Do not lose sight of the basic value of the land on which the house sits.  The Agia Sophia controversy is important, but the “adversary within,” namely the local Kremlin based church and the Patriarch of Moscow is taking advantage of our circumstances. As we are all enthralled by the political posturing of Recep Erdogan and our circumstances the Russians are playing very dirty games. While the world and the entirety of Christendom is focused on the reconversion of Agia Sophia “museum” back to its illegal status, as a mosque, the Kremlin and Russian Orthodox Church are making back-door dealings with Erdogan. 
Those who pit faith against the faculty of reason end up losing one or the other or both …
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a terrible plague befell the Russian people. The faithful of Moscow flocked to venerate the wonder-working icon of the Theotokos of Bogolyubovo, seeking the intercessions of the Mother of God. In September of 1771, however, Archbishop Amvrosy of Moscow realized that these crowds were unwittingly aiding the spread of disease. To protect his flock, he removed the hallowed icon from public display. For this act of sound reasoning and pastoral care, a mob hunted him down, dragged him out of a monastery into the streets and killed him. Having rejected sense and science, these fanatics also became traitors to Holy Orthodoxy as murderers and desecraters. If Panagia felt vindicated by the execution of the archbishop, it was not manifested in subsequent events. The rioters were forcibly subdued by the army, while the plague raged on in Moscow for another year. One wonders how many of the archbishop’s assailants succumbed to the very illness which he hoped to save them from. What drove them to this madness? Without a doubt, the belief that is touted all around the Orthodox Church in these days of the Coronavirus pandemic: Holy things can’t hurt you. How could it be—the murderous mob must have thought—that a wonder-working source of divine healing and grace should play a part in the spread of death and contamination? How could the icon of the Spotless and Most Pure Theotokos ever act as an agent of corruption? When the question is put that way, Archbishop Amvrosy’s action might indeed seem like blasphemy. |
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Αγιογράφος
Ηλίας Δαμιανάκης Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας AuthorBy the Grace of God Archon Elias Damianakis has ministered in the study of Holy Iconography since 1980. In his biography you can read about Elias' life and on his portfolio page you can see where he has rendered some of his hand painted iconography or visit the photo galleries to see some of his work. There is a complete list of featured articles, awards and testimonials which you can visit, as well as a list of notable achievements here below. Please contact Elias for more information or suggestions for this website, thank you and God Bless. 
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Orthodox Iconography
by the hand Sub-Deacon Elias Damianakis Hagiographos (Iconographer) Archon Maestor of The Great Church of Christ Archon of The Ecumenical Patriarchate [email protected] 727-372-0711 |
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ο Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας
Υποδιάκονος Ηλίας Δαμιανάκης -Αγιογράφος
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization I have been, currently, or will be affiliated within the future.