May the Righteous be Glad and Rejoice before God

(Source)

At 10:40 p.m. GMT [June 16, 2013], after several weeks of suffering an ordeal that had worsened in the last hours, Father Justin Pârvu ended this transitory life and moved to the heavenly orders, to be with the Holy Martyrs and Confessors that he both loved and longed for.

Father Justin Pârvu was born in “Petru Voda” village on February 10th, 1919, and entered the ”Durău” Monastery in the year 1936. He served as a military priest on the Eastern Front in World War II, and from 1948 to 1964 he was politically imprisoned. Between the years 1966-1975 he was reinstated as a monk at the “Secu” Monastery (Neamt county), and from 1975 to 1991 he was at “Bistrita Monastery” (Neamt county). In autumn 1991 he laid the foundation stone of the “Petru Voda” Monastery (for monks), and in 1999 he began the construction of “Paltin” Monastery (for nuns).

By the end of March of this year, the stomach cancer that he secretly carried for several years metastasized. This brought about medical complications, following which, after consciously suffering as a martyr, [Fr. Justin] moved from this world into a better one.

May we be in his prayers!

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St. Anna of Larissa and Her Son John

(Source)

In the Middle Byzantine period, 9th century to mid-10th century, we have yet another holy figure of the city of Larissa, Venerable Anna and her son John. The life of Saint Anna came from the Director of State Archives, Mr. Stavros Galoulis, from Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1558 (ff. 71v-73r), which is a Menaion for June from the 16th century. Her memory is celebrated on June 13th. In the Synaxaria Selecta of the Church of Constantinople it is written: “Our Venerable Mother Anna and her son John.” St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite writes in his Synaxaristes: “On this day our Venerable Mother Anna and her son John. Mother and Son, Anna and John; they both appeared dwelling in heaven.” It goes on to give a narrative from Paul of Monemvasia (10th cent.) from his work A Narrative of Virtuous and Godly Men and Women. Lastly, her life is also included in the New Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church for the month of June.

The occasion for the writing of the Life as told by Mark, founder of a monastery in Constantinople, was a meeting he had with a hieromonk and all that this hieromonk confided in him regarding this Saint. This hieromonk traveled by sea from Rome to Constantinople. The ship that carried him was forced at one point, because of the winds, to stop at an uninhabited island of the Adriatic. The hieromonk took advantage of this forced docking of the ship to walk around the island.

He had not gone far when, as the same confessed, he saw the “shadow of a naked person” telling him: “Man of God, if you wish to see my insignificance and to accord my humility the benefit of your prayers, throw me one of your garments; for I am a woman and naked, as you can see. It would be quite improper for me to show myself to your priestly perfection.” The hieromonk obeyed the wishes of the Saint and offered her a garment. Then the Saint turned towards the East, knelt, and upon getting up she thanked God for making her worthy to meet a priest. The hieromonk did not lose the opportunity to ask who she was: “Where are you from, my lady? How did you come here and how long have you been living on this island?” The Saint willingly responded to this question: “I am from the country of Greece, most worthy Father, from the city of Larissa, the daughter of poor parents. When they died and left me an orphan, one of the ruling class took pity on me and received me into his house. He nourished me and raised me with care as though I were his own daughter. When I came of age that Christ-loving man married me to his only son as his wife, paying no attention to my poverty and lowly birth.”

The choice of the husband for his bride was not favorable to his relatives and friends. Their reactions to the marriage with a poor and insignificant woman was fierce. He, of course, tried in every way to repel it. He would say: “I am pleased with whatever my holy father has done for me. Since he raised her and knew her to be of great value and beauty, his first considerations were not riches and noble birth, but virtue which is attractive to God; and that is what he gave me.” His relatives continued to revile him daily. Anna, seeing her husband suffering, decided to leave secretly. In this way she departed Larissa, “taking nothing but the clothes I stood in,” and “with God’s guidance,” as she says, “I came to this island – without having realized that I was pregnant.”

