St



58293003276600013779532766000St. Nicholas Orthodox Church67 Saratoga St. Cohoes, NY 12047Church Basement: 518-235-7355 BulletinNovember 2020 Venerable Paisius VelichkovskyCommemorated November 15th Priest Terenti Wasielewski, Rector, 753-2331, 369-2430 (cell) Mark Wolosen, Chantor/Choir Director, 753-6163Joseph Molesky, President, 432-9749Stephanie Stroyen, 1st Vice President (social matters), 617-694-0865David Oreshan, Cemetery Coordinator, 785-8560MEMORIALS:Commemorations for the month of November include:PTML: Phyllis Piterniak, Olga Maletz, Andrew Maletz, Theodozie Geleta, Diane Lavine, Paul BerezaAnnual: Dimitri Rimanowsky *Pray for all those who perished in wars who served our country and protected our freedom PRAYER REQUESTS: For those in need of healing: Jesse, Katherine, Elizabeth, Harry, Peter, Nathan, Jessup, David, David, Wendy, Cynthia, Virginia, Harry, Brian, Michael, Lubov and her (twins), Timothy, Alan, Nikki, Natasha, Matushka Rebekah, James, and all of our Veterans who served our country and all those afflicted with the corona virus (If anyone wishes to have their name added/deleted from the sick list, please let Fr. Terenti know)Thank you’sA few weeks ago, Joyce Stroyen and Anne Bailey rearranged garage sale items in the garage at the cemetery. It took two days to get everything straightened out. Thanks to both of them for their hard work!Another thanks goes out to Hanna Davis and Cathy Bradwell for working on getting the “Donate” button on the front page of the websit up and running. Now you have the capability to donate directly online rather than using envelopes or checks. Also both Hanna and Cathy are keeping the website up to date. Thanks for volunterring.. CongratulationsMark and Natalia Wolosen are now grandparents. Their daughter Lubov gave birth to twins October 23rd to Damian and Dante. FROM THE PASTOR’S DESKAppeal for donations and Upcoming food saleDear Parishioners, Friends of St. Nicholas Church:? ? ?As with all parishes, we are experiencing a large deficit as a result of COVID and the inability to have our flea markets. At our last church board meeting, we thought it necessary to send out an email to request that you fulfill your financial obligations for the year and that you consider sending the church additional donations so that we can be in the black at the end of the year. We realize this?may be a difficult?time for you as well, but we hope you can give as much as you can afford.?? ? ?We now have an online donation capability. If you wish to use a credit card or routing number from your checking account, you can donate directly by going to our website. This software is highly secure, so the chances of hacking is very slim.? If you do not wish to do it electronically, you can send donations to the church at?67 Saratoga St. Cohoes, NY 12047 or drop it off in the Sunday collection plate.?? ? ? Additionally, in the early spring we made several dozen pirohi (both potato and sauerkraut) which were to be sold at the May flea market.? We are planning a food sale on Saturday November 14th. The fresh holupki (stuffed cabbage) will be made on November 13th. Pick up date will be on Saturday the 14th between 10am and 2pm. $15 for a half dozen, $30 for full dozen. We may have other items as well, stay tuned for updates. If you have special requests let Anne Bailey know.?? ? ? If you wish to place an order please contact Anne Bailey by email:?ambailey1013@?or you can call here at 518-541-3394.Thanks for your consideration, Fr. TerentiFood pantry and Used clothing boxThe holidays are approaching. Please remember to bring can good, etc. for the food pantry. Also, it is a good time to clean out our closets and put these items in the clothing bin in the parking lot next to the rectory. It is our duty as Christians to remember to feed the poor.Church dues/Confession, CommunionAs we approach the end of the year, please remember that you must contribute the minimum dues to the church and receive Confession and Communion at least one per year to be in good standing with the church. Remember if you do not keep up with your financial and spiritual obligations, the church board and pastor will have to reinstate you as parishioners should you wish to be placed in good standing with the church in the future. Also, you will not be able to vote at full parish meetings. Sunday November 1stThis year Unmercenary Sts Cosmos and Damian is on Sunday November 1st. As we have done in the past, we will will have a Litiya for Good Health and anointing with Holy Unction. The Holy Unction is an added measure for protection during the coming winter season. Remember to also get your flu shot. Medicine is from God and therefore we need what he has provided us on earth to be healed as well. Thursday, November 5thThe venue of the Diocesan Assembly has been changed from an in-person event to a video conference event due to the increase in the COVID epidemic. Joe Molesky is the lay representative and Fr. Terenti will attend the conference as well. Summary of documents will follow in a future bulletin. Friday, November 13th and Saturday November 14thWe will be making holupki on the above days. We will need assistance in making them on both days. Please plan to come to help out. Thursday, November 19thI will not be in the area on this day, I may not be available by cell phone either. If you need a priest please call Fr. Peter or Fr. Matthew who can assist with your needs. Saturday November 21st and Sunday November 22ndI will be out of