Christians must stand firm against this radical takeover
As an American I have clearly seen, over these past fifty years or so, the secularization of our nation, with the end result that evil is taking root.
Consequently, the American people are being deceived by an atheism that is ripping our country from us. America is becoming like the Soviet Union, while Russia is becoming the Christian land America once was.
We Americans are witnessing a progressive extinction of our traditional public and educational institutions, watching to our horror, traditional values replaced with all manner of perversion. Our once proud institutions are now becoming corrupt, just as violence, decadence, and insanity are increasing.
Marxist ideologies and secularist principles are changing our once Christian culture, leading to the state sponsored pressures that will ultimately take away our individual freedoms and liberties.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his “Godlessness: the First Step to the Gulag”, referenced how the communist takeover of Russia was preceded by an atheistic mentality that led to the secularization of Russia, therefore alienating the Russian people from their traditional Christian morality and beliefs. Solzhenitsyn rightly concluded Russia was open to atheism and anti-Christian morality because “Men have forgotten God”.
It is all the more imperative that we fervently pray for our country, and give witness to the importance of Christ in our lives. The secularization of our country must not be allowed to take hold. It must be pushed back by us while there is still time. We must stand firm against this radical takeover, and, as warriors for our faith, we must battle against the destructive power of the evil enemy of our salvation.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Monday November 1, 2021 / October 19, 2021
20th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Prophet Joel (800 B.C.).
Martyr Warus and seven monk-martyrs in Egypt (307).
Translation of the relics (1195) of Venerable John, abbot of Rila in Bulgaria (946).
Venerable Gabriel, abbot of St. Elias Skete, Mt. Athos (1901).
Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt (1908).
New Martyr Priest Alexis (Stavrovsky) of Petrograd (1918).
New Hieromartyr Sergius priest (1937).
Blessed Cleopatra (327) and her son John, in Egypt.
Hieromartyr Sadoc (Sadoth), bishop of Persia, and 128 Martyrs with him (342).
Synaxis of All Saints of Archangelsk Metropolia.
Crown Prince Demetrius of Moscow (1582).
Venerable Leontius the Philosopher of St. Sabbas monastery (624).
St. Prochorus, miracle-worker of Pchinja (Serbia) (10th c.).
Venerable Frideswide of Oxford, abbess (ca. 735) (Celtic & British).
St. Mnason, bishop of Cyprus (1st c.) (Cypriote).
New Monk-martyr Nicholas Dvali of Jerusalem (1314).
Hieromartyr Felix and Deacon Eusebius (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Philippians 2:12-16
Light Bearers
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Luke 9:18-22
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”