RELIGION - A DRUG FAITH - A HEALING REMEDY

THE BITTER SWEET REALITIES WITH CENTRES OF WORSHIP

When he stepped onto shore, he was confronted by a man from the city who was spiritually polluted for many years, he had no cloths, no home, yet dwelt amongst the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and wailed out as if he were in deep pain saying: “Why have you come now, and what am I to you? Jesus, you who are the Son of God the Most High, I beg you not to torment me further!” (Lk 8: 26-28)

Apart from the reality of spiritual pollution which many dismiss and very few clergy know how with a refined precision to deal with, there exists another reality which confines one to a tormented sate of being in the guise of religiosity: awaiting the end times whilst engulfed with a series of supposed prophesies and apocalyptical sentimentalities.

We see such portrayed in places where religion is a drug and has developed into a cult like state of affairs - segregation becomes the norm and encourages much resent for indifference. The USA is the par excellence of such an example where you have a gelateria platform of various flavours of religion (denominations) to choose from: let’s not mention the sick in mind who think God calls them forth to a crusade which often times violates the 5th commandment!

I was speaking to a very good friend of mine who is a prayerful person with a deep faith and versed in the art of hesychasm (the practice of inner silence) meditation and contemplation – a scholar in the ancient eastern arts.

Thus, we were discussing this very same phenomena where people think they have had an encounter with a holy being or even been asked to follow instructions – this of course often bears fruit that looks great on the outside, yet it is totally rotten within!

The Fathers of the Church were very clear about the dangers of hesychaia, meditation, and contemplation: imagination is strictly forbidden as it generates spiritual pollution! Most of us are used to a mantra recited on prayer beads on which the Jesus prayer is slowly chanted in order to keep our mind clear and focused on the presence of God within.

The problem with religious people in general is that when they aspire to prayer – their minds are so strained with anxieties and at the same time (the mind) is a powerful mechanism which resorts to a safe place: the innings of extraordinary hallucinations!

Yet there is the grace of vision given to see that which we would not normally have access to; these are given in order that we may grow, transfigure, and help others also via that extraordinary peace and presence bestowed.

It is well worth noting that a Russian mystic St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833 AD) boldly stated that: “If you acquire peace within your heart – many around you will be made whole and draw near to He who is the source of salvation!”

It is extraordinary when we think of how the Lord ministered to the people of that time – a good number were not the religious type, they were the marginalized, the ones who kept away from religiosity which out rightly condemned them; yet, they were encouraged to love the totality of who they are in order that it could become totally possible for them to reach out onto others and love as God desires!

For he had commanded the unclean spirit to withdraw from the man who it seized which rendered a supernatural strength to the man when he was formally bound with chains and kept under guard – breaking them and fleeing into the wilderness. Jesus then boldly told it: “You shall give me your rank name!” It through the man uttered: “We are the legion!” The man was overcome with spiritual pollution and they begged Jesus not to condemn them back into the abyss. (Lk 8: 29-31)

Two Saturdays ago, I was asked to visit a friend of ours who for many years has been a victim of religiosity and this state of being had taken its toll on her health in various ways. This lady is a good hearted woman, she is old school and it’s a black or white setting with no shades of grey allowed.

This of course works against her in the sense that her extended family have little or nothing to do with her due to the over opinionated stance regarding her religious convictions which tends to impose on others.

Yet, this lady lives in absolute fear of her life due to the apocalyptical sentimentality expressed with various forms of religious ideologies encourage; sin, doom, gloom, hell, destruction, damnation, torment, oppression, and unworthiness. Unfortunately a major episode happens every now and then that causes a meltdown – the fragility of the human mind suppressed with dooms day rhetoric.

Truly, such is a cocktail of disaster and a clear indication of the ancient rebellion who visits the minds and hearts of the religious type and twists Holy Scripture in their minds to portray a most hideous icon of salvation – alike the communists who declared themselves to be the saviours of the people and placed their own people in concentration camps!

In actual fact, this poor soul has imprisoned herself within a religious concentration camp mindset for years and has used biblical prophecies to back her claims regarding apocalyptic sentimentalities; Covid 19 has been the icing on the cake for many who share this demonic delusion. Yet, the Holy Spirit works in us and assists us when we come in his name and render ministry in the presbyterate of Christ.

The first breakthrough was when I via God’s grace reassured her regarding the suicide of one of her children – these religious types share a view that all those who take their lives are dammed eternally!

Yet, people are not in their right frame of mind and often times it is either a case of mental illness (especially with victims of substance abuse) or the presence of the unclean as the gospel often distinguishes! God the Son accepted Dismas the thief and promised him a place in the kingdom: we are too quick to pass judgment and yet God the Son charged us to pray for the salvation of all!

The second breakthrough via God’s grace was to dispel the apocalyptical sentimentality and torments that supposedly are around the corner with the end of time! This was often a barrier which was a no go zone for me with her in the past; placing her trust in these half-witted visionaries that supposedly have visions and messages which inform us about our imminent destruction.

It was only the grace of the Holy Spirit who passed through her heart that Sunday afternoon and delivered her from that septic tank concoction of religiosity; it was as if she began to live again and not merely exist!

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is only through Christ that I may truly live and only when he via wholehearted invitation comes to live and rest in me. My life in this world has purpose now that I live in the faith and certainty of the Son of God who loves me and has offered himself as a sacrifice for my very life. (Gal 2: 20)

These heartfelt words from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia renders us an account of what it means when we come to the realization that there is a bigger picture, a greater existence and fullness of life which can only be acquired by obtaining the keys to the kingdom: humility!

Six years ago today, I was invited for coffee by a priest of one of the eastern rites under the authority of Rome, and it was very much a cry for help – not in the sense of jumping ship, but for someone to hear him out and give moral support which his own denied him.

Here we have a priest who has a very small community, has no family - offers his rite in a Latin centre of worship which he is part of and rents from them; yet, he is told to speed up his rite because it might offend others who come for the next service in the Latin rite.

The other priests of the same institution have no regard for him – often it’s the Latin clergy who feel that they are far superior over the eastern rite clergy due to them (roman clergy) having the false sense of security that their linage descends from the supposed roman chair of Peter.

Yet, here we have a poor soul who is abandoned by his bishop who thinks Australia is the ass end of the world and not worth a thought as many do when they rule from afar which is totally uncanonical! (that which is against the established ecclesial rules)

Furthermore, when he addresses his concerns to the local Latin bishops here regarding his community, they politely excuse themselves and urge him to have patience in understanding that the objections he receives are supposedly within the rights of the parish priest.

Yet, they have various empty churches around and if they consider the eastern rites part of their communion: why not accommodate a place for your own people and clergy however diverse??? They supposedly are into ecumenism, yet when it comes to money – it all goes back to its roots: Servants of Mammon!

Hence, he is left parched, mentally drained, spiritually crippled, and physically unwell – the desire to go back to his own country, and the community which will fold and eventually absorb into its major counterpart!

This reminds me of the same situation with the Carpatho-Russian community in the USA under its priest St. Alexis Toth (1854 – 1909 AD) who were treated with contempt via the Latin communion – causing him and his entire community to return to his origins via embracing Holy Orthodoxy “The Byzantine Church” under the Muscovite Jurisdiction!

In conclusion, there are many people and clergy who rubbish us as being non-legitimate and all the other insanities that are hurled over when truth stands in the midst of insanity! We have had many poor in spirit come through our doors demanding us to demonstrate our authenticity – there are many quasi zealots who go around churches endeavouring to disturbing the peace via suffering the delusion of being on a somewhat divine mission!

Therefore, in holy patience and turning the other cheek as our Lord commanded (Mat 5:39) for our benefit and the strengthening of ties and communion, I worked on our ecclesial family tree a few years ago supervised by faculty members - other bishops from various synods as part of our intercommunion dialogue and my PHD via our Theological College of St. Julius.

Hence, via God’s grace, such detailed and historically accurate work was submitted “Our Apostolic Succession” to the dean of the synods intercommunion faculty who verified the apostolic claims - released to the greater Church, thus a simplified version published on our webpage for anyone to easily read.

The document renders the historical accounts, names and dates of the bishops consecrated and appointed. Hence, it was with great pleasure that I formally announced that our Apostolic Succession – line of consecration, amongst many saints within stems from the Holy Apostle Andrew who is the first called amongst the Lord’s appointed!

Various parts of Italy was under the spiritual protection of the Church of Constantinople – the very Church that gave life via Holy Baptism to the people of Kyiv (988AD) It is a blessing and a half via the pleasure of the All Holy Spirit, that The True Byzantine Church of Italy was revived canonically (ecclesial legitimacy) through the Apostolic See of Ukraine.

Hence, His Holiness Patriarch St. Volodymir Romaniuk of Kyiv bestowed life back to the long gone Byzantine Church of Italy in 1993AD for Milan, Western Europe and Canada. This very same Church which consecrated me (Metropolitan Raffaele) through the blessed Metropolitan Basilio Grillo Miceli (2017AD) as one of its bishops who now have had a presence in Australia for over 8 years!

Truly, a Church for our people, our traditions, and our needs – a place that we need not beg for crumbs but be provided with plentiful fresh baked loafs so to speak/write. May the Holy Apostles who are the protectors of our Eparchy continue to bless, protect, and provide for our pilgrim journey! Amen/let it be/cosi sia!

Save us Lord Jesus Christ through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos, St. Joseph her spouse and the Apostle St. Andrew the first called whom we have received the true faith and gospel of peace.