I Was Wrong

About a lot of things actually. Someday I may elaborate about what specifically but right now though, I want to say a mea culpa about a prediction I made several months ago. It was a political story, so I hope you indulge me for a few minutes.

Several months ago, I wrote a story called “Yep, She’s Running”. It was about Madame Clinton and I predicted that she was going to throw her hat into the ring in order to “save” the Democrats from themselves. And I was wrong. Well, partly. Please hear me out anyway.

You see, up until 48 hours ago, I fully expected Hillary to get back into the race. Biden, the front-runner and the one with the only chance of getting Pennsylvania back into the Blue column was/is imploding. Partly because the Bolsheviks hate old white guys and so they started stabbing him in the back. It was ugly catching him flat-footed at the second debate but politics ain’t beanbag as they say. The trouble is Kama-sutra Harris may have been a better campaigner against Trump in the general election but her reparations schtick isn’t going to get her any votes in any state out of California. And probably not even there. I can just see it now: some Latino barely making minimum wage is going to say “What? I’m gonna pay LeBron James some of my hard-earned money because his great-great-great-grandfather was a slave? Man, that’s muy loco!”

Yeah, that’s go over really well. So what’s a party to do? In the old Batman TV series, Commissioner Gordon would light the Bat-signal and before you knew it Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson would shimmy down the Bat-pole and save the day. The Bat-signal for the Democratic Party today would look something like this: some cognoscenti (think David Gergen) goes on CNN and furrows his brow while shaking his head more in shame than in anger about the present state of affairs and then sagely invokes the sacred name of Clinton. Hillary would then dutifully emerge from her walk in the woods attended by chirping birds and furry, woodland creatures making a path for her. She would then alight onto Bill’s coach for the momentous trip to the Federal City. That’s the script anyway. Especially now that Occasional-Cortex (a.k.a. Dumbellina) has declared war on Nob Hill Nancy Pelosi. And sanity. (She actually said that “Patriarchy has no gender” the other day. https://pjmedia.com/trending/aoc-patriarchy-has-no-gender/) Things are that dire indeed.

Unfortunately, there’s these things called Black Swans (I’ve talked about them before). This year’s Black Swan is a certain Jeffrey Epstein. You see, he’s got a certain paedophilia problem which is bad enough; unfortunately he’s also got his fingerprints all over Bill Clinton. And who knows who else. Bill has now gone from being messiah to pariah in no time flat and he’d be an albatross around his long-suffering wife’s neck. So, she’s out. Before you know it, Bill’s name will be erased from the hieroglyphics a la Ankhenaton’s. This Epstein thing is going to be that bad.

The Epstein story “broke” two days ago and now it’s sucking up all the oxygen in the room. And not a moment too soon. If you’ll permit me, I’ll explain what I mean that his story “broke” recently. In reality, Epstein’s Lolita Express is ancient history. He was hauled before a Miami court several years ago, convicted and had to serve time (part-time really) in some Club Fed. You see, our Corporate News Industrial Complex doesn’t “report” the news so much as it “curates” it. It reaches into its In Box and pulls out the requisite story whenever they get the go-ahead from a higher-up. Not before, but only after. (See what I mean: https://www.theepochtimes.com/katie-couric-woody-allen-and-george-stephanopoulos-attended-party-with-epstein-after-2008-conviction_2998474.html?)

And this is where it gets interesting. You see, Epstein (or his handlers) orchestrated this latest stunt. The official news said that he was caught unawares as he was arrested when he landed in New York on his way back from Paris. Well, he was arrested upon arrival from Paris –but it wasn’t a surprise. He knew he was going to be arrested and he’d already made a deal. He’s going to sing like a canary and right now thanks to him, there’s a whole lot of high-level potentates soiling their pants. A few will probably commit Arkancide I’m sure.

Anyway, word on the street is that he’ll get five years (with time off for good behavior). This time he’ll serve actual time in a real prison where he has a better chance of being protected from the people he’s going to screw over. It’ll be another Club Fed to be sure but it will be real time with no furloughs. And I’m sure he’ll be protected.

I realize that I’m putting a lot of dots on the picture. Allow me to connect them. You see, Epstein had been groomed for decades by the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. Ever wonder how this former high school physics teacher became a multi-billionaire? Stock tips. Where do they come from? Not the Stock-tip Fairy –ain’t no such thing. They come from those in the know, or at least those who know how to manipulate the price of stocks. Epstein’s job was to take his profits, throw them around like there was no tomorrow, buy a mansion or two, throw a couple of orgies every so often with underage girls and be sure and film the proceedings. And he did all that and more.

