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

◎



The "Religion of the Future" is here now

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An evil faith and a false Church is arising."  
St. Theophan the Recluse
(often quoted by Archbishop Averky)

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Vladyka Agafangel Homily on Nativity of Theotokos

ROCOR: Patronal Feast at the Convent
Author: Metropolitan Agafangel. Date of publication: September 8/21, 2026. Category: ROCOR.
http://internetsobor.org/index.php/novosti/rptsz/rptsz-khramovyj-prazdnik-v-zhenskom-monastyre
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The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos marks the patronal feast day of the convent (Abbess Alexandra). On this day, Metropolitan Agafangel celebrated the Divine Liturgy there, concelebrated by Hieromonk Iakov and Deacon Georgy Kucherenko. Following the service, a festive monastic meal was held.

A celebration of the spiritual dawn breaking over our land. A sermon by Metropolitan Agafangel delivered during the patronal feast of the convent in the village of Egorovka, near Odessa (Abbess Alexandra). The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, September 8/21, 2026.



Nativity of Theotokos Homily
Vladyka Agafangel
2026


The Church praises the Mother of God, singing: "From you shone forth the Light to the world—Christ our God."  That is to say,

If Christ is often compared to the sun, then today’s feast can be compared to the dawn.  This is the first feast of the church year.  And the entire circle of our life begins with the dawn — at the moment the Mother of God was born. At last, the human race had awaited the one who would be worthy, so that Christ might be born of her.  Christ, of course, is the true sun—the spiritual sun.

We know that in the heavenly kingdom there will be no celestial luminaries.  The only light there will be the light of Christ.  That is to say, Christ will illuminate everything.  As for the present time, right now... the day has already passed, and the spiritual darkness of sin, apostasy, and unbelief is already thickening around us.

These are likely the final days — for given how faith has waned and sin has multiplied on earth, surely nothing like this has ever happened in history.  May God grant us the strength to withstand this darkness surrounding us.  

And that is why we must earnestly pray to the Mother of God, the Mother of Light, so that she will help us stand firm  ...so that the light of Christ may remain in our souls until our very last breath.  

May the Lord protect you all.  Amen.

Sermon taken from You Tube transcript and put through the Google machine translator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up6dWkk8rzk


Note from Joanna:
     Just the opposite of world-orthodoxy, to which ROCOR-MP now clearly belongs, the historic true ROCOR has always obeyed Christ's command to
watch.   Our ROCOR Fathers have always been keenly aware of the signs of the times, and never neglect to encourage us to be mindful of the times.  This is so unlike world-orthodoxy that not only neglects end times teachings, but even will ridicule you if you express an interest in it.   Once I pointed out something that Archbishop Averky had said about the end times to a newly-submitted ROCOR-MP priest.  He silenced me by abruptly scolding me, "Worry about your own end."  Apparently, ROCOR-MP Abp. Kyrill, Western Diocese, had instructed his priests to immediately squelch any interest in end times with this reminder.  Soon later, from a different newly-submitted ROCOR-MP priest, I found out the hard way that it is not ok to say anything that might imply questioning of the new calendar. 
     It was not a kindly explanation that since now we are in communion with new calendarists that we must be careful not to disparage the new calendar and to be "Christian" about it.  Rather, he yelled at me: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE NEW CALENDAR?!  THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE NEW CALENDAR!!  And everyone in the room also learned not to ever again dare say anything disapproving of the new calendar. 
     How comforting it is! how fortunate we are! to be in the historic ROCOR with our trusted Fathers, such as Archbishop Averky and Fr. Michael Pomazansky and Fr. Seraphim Rose.  


Update in Joanna's Shared Library

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UPDATE TO 
Joanna's Shared Library 

In David's folder, the pdf of Journey Beyond Death has been updated in a 2nd version to include the last page which was missing in the 1st version

Another way to find updates is when you are in Shared Library, click on UPLOADED having the little arrow point down.  The most recent uploads are on then on the top of the list. 

The Wheat Grows with the Tares

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Vl. Agafangel's Audio Sermons can be translated into machine English


I found a way to translate Vladyka's audio sermons:  Today's sermon: Sept 6, 2026 n.s.  Ven. Seraphim of Platina (transferred from Sept 2 n.s.).
Митрополит Агафангел: Только Бог знает избранных
http://internetsobor.org/index.php/stati/avtorskaya-kolonka/mitropolit-agafangel-tolko-bog-znaet-izbrannykh
Автор: Митрополит Агафангел. Дата публикации: 06 сентября 2026. Категория: Авторская колонка.
 