Nobody was beside her to support her. Her son was born on the deserted island of the Adriatic. She says: “When the nine months had passed I gave birth to a male child. I cut up the clothes I was wearing to make swaddling clothes for him and I raised him…. The child is now thirty years old and naked, as am I. Everyday, together with me, he offers hymns to God with his thoughts turned toward heaven, himself a reflection of divine beauty. Every day I have implored God to have mercy on my humility and to send a priest to illuminate my son by holy baptism.” For this reason she pleads with the hieromonk: “I beseech your holiness, Reverend Father, go back to the ship and bring your priestly vestments and some bread to illuminate my son, and to celebrate the Liturgy so that you can permit us to communicate of the worthy and honorable body and blood of Christ our God.”

From this pious priest she also asked the following: “I ask this also of your holiness: that you would bring a tunic for my son to put on after holy baptism, and also that you not tell anybody about me.” Upon hearing this, the hieromonk made a prostration and went to the ship to prepare for the Mystery of Baptism and Holy Communion without telling anyone anything. She waited for him and in turn led him to the place where her son was found. She asked her son to appear before the priest of God, saying: “Come out, child, and reverence the one who has come to illumine you.” Her son obeyed, and having appeared he reverenced the priest. The priest did the same to him.

At a nearby spring the hieromonk catechized and baptized the son, giving him, according to the Synaxaria Selecta and the Synaxaristes of St. Nikodemos, the name John. The Narrative of Paul of Monemvasia and the New Synaxaristes do not mention the giving of a name following the Mystery of Baptism. Rather, it says in the words of the hieromonk: “When I had celebrated the divine mystery, both of them partook of the spotless body and blood of Christ our God.”

As the two holy figures were leaving, St. Anna asked the hieromonk for a final favor: “When you go back to the ship, for the Lord’s sake, say nothing of what you have seen. When (with God’s help) you return to Constantinople, if you want to speak of what the Lord has revealed to you, then do so; but withhold the [name of the] island, lest by hearing the story, some persons might come and find us.” How did the pious hieromonk react? Let us listen to what was said to Paul of Monemvasia: “With tears in my eyes I worshipped the God who works strange and remarkable things beyond number and makes provision for those who seek Him with their whole heart and keep His divine precepts. Thus I returned to the ship and said nothing to a soul until I came back to this great City.”

According to the Life in Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1558, Anna and and her son, having thanked the priest, “surrendered their holy souls into the hands of God.”

Holy saint of God pray to God for us!

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The Person of Elder Justin of Romania

Here is a very beautiful word about the very loved and revered Romanian elder Justin Pârvu by one of his spiritual daughters. A friend of mine did a great work of love and translated it for me to share its spiritual depth as well as a glimpse into the great spiritual person of Elder Justin.

[UPDATE: I'm sorry if I scared everyone half to death with an earlier edition of this post. I was informed that Elder Justin had reposed, but he hadn't. Please pray for his health - whatever God wills. Forgive me!]

Saturday, 1st of June 2013 23:29

Today was St. Justin’s Day [the Philosopher and Martyr]. And along with the martyr philosopher of the first centuries, we celebrate St. Justin Popovich, the Serbian Elder who fell asleep in the Lord in 1979. And… last but not least, is the day of our father abbot['s name day].

About Father Justin one cannot really speak with words.

A few days ago when he left for the monks monastery, I was able to take a glimpse of him for a few moments. We were very near each other. I closed my eyes as that was how much he was shining. It was like his body became compact light. I thought of Tabor. I was heartbroken [with] regret that I might have ever upset him with something. However, I felt I was flying…

When I first met him I knew that the Spirit of God was dwelling in this man, to a greater extent than in any other Romanian in a radius of several centuries. Naturally, I followed [him]. The world with all its riches and glory cannot be compared to the joy of the Gospel written in a human heart.

