our chapel

celebrates its feast day on September 8th

The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - Panagia Iamatiki (Healing Mary). "This is the day of the Lord: rejoice, ye people. For lo, the Bridal Chamber of the Light, the Book of the Word of Life, has come forth from the womb, and the East Gate, newly born, awaits the entrance of the Great Priest. She alone brings into the world the one and only Christ, for the salvation of our souls." ..........................................................................................................................................................................

known but to God

St. Phanourius, August 27th

The life of St. Phanourius is told through the one icon that was found of him on Aug 27th, around 1500 A.D. "Phanourius" comes from the Greek word, "fanerono" (I reveal), so it is that from this one unblemished icon that the Archbishop Milos of Rhodes officially proclaimed him a saint...

"He concluded that the unblemished icon was itself a testimony enough to prove that Phanourius was a man of divine grace, and he petitioned the Patriarch to convene a synod which would officially proclaim Phanourius a saint, after which there was erected in the saint's memory a cathedral which enshrined the holy icon. Phanourius, lost for centuries in the ruins of a church, became the patron saint of things lost. To this day his name is invoked when prayers are asked for the recovery of things lost items."*

Original icon of St. Phanourius of Rhodes

"The original icon is quite large. In the center is a portrait of the saint holding a candle in his right hand and around this are 12 smaller images showing the each stage of his martyrdom.

The portrayal of each illustration is as follows:

i. The saint is standing in front of a Roman magistrate and defending his Christian faith.

ii. Soldiers beat the saint on the head and mouth with rocks to force him to deny his faith.

iii. The saint remains patient which angers the soldiers. They are shown in this illustration, throwing him to the ground and beating him with sticks and clubs in a further attempt to force him to deny his faith.

iv. The saint is now in prison. He is illustrated completely naked with the soldiers ripping his flesh apart with some sort of iron implement.

v. The saint is still in prison. In this station, he is shown praying to God, perhaps to give him strength to endure his tortures.

vi. Next, the saint is standing in front of the Roman magistrate again defending his position. The expression on the face of the saint is calm.

vii. In this image, it is obvious that the Roman magistrate has sentenced the saint to the executioners for remaining unmoved in Station 6. The saint is again shown naked with executioners torching (burning) his body.

viii. At this station, the executioners are now using mechanical means to torture the saint. He appears tied to an apparatus that rotates to crush his bones. Though his body is truly suffering intensely for God, the look on his face is peaceful and patient."**

Interior of church St. Phanourius, Rhodes

St. Phanourios has become famous for assisting the faithful in revealing lost or hidden spiritual matters of the heart, objects, directing or revealing actions that should be taken, restoring health and similar situations. He is then honoured by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the "Phanouropita" which can be brought to the church, at any time, put in particularly on his feast day for a blessing.

You might of received a piece at the end of service in the past. This year, why not try your hand at baking one of these cakes? If wanting to give it a go, here is the the recipe. (*Excerpts taken from www.saintfanourios.org, ** excerpts and images taken from orthodoxwiki.org) ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Embrace Difference!

'The Holy Trinity and The Human Person' Retreat

We are created not different from each other, but different for one another."

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the CYC for organising such a great retreat this year at the Collaroy Centre, June 17th-19th. Finding our way there and driving through the big gates, we had no idea that this tucked away "centre" would be a resort! Our thanks also go to Mr Philip Kariatlis for his talk and answering all our questions so well. And to Fr. Constantine Varipatis (who showed us all how to shoot a bulls eye in archery... ahem...on your first turn!) The ocean view sunrise, during morning liturgy was breathtaking and the day was exactly what the doctor ordered. Looking forward to next year... ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Where sin abounds...Grace super abounds!

Run into life! 
week three &  four
 
A big thank you for all who attended the short course: 'Desert Community the prescription to city aloneness'. We hope you enjoyed the talks and hope to see you again. By popular demand....

The 12 steps (rungs) in desert spirituality For healing to occur we need to do certain things, at least from our Tradition.

step i - Realising a loss of vision. Brokenness, fragmentation, powerless, surrender, honesty.

