The Relevance of Orthodoxy To Youth

Summary of Speech by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Makarov

June 2008

Today we remember the Nicene Fathers who are an important part of our faith. Through the Orthodox Church, there is an unbroken line of Bishops connecting us today to the original Apostles. The Disciples ordained Bishops and Presbyters, and the Bishops ordained Bishops after them continuing to the present day.
 

In Acts 28 and 29 Paul says to the Elders of the Church:

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
 

From this passage it is clear that Paul foresaw the heretics who would attempt to divide the Church of Christ, and for this reason the Church was given Bishops (Greek: Episkopos lit. overseers), to protect and shepherd the flock of Christ.
 

The Holy Fathers refers specifically to the disciples of the Disciples, but also to those who defended the faith at the Ecumenical Councils. For this reason the Holy Fathers and also Holy Mothers are called the "Pillars of Orthodoxy", for they uphold the correct teaching and practice of the Church.
 

Our piety is only by virtue of the teachings of the Holy Fathers for they themselves give us the mindset of the Church. An example of their importance to us is on the interpretation of scripture. There are main attitudes in this regard.
 

Firstly, the Orthodox attitude is that one should never presume that one's own understanding is correct. Rather, we look to the Holy Fathers and any true Orthodox should say when interpreting scripture "According to the Holy Fathers..."
 

Secondly, the Protestant attitude is that the Holy Spirit acts where He wishes and every believer finds his or her own interpretation. A more common phrase in this respect would be "I'm moved to understand this..."
 

The first attitude results in the united Orthodox faith in which people do not make things up but look to the Holy Fathers.
 

The second attitude has led to the current situation in Protestantism where there are over 26,00 different denominations. Each group may have a different opinion about Icons, the Theotokos, Salvation, the Divinity of Christ and other important doctrines.
 

When we drive there are a multitude of traffic signs and lights which guide us where to go. Imagine if someone asked us to go to a specific destination but took away all of the signs, directions and safety warnings. The likely outcome is that the person would be lost forever or even have a terrible accident.
 

It is the same with the Church. The Holy Fathers themselves struggled the struggle, raced the race and set up signs for our benefit. Orthodoxy is not just a bunch of rules, just as traffic sings are not a hindrance to driving but an aid. Often when we drive somewhere that is poorly signed we are upset at the lack of signage. A faith without the Holy Fathers is the same.
 

The Holy Fathers give us a "Way of navigating to the Kingdom of Heaven, a framework within which you can travel" within which "You will be safe and reach your final goal."
 

God's laws are not in place to punish us, but to protect us. Today, it is very difficult to orient oneself as society labels everything as 'relative.' Although it is possible to correctly navigate through today's world, it is very difficult. On the other hand, if you just follow the rules like a child, it is so easy to succeed and go to heaven. Rules are not a hindrance, but free you to start on a spiritual journey.
 

So when people criticize Orthodoxy saying it is in the past, this is a great complement, because they are affirming that our faith provides and unbroken link to the first Christians.
 

In this regard Orthodoxy has a great deal to offer to Aussies, many of whom may not have a rich tradition of their own. Through Orthodoxy, Australian can have a link to the past and a great spiritual heritage.
 

Without Orthodoxy, it is inevitable for the Church to split. If you are not grafted in the vine, if you are cut off from the root, how can you sustain yourself?
 

The Orthodox Church gives you glasses through which you can see things in an Orthodoxy way. If you don't understand something, put on your Orthodox glasses as they will never fail you: if something doesn't look right through these glasses it isn't. Keep looking through Orthodox eyes.
 

Orthodoxy is a dynamic faith. Some of the most intelligent people are monastics who to some may appear locked up in a monastery, but are in fact the most dynamic, lively, gifted and intellectual people who like all Orthodox should, bubble over with zest.
 

So from where do we find our direction in life in a non-Orthodox country? The following story will provide an answer. One day at an auction many beautiful items were being sold. Then from a dusty shelf an old violin covered with dirt was presented with the auctioneer asking, "What about the violin?" The crowd roared with laughter until someone shouted, "10 cents!" As the commotion continued an old man walked through the public onto the stage and began to tune the violin. As he slowly tweaks the strings and rosins the bow the curiosity of the crowd magnified until suddenly he played the most beautiful tune. The laughter stopped as the crowd was mesmerised with the most beautiful music. Once the old man stopped silence prevailed until someone shouted "1000 dollars!" than another "2000 dollars!" This continued until the prices was settled at $10 000. A confused young person asked the old man, "What just happened?" He replied, "Until the violin is in the master's hand it is just a piece of junk, but when it is in his hands it is a priceless treasure."
 

It is the same for us, as long as we are not in the Master's hand we are little more than junk, but when we give ourselves to God we can do great things and He only expects of us concerning what He has given. You can't invest yourself until you place yourself in the Master's hand.
 

If you ask God to direct you when you are young, you can achieve what God wants. The greatest Church buildings needed skilled architects, the most beautiful music required talented musicians, the vestments require tailors; every aspect of the Church requires people who excel in their talents and use them for God. Don't burry your talents, for one day God will ask "What did you do with the talents I gave you?"
 

What's the goal in life? If this was your last day, what would you consider was a good life.
 

In the Christian life there are two paths. The first is the monastic path, mono meaning alone. Through the tonsure they are wed to Christ, put on the monastic veil. The first path is not a dark path; in fact many monastics are more radiant than most brides. The second is the married path in which one is joined to a partner in the marriage ceremony. Both paths can be taken to achieve the same goal, but still what is the goal?
 

After living 100 years, if the world says that you were fantastic but before the Kingdom of God you are nothing, than this is a failure. However, if the world thinks you were nothing, but before the Throne of God you are counted worthy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven, than you are truly important and successful.
 

Therefore the goal of life is to save it, to be resurrected with Christ. Without this hope we only bring up our children to die.
 

If God is not first in our lives, than this is a formula for disaster. If our goal is wealth, when will we have enough money? If our goal is looks, when will we be handsome or beautiful enough? If our goal is children, when will they be educated and clothed enough?
 

One day we all will stand before the Throne. Will we show God our credit cards, deeds, degrees, photos of our children? These things are okay, but they are secondary because they will all become dust. God will reply, "Now show me your heart." Will we reply, "But I had no time for my heart" ?
 

For some adults it can be too late to reach their full potential, but for young people is is easy to become fantastic. Some grannies have warned, "Learn to pray now before it is too late." God does not want us to fast only after the doctor says we have to eat lentils for our health.
 

The only thing we can truly give God is our free will, because it is all we really own.
 

On a trip to the Holy Land and old Russian man about 70 years old stood on the Mount of Olives looking over Jerusalem weeping because at this time he finally realised what life is about and all he could have given, but felt it was too late.
 

You might be amazed at what God can do.

Questions

Q: What about miracles in other denominations.

A: Miracles are processes which we must work through, not always instantaneous. Miracles should come from our faith, not our faith from miracles. Just like the Lord told the blind man to walk across the city of Jerusalem whilst still blind before being healed, our faith is needed likewise. If our faith only comes from miracles, it is likely that we will always desire to see new and greater wonders instead of simply believing in God, just like each new Rambo movie requires bigger guns to get peoples attention.
 

We should be weary about miracles that occur in other denominations. Although God can work wherever He wills, past experience signals for us to be cautious. For example, many people who are supposedly healed at some of these massive crusades end up sicker than beforehand. Furthermore, there is one particular example of an Orthodox Monk who was had a knowledge in ancient Greek and Slavonic. He was invited to attend an ancient languages conference in America where one man related an interesting even. This person spoke an ancient Chinese language which was extinct and did not know if anyone in the world could even speak this language anymore. He had once attended a Protestant meeting where the crowd hysteria was high and one man began to speak in "tongues." Everyone started praising God for this amazing phenomenon, but the man who spoke this ancient Chinese language recognised his speech. He was actually blaspheming against the Theotokos and swearing at her. The zeal many people who are part of such movements have to not even honour the Theotokos is therefore not really surprising.
 

Q: Is marriage inferior to monasticism? Do we only marry if we are "too weak" to resist the flesh.

A: God clearly has a special place for marriage as Christ's first miracle was performed at the Wedding at Cana. Think about this: Every house in the city can have a beautiful garden, but greenhouses with the perfect temperature and soil condition for plants have the greatest examples. It is the same with marriage and monasticism. It is possible to have a fruitful and beautiful married life, however often the best examples of Christianity are found in monasteries where the climate is right for spiritual growth.
 

Our Church has many Saints called "Righteous..." This usually means that they were married. In the marriage service itself, one of the Holy Mysteries, there is a prayer which contains all of the names of the righteous couples from the Old Testament.
 

If marriage leads to the Kingdom of Heaven, than surely it is good.
 

Saint John Chrysostom warns that even the skulls of Priests pave the path to hell.
 

Clearly it is important that one attains to the Kingdom of Heaven, whichever path one takes.