέους τρόπους ἱεραποστολῆς,ὄχι ὅπως τὴν ἐποχὴ τοῦ πολέμου ποὺ οἱ χριστιανοὶ νέοι τραγουδοῦσαν στοὺς δρόμους καὶ τὰ λεωφορεῖα χριστιανικὰ τραγούδια καὶ μοίραζαν ἔντυπα. Τὸν σημερινὸ ἄνθρωπο πρέπει νὰ τὸν πλησιάσεις μὲ διαφορετικὸ τρόπο. Ὁ χριστιανὸς πρέπει νὰ ὁμολογεῖ τὸν Χριστὸ ὄχι μὲ λόγια, ἀλλὰ μὲ ἔργα, μὲ τὸ παράδειγμα καὶ τὴν ζωή του.


Οἱ χριστιανοὶ πρέπει νὰ μάθουμε νὰ σιωποῦμε, γιατί εἶναι ἐξαιρετικὰ ἐπικίνδυνο (καὶ ἀστεῖο) νὰ ἀναγορεύουμε τοὺς ἑαυτούς μας, ἄλλοτε συνηγόρους τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἄλλοτε εἰδικοὺς στὸ νὰ ἐξηγοῦμε τὶς βουλὲς καὶ τὰ σχέδιά Του.

Ἡ Ἐκκλησία θὰ ἀνεβεῖ πάλι ἀπὸ τὶς κατακόμβες καὶ θὰ χτίσει πάλι τὴν Ἁγιά Σοφιά της

Ἡ παγκοσμιοποίηση ποὺ δὲν ἔρχεται καλπάζοντας καὶ καλλιεργεῖται μεθοδικὰ ἀπὸ κυβερνητικὰ καὶ ἐπιχειρηματικὰ στελέχη εἶναι βέβαιο ὅτι θὰ σαρώσει θεσμοὺς καὶ παραδόσεις. Ἕνας θεσμὸς μόνο δὲν κινδυνεύει ἀπὸ καμιὰ παγκοσμιοποίηση καὶ αὐτὸς εἶναι ἡ Ἐκκλησία. Καὶ δὲν κινδυνεύει γιατί ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἀπὸ τὴν ἵδρυση τῆς εἶναι παγκόσμια, δὲν εἶναι ἐθνική.

Τὸν ὁποιοδήποτε ἀλλοεθνῆ τὸν θεωροῦμε δυνάμει ἀδελφό μας καὶ ὅταν εἶναι βαπτισμένος εἶναι ἀδελφός μας καρδιακὸς καὶ τίποτε δὲν μᾶς χωρίσει ἀπ' αὐτόν. Πῶς ἐξηγεῖται ὅμως τὸ γεγονός μας ἡ Ἐκκλησία νὰ εὐλογεῖ τοὺς ἐθνικοὺς ἀγῶνες καὶ νὰ εὐνοεῖ τὴν ἐθνικὴ ἀπελευθέρωση; Πῶς λέμε ὅτι τὸ ἔθνος μᾶς εἶναι συνυφασμένο μὲ τὴν Ὀρθοδοξία καὶ συμπορεύεται μαζί της; Γιατί ἡ ἐθνική μας σημαία προβάλλει τὸ σύμβολο τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας, τὸ Σταυρό;


Δὲν εἶναι δύσκολο νὰ ἀντιληφθεῖ κανεὶς ὅτι μία Ἐκκλησία οἰκουμενικὴ δὲν εὐνοεῖ καμία ὑποδούλωση καὶ εὐνοεῖ κάθε ἀπελευθέρωση. Ὥστε ἡ θερμὴ συμπαράσταση τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας στοὺς ἐθνικούς μας ἀγῶνες εἶναι μία παραχώρηση πρὸς τὶς ἀνάγκες καὶ τὰ προβλήματα τοῦ λαοῦ, μία συμπαράσταση σὲ θέμα δικαιοσύνης, μία ἔξοδος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἀπὸ....τὴ φύση της πρὸς βοήθεια τοῦ κόσμου.


Ἂν ἡ ἱστορία τοῦ ἔθνους μᾶς εἶναι συνυφασμένη μὲ τὴν ἐκκλησιαστική μας ἱστορία, αὐτὸ ὀφείλεται στὸ ὅτι τὸ ἔθνος ὑπηρέτησε τὴν Ἐκκλησία καὶ τὴν ὑπάκουσε. Ἔγινε δηλαδὴ τὸ ἔθνος μας(σὲ πολὺ μεγάλο βαθμὸ) ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου ποὺ ἔπεσε στὴ γῆ καὶ ἀπέθανε καὶ ἔδωσεν καρπὸν ἑκατονταπλασίονα. Δὲν ἔγινε δηλαδὴ ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἔθνος ἀλλὰ τὸ ἔθνος ἔγινε(σὲ μεγάλο βαθμὸ) Ἐκκλησία.