Don’t believe me? Epstein didn’t have to get on that plane to New York. He could have hightailed it to Israel and as a Jew, claimed asylum. Marc Rich did it, so did Robert Maxwell. (If memory serves, Meyer Lansky did it as well.) Anyway, the “Right of Return” guarantees any Jew automatic Israeli citizenship especially if he feels he’s endangered. He was in Paris, he could have been in Israel the very next day if he’d gotten on El Al and nobody would have known. Or he could have rented a car and in two days he could have driven to Pireaus, Greece and then hopped a ferry to Haifa. Instead, he informed the Department of Justice that he would return to America and face the music.

So where are we? What does this tell us? Mainly this: that the Israelis are casting their lot in with Trump in his war against the American Deep State. They know which way the wind is blowing and they’ve never been accused of being dummies. The Deep State has had two years to try and get rid of Trump and so far, they have failed each and every time. Miserably. And besides, Trump did the Israelis a couple of solids: first, he moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and then he declared that the Golan Heights belonged to Israel. For the Israelis, these were two very sweet deals. Ones which shifted the balance of power in the Middle East significantly in their favor.

Quid, meet pro quo; as the Greeks say “etsi geinoun ta pragmata” (That’s the way things are done).

So now, they have to uphold their end of the bargain. They told their boy Epstein to give up all the goods to the DOJ and let the chips fall where they may. I imagine that those who are presently buying out all the Depends at the local Walgreens are no longer all that powerful or useful. It’s also a good way to purge the the Establishment. It’s not unknown: Stalin did that way back when in the Soviet Union in order to get better control of the Communist Party. Then Krushchev did it after Stalin died. It’s an old trick and we shouldn’t be surprised that it can happen here in the U S of A. (Hey, we’ve been in the midst of an actual, slow-motion coup d’état. No matter what they taught you in Civics, we’re not all that different from the rest of the world.)

Anyway, they couldn’t get rid of Trump try as they might and now with a new Attorney General –one from Bushworld no less–it looks like the Bush dynasty is making peace with the new order as well. And the Democrats foolishly made Barr into an unnecessary enemy. First, they wasted two years not bringing home the goods to their constituents, now they’re dead-set on wasting another two years doing their best Captain Ahab imitation. Not good Folks, not good.

Anyway, buckle up! It’s going to be a rollicking ride!

P.S. Yours Truly is going to take a week off for some personal reflection. Prayers would be appreciated. Let’s pray for each other as well. Anyway, I’m actually going to hold off on posting any stories for the time being. Your comments will be posted regardless. Pax vobiscum.

Comments

  1. John Sakelaris says

    Yes, Bill Clinton could be in trouble–but who else?

    And George, are you saying that Israel set up this Lolita thing years ago so as to be able to eventually have the goods on some US politicians they do not care for?

    • George Michalopulos says

      Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.  As for the “former PM”, that’s Ehud Barak.  Schumer likely as well.  Watch to see who among the Dems all of a sudden starts working with Trump.

  2. Ronda Wintheiser says

    I have progressive friends who defend Hillary staying with Bill as a noble, loyal,  marriage-is-sacred act.  (Back in 2004 she *did* say that marriage is “a sacred bond between a man and a woman”.)  What a good wife she has been.  She forgave him. 
    Oh the irony.Imagine how this *could* have worked out for Mrs. Clinton had she kicked her husband to the curb instead of savaging his accusers in a desperate attempt to hang on to his coattails.  Just think. She might have been able to do it all on her own — I am woman hear me roar — after all. 
     

    • George Michalopulos says

      Indeed. She stuck with Bill because their marriage was open, she is bisexual, and she needed him for her own rise to power.

      • Anonymous says

        Don’t you understand the angels don’t like it when you say such things about a person you don’t known?
        Trump is named as a co-defendant in a civil case against Epstein.
        That is the real news; not this baloney about move back to your country.
        Trump just didn’t want the Epstein story out.

  3. Michelle says

    I think you’re right here, George.  Does the question then become, Who better prioritizes our interests, Isreal or Hillary?

  4. I hope the Clintons finally get what they deserve, but I’ve learned not to get my hopes up regarding those snakes.

  5. The struggle against the deep state is great… don’t get me wrong. But, it’s pretty scary at the same time. The problem is that all politicians are corrupt! As much as I like to get my way, the guys who I vote for give me the creeps. The people who replace the ones in the deep state won’t be any better!!! Leadership in almost every aspect of life (politics, religion, business, education) is attracting more and more crazy people.
     

  6. George Michalopulos says

    More proof that Epstein was a Mossad/CIA/MI6 asset (and why he was let off easy 11 yrs ago):

    http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/hedge-funders-have-some-thoughts-on-what-epstein-was-doing.html

    • CS Louis says

      It make one wonder how much sick stuff our government tolerates to protect “assets”.

      • George Michalopulos says

        A hell of a lot. Think of Operation “Paper Clip” in which high-level Nazis were smuggled into the US to help us fight the Soviets and kick-start our space program.

