Author: Vera nun incl.
. Published in
From
the conversation of Abbess Alexandra, the Odessa abbess of the
monastery of St. John (ROCOR), with Bishop Ambrose of the GOC-Greece
Mother Alexandra:
- Vladyka, what can you comment about the fact that in the Church of Christ, there now occurs quarrels and splits?
Bishop Ambrose:
-
Yes, it is a very difficult time. In our democratic societies, there is
too great a temptation to give preference to our own human interests.
Because of this passion in people, unfortunately, they often depart
from the Church and from the discipline of the Church.
Mother A .:
- How can we make it clear to the rest of our Orthodox Church, [so that they give an answer to the question] -as to why are they not embarrassed by such divisions and yet they remain in the bosom of the church, no matter what?
A .: Bishop
-
A bishop, a former official in the Church of Greece and who then
passed to us, told me about his spiritual experience. He spoke as
follows: "Before, when I was in the official new calendarist Church, I
felt confident and I was subservient to foreign influences and by the
government of the state Greek Church, but now, to keep the people in
the true Church, I have to carefully take care of myself spiritually, and deal with my passions.
To be in the grace of God and to truly help the faithful children of
the Church, I have to be humble and virtuous. That I should lead by my
example to the people, whereas previously it was enough for me to give
an official order, which others must obey, and it was possible
to utilize such outer forces,[commands], in order to control the
flock. However, in our very severe conditions with our many troubles
and sorrows, strife and discord in the True Church, I try, with God's
help, to become the best bishop than I can be... "
A Mother:
-
I grieve, when people are leaving the Church. However, I would like to
mention the encouraging moments in our church life. I was glad to know
for example, that in our monastery there has been preserved the spirit
of the One Catholic and Apostolic Church, that it prevails over national
political issues, especially now, when, as we know, the theme of
Russian-Ukrainian relations [strife] is a temptation for many, and as a
departure from the Church. We live here, as sisters of different
nationalities, all of whom are united in Christ. The Church for us is
above nationality. And as Christ said when He was betrayed by His own
people, he was crucified on the Cross, and that taken away from them is
the kingdom of God and that it will be given to another people - the
Gentiles, with all my heart I turn to Christ, and say, that we must
remember this, and we must not place above people, other's
nationalities.
A .: Bishop
-
That's right. Yes, someone leaves, but God still cares for His Church
and leads to it more and more people wanting to escape. By the grace of
God, people are constantly coming into our church, and from different
countries. We are all children of God. For example, relatively recently
in our monastery of the Holy Angels,[ in Greece], there lived a girl
who came from Kenya. When she was tonsured as a monastic, and when she
received an adequate spiritual and monastic formation, we sent her back
home to Kenya to do missionary purposes. Now in Kenya there has
formed an Orthodox monastic community of 20 women, organized and led by
the nuns. So, God does not leave His Church and His faithful children.
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