Δὲν μᾶς παραγγέλλει ἡ Ἐκκλησία νὰ πολεμοῦμε καὶ νὰ σκοτώνουμε τὸν εἰσβολέα, ἀλλὰ ἐμεῖς,ποὺ δὲν ἀντέχομε τὴ σκλαβιά, ἀποφασίζομε νὰ πολεμήσουμε, κι ἐπειδὴ νιώθομε πὼς ὁ ἀγώνας μᾶς εἶναι δίκαιος, ἐπικαλούμαστε τὴ βοήθεια τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Γι'αὐτὸ καὶ ἡ Ἐκκλησία μᾶς εὐλογεῖ τοὺς ἀπελευθερωτικοὺς καὶ ἀμυντικοὺς πολέμους, ποτὲ ὅμως τοὺς κατακτητικούς. Αὐτὸ τὸ κατάλαβε ἐπιτέλους καὶ τὸ Βατικανὸ καὶ ἐζήτησε ἔπειτα ἀπὸ ἑξήντα χρόνια συγγνώμην γιατί συντάχθηκε μὲ τὸν κατακτητικὸ φασισμὸ καὶ συνεργάστηκε κιόλας μαζί του.

Στὶς μέρες μας πάλι ἡ Ἐκκλησία προεξάρχει σὲ ἀγῶνες κοινωνικοὺς καὶ ἐθνικούς, ὄχι γιατί ὀρέγεται νὰ γίνει μία κοινωνικὴ ἢ ἐθνικὴ δύναμη, ἀλλὰ γιατί αὐτοὶ οἱ θεσμοὶ πολεμοῦνται καὶ κινδυνεύουν. Θὰ κάνει ὄντως κανεὶς τὴ σκέψη: ἂν οἱ θεσμοὶ αὐτοὶ ταυτίζονται μὲ τὴν Ἐκκλησία τότε δὲν κινδυνεύουν, ἂν δὲν ταυτίζονται τότε ἂς κινδυνέψουν. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία ὅμως δὲν νιώθει ἔτσι, ἀλλὰ νιώθει σὰν μάνα. Ὁ κόσμος, εἴτε εἶναι κάτω ἀπ'τὶς φτεροῦγες της εἴτε βόσκει παραπέρα, τῆς ἀνήκει τὸ ἴδιο καὶ οἱ ἀγῶνες αὐτοὶ γίνονται κυρίως γιὰ τοὺς ἀδυνάτους, γιὰ τὶς λιγότερο σχετικούς.

Εἴδαμε ὅτι ὅταν τὸ Ρωμαϊκὸ κράτος μὲ τὸν ἅγιο καὶ μέγα Κωνσταντῖνο ἔγινε χριστιανικό, ἡ Ἐκκλησία εὐνόησε τὴ διανοητικὴ ρωμαιοσύνη τῶν Ἑλλήνων, γιατί δὲν τοὺς ἔβλαφτε σὲ τίποτε,καὶ παράλληλα εὐνόησε τὴν πολιτιστικὴ ἐλληνοποίηση τοῦ Ρωμαϊκοῦ κράτους, κάτι ποὺ πολὺ τὸ ὠφέλησε. Ἔτσι γίναμε κι ἐμεῖς Ρωμιοὶ καὶ τὸ'χομε καὶ καμάρι, γιατί μὲ τὸ Ρωμαίικο προσδιορισμὸ μᾶς αἰσθανόμαστε πολίτες ἑνὸς μεγάλου "ἔθνους"ποὺ τὰ χαρακτηριστικά του δὲν εἶναι φυλετικὰ ἀλλὰ πολιτιστικά. Οἱ Ρωμιοὶ εἶναι πολίτες ἑνὸς παγκόσμιου ἔθνους καὶ γι'αὐτὸ καμιὰ παγκοσμιοποίηση δὲν τοὺς τρομάζει.


Ἡ παγκοσμιοποίηση ποὺ ἐπιχειρεῖται στὶς μέρες μᾶς διαφέρει πάρα πολὺ ἀπὸ τὴ ρωμαϊκὴ-χριστιανικὴ παγκοσμιοποίηση, γιατί ἐκείνη εἶχε ἕνα μεγάλο μεταφυσικὸ μήνυμα νὰ μεταδώσει στὸν κόσμο καὶ γι'αὐτὸ τὸ μήνυμα ποὺ ἔγινε πίστη, ἕνωσε τὸ μεγαλύτερο μέρος τοῦ κόσμου. Ἡ σημερινὴ παγκοσμιοποίηση εἶναι ἀπομυθοποιητική, ἐπιδιώκει τὴ διάψευση αὐτοῦ του μηνύματος, τὴν ἐπικράτηση τοῦ φόβου, τῆς ὁμοιομορφίας, τῆς ἐμπορευματικότητας τῶν ἀγαθῶν, τῆς κατάργησης κάθε ἠθικῆς.