        In the last days of the Obama regime, Hizbollah was making billions selling cocaine and heroin in the United States and the Dept of Justice was ordered to stand down because many felt that they had to place nice with them in order to get Iran to agree to the deal that was forged (and later overridden by Trump).

  7. George Michalopulos says

    Remember Pizzagate? The Podesta brothers? 

    https://victorygirlsblog.com/jeffrey-epstein-will-god-win/

    Apologies will be graciously accepted.?

     

    • Deep Steak says

      pizzagate? you were wrong about that giant channer-hoax
      seth rich? you were wrong about that too
      you deserve no apologies you should be giving them out
      you also seem to think epstein fallout is only going to touch people you do not like which is probably wishful thinking to the extreme
      as time goes on the conspiracy theories you think might be plausible are in fact more and more outlandish

      • Gail Sheppard says

        Let’s fire up the coals under that “steak” of yours and see if we can elevate the execution of your testimony from “rare” to at least “medium well” because much of what you say is half-baked.

        What’s a “channer-hoax?”
        What did George say about Seth Rich that was wrong?
        Why do you think George is unaware the “epstein fallout” could include people he “likes?”
        Which conspiracy theories does George ascribe to that you know are outlandish?

        • Deep Steak says

          pizzagate was a 4chan/8chan creation if you do not know what those are spend an afternoon browsing them
          gm helped spread seth rich dnc hack rumors and conspiracies that never had any grounding in reality and just look sad and pathetic in the light of subsequent indictments
          maybe because some people might find it curious he omitted potential exposures like the sitting president having alledged to have raped a young girl at an epstein property, almost as if he is only going to treat as credible any epistein related revelation when it is tied to people he doe not like
          all of them? we are talking about a dude who treated a rumor as the brits giving the ukrainians a nuclear weapon to blow up a bridge as credible and said he thought Q was real i mean cmon

           

      • George C Michalopulos says

        DS, I am completely unaware as to whether the Seth Rich murder was solved.  If you can provide any proof that that particular case is “closed” please provide it to us.
        In the meantime, please explain to us how come no valuables, wallets, cell phone, etc., were taken from the late Mr Rich who was supposedly killed as a result of a botched “burglary”?
        Or why Julian Assange offered $20,000 for any information regarding his murder?
        As for the “Epstein fallout” I am fully aware that some friendly heads are likely to roll.  Too bad.  Let the chips fall where they may.  
        Still, I’d wager that the overwhelming majority of the heads on the chopping block are going to be liberal, progressive and/or globalist ones.  Especially given the fact that it was Trump who rolled out Epstein 2.0 and the Corporate Media are doing whatever they can to pin the tail on Acosta.

        • Deep Steak says

          seth rich murder not being solved has zero to do with the fact that he had nothing to do with the dnc hack and leak

          please explain why oj simpson offered a half million dollars for information on who killed nicole brown simpson and ronald goldman

          dont understand why you think it is unusual that a pair of armed robbers who had been active in an area fled without taking anything when they ended up killing a target they meant to rob

          i mean it is good that if you ever murdered someone you would probably make some mistakes that might help the cops catch you but your poor judgement does not lend credibility to a conspiracy theory that has none
           

      • George Michalopulos says

        DS, here’s more evidence:

        https://www.unz.com/gatzmon/epstein-007/

        Notice that Alex Acosta, when asked why he didn’t throw the book at Epstein back in 2007 said he was told to go easy on him because “the intelligence community” told him to.

        Regardless of the actual details (of which more will follow in due time), even the Corporate Media is starting to see the handwriting on the wall about Epstein, his curious rise to power, the money behind him, etc.  The only question as far as the Corporate Media is concerned is whether his backers were the CIA, the FSB (i.e. the Russians) or Mossad. 

        • Deep Steak says

          you confuse speculation with evidence so you are already backpedaling from the mossad to any connection of whatever sort with any government intelligence agency

          anonymous source claims are not the same thing as sworn testimony acosta might have said that and it was true or he might have said it and it was a lie or somebody else might have lied that he said it when he never did

          i am sure there will be weird details and revelations of the mysterious circumstances behind epstein and his lack of earlier meaningful prosecution but all the theories about the mossad in your big post will be largely or entirely inaccurate

          it would be funny if it turned out epstein was a source for kompromat on trump for the fsb tho

          you going on about corporate media is a little odd when it was a miami herald story from 2018 that helped put epstein and acosta back in the spotlight

          • Gail Sheppard says

            Well. deep steak, you’re speculating, too, because the murder was never solved.

            So you think a guy who is virtually ordinary in every way EXCEPT for his ties to Wikileaks and his access to information that could (did) tank Hillary’s election, was randomly shot as part of a would-be robbery, even though his wallet wasn’t taken, and your reason for believing this is because other robberies have happened in the area?

