Do Not Trust Yourself Too Much

Many have fallen when they thought they were standing firm.

Do not boast about your faith. Do not say, “I am a good person.” Even if you fast, even if you pray, always beware of pride. For where pride exists, there can also come a fall.

The arrogant person does not see the danger. The humble person, however, asks for God’s mercy at every step.

The more you think that you are doing well spiritually, the more you should kneel down and say:

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

But how can you become humble if you do not first learn who you truly are?

Saint Anthony leads us to a second great message: knowing ourselves.

He knew that self-knowledge is the beginning of salvation. Whoever truly knows himself can also come to know God.

Your greatest enemy is not another person. It is your own self: your thoughts, your passions, your self-love, and the pride hidden within your heart.

As long as you do not know who you really are, you will think that you have no problem. But when you begin to see the condition of your heart, you will fall to your knees and cry out to God with all your strength.

Self-knowledge is not merely psychology. It is a spiritual earthquake. It tears down the masks and brings you before God exactly as you are.

And when you stand before Him with nothing hidden, with brokenness and repentance, you will need the most powerful weapon of all: humility.

Saint Anthony knew that spiritual struggle is real. He faced temptations and demons without fear.

They frightened him, tormented him and tried to overcome him. Yet he remained steadfast and said:

“I am not afraid, because Christ is with me.”

The devil cannot bear to see a truly humble person—someone who prays with a sincere heart and struggles with faith.

Every time you humble yourself, every time you turn to God sincerely, you become stronger against temptation.

But this battle is not without obstacles.

The true Christian is tested—and not without reason.

Do not despair when temptation comes. Temptation is not only suffering. It can also become an opportunity for your faith to be revealed.

There you discover whether you truly love God.

Christ did not promise that our lives would be without pain. He showed us the way of the Cross.

When you are suffering, when you make mistakes, when you feel alone, your faith is tested and revealed.

And in the midst of temptation, one thing can keep you standing: prayer, fasting and humility.

Fasting is a spiritual weapon. It is not simply abstaining from food. It is a struggle against the old self within us.

Fasting, vigil and prayer can become weapons in the spiritual battle.

When you fast with prayer and humility, you are not fasting merely to deprive yourself. You are fasting in order to become free from the things that bind you.

Saint Anthony had wealth, but he abandoned it and followed the path of the desert. He understood that possessing material things is not itself evil; the problem begins when you depend upon them and make them the center of your life.

The person of God learns to give. And we can truly give when our hearts are no longer attached to material things.

Do not forget the tears.

Repentance is not a mechanical habit. It is the moment when the soul returns home—to God.

Therefore, learn to pray.

Learn to kneel.

Learn to say sincerely:

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

And when you feel that you can go no further, do not rely on your own strength.

Trust in God.

For the humble person may fall, but does not despair. He rises, repents, and returns to Christ.

This is the power of humility.

This is the power of repentance.

This is the power of prayer.

Here is the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, known as Panagia Glossa. It is located approximately fifteen to twenty minutes from the main highway, about five minutes south of the village of Vgelaki.