Ἡ ἀπάλειψη τοῦ θρησκεύματος καὶ τῆς ἐθνικότητος ἀπὸ τὶς ταυτότητες, ποὺ εἴδαμε πόσο ἀντιδημοκρατικοὶ καὶ ἀνυποχώρητα ἐνεργεῖται ἀπὸ τὸ κρατικὸ καὶ ὑπερκρατικὸ κατεστημένο, θὰ φέρει τὸ σβήσιμο τῆς ἐθνικότητος στὸ λαὸ καὶ ἴσως καὶ τῆς θρησκευτικῆς του ὑπόστασης,ἀνεξάρτητα ἂν πολλοὶ ἀκόμα ἐξακολουθοῦν νὰ πιστεύουν καὶ νὰ καλλιεργοῦν τὴν ἐθνικὴ καὶ τὴ θρησκευτική τους ταυτότητα. Καὶ ἐξηγοῦμαι.

Μὲ τὴν ἐλεύθερη διακίνηση πολιτῶν τῆς Εὐρωπαϊκῆς Ἕνωσης ποὺ ἐγκαινιάζεται σὲ λίγους μῆνες, θὰ εἶναι πολλὰ τὰ ἑκατομμύρια τῶν Εὐρωπαίων ποὺ θὰ ἔρθουν νὰ ζήσουν στὴν ὡραία Ἑλλάδα καὶ νὰ δουλέψουν σ'αὐτήν. Καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπ'αὐτοὺς θὰ εἶναι Εὐρωπαῖοι τουρκικῆς καταγωγῆς.Καὶ ὅπως τὰ καλοκαίρια ὅποιος πάει στὴ Μύκονο, ἢ στὴν Κρήτη δυσκολεύεται νὰ πιστέψει ὅτι βρίσκεται στὴν Ἑλλάδα, ἔτσι θὰ νιώθει ὁλοχρονὶς πιά. Αὐτοὶ οἱ καινούριοι συμπατριῶτες μας θὰ ἔχουν ὅλα τὰ πολιτικὰ δικαιώματα μὲ τοὺς"παλιοὺς" κατοίκους καὶ οἱ κοινότητές μας, οἱ δημόσιες ὑπηρεσίες, ἡ Βουλή μας θὰ καταληφθοῦν νομίμως ἀπ'αὐτούς.


Τότε ὅσοι ἐπιμένουν νὰ ὀνειρεύονται τὴ γαλανόλευκη, τοὺς ἐθνικούς μας ἀγῶνες, τὴν ἑλληνικὴ οἰκογένεια,τὸ φιλότιμό του Ἕλληνα, τὸν Μακρυγιάννη, τὸν Κολοκοτρώνη καὶ τέτοια, θὰ θεωροῦνται ἁπλῶς ρομαντικοί. Αὐτὰ ποὺ βλέπομε σήμερα στὰ ἀμερικανικὰ καὶ εὐρωπαϊκὰ σενάρια, αὐτὰ ποὺ διαβάζομε στὴ λογοτεχνία τους, θὰ ἀποτελέσουν μόνιμη πραγματικότητα τῆς καθημερινῆς ζωῆς. Οἱ ἄνθρωποι δὲν ἀνήκουν σὲ καμιὰ οἰκογένεια,σὲ καμιὰ θρησκεία ἢ ἔθνος, παρὰ εἶναι ἀρσενικοὶ ἢ θηλυκοί, ὁ μόνος τους προσδιορισμός.


Ἐπιμένω ὅτι αὐτὴ ἡ κατάσταση εἶναι πολὺ κοντινή, γιατί κιόλας τὸ μοντέρνο κοσμικὸ μέρος τοῦ λαοῦ μᾶς αὐτὴ τὴν κατάσταση ζεῖ. Καὶ ἡ ἀσυγκράτητη ἀντιπάθεια τῶν ἰθυνόντων πρὸς τὴν Ἐκκλησία δείχνει τὴν ἐνόχληση τοῦ κοσμικοῦ κατεστημένου, γιατί ὡς θεσμὸς ἡ Ἐκκλησία δείχνει τὴν ἐνόχληση τοῦ κοσμικοῦ κατεστημένου, γιατί ὡς θεσμὸς ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοὺς ἀναγκάζει νὰ ἀναστέλλουν τὶς ροπές τους καὶ νὰ δείχνουν ντροπὴ ἢ καὶ νὰ ντρέπονται ἀκόμη. Οἱ ξένοι τουρίστες, λ.χ. μᾶς ἀπειλοῦν μὲ ἐγκατάλειψη τῶν τουριστικῶν μας ἐγκαταστάσεων ἂν ἐπιμένομε νὰ δυστροποῦμε μπροστὰ στὴν εἰσαγόμενη χυδαιότητα.


