The Alcoholic Monk

Once on Mount Athos there was a monk who lived in Karyes. He drank and got drunk every day and was the cause of scandal to the pilgrims. Eventually he died and this relieved some of the faithful who went on to tell Elder Paisios that they were delighted that this huge problem was finally solved.

Saint Paisios answered them that he knew about the death of the monk, after seeing the entire battalion of angels who came to collect his soul. The pilgrims were amazed and some protested and tried to explain to the Elder of whom they were talking about, thinking that the Elder did not understand.

Saint Paisios explained to them: “This particular monk was born in Asia Minor, shortly before the destruction by the Turks when they gathered all the boys. So as not to take him from their parents, they would take him with them to the reaping, and so he wouldn’t cry, they just put raki* into his milk in order for him to sleep. Therefore he grew up as an alcoholic. There he found an elder and said to him that he was an alcoholic. The elder told him to do prostrations and prayers every night and beg the Panagia to help him to reduce by one the glasses he drank.

After a year he managed with struggle and repentance to make the 20 glasses he drank into 19 glasses. The struggle continued over the years and he reached 2-3 glasses, with which he would still get drunk.”
The world for years saw an alcoholic monk who scandalized the pilgrims, but God saw a fighter who fought a long struggle to reduce his passion.

Without knowing what each one is trying to do what he wants to do, what right do we have to judge his effort?

  • Raki is a Turkish unsweetened, anise-flavored hard alcoholic drink that is popular in Turkey, Greece, Albania, Serbia, and other Balkan countries as an apéritif.

Dejlig er jorden

Så er det atter december, og der skal til (for manges vedkommende) at gøres klar til Julefejring ved månedens afslutning. Og med til dette hører, at man lytter til et bestemt katalog af sange og hymner, hvor “Dejlig er jorden” også ofte medregnes, om end den vist egentlig ikke er en decideret julesalme.

Ikke desto mindre er det da en lejlighed til at reflektere lidt over, hvad denne hymne egentlig omhandler—og en sådan reflektion indeholder ovenstående optagelse. Glædelig december måned! Jorden er dejlig!

Jeg tager afstand fra alt muligt

Paris

Ok, så gik det helt amok i Frankrig igen. Hold da op… Sikke en katastrofe. Gud forbarme sig! Over de, som har måttet lade livet, og de, som forstenede står tilbage og er frarøvede deres kære, landsmænd og medmennesker.

Gud forbarme sig over alle os, hvor nogle af os måske nu med ængstelse frygter for vores egen fremtid og sikkerhed. At vi måske er truet er pludselig blevet en hel del mere (sand)synligt. Det er en “game-changer” for Europa, siger de. Islamisk Stat er kommet til Europa, kan man læse. Men det kunne man nu allerede for flere uger siden…1

Og med det samme lyder kravet om, at fredelige, almindelige mennesker, der i den ene eller anden afskygning er tilhængere af Muhammeds religiøse verdensbillede, men ikke desto mindre, fredelige mennesker, at de burde gøre sig umage for at tage afstand fra Islamisk Stat.

Det har jeg lidt svært ved at forstå, for hvis man ellers hører efter, hvad der bliver snakket og skrevet om i den offentlige diskurs, så er der jo mange kloge og sympatiske mennesker fra det muslimske landskab, som allerede gør rigtig meget for at deltage konstruktivt i det demokrati, de lever i og som i enhver henseende taler radikalisering midt imod. Jeg kan bare nævne nogle få som Özlem Cekic, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg, Khatera Parwani, Omar Marzouk, Manyar Parwani eller Naser Khader.2

When You're Not An AssholeMen der er jo mange flere derude. De har allerede taget afstand. De har allerede meldt sig ind under demokratiets og fædrelandets faner. Med hud og hår og deres religion i god behold–og fred være med det! Der er religionsfrihed i Danmark! Hvorfor skal de i særdeleshed forholde sig umenneskelig opførsel og terror?

