Elder Gabriel of Karyes: "Study history and think"
Reasonings of the Athonite Elder of Karyes about modern people and our complex life.
- Geronda, Father Seraphim asked us a difficult question about church life: what would happen if the kollivads * or St. Paisius of Mount Athos were alive now?
- What would St. Paisius of Mount Athos do now? Yes, we know the testimonies on Mount Athos, the people who spoke to him are still alive. For example, I'll tell you. Once Father Nicodemus Pilates went to Father Paisius and said to him: "Geronda, you are condemned as an ecumenist." Elder Paisius became indignant: "I am an ecumenist!?" It was still in Stavronikitа. Father Dosifeus told me what Father Nicodemus Pilates told him.
What would the kollivades do now? You know, now is a very interesting time. The same scandalous times as they were in the days of the kollivads have set in. In fact, the historical era is very similar.
In general, not many people know about kollivads. And many do not know that at that time the fathers who opposed the kollivads went in their enmity so far that killed several people. This, of course, is not made public. And then the kollivads gathered in the cell of Saint Nicodemus of Mt Athos. This meeting was attended by many of the present saints: St Nicodemus of Mt Athos, St. Athanasius of Parium and other elders. And they decided that since this war or enmity had already reached the point of murder, it was bad. We are not afraid for our lives, we are ready to sacrifice them, but in order to prevent such crimes on Athos, we are leaving the Holy Mountain, they said. And they left.
The elders settled in the Cyclades and saved many of the islands from Catholic expansion.
History teaches us that humanly this was not fair, but by the Providence of God it turned out that this exile was of great benefit, it became a blessing for the Greek people.
So study the era of kollivads and think.
Our contemporary holy Elder Ambrose said that in the near future 2 million Greeks would perish. But he didn’t say why. What could it be, besides vaccines? Women kill their unborn children, and the cells of these killed children are used in vaccines – this is a great sin.
Yes, we feel bad now and it will be even worse if we do not repent. The key to everything is repentance. Our God cannot forgive us by force, without our repentance. It's impossible. To be forgiven, we must exercise our will.
I will give you an example of the Ninevites, the inhabitants of the city of Nineveh, who set an example for the entire ancient world. They sincerely repented throughout the city, imposed a fast on themselves, and even forced the cattle to fast. And what could God answer them to this? Of course, he pardoned them and did not destroy the city.
And here's what else I'll tell you. The Lord says in the Gospel: "Every tree is known by its fruit." A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Man is cognized in the same way. Tell me, if you are a man of God, because we give freedom even to animals, why do you forcibly vaccinate? You kick me out of my job, and it doesn't even matter to you that I might commit suicide? Is this a man of God doing that?
Remember – God will not save us without repentance.
And I will also remind you of one passage from the Scriptures. When the Lord descended to earth before the flood, He said: “My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh." What does it mean "is also flesh"? This means that they became only flesh, lost their spirit. And if then He said such words, then what would He say now about us, about our frenzy society?
The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, whom the Lord simply burned like insects, were not just atheists but extremely atheists. The Sodomites committed terrible sins but did not legitimize them. And now we are legitimizing sin. This has never happened in the history of mankind.
Based on materials from the Information Portal of Mount Athos
* Kollivads – representatives of the movement that emerged in the second half of the 18th century among the Athonite monks against unjustified innovations and for the restoration of the traditional practice of spiritual life.
