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WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH?

The Orthodox Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ


and described throughout the New Testament.
The word Orthodox literally means straight teaching or
straight worship, being derived from two Greek words:
orthos, straight, and doxa, teaching or worship. As the
encroachments of false teaching and division multiplied in
early Christian times, threatening to obscure the identity and
purity of the Church, the term Orthodox quite logically
came to be applied to it. The Orthodox Church carefully
guards the truth against all error and schism both to protect
its flock and to glorify Christ whose body the Church is.
An astonishing number of religious groups today claim to be
the successors of the early Church. A yardstick for truth is
needed by which to compare what the Church originally
believed and practiced with what these groups proclaim.
Certainly we all have the God-given right to believe in
whatever we desire and to participate in whatever religious
association we choose. But it is also just good sense to be
acquainted with the options before we make our final
choices.
It is my hope that our material will help introduce readers to
the Christianity espoused by the apostles of Jesus Christ and
instituted by them. This is the yardstick for truth by which our
choices in regard to Christianity need to be evaluated.
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Sailors are saved

Three condemned innocents


In the time of Emperor Constantine, all was not peaceful in the
empire. When unrest would break out, soldiers would be sent to
restore order. Some such soldiers were on shore leave in Andriaki,
the port which served Myra. As they were in the marketplace,
disputes began and there was some disturbance and looting.
Bishop Nicholas went to the port to help settle the trouble. On his
way back to the city, he saw people crying and saying, If you had
been in the city three innocent men would not have been handed
over to death, as they have been ordered beheaded. Nicholas ran
to the place, asking if the men were still alive. The three men were
in position faces covered, hands bound behind, expecting death.
The executioners sword was up and ready to fall. Nicholas
fearlessly grabbed the sword, throwing it down. The freed men
went on their way while Nicholas sought to have the charges
against them cleared.
Details of Nicholas death are not known. But shortly after his
earthly life, early reference is made to the manna of St. Nicholas, a
liquid that formed in his tomb and was renowned for its healing
properties. For 750 years St. Nicholas tomb in Myra was an everincreasingly popular pilgrimage site as reverence for the saint grew
and spread throughout the Christian world.
The remains of St. Nicholas now repose in Bari, Italy, having been
transported there in 1087 A.D. after Myra fell to Muslim invaders.
A fragrant myrrh still exudes from the relics. Miracles are
performed even today through the intercessions of Saint Nicholas.
Troparion
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of
faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for
this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by
poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ
God that our souls be saved.

by Pastoral ministry of Revered Father Philemon Castro m.Div.


At
second floor of Brankolei pizza Italian Vero located in David Street, Daet,
by coordination of Branko Milosevic
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Who is Saint Nicholas?


As Bishop of Myra, Nicholas lived the qualities that caused his
fame and popularity to spread throughout the Christian world.
His vigorous actions on behalf of his people and in defense of
the Christian faith reveal a man who lived his convictions.
Nicholas was bold he did what was necessary and was not
easily intimidated by others power and position. His concern
for the welfare of his flock and his stand for Orthodox belief
earned him respect as a model for bishops and a defender of
the faith.
Nicholas was born about 235 A.D. in Patara, a seaport city in
Lycia, a province of Asia Minor. His parents were Theophanes
and Nonna. His uncle, for whom he was named, was Bishop of
Patara. Bishop Nicholas observed the virtuous life his nephew
led from an early age, and advised his parents to give their son
to the service of God. They consented to do this, and under the
tutelage of his uncle, Nicholas was ordained a priest. At the
ordination ceremony, Bishop Nicholas prophesied concerning
his nephew: I see, brethren, a new sun rising above the earth
and manifesting in himself a gracious consolation for the
afflicted. Blessed is the flock that will be worthy to have him as
its pastor, because this one will shepherd well the souls of
those who have gone astray. This prophecy was indeed later
fulfilled.

