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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Protecting the South from Her Enemies



When Father Cleopa Ilie (reposed 1998) was abbot of Sihastria Monastery in Romania, he and his monks were, for a time, continually beset by a gang of outlaws.  Seeking help for their situation, he inquired of Bishop Valerian of Neamts.  The Bishop’s answer?  Read the Akathist Hymn to the Protection of the Mother of God once each week and the entire Psalter each day.  This was done by Abbot Cleopa (and continues to this day at the monastery); the outlaws were brought to justice; and Sihastria ‘has spiritually flourished through the intercessions of the Most Pure Theotokos’ (Archimandrite Ioanichie Balan, Shepherd of Souls, St Herman Press, 2007, pgs. 96-7, quote at 97).

Now, if this is what was necessary to deliver Sihastria Monastery from a band of ordinary outlaws, it is at least just as necessary for us in the South to follow this cycle of readings and chantings if we are to be delivered from those who are attacking us - we who are afflicted by social engineers intent on reshaping man and the world to conform to the image of their master, the devil.

Let there be no delay!  According to the abilities of each, read from the Akathist to the Protection of the Mother of God and from the Psalms every day. 

May our merciful and loving God and Savior Jesus Christ grant the South deliverance from our enemies and spiritual rebirth through the prayers of His Most Holy Mother!  Amen!

The Akathist Hymn may be downloaded here:

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