 
— click on the video "Watch on You Tube" and a You Tube page opens up

— at the end of the video description,  click on "
more..." 
     this description will be found below the video, but above the Comments.

— After the "more" opens up, look for and click on the button "
Show transcript"
     this button also appears above the Comments

— Then top right corner of the screen opens a smaller window with the transcript in Russian

— Copy/paste the Russian transcript text into a translator
(translate.google.com)

Мы знаем, что Господь часто говорил притчами. Он это делал для того, чтобы это было понятно вот всем людям. Он
0:08
8 seconds
старался говорить на понятном языке для всех людей. Ну вот сейчас уже даже вот
0:15
15 seconds
эти притчи, которые Господь говорил, нуждаются в изъяснении. Пир брачное, вот то, что мы сегодня слышали в Евангелии,
0:24
24 seconds
это небесное царство. А званное в это небесное царство, это вот священники, епископы, монахи, вот вот все, кто вот
0:33
33 seconds
как христиане, значит, вот они видят, все люди, что вот они христиане, что они вот в церкви и всё там стараются. Вот
0:41
41 seconds
вот они званные. И вот когда наступит время, оказывается, что вот эти званные,
0:49
49 seconds
они все не готовы. Оказывается, они все обременены какими-то своими земными житейскими делами, которые не дают им
0:57
57 seconds
войти в небесное царство. Казалось бы, по жизни он прямо такой вот христианин, а в действительности у него есть
1:05
1 minute, 5 seconds
какие-то житейские дела или какие-то там тайные грехи, которых он любит. И вот это вот не даёт им, вот этим званым,
1:14
1 minute, 14 seconds
войти в небесное царство. И Господь сказал, что соберите всех христиан, всех, у кого нет вот этой земной
1:21
1 minute, 21 seconds
привязанности и которые желают войти в царство небесное. Всех соберите, вот кто есть. И вот слуги, ангелы собирают всех
1:31
1 minute, 31 seconds
христиан. Конечно, они христиане, это не в брачй одежде. Если оних Христа не признавали при жизни, то, конечно, и они
1:39
1 minute, 39 seconds
не могут быть спасены и быть в небесном царстве. Вот. Соберите всех простых нищих духом. людей, пусть они заполнят
1:47
1 minute, 47 seconds
моё царство. Вот как Господь учит, что нельзя иметь никаких земных привязанностей, которые бы нас удержали
1:56
1 minute, 56 seconds
здесь на Земле и не дали нам возможности взойти в небесное царство. И вот мы тоже
2:04
2 minutes, 4 seconds
должны стараться это понимать. Конечно, житейские заботы, они есть, и никуда они не денутся. Мы должны их исполнять. Но
2:13
2 minutes, 13 seconds
самое главное для нас - это небесное царство. Брачный пир - это пир вечный, это упование со Христом. И вот это
2:20
2 minutes, 20 seconds
должно быть для нас самым главным в нашей жизни. И вот именно к этому должна стремиться наша душа.
2:27
2 minutes, 27 seconds
Ся


We know that the Lord often spoke in parables. He did this so that everyone could understand. 

He tried to speak in a language understandable to all people. 

Well, even now these parables that the Lord spoke need clarification. 


The wedding feast, that's what we heard in the Gospel today, is the heavenly kingdom. 

And those called to this heavenly kingdom are priests, bishops, monks, all those who as Christians, so they see, all the people, that they are Christians, that they are in church and doing their best there.

They are the called ones. 

And when the time comes, it turns out that these called ones, are not ready. 

It turns out they're all burdened by some earthly, everyday affairs that prevent them from entering the heavenly kingdom. 

It would seem that he's a perfect Christian in life, but in reality, he has some worldly affairs or some secret sins that he loves. 

And this prevents them, these invited ones, from entering the heavenly kingdom. 

And the Lord said, gather all Christians, all who have no earthly attachments and who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Gather them all, that's who they are. 

And so the servants, the angels, gather all Christians. 

Of course, they are Christians, not in wedding clothes. 

If they did not recognize Christ during his lifetime, then, of course, they cannot be saved and be in the heavenly kingdom. 
 
So.  Gather all the simple, poor in spirit, people, let them fill my kingdom. 

This is how the Lord teaches that we must not have any earthly attachments that would hold us here on Earth and prevent us from ascending to the heavenly kingdom. 

And so we, too must try to understand this. 

Of course, worldly concerns exist, and they will not go away. We must fulfill them. 

But the most important thing for us is the heavenly kingdom. 

The wedding feast is an eternal feast; it is hope with Christ. 

And this should be the most important thing in our lives. 

And this is precisely what our soul should strive for.

Xia
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