Sailors are saved


Wanting to worship in the Holy Land and follow the steps of our
Lord, the priest Nicholas boarded an Egyptian ship. On the way he
told the sailors that there would be a storm, for he had dreamt
that Satan boarded their ship to sink them in the sea. Soon a dark
cloud covered the sky and a fierce storm arose. The storm was so
violent that the sailors were sure that they would die. They
pleaded with the saint to pray to God for their salvation. They
said: If you, Gods servant will not help us with your prayers, we
will all die immediately!
Telling them to stay calm and trust in God, the saint started to
pray with confidence. Immediately the storm subsided, all was
quiet and grief turned into joy. The rejoicing sailors thanked God
and his servant Nicholas, and were astonished at his prediction
and the cease of the storm. From this and many other miracles at
sea, Saint Nicholas has become the patron of sailors and all who
travel
Council of Nicaea
In 325 Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea, now
known as the First Ecumenical Council. More than 300 bishops
from all over the Christian world came to address the disorder
stirred up by Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, who taught
that Christ the Son was not co-equal with God the Father.
This new notion had spread so that it caused confusion among
Christians in nearly every place, and the Church needed to
respond. According to one account, when confronted by the
unyielding Arius, Nicholas slapped him in the face. For such a
breach of decorum, Nicholas was brought before Constantine,
who stripped him of his office and had him thrown into prison.
During the night, Christ with His Mother appeared to Nicholas:
Christ carrying the book of the Gospels, and the Theotokos
bearing the bishops stole which had been taken from him. In
this way Nicholas was reinstated . Many icons of St. Nicholas
reflect this event with Jesus on the left returning the Gospels,
and Mary on the right, bringing the stole or omophorion.

Selection and consecration


Nicholas selection to be a bishop was unusual. After the
repose of the bishop of Myra, the synod gathered to select the
next bishop of Myra. During the conclave, one hierarch heard
a voice in the night telling him to watch the doors of the
church the next morning at Matins. The first person to enter
named Nicholas was to be the new bishop. The wise one
told the others, counseling them to be at prayer while he
waited at the doors. When the hour of Matins came, the first
person to arrive was a young priest. When asked his name, he
replied, I am Nicholas. The bishop addressed him, Nicholas,
servant and friend of God, for your holiness you shall be
bishop of this place. They brought him into the church and
placed him in the bishops seat where he was to be
consecrated the new Bishop of Myra.
Grain ships and famine
Myra experienced famine in AD 311 and 312, and again in 333.
Crops had failed and people were hungry. Bishop Nicholas
learned that ships bound for Alexandria with cargos of wheat
had anchored in the harbor. The holy man implored the sailors
to take a measure of grain from each ship so that the people
would have food. The sailors said, No, as the wheat was
meted and measured and every bit must be delivered.
Nicholas replied, Do this, and I promise, in the truth of God,
that it shall not be lessened or diminished when you get to
your destination. So the sailors took a measure from each
ship and continued on their way to Alexandria. When the
wheat was unloaded, the full amount was accounted for and
the tale toldall the emperors ministers worshiped and
praised God with thanksgiving for his servant Nicholas.
Throughout the famine people came to Bishop Nicholas for
wheat. He gave it to all who had need and the grain lasted for
two years with enough remaining to plant new crops.

THE BIBLE is the divinely inspired Word of God (II Timothy


3:16), and is a crucial part of Gods self-revelation to the
human race. The Old Testament tells the history of that
revelation from Creation through the Age of the Prophets. The
New Testament records the birth and life of Jesus as well as
the writings of His Apostles. It also includes some of the
history of the early Church and especially sets forth the
Churchs apostolic doctrine. Though these writings were read
in the Churches from the time they first appeared, the earliest
listing of all the New Testament books exactly as we know
them today is found in the 33rd Canon of a local council held
at Carthage in 318 and in a fragment of Saint Athanasius of
Alexandrias Festal Letter for 367. Both sources list all of the
books of the New Testament without exception. A local
council, probably held at Rome under Saint Damascus in 382,
set forth a complete list of the canonical books of both the Old
and New Testaments. The Scriptures are at the very heart of
Orthodox worship and devotion.
Does bible saying about Orthodox Church?
All the time, everything from new testament have had written
from Apostles which doctrine in 100% you can find only in One,
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic (Orthodox Church).
Read Apostle Saint Paul: " To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are
in Philippi with bishops and deacons." (Phil. 1:1)

by Pastoral ministry of Revered Father Philemon Castro m.Div.


At second floor of Brankolei pizza Italian Vero located in David Street,
Daet, by coordination of Branko Milosevic

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