WARNING

NOT EVERYTHING THAT

CALLS ITSELF ORTHODOX IS

TRULY ORTHODOX


The above warning was given to me when I first met Orthodoxy in 1986. Today [2009] it is even more perilous, even more difficult to find the Royal Path. For one thing there is a far greater abundance of misinformation. And many materials are missing, and other materials are being rapidly rewritten. For another thing there are fewer than ever guides remaining on the Royal Path, especially who speak English. Hopefully this website will be a place where Newcomers to the Faith can keep at least one foot on solid ground, while they are "exploring."


blog owner: Joanna Higginbotham

joannahigginbotham@runbox.com

jurisdiction: ROCA under Vladyka Agafangel

who did not submit to the RocorMP union in 2007

DISCLAIMER



Spiritual Element at the Core of Psychopathy

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Here in this post are 3 perspectives on malignant narcissism:  

  1. non-Christian  (Paula D'Arcy, life-counselor, new age philosophy)
  2. heterodox Christian  (M. Scott Peck, psychiatrist, devout Roman Catholic)
  3. Orthodox Church  (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov)

1.)  VIDEO  Demonic Energy of Narcissists
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_BbD1MFRCc
     20 minutes
.


     New-Agers do not recognize demons are creatures.  They consider a "demon" as merely a personification of what they call "negative energy" which, they say, is created by bad human thoughts.  They do not consider demons to be actual living entities with a will or as having any creative ability of their own.  One new-age definition of a demon is that it is a "congealed thought."  Still, this therapist, despite the new age philosophy, recognizes well the evil element in the covert narcissist (aka malignant narcissist).  And, her basic advice for victims, towards the end of her talk, is not contrary to Christianity.


2.)  BOOK  People of the Lie
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5DGckpV3K8
     14 minutes
.


     An earlier pioneer in this realm of mental health, a Christian psychiatrist, M. Scott Peck, published a book, PEOPLE OF THE LIE, calling for a new branch of psychology: the "Psychology of Evil."  In the book he describes actual cases of patients he had encountered, but could not explain nor could he help them.  Today these people are known as narcissists.  Actually, it is more accurate to say "malignant narcissist" because it is not the usual human narcissism, but rather a form of psychopathy.  The term psychopath is rarely used in public because it is associated with only the few psychopaths who are serial killers, cannibals and such.  Both types of psychopaths, malignant narcissists and serial killers, have the same basic characteristics -- both are demonic.

     As could be expected, there was never founded any such branch of psychology to study evil. Science, alas, continues to study DNA and brain scans of diagnosed psychopaths.  Some progress has been made, however: the majority of mental health professionals now agree that psychopathy is incurable and treatment is either useless or it backfires.  When it backfires the psychopath only learns how to get better at being a psychopath.  They learn how they got detected, how to hide better, how to hone their act.  They never come any closer to being a normal human — they only get better at faking it so that people think hey are a normal human.


3.)  HOMILY

     In the past all I ever found in the Church about psychopathy is in End Times teachings and the study of the Antichrist spirit.  I can see that Antichrist himself will be the ultimate psychopath.  Our Church teaches that the man Antichrist will contain the maximum evil that is possible for a human.  He is a lover of lies, same as all malignant narcissists.  I have known several psychopaths in my life, one of them intimately.  With rare exception, they get recognized by accident only, if you happen to catch a glimpse behind their mask.

     Recently, now I have found a Holy Father teaching that refers to psychopathy  -- not just Antichrist, but also the potential "psychopath" that is in all of us.

     St. Ignatius Brianchaninov warns us never to accept a vision, or else we could fall into delusion:


     .... for the inexperienced and the beginners, the only means to escape the delusion and the damage it brings is found in a firm rejection of any vision, due to our inability to discern visions properly.  What is the reason for the hypocrisy of the spirits, a hypocrisy terrible both in its beginnings and its ends?  The reason is obvious.  We can see it most vividly in ourselves, because man takes part in the fall of the rejected angels, and if we listen to the evil suggestions that they offer or that arise in our own fallen nature, then we become like demons.  Among the qualities of our fallenness, we especially underline the desire to hide our sins, a desire that accompanies all human iniquity, and to justify ourselves.  This is what Adam and Eve did after they transgressed the command of God (see Genesis chapter 3); this is what their firstborn Cain did after he killed his brother Abel (see Genesis chapter 4).  The further man goes from correction and virtue, the more strongly and subtly he desires to hide himself with hypocrisy.  The most hardened criminals are often at the same time unscrupulous hypocrites.  Shut behind the mask of hypocrisy, hiding behind the mask of virtue and holiness, they prepare and perpetrate the worst evils.  And the more well-crafted the mask, the better they are able to accomplish their crimes..  Even the fallen angels hide behind the mask of hypocrisy.  They are hardened, constant, incorrigible villains, but they perpetrate their evil doings most often while hiding under the guise of the holy angels, prophets, martyrs, apostles, and even Christ Himself.  They try to fit themselves into the circumstances, the mindset, the inclinations, the impressions of a human being....  

