THE SILENCING OF THE CHURCH

In an age when free speech in high schools and university campuses is being crushed, and “politically correct” ideas are the only ones allowed to be voiced, it is particularly sad to witness free speech being crushed in some Orthodox circles. The message of Orthodoxy has NEVER been about pleasing secular powers, and for the Church to flourish into the 21 Century, she must speak the truth, ever calling all into the Ark of Salvation. In an age when so many great and holy elders of the Church are calling out this fallen culture, every bishop and priest must, as I have tried in my feeble way, to speak the truth as “one crying in the wilderness”.

Although our political leaders pretend to have a sort of universality regarding the place of religion in our nation’s life, they at the very same time are trying to demonize those within the Church who call them out on decisions that impact our nation’s morality. This means that the Church cannot remain silent in the name of separation from things political.

The government’s political actions can never be allowed to silence the Church, especially when our members are in grave danger of going against the Biblical foundations of our faith. For the Church to remain silent when politicians declare their support of abortion, same sex marriage, transgenerism, and racial guilt, is unacceptible.

It is good that we Christians remember that Antichrist will have power on the earth, and he will naturally be a political figure. Therefore, the Church must stand firm in her opposition to his political persecution, which I believe has already started.

In their attempt to weaken the opposition of faithful Christians, the forerunners of the Antichrist tell us that any opposition to their collective rewriting of our Western culture and history, should be above politics, so that their warfare against God remains hidden under a political cloak. This means the forerunners of Antichrist will manufacture the image of ‘political criminals’.

Although the Church can never become part of some sort of political intrigue, she must speak out when the political powers that be touch on questions related to the spiritual life, to which the Church cannot close her eyes.

With love and blessings,

Abbot Tryphon

Monday September 20, 2021 / September 7, 2021
14^th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (304).
St. John, archbishop and wonderworker of Novgorod (1186).
Martyrdom of St. Macarius, archimandrite of Kanev (1678).
Venerable Macarius of Optina (1860).
New Hieromartyrs Peter and Michael priests, Alexander deacon (1918).
New Hieromartyr Priest John Maslovsky of Verkhne-Poltavka, Amur (1921).
New Hieromartyrs Eugene metropolitan of Gorky, Stephan priest and Hieromartyrs Eugene, Nicholas and Pakhomius, New Hieromartyrs Gregory, Basil priests, Hieromartyr Leo (1937).
Venerables Alexander Peresvet and Andrew Osliaby (1380).
Venerable Serapion of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery in Pskov (1480).
Apostles Evodus (Euodias) (66) and Onesiphorus (67) of the Seventy.
Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (2nd c.).
Venerable Luke and St. Peter the Cappadocian, abbots of the monastery of the Deep Stream (10th c.).
St. Cassia (Cassiane) the Hymnographer (9th c.).
Venerable Cloud (Clodoald), abbot-founder of Nogent-sur-Seine near Paris (560) (Gaul).

The Scripture Readings

2 Corinthians 12:10-19
Mark 4:10-23
Tuesday Reading
2 Corinthians 12:20-13:2
Mark 4:24-34