Below are the 16 most recent journal entries recorded in Yurij Maximov's LiveJournal:

Friday, January 5th, 2007
1:50 am	The Question May be, someone can to tell me any information on a history and, especially, a modern condition of Orthodoxy and orthodox Christians in such countries: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua&Barbuda, Afganistan, Argentina? I shall be very grateful if You will help. (12 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 3rd, 2006
12:51 am	A priest and his 3 small kids died in a fire In Tver region (Russia, 100 miles north of Moscow) a priest and his three small kids died in a fire in their house in strange circumstances. Local people and priests from neighboring towns think that this was not an accident. Several months ago, a priest Andrey Nikolaev was pleading for help through mass-media. At Oct 19 Moscow newspaper “Izvestia” wrote: “Fr. Andrey Nikolaev every night is guarding his church with a rifle. Local drunkards several times robbed the church and sold stolen to get money for alcohol. Majority of the villagers are alcoholics and they are exchanging alcohol even for walls of their own houses. The priest despite much hardship saved some of locals and returned them back to normal life but too many in the village hate him for an active struggle with alcoholism. Not long time ago the fires was started at priest’s house but nobody was hurt. The priest is asking for help since he cannot protect himself: “I cannot shoot the person – I’ll shoot in the air but the robber will shoot me” His pleas for help left unanswered and in the night of Dec 1st he and his three kids had died in a house fire. The body of his wife is still not found. In Russian: http://fater-go.livejournal.com/137569.html http://www.zvezda.ru/web/news1349.htm Please, pray for Fr. Andrey http://community.livejournal.com/orthodoxy/379180.html (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 14th, 2006
1:09 pm	PETITION - Free Archbishop Jovan from prison in Macedonia Make a choice, if you are a person of good will, to whom are important the most basic principles of the free world, and with your signature of this petition, which you can read bellow this text, and in that way you will make your contribution, toward realization of civil rights, or just be a passive observer. Every your signature is of the priceless value, while a Christian church dignitary at the beginning of the 21 century resides in prison cell, as a defendant of Orthodoxy. And while Archbishop Jovan is praying for whole world, under inhuman conditions in the prison of Idrizovo in Republic of Macedonia, your voice against this crimes is very important now, at this very moment. "If you do all you can, do it what is needed!" Click Here to Sign Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/3001sd/petition.html (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, October 12th, 2006
7:20 pm	My interview after visiting Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric in Macedonia The previous Macedonian government, under the pressure of the schismatic bishops of the MOC, through politically manipulated court proceedings, incarcerated Archbishop Jovan in the prison “Idrizovo”. How do you, as an Orthodox Christian, look upon this behavior of the state towards Archbishop Jovan and the Church whose head he is?( Read more... ) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, September 22nd, 2006
11:57 pm	The ancient spiritual church songs In russian sites i found any interesting examples of spiritual church songs. 1) "Blagosloven, Grjadyj" (2,4 Mb) in the singing of brotherhood of the Olympian monastery. Classical Byzantian singing. 3) It is necessary to mention fine church chanting "Agni Partene" (7 Mb) in performance of brotherhood of monastery Симонопетра (St. Mountain Athos). In my opinion, it is quintessence and a wreath of the Byzantian singing tradition. This tradition found the continuation and reflection in cultures of other orthodox peoples and Churches. I shall allow itself to mention fine "Polichronion". First, pay attention, how its orthodox arabs (1,5 Mb) sing, and the ambassador can compare with Russian singing of the same church chanting (1,4 Mb). The Christian culture has penetrated Into antiquities much further, than usually think. For example, nestorians, broken away from Orthodox Church in V a century, mostly lived in territory of Persia, and later, Arabian khaliphate, and even in China - for one thousand years before Catholic missionaries there have reached. Now nestorians remained very little. One of traditional church chanting in their performance: The voices of the angels to you sing (3,2 Mb) . In my opinion, it is beautifully. And, certainly, Catholics. First, it is possible to listen Aurea personet lyra (2,3 Mb). This church chanting of XI century. And second - remarkable Franciscan Sanctus (1,8 Mb). (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006
5:28 pm	St. Athanasios the Neomartyr The Holy Martyr Athanasius lived in Smyrna of XVI century. He was a poor and simple man, but was rich in faith. One day he was inadvertently involved in a religious dispute with a Turk. The Turk was educated and adroit with words, but Athanasius strove with all his might to uphold the truth of the Christian faith and its superiority over Islam. And finally they parted. ( Read more... ) (Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 19th, 2006
1:25 pm	The hagiological nonsense One question is interesting to me in view of forthcoming reunion ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate. In 1981 ROCOR canonized (i.e., has declared as orthodox saints) catholic Aloizij Troupp and luteran Ekaterina Schneider among the servants who were killed with family of St. tsar Nikolay II. And also "have glorified" bishop Andrey Uhtomsky, converted in old-believer's schism. And I am occupied with a question - if the reunion will take place, how business with these "saints" will be? This canonical, dogmatic and hagiological the nonsense too will be recognized? (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, September 18th, 2006