The mountain is called Listognos Vouno. It received this name because, in ancient times, pirate ships would stop in this area after carrying out raids. The pirates would escape into the mountain and hide there because the terrain was very difficult to reach. In the past, there was a village here, which was eventually abandoned, and its inhabitants moved further down the mountain. Perhaps they moved because of the raids, or perhaps because of the cold; we do not know for certain. Many ruins remained in the area, which the local people called “halospida,” meaning ruined or abandoned houses. Little by little, because the area became overgrown, the local people cleared the land. The first small church that existed here was a little chapel dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi. It was originally a small country chapel belonging to the village. Some historians date the origins of the chapel to the twelfth century, while others place them in the fifteenth century. We are not certain about its exact date. As mentioned, this was originally a small chapel of Zoodochos Pigi. Later, the local inhabitants levelled the surrounding area because they wanted to use it for another purpose, possibly for construction or as a medical facility. Eventually, in nineteen seventy-six, the local Metropolitan asked for the site to be given to the Church so that a monastery could be established there. The community authorities, together with the priest, agreed and granted the land for the creation of a monastery. In nineteen seventy-six, the monastery was established. Four nuns came from the Monastery of Saint George of the Alamanos, and the foundations of a women's monastic community were laid. Later, the large Church of the Holy Trinity was built. Today, it is the katholikon, the main church of the monastery. It is a beautiful Byzantine-style church. The wooden carvings inside the church are handmade and date approximately from the nineteenth century. They are valuable works of art, decorated with beautiful symbolic representations, including the phoenix, the vine, and the peacock. The wood carvings of this church are considered to be of great artistic value. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built with the efforts of Father Kyriakos, a priest of Saint Tychon, together with his presbytera. Later, other chapels were built, including the Church of All Saints, which is located next to the Church of the Holy Trinity. On the upper floor of the monastery, there are also chapels dedicated to Saint Sabbas and Saint Ambrose. There have been many accounts of miracles associated with the prayers offered here to the Panagia. One family brought a six-year-old child who could not speak. They stayed overnight at the monastery to pray to the Panagia and ask her to help their child speak. The next morning, the child woke up and said to his mother, “Mum, I want milk.” According to the family, the child had never spoken before. They regarded what happened as a miracle of the Panagia. There have been many other testimonies of miracles. One man came and told us about his child. They came here, prayed, and took holy water. After they returned home, the child's tongue opened, and the child spoke. According to the testimony, this happened several times. There is also holy water here. The spring comes from behind the monastery, emerging from a rock. We arranged for the water to be brought forward through a fountain so that visitors could easily take it, because it was difficult for people to reach the original spring behind the monastery. There was also a case involving a woman who was in the final stages of cancer. According to her testimony, the Panagia appeared to her in a dream and told her to come to this place. She was told to follow the road and come up to the monastery, where the Panagia of Glossa was located. The woman came to the monastery and recognized the place she had seen in her dream. According to the testimony, a miracle occurred, and she was completely healed of her cancer. Another woman came with her young daughter. The girl was attending secondary school and was suffering from a serious problem in her neck. She was scheduled to undergo surgery the following day. We performed a prayer service for her and prayed to the Panagia, asking her to perform her miracle. The following day, the girl returned running, with her arms open, saying, “I have nothing. They took me into the operating room, and there was nothing wrong with me.” According to the family, they believed that the Panagia had performed a miracle. The girl continues to visit the monastery to this day and celebrates the feast of the Panagia with great joy. There was also a child from Russia who was nine years old and had never spoken a single word. The child was brought here to the monastery. After the prayer service, they were given holy oil with which to make the sign of the cross over the child. According to the testimony, the child began to speak, as if he had always been able to speak, without any difficulty. The feast of Zoodochos Pigi is celebrated on the Friday of Bright Week, the week following Easter. This Friday is dedicated to the Zoodochos Pigi, the Life-Giving Spring. Here, Zoodochos Pigi is also known as Panagia Glossa. The monastery also celebrates the Sunday of Thomas. Many people come to the monastery bringing silver offerings, asking the Panagia for her help and blessing. Over time, many people began bringing small silver plaques as offerings, with the word “Thank You” engraved on them. They leave them before the icon of the Panagia as an expression of gratitude. The many offerings bearing the word “Thank You” are deeply moving and testify to the faith and gratitude of the people who come here seeking the help and protection of the Panagia.

ORTHODOXY AND THE HOLY LIGHT

 

Now we can also see the flashes. People from Kozani are asking again about what you mentioned earlier, about the difference in how a person can see the world...

Look, look now. These flashes are a prelude to the Holy Light. Yes, they appear with a certain frequency.

Could you please add some sound as well, director, so it feels authentic? Give us the original sound from the video so you can hear the crowd cheering.

Yes, as soon as they see the Holy Light. The cheers are already getting louder. Everyone is waiting for the Holy Light to come out. No, for the Patriarch to come out? The Holy Light. The Patriarch is inside the Holy Sepulchre at this moment. Nobody can see him.

First the Holy Light comes out. Yes, of course. Of course, of course. The Holy Light comes out by itself, without asking anyone.

It knows exactly when to come out, down to the second.

Does the timing ever change? No, of course it changes. Yes. It can take minutes, or even half an hour, while he is in there.

Do you hear what is happening? Yes. Do you see what is happening? The crowd is going wild. Some are shouting, others are crying, and others are speaking. These are overwhelming moments. [Cheers] It is dark inside the Church of the Resurrection in the meantime. Yes. But now look—you will see a luminous sphere passing from the left, above the heads of the people.

Did you see it? At this moment you can see it moving horizontally. Yes, of course. It clearly appeared toward the right, and another sphere disappeared. I only managed to capture its tail.

Up on the left, you can see it—the tail. I managed to capture it. This is something truly unique. In 1994, I had not seen this in any other video. This was the video I had from 1994, and it captured it without me even knowing it.

I admit that for all these years I have been waiting to see some more significant video, at least from the TV channels. But you can also see these flashes, which continue to be [associated with] the Holy Light.

It doesn't continue like this for very long. The whole thing lasts just a few minutes, five to ten minutes. Look now at this: on the left—

The Patriarch hasn't come out yet. Now he is coming out.

In the meantime, I think he is almost completely engulfed in fire, in the flame surrounding him.

The flame surrounding the Patriarch is so large. But you will now see a shot on the left: they have lit all the candles of the people. On the left, all of them. We said that they light them by themselves.

Exactly before the Patriarch comes out, many of them—you can see it, you can see it—everyone has their candles lit on the left. The Patriarch... They have very deep faith, as you told me last time.

Yes. Well, that's not absolute. We don't know that. In any case, because many of the people's candles have already been lit by themselves, everyone has already received the Holy Light.

On the left—[Cheers]—the Patriarch is now coming out of the Holy Sepulchre. I mean, these are truly overwhelming moments.

You know, if someone hasn't experienced them, they may have certain questions and doubts and so on. When I was going down to the Holy Sepulchre in 1994, I myself didn't believe that something like this existed.

I also wrote about this on the internet, in a description I made. That's exactly why I took a camera with me.

Yes. I said, "I will demystify the Holy Light."

Whatever is down there, I will show it. I will say, "There you go. There is nothing there."

At that time, you were also a doctor, weren't you? Yes. I was a child psychiatrist. Yes. Of course, I worked as a child psychiatrist. I hadn't simply become a clergyman.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I know.

And when, of course, I saw this thing, I myself was overwhelmed. These are overwhelming moments. And naturally, you know, I had left the camera in my hand, but I wasn't looking through the camera.

I wouldn't want to miss such a spectacle. I mean, to be looking through a little hole, not knowing what I was seeing, instead of seeing with my own two eyes exactly what was happening there.

And of course, with my own eyes I saw a luminous sphere coming out from the left side of the Holy Sepulchre. By the time I turned the camera, of course, I didn't capture it.

However, the camera had already captured, by itself, the sphere that came out toward the right side of the Holy Sepulchre, without me knowing it.

We are now watching again, in slow motion, what you described. It really is worth watching so that one can see it. Let me also put the negative image...

And in fact, I asked the theologian, Mr. Nikos Zacharopoulos from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, to give me the information. Look at the...

Could you rewind it so that we can see that cloud again? Because the cloud is clearly visible.

Yes. Yes. It is a cloud. Of course, we can see it. Well, now let's look at the luminous sphere, which is truly unique, I would say.

This is truly unique footage. And how God, so to speak, deemed me worthy... You can see the luminous sphere coming out. It starts emerging above the people's heads, among the crowd.

It brushes over the people's heads. It passes through the crowd. At this moment, the camera loses focus because it was focused on the ground. We should point out that it isn't burning, right? It doesn't burn.

Look, because people may wonder how it passes over their heads and doesn't burn anyone. Mr. Mar...

Nobody noticed it. I was able to confirm this afterward because there were people from Thessaloniki who were sitting exactly opposite, right at that spot.

And I asked them, "Did you see it?" Of course, they said, "We didn't see anything."

In other words, it is a multiple miracle. It isn't simply one event. It is a multiple miracle, which means...

I want to ask you: isn't it a trick, is it? If we assumed that today, as a production crew, we wanted to recreate it, we couldn't do it with the technical means we have today. This cannot be reproduced.

Of course, with special effects. Yes. Exactly.

Because many people will wonder about the fact that you can see the camera losing focus at one point. Yes.

And the flame becomes visible because of the brightness of the flame. The camera is trying to focus. It does this and loses focus, and then it finds its focus again.

This was, in a way, an accident, because the image becomes blurry. Whereas if it had been filmed with a stabilized camera, it might have captured the image more clearly.

From the book of Saint paisios

https://vimeo.com/1233247215 

China will prevail after the end of ww3 and this is what awaits us

https://vimeo.com/1233038363 

🇬🇷 ΜΕΤΑ ΤΟΝ Γ΄ ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΟ ΠΟΛΕΜΟ: Η ΚΙΝΑ, Η ΨΗΦΙΑΚΗ ΤΑΥΤΟΤΗΤΑ ΚΑΙ Ο ΕΛΕΓΧΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥ

Τι μπορεί να περιμένει την ανθρωπότητα σε έναν κόσμο όπου η τεχνολογία γνωρίζει ποιοι είμαστε, πού βρισκόμαστε και τι κάνουμε;

Σε μια εποχή όπου η ψηφιακή ταυτοποίηση, η αναγνώριση προσώπου και τα συστήματα μαζικής επιτήρησης αναπτύσσονται με πολύ γρήγορους ρυθμούς, ένα σημαντικό ερώτημα τίθεται:

Μπορεί η τεχνολογία, από εργαλείο εξυπηρέτησης του ανθρώπου, να μετατραπεί σε εργαλείο ελέγχου του ανθρώπου;

Το παρακάτω βίντεο εξετάζει ένα πιθανό μελλοντικό σενάριο μετά από έναν μεγάλο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο και τον ρόλο που θα μπορούσε να διαδραματίσει η Κίνα σε έναν νέο παγκόσμιο συσχετισμό δυνάμεων.

Ιδιαίτερη προσοχή δίνεται στην ψηφιακή ταυτότητα, στην αναγνώριση προσώπου, στην ηλεκτρονική παρακολούθηση και στη συγκέντρωση τεράστιου όγκου προσωπικών δεδομένων.

Δεν σημαίνει ότι κάθε τεχνολογική εξέλιξη οδηγεί αναγκαστικά σε ένα τέτοιο μέλλον. Όμως είναι σημαντικό να γνωρίζουμε τους κινδύνους και να προστατεύουμε την ελευθερία, την ιδιωτικότητα και την ανθρώπινη αξιοπρέπεια.

🎥 ΔΕΙΤΕ ΤΟ ΒΙΝΤΕΟ

https://vimeo.com/1233038363

🇬🇧 AFTER WW3: CHINA, DIGITAL IDENTITY AND THE CONTROL OF HUMANITY

What could await humanity in a world where technology knows who we are, where we are, and what we are doing?

At a time when digital identification, facial recognition and mass-surveillance technologies are developing at an extraordinary pace, an important question must be asked:

Could technology, originally created to serve humanity, eventually become a tool for controlling humanity?

The video below examines a possible scenario following a major global war and the potential role China could play in a new global balance of power.

Particular attention is given to digital identity, facial recognition, electronic surveillance and the centralization of enormous amounts of personal data.

This does not mean that every technological development will inevitably lead to such a future. However, it is important to understand the potential risks and to protect freedom, privacy and human dignity.

🎥 WATCH THE VIDEO

https://vimeo.com/1233038363

ANNINOS BLOG
Observing the signs of our times — with discernment, faith and awareness.

Disclaimer: This article presents a discussion of possible geopolitical and technological scenarios. It should not be understood as a prediction that these events will necessarily occur.

English Russian and Arab

https://vimeo.com/1232612557 

Панагия (Пресвятая Богородица) безмерно любила Своего Сына. Позже Его любили и апостолы. Но когда Его распяли, предали, отреклись от Него, разбежались… начался настоящий хаос. Под Крестом плакала Панагия, были мироносицы и Иоанн Богослов. Только они.

Что произошло с Панагией? Она была взята на Небо; земля не дала Её телу истлеть. Бог этого не допустил. Он взял Её… Она уснула, то есть умерла, но была взята на Небо. Её Сын не позволил Её телу увидеть тление. И Иоанн Богослов также был взят на Небо. Эти два человека стоят выше Святой Троицы…

Под Крестом прозвучали слова: «Жено! се, сын Твой… се, Матерь твоя».

Вот какими должны быть настоящие отношения, которые мы должны иметь с Панагией и Христом. А всё остальное — исповедоваться, причащаться, ходить в церковь по привычке, бла-бла-бла, а потом идти и сплетничать — ничего не значит.

Требуется безумие, божественная любовь — божественный эрос. Панагия была влюблена во Христа. Но и Христос — как же сильно Он любил Её! Однако с того момента, когда началось Его земное служение, Он уже не называл Её «Матерью», а называл «Женой». Потому что Он был Богом. Богом.

До начала служения Он называл Её Матерью. До тридцати лет рядом с Ним были Иосиф — Его предполагаемый отец — и Панагия, Его Мать.

Если мы не углубимся в эти отношения, которые Христос с самого начала имел с праведным Иосифом и Своей Матерью, мы будем продолжать говорить: «Я это сделаю, я то сделаю, причащусь, исповедуюсь…»

Есть одна вещь, которую я много раз обещал. И когда я приехал на Святую Гору Афон, мне с самого начала сказали: «Послушание».

Я спросил: «Что значит послушание? Если осёл летит, значит, он летит?»

Мы не можем показать это миру. Я просто взорвусь — мне хочется высказать своё мнение, в конце концов, и чтобы моё тоже было принято!

Вот почему Афон отличается. Вот почему не каждый может стать монахом, братья. Потому что нужны три вещи: нищета — не иметь ничего своего, ни дома, ни имущества, ничего; целомудрие…

Панагия была Девой, и Иоанн Богослов был девственником — не только телом, но и душой! Никакая злоба или зло никогда не коснулись их, абсолютно ничего!

И тот, кто любит Панагию, Она сделает его добрым, чистым…

Когда Бог возродил меня в двадцать один год, то, что со мной произошло, было ужасно. Я всё время говорил: «Кто я теперь? Я знаю свою мать, своего отца, своих братьев и сестёр, но я не знаю, кто я сам».

Знаете ли вы, в чём разница между человеком, который просто ходит в церковь, и святостью? Цель…

كانت باناغيا، أي السيدة العذراء مريم، تحب ابنها حباً عظيماً جداً. وبعد ذلك أحبه الرسل. ولكن عندما صلبوه، وخانوه، وأنكروه، وهربوا… حلّت الفوضى.

تحت الصليب كانت باناغيا تبكي، وكانت هناك حاملات الطيب، ويوحنا اللاهوتي. هؤلاء وحدهم كانوا هناك.

ماذا حدث لباناغيا؟ لقد انتقلت إلى السماء؛ فلم يسمح التراب لجسدها أن يرى الفساد. الله لم يسمح بذلك. لقد أخذها إليه… لقد رقدت، أي ماتت، لكنها انتقلت إلى السماء. ابنها لم يسمح لجسدها أن يرى الفساد. وكذلك يوحنا اللاهوتي انتقل أيضاً. هذان الشخصان يقفان فوق الثالوث القدوس…

تحت الصليب قال المسيح: «يا امرأة، هوذا ابنك… هوذا أمك».

هذه هي العلاقة الحقيقية التي ينبغي أن تكون لنا مع باناغيا ومع المسيح. أما كل ما تبقى — الاعتراف، والتناول، والذهاب إلى الكنيسة كنوع من العادة، وكلام فارغ، ثم الخروج للحديث عن الناس والنميمة — فلا شيء من ذلك يكفي.

الأمر يحتاج إلى جنون، إلى محبة إلهية، إلى العشق الإلهي. كانت باناغيا عاشقة للمسيح. ولكن المسيح أيضاً، كم أحبها كثيراً! إلا أنه منذ اللحظة التي بدأت فيها رسالته الأرضية، لم يعد يناديها «أمي»، بل كان يناديها «يا امرأة». لأنه كان الله. كان الله.

حتى سن الثلاثين كان يوسف — الذي كان يُظن أنه أبوه — وباناغيا، أمه، معه.

إذا لم نتعمق في هذه العلاقة التي كانت للمسيح منذ البداية مع يوسف البار ومع أمه، فسنبقى نقول: «سأفعل هذا، سأفعل ذاك، سأتناول، سأعترف…»

هناك أمر واحد وعدت به مرات كثيرة. وعندما ذهبت إلى جبل آثوس، قالوا لي منذ البداية: «الطاعة».

فسألت: «ماذا تعني الطاعة؟ إذا كان الحمار يطير، فهل يطير؟»

لا نستطيع أن نُظهر هذا للعالم. سأكاد أنفجر؛ أريد أن أقول رأيي في النهاية، وأريد أيضاً أن يُقبل رأيي!

لهذا السبب يختلف جبل آثوس. ولهذا السبب لا يستطيع كل شخص أن يصبح راهباً، يا إخوة، لأن هناك ثلاثة أشياء ضرورية: الفقر — أي ألا يكون للإنسان شيء يملكه، لا بيت ولا ممتلكات ولا شيء؛ والعفة…

كانت باناغيا عذراء، وكان يوحنا اللاهوتي أيضاً عفيفاً — ليس بالجسد فقط، بل بالروح أيضاً! لم تمسّهما الخباثة أو الشر أبداً، لا شيء من ذلك على الإطلاق!

ومن يحب باناغيا، فإنها تجعله صالحاً ونقياً…

عندما جددني الله وأنا في الحادية والعشرين من عمري، كان ما حدث لي مخيفاً. ظللت أقول: «من أنا الآن؟ أنا أعرف أمي وأبي وإخوتي وأخواتي، لكنني لا أعرف من أنا أنا».

هل تعرفون الفرق بين الإنسان الذي يذهب إلى الكنيسة فقط وبين القداسة؟ الهدف…

Ορίστε η μετάφραση της ομιλίας του ιερέα στο βίντεο στα αγγλικά:

 "Panagia (the Virgin Mary) loved Her Son immensely. The Apostles loved Him later. There, when they crucified Him, betrayed Him, denied Him, fled... chaos ensued. Under the Cross, Panagia was crying, the Myrrhbearers, and John the Theologian. Those were the only ones.  

 What happened to Panagia? She was translated (assumed into heaven); the soil did not decay Her body. God did not allow it. He took Her... She fell asleep (died), but She was translated. Her Son did not let Her body see decay. John the Theologian was translated as well. These two people stand above the Holy Trinity...  

 Under the Cross: 'Woman, behold your son... behold your mother'.  

 This is the real relationship we ought to have with Panagia and Christ. Now, all the rest—confessing, taking communion, going like routine to church, blablabla, and then going off to gossip—is nothing.  

 It requires madness, divine love (eros). Panagia was in love with Christ. But Christ too, how much He loved Her! But from the moment His earthly mission began, He did not call Her 'Mother'; He called Her 'Woman'. Because He was God. And God. He called Her 'Mother' until He began the mission given to Him by His Father. Until the age of 30, He had Joseph—His supposed father—and Panagia, who was His mother.  

 If we do not delve into this relationship that Christ has, from the beginning, with the righteous Joseph and His mother, we keep saying 'I will do this, I will do that, take communion, confess...'  

 One thing I have promised many times—and when I went to Mount Athos, from the beginning they told me: 'Obedience'. I asked, 'What does obedience mean? If the donkey flies, does it fly?' We cannot show this to the world. I will burst, I want to voice my opinion, after all, and let mine pass too! That's why Mount Athos is different; that's why not everyone can become a monk, brothers, because you need three things: poverty (having nothing of your own—no house, no property, nothing), chastity... Panagia was a virgin, and John the Theologian was a virgin—not just in body, but in soul! No malice or evil ever touched them, nothing at all! And whoever loves Panagia, She will make them good, pure...  

 When God regenerated me at 21 years old, what happened to me was terrifying. I kept saying, 'Who am I now? I know my mother, my father, my siblings, but I don't know who I myself am'.  

 Do you know the difference between a person who just goes to church and holiness? The goal..."