Ἡ Ἐκκλησία μας τὰ βλέπει ὅλα αὐτὰ καὶ εὐλογεῖ κάθε κοινωνικὴ ἀντίσταση στὴν ἐπερχόμενη λαίλαπα τῆς κατεδάφισης ὅλου του πολιτισμοῦ μας, ἂν καὶ εἶναι ὁ μόνος θεσμὸς ποὺ καὶ θὰ συντηρηθεῖ καὶ θὰ βρεῖ πεδίον δράσεως μέσα στὴ ρωμαϊκὴ κοινωνία στὰ χρόνια του Νέρωνα καὶ τῆς πιὸ μεγάλης διαφθορᾶς. Μέσα στὴ μοναξιὰ καὶ τὴν ἀνασφάλεια τοῦ κόσμου, μέσα στὴν ἀβάσταχτη πλήξη τοῦ μηδενισμοῦ θὰ λάμψουν ὁ Σταυρὸς καὶ ἡ σοφία τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου. Καὶ ἡ Ἐκκλησία θὰ ἀνεβεῖ πάλι ἀπὸ τὶς κατακόμβες καὶ θὰ χτίσει πάλι τὴν Ἁγία-Σοφιά της.


Γι'αὐτὸ οἱ πιὸ ἀξιολύπητοι στὶς μέρες μᾶς εἶναι οἱ ἀνυποψίαστοι ἀστοί, συλλέκτες στιγμιαίων ἡδονῶν, καὶ ἀκόμα πιὸ ἀξιολύπητοι εἶναι αὐτοὶ ποὺ φόρεσαν τὸ λουρὶ τοῦ ζυγοῦ τῆς νέας τάξης καὶ παλεύουν νὰ τὸ ἐπιβάλουν στὸ λαό μας. Αὐτοὶ οἱ τελευταῖοι εἶναι τραγικὰ πρόσωπα. Ξέρουν ὅτι ὁ λαός μας(ποὺ ὑπάρχουν ἀκόμα) θὰ τοὺς συντρίψει(τὸ δείχνουν ἤδη οἱ δημοσκοπήσεις καὶ ὁ τρόμος ἑνὸς δημοψηφίσματος) ἀλλά, καὶ ἂν ταυτιστοῦν μὲ τὸ λαό, θὰ τοὺς συντρίψει τὸ νεοταξικὸ κατεστημένο.


Βέβαια, ἂν γίνει τὸ δεύτερο, θὰ γίνουν νεομάρτυρες, δὲν ἔχουν ὅμως τὴν ὡριμότητα νὰ τὸ δεχτοῦν αὐτό. Ὅταν ὅμως τοὺς συντρίψει ὁ λαός, θὰ ἀποδειχθοῦν καὶ κακοὶ καὶ γελοῖοι καὶ θὰ ντρέπονται μὲ τὴ σκέψη ὅτι τὰ ἐγγόνια τους θὰ διαβάζουν τὸ βίο καὶ τὴν πολιτεία τοὺς πρὸ πάντων τὴν πολιτεία τους.


Χαρὰ σ'ἐκείνους ποὺ θὰ παραμείνουν κάτω ἀπὸ τὶς φτεροῦγες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Θὰ γίνουν ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων,θὰ ἰδοῦν μὲ τὰ μάτια τοὺς θαύματα καὶ ὁράματα, αὐτοὶ θὰ χορτάσουν ἀλαλαγμό.

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/10/blog-post_6797.html

How Can Saints Help Us ( Elder Cleopas )

 
There is no question that only Christ is able to save us from sin. So, how can saints aid us? When we honor saints and ask them to pray for us we are not putting them in the place of Christ. They are close to God, so when they pray for us they seek our salvation from Christ.

Elder Cleopa puts it this way,
When the saints pray for us, it is precisely our salvation that they seek from Christ. They interceded with Him for our salvation. From Christ they entreat our salvation. This is what we mean when we say they intercede for us. By their prayers the saints petition for our salvation -- not, however, as if they themselves have the power to save, for the only one who saves is Christ. Thus we do not venerate saints and angels as we do God. (That which we render the saints and angels is solely a veneration of honor and reverence, while God we adore and worship with perfect adoration which is thus properly called worship)


The apostle Paul reminds us that the saints are our fellow citizens who can help us. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph 2:19).


How is we know that the saints have the ability to pray to God on our behalf? We know this from Scripture. "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of orders, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev 5:8)


Some are concerned that the veneration of saints eclipse the glory and honor that belongs to God alone. But God himself glorified His saints. "And the glory which thou gravest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (Jn 17:22).