Last week, for the 30 seconds during which I had the honor and happiness to be allowed to see him on the bed of suffering, I had proof that vertical eternity is really CLOSE to the human heart. I saw a prince of Truth crucified on the nation’s cross and embraced tightly by the risen Christ. Beyond amazement, while doing the due prostration, I lived to a total intensity that for that particular moment, I was worth being born – to see the union between God Himself and a great martyr, to understand the beyond nature fullness of love, to look at the indescribable greatness of martyrdom is definitely the biggest honor I’ve ever lived. It’s good that we are eternal, so that we have the time to thank God!

Whilst kissing father Justin’s hand it was as if I had reached the source of music, the prototype of harmony for which the universe was created towards MAN, I was only able to say in [my] mind: I love you father, with my whole being…!

Among Christians there is no separation: the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ unite us all in the Father, without time and space in the greatest happiness. Glory to Thee, Who alone does wonders!

May you live in us, Blessed Father, as God lives in you!

A spiritual daughter of Father Justin Pârvu from Paltin (Maple) Monastery

(Source)

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Constantinople and Patriarch Gennadios Scholarios II

Christ is Risen!

This photo is of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople from our pilgrimage there in 2008. I am posting it today as a reminder of the day the City fell. In my book The Scent of Holiness (pp. 128-129) there is a story about the first Patriarch after the fall, St. Gennadios Scholarios II.

Here it is:

After singing Agia Sophia I told them about my trip with my husband to Constantinople earlier that summer, and they told me about Patriarch Gennadios Scholarios. He was the first Patriarch  after the city fell.

After the Turks took over Constantinople, the ruling Sultan Mehmed II, who led the capture of the city, had a recurring dream about a hand with five fingers. Upset that neither he nor any other Muslim could decipher its meaning, the Sultan sent out his men to find the monk Gennadios, who was renowned for his insight into things of a spiritual nature. Once they found him, the men asked monk Gennadios to interpret the Sultan’s dream. Gennadios agreed but said he needed to fast and pray for several days before he would be able to interpret it.

After fasting and praying, he was informed by God what the dream meant. The hand with five fingers the Sultan continually saw in his dream represented five faithful Christians—the five faithful Christians Constantinople did not have living in it at the time of its collapse.

“If there had been only five faithful Christians in Constantinople, God would not have allowed it to be captured by you,” monk Gennadios explained to the Sultan.

Relieved to finally have his dream interpreted, Sultan Mehmed II promised not to persecute the Christians and to make Gennadios the leader of his people. The Sultan honored his wish. Thus, monk Gennadios became the first Ecumenical Patriarch after the fall of The City…

Imagine, I thought to myself, if back then there weren’t even five faithful Christians in Constantinople, how many would God find in our cities today?

It is believed by some that the Sultan converted to Christianity through the prayers and enlightening conversations he had with St. Gennadios.

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Shall I Turn my Back on my Native Land? Moving to Newfoundland

You know, Our Lady of Vladimir Mission in St. John’s, Newfoundland isn’t the first community of Orthodox Christians on Newfoundland. It’s the first one in a long time, but it’s not even the second community of Orthodox Christians on Newfoundland. Leif Ericson the Viking explorer and his men were Orthodox Christians, they settled on Newfoundland (L’Anse aux Meadows) for some years and even had a priest with them. But it is believed that other Orthodox Christians, even earlier than the 10th century, were on Newfoundland.  Some say that St. Brendan the Navigator and his monks from Ireland came to Newfoundland in the 6th century.

And here we are, some 1,400 years after St. Brendan’s great voyage and Fr. John and I are in the midst of planning our move to Newfoundland to serve the Orthodox community there. (We hope to settle there by September). And even though I want to move to Newfoundland, and even though I have family there, and even though I am happy to be home in Canada, and even though I consider all of Atlantic Canada as home in a sense, I keep hearing St. Brendan’s prayer run through my head when I think about moving to “the Rock”.