state on November 19th, therefore due to the governor’s mandate, I will have to quarantine for three days and take a corona virus test on the fourth day. Therefore there will not be any church services on Saturday or Sunday. You can zoom services or go to another Orthodox Church in the area for those two das. Thursday, November 26thThanksgiving Day is the time for us to give thanks for all the good gifts we have been given by God here in America. Even though it is not on the Orthodox calendar, it is fitting for us to have a Divine Liturgy and give thanks. Please come to Divine Liturgy.IN THE NEWSMetropolitan Anthony explains how Christians should take elections 22 October 2020, 18:28?Yekaterina Filatova UOJ Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary Anthony. Photo: kp.uaIt is important to remain clear-headed and humane to each other and remember that you should not rely too much on the temporal power on earth, the hierarch noted.Politics and emotions don't have to stand side by side if we are to remain Christians, said?Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, the UOC Chancellor, before the local elections to be held in Ukraine in the coming days. The hierarch's arguments about the Christian attitude towards elections were?published?by the portal "Orthodox Life".Vladyka noted that politics, whether we like it or not, affects everyone in one way or another.“At the same time, it is often very difficult for us to restrain our emotions,” he added. “Sometimes we are divided not only by opposing political views but also by burning hatred. Is it worth explaining how killing this passion is? And yet, in the days of special political activity, it is difficult to protect oneself from it if you stop controlling your feelings and let everything take its course."He explained that if we unleash our feelings, this entails many problems: rash excitement about a certain candidate and subsequent severe disappointment, insane interest in political trends, due to which we “begin to see the enemy in our neighbours – sometimes even among friends and family members". The reason for such problems, according to Metropolitan Anthony, is that we do not control our emotions, and therefore "a clear-head is more important here than ever".“If we choose candidates, then our selection criteria should not be promises but concrete deeds,” he said. “We must consider a person’s attitude to the Church, whether he can keep his word, how moral he is and how independent he is in making decisions. And no emotions should close our eyes. In general, politics and emotions should not stand side by side if we want to remain Christians."In addition, the bishop believes, it is also important not to forget that life is temporary, and therefore we should not rely too much on earthly power, and “in all our hopes we must rely first of all on the Lord, and with Him we fear nothing.”“But the most important thing is that no matter what happens, no matter what events grab us, we must always remain humane to each other, we must always remain Christians,” resumed the UOC Chancellor. As reported earlier, Metropolitan Anthony expressed?a wish for politicians to listen to the voice of the Church, which is the voice of the people.Patriarch Bartholomew and Russian and Romanian bishops pray in ecumenical service in Rome Rome, October 21, 2020Pope Francis (right), Pat. Bartholomew (center), and Bp. Ambrose of Bogorodsk (left) were among the participants in an ecumenical prayer service yesterday. Photo: Facebook????Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople participated in an ecumenical service with representatives of the Roman Catholic church at the Catholic Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere?on Monday, and yesterday another ecumenical service was held.This time, Bishop Ambrose of Bogorodsk, vicar of the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe of the Romanian Orthodox Church participated in the service in addition to Pat. Bartholomew and clergy from a variety of Protestant traditions and the Catholic church.The service was held at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli as part of?2020’s?“An Encounter of Prayer for Peace in the Spirit of Assisi,” an annual event organized by the lay Catholic community Sant’Egidio.Regarding his participation in the ecumenical service, Bp. Ambrose?wrote on Facebook: “We all need to forgive and be forgiven. The injustices of the world and history are not healed by hatred and revenge, but by dialogue and forgiveness. May God inspire in us a commitment to these ideals and to the journey we are making together. May it touch every heart and make us heralds of peace.”In a comment on the post, he writes: “Whatever the fundamentalists say, the call of our Lord to pray and do everything possible to help the suffering remains a fundamental priority.”A video of the service was published by Sant’Egidio, including the “peace event” that followed, which featured talks not only by Christian, but also Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist representatives:?The service begins at the 10:05 mark in the video with the entrance of the participating clergy, led by Pope Francis and Pat. Bartholomew. At 13:00, Pat. Bartholomew reads a prayer after the Pope, and another at 47:45.At 59:10, the Romanian Met. Joseph reads a short prayer. At 1:01:20 all the participants read the Lord’s Prayer together.Pat. Bartholomew reads another prayer at 1:01:55.The video then switches to the interreligious peace event at Piazza del Campidoglio on Rome’s Capitoline Hill, that included various Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu representatives, including the Orthodox bishops.Pat. Bartholomew addresses the crowd at 1:41:45. At 2:46:15, the participants begin the ceremonial lighting of candles on a single candlestand. This morning, the Pontifical Antonianum University of Rome awarded Pat. Bartholomew an honorary doctorate of philosophy.Divided Reactions in US as Pope Backs Same-Sex Civil UnionsΑssociated PressPope Francis listens to a priests introducing the group of faithful attending the weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) 10/22/2020?