Receiving the Eucharist

Whoso Eatheth My Flesh and Drinketh My Blood Hath Eternal Life

(quoted from pages 29-35 of Elder Ephraim's text linked below)

"So much has been said about this "controversial point" of the Holy Eucharist that the faithful wonder what they should do in the long run. Two questions mainly arise: a) how often and b) after what preparation may and should the faithful receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?

The answer has been given by the Church, which has been guided, is guided, and shall be guided by the Holy Spirit "to the whole truth"...(read more here)

"...Fasting means continual temperance. In other words, we should not only fast on the set days of the year when we want to receive Communion and then eat so much for the rest of the year so as to replace in the shortest possible period what we had been deprived of on the days of our preparation for the Holy Communion...."

"...It is through this Sacrament that we define our relationship with Christ. According to the way we prepare ourselves and according to the frequency in coming to Communion, we are classified as ardent, or lukewarm, or cold in our love towards Him. Regular Communion means continual repentance..."

"If we come to our confessor with as much confidence as we go to our doctor we are quite certain that through him God shall make the most suitable suggestions for the solution of our problems..."

"In accordance with the preparations you make, you shall be given the grace of the Communion...receive regularly and do so as worthily as possible...'But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup.'

From the Holy Mountain

Here's an excellent SHORT book in PDF format by Geronda Ephraim from 1991 - absolutely worth reading over and over again- (I had never seen it before it person )

If you don't have time for it all... scroll to the sections of interest to you personally!

Call from the Holy Mountain

Summer Camp

What should the camping experience be like for our youth today? It's an interesting question because around the world the answers are varied. In some countries it seems the Church sponsored camps are still gender divided, so the issue of two piece bathing suits or sneaking out of cabins isn't a problem. The relics are plentiful in other places and the miracle stories are around every corner. What about where you live?

If you're involved in camping or retreat experiences, here's a link to the Pan-Orthodox Summer Camp Association website dedicated to sharing resources, activities, games etc that might come in handy for Orthodox Vacation Bible School Programs, for example, on the local or district level.

All in all, I'm a product of Orthodox Camping programs...and although they couldn't safeguard me from sins in my youth, I think God still worked through those experiences to nurture my faith and set aflame a desire to learn more. But I'd more conservatively say that today, I have tougher expectations from a camp. First and foremost, it must be a holy experience. What ranks important to you?

I've found that some camps do the "spirituality" better than others, so investigate before sending off your kids...and if you are looking for referrals, let's chat.

Don't forget to visit the Children's Corner at Potamitis Publishing online for excellent printable activities to enhance your summer learning. All of the above images are wonderful samples of what you can find there. Our SCRIBD Orthodox Education group online also has a Camp Song Book to get you started as well as other lessons to download for free.

A Confession of Faith

I'd like to solicit ideas as a follow up to the last post on secularism. Please share your ideas to the following:

If the Fathers of the Orthodox Church could safeguard the Truth by writing the Nicene Creed in AD 325 and 381, than it must be the answer we offer our youth for tomorrow's generation.

In what ways do you teach the Nicene Creed to your children and families?

A Secular Society

"Secularism is more dangerous than communism. It is religion being ignored."

After some time away from this blog, and more reading on my part, there are things that I have not yet stated on this blog that are of utmost importance to the salvation of our children, who will grow up amongst a secular society. First, let's get them out there in the open...and then secondly we can figure out together how to make sure our kids understand these realities.

1. WE DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME GOD.
Anyone who denies the inseparable Trinity, One in essence and undivided cannot confess to believe in our God, who existed before all ages as the complete Holy Trinity. There are some who say we have the same God the Father, as in the Father of Abraham, however these people deny Christ and the Holy Spirit and therefore can have no commonality with Orthodox Christians.

2. SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES ARE NOT ALL CHRISTIAN.
Today, it is popular for many to seek out experiences of hypnotism, meditation, yoga, horoscopes and fortune tellers. These are all ways of opening ourselves up to spiritual demons that can do great spiritual harm to our souls. At first, they seem harmless or even holy and divine, but this is how we are tricked into participating, and later the darkness of these experiences will be made known. Some even go so far as to suggest that the Holy Spirit transcends all faiths - this is blasphemy. The Holy Spirit was given to the One Church established by Christ, and those outside of it, cannot be in communion with It.

3. NEVER JOIN IN FOR THE SAKE OF WORLD PEACE.
The time is already approaching when we will be led into the idea that for world peace it will be in everyone's best interest to use one bank, one food supplier, one currency, and one watered down idea of "god"... this trap will take many away from the Orthodox faith because people will not understand that they will be denying Christ and led into a system which does not recognize the One True God. We might be asked, "How could you be against the rest of us? Don't you want world peace?"

4. SIN HAS BECOME FASHIONABLE.
How sad but true this above statement is, which is why the persecution that our children will face will be that of ridicule, teasing, embarrassment, and the likes. Already...which teenagers can dress modestly, attend Church and keep the holy days holy, remain a virgin, and wear a cross without being made fun of? Despite what thoughts might sneak in to throw us off course, continue fasting, praying, and confessing the Orthodox faith - these things do matter!

5. NEVER ACCEPT AN INVISIBLE MARK.
Yes, it seems obvious right...isn't everyone familiar with what the Bible says? But look closely at the words of Geronda Paisios who personally wrote on this subject and insisted on the circulation of it in his own handwriting in 1987. He stated, "after the computerized numbering of everyone, (through the bar code, i.d. cards, credit cards, etc)...they can proceed quickly to say on television that someone took the card of so and so, and took out his money in the bank. They will advertise the perfect system, the marking on the hand or on the forehead with laser rays, which will not be discernible externally with the 666 the name of the antichrist."

Lastly, from the past week's Scripture readings, and words of St Paul, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock...So be on guard!" Acts 20:28-31

Having openly stated these things pubicly, I anticipate that it may stir some feelings, reactions, remarks and possible disagreements. Please respond. Let's share resources and books to further our understanding of these issues so we can pass the Truth on to our children.