Holy Hermitage of the Annunciation, New Germany, Nova Scotia

See, my “native land” isn’t simply New Brunswick, nor even Greece: It’s a mindset. It’s familiarity, comfort. My heart feels pulled in multiple directions; my mind is full of doubting questions, “Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy, without silver, without a horse, without fame, without honor?”

Sometimes our will corresponds with the will of God and it makes life changes easier, even pleasant. But there are other times when the will of God is, at least in some ways, contrary to our own will for ourselves, for our future. It is in those latter times when we must push ourselves the most. Since what is this temporal life after all? The Prophet David tells us, “As for man his days are as the grass, as the flower of the field so shall he blossom forth”. Odd as it may sound, the fact that my earthly life is quickly passing away helps me. Why shouldn’t I surrender to the will of God? Why shouldn’t I abandon the “soft comforts of home” or “turn my back on my native land”? this vain life  in which man “spends like a shadow” (Ecc. 6:12)?

Fredericton: Fr. John’s hometown and the capital of New Brunswick – not as nice as the city of Saint John, but nice nonetheless

So I will say goodbye to my beautiful, green New Brunswick. I wave farewell to my holy city of Thessaloniki. For unless I evade citizenship in this world how will I become a citizen of Heaven? The “present forms of this world are passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). All we have to cling to are the unchanging forms of the world to come in which there is no distance from loved ones, no other “native land” but the one Kingdom and its worthy citizens, with whom we will glorify the One True King of all, the Lord of Hosts.

As we set out on our own journey, facing “towards the sea”, I ask your prayers, your patience, and your fellowship. I’m sure there will be lots of changes. I hope I will have time to keep the blog up, but things will be different. The number of posts may decrease, but I will try my best to communicate with you all and come up with something interesting to say despite the serious decline in monastery-visits I will be experiencing.

Through the prayers of St. Brendan, and countless other holy missionaries who set out on difficult paths in order to offer themselves as kindling for the fire of God’s love, may we find Christ’s help on the “wild waves” yet to come!

Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home?
Shall I turn my back on my native land, and turn my face towards the sea?

Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy,
without silver, without a horse,
without fame, without honor?
Shall I throw myself wholly upon You,
without sword and shield, without food and drink,
without a bed to lie on?
Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land, placing myself under Your yoke?

Shall I pour out my heart to You, confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness,
tears streaming down my cheeks?
Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach,
a record of my final prayer in my native land?

Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict?
Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean?
O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?

O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves?

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Orthodoxy in Atlantic Canada, Part Three: Nova Scotia

Christ is Risen!

Nova Scotia has the largest population of the four Atlantic Provinces (three Maritime provinces and Newfoundland).

Halifax is the largest city in Atlantic Canada with a population of about 400, 000 (I know, not much compared to big cities). Nova Scotia also has the largest Orthodox community in Atlantic Canada, seeing as though the other three provinces only have one Orthodox church each.

In Halifax there are three Orthodox churches: St. George the Great Martyr Greek Orthodox Church, St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Church, and St. Vladimir of Kiev OCA Church. Fr. John was ordained at St. Vladimir’s, and was blessed to serve his first Vespers and Divine Liturgy there as a newly ordained priest.

St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Halifax, NS. (The picture quality is unfortunately low because I had my camera on the wrong setting).

We managed to walk to the Greek church and take a photo of it. It is a large, beautiful, traditional-looking Greek church. It wasn’t open though unfortunately, and we regretted not getting the chance to meet the priest Fr. Panagiotis.

We didn’t get the chance to pass by the Antiochian church, but we had the honour of having Fr. Maximos with us at Fr. John’s reception, which was a blessing.

St. Vladimir’s church used to be located in the Hall of an Anglican church, but recently moved into a very nice, small church about 15 minutes from downtown Halifax. The parish has existed for quite a few years now because of the hard work and great love of Fr. Vladimir. And the whole parish has done a wonderful job in making the Anglican church out on Purcell’s Cove Rd. become a beautiful Orthodox temple.