Αssociated Press ????LGBTQ Catholics and their allies in the U.S. welcomed Pope Francis' endorsement of same-sex civil unions, the first time he's done so as pontiff, while some prominent members including a bishop said Wednesday that he was blatantly contradicting church teaching.?Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, was one of the first conservative Catholic leaders to go public with criticism. "The Pope's statement clearly contradicts what has been the long-standing teaching of the Church about same-sex unions," Tobin said in a statement. "The Church cannot support the acceptance of objectively immoral relationships."In contrast, Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which represents LGBTQ Catholics, hailed the pope's comments as a "historic" shift for a church that has a record of persecuting gays. "It is no overstatement to say that with this statement not only has the pope protected LGBTQ couples and families, but he also will save many LGBTQ lives," DeBernardo said.The pope's comments came midway through a feature-length documentary, "Francesco," that premiered Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival.?"Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God," Francis says in the film. "You can't kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered."The comment came in the final lap of a U.S. election campaign in which both President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have avidly courted Catholic voters. It's not yet clear whether it could indirectly benefit Biden, whose team has run ads spotlighting his lifelong Catholicism, but some liberal-leaning faith advocates saw plenty of shared values to highlight with Francis' message of inclusion."Pope Francis' words will highlight the inclusive, accepting essence of Christianity that so many people care about," said Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, a fellow with the faith initiative at the liberal Center for American Progress think tank.?"The way conservative Christians … distort this message of love and justice that Jesus proclaimed" can have an alienating effect, he said.?Carolyn Woo, former president of Catholic Relief Services and a co-chair of Catholics for Biden, said Francis' emphasis on the "dignity of people," without any conditions, aligns well with values Democrats espouse."O verall the Democratic platform is: We've got to help people where they are at. We've got to protect their rights, we've got to help them flourish," she said, emphasizing the importance of Catholics using "prudential judgment in how we honor life."?That view holds little sway, however, with more conservative Catholics who already take a dim view of Biden over his support for abortion rights in stark contrast with a fundamental teaching of their faith.?Another teaching confines the institution of marriage to a man and a woman — and that remains intact regardless of the pope's remarks on same-sex unions, said Brian Burch, president of the conservative group CatholicVote.Francis "has no ability to change that teaching about the permanence and exclusivity of marriage," Burch said, adding that he doesn't see the comments having "explosive relevance" in the current U.S. political climate. "Catholics who live in communion with what the church teaches understand that marriage is written into the law of nature," Burch said. "Nothing can change that." Previously, when he was Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Francis endorsed civil unions for same-sex couples as an alternative to marriage, but he had never come out publicly in favor of such unions as pope, nor had any previous pontiff.The Rev. James Martin, a prominent Jesuit priest who has advocated for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, called the remarks momentous. "First, he is saying them as Pope, not Archbishop of Buenos Aires," Martin tweeted. "Second, he is clearly supporting, not simply tolerating, civil unions. Third, he is saying it on camera, not privately. Historic." But the Rev. Donald Paul Sullins, a conservative sociology professor at the Catholic University of America, said they "directly contradict the Catholic Church's most recent teaching on this matter."He cited a 2003 Vatican document, approved by St. John Paul II, which says, "The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions."?However polls indicate that many lay Catholics are more accepting of LGTBQ rights despite such teachings. About 6 in 10 Catholics supported government protections that would bar discrimination against LGBTQ people in workplaces, housing and schools, according to a December poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research."These words from the pope will inflame many on the Catholic right ... but they will be a balm to the vast majority of Catholics and, I daresay, pastors," said David Gibson, director of Fordham University's Center on Religion and Culture. "They don't want to engage in these ugly culture war battles, especially because gay Catholics are not abstractions — they are in their homes, part of their families, and part of their parishes."Francis' remarks seem to undercut the policies of some Catholic institutions prohibiting employees from entering into same-sex marriages. Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a religious studies professor at Manhattan College, expressed hope that the pope's remarks "will prompt Catholic institutions to stop firing teachers, catechists, music ministers and others who are part of the LGBTQ community and a vital part of the Catholic community as well."The largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., the Southern Baptist Convention, shares the Catholic Church's official opposition to same-sex marriage and civil unions, and several of its leaders also criticized Francis.?The comments "reveal another sign of the recklessness of this papacy and demonstrates the undermining of the truth, doctrine, and moral logic of his own church," said the Rev. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. "Given the influence of that church worldwide," Mohler continued, "it will weaken Christian witness to marriage and sexuality and gender according to God's will and God's Word."Archbishop of Cyprus commemorates Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv for first time (upd) Oct 24, 2020On the morning of Saturday, October 24, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus commemorated for the first time the name of Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine, thus recognizing the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, during the Divine Liturgy for the ordination of the new Bishop of Arsinoe, Pagkratios, at the Monastery of Panagia Chrysorroiatissa in Paphos.In a post on Twitter, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine thanked the Church of Cyprus for the recognition saying “the Church of Cyprus, one of the oldest local churches, was recognized as autocephalous at the Third Ecumenical Council, 10th in the Diptych, joined the Tomos recognition of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and became the fourth Church to recognize the Local OCU.”The Church of Cyprus, one of the oldest local churches, was recognized as autocephalous at the Third Ecumenical Council, 10th in the Diptych, joined the Tomos recognition of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and became the fourth Church to recognize the Local OCU.?pic.fCt2dLYfHz— Православна Церква Укра?ни (@OrthodoxUkraine)?October 24, 2020It is noted that the Church of Cyprus became the third church to recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, after the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate which commemorated Metropolitan Epifaniy during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Thessaloniki on October 19, 2019.A few days later, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria?commemorated Metropolitan Epifaniy, thus?recognizing the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine.“From here in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, I would like to refer to a great event for our Church. The Patriarchate of Alexandria, the second in rank, after much prayer and consideration, in the presence of the Holy Hierarchs, in the presence of His Excellency Ambassador of Greece, I would like to officially announce that our Patriarchate included today the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine and His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy.” hierarch: Epiphany Dumenko is a schismatic?26 October 2020, 21:26 ?Elena Konstantinova Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos. Photo: mospat.ruMetropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos finds Epiphany Dumenko a schismatic since he was ordained by Filaret Denisenko.On October 26, 2020, Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos stated in an interview with the?ANT1?programme that he considered the?head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko?a schismatic.?Metropolitan Nikiforos said that “we were speechless when His Beatitude remembered the name of Epiphany, a schismatic,” who “therefore is not recognized by the Churches for he was ordained by the excommunicated Filaret Denisenko”.He also noted that “the Ecumenical Patriarch gave autocephaly to these schismatic groups, so he (Dumenko – Ed.) was not recognized by other Orthodox Churches, except for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and a year later – by the Churches of Greece and Alexandria”.Vladyka said that at previous sessions of the Synod, “we all agreed, unanimously, on this issue (the recognition of the OCU – Ed.) when suddenly Friday comes, October 23, and Archbishop Chrysostomos commemorates Epiphany’s name ... Do you understand that this is not our whim that we reacted this way? I repeat, Epiphany became the anticanonical primate of the Ukrainian Church as he belongs to the schismatic groups in Ukraine. There are certain rules."As reported, Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos and Tyria said that?the Orthodox Church of Cyprus is on the verge of schism?due to the decision of its Primate Archbishop Chrysostomos to commemorate Epiphany Dumenko.._,_.