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Почти 20 лет назад, а именно в январе 1990 года я, тогда еще студент юридического факультета Дальневосточного университета во Владивостоке, получил из Нью-Йорка большую посылку с православной литературой. К посылке прилагалось письмо. Вот небольшая цитата из него: «Дорогой о Господе Михаил Владиславович! Православные русские люди, волей судеб оказавшиеся на чужбине, всегда считали себя частью Родины, а Зарубежная Церковь — частью Русской Православной Церкви. Поэтому мы тоже переживаем за нашу страну, молимся о ее возрождении и о Божием благословении российского народа. Просим и ваших молитв о нас, русских в рассеянии, да не помешают нам временные препоны духовно составлять единое целое». Это письмо я бережно хранил все эти годы. Его автор — тогда епископ Манхэттенский, а ныне Первоиехарх Русской Православной Церкви за границей, архиепископ Сиднейский и Австралийско-Новозеландский Иларион. Письмо было написано им в ответ на мою просьбу поделиться православной литературой, которую в Советском Союзе в те годы было практически невозможно достать. Мог ли я в начале 1990 года даже предположить, что спустя два десятилетия судьба забросит меня в Австралию, что я смогу познакомиться с владыкой Иларионом и лично поблагодарить его за тот дар; что на смену растворившейся в начале 50-х годов прошлого века русской эмиграции первой волны, проживающей в Китае, значительная часть которой нашла свое убежище именно в Австралии, вследствие драматических событий начала 1990-х годов, а также вследствие бурного развития экономических связей между Россией и Китаем, десятки тысяч молодых русских людей, и я в их числе, опять выберут Китай местом своего жительства, местом приложения своих профессиональных и творческих способностей? Но так случилось. Я приехал в Австралию в статусе председателя «Русского клуба в Шанхае» для участия в конференции соотечественников, проживающих в странах АТР. Именно на конференции, которая, к слову сказать, проходила в Канберре, и произошло мое знакомство с владыкой Иларионом. Продолжилось же оно неделей спустя уже в Сиднее, когда, по приглашению Первоиерарха, в его резиденции, где и состоялась наша с ним беседа.

Михаил Дроздов, председатель «Русского клуба в Шанхае»,
руководитель Координационного совета соотечественников Китая

Михаил Дроздов: Многоуважаемый владыка, итак, наше заочное знакомство началось еще 20 лет назад. Вы даже не представляете, каким сюрпризом и каким счастьем стало для меня тогда получение той самой посылки из Нью-Йорка. Расскажите, пожалуйста, как строилась эта работа, кому вы отправляли православную литературу, какими путями доходили до вас письма из СССР?Continue Reading

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27th Sunday after Pentecost – the Holy Forefathers.

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

Last week’s Gospel about the rich man who had a good harvest was like the finale to the cycle of the Gospel readings of Pentecost. It portrayed a man who had devoted all his concern to one thing: to the care of his temporary, earthly welfare. In order to keep his good harvest he destroyed the old barns, built new, larger ones, and said: “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Lk. 12:19-20).

What’s the matter? Why such a sentence? The answer to this question is given in the Gospel reading for this Sunday. It tells how the Lord prepared a feast and invited many people, in other words, everyone. And this rich man was one of those invited to the feast of God. However, he was so preoccupied with his living arrangements that he forgot about this “calling,” about the feast to which he was invited. Never did he expect that his “calling” would be fulfilled that night. This is why God said he was a fool.Continue Reading

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27th Sunday after Pentecost

MATINS (V)

Luke 24:12-35

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?Continue Reading

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26th Sunday after Pentecost – the Rich Man.

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

The Gospel for last Sunday related to us the parable about the Merciful Samaritan and finished with these words: “Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Lk. 10:37). And today’s Gospel — how does it end? “But God said unto him… This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Lk. 12:20)

Here are two different ways. They both bring us to our last moment — to death. But there is no death, but rather eternal life. This means that these different paths bring us to the mysterious passage, to the meeting with eternity. All of us have to meet this “mysterious something.” And this meeting will prove to be the most important moment of our entire life on earth, basically what we have lived for. There aren’t even words in our language to express it; but today’s Gospel and also last Sunday’s Gospel give us some indications of this moment, this meeting. At the end of one way will thunder the terrible word, “Fool!” (Lk. 12:20). At the end of the other way, the Gospel does not even give us the word which we will hear, but says only: “Go, and do thou likewise!” This means, only do the same, act in the same way! And you will receive what no words can express.Continue Reading

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26th Sunday after Pentecost

MATINS (IV)

Luke 24:1-12

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Continue Reading

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25th Sunday after Pentecost – the Merciful Samaritan.

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

“And, behold, a certain lawyer… tempted Him [Christ], saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself (Lk. 10:25-27).

Remember, brothers and sisters, how the Holy Church brought us to this passage in the Gospel narrative. Remember last Sunday how Jairus, a Jewish prince, came to Christ. His daughter was dying and he could find help nowhere. She was dying. And so he ran to Christ, fell at His feet and asked for help. She was dying — his only daughter. Christ went with him and Jairus walked with Christ. Maybe this was not long, but in the mind of Jairus it was the way of his whole life. He should be close by his dying daughter…but he hoped. He hoped because he believed that Christ could perform something great, could perform a healing which no one else could do. And this is like away of life.Continue Reading

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24th Sunday after Pentecost – the Resurrection of Jairus’ Daughter.

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

Last Sunday’s reading from the Apostle told us that we are saved by Grace, and that Grace is received through faith, and this is the gift of God. And we were shown what faith is in a striking example.

And here, even today’s Gospel speaks about faith. To some degree we all possess it. But because it is imperfect, our faith is often subject to temptations. And the most terrible, the strongest of such temptations, is the death of a person near and dear to us. I think that the majority of those present here have already lived through, or are now living through, this incurable grief. But if not, it is something which will inevitably come. Today’s Gospel gives us a classic example of how, in spite of all the difficulty of such an experience, it is possible to endure it. And at the same time it shows us again how much we need faith. For only through faith does God give us and will give us His power of Grace not to fall spiritually in such a terrible moment.Continue Reading

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23rd Sunday after Pentecost – the Possessed Gadarene

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

“Now the man out of whom the demons were departed besought Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and tell what great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him” (Lk. 8:38-39).

So, brothers and sisters, ends today’s Gospel reading where, as you heard, the Lord tells the healed man to reveal the mystery of his healing before all the Gadarene people. And this is what he did. The Gospel does not tell us how he related what had happened to him; but according to the meaning of the Gospel narrative, we can fully imagine what he must have said and what he most likely did say. Here is what he must have said:Continue Reading

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22st Sunday after Pentecost – the Rich Man and Lazarus

Homily From “The One Thing Needful,” Sermons of Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)

Brothers and sisters, have you noticed how the Holy Church for a long time now has been telling us about the Word of God? With His Word Christ calmed the storm, healed the servant of the centurion and the daughter of the Canaanite woman, raised the son of the widow of Nain, and filled five thousand people with five loaves of bread. By His Word, the miraculous catch offish was accomplished. And even today’s Gospel reading speaks about the Word of God. “There was a certain rich man,” relates the Gospel, “which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores” (Lk. 16:19-21).Continue Reading

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25th Sunday after Pentecost

MATINS (III)

Mark 16:9-20

9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Continue Reading