            Because THAT sounds crazy to me especially since shootings in robberies-gone-bad purportedly happen less than 8% of the time.

            • Deep Steak says

              it is not speculation to suggest that seth rich had nothing to do with the dnc hack but a conclusion based on hard evidence
              it is unsupported speculation to suggest that he did or that his murder had anything to do with it
              so no i am not speculating i am merely stating what the available facts support
              the doj laid out a remarkable amount of evidence as to who did the dnc hack:
              https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/

              • Gail Sheppard says

                Yes, it IS speculation because you have no evidence upon which to base your opinion. It would be different if Seth Rich had no access to the information or no association with Wikileaks but this is not the case. It would also be different if Rich’s wallet had been stolen or if they had some suspects in custody who had records.

                What you have is a case and even if the case could be made, which it can’t, it would not prove that Rich didn’t leak the information that tanked Hillary’s career. Again, you’re speculating.

                • Deep Steak says

                  sorry but you are incorrect
                  my opinion is literally based on very detailed evidence in the indictment i linked for you detailing who hacked dnc and leaked to wikileaks
                  those people were not seth rich
                  since the people who did it were not seth rich he is completely irrelevant and his murder and whether or not it is solved and why his wallet was not taken is also completely irrelevant
                  and assange of course had very good reasons to lie and dissemble

                  • Gail Sheppard says

                    An indictment is not proof of anything so it’s not evidence.

                    • Deep Steak says

                      gail,
                      if you think the indictment is built on psychic visions and not evidence than i do not know what to tell you

                      i am showing you the equivalent of reports of a recovered gun with a bloody fingerprint on it that ballistically matches with a bullet taken from a body and you are all how is that proof of anything

                      regards,
                      deep steak

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      Dear Heart, this is where you go off the rails. No one said the indictment was “built on psychic visions;” however, for an indictment to be evidence, the charges would have to be proven. Otherwise, where’s your proof? You don’t have it. Even if the charges were proven, you’d have to demonstrate that the data that was hacked was THE data that tanked Hillary. Until then, you have no evidence; you’re speculating.

                      Just because you characterize something as a “recovered gun with a bloody fingerprint on it that ballistically matches with a bullet taken from a body” doesn’t make it so.

                    • Deep Steak says

                      come now it is silly to suggest that the indictment itself is evidence rather than what i was saying which is that the indictment enumerates and summarizes evidence which supports the indictment

                      my opinion is not based on the existence of the indictment itself as if that were evidence of anything but from assessing the quality and quantity of evidence and inferred from summary evidence detailed in the indictment

                      why would i have to prove dnc data was the reason hillary lost it has nothing at all to do with the matter at hand which is who hacked the dnc

                      my final words on this is that the government has strong evidence and a strong case and your inability to be able to understand this is not my problem

                      meanwhile gm gives the impression that he thinks bob mueller made up things but also not my problem

                  • George Michalopulos says

                    DS, I have some ocean-front property in Arizona. Interested?

                  • In other words, the indictment evidence is so false as to make Deep Steak an idiot and George and Gail are, once again, as usual, correct. 

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      No, Beryl, it has nothing to do with the content being true or false. An indictment cannot serve as evidence because the charges have not been proven.

              • Thanks, Deep Steak. If this ain’t evidence, I don’t know what is. The indictment is packed to the brim with evidence. The only way this document is false is if Robert Mueller made it all up, and if someone wants to believe that, maybe they should check out George’s ocean front property in Arizona. Here is one tiny excerpt: “1. The Conspirators, posing as Guccifer 2.0, discussed the release of the stolen documents and the timing of those releases with Organization 1 to heighten their impact on the 2016 U.S. presidential election. a.On or about June 22, 2016, Organization 1 sent a private message to Guccifer 2.0 to “[s]end any new material [stolen from the DNC] here for us to review and it will Case 1:18-cr-00215-ABJ Document 1 Filed 07/13/18 Page 17 of 29
                18have a much higher impact than what you are doing.” On or about July 6, 2016, Organization 1 added, “if you have anything hillary related we want it in the next tweo [sic] days prefable [sic] because the DNC [Democratic National Convention] is approaching and she will solidify bernie supporters behind her after.” The Conspirators responded, “ok . . . i see.” Organization 1 explained, “we think trump has only a 25% chance of winning against hillary . . . so conflict between bernie and hillary is interesting.”

          • George Michalopulos says

            DS, since you put all faith in Mueller’s report, how come his “findings” were conveniently accusatory of only foreign nationals who have no intention of showing up in American courts?

            All except for one, who I believe pled Not Guilty and hired an American law firm to defend him. Prediction: because we have in American jurisprudence this little thingie called “discovery” I have grave doubts whether the Prosecution shall proceed with this case.