It was a great blessing for us to get to pray in the new temple, and more especially develop relationships with the parishioners that we hope and pray will be long lasting. The Orthodox community in Atlantic Canada is small but by supporting, praying for, and encouraging each other we will grow stronger spiritually (as well as numerically).

St. Sergius of Radonezh Church, Holy Hermitage of the Annunciation in New Germany, NS.

Also, in New Germany, near Bridgewater, there is an OCA monastery, Holy Hermitage of the Annunciation where two monks live and pray for the salvation of the world. Since our Nova Scotian friends were visiting from West Virigina, they took us to visit the monastery where they use to go frequently when they lived on the North-East side of the Hundredth Meridian

Although the day we visited the monastery was freezing, the spiritual warm and hospitality of the fathers warmed us up. The chapel you see in the photos is St. Sergius of Radonezh, the hermitage’s Catholicon.

The hermitage’s graveyard.

I really loved our afternoon stay, and our chats with the monks. They are, as our Bishop said of monastics generally, “truly the lungs of the church”. God willing, Fr. John will take the ferry over to Nova Scotia to spend more time with them when he returns from defending his PhD thesis in Greece at the end of June.

My only regret from our trip to Nova Scotia is that I neglected to take photos of us holding Vesper and Matins services in the car while we were traveling with our friends Matthew and Anna to and from Yarmouth. So I’ll include this photo of us with my sister Kate after Fr. John’s reception.

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المسيح قام حقا قام

I love this video so much. It makes me smile and cry simultaneously!

I just wanted to take this chance to thank each and every one of you who has been praying for us these past weeks. We are truly upheld by your love and prayers and hope you will continue to remember us as we – though unworthy – remember you.

Christ is Risen!

And just for good measure here’s a photo of downtown St. John’s.

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All Creation – including Newfoundland – Celebrates Christ’s Ressurection!

At Holy Lady of Vladimir Mission in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

CHRIST IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤH! HRISTOS INVIAT!

Having struggled through the Fast now we celebrate in the Feast:

Yesterday I was buried with Thee and today I arise in Thine arising. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee glorify Thou me Thyself with Thee O Saviour in Thy Kingdom.

Into incorruptible life have I entered today through the goodness of Him Who was born of thee, O pure one.

And Who maketh all the ends of the earth radiant with light.

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We Worship Thy Passion, O Christ!

St. John’s, Newfoundland: Holy Friday morning at a temporary chapel we had for two days while the usual chapel we use was unavailable.

Today is hung upon the Tree, He Who did hang the land in the midst of the waters. A Crown of thorns crowns Him Who is King of Angels. He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery Who wrapped the Heavens with clouds. He received buffetings Who freed Adam in Jordan. He was transfixed with nails Who is the Bridegroom of the Church. He was pierced with a spear Who is the Son of the Virgin. We worship Thy Passion, O Christ. Show also unto us thy glorious Resurrection.

I wish you all a very glorious Pascha – may you be filled with the Light which is Christ as we celebrate His victory over death for our sake! We’ll talk next week, God willing.

Pray for us! Fr. John has been doing all the services, and although he’s still going strong I can see his energy is slowly decreasing (as a priest in Nova Scotia was quoted as saying: “Christ is risen! The priest is dead!”)

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Lazarus Saturday: Baking Lazarakia

For my dear friend Anna who was skeptical of the cuteness of Lazarakia.

I used this recipe and it was much simpler than the one my friends and I have used in the past.

To listen to Matins for St. Lazarus’ feast day check out this video:

Fr. John liturgized for the first time today here in Halifax. It was beautiful, and I brought the Lazarakia – they must have been edible because there were none left – though perhaps they were just being polite to the new “matushka”.

Tonight we’re off to St. John’s, Newfoundland for two weeks of near non-stop services. Pray for us!

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