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
"Homily on the Physical and Spiritual Vision of Spirits"
The Threshold: Trials at the Crossroads of Eternity
The Collected Works of St. Ignatius — Volume 3 p. 40
Jordanville, 2023


     I have to wonder if M. Scott Peck read these writings of St. Ignatius.  It is possible because they were first published in English in 1982, a year before PEOPLE OF THE LIE was published in 1983.  Peck considers evil the same way as our saint, — as something which is of our fallen human nature on earth and not just of the demons in hell.   What St. Ignatius says hits home with me, since I have observed that the psychopath/malignant narcissist does become, grows into, a "human demon" — his human nature is changed, digresses, to a demonic nature.   I believe it either can or does start with a single lie, in early childhood.

So here I have presented 3 perspectives that peek into the subject of psychopathy:  new-age,  heterodox Christian. Orthodox Church.  Each perspective has valuable information helpful to us.  But notice the immense difference in the conclusions, with the Orthodox guidance being whole and incomparably superior.  I wish we had more of the Church perspective, because I have found psychopaths in our Church.  One, who was capable of murder, was seen as somebody who "would never hurt a fly."  Others, in a positions of authority, caused great distress to some families and caused more than a few individuals to leave the Church.  Another one, today lays low, but still has the power and potential to wreak havoc on a soul.  

"It is all about control."
     A psychopath's lies are for different reasons, but the reasons all overlap.  One reason for their lies is to create and maintain their mask.  This by itself does not hurt anyone.  We all try to put our best foot forward around other people, and we say polite words like please & thank-you even if we don't really mean it.  Our motives are not to deceive, but it's rather that we don't want to hurt the other person.   So what is different about the psychopath mask?  The purpose of the psychopath's mask is to CONTROL you.  And that's where it crosses the line over to the beginnings of evil.  The mask is there to help them control you with their control tactics such as "gaslighting" — gaslighting is them trying to make the victim doubt themselves, to make the victim believe they did not see/hear what they saw/heard.  Eventually the psychopath just gets pleasure from fooling people, a secret pleasure, passive-aggressive — they lie just for fun.  No logical purpose.  They get pleasure from watching people "in the dark" and stumbling around not knowing the truth.  Demons also get pleasure from this.

     The narcissist I mentioned above who lays low today actually unnecessarily makes up stories and presents them as truth to manipulate people who are not adequately under her control to her comfort and liking.  For example: she will tell you privately that so&so said such&such about you, when so&so said no such thing.   This is to cause you to trust only her, to be suspicious of others, to prevent you from having honest relationships with others, to make herself your only "protector" from the ill-will and shortcomings of others.  She is especially afraid you might take one of the people that she has under her control — one of her "flying monkeys" who buy into her false persona.  She feels she owns them, and in a sense, she does.  But they do not deliberately or consciously submit to her.   So she lies out of fear, — fear of not having control.  She is very practiced at not getting caught in a lie, but if she is caught, and can't wiggle out of it, then she feigns dementia.


______________________
Fantastic true story HBO movie about the first serail killer of Soviet Russia.  CITIZEN X, with Donald Sutherland.  Worth renting.


Book Review: Ray of Light (new edition)

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Church teachings on End Times
  compiled by Archimandrite Panteliemon of old Jordanville (†1984)

new edition reviewed by Joanna

Jordanville
     1996 edition SOLD OUT
https://bookstore.jordanville.org/9780884650478
     2024 edition available now
https://bookstore.jordanville.org/9780884655077
  The webpage offers a pre-order discount, but the book is available now.

This book was first published in Russian, and later in 1991 translated into English.  Below are pictured the covers of the old edition and the new edition.
 
1996                         2024

I'm glad this book if finally for sale again.  But I wish they had left it as it was originally.  The only improvement is that in the new edition there is an added one-page biography of Archim. Panteleimon which includes his photo — the only photo in the book.  Otherwise, the format is not as clear as the original, the size is not as easy to handle as the original, the construction is not as easy to handle (PUR as opposed to saddle-stitched), none of the original photos are included.  Some people might prefer to have all the numbered notes at the end of the book instead of at the ends of the pages where they occur — so I won't complain about that.  BUT!  I will complain that the Editor's Notes (side comments) have been omitted altogether.   What a shame!  And why does the new edition so repeatedly insert the word "the" in front of "Antichrist," where Archimandrite Panteleimon just says, "Antichrist"?    This confuses the Antichrist spirit with Antichrist the person.   Archimandrite's contemporary, Abp. Averky, was careful to make the distinction between the spirit and the man.
https://archbishopaverky.blogspot.com/2011/02/spirit-of-antichrist-and-forerunner-of.html

I'm posting chapter 10 from each edition for your comparison.  ~jh
.
 
— — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — —
2024




— — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — —
2024



— — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — —

2024


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— — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — —


2024
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— — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — — 
2024


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Quote St. Theophan the Recluse

New upload to Shared Library
Averky Folder
https://app.box.com/s/patnyivqfh5c5ezc8ay36a34y0qq1g1h

                              "An evil faith and a false church is arising."


St. Theophan Commentary on St. Paul's 2nd Epistle to the Thessalonians

     The Gospel will be known in the whole world.  However, one part of humanity will remain unbelieving, while another, the makority, will persist in heresy, not following the teachings revealed by God, but instead through their own thinking establishing their own faith, though seemingly based on the words of Scripture.  These self-invented faiths will be countless.  The one who laid the groundwork for these heresies was the Pope, followed by Luther and Calvin, whose fundational principle of personal interpretation of the Scriptures giave a firm push to the invention of hew faiths.  Even now, there is a great multitude of such faiths, but there will be even more.  Every new kingdom will have its own new faith, and eventually every region, then every city, and in the end, maybe, there will be one's own confession in each and every hear.
     Whenever they construe their own faith, rather than receive what was handed down by God, no other eventuality is possible.   And many of these will assume for themselves the name of Christians.  There will also be a minority that holds to the faithas it was handed down by the holy apostles and preserved in the Orthodox Church; however, many of these will be right-believing in name only, while their hearts will not have the foundation required by faith, for they will love this age more than Christ.  This is how great will be the general apostasy.  Though the name of Christians will be heard everywhere, and everywhere we will see churches and worship, all this will be merely an appearance, while inside there will be genuine apostasy.  In this world the Antichrist will be born, and he will grow in the same apparent godliness, but actual inner apostasy.  Then having given himself to Satan, he will openly lead away all those who do not hold to Christianity truly, and they will reject the Lord Christ.  Eventually, the Antichrist will force everyone to worship him a god.
     The chosen will not be led away, but he will seek to delude them as well, if he can.  To prevent this from happening, the evil days will be cut off by God.  The Lord will appear and will destroy the Antichrist and all his works by the revelation of His coming.  This is what the apostle means by the "falling away."






Website Review: New Martyr Press

Black list
 
New Martyr Press
    https://www.newmartyrpress.com/about-nmp (link deliberately not activated)
here is what they say about themselves:
 
New Martyr Press is a publishing company, Riso lab, printhouse, and bindery that specializes in the circulation of Orthodox Christian publications, art, and prints.
Our company is dedicated to both the new and future Orthodox martyrs, and our company’s Saint is St. Alexander Schmorell of The White Rose.
 
 These folks strive to take attention away from the true defenders of Orthodoxy. If there is to be another glorification by the true Church, it should at the least first be St. Philaret long (LONG) before the martyr Alexander. We do not doubt that the new martyr Alexander is in heaven— what we question is why is he put ahead of the greater/greatest of saints of the true Church? This is a world-orthodox tactic that will work to distract those of the Protestant mentality and to help them justify themselves. Protestants say "we all are saints, and so we do not need the sacraments -- all we need is the Bible and to confess the Bible."
 
It could be true for some non-orthodox (God will judge) that is all they might need. God reveals His sacraments only to those who can believe. But for we who know better, we need to participate in the Sacraments for real (not just acting out).  
 
"I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemy..."
 
For a better understand study the newly translated commentaries on the New Testament by Apb. Aberky. Sold by Jordanville Book Store. Available today, 2024, and hopefully for many years to come, but don't count on it. Add these books to your home Orthodox library now. Don't count on these books being available later on...  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Abbess Rufina

 ........

Abbess Rufina "The Gospel Pearl"
out-of print-book uploaded to Joanna's Shared Library
.
see folder Lives of Saints and Elders



A Creation of a false reality

this is my little Fiction Stage mini
Despite the specific names used in this story, the story itself is totally made up. ~jh

Setting:
     SJKP building,  2nd story, Fr. G's office
     circa 1979–2016

cast:
     Fr. G,
a great archpriest
     Anastasia,
the matushka
     Errand Boy,
a promising catechumen, new to the community

____________
Act I     Scene I  
Sunny day.  Bright sunshine in the window.

Fr. G is busy working with some papers on his desk.  Errand Boy is busy dusting shelves and/or cleaning windows.   Anastasia is seated in a chair near the door, apparently she is content just to keep company with her husband and has no particular task in the office.

Fr. G: Errand Boy, would you please run upstairs to the library and get me the Psalter of the Seventy.

Errand Boy exits the stage and returns with the Psalter.  He places it on Fr. G's desk with care to make it accessible, but also not to cover anything Father is focused on at the moment.  Fr. G glances up at the book that was placed in his range of sight.

Fr. G Errand Boy, I told you to get the Bible.  This is the Psalter.

Errand Boy hesitates in momentary confusion, but then without saying anything he gently picks up the Psalter and exits the stage.  He returns promptly with the Bible.  In the same manner as before he places the Bible on Fr. G's desk so that it is accessible but without going on top of anything Fr. G might be needing to see at the moment.

Fr. G:  thank you.  that's what I need...  (Fr. G appears satisfied, but annoyed, and mumbles disapproval about helpers in general who do not pay attention to details.)

At this point Anastasia moves her chair closer to Fr. G's desk along with her knitting basket. She cocks her ear to show she wants to hear what Fr. G. is mumbling.  Then she brings her knitting project up to her lap and and starts to work on her knitting.

________________
Act I     Scene II
 
Sun has gone down, electric lights are turned on.  Fr. G is slowly packing up his work for the night, compiling orderly stacks of papers on his desk.  Errand Boy is also packing up his cleaning supplies.  Anastasia is still sitting knitting.  While Fr. G. is packing he leans over to Anastasia and starts talking to her in a lowered voice.  Fr. G. is losing confidence in Errand Boy's competency, and Anastasia is asking Fr. G. to be patient and give him another chance.  Errand Boy overhears them talking.  He catches a few key words and realizes that he is the subject of their conversation.  Errand Boy approaches Fr. G's desk: 
 
Errand Boy:  Father, I don't want you to think I'm an idiot.  All due respect, Father, at first you asked for the Psalter.

Fr. G (sternly lowers his eyebrows): I asked for the Bible.
 
Errand Boy:  I know, I remember you said the Psalter.

Fr. G (more sternly lowers his eyebrows): I asked for the Bible.
 
Errand Boy, looking over to Anastasia:  
 
Errand Boy:  Father, please forgive me, but you first asked for the Psalter.  I don't want you to think I am incompetent or disobedient.  You asked for the Psalter.

Fr. G   (emphatically)  No! I said the Bible.

Errand boy, turns to Anastasia for support.  She avoids eye contact with him at first, but she knows he is looking to her.  Fr. Gregory also looks at Anastasia, and Anastasia is aware that her husband is looking at her also, but she does not glance back at him.  Then, she lifts her head from her knitting, straight up to look at Errand Boy straight in the eye:

Anastasia:  Errand Boy, Father asked for the Bible.

Anastasia stuck to this assertion to the end of her life. even after Fr. G died. 
     15 minutes
or here:  
 download necessary to view
..

Bye Bye American Pie

Epoch Times article about Harris Immigration Reform

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/harris-calls-for-immigration-reform-at-arizona-rally-5701254

What amazes me is how did Harris even get considered for the USA Presidency?  This is s living joke, and I can hear the echo of the hideous laughter coming from deep in hell.  Seeing this Epoch Times article., I found myself remembering a song from my youth.  It is a satanic prophecy.

 
Bye Bye Miss American Pie

A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music
Used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

Did you write the book of love?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Now, do you believe in rock 'n' roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

Now, for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned

And while Lenin read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died

We were singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and fallin' fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now, the halftime air was sweet perfume
While sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"


Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So, come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the Devil's only friend

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play

And in the streets, the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

    Verse deleted from most recordings:
And there I stood alone and afraid
I dropped to my knees and there I prayed
And I promised Him everything I could give
If only He would make the music live
And He promised it would live once more
But this time one would equal four
And in five years four had come to mourn
And the music was reborn

And they were singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

They were singin', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "This'll be the day that I die"

--------------------------------------------

  Our Church prophesy (do not confuse true Church prophets with the neo-false prophets like Sophrony and Ephraim Moraitis) says that America will teeter-totter, wobble back and forth, but finally fall.  Russia will be the last hold out.  America may or may not be the next to last nation to submit to the One World Government — we do not know.  What we do know for now is that America's demise will be economic, rather than a physical combat war.
  To prepare for these times which certainly are coming, there is only one measure we can take: we need to strengthen our faith.  There is no other defense.  God will care for His people, even if we die, we have every hope to go to heaven.  Personally I pray for minimum suffering, since I am such a woose (wuss) — or for strength to endure the suffering.  It is not going to be fun...

Christ tells His apostles that they will watch it without being affected by it or feeling the effects of it...  Let us stand with them!  ~jh