            Just like I have my doubts about whether Mueller will ultimately appear before Congress. First he said he wouldn’t, then he said he would on the 17th, now it’s been pushed back to the 24th. I ain’t holding my breath. You of course are free to do so.

      • Michelle says

        Deep Steak,
         
        Assange and his mother admit that Seth Rich was the informant:
         
        https://youtu.be/Kp7FkLBRpKg
         
        https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-21/internet-buzzing-after-julian-assanges-mother-implicates-seth-rich-dnc-leak
         
        I personally do not believe in Q Anon. I also believe that it’s possible that Trump is as much a pervert as Epstein (e.g., purposefully purchasing the miss teen universe pageant so that he could visually molest the underage girls, Trump’s 15 year friendship with Epstein, etc.). But the relationship that George discovered re: Epstein’s girlfriend working for Mossad gives us substantial meat to chew on.
         
        As does your name and your anti-conspiracy theory stance 😉

    • Meanwhile relating to God, the latest attitude survey in Uk paints a picture of advancing non – belief, especially in last 20 yrs.  No.of  18-24 yr olds who identity with C of E is 1% .  Yes 1% .  You do not need to be a statistics genius to get the message.
        48% of brits identity as non- Christian and 33% as aggeessively so. Double since 2000. This is country that it’s greek church leaders call ‘ Christian’. Cloud Cuckoo land they living in as we know.
      Each generation becoming, has become, totally non -Christian.  Do not forget this is environment young Orthodox there growing up in and part of. 
      Sorry to interupt the politics.  Carry on. IGNORE. 

  8. You should check this video out about Epstein, it will show you a bit more of what the world elite is up to:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5iYJqxRJPY
    And this is great footage of Epstein’s Island, with some good comments describing the Occult nature of the place;
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-12/watch-4k-drone-footage-epsteins-pedo-island
    As Orthodox Christians we must  be wise to what is going on around us.

    • George Michalopulos says
      • George,
        Our holy fathers and elders have been warning us all about “the elite” for some time now. Just think – many of them probably learned about what was going on by listening to confessions of top people. Saint Paisios and Seraphim Rose provided many details.
        I thought this article summarizing Orthodox teaching about the Antichrist is on point, and should be reflected on given this news.
        http://orthochristian.com/106805.html
        I think we all need to wake up a bit. These are not conspiracies.

        • Gail Sheppard says

          RE: “Our holy fathers and elders have been warning us all about “the elite” for some time now. Just think – many of them probably learned about what was going on by listening to confessions of top people.”

          Interesting point. I never thought about this! This is probably true.

          • Helen T. says

            Gail, I remember being horrified/shocked when heard that Prince Charles was a regular confessor to Fr. Dionisie (reposed, Romanian) on Mt. Athos, and that he (Ch.) had bought huge tracks of land for a personal villa in Romania…

        • Constantinos says

          George, I read the article referred by Gene B. There are some serious problems with these prophecies. The author refers to the prophecies of St. Paisios.  He has made numerous false prophecies concerning Greece. 
          There is not going to be any third temple of King Solomon. No one is going to destroy the Al- Aqsa mosque. St. Paisios was confusing the destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD with the second coming. He talks about “fleeing to the hills.” That’s what the followers of Jesus did when Jerusalem was under siege by the Roman army’s Tenth Legion. The abomination of desolation was Titus.
           

          • The organization at https://templeinstitute.org/ already has everything ready for the third temple. Supposedly all of the stones are cut and sitting in a warehouse in the US. They are breeding red heifers now in preparation. Please don’t believe me, do the research yourself.
            All of those prophecies apply to the second coming, and this has been written by many elders over the ages. None of this is my own interpretation, but unfortunately we don’t talk about the end times enough like those did in the past.

            • George Michalopulos says

              For what it’s worth, when Julian the Apostate was Emperor in Cpole, several Jewish leaders came to him with their plan to build the Third Temple. In order to prove that Jesus was a false prophet, he financed the entire shindig out of his own resources. As the ships were leaving with the materials, they were sunk in the Aegean.

              So my understanding was that the Third Temple would never be rebuilt. Am I wrong on this? Please inform.

              • Certainly that wasn’t the right time, but I don’t think that was ever Orthodox teaching that the temple would never be rebuilt. This has been mentioned many times, by many elders and saints.
                Another resource is
                https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Things-Orthodox-Christian-Perspective/dp/096227139X
                https://www.amazon.com/Archimandrite-Athanasios-Mitilinaios/e/B00NUT20NI
                 
                 

                • George Michalopulos says

                  Thank you for the reply.

                  BTW, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) is Jared Kushner’s BFF. He’s planning a massive mega-city in the northwest Arabian peninsula which is centered around Mt Horeb (probably the location of the real Mt Sinai).