Det ville jo svare til, at jeg skulle tage et særligt ansvar for at afsværge enhver forbindelse til en eller anden tilfældig radikal fundamentalist, som påberåber sig at være kristen, samtidig med at han prædiker død og ødelæggelse over medmennesker, der ikke passer ind i hans bizarre forestilling om, hvad kristendom skulle være. Og sådanne mennesker findes mange steder, og i særdeleshed i såkaldt “evangelikale”, “pentakostale” og “baptistiske” religiøse kulturer, hvor de gør et stort nummer ud af at agitere for deres ideologier i radio, tv og andre medier.

Dem tager jeg naturligvis afstand fra. Jeg tager afstand fra alt muligt! Alene ved at forsøge at leve et stille og roligt, rummeligt liv, hvor jeg ikke render rundt og peger fingre ad alle mulige skæve eksistenser (hvad det så ellers skulle være), tager jeg afstand fra et ekskluderende, excentrisk syn på mine medmennesker.

Den Hellige Apostel Peter har engang formuleret det således: “Ær alle, elsk brødrene, frygt Gud og ær kongen!” (1. Peter 2:17) Det forsøger vi så. Jeg, og en masse andre mennesker med en anden religion end min. Så kan man vist ikke forlange mere.

Må følgende bøn inspirere til at holde fred med alle mennesker, om det er muligt, så vidt det står til os:3

  1. Måske, der er nogen, der har fået en lidt for lang lur foran radaren?
  2. Jeg tager ikke her stilling til, om jeg er enig i samtlige af alle nævntes synspunkter. Blot at disse gør sig til talsmænd for en fredelig og demokratisk sameksistens i modsætning til den ideologi (hvis man overhovedet kan tale om en sådan), Islamisk Stat udfører sine terrorhandlinger for at fremme.
  3. Jfr. Rom 12:18

One cannot love the thing which is not

“Quick,’ she said. ‘There is still time. Stop it. Stop it at once.’
‘Stop what?’
‘Using pity, other people’s pity, in the wrong way. We have all done it a bit on earth, you know. Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round. It can be used for a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity. You see, I know now. Even as a child you did it. Instead of saying you were sorry, you went and sulked in the attic…because you knew that sooner or later one of your sisters would say, “I can’t bear to think of him sitting up there alone, crying.” You used their pity to blackmail them, and they gave in in the end. And afterwards, when we were married…oh, it doesn’t matter, if only you will stop it.’
“And that,’ said the Tragedian, ‘that is all you have understood of me, after all these years.’ I don’t know what had become of the Dwarf Ghost by now. Perhaps it was climbing up the chain like an insect: perhaps it was somehow absorbed into the chain.
‘No, Frank, not here,’ said the Lady. ‘Listen to reason. Did you think joy was created to live always under that threat? Always defenceless against those who would rather be miserable than have their self-will crossed? For it was real misery. I know that now. You made yourself really wretched. That you can still do. But you can no longer communicate your wretchedness. Everything becomes more and more itself. Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness: but your darkness cannot now infect our light. No, no, no. Come to us. We will not go to you. Can you really have thought that love and joy would always be at the mercy of frowns and sighs? Did you not know they were stronger than their opposites?’
“Love? How dare you use that sacred word?’ said the Tragedian. At the same moment he gathered up the chain which had now for some time been swinging uselessly at his side, and somehow disposed of it. I am not quite sure, but I think he swallowed it. Then for the first time it became clear that the Lady saw and addressed him only.
‘Where is Frank?’ she said. ‘And who are you, Sir? I never knew you. Perhaps you had better leave me. Or stay, if you prefer. If it would help you and if it were possible I would go down with you into Hell: but you cannot bring Hell into me.’
‘You do not love me,’ said the Tragedian in a thin bat-like voice: and he was now very difficult to see.
‘I cannot love a lie,’ said the Lady. ‘I cannot love the thing which is not. I am in Love, and out of it I will not go.”

Excerpt From: C. S. Lewis. “The Great Divorce.” HarperCollins, 1946. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Joy that cannot be shaken

“Listen to reason. Did you think joy was created to live always under that threat? Always defenceless against those who would rather be miserable than have their self-will crossed? For it was real misery. I know that now. You made yourself really wretched. That you can still do. But you can no longer communicate your wretchedness. Everything becomes more and more itself. Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness: but your darkness cannot now infect our light. No, no, no. Come to us. We will not go to you. Can you really have thought that love and joy would always be at the mercy of frowns and sighs? Did you not know they were stronger than their opposites?”