___LIVES OF SAINTSVenerable Paisius VelichkovskyCommemorated November 15thSaint Paisius Velichkovsky was born in Poltava in Little Russia on December 21, 1722, and was the eleventh of twelve children. His father John was a priest, who named him Peter at his Baptism, in honor of Saint Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow, on whose Feast he was born.After the children’s father died, their mother Irene raised them in piety. Peter was sent to study at the Moghila Academy in Kiev in 1735. After four years, Peter decided to leave the world and become a monk. At the age of seventeen, he went in search of a monastery and a good spiritual Father. For seven years Peter visited various monasteries, including the Kiev Caves Lavra, but he did not feel drawn to any of the monasteries of Ukraine.After being made a rassophore monk (one blessed to wear the rasson, but not yet tonsured “into the mantle”) at the Saint Nicholas Medvedevsky Monastery with the name Platon, he found that there was no experienced Elder there who could teach him obedience or give him spiritual direction. Not wishing to begin his monastic life without such guidance, he left the monastery a week after his tonsure with the blessing of his Elder.At first, he went to Kiev, where he happened to meet his sister-in-law, the widow of his older brother Archpriest John. She informed him of his mother’s sorrow when he left Kiev, and her mind seemed to be affected by her grief. Then one day an angel appeared to her and told her that instead of loving the Creator with her whole heart and soul, she loved His creation (her son) more. Because of this excessive love, the angel went on, she was thinking of starving herself to death, which would result in her eternal condemnation. The angel said that by God’s grace, her son would become a monk, and that she should also renounce the world and become a nun. After this, she became calm and accepted God’s will. She entered a convent and was tonsured with the name Juliana. After about ten years, she departed to the Lord.While at Kiev, Platon met two monks from Romania who were about to return to their country. After crossing the border into Moldavia, they came to Vlachia and the Skete of Saint Nicholas, which is called Treisteny, around 1745. The Elder of the Skete, Hieroschemamonk Michael, was away on business in Ukraine, so Platon and his companions were welcomed by the Superior, Father Demetrius. Platon was placed under a general obedience and given a cell near the Skete, from which the church was visible.As he was sleeping one night, the semantron was sounded calling the monks to Sunday Matins, but Platon did not hear it. He woke up and ran to the church, only to find that the Gospel had already been read, and the Canon was being sung. In his grief and shame, he did not enter the church, but returned to his cell and wept bitter tears. After the Liturgy, when it was time for the meal, the Superior and the Elder were surprised that Platon had not been seen at the services. The Elder ordered that the meal be delayed while he sent a Father Athanasius to find out what had happened to Platon. Father Athanasius found him and asked why he was weeping. With difficulty, Platon was able to tell him the cause of his sorrow. Father Athanasius tried to console him and urged him to come to the Skete, where the others were waiting for him. Finally, he was persuaded to go.Seeing the brethren at table but not eating, Platon fell down before them weeping and asking forgiveness. The Elder and the Superior lifted him up and heard from Father Athanasius the reason for his sorrow. The Elder told Platon not to grieve so over something that had happened involuntarily, and did his best to console him. From that time, however, the saint would not sleep lying down in bed, but sitting up on a bench.One day the Elder Onuphrius of Kyrkoul visited the Skete and spoke about his Skete at Kyrkoul. Platon long to see Kyrkoul, and so he returned there with Father Onuphrius. He remained there for a time, conversing with Father Onuphrius about overcoming the passions, the struggle with demons, unceasing prayer, and other soul-profiting topics. This seed fell on good ground, later bearing spiritual fruit a hundredfold.The time came when Platon was filled with a longing to visit Mount Athos. He asked the brethren of the Skete, and those of other Sketes, for their forgiveness and blessing for the journey. He also thanked them for their kindness and their paternal instruction. They blessed him and let him go in peace. At that time he was just twenty-four years old.Platon went to Mount Athos in 1746, arriving at the Great Lavra on July 4, the eve of the Feast of Saint Athanasius of Athos. His traveling companion, Hieromonk Tryphon fell ill and died after four days. Platon would have died from the same illness, if not for the care of the Russian monks. He recovered and lived in solitude in a cell called Kaparis near the Pantokrator Monastery. He went around visiting the ascetics and solitaries, looking for a spiritual Father, but was unable to find anyone suitable.In 1750 Saint Basil of Poiana Marului (April 15) visited the Holy Mountain and spent some time with Platon, who asked him for monastic tonsure. Elder Basil granted his request, giving him the name Paisius. Then Father Basil returned to his Skete at Vlachia. About three months later, a young monk named Bessarion came to the Holy Mountain from Vlachia. He went around to the monasteries searching for an instructor, but did not find one. He also came to Father Paisius and