Orthodox Christian Initiative for Africa: Three contemporary Orthodox Saints & the African peoples

Πέμπτη 21 Ιουνίου 2018

Three contemporary Orthodox Saints & the African peoples

l-r: sts Jacob, Paisios & Porpyrios (icon from here)

Saints Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (an area, whose name means "the hut burner", on Holy Mount Athos), Paisios the Hagiorite and Jacob of Evia are three contemporary Saints of the Orthodox Church, who lived in Greece during the 20th century and "slept in the Lord" (=they departed from this life) after 1990.

All three of them were Orthodox Monks, who had lived since their childhood in the way of life that was taught by Jesus Christ, His Apostles, and the holy Fathers of the Church - a way of life that has been preserved and upheld for over 2000 years in the Orthodox Church.

They had dedicated themselves to God through monastic living - which is the perfect form of Christian life, and an attempt to emulate the angelic life, in accordance with the words of the Lord regarding the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 22:30: "...for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven...", as well as other fundamental teachings of the Lord and the Apostles, as in Matthew 19:10-12 and 21 and 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, but also as observed in the last verse of chapter 1 of Luke's Gospel. They had reached such spiritual heights, that they were filled with Divine Grace and lived inside the divine light - the Uncreated Light.

They had chosen to remain poor in money, but were wealthy in love, faith and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 3:6-7, 1 Cor. chapter 12, Galatians chapter 5). While still living here on earth God had bestowed them with overwhelming miracle-working and prophetic charismas - similar to those of the Apostles and the Prophets (as it has occurred and still occurs to innumerable other Orthodox Saints in every era) - thanks to which Saints, thousands of people from many lands had benefited from their wise counsels and had been blessed by their prayers.

Many miracles and appearances by them have taken place, even after their repose; after all, God "is not God of the deceased, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32).

We can see here several photos with Orthodox African Christians (from Cameroon), holding the icon of the three Saints, on the feast day of All Saints 2018, which is celebrated in the Orthodox Church one week after Pentecost Sunday and feast day of the Holy Spirit.

These three Saints are naturally suited to the African peoples, just as they are suited to every person and every people who are more concerned about faith and love and are not greedy for money, who desire the peace and the freedom offered by Jesus, and - albeit facing life's difficulties and the polymorphous evil that attacks and fights good people - first seek the Kingdom of Heaven where there are no racial or other discriminations.

Translation from Greek K.N.

Holy icon of sts David & Jacob of Evia, from the Orthodox Church of Theotokos Life-Giving Spring, st David of Evia & st Jacob (Iakobos) of Evia, in Nyamahana, Tanzania (more here)