Syrian Christians Call for Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace

Representatives of the Orthodox Churches and other Christian organizations present in Damascus, Syria, met yesterday at the seat of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchate to call for a day of fasting and prayer for the return of peace and unity to the country. More (in Arabic) here.

Quote of the Day: Fr. Alexander Elchaninov

"In our present life everything is so uncertain, insecure, painful, almost intolerable, that death in no way appears as something terrifying. I often think of death as a calm and luminous haven, where there is no sickness, no sadness and, in particular, no parting. When, during morning and evening prayers, I pray for my loved ones in minutes of sadness, I am almost glad to think that I will soon be with them, and their life seems more certain than our phantom existence."

From page 117 of "The Diary of a Russian Priest," a posthumous compilation of the notes of Fr. Alexander Elchaninov, a Russian Orthodox priest who served in the south of France after the Bolshevik Revolution.

St. Polycarp of Smyrna

Joyous feast! St. Polycarp was born around 69 AD to one of the early families converted to Christianity and was taught the Faith by the Apostles themselves. He consequently became a priest and became known by the name we know him by, which means "fruitful," after his prayers helped end a drought in the region. He later went on to be appointed Bishop of Smyrna by the Apostles themselves and to be martyred for his faith in Christ. More on his life can be found here. An ancient account of his martyrdom can be found here.

St. Polycarp is particularly dear to me both because of his life and because one of my grandfathers had a veneration for him, although admittedly only the sort of veneration that a Dutch Reformed pastor can have for a dead man :-). St. Polycarp is called the "beloved peacemaker" by some because of the inherent peacefulness and calm underlying all his actions (when the time came for him to be martyred, for example, he invited his murderers to eat with him and later did not need to be tied to the stake when he was set alight) and I think it may have been this that drew my grandfather to him as I'm told he was a very peaceful man himself.

May St. Polycarp's blessing and prayers be with us all!

Pray for Egypt

Please keep Egypt and its peoples, especially our popes and the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Church of Alexandria in Egypt, in your prayers! When I listened to President Mubarak's speech earlier I was sure I was witnessing his resignation and the beginning of a new era, but he did not resign and now I fear that I did indeed witness the beginning of a new era - one fraught with the potential for great suffering and violence.

"Let us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, for He has defended us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Him, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Almighty, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life." Amen.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

Joyous feast! С праздником! I remember planning a pilgrimage to the Diveyevo Monastery while I was studying in Nizhniy Novgorod out of a sense of duty. I had prayed to St. Seraphim for years and suddenly I was living a bus trip away from his relics, so of course I had to go venerate them. The Monastery was beautiful, the abundance of relics of the various righteous from the Monastery impressive, and the fervor of the other pilgrims impressive.

But what really struck me was St. Seraphim himself. I walked into Holy Trinity Cathedral (where his relics rest) with a divided and troubled heart, having not really prayed for days (possibly weeks) and not expecting anything particularly noteworthy, and was suddenly hit by a wave of peace and...presence. St. Seraphim was there. I wasn't even sure where his relics were for a moment, but I knew he was there.

I struggle and I doubt, but I cannot doubt the realness of Orthodoxy. It has its problems and its failings, but I've experienced the joy of Pascha and felt it in the living presence of a monk who died 178 years ago. How can I not believe? I hope and pray that St. Seraphim's blessings, and most especially his joy and his peace, are with you today.

More on St. Seraphim's life can be found here.

Palestine to Seek UN Recognition

As Israel continues to stall the peace process and build new settlements on Palestinian Arab land the Palestinian National Authority's foreign minister has stated that his government will seek for United Nations' recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Roughly a 100 countries worldwide already recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. More here.

Coptic Orthodox Church Opens in Al Ain, UAE

At the recent consecration of a Coptic Orthodox church in Al Ain, UAE, by Metropolitan Abraham of Jerusalem the Minister of Higher Education and Scientic Research of the UAE reaffirmed his country's dedication to toleration, fraternity, and peace between Islam and other world religions. Other prominent members of the UAE government were also present at the service. More here.

Quote of the Day: St. Seraphim of Sarov

My joy, I beg of you, acquire the Spirit of peace! That means to bring oneself to such a state that our spirit will not be disturbed by anything. For one must go through many sorrows to enter the Kingdom of Heaven...