12:24 pm	Demetrios the Neomartyr Demetrios the Neomartyr was born in the small village near the city of Tripolis, in Arcadia area. At the early nineteenth century the Turks firmly controlled this land more than three centuries. Being a teenager, Demetrios was apprenticed to a Turkish contractor, which convinced him to a refuse the Christ and to accept Islam for the good life. Demetrios even change his name, and became Mehmet. But, fortunately, his father could find Demetrios after several months, and draw the boy away from the muslim environment, and return him to the Christ once again. Young christian had many prayer for forgiveness, after which he went in contrition. Leaving the Tripolis, Demetrios made his way to the island of Chios where he hoped to show his sincere repentance. At Chios he was admitted to a monastery in which he want to cleanse himself of his shameful act, and to serve the Savior with all his heart and soul. Many monks heard his confessions and were deeply moved by the lad's sincere remorse, so they let him to remain among them. Finally he was tonsured a monk after the proper training. Wishing to console Demetrios, abbot reminded him the story of Peter's denial of Christ, after which apostle Peter repented and became the saint. Demetrios bore himself in a manner of the highest ascetic rules, but he was troubled by an unfulfilled wish to make an act which would completely expiate his sin. And he thought, the right way is to return to the place of his fall and there to confess his belief in Christ before those who were witnesses of his acceptance of islam. The abbot tried to dissuade him by citing the decision of David to preach the word of God for all his days rather than sacrifice himself in an untimely death. But Demetrios felt in his heart the necessity to faced the Turks of Tripolis. And he returned to openly avow his fidelity to Jesus and for this he was executed as the turncoat from islam. The holy relix of this brave newmartyr, who gave his life for Christ on April 14 lie in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Tripolis, Greece. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, September 14th, 2006
9:48 pm	"THE LORD OF THE RINGS" AND CHRISTIANITY The screen version of the famous Tolkien's trilogy has burst the splash of interest to the famous English writer's heritage. ( Read more... ) (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, October 6th, 2005
9:49 pm	Need help! Dear brothers and sisters! The student of the Moscow theological seminary Kovalenko Sergey is hardly sick. He needs transplantation of a kidney - difficult operation in cost 20000 $ (on all treatment the more sum is necessary). I am teacher of Seminary and personally I know Sergey. He is the good, kind and sympathetic person, the pious Christian, aspiring to give all forces on service of Orthodox Church. Fund raising occurs on blessing the rector of Academy&Seminary, archbishop Eugeny Verejskij. If you can and wish to help Sergey, please, use this way: ( Read more... ) The information about Sergey on official site of Moscow Theological Seminary&Academy: http://mpda.ru/ru/school/news/index.php?id=203 And all, please, pray for Sergey! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
8:42 pm	The Russian Big-Mac :-) Have a nice the Dormition Fast! :-) (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 29th, 2005
2:37 am	The Orthodox Sci-Fi Writer Donna Farley I want told You about Donna Farley. Matushka Donna is a priest's wife, mother, and prolific writer. She is a published poet, science fiction writer, and columnist for "The Handmaiden" (there is her old homepage). Since 1987 she publish science-fiction stories, some with Orthodox themes. I know four stories, peprinted online: -"Garbage Day at Gehenna" -"Cold Hands, Warm Heart" -"The New Curiosity Shoppe" -Everyday Details in Far-Out Fiction Maybe, it will be interesting for you to read, if you not yet. I like first of list. In this history all is described incredibly dynamically and deeply. The author consistently builds a picture of a hell as "spiritual garbage" and through it she finds set new, original images. Offline published novel "The Passing of the Eclipse" is very good also. Though it is necessary to recognize, sometimes in her texts, Farley addresses with spiritual themes is too free. It is visible, for example, in the story "Father Vadim's Angel" where the angel is represented uncanonically from the orthodox point of view. I think, it is a characteristic problem. I frequently hear from Russian writers-Christians words: "The creative plan should not be held down by external dogmas". However I think, that the Christian author is capable to express his ideas without breaking canons. What do you think about it? (Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 14th, 2005
5:12 pm	The Solovetsky monastery on a sunset (Comment on this)
Monday, June 13th, 2005
4:14 am	The Russian Field (Comment on this)
1:45 am	About Help Dear friends! Now I need some help for translation of my short orthodox science fiction stories into English, or to correct (to polish) of my translations. If it is interesting to you and you can help me, I shall be very thankfull! Please, write in this LJ. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, June 12th, 2005
9:43 pm	«Daring Before the Face of God» (fragment of my sci-fi story, translated from russian) Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, gazed out at the sunset from the narrow, arched window of a northern tower on the city wall. Hundreds of flames twinkled alarmingly in the growing darkness, which had already thickened in the low places. A cold wind howled, muffling even the cries of the Saracens which had been clearly heard during the day even through the thick walls of the Holy City. ( Read more... ) (Comment on this)