Russians Flock to See Virgin Mary Relic

MSNBC ^ | 11/23/11 | Mansur Mirovalev

[marshmallow]

Tens of thousands wait for hours in freezing temperatures to kiss belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother

MOSCOW — Braving freezing cold temperatures and ice-covered sidewalks, tens of thousands of Russians stood in line Wednesday to see and kiss a newly arrived relic of the Virgin Mary in Russia's largest Orthodox cathedral.

The Virgin Mary's Cincture, a belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother, was brought to Russia last month from Mount Athos, a monastic community in Greece.

Kissing the relic, which is encased in an ornamental box, is believed to help barren women conceive and heal other ailments.

The line of people, mostly women, waiting to enter the golden-domed Christ the Savior Cathedral stretched for 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the Moscow River despite temperatures that dropped to below minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit).

[Quix]

The serpent in the garden asked if God really did say too

Lev 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God

---

ABSOLUTELY INDEED.

[Lera]

Let me ask you a question. When God ordered Moses to make the statues on the ark.

Why was it acceptable? Is it because God can do anything and break his own law. Or for some strange reason it is acceptable and God has integrity. But how is it acceptable. If that is true how can some statues be acceptable and others are not accepted?

---

Are you questioning God’s integrity?

The Lord rebuke thee

[johngrace]

Wow! Thats a twist! Really? I am pointing out he has integrity! You are pointing out it definitely absolutely no statues yet we have statue on the Ark.. I am pointing out He can not go against himself. Which means why does he allow it on one set of statues for israel then not the non israel. Obviously there is a difference.

God in due time will rebuke who ever has to be rebuked by the way. Cheap tactics.

[Lera]

Sorry guess I misunderstood what you were saying.

The Ark is a representation of HIS throne in heaven (read Revelation and you will see that his throne has the same angles around it ) Again the Ark was kept hidden behind the veil and only the High Priest could go in that room , anyone else would die . Only the High Priest could stand in HIS presence to atone for the sins of the people (Do you understand that Jesus is our High Priest and it is HIS blood that covers our sins ? Everything in the Old Testament that GOD TOLD THEM TO DO He told them to do it to testify of HIM - The whole temple testifies of him - only one door to get in - I AM the DOOR no one enters except by me - The menorah - I AM the LIGHT of the World - The Table of Shewbread - I AM the BREAD of Life there is much more can’t sit and type it tonight as I am on my laptop and have trouble with it and my vision)BTW the people did not bow down to the angels on the Ark - the people could not see them without dying(no way the king could bow in front of it like in the picture , he would be dead as he could not stand in the presence )

God cursed Israel for murmuring while they were wandering in the wilderness once with poisonous snakes . The people were being bitten and dying .God ASKED Moses to make a brazen (brass) serpent(Numbers 21) and lift it up on a pole in the camp so that when the people who were bitten looked upon it (not bow to it) they would be healed . Brass is the Levital symbol for judgement ... a snake (sin) on a brass (judgment) pole see John 3:14 and Jesus himself gives the explanation for why God told Moses to do this .
(all sin is judged on the pole - he bore OUR sins)
2Kings 18 King Hezikiah destroyed the pole because eventually people started worshiping it
(Nehushtan)

No where in the New Testament do we have the authorization to make any images or bow down in front of them ...not one place .Anything that comes between you and your CREATOR is an IDOL.

[FormerLib]

What I find most fascinating about this is that you can possibly believe you are achieving something good here.

You insult, malign, and belittle fellow Christians for daring not to follow your personal interpretation of Scripture.

When I read your words, they are absent of any love in Christ but full of anger and hatred.

Christ is not the master such actions serve!

[Lera]

Do you know him ? No I don’t mean do you know who he is . Do you really know him?

[Quix]

THANKS TONS, DEAR HEART.

Folks tend to focus on what they wish to focus on about me. When their sensibilities are jangled significantly, then they tend to see me as a special agent of the devil.

Jesus was called similar names.

LUB

[Lera]

Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

[Lera]

What I find most fascinating about this is that you can possibly believe you are achieving something good here. You insult, malign, and belittle fellow Christians for daring not to follow your personal interpretation of Scripture. When I read your words, they are absent of any love in Christ but full of anger and hatred. Christ is not the master such actions serve!




Don't project your own feelings to us. I call this below real HATE . Can you guess where it came from ? It came from people who loved to bow to their own statues

The reformation of papistical error very early was projected in France; for in the third century a learned man, named Almericus, and six of his disciples, were ordered to be burnt at Paris for asserting that God was no otherwise present in the sacramental bread than in any other bread; that it was idolatry to build altars or shrines to saints and that it was ridiculous to offer incense to them.

The martyrdom of Almericus and his pupils did not, however, prevent many from acknowledging the justness of his notions, and seeing the purity of the reformed religion, so that the faith of Christ continually increased, and in time not only spread itself over many parts of France, but diffused the light of the Gospel over various other countries.

In the year 1524, at a town in France, called Melden, one John Clark set up a bill on the church door, wherein he called the pope Antichrist. For this offence he was repeatedly whipped, and then branded on the forehead. Going afterward to Mentz, in Lorraine, he demolished some images, for which he had his right hand and nose cut off, and his arms and breast torn with pincers. He sustained these cruelties with amazing fortitude, and was even sufficiently cool to sing the One hundredth and fifteenth Psalm, which expressly forbids idolatry; after which he was thrown into the fire, and burnt to ashes.

Many persons of the reformed persuasion were, about this time, beaten, racked, scourged, and burnt to death, in several parts of France, but more particularly at Paris, Malda, and Limosin.

A native of Malda was burnt by a slow fire, for saying that Mass was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ. At Limosin, John de Cadurco, a clergyman of the reformed religion, was apprehended and ordered to be burnt.

Francis Bribard, secretary to cardinal de Pellay, for speaking in favor of the reformed, had his tongue cut out, and was then burnt, A.D. 1545. James Cobard, a schoolmaster in the city of St. Michael, was burnt, A.D. 1545, for saying 'That Mass was useless and absurd'; and about the same time, fourteen men were burnt at Malda, their wives being compelled to stand by and behold the execution.

A.D. 1546, Peter Chapot brought a number of Bibles in the French tongue to France, and publicly sold them there; for which he was brought to trial, sentenced, and executed a few days afterward. Soon after, a cripple of Meaux, a schoolmaster of Fera, named Stephen Poliot, and a man named John English, were burnt for the faith.

Monsieur Blondel, a rich jeweler, was, in A.D. 1548, apprehended at Lyons, and sent to Paris; there he was burnt for the faith by order of the court, A.D. 1549. Herbert, a youth of nineteen years of age, was committed to the flames at Dijon; as was also Florent Venote in the same year.



In the year 1554, two men of the reformed religion, with the son and daughter of one of them, were apprehended and committed to the castle of Niverne. On examination, they confessed their faith, and were ordered to execution; being smeared with grease, brimstone, and gunpowder, they cried, "Salt on, salt on this sinful and rotten flesh." Their tongues were then cut out, and they were afterward committed to the flames, which soon consumed them, by means of the combustible matter with which they were besmeared.

(from Fox Book of the Martyrs - to old for copyright)

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

. . . Michah . . .

6:8

And what does
The Lord require of you but
--to do Justly--
--to love mercy--
and
--to walk humbly with your God.--

[FormerLib]

Those people sound even more misguided than the modern day Christians who bear false witness against their brothers for failing to bow down to their personal interpretation of scripture, don’t they?