asked him to tell him something about saving his soul. Father Paisius sighed and told him that he himself had been looking for an instructor without success. Yet, feeling compassion for Father Bessarion, he talked to him a little about the qualifications necessary for a true instructor, and about the Jesus Prayer. After hearing him, Father Bessarion said, “What more do I seek?” He fell down at the feet of Father Paisius, entreating him to be his Elder. Father Paisius did not want to be anyone’s Elder, wishing instead to be under authority himself. Father Bessarion remained for three days weeping until Father Paisius agreed to accept him as a friend, and not as a disciple. For about four years they lived together fulfilling God’s commandments, cutting off their own will and obeying one another as equals.Other disciples began to join them, and their number continued to increase. Since they needed a priest and a confessor, they begged Father Paisius to accept ordination. He did not want to hear of this, and repeatedly refused to consent. They did not give up, however. They asked him how he could expect to teach the brethren obedience and cutting off their own will, when he disobeyed the tearful entreaties of those who wanted him to accept. Finally, he said, “May the will of God be done.”In 1754 Father Paisius was ordained to the holy priesthood and was given the Skete of the Prophet Elias, where he began to accept even more disciples. Saint Paisius remained on Mt Athos for a total of seventeen years, copying Greek patristic books and translating them into Slavonic.In 1763 Father Paisius went to Moldavia with sixty-four disciples, and was given the Dragomirna Monastery near the city of Sochava and on the border between Bukovina and Moldavia. Here he remained for twelve years, and the number of monks increased to three hundred and fifty. His friend Hieromonk Alexius came to visit him from Vlachia, and Father Paisius asked him to tonsure him into the Schema. Father Alexius did so, but without changing his name. While at Dragomirna, Father Paisius corrected the Slavonic translations of patristic books by comparing them to the Greek manuscripts he had copied on Mt Athos.The Russo-Turkish war broke out in 1768, and Moldavia and Vlachia saw many battles. Dragomirna and the forests around it became filled with refugees from the villages near the battlegrounds. Another catastrophe appeared in 1771 with the outbreak of plague. When Dragomirna and Bukovina came under the control of Austrian Catholics, Saint Paisius and his flock fled to Moldavia. In October of 1775, he went to Secu (“Beheading”) Monastery, which was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, with many of his monks.Secu was too small for the number of brethren, who were crowded with three to five monks in a cell. In the spring, more brethren were due to arrive from Dragomirna, so new cells had to be built. After three years of labor one hundred cells were completed, and everyone had a place. Still, the numbers increased and they had to look for a larger monastery.Prince Constantine Muruz wrote to the Elder saying that there was no larger monastery than Neamts, about two hours from Secu. On August 14, 1779, Saint Paisius moved to Neamts Monastery where he spent the last fifteen years of his life translating the writings of the Holy Fathers. He organized the community according to the Typikon (Rule) of Mt Athos. He gathered about a thousand monks in the monastery, instructing them in the unceasing prayer of the heart.Archbishop Ambrose visited Saint Paisius at Neamts in 1790, staying for two days to converse with the Elder. During the Sunday Liturgy, he raised Saint Paisius to the rank of Archimandrite. He remained two more days, then departed after blessing everyone.Saint Paisius fell asleep in the Lord on November 15, 1794 at the age of seventy-two. It is possible that God revealed the date of his death to him beforehand, for he stopped translating books. He only reviewed and corrected what had already been translated.He was ill for four days, but felt well enough to attend the Liturgy on Sunday. After the service, he asked everyone to come and receive his blessing. He said farewell to them all, then returned to his cell and would not receive anyone. A few days later, on November 15, he received the Holy Mysteries again and surrendered his soul to God. His funeral was conducted by Bishop Benjamin of Tuma, and was attended by multitudes of priests, monks, laymen, nobles and ordinary people.The holy relics of Saint Paisius were uncovered in 1846, 1853, 1861 and 1872, and were found to be incorrupt.Saint Paisius has had an enormous influence, not only in Romania, but throughout the Orthodox world. His disciples traveled to Russia, sparking the spiritual revival of the nineteenth century with Slavonic translations of the PHILOKALIA and the tradition of eldership which they had learned from Saint Paisius. This influence has been felt even in America through Saint Herman of Alaska (December 13). Saint Herman was taught by Elders whose spiritual formation was guided by Saint Paisius. He first met Father Nazarius, who became his Elder at Valaam, at Sarov, then followed him to Sanaxar when Saint Theodore (February 19) was their igumen.One of the books that Saint Herman brought with him to America was the Slavonic PHILOKALIA, printed in 1794. He absorbed the spiritual wisdom that it contained, and imparted it to others. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download