During St. Hilarion’s time, probably many were saying, “Such tribulations! Where can we find the strength to have faith?” These were the times just after the Revolution—times of terrible trials. But in order to preserve their faith they may have said, “Give us a sign, if only to have something to grab onto.” But for all times and for all peoples, the Savior’s words have resounded about how when we ask for a sign, we become a part of that evil and adulterous generation. The tribulation itself and our overcoming it brings us the greatest fruit. The tribulation itself gives us a sign, wisdom, an understanding of God’s ways, and the strength of spirit to endure. Holy Hierarch Hilarion showed us to the fullest measure that acceptance of this sign. Time has to pass; trials and patience must have the quality of completion, the term must be completed. A woman must have nine months for a new life to be born. The human soul must also have a certain time period, and an overcoming of trials, so that an understanding of God’s will can be born.

Yes, people wanted it to come more quickly; they wanted the terrible yoke of godlessness to end right away. Many tried inwardly to speed up the process; but God-seers such as St. Hilarion knew that sooner or later that time would come, and they remained joyful and calm, as we can read in people’s reminiscences of him—especially of his concentration camp period. He was joyful and peaceful. Just like a new Jonah in the belly of the whale, experiencing fear, confusion, temptation and sorrows, he knew that God would nevertheless lead His people to the truth.

An ascetic of our very recent history, a man of holy life although not yet a canonized saint, Elder Paisius of Mt. Athos (who died in 1994) said, “What I see around me would drive me insane if I did not know that no matter what happens, God will have the last word.” Neither did St. Hilarion demand any signs. He knew, just as all of us should know, that sooner or later the time will come for tribulations. No one can pass by Golgotha if he wants to follow Christ and consider himself a disciple of Christ. When that time comes, do not ask, beg, or demand a sign, or that this cup would definitely pass you by. But say only, “May God’s will be done,” just as our Lord and Teacher Himself said. Then and only then, after having drunk that cup, we will begin to understand that no matter how bitter and sorrowful it might be, at the bottom is its fruit, which is the most precious thing there is in the world.

Archimandrite Lazar Abashidze (+August 17, 2018)

The last Christianity will take from the ancient only a shell, the content will be imperceptibly replaced by a new spirit, a different lifestyle, way of thinking and other values.

Secularized Christianity, with its wings cut off, is not only not scary for the devil, but also will serve him: after all, the antichrist will impersonate Christ, the Messiah, the God-man.

The devil, preparing the way for the antichrist, will be interested in spreading secularized, lifeless, formal Christianity throughout the world, and even all religions will try to “make friends” with him.

All religions recognize their “spiritual kinship” with Christianity, and even will admire the height of his teachings, the sanctity of his moral requirements, the beauty of his symbolism, etc.

Where can I go from Thy Spirit, and where can I escape from Thy presence? If I go up into heaven, Thou art there; if I go down into hades, Thou art present there. If I take up my wings toward the dawn, and make mine abode in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand guide me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 138: 7-10)

These divinely inspired words of the Psalmist David should be particularly in our thoughts during these days, when the entire world is literally quaking, and from every direction comes news of all kinds of distress, shocks and calamities.

Before you can concentrate on what is occurring in one country, you are distracted by even more threatening events which have unexpectedly erupted someplace else; and before you can get a grasp on them, yet other news distracts your attention to still some other location, forcing you to lose track of the previous ones, even though they have by no means reached their conclusion.

In vain do “the representatives of the nations consult in order to find a remedy for the common affliction. They encourage one another and others, saying, ‘peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11)

Calamities in the lands where they are unfolding do not come to an end, when suddenly new ones begin in places which had been considered safe and calm.

Those who flee from troubles in one place find themselves amid troubles elsewhere that are even worse. “As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into his house and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.” (Amos 5:19) Or, as another prophet says, “He who flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit; and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.” (Isaiah 24: 18)

This is what we see happening in our days.

A person sets out for his peaceful occupation and suddenly falls the victim of military action which erupted in a place where no one had expected it.

The person who escapes danger from military action, finds himself amid the horrors of natural catastrophes, of an earthquake or typhoon.

Many meet their death where some had escaped it, while other people are prepared to risk their lives rather than waste away in places considered to be secure, because they anticipate other catastrophes which could soon come upon those areas.

If this general of the Church – Saint Paul – was among us today, again his tears would run endlessly from his eyes. Tears:
-for those who abuse and blaspheme the Cross of Christ,
-for those who are ashamed to make the sign of the Cross and not love the life of the Cross,
-for those who do not walk according to the citizenship of the Cross,
-for those who with their temporary power test the patience of the people, and oppress and tyrannize the human person, being scornful and disrespectful towards the unrepeatable divine image in man,
-for those who like Judas betray Christ,
-for all sorts of heretics who like wolves do not spare the flock and speak perverse things in order to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30),
-for those who create schisms and divisions, putting the spotlight on themselves and supposedly work to present themselves as saviors instead of the true Savior Christ.

His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Kastoria
(part of Sermon)

To be truly human in this world is really the same as being a sheep among wolves, for the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 Jn. 5:19). I again say to you, remember: A sheep among wolves is subject to danger from two sides. Firstly, the wolves can tear him apart. But this is in the hands of God. And secondly, a sheep can decide that when you’re surrounded by wolves there is no other way to survive than to become like a wolf, sharpen your teeth, learn how to howl, exchange your hooves for claws, and so from a sheep turn into a wolf. Christ did not send us for this, but so that by our faith and life in the faith we might attract wolves into becoming Christ’s sheep, if they want to.

Christ tells us how to be saved from both of these dangers: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16). Wisdom will save you from being torn apart, and simplicity and guilelessness will prevent you from becoming a wolf. On the other hand, this means that we can develop our mental capabilities more and more, to infinity—but under the condition that along with this we would also develop in ourselves kindness, which will give us balance. A man in this world looks at all the same things as do thousands of eyes, and the flies, and the bees… But with our mind we can see what they do not see—the inner spiritual world and eternity.

Kyiv, September 7, 2021

According to Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) further recognizing of OCU – the structure created by Phanar – may cause a split in Local Orthodox Churches, similar to the events of 1054, when the Roman church separated from the Eastern Orthodox Church*. Further recognition of OCU will have consequences not only for Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but also for world Orthodoxy.

According to the chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony, while the question of vaccination is not a religious issue,the Church has the following principles regarding it:

First, any vaccination – against coronavirus or other diseases – must be voluntary. A person has the right to refuse it, and Ukrainian legislation law provides for such a possibility, but at the same time everyone “must realize their responsibility for the state of their health and the health of their family.”