Elder Ephraim

My child, know that in the last days hard times will come; and as the Apostle says, behold, due to poverty in piety heresies and schisms will appear in the churches; and as the Holy Fathers foretold, then on the thrones of hierarchs and in monasteries there will be no men to be found that are tested and experienced in the spiritual life. Wherefore, heresies will spread everywhere and deceive many. The enemy of mankind will act skillfully, and whenever possible he will lead the chosen ones to heresy. He will not begin by discarding the dogmas on the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, or the Theotokos, but will unnoticeably start to distort the Teachings of the Holy Fathers, in other words the teachings of the Church herself. The cunning of the enemy and his "tipics" (ways) will be noticed by very few -- only those that are most experienced in spiritual life. Heretics will take over the Church, everywhere, and they will appoint their servants, and spirituality will be neglected. But the Lord will not leave His servants without protection. Truly, their real duty is persecution of true pastors and their imprisonment; for without that, the spiritual flock may not become captured by the heretics. Therefore, my son, when you see in the Churches mocking of the Divine act, of the teachings of the Holy Fathers, and of God's established order, know that the heretics are already present. Be also aware that, for some time, they might hide their evil intentions, or they might covertly deform the divine faith, so that they better succeed by deceiving and tricking the inexperienced.

They will persecute pastors and the servants of God alike, for the devil who is directing the heresy cannot stand the Divine order. Like wolves in sheep skin, they will be recognized by their vainglorious nature, love for lust, and lust for power. All those will be betrayers, causing hatred and malice everywhere; and therefore the Lord said that one will easily recognize them by their fruits. The true servants of God are meek, brother-loving and obedient to the Church (order, traditions).

At that time, monks will endure great pressures from heretics, and the monastic life will be mocked. The monastic families will be impoverished, the number of monks will decrease. The ones remaining will endure violence. These haters of the monastic life, who merely have the appearance of piety, will strive to draw monks to their side, promising them protection and worldly goods (comforts), but threatening with exile those who do not submit. From these threats, the weak of heart will be very humiliated (tormented).

If you live to see that time, rejoice, for at that time the faithful who possess no other virtues will receive wreaths for merely remaining steadfast in their faith, according to the Word of the Lord, "Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will confess before My Heavenly Father". Fear the Lord, my son, and don't lose this wreath so as to not be rejected by Christ into the utter darkness and eternal suffering. Bravely stand in faith, and if necessary, joyfully endure persecutions and other troubles, for only then will the Lord stand by you...and the holy Martyrs and the Confessors will joyfully watch your struggle.

But, in these days, woe be to monks tied to possessions and riches, and who, for the sake of love of comfort, agree to subjugate themselves to the heretics. They will lull their conscience by saying: we will save the monastery, and the Lord will forgive us. Unfortunate and blinded, they are not even thinking that through heresies and heretics the devil will enter the monastery, and then it will no longer be a holy monastery, but bare walls from which Grace will depart forever.

But God is more powerful than the devil, and will never abandon His servants. There will always be true Christians, till the end of time, but they will choose lonely and deserted places. Do not fear troubles, but fear pernicious heresy, for it drives out Grace, and separates us from Christ, wherefore Christ commanded us to consider the heretic and let him be unto thee as a heathen man and publican.

And so, strengthen yourself, my son, in the Grace of Christ Jesus. With joy, hasten to confession and endure the suffering like Jesus Christ's good soldier who was told: "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the wreath of life".

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Juice said:

. The will not accept the canonization that St. Tikhon of Moscow because they also believed that he was a puppet to the Community regime.

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Juice said:

St. Tikhon of Moscow, by-the-way, did not die a martyr. I can see how this has been glamourized by the difficulties of being the Patriarch under the Communist regime, but none the less he served the faithful and fell asleep peacefully.

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chanter said:

Dear Juice:

He was attacking Father Ephraim on hearsay. We lost Photini because of that. So two people left and Photini has been here a long time. We miss her.

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Juice said:

I will finish with this note.

1st Corinthians 3:18-23

Let man no be deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this worldm, let him bceome a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own carftiness. And agin, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos or Cephas or the wrold, or life, or death, or things present or things to come; all are yours. And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

This again reflects the unity of the Church and the Holy Trinity. I say again, Ihave never made any personal attacks on Elder Ephraim but I always wanted to highlight the importance of having Christ and God, first and only thing at the centre of your lives.

Good-bye

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chanter said:

I once talked with Father Thomas Hopko during a retreat about this judging of priests. He said it is tearing our church apart. When you attack a priest, you are attacking Christ. St. Ignatius of Antioch says the same thing. By believing hearsay, as you are doing, you are cooperating with evil.

Father Thomas Hopko said that we should personally write or visit a priest who is being defamed. Why haven't you? Who are these friends of your? Sorry, I would not accept a friend's account. I would personally investigate.

Again, all the priests and laity I know who have visited Father Ephraim say that he is a living saint. His gaze pierces into their very soul. He draws them into repentance. However, since Father Ephraim follows Orthodox Traditions, he is known as a strict confessor. He follows the rules. For this he is attacked.

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Orthodox6 said:

Glory be to Jesus Christ!

I was surfing by, and signed up in order to leave a couple of brief comments on this thread. I don't have time this evening to wade through so long a thread -- which remark doubles as a request that nobody pounce on me for having "overlooked" something. [Thanks!]

(1) St. Herman of Alaska was not a hieromonk, as someone posted. From deep humility, he plead not to be ordained a priest.

(2) Several years ago, Fr. Ephraim heard my confession when was visiting a town where I have relatives. There is not a speck of arrogance anywhere in him; nor is he a "cult leader."

(3) Monasticism is absolutely essential for a spiritually healthy Orthodox Christian culture. I suspect that Satan rejoices at the vicious attacks made by U.S. Orthodox on traditional monasticism. Although I am a married layperson, blessed to live within a spiritually strong and active Orthodox parish, I pray for God's blessing on our sober monasteries and on the men and women whom He calls to monasticism.

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