Excerpt From: C. S. Lewis. “The Great Divorce.” HarperCollins, 1946. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

KRISTUS ER OPSTANDEN! HRISTOS VOSKRESE! CHRIST IS RISEN!

Patriarchal Paschal Encyclical 2010 from Irenej, Patriarch of Serbia

The Bright Resurrection of Christ, Troparion. Tone V —
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling on death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life.

Kontakion, Tone VIII —
Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hell, and didst rise again as Conqueror, O Christ our God, saying to the myrrhbearing women, Rejoice! and giving peace to Thine Apostles, and offering to the fallen resurrection.

Troparion —
O great and holiest Passover, Christ! O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the unending Day of Thy Kingdom.

Exaposieilarion —
Having slept in the flesh as a mortal, O King and Lord, Thou didst rise on the third day. Thou didst raise up Adam from corruption and abolish death, O Passover of incorruption, Salvation of the world!

Kontakion —
Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hell, and didst rise again as Conqueror, O Christ our God, saying to the myrrbearing women, Rejoice! And giving peace to Thine Apostles, and offering to the fallen resurrection.

Troparia —
In the grave bodily, in hell with the soul as God, in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the Infinite.

Pictures from our celebrations

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Foredrag af Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) af Pergamon

Metropolitan John af Pergamon

For nogle år siden oversatte jeg en tekst, som er en gengivelse af et foredrag holdt af Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) af Pergamon. Jeg har besluttet at gøre den danske oversættelse tilgængelig her.

Den oprindelige tekst kan findes på Orthodox Research Institute.

God læselyst!

GOD HAS APPEARED!

БОГ СЕ ЈАВИ! ВАИСТИНУ СЕ ЈАВИ!
GOD HAS APPEARED! HE HAS APPEARED INDEED!
GUD HAR VIST SIG! HAN HAR SANDELIG VIST SIG!

Theophany of our Lord, Troparion, Tone I —
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan,/ the worship of the Trinity was made manifest;/ for, the voice of the Father bare witness unto Thee,/ calling Thee His beloved Son;/ and the Spirit in the form of a dove/ confirmed the certainty of His word./ O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the worlds,// glory be to Thee!

Kontakion, Tone IV —
Thou hast appeared today to the whole world,/ and Thy light, O Lord, hath been signed upon us/ who hymn Thee with understanding./ Thou hast come, Thou hast appeared,/ the Light unapproachable.

CHRIST IS BORN!

Glorify Him!

Troparion, Tone IV —

Thy nativity, O Christ our God,
hath shone forth the light of knowledge upon the world;
for therein those who worship the stars
have been taught by a star to worship Thee,
the Sun of righteousness,
and to know Thee the Orient from on high.
O Lord, glory be to Thee!

Kontakion, Tone III idiomelon —

Today the Virgin giveth birth unto the Transcendent One,
and the earth offereth a cave to the unapproachable One.
Angels and shepherds give glory,
the magi journey with the star.
For unto us a Child is born, the preeternal God.

KRISTUS FØDES!

Lovpris Ham!

Troparion, 5. tone:

Din fødsel, Kristus, vor Gud,
har fremskinnet kundskabens lys over verden;
thi derved har de, som tilbeder stjerner,
af en stjerne lært at tilbede Dig,
retfærdigheds Sol,
og at kende Dig, Solopgang fra det høje.
Herre, ære være Dig!

Kontakion, 3. tone:

I dag føder Jomfruen den Transcendente,
og jorden byder den Utilnærmelige en grotte.
Engle og hyrder giver ære,
de vise mænd rejser med stjernen.
Thi os er et Barn født – Gud før al evighed.

For more texts on the feast, go to Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church’s Calendar page.

Music taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D50-8JlcwSg

Pictures from the day

Badnji Dan – Christmas Eve

It’s Badnji Dan, Christmas Eve, according to our orthodox calendar, and I am going to go out with my brother and friend Miša to fell the young oak for tonight.

Grant, O God, that there be health and joy in this home, that our grain and grapevines yield well, that children be born healthy to us, that our property increase in the field, pen, and barn!

Those who want to read more about Serbian customs when celebrating the Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, are welcome to do so in a very standardized version on WikiPedia.

Pictures from the day

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