In the beginning we were created with an undivided brain, heart and all are actions were united. Come to terms and be honest about your life, your brokenness, your vision (or lack of), your fragmentation...Am I sick? Yes, and you stink!

step ii - Only God can. God comes through wounds. I am powerless. Involves a decision to let God in our lives (therefore: hope, faith & love). "Brokenness is everywhere, but so is endurance, and so is the help of God".

step iii - Reality/ Realisation - us & the world. Therefore no despair.

"Seeing yourself as you are is a greater miracle than raising the dead." St Isaac What is your reality? Say yes to your life and all that you have been dealt with. "What is truth?" (John 18:38) "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

step iv - Community, church, liturgy, relationship - not alone.

Where can I take part in community? In the divine liturgy - the biography of Jesus Christ. When I am sick, I go to hospital. God's house (the Church) is the hospital.

Seek a spiritual father or mother, so that one person knows everything that is about you (the good and the bad).

step v - Internal self-examination (prodigal son pig pen). An inner transformation. Free will, choice, desire, will, courage, searching, seeking, struggle, wounds, repentance, tears, peace with ourselves.

Am I like the prodigal son in the pig pen? What are the obstacles you place between you and God? Rise, get rid of the dirt and shine!

step vi - Internal curing/ healing. Inner transformation. Αναστα! You need to talk - so that you can be internally healed. What happens to wounds that are opened? "He who confesses pain is nearer to health. He who doesn't is nearer to hell." St Isaac 

step vii - Allowing God to act: He grants, gives, bestows, trust. Allowing God to redirect - healing is the presence of God inside us. Trust in Him. I can't. He can. And I will let Him.

step viii - Allowing God to heal: ourselves/ society - therefore making amends with others. With God's Grace I can change and anything in my way.

step ix - Discernment - to know, wisdom. Examine, guard, watch and be alert - of all your movements, thoughts, feelings and words. It's a gift. Pray for it.

step x - Contemplation, prayer, stillness, meditation. Take time out for oneself, be still...and pray (remember Him). Prayer is a mirror, measure and proof of everything. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon me a sinner." "Lord have mercy." "Lord!"

step xi - Action (faith/ works) maintaining ministry. Συνεργεια/ co-operation. Real faith is shown in action. Prayer leads and faith is shown in action. Live in faith, hope and most of love. We are not static - we are different to who we were yesterday. (Thank you Jesus!)

step xii - Mystery of the prosopon. Adopt humanity, be human and do all things in reference to God. Our relationship with God is expressed in our baptismal grace and the prayers once said upon us.

..........................................................................................

 Books... Holy Baptism - Service book by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Available from the Archdiocese book store (bookcentre@greekorthodox.org.au).  

the 13th step.. 'I Love, Therefore I am: The Theological Legacy Of Archmandrite Sophrony'- by Nicholas V. Sakharov If you have a yahoo account you can log into google books and view pages from the book here. Bookstore availabilities: Booktopia, Crossroad Books or The Nile Bookstore.

 
from week three... 'The Panarion Of Epiphanius Of Salamis' Books I, II & III- Brill Publishing These are the books that were kindly brought in and shown to us. Epiphanius of Salamis was the first to introduce the term "Orthodoxy" and his writings were against the heresies of the church. Look them up at your library and if possible have a browse through. Otherwise you can view pages in your google account here.

 

 
..........................................................................................

square or round?

get ready for the stench! - week two

"The road of cleansing goes through that desert, it shall be named the way of holiness." (Isaiah Ch 35:8)

Saying of Abba Poemen...

"Some old men came to see Abba Poemen and said to him, 'When we see brothers who are dozing at the synaxis, shall we rouse them so that they will be watchful?' He said to them, 'For my part when I see a brother who is dozing, I put his head on my knees and let him rest.'"

Books... 'Sacrament Of Love'- by Paul Evdokimov If you have a yahoo account you can log into google books and view pages from the book here. Bookstore availabilities: Archdiocese*, Fishpond, Christianbook Australia or The Nile Bookstore. 'The Fathers Of The Church - Barsanuphius and John', Vol I & Vol II Bookstore availabilities: Fishpond 'Letters From The Desert - Barsanuphius and John' - translated by John Chryssavgis This is a less expensive version of the above letters. Bookstore availabilities: Archdiocese*, Fishpond, Christianbook Australia or The Nile Bookstore.