                  It’s got apocalyptic implications. As soon as I find out more, I’ll prepare a post on it.

                  • Mom of Toddler says

                    Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is currently 33 years old…and he has given me the creeps for years. He also has a certain look… I know not everything is in place…but just sayin’.
                    The “smart cities’ seems to be the thing.  There is a documentary called Blockchain City all about this “amazing technology” that is going to make life more equitable and better for everyone.  Scary stuff.  Regardless of how things play out, it makes sense to get out of debt as much as possible and leave big cities if you can.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6fadL-0VRw

                    • “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666”
                      The question is – ARE YOU READY to give up your retirement accounts, your house and cars, your ability to buy and sell? Elder Gabriel of Mt Athos stated in a video Christians will be in the woods again in groups of 10-15, not accepting the mark, and holding out until the end.
                      In my opinion every Christian must be ready to do this, at any time, to save his or her soul.
                      See Elder’s video here:
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XxGlKQUR24
                      I was very blessed to wish him “Christ Is Risen” and to receive his blessing this year.
                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XxGlKQUR24

                • Joseph Lipper says

                  The rebuilding of the “temple” doesn’t bring about the return of Christ.  Rather, it brings about the enthronement of Anti-Christ and all blasphemy.  Christians should have nothing to do with any of this.  It’s both shameful and bewildering that so many “Evangelicals” are supportive of this “third temple”.  Do they wish to tempt God?
                   

                  • George Michalopulos says

                    Unfortunately, yes they do attempt to “tempt God”. The most dangerously deluded of them are the ZioChristians and their pope, John Hagee.

                  • Michael Bauman says

                    Joseph, a good many of them are dual-dispensationalists.  They do not see a Church at all, they see a magical God who is still working through the nation of Israel. Christianity is a new dispensation not the fulfillment of the Law.  
                    They have a very weak understanding of the incarnation.

                  • Steven J. M. says

                    “It’s……bewildering that so many “Evangelicals” are supportive of this “third temple””
                     
                    Very true, Joseph. And then again it’s just par for the course.
                     
                    “Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”
                     
                    The Jews, certain evangelicals and many other besides, including Orthodox, haven’t discerned the meaning of truth and love, and how Orthodox Christianity is dripping with them, and almost everything else is without.
                     
                    On the one hand we might ask, how is this even possible; and on the other we can reply, very very easily.
                     
                     

                • Veras Coltroupis says

                  Indeed, they are entitled to rebuild it just as we are entitled to Constantinople. Erdogan threatened to twist Yair Netanyahu’s ear over that!

                • Why Oh why are you people still obscessed with jews and temple.??? They can rebuild as many as they want. It is a matter for jews and judaism.
                  Why, do u Americans not accept the simple words of Christ and St Paul that He, Christ is cornerstone of New temple which is his body, the Church and which we receive in the liturgy.??
                  Truly truly as Fr Alexander Schememn wrote, you Americans are more dangerous to the church than communism ever was. I expect Fantasy thinking from your loonies but not from Orthodox. I do not give a f…. about the temple except as an interesting bit of history. It’s design etc except for statues. same as any middle eastern temple of any primitive conceived God. It was the level and need they were at. Christ did away with all that but we so need it do we not.!!

            • Constantinos says

              George,
              Are all Orthodox Christians illiterate? All sound Bible scholars know that Christ was talking about two separate events. Historians as well. The temple events were fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem. “Not one stone will be left standing. When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, flee to the hills.” That’s exactly what the Christians did in AD 70. They fled for the hills, and saved their lives.  I repeat: No third temple is prophesied. 
              Also, George, if Seraphim Rose was “clairvoyant,” why didn’t he know the other “living saint” was a pedophile? Perhaps his “struggle” was not so heroic after all. Maybe people should stop with all this “blessed” nonsense. Personally, I’m 100% concerned convinced he was anything but a saint.

              • George Michalopulos says

                Costa, I am not in disagreement with you regarding the Temple, second or third. However you then went on to say something about Fr Seraphim Rose not knowing that the “other ‘living saint’ was a pedophile”. Who are you referencing? Citation please.

                • Constantinos says

                  Father Gleb Podmonshesky. https:/www.pokrov.org/persons/father-herman-podmoshensky/

                  • No one ever said that Monk Herman Podmoshensky was a living saint. Most of the community around the monastery dispersed as soon as Fr. Seraphim died and went elsewhere.

                    As for Fr. Seraphim, “you will know them by their fruits,” and he multiplied his talent an hundredfold. You’re always giving the big talk about how many people you’ve brought to Christ, well, I’m sure that Fr. Seraphim has brought a hundred times as many people to the true faith, if not more.

                    Casting aspersions on him because of another man’s crimes are low. I’m sure you wouldn’t like to be held accountable for the misdeeds of you next door neighbor or college dorm-mate. Treachery can happen under peoples’ noses at close quarters and go unnoticed.