Elder Cleopa says,
No eclipse or depreciation of the glory of God results from the reverence and veneration of His angels. This is so, first of all, because the veneration that we offer God is one thing and the veneration we render to the angels and saints is another. The same Holy Spirit exhorts us to glorify God with His saints saying, "Praise ye God in His saints." Thus we glorify God likewise when we seek in prayer the help and mediation of the angels and saints, since the saints in their succession convey our supplications and requests together with their own prayers to God.
The saints are given special powers by God to work miracles. It says in Scripture, "In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them" (Ps 15:3). Elder Cleopa lists many examples from the Old Testament of people who were given such powers and then points out the powers of the Holy Apostles, including the seventy, who are able to render all sorts of things.


He writes,
God himself glorified His saints and robed them with His glory: "And the glory which thou gravest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" (Jn 17:22). Elsewhere He says, "He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him who sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in th ename of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward" (Mat 11:40-41). These statements prove sufficiently enough the delusion of those who repudiate the honor shown toward the saints and angels, -- those beloved servants of God -- not realizing that in practice they turn their back on God himself, the Creator and Fashioner of saints.

Reference: The Truth of Our Faith, 67-77

Say it softly.... ( Saint Porphyrios )

 It’s not necessary to particularly focus to say the prayer. You don’t need to put effort into it when you have divine love. Wherever you are, on a stool, on a chair, in a car, anywhere, in the street, at school, in the office, at work you can say the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me”, softly, without pressure, without strain.

Saint Porphyrios

Monastic Life

chanting by the fathers of Valaam Monastery

Θαυματουργὸς καὶ ἰαματικὴ ἡ Ἁγιὰ Σοφιὰ Κωνσταντινούπολης

Εἶναι γνωστὸ τὸ δέος ποὺ προκαλεῖ στοὺς Τούρκους ἡ ἁγία Σοφία τῆς Κωνσταντινούπολης, τὸ μεγάλο αὐτὸ σύμβολο τῆς ἑλληνικῆς ὀρθοδοξίας ποὺ δεσπόζει στὴν βασιλίδα τῶν πόλεων.

Τὰ τελευταία χρόνια τὸ δέος αὐτὸ ἔχει πάρει ἐξαιρετικὲς διαστάσεις, καθὼς ὅλο καὶ περισσότερα ἄγνωστα μέχρι σήμερα στοιχεῖα ἀπὸ τὸ μεγάλο αὐτὸ μνημεῖο, μὲ τὴν πρωτοβουλία τῶν ἴδιων τῶν Τούρκων μουσουλμάνων, βγαίνουν στὴν ἐπιφάνεια ἀποκαλύπτοντας γιὰ πολλοὺς ἄγνωστες καὶ χαρισματικὲς ἰδιότητες τοῦ ναοῦ.

Ἔτσι, στὶς 3 Ὀκτωβρίου τοῦ 2012, σὲ μία ἀπὸ τὶς μεγαλύτερες τουρκικὲς εἰδησεογραφικὲς ἰστοσελίδες, στὴνInternethaber, δημοσιεύτηκε ἕνα καταπληκτικὸ ἄρθρο μὲ τὸν χαρακτηριστικὸ τίτλο,«Ayasofya efsaneleri», δηλαδὴ «Οἱ Θρύλοι τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας». Τὸ ἄρθρο αὐτὸ παρουσιάζει μία διαφορετικὴ εἰκόνα τῆς ἁγίας Σοφίας, μὲ ἄγνωστες ἰδιότητες ὅπως ἡ θαυματουργικὴ καὶ ἰαματική της χάρη ποὺ ἐντυπωσιάζει ἀκόμα καὶ σήμερα. Τὸ ἄρθρο ἐπικαλεῖται τὰ γραπτά του γνωστοῦ Ὀθωμανοῦ περιηγητῆ,ποιητῆ καὶ συγγραφέα, τοῦ Ἐλβιᾶ Τσελεμπῆ, ὁ ὁποῖος ἀσχολήθηκε καὶ ἔγραψε γιὰ τὰ«φυλακτά», «tilsimlar», τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας. Τὰ «φυλακτὰ» αὐτὰ μὲ τὸν ἰαματικό τους χαρακτήρα, θεράπευαν τοὺς περασμένους αἰῶνες ἀνεξαρτήτου θρησκείας δεκάδες ἀσθενεῖς ὅταν αὐτοὶ εἶχαν τὴν δυνατότητα νὰ τὰ πλησιάσουν, νὰ τὰ ἀκουμπήσουν καὶ νὰ προσευχηθοῦν στὴν....

ἰαματική τους δύναμη.
Ὅταν ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία ἔγινε μετὰ τὴν πτώση τῆς Πόλης τζαμί, ὁ πρῶτος μουσουλμάνος ἱεροδιδάσκαλος ποὺ ἄρχισε νὰ κηρύττει στοὺς ὀπαδοὺς τοῦ μέσα στὸ τζαμὶ ἦταν ὁ Aksemseddin. Ὁ μουσουλμάνος αὐτὸς θεολόγος λέγεται πὼς ἔκανε τὸ κήρυγμά του ὄρθιος πλάι σὲ ἕνα παράθυρο τοῦ ναοῦ, ποὺ εἶχε τὴν συμβολικὴ ὀνομασία,«Τὸ Κρύο Παράθυρο». Ἀπὸ τὸ παράθυρο αὐτό, σύμφωνα μὲ τὸν θρύλο, φυσοῦσε ἕνας ἰδιαίτερα δροσερός, ἀναζωογονητικὸς ἀέρας. Ο Aksemseddin πίστευε καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ τόνιζε καὶ στοὺς μαθητές του, πὼς ὅποιος καθόταν μπροστὰ ἀπὸ τὸ «Κρύο Παράθυρο» καὶ δροσίζονταν ἀπὸ αὐτὸν τὸν ἀέρα, τὸ μυαλό του ὡς ἐκ θαύματος ἀμέσως «καθάριζε» ἀπὸ κάθε βλαβερὴ σκέψη καὶ τότε μποροῦσε νὰ κατανοήσει θεολογικὲς ἔννοιες ποὺ πρὶν τοῦ φαίνονταν ἀκατανόητες.

Στοὺς διαδρόμους της νότιας πλευρᾶς τῆς ἁγίας Σοφίας, ὑπάρχει μία μεγάλη πέτρα μὲ μία κοιλότητα στὸ κέντρο της. Ἡ πετρὰ αὐτὴ λέγεται πὼς ἦταν ἡ κούνια τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δηλαδὴ ἡ κούνια στὴν ὁποία ἡ Παναγία ξάπλωνε καὶ νανούριζε τὸν Ἰησοῦ Χριστό. Ἡ πέτρα αὐτὴ πιστεύεται πὼς ἔχει θαυματουργικὲς ἰδιότητες. Ὁποία καινούργια μάννα, τῆς ὁποίας τὸ μωρὸ ἦταν πολὺ ἀνήσυχο καὶ ἔκλεγε συνέχεια, τὸ πήγαινε καὶ τὸ ξάπλωνε μέσα στὴν κοιλότητα τῆς πέτρας, τότε αὐτὸ ἀμέσως ἠρεμοῦσε καὶ ἡσύχαζε. Ὅπως ἀναφέρεται χαρακτηριστικά, ἡ εὐεργετικὴ ἐπίδραση τοῦ ἴδιου του Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ποὺ εἶναι γνωστὸ πόσο ἀγαποῦσε τὰ παιδιά, μὲ θαυματουργικὸ τρόπο ἠρεμοῦσε καὶ ἀνάπαυε ἀμέσως ὅλα τὰ ἀνήσυχα καὶ κλαψιάρικα μωρά.

Σύμφωνα μὲ τοὺς πιστούς, ἕνας ἅγιος, ὁ Hizir, (γιὰ τοὺς Ἄραβες σύντροφος τοῦ Μωυσῆ, ἀλλὰ στὴν Τουρκία εἶναι πιὸ γνωστὸς σὰν Hidrellez, ὁ ὁποῖος δὲν εἶναι ἄλλος ἀπὸ τὸν ἅγιο Γεώργιο τῶν ὀρθοδόξων της Μικρᾶς Ἀσίας), ποὺ πιστεύεται ὅτι θεράπευε ἀκόμα καὶ θανατηφόρες ἀσθένειες, πῆγε κάποτε κάτω ἀπὸ τὸν κεντρικὸ πολυέλαιο τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας καὶ προσευχήθηκε. Ὁ θρύλος λέει ὅτι ἂν κάποιος πάει στὸ ἴδιο σημεῖο καὶ προσευχηθεῖ συνεχῶς ἐπὶ 40 πρωινά, τότε θὰ μπορέσει νὰ δεῖ τὸν ἴδιο τὸν Hizirκαὶ νὰ τὸν παρακαλέσει νὰ τὸν θεραπεύει ἀπὸ τὴν ἀσθένεια ποὺ τὸν βασανίζει. Αὐτὸς τότε θὰ τὸν εὐσπλαχνιστεῖ καὶ θὰ τὸν θεραπεύσει.

Ἐκτὸς ὅμως ἀπὸ τὸνHizir, οἱ μουσουλμάνοι πιστεύουν ὅτι καὶ οἱ τέσσερεις ἄγγελοι, ποὺ ὅπως ἀναφέρεται στηρίζουν οἱ ἴδιοι τὸν μεγάλο τροῦλο, ἔχουν θεραπευτικὲς ἱκανότητες καὶ εἶναι«φυλακτὰ» γιὰ τὶς ἀσθένειες τῶν πιστῶν. Ἰδιαίτερα γιὰ τοὺς ἀρχαγγέλους Μιχαὴλ καὶ Γαβριὴλ πιστεύεται ὅτι θεραπεύουν πολλὲς ἀρρώστιες ὅπως ὁ ἀρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ, ὁ ὁποῖος θεράπευε πολλοὺς ἀρρώστους ἀπὸ τὴν πανούκλα ποὺ εἶχε σπείρει τὸν θάνατο τοὺς περασμένος αἰῶνες στὴν Κωνσταντινούπολη.

Οἱ Τοῦρκοι λένε πὼς ἡ Ἁγία Σοφία ἔχει 316 πόρτες ἀλλά… κανεὶς δὲν μπόρεσε νὰ τὶς μετρήσει ἀκριβῶς. Μὲ τὸ θέμα αὐτὸ ὑπάρχουν πολλοὶ θρύλοι καὶ ἐνδιαφέρουσες ἱστορίες. Ὅπως ἀναφέρεται, ἡ μεγάλη κεντρικὴ πύλη εἶναι ἕνα μεγάλο «φυλακτὸ» ποὺ προστάτευσε ἀνὰ τοὺς αἰῶνες καὶ ἀκόμα προστατεύει τὸ ὅλο κτίσμα ἀπὸ σεισμοὺς καὶ ἄλλες συμφορές. Ἐδῶ ὑπάρχει σύμφωνα μὲ τοὺς θρύλους ἕνα ἄλλο παράδοξο. Ὅταν κάποιος ἀποπειραθεῖ νὰ μετρήσει μία μία αὐτὲς τὶς πόρτες, μόλις φτάνει στὸ τέλος τότε θὰ φανερωθεῖ ἀκόμα μία καινούργια πόρτα ποὺ δὲν τὴν ἔχει μετρήσει. Αὐτὸ θέλει νὰ καταδείξει ὅτι τὸ κτίσμα εἶναι μαγικὸ καὶ πὼς ἕνας θνητὸς ποὺ ἔχει ἀρχίσει νὰ μετρᾶ τὶς πόρτες τοῦ θαυματουργικοῦ αὐτοῦ ναοῦ, μόλις φτάνει στὸ τέλος, τότε καταλαβαίνει πὼς δὲν ἔχει τελειώσει τὸ μέτρημα καὶ αὐτὸ δείχνει καὶ τὴν ἀνθρώπινη ἀδυναμία τοῦ μπροστὰ σὲ αὐτὸ τὸ ἀρχιτεκτονικὸ θαῦμα.

Κάτω ἀπὸ τὸν μεγάλο τροῦλο λένε πὼς βρίσκεται κρυμμένο ἕνα μεγάλο σεντούκι. Ἐκεῖ, σύμφωνα μὲ τοὺς θρύλους βρίσκεται ἡ σωρὸς τῆς «βασίλισσας Σοφίας». Ἂν κάποιος ἀποπειραθεῖ νὰ ἀνοίξει τὸ σεντούκι τότε θὰ γίνει μεγάλος σεισμὸς καὶ θὰ τρέμει ὅλη ἡ γῆ κάτω ἀπὸ τὰ πόδια του γιὰ τὴν ἱεροσυλία τοῦ αὐτή. Ἀλλὰ μέσα στὸν ναὸ κάπου ἀλλοῦ κρύβεται καὶ μία ἄλλη σαρκοφάγος ποὺ λέγεται πὼς ἐκεῖ μέσα εἶχε τοποθετηθεῖ τὸ πορτραῖτο τοῦ Μωάμεθ τοῦ Πορθητῆ ποὺ τὸ ἔχει φιλοτεχνήσει ὁ Ἰταλὸς ζωγράφος Μπελίνι ὅταν τὸ πρόσφερε σὰν δῶρο στὸν Πορθητή. Νὰ σημειωθεῖ ὅτι ἐξ’ αἰτίας αὐτοῦ του πορτραίτου ὁ Μωάμεθ ὁ Πορθητὴς κατηγορήθηκε γιὰ ἱεροσυλία καθὼς τὸ Ἰσλὰμ ἀπαγορεύει ρητὰ τὶς ἀπεικονίσεις προσώπων.

Ὁ κεντρικὸς θόλος τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας πιστεύεται πὼς ἔχει μεγάλες ἰαματικὲς ἰδιότητες. Ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Ἐλβιγιὰ Τσελεμπή, ὅπως ἀφηγεῖται στὰ ἔργα του, ὅταν εἶχε προσβληθεῖ ἀπὸ μία πολὺ δύσκολη ἀσθένεια μὲ ἔντονο πυρετό, πῆγε κάτω ἀπὸ τὸν κεντρικὸ θόλο καὶ ἔχοντας μαζί του ἑπτὰ μαῦρες ρῶγες ἀπὸ σταφύλι προσευχήθηκε ζητώντας τὴν ἴαση.Πράγματι, μετὰ τὴν προσευχὴ ἔφαγε τὰ σταφύλια καὶ ἀμέσως, ὅπως ἀναφέρει ὁ ἴδιος, ἔγινε καλὰ ἀπὸ τὴν ἀρρώστια του.

Στὸ πίσω μέρος τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας, στὴν δυτικὴ πύλη, ὑπάρχει ὅπως ἀναφέρεται μία δοκὸς ποὺ ὀνομάζεται«Ἡ Ἱδρωμένη Δοκός». Αὐτὴ ἡ «ὑγρὴ στήλη» ὅπως χαρακτηρίστηκε, ἔχει θεραπευτικὲς ἰδιότητες καὶ ἀνὰ τοὺς αἰῶνες χιλιάδες ἀσθενεῖς πήγαιναν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἀκουμποῦσαν προσευχόμενοι τὰ χέρια τους στὴν σιδερένια στήλη γιὰ νὰ θεραπευτοῦν. Τὰ ἀμέτρητα χέρια ποὺ ἀκουμποῦσαν στὸ σημεῖο αὐτὸ μετὰ ἀπὸ αἰῶνες δημιούργησαν μία μεγάλη κοιλότητα στὴν σιδερένια ἐπιφάνεια τῆς δοκοῦ. Σήμερα αὐτὴ ἡ κοιλότητα, ὅπως ἀναφέρεται, ἀπεικονίζει τὸ μέγεθος τῆς θεραπείας ποὺ χάρισε ἡ «Ἱδρωμένη Δοκὸς» στοὺς ἀμέτρητους ἀσθενεῖς ποὺ ἀπελπισμένοι εἶχαν βρεῖ καταφύγιο στὴν χάρη της καὶ θεραπευτῆκαν ἀπὸ τὴν εὐεργετική της δύναμη.

Στοὺς περασμένους αἰῶνες ὅταν κάποιος ἔμπορος ἢ κάποιος καπετάνιος ἐπρόκειτο νὰ φύγει σὲ ταξίδι γιὰ δουλειές, πρὶν ξεκινήσει καὶ γιὰ νὰ πάει καλὰ τὸ ταξίδι του, πήγαινε στὴν πύλη αὐτὴ ὅπου βρίσκεται ἡ «ὑγρὰ στήλη» καὶ προσεύχονταν στὸν Νῶε. Αὐτὸ εἶχε ἕναν ἐνδιαφέροντα συμβολισμὸ γιατί ὅπως γνωρίζουμε ἀπὸ τὴν Βίβλο ὁ Νῶε μετὰ ἀπὸ θεία παρέμβαση εἶχε σωθεῖ ὁ ἴδιος καὶ παράλληλα εἶχε σώσει τὸ ζωικὸ βασίλειο ἀπὸ τὸν κατακλυσμὸ ποὺ εἶχε πλήξει τὸν κόσμο γιὰ τὶς ἁμαρτίες του. Πίστευαν πὼς ἔτσι τὸ ταξίδι τους θὰ γίνει χωρὶς κανένα πρόβλημα καὶ πὼς οἱ δουλειές τους θὰ πᾶνε πολὺ καλά.
 
Γιὰ τοὺς ἀρρώστους ποὺ ἔπασχαν ἀπὸ δύσπνοια καὶ ἄλλες ἀσθένειες τῶν πνευμόνων, λέγεται πὼς ἂν πήγαιναν νωρὶς τὸ πρωὶ στὴν πηγὴ τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας ποὺ βρίσκεται ἔξω ἀπὸ τὴν κεντρικὴ πύλη καὶ ἔπιναν νηστικοὶ τρεῖς κοῦπες ἀπὸ τὸ νερό της, τότε θὰ θεραπεύονταν ἀμέσως.

Ὅλα αὐτὰ δείχνουν γιὰ ἄλλη μία φορὰ πὼς ὁ μεγαλοπρεπὴς αὐτὸς ναός, τὸ αἰώνιο σύμβολο τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας, προκαλοῦσε πάντα τὸ δέος καὶ οἱ θρύλοι τοῦ σκορποῦν μέχρι σήμερα ἕνα μεγάλο μυστήριο γιὰ τὸ θαυματουργὸ αὐτὸ κτίσμα ποὺ περιμένει ὑπομονετικὰ τὴν πνευματική του ἀπελευθέρωση. 

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/10/blog-post_8589.html

How to Develop Patience - Candy? ( St. Paisios )

Patience is something most us us long for. Too often we find ourselves upset because something does not happen how and when we want it to. But how can we develop greater patience?

Elder Paisios gave some good advice about how to develop patience to one of his followers. When he was asked about how to acquire patience, he went into his cell and brought out a bag of candy.

He gave to him and said:
"Take two a day. However, do not chew them. Be patient and wait until they melt in your mouth."

Do you see the wisdom he uses here? He takes something so simple, eating candy, something that is an everyday thing, and turns it into a spiritual exercise. He makes the exercise simple and doable. You too can find many of these opportunities in your daily life to help develop virtues such as patience.

Reference: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, p 144