'The Philokalia' - by St Nikodimos If you have a yahoo account you can log into google books and view pages from the book here. This is the paperback versions - volumes I, II, III & IV. Bookstore availabilities: Fishpond, Shearer's Bookshop or The Nile Bookstore.

Books by James Cowan: 'Desert Father' Bookstore availabilities: Fishpond, Shearer's Bookshop or The Nile Bookstore. 'Francis: A Saint's Way', 'Journey to the Inner Mountain' and 'Messengers of the Gods'. (These books are harder to find for purchase. Berkelouw can order them in (9560 3200/ leichhardt@berkelouw.com.au) or please check your local library).

'Death Sentence' - by Don Watson Measure your speech. This book talks about how language has emptied itself of it's meaning in today's society. Bookstore availabilities: Fishpond or Shearer's Bookshop.

* Archdiocese book store (email: bookcentre@greekorthodox.org.au) ..........................................................................................................................................................................

the desert: the flight from the world

to return to the world - week one introduction

The first lesson in our course began last Tuesday (7/7) with a great introduction to what we will be learning about in the upcoming weeks. We have put together a list below of reading, that we will build on as the weeks progress. 'The Sayings of the Desert Fathers - The Alphabetical Collection' translated by Benedicta Ward / Preface by Metropolitan Anthony This book is a great introduction and starting point in the readings of our desert fathers and mothers. If wanting to purchase this book, it is available at the following: Archdiocese book store (email: bookcentre@greekorthodox.org.au) Shearers Bookshop online Fishpond Seekbooks There is also another online introductory resource : 'The Ancient Fathers Of The Desert', which can be downloaded, printed and found here. ..........................................................................................................................................................................

I have brought these from paradise

"eat these in fulfillment of the desire of her soul" St Irene Chrysovalantou June 28th

A teenager. Wealthy. Beautiful. St Irene - denied herself, took up her cross and followed Christ. And since she became abbess of the convent of Chrysovalantou in the 9th century she has performed many miracles. A many only known to those whom she has blessed. When visiting a church dedicated to St Irene Of Chrysovalantou, it is common that apples are blessed and distributed among the faithful on her feast day. She is usually easily identifiable in icons by the holding of her three apples, the bowing of the cypress trees or by the monastery she so loved in the background. These are the most well known accounts from St Irene's life, but only an element of her works to the glory of God.

"...during the watch guard of the night, our holy mother heard a mystical voice say to her, "Receive the sailor who will bring you fruit today and eat this fruit rejoicing in your soul." During the Orthros, St. Irene called two nuns to her and said to them, "Go to the convent's gate and you will find a sailor waiting outside. Bring him into the convent. On meeting, the sailor our venerable mother exchanged greetings and asked him from where he was and how it was that he happened to come to the convent. He replied in this manner: "My lady, I am a sailor from the island of Patmos. I had embarked on a voyage with my crew to come here to Constantinople for a certain service I had to perform. When we were passing by the far end of my island we saw on the land a most pious and handsome looking old man. This old man yelled out to us to wait for him. However we were close to the land and there were many rocks there. We had a good wind behind us and we continued to speed along farther and farther away. The old man yelled again louder and at that moment the ship came to a complete stop and this old man began to come towards us while walking on the waves. At that point, he took out of his shirt three apples and gave them to me saying, "When you arrive in the capitol, give these apples to the patriarch and tell him that God sent them to him from paradise by way of His servant John." Taking out three other apples he said to me, "Give these three to the abbess of Chrysovalantou whose name is Irene. Tell her to eat these in fulfillment of the desire of her soul because now I have brought these from paradise." The old man then gave thanks to God and blessed us and immediately the ship began to move and the old man disappeared. I gave the three apples to the patriarch and now 1 am bringing you the other three." Our venerable mother hearing this began to cry from joy and gave thanks to the beloved Disciple and Apostle of Christ. Then the sailor took the apples out of a silk and gold embroidered handkerchief in which he had kept them as divine possessions and he gave them to St. Irene with much reverence. These three worldly and incorruptible apples were so large and so beautiful in their shape and so fragrant that in their physical nature alone they were an amazing sight. The only explanation for the beauty of these apples is that they were from paradise.

Whenever St. Irene would eat a piece of this apple a fragrance would exude from her mouth so strong that all the nuns of the convent could smell it. The entire convent smelled as if it had been washed with a most costly perfume and it truly smelled like paradise."

She died at her convent at the age of 103 saying the following words:

"Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Good Shepherd, who saved us with Your all-holy and precious blood, into Your hands do I give over Your small flock. Protect it in the shelter of Your wings and guard it against the snares of the devil, for You are our Sanctification and our Salvation and to You do we send up thanks and glory to all ages."

The Holy Monastery of The Holy Cross (Gosford, NSW) has a chapel dedicated to St. Irene the Righteous of Chrysovalantou. To read more about St Irene - her gift of foreknowledge, her strength under the physical attacks of demons and her life in dedication to Jesus Christ, visit this site. (Excerpts above have been taken from The Monastery Of St Irene Chrysovalantou, www.stirene.org) ..........................................................................................................................................................................

july course

Desert community: the prescription to city aloneness We are happy to announce the 2nd short course of 2009 to run every Tuesday evening at 7pm, for the month of July (7th, 14th, 21st & 28th). Talks will be by Father Leslie Kostoglou and will be held at the church. Interested? Please come along - all are welcome. ..........................................................................................................................................................................

what were those books again...?

from the Step by Step through Great Lent and Holy Week course Here are the books that were referenced during our first course this year: The Ladder Of Divine Ascent by St John Climacus Ages of the Spiritual Life by Paul Evdokimov Great Lent - Journey to Pascha by Fr Alexander Schmemann These books can be read all year round and are available from the Archdiocese book store. (email: bookcentre@greekorthodox.org.au) Click the below images to be sent to a preview of the book.

..........................................................................................................................................................................

so he went and washed, and came back seeing

Jn 9:1-38 the blind man

There is a lot of hope in this photo of a blind woman washing her face for the first time.

And a joy indescribable.

Dr Ruit tests 78-year old Pemasumta's eye after his operation. Pemasumta walked two days from Chhuksang. The father of two said after the removal of his eye patch: "I feel like the sun".

"One thing I know : that though I was blind, now I see." "Do you believe in the Son Of God? ...You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you". Photos are from Dr Fred Hollow's work in Nepal. ..........................................................................................................................................................................

two hundred and twenty two

radiant confessors and martyrs for the Christian faith China June 11th 1900

The stories of how martyrs died are never pleasant. The below has been edited, but the stories and even photos of individuals of this group can be found on the links below. Throughout China, during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, there lived several communities of Orthodox Christians, holy branches of early Russian missionaries. Though few in number, they had worked diligently to preach teachings of Christ among the vast sea of Buddhists, Taoists and Confucians. The tiny minority had remained true to its mission of spreading the faith and had never involved itself in the internal strife of the country.

On June 11, 1900, a ruthless persecution began against the Christians throughout China, beginning with those of Beijing. Almost all Orthodox churches were burned to the ground. Nothing remained of the Missionary Center at Penking; the fruits of many long years labour were all destroyed, including the printing press and the library.

Unsatisfied with the destruction of the church's properties, the revolutionaries deviously planned to slaughter the Orthodox Christians themselves, beginning with the first Chinese Orthodox priest, Metrophanes Chi-Sung and his family. His wife Tatiana and twenty-three yr old son Isaiah were killed before his eyes. Isaiah's nineteen yr old fiancée Maria was also brutally tortured and killed after trying to help other innocent Christians escape. Father Metrophanes' eight-year-old son John was not to be spared, either.

Following the martyrdom of John and his family, the teachers Paul and Ia Wang were also brutally tortured and slaughtered, along with hundreds of other Chinese Orthodox Christians. Together they were among the first Chinese people to shed their blood for Christ and His Holy Church and to receive the most sacred crowns of martyrdom and eternal glory before God’s heavenly throne. (Excerpts taken from: 'Let the Little Children Come to Me' by St John Chrysostomos Greek Orthodox Monastery)

St Mitrophan

St Ia

A view of the church constructed at

Peking in 1903 on the site at the martyrdom of the Chinese Orthodox, in which the relics of many of the martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion were enshrined

For further reading: The First Chinese Orthodox Martyrs Accounts of the Martyrs of the Chinese Orthodox Church who fell victim in Beijing in 1900 ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Xristos Anesti

We hope everyone had a safe and joyous Pascha. A big thank you for all who attended the 4 week course from March 16th - 4th April.