                    • Michael Bauman says

                      Basil, you are quite correct. A good friend of mine’s ex-husband was sexually abusing his own children. She did not know until she kicked him out for other reasons and her children told her what had been going on. I was in their house repeatedly over several years and was not aware of anything to indicate such abuse.

                      As to the number of people Fr. Seraphim led to Christ, the number is quite high. I do not know of a single person who came into the Church in the late 1980’s including the EOC folk who had not been touched by him in such a way as to lead them to the Church, including me. Even though most never met him in person. The number is likely to be in 10s of thousands.

                      He had a remarkable charisma. He was easy to relate to because he was from a 1950’s white bread American family and he struggled ascetically with all the burdens that brought, the 1960’s counter-cultural movement and his sexual sins.

                      There were some who were star struck but the ones I know the best that were in that group have mellowed over the years as they have been living in the Church.

                      The main impact on me of the Toll Houses was simple: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

                  • George Michalopulos says

                    Costa, I went to the link you provided but there was no citation at all that Fr Seraphim Rose actually knew about Podmoshensky’s crimes.  

                    I realize of course that you say he should have known had been “clairvoyant” but infallibility and omniscience aren’t gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It’s possible that Fr Seraphim, because of his own sinful past, was blinded to this aspect of Podmo’s sinfulness.

                    I dunno.  

                    Rose continues to be a controversial figure, of this there is no doubt yet as Jesus said:  “By their fruits ye shall know them”.  Rose’s evangelistic output is inarguable as are his many writings on theology.  Even if I didn’t respect him, I’d say he got the nihilistic mindset of the present age pegged 100%.  

                    In many ways, he’s like Jefferson –a flawed individual who was yet a great man.  The same could be said about Martin Luther King, Jr who was clearly a flawed sinner of the greatest magnitude.

                    • Michael Bauman says

                      George, apparently, Fr. Seraphim had a major falling out with Fr. Gleb right before he reposed. Reportedly Fr. Seraphim cursed Fr. Gleb and would not let him be there.   
                      After Fr. Seraphim reposed Fr. Gleb really went off the rails.  
                      Fr. Seraphim did indeed nail the nihilist foundation of moderism and it’s demonic foundation.  He wrote about it long before most recognized it.  Even today the extent to which we are embedded in that nihilism is under estimated.  Every single philosophy of political economy that is common today share the same roots. 
                      The historical record is quite clear.  Only genuine Christianity with thanksgiving for God’s Providence in all things and living a Sacramental life.  That was the life Fr. Seraphim attempted to live in sorrow for his many sins in the midst of the epitome of the western mind, the United States. 
                      It is deeply sad that the Toll Houses, whatever their validity has obscured his ascetic effort and his translation of many Orthodox works into English.  
                       
                       

                    • M. Stankovich says

                      There is a story of a saint (whose name I can never recall) who was a prince of a royal family, and shared the arrogance of rank. Nothing enraged him more than street-beggars asking for assistance. One day, he was buying bread for a special dinner, when a poor man from the street begged for something to eat. This so angered the prince that, from atop his horse, he took a large, heavy loaf of the bread he had just purchased and smashed the beggar in his face, leaving him fallen and bleeding in the street. That night, the Lord took the life of the prince and as he stood for judgment, his vicious deeds were made known. But it is said that an angel stepped forward and said that, by striking the beggar with the loaf of bread, he had, however inadvertently, provided nourishment to the man and his children. In effect, the angel advocated that this young man be given a chance to redeem himself. The Lord changed his mind, and the prince sought out a life of holiness. He had “bought” himself a way to the door of repentance.
                       
                      Whatever will be said regarding Hieromonks Seraphim and Herman, it should not be forgotten that the Brotherhood of St. Herman of Alaska Press translated and published an extraordinary amount of Patristic texts; lives of the saints; liturgical texts; essays of the saints and pious ones, and “samizdat” information regarding the life of the Russian Orthodox Church under the yolk of communism, and the revelation of the New Martyrs of Russia. What is so fabulously remarkable about their publications was that they were in the English language, when there was, literally, nothing like this available. And to top it off, everything was printed on quality materials that, in my case, have lasted for decades.

                      Orthodoxy in America is beholden to these men, and this ROCOR commitment to make texts in English, and my prayer is that this voluminous collection of “nourishment” in a veritable desert serve as their “loaf of bread,” and the Lord will be pleased and show mercy to them.

                    • George Michalopulos says

                      Michael, this is a brilliant apologia! We should remember these men in our prayers or at the very least, try to be humble about our own accomplishments (or lack thereof).

                      If memory serves, the story you told is about St Peter the Tax-collector, who I believe was a chief publican under Justinian the Great.

                    • Archpriest Alexander F. C. Webster says

                      Dr. S, your invocation of that beautiful hagiographic story in your “brief” for clemency reminds me of Grushenka’s marvelous “tale of an onion” in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Here it is:

                      Once upon a time there was a peasant woman and a very wicked woman she was. And she died and did not leave a single good deed behind. The devils caught her and plunged her into the lake of fire. So her guardian angel stood and wondered what good deed of hers he could remember to tell to God; ‘She once pulled up an onion in her garden,’ said he, ‘and gave it to a beggar woman.’ And God answered: ‘You take that onion then, hold it out to her in the lake, and let her take hold and be pulled out. And if you can pull her out of the lake, let her come to Paradise, but if the onion breaks, then the woman must stay where she is.’ The angel ran to the woman and held out the onion to her. ‘Come,’ said he, ‘catch hold and I’ll pull you out.’ he began cautiously pulling her out. He had just pulled her right out, when the other sinners in the lake, seeing how she was being drawn out, began catching hold of her so as to be pulled out with her. But she was a very wicked woman and she began kicking them. ‘I’m to be pulled out, not you. It’s my onion, not yours.’ As soon as she said that, the onion broke. And the woman fell into the lake and she is burning there to this day. So the angel wept and went away. So that’s the story, Alyosha; I know it by heart, for I am that wicked woman myself.”

                      The major difference, however, between your story and Grushenka’s tale is that the miserable woman who was given a special reprieve for her many sins in light of the one onion she had given to a beggar was fundamentally so selfish and evil that she, instead of rejoicing at the grace of God that had given her one last chance by allowing other sinners to be rescued with her, reverted to form and undermined her guardian angel’s fervent, even creative advocacy on her behalf with the Lord.  And so, the onion “broke” and she plummeted to her just punishment of separation from the Lord. 

                      Dr. S, you cannot become a guardian angel, but maybe you’re in the wrong profession. Have you considered taking up the law and serving as a defense attorney in otherwise “hopeless” cases? (I’m serious, by the way.)

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      This is absolutely my favorite tale!

                    • M. Stankovich says

                      Thanks, Mr. M., for identifying St. Peter the Tax Collector – may he pray to God for us! I’ve read about four versions of his life now with some subtle differences (e.g. he presented for judgment v he dreamed he was at his judgement; he was of a royal family v an aristocratic, etc.) but the gist – and obviously the lesson – is always edifying. Now all you need to do is have the OCA remove the hideous cartoon icon they display for his feast day on their website. Madonna Mia!

                      Fr. Dean, your comments, as always, are appreciated. It’s a bit ironic that you ask if I have considered taking up the law. I have been reading what I am told is a British classic work on the art of cross-examination, which can be summed by the following: “Get what you minimally need to make your closing argument and STOP. Fatal errors are nearly always made by an attorney who asks one too many questions – particularly when making the generally spontaneous, but universally foolish choice to “debate” with the witness. Get what you need and STOP!” Now, Reverend Father, you more than anyone knows of my verbosity…

              • Constantinos: “I repeat: No third temple is prophesied. ”
                 
                It is, implicitly in the epistles of St Paul, explicitly in the writings of the Fathers.
                 
                Even your beloved Latins have it in their tradition.
                 
                Presumably your brethren form the Lodge dream about it, as they derive their dignity from the supposed building of the First Temple.

                • Constantinos says

                  Martin,
                  [Ed. Note: Comment Removed]
                  It is not implicitly in the writings of St. Paul. He was dead before the Second Temple was destroyed. As for the “Fathers,” George correctly stated they were not infallible.
                  What you are espousing is Protestant dispensationalism. It all started with John Darby.  What did our Lord really say? “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Lord is the Temple.
                  “When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, flee to the hills.” This all happened in the year 70 AD, with the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the tenth Roman legion.
                  [Ed. Note: Comment Removed]

                  • Constantinos: “As for the “Fathers,” George correctly stated they were not infallible. What you are espousing is Protestant dispensationalism.”
                     
                    “Fallible” Fathers were espousing Protestant dispensationalism?
                     
                    Let me repeat, the Temple will be rebuilt in the times of Antichrist.

                  • Constantinos says

                    George,
                    What a gentle, gracious post by Michael Stankovich. Why can’t every poster on this forum, especially me, conduct themselves in this manner? Now, that is wisdom. We should all try to emulate the kindness Michael showed in his post while making a great point, not lost on me. Thank you Michael Stankovich for your wise words.
                     

            • Mirkos Detourpas says

              My protestant friends keep posting preparations for the Third Temple, priestly training and sacrifices, the whole nine yards. But my catholic friends insiste Mary is the Third Temple because she bore God and died exactly on Tisha B’Av.

        • George Michalopulos says

          Gene, that is an interesting observation, one that I never considered.  Probