I Have Not Come To Bring Peace, But A Sword - Archbishop Averky of Jordanville

Archbishop Averky speaks to our times in the context of a frequently neglected saying of Christ. His peace is not the peace of the world, His truth both unites and divides. As he said to His disciples after his tough sayings led many to leave Him: “Do you also want to go away?” Let us respond like the Apostle Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Archbishop Averky: “All of these frequent, unnaturally flowery speeches, and until now, hysterical cries about peace for the world are for the most part from people who are either far from true Christianity or openly hostile towards the Church. These speeches come from people who themselves do not live in peace with God and their consciences. Their relations with their neighbors are filled with malice. Can we believe the sincerity of the words pronounced by people who reject faith in God and love for their neighbor, and do not recognize the voice of conscience? Can we believe that those who audaciously and arrogantly blaspheme, declaring war on God Himself and His Holy Church, are truly striving for peace? These are the same people who not long ago did not conceal the fact that their plan was "to kindle a worldwide fire" [Communism], and who openly preached "class hatred" as the basis for their ideology. They are not at all troubled over shedding rivers of blood and exterminating millions of people simply on the suspicion that they may not be in agreement with their ideology. Can we truly believe the sincerity of peace lovers who speak sweetly of "Christian love" and "universal forgiveness," yet at the same time sow conflict and dissension, spreading lies and slander which incite enmity and division, setting people against one another.”
“Surely one understands that when our Lord Jesus Christ said, Resist not evil (Matt. 5:39) he was only replacing the previous Old Testament law of personal revenge, forbidding us to take revenge on those Who personally offend us. There is no way that one should understand this saying to refer to no resistance to evil in general, as Leo Tolstoy and his followers understood it. On the contrary, our Lord taught very clearly that His true followers must be completely uncompromising towards evil, even in those most difficult circumstances which involve our conscience, in those circumstances where evil becomes incarnate in people close and dear to us. Let us recall for example the following words of our Savior which so disturb those who view Christian love as something sweet, sentimental, nice: If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26).”
“St. Gregory the Theologian taught, "The greatest good is peace, it is beautiful in both word and deed. Peace is of God (Phil. 4:7), God is peace (II Cor. 13:11), and God is called peace (Eph. 2:14)" (Works of St. Gregory, Homily 23, Vol.Il, p. 186). He continues, "At the same time we must not value just any peace. For disagreement can appear pleasant, and some types of unity are very ruinous. One should love only a good peace which has a good goal and unites with God...when it is clear that what is at hand is impious or dishonest, then it is better to go into the fire, the sword, and not go along with the demands of the times and rulers, rather than become a participant in an evil leaven and part of an infection. There is nothing worse than to fear something more than God, and over this fear become instead of a servant of truth, a traitor to the teaching of truth and faith' (Works of St. Gregory, Sermon 6, Vol. I, p. 192).
Truly these are golden words. How many follow them in our times? These words of one of the greatest hierarchs of Christ's Church are a perfect, worthy answer to our contemporary propagandists of "an evil peace" and "ruinous unity," as well as their sowers of false teachings and proclaimers of peaceful coexistence with demonic evil. Are you familiar with these words, all of you, who for the sake of a career and money, will go along with the "demands of the times" and godless "leaders" in betraying the truth? Fear and tremble, for nothing is more horrible than this kind of betrayal! “And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep” (I Pet. 2,3).”
This text is from “The Modern World in the Light of the Word of God, vol. I, 1951-1960,” pp. 404-409.
This channel is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

[@jjmichael5059]

Archbishop Averky's work is a goldmine, especially his works on the 4 gospels and asceticism in modern times/age.

[@banhammer3904]

Yes, the NT commentary is very good.

[@g.k.7710]

Amen. Listening to Archbishop Averky is like a having a beautiful lamp shining in the darkness. I thank you for posting this. God bless you!

[@vincentrabbit8497]

AMEN TO YOU DEAR ARCHBISHOP AVERKY

[@pe7146]

Oh Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, Amen. 🛐☦☦

[@Viz-Jaqtaar]

I needed to hear of treating my home as a church. When the enemy gets the passions riled up it is good to remember I should be as I would before God at all times.

[@Orthodoxi]

God bless Archbishop Averky. May he pray for us.

[@T_Wozna]

From Not Of This World, which is the 1st edition of Father Seraphim Life and Works: ```This, however, was not the end of the story. On January 24, 1982, Bishop Nektary and Fr. Herman were on a trip to dedicate a new mission church in Woodburn, Oregon. Bishop Nektary’s health was declining rapidly at this time; and, as it turned out, this was Fr. Herman’s last opportunity to spend any length of time with him. After the dedication ceremony, they checked into adjacent rooms in a nearby hotel. Bishop Nektary complained of being tired. “I’ll never see that church built,” he said. “I won’t last much longer.” “If that’s really the case,” Fr. Herman said, “then what about canonizing Archbishop Averky? Who’s going to do it?” Light flashed in the Bishop’s eyes. “Let’s do it now!” he exclaimed. The two men stood up, and, before icons they had set up in the hotel room, they sang at the top of their lungs, with full inspiration, the magnification hymns to the righteous Archbishop Averky. They thought of Fr. Seraphim, and regretted that he was not there with them. “Fr. Seraphim’s wish will be coming true,” the Bishop said. Thus, in a tiny hotel in the state of Oregon (Bishop Nektary’s diocese), the local canonization of a prophet of worldwide significance took place, a man whom Fr. Seraphim called “one of the last giants of universal Orthodoxy” and “the greatest pillar of our Church.”``` - Thanks Kryz

[@lindaphillips4646]

T., just to let you know that your entry is still being read and appreciated.. Thank you. I saw this a while back but just came across it again.. I hear it more deeply this time. ☦💝📿💝☦

[@jamesgardner9583]

NO "PEACE" FOR THE HEATHER.... 🙏☦🦉 BROTHER JAMES

[@mannbradmusic]

Thank you for posting this very needful presentation and as I was listening to what you had to say, one particular passage that came to me was 2 Timothy 4:3-4, where we're warned by the apostle Paul that the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts they will raise up for themselves teachers, having itching ears and they will turn their ears away from the Truth and will turn to fables.

[@nelsenthomas1816]

God bless your continued work, Timothy.

[@justinmassie2235]

Praise Be to You Lord Jesus Christ! In Jesus Name i pray! Amen 🙏📖❤️

[@mrdclark2003]

Amen Amen!!!

[@dougharitopulos9288]

Excellent

[@francisthompson6470]

When will he be Sainted, along with Fr. Dimitru Stanisloa, and Fr. Seraphim Rose?

[@Meliann11]

This is excellent. 🙏

[@orthovision3296]

Amen!

[@CALAMITYGURULASTDAYS]

Saint Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and Safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. The Prophet Ezekiel says Their will Not be Peace until After the Final War of GOG and Magog. Then the Lord will Arise as The Psalms says to Judge those who think they are gods and Destroy His enemies. After this they will be burning their Weapons of War and burying their bodies for 7 Years. Then the rest of Prophet Isaiah's Prophesy can be fulfilled where he said: Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

[@dw4270]

Amen

[@dalelerette206]

Beautifully spoken. In Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household” But the sword is not a physical sword. Jesus wields the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12-13 clearly says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The Word of God separates our soul (sinful past) from our spirit (holy future), and allows to us move according to the motion of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer held accountable to the political narratives of the world. As clearly stated in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

[@lindaphillips4646]

Dale, just came across this video again and reread your entry here. Such firm but beautiful words of Our Lord.. And then what you added. Somehow i can feel, even 'possess' them as never before. Must be partly because of how the Church so dearly holds the scriptures to Her heart and helps us hear them more deeply..

[@dalelerette206]

​ @lindaphillips4646 I would sing with her if she would only let me win her love. Cardinal Newman Said, “To Be Deep in History Is to Cease to Be Protestant.” The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not overcome it. My prayer is that the deeper reflections of the Bosom of Abraham will be revealed deeply within the Sacred Heart of the Virgin Mary. ❤ To the Africans, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears African. To the American Indians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears American Indian. To the Asians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Asian. To the Australians, the Sacred Virgin Mary Appears Australian. To the Europeans, the Sacred Virgin Mary Appears European. To the Indians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Indian. To the Melanesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Melanesian. To the Micronesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Micronesian. To the Polynesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Polynesian. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. - Luke 1:48-50 ❤ kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHq2ammdnJ1ngrs As we read along in Isaiah, the last verse of chapter 44 surprises us by mentioning Cyrus, the king of Persia. In 44:28, God refers to Cyrus as “my shepherd.” Then, in the next verse (45:1), Cyrus is referred to as the Lord’s “anointed one.” This phrase translates the Hebrew mashiach, from which we get the familiar term messiah. How could it be that Cyrus was God’s messiah?

[@dalelerette206]

@@lindaphillips4646 Thank you so much Linda. We may have met on Catholic Answers before. My son Cameron would sometimes post on there too. But he knew I struggled with the faith. Speaking on the Virgin Mother, I would sing with her if she would only let me win her love. Cardinal Newman Said, “To Be Deep in History Is to Cease to Be Protestant.” The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not overcome it. My prayer is that the deeper reflections of the Bosom of Abraham will be revealed deeply within the Sacred Heart of the Virgin Mary. ❤ To the Africans, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears African. To the American Indians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears American Indian. To the Asians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Asian. To the Australians, the Sacred Virgin Mary Appears Australian. To the Europeans, the Sacred Virgin Mary Appears European. To the Indians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Indian. To the Melanesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Melanesian. To the Micronesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Micronesian. To the Polynesians, the Sacred Virgin Mary appears Polynesian. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. - Luke 1:48-50 ❤ kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHq2ammdnJ1ngrs As we read along in Isaiah, the last verse of chapter 44 surprises us by mentioning Cyrus, the king of Persia. In 44:28, God refers to Cyrus as “my shepherd.” Then, in the next verse (45:1), Cyrus is referred to as the Lord’s “anointed one.” This phrase translates the Hebrew mashiach, from which we get the familiar term messiah. How could it be that Cyrus was God’s messiah?

[@dalelerette206]

@@lindaphillips4646 Women possess a natural sexual energy that calls out to all People . When a woman gives you her interest, she is sharing her agape love with your chidren. This is why the adverary went for Eve first. Thankfully the Lord fell in love with the Virgin Mother to restore Eve's innocence together with the Virgin Mother. ❤

[@lindaphillips4646]

Very interesting comments, Dale. I had not thought about things in that way.. Thank you.

[@iv4135]

Does anyone have any information on what he is referring to in regards to Tolstoy? Anna Karenina is one of my favorite novels.

[@neame-bh3uq]

Tolstoy left the Orthodox Church and followed a disorganised version of Christianity

[@j_shelby_damnwird]

Amen brother. Thank you. Is the complete source text available online?

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

Not to my knowledge. If you find it please let me know.

[@salmaria9747]

​@@OrthodoxWisdomare there any books that have Archbishop Averky's writings? I've only found a blog online that has some writings.

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

Scroll back through the community page for a post on April 13, 2022 reshared the same day this year. You’ll see a list of resources from Archbishop Averky.

[@Agenda-2016]

I thought Tolstoy defended Christ's true meaning of love in his book 'The Law of Love, the Law of Violemce'. How come he was excommunicated by the Church and persecuted by the State as if he were their common enemy?🤔

[@Orthoindian]

i can hear no audio

[@walterdreiberg]

Hmm strange. I can

[@timothyhoneycutt3648]

Try refreshing your app. I can hear the audio just fine.

[@Orthoindian]

@@timothyhoneycutt3648 thank you I opened in another tab and it's working now

[@marakchannel3684]

Why Jesus come for swords in Mathew 10:34:36. While other Jesus come for peace Isaiah 2:4..In Massianic Prophecy.

[@lucycastro9428]

Has this bishop been canonized a Saint yet?..

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

No. Not sure how much veneration of him there is. I don’t expect him to be canonized, but I’d like to be wrong.

[@T_Wozna]

From Not Of This World, which is the 1st edition of Father Seraphim Life and Works: ```This, however, was not the end of the story. On January 24, 1982, Bishop Nektary and Fr. Herman were on a trip to dedicate a new mission church in Woodburn, Oregon. Bishop Nektary’s health was declining rapidly at this time; and, as it turned out, this was Fr. Herman’s last opportunity to spend any length of time with him. After the dedication ceremony, they checked into adjacent rooms in a nearby hotel. Bishop Nektary complained of being tired. “I’ll never see that church built,” he said. “I won’t last much longer.” “If that’s really the case,” Fr. Herman said, “then what about canonizing Archbishop Averky? Who’s going to do it?” Light flashed in the Bishop’s eyes. “Let’s do it now!” he exclaimed. The two men stood up, and, before icons they had set up in the hotel room, they sang at the top of their lungs, with full inspiration, the magnification hymns to the righteous Archbishop Averky. They thought of Fr. Seraphim, and regretted that he was not there with them. “Fr. Seraphim’s wish will be coming true,” the Bishop said. Thus, in a tiny hotel in the state of Oregon (Bishop Nektary’s diocese), the local canonization of a prophet of worldwide significance took place, a man whom Fr. Seraphim called “one of the last giants of universal Orthodoxy” and “the greatest pillar of our Church.”```

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

Thank you for sharing this! I venerate Archbishop Averky and has his photo in my icon corner. May he intercede for us!

[@T_Wozna]

@@OrthodoxWisdom Anytime brother. My close friend is actually working on a comparison of Not Of This World with Father Seraphim Life and Works. I can send you a link to the Google drive if you want. He has been highlighting all the differences between the two. Also, appreciate your KZbin channel! God be with you. ☦️

[@OrthodoxWisdom]

I have already received this document. Thank you.

[@gimeoden8309]

God bless the peacemakers not the peace lovers. Warriors make peace by ending wars, not peace protesters who lengthen wars.

[@gimeoden8309]

@@Joe-po9xn I'll take my observation over your opinion