Theophan on X: "Union of Atheists file case to remove Orthodox Icons from Greek courtrooms. Icons of Christ sit atop courtrooms in Greece as Christ is Judge. Atheists argue the icons bar them from a fair trial. Greece denied the request, it was sent to the ECHR who is in deliberation phase. https://t.co/a1bAKgxEDi" / X
https://x.com/uncreated_light/status/2013633165823295784

Greek media calls out Church leaders’ silence on Ukrainian Church persecution
https://orthochristian.com/175248.html

The article questions why many primates choose silence or vague statements about peace while avoiding naming the persecution, citing fears of being seen as supporting Moscow, frozen pan-Orthodox relations, and acceptance of state sovereignty narratives.

How can you have the peace of God when you accuse others and say, “It’s this one’s fault” and “that one’s fault”? You will never have peace. Even if you pray ten hours a day, you will not have peace, because you accuse others and think they are responsible for how miserable you feel! You cannot become miserable, even if the whole world falls upon you. If you are a person of God, you never become miserable. You become miserable when you yourself accuse others and say that others are to blame.

The peace of God, which you will have when you are humble, will guard your heart. After that, no one and nothing can disturb you.
The humble person is the strongest person. He is a transparent person. You shoot a bullet at him; the bullet passes through him and leaves him unharmed. It does not wound him. You cannot wound a humble person. He is not wounded because he takes the blame upon himself. He has no problem because he has that peace which guards his heart. This is the peace of humble people.

That is why Saint Seraphim of Sarov used to say: “Acquire peace, my joy, and you will see thousands of people come to find peace around you.”

But how does one acquire peace? Only when one becomes meek and humble in heart (Matt. 11:29). Is this not what Christ said? Then you will find rest for your souls. This rest is precisely that peace. Then our heart and our soul find rest, when they are at peace—that is, when the Holy Spirit comes within us and brings His fruit. The Holy Spirit never comes alone, but brings into our soul His fruit as well, and then we understand that we have the Holy Spirit.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23).

*Hieromonk Savvas Agioritis (Homily, 14–1–2009)*