Known also as All Hallows Eve, the feast of Halloween began in pre-Christian times. It was originally a Celtic festival celebrated widely among the peoples of the British Isles and northern France. These pagan peoples believed that life was born from death. On this night, a certain deity whom they called Samhain, their lord of Death, was honoured at their New Year’s festival (end of October). On that night, Samhain was believed to lead hosts of evil spirits into the world. Samhain is also identified as the Grim Reaper, the leader of the ancestral ghosts. On the evening of the festival, a huge bonfire built from oak branches, which they believed to be sacred, was ignited in a high place. Upon these, fire sacrifices of crops, animals and even human beings were burned as an offering in order to appease their demon lord. It was also believed that Samhain, being pleased by their faithful offerings, allowed the souls of the dead to return to their homes for a festal visit on this day. Thus they believed that cold, dark creatures filled the night, wandering and begging amongst the living. It is from this belief that the practice of wandering about in the dark dressed up in costumes imitating ghosts, fairies, leprechauns, elves, smurfs (a German nature spirit), and other assorted demons, grew up. It is important to note that the ‘souls of the dead,’ or ghosts, are in fact demons cunningly mimicking the attributes of departed loved ones as much as is necessary to delude the observer. Any attention paid to such illusions is destructive! The dialogue of “trick and treat” is also an integral part of this system of beliefs and practices. It was believed that the souls of the dead who had entered into the world of darkness, decay and death, and therefore into total communion with and submission to the demon Samhain, bore the affliction of great hunger on their festal visit. Out of this grew the practice of begging for “treats” (offerings). If these “treats” were not forthcoming, then the wrath and anger of Samhain would be unleashed through a system of “tricks” (curses).

From an Orthodox Christian viewpoint, participation in these practices at any level is idolatrous, and a genuine betrayal of our God and our Holy Faith. To do so by dressing up and going out would be to willfully seek fellowship with the ‘dead’ whose lord is also known as Satan, the Evil One, who stands against God. Or, to participate by submission to the dialogue of “trick or treat” is to make offering, not to innocent little children, but to the lord of Death, whom they unknowingly serve as proxy for the ‘dead.’

In the days of the early Celtic Church, which was strictly Orthodox, the Holy Fathers attempted to counteract this pagan New Year festival by establishing the Feast of All Saints on the same day (in the East the Feast of All Saints is celebrated on the Sunday following Pentecost). As is the custom of the Church, the faithful Christians attended a Vigil Service in the evening and in the morning a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. It is from this that the term Halloween developed. The word has its roots in the Old English of All Hallow E’en, i.e., the Eve commemorating all those who were hallowed (sanctified). The people who remained pagan and therefore anti-Christian and whose paganism had become deeply intertwined with the occult, satanism and magic reacted to the Church’s attempt to supplant their festival by increased fervour on this evening. In the early middle ages, Halloween became the supreme and central feast of the occult, a night and day upon which acts of witchcraft, demonism, sorcery and satanism of all kinds were practiced. Many of these practices involved desecration and mockery of Christian practices and beliefs. Costumes of skeletons developed as a mockery of the Church’s reverence for Holy Relics; Holy things were stolen, and used in perverse and sacrilegious ways. The old practice of begging became a system of persecution designed to harass Christians who were, by their beliefs, unable to participate by making offerings to those who served the lord of Death.

As Orthodox Christians, it is important to be aware of how these anti-Christian, pagan and demonic practices have crept into our society and our very lives as innocent, fun, and playful diversions. Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to the “narrow path,” to the bearing of our own Cross, to the difficult road of rejecting sin and embracing righteousness. By refraining from this hidden demon worship, we set ourselves apart from the world, perhaps even are mocked and laughed at for such stupidity and simple-mindedness. “How can children having fun be related to demonic activity?” they may ask. In the face of all this we must also remember that Satan is the “father of lies,” the great deceiver and he will go to any lengths to trap us into choosing to follow him rather than our Lord, even if we do so unwittingly and in ignorance. Know this: the devil exists; evil spirits exist! Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world in order to destroy “him that had the dominion of death, that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14). Remember that many martyrs were tortured and killed rather than allow themselves to be coerced into tossing a little incense on a pagan altar. When we willingly participate in the sacrifice to the lord of death as a “harmless” social custom, we ourselves make a mockery of the witness of those martyrs. Instead, as Orthodox Christians, we are given the opportunity on this night to remember the feast of the Holy Unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damianos, celebrated on November 1st. God has provided us with His Saints as a powerful weapon against the snares of Satan, even in the midst of such a deception. We should take full advantage of this weapon and turn our hearts and minds away from the celebration of death and onto the remembrance of God, Who is “wonderful in His saints.” Another weapon given to us by Christ is the power of Prayer and Fasting. In Christ’s own words, “by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21) we can overcome evil.

We take great pains to protect our children and ourselves from disease and harm. We teach them good nutrition, hygiene and personal safety. We discourage them from engaging in fornication, substance abuse and other immoral and dangerous acts. Why do we allow them to dabble in darkness? Even if Halloween was good, clean, innocent fun, to what benefit-spiritual, intellectual or otherwise- is this for a Christian? Let’s teach our children to surround themselves with what is good and to “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Let’s show them that the hope of the Christian life is to be delivered from death into life with God for eternity! We are Orthodox Christians. We are called to be not of this world. We were instructed by our Saviour to pray: “deliver us from the evil one.” Halloween is the celebration of the evil one. Who could possibly support it?

What do the Holy Scriptures and Holy Fathers say on the subject? Here are just a few pertinent quotes.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” [1 Thessalonians 5:22].

“Care should be taken to see that the children of Priests shall not give any mundane spectacles, nor witness any. This, in fact, has ever been preached to all Christians, to the effect that wherever there are blasphemies they ought not to approach” [Canon XVII of Carthage].

“That one must not join the heathen in celebration of holidays and festivals, and share in their Godlessness” [Canon XXXIX of Laodicea].

SOURCE: From a pamphlet by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

Source and more: Jerusalem Post

(Mănăstirea Cetăţuia din Iaşi, stema Moldovei

Sursa: blogul d-lui Dumitru Agachi

The declaration, signed Friday night and announced Saturday, comes with the disease more prevalent than ever in the country and production delays undercutting the government’s initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine could be available by mid-October.

Health authorities say more than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments, doctor’s offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.

Administration officials said the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made. Officials said the move was not in response to any single development.

Source & more here.

Mitropolitul Serafim de Pireu:
O RĂTĂCIRE COMUNĂ:
ZELOTISMUL RADICAL ŞI ECUMENISMUL SINCRETIST

Înalt preasfinţitul Mitropolit explică de ce nu întrerupe pomenirea ecumeniştilor.

Mitropolitul Serafim de Pireu a trimis o scrisoare către domnul Dimitrios Hatzinikolaos, profesor suplinitor în Ştiinţe Economice la Universitatea din Ioannina, prin care îi răspunde asupra conţinutului scrisorii, care a fost publicată în „Orthodoxos Typos” („Presa Ortodoxă”), despre „Calendarului Strămoşesc”.
În această scrisoare, Mitropolitul de Pireu susţine că: ecumenismul sincretist şi zelotismul radical constituie două feţe ale aceleiaşi monede de rătăcire. Paralel, Mitropolitul de Pireu explică de ce nu întrerupe pomenirea (la Sfânta Liturghie a) ecumeniştilor, în timp ce justifică parţial comportamentul Patriarhiei Ecumenice (în ciuda faptului că nu este de acord cu el), care se află în robia închisului stat kemalic şi caută sprijin la forurile internaţionale. Întregul text al scrisorii are următorul conţinut:

„Distinsule Domn Profesor,

Am citit scrisoarea Dumneavoastră, pe care o numiţi deschisă, către smerenia mea, caracterizându-mă „nou-calendaristul” Mitropolit de Pireu, ca şi cererile pe care mi le adresaţi prin ea şi V-aş ruga să-mi permiteţi ca, fără nicio dispoziţie reacţionară, să Vă informez că nu m-am ridicat – precum spuneţi – împotriva ortodocşilor ce urmează calendarul strămoşesc, pentru că Biserica lui Hristos cea Una, Sfântă, Sobornicească, Apostolească şi Nedespărţită este constituită din Biserici Autocefale, din care unele urmează calendarul iulian îndreptat, iar altele calendarul neîndreptat numit şi strămoşesc. Prin urmare, eronat Vă exprimaţi despre aşa-numitul meu atac împotriva ortodocşilor calendarului strămoşesc.
Micimea mea, pentru faptul că mişcările au avut loc între hotarele jurisdicţiei mele canonice, a adus la cunoştinţă, precum avea datoria, pleromei Bisericii asupra precarităţii canonice şi eclesiologice a celor din afara Trupului Bisericii care acţionează şi se autodefinesc drept Adevăraţii Creştini Ortodocşi.
Şi aceasta, iubite domn profesor, pentru că Biserica pe care a întemeiat-o Domnul în ziua Cincizecimii prin pogorârea Preasfântului şi de viaţă-Făcătorului-Duh este doar Una şi nu are nicio soră, iar drept Cap al Ei îl are doar pe Întemeietorul Ei, Domnul Iisus Hristos, al Cărui preacurat şi sfinţit Trup îl constituie.
Din acest Trup fac parte sfinţii care din veac au bineplăcut lui Dumnezeu, prima fiind Preacurata şi Preasfânta Născătoare de Dumnezeu, apoi Apostolii, Părinţii, Martirii, Cuvioşii, Drepţii, care se află în ceruri şi care se luptă pe pământ. De aceea nu există nicio posibilitate sub pretextul oricărei justificări sau cauzalităţi binecinstitoare de a întemeia o Biserică, adică un Trup al lui Hristos, dintr-o convingere şi inspiraţie umană, cum în mod tragic o fac para-sinagoga romano-catolică, monofiziţii anti-calcedonieni şi nefericitele comunităţile protestante.
Din păcate aceeaşi tactică au aplicat-o şi cei ce s-au autodefinit ca Adevăraţii Creştini Ortodocşi, considerând că prin orice declaraţie „dizidentă” a celor ce legiferează de la Dumnezeu, dogmatic şi eclesiologic, ei trebuie să întemeieze o Biserică, adică un Trup al lui Hristos şi bineînţeles divizându-se, caterisindu-se şi anatematizându-se reciproc. Gândesc logic că vă daţi seama de lipsa de demnitate şi de tragismul unor astfel de acţiuni, pe care le justificaţi, după cum se vede din textul Dumneavoastră, prin alunecarea în ecumenismul sincretist a unor slujitori ai Trupului Bisericii.
Să mi se îngăduie să spun că atât zelotismul radical, cât şi ecumenismul sincretist constituie două părţi ale aceleiaşi monede înşelătoare şi sunt despărţite de comuniunea cu Dumnezeul cel întreit sfânt al adevărului şi al dreptăţii.
Mă întrebaţi de ce nu încetez pomenirea celor care au manifestat de-a lungul vremurilor teze ecumeniste sincretiste, dar vă daţi seama, sper, că o astfel de acţiune atât de serioasă presupune, conform Dreptului Canonic al Preasfintei Biserici Ortodoxe Universale şi de asemenea conform Dumnezeieştilor şi Sfintelor Canoane 13 şi 15 ale Sinodului numit I-II, proclamarea publică şi pe faţă a eresului şi a învăţăturii eretice în Biserică, care va fi materializată nu doar prin declaraţii absurde (ἐξ ἀνοησίας), făcute dintr-o politeţe prost înţeleasă sau din interes politic, ca în cazurile de mai sus, ci printr-o participare conştientă la erezie demonstrată prin împărtăşirea din acelaşi Potir. Însă aşa ceva din fericire nu s-a întâmplat şi prin urmare cererea Dumneavoastră este nefondată.
Declar cu toată puterea, că în orice caz, atunci când voi fi informat şi mă voi încredinţa de o astfel de cădere tragică a oricărui cleric, imediat şi înaintea impunerii sinodale voi interzice în hotarele jurisdicţiei mele canonice pomenirea canonică a respectivei persoane.

Aici, Distinsule Domn Profesor, nu trebuie să se ignore faptul că noi vorbim din interiorul securităţii pe care ne-o oferă Patria elină, însă cei ce slujesc Neamul din Preacinstitul Tron Ecumenic vorbesc din perspectiva situaţiei lor tragice şi de sub ghearele încârligate ale severului stat turc kemalic şi caută sprijin la forurile internaţionale prin reprezentanţii comunităţilor religioase eretice locale şi împotriva acestora, de foarte multe ori, încearcă de nevoie să conveargă lucrurile explicabil, fapt cu care eu personal nu sunt de acord, dar pe care pot să măcar să-l înţeleg.

Încheind smerit Vă doresc, ca să vă daţi seama de adevărul lucrurilor.”
Serafim, Mitropolit de Pireu”

Sursa: „Orthodoxos Typos”, 14-08-2009; traducere din limba greacă: Ieromonahul Fotie, via Impantokratoros.gr

“If a Roman Catholic priest converts to Orthodoxy, we receive him as a priest, and we do not re-ordain him. And that means that, de facto, we recognize the Mysteries of the Roman Catholic Church”, explained Archbishop Hilarion. (…)

Sursa: credo.ru

“Если католический священник обратится в православие, мы его принимаем как священника, мы не рукополагаем его заново. А это значит, что де факто мы признаем Таинства Католической Церкви,” – пояснил архиепископ Иларион.

Отвечая на вопрос о том, могут ли католики причащаться у православных или православные у католиков, архиепископ Иларион сказал, что такого причащения быть не должно, поскольку у православных и католиков “нарушено евхаристическое общение”. При этом он уточнил, что в некоторых случаях такое причащение возможно: “Бывают исключительные случаи, когда, например, умирает католик где-то в городе, где нет вообще поблизости католического священника. Он приглашает православного священника. Вот в таком случае, я думаю, православный священник должен прийти и дать причастие этому человеку”.

Архиепископ Волоколамский Иларион, викарий Патриарха Московского и всея Руси, является председателем ОВЦС МП и постоянным членом Священного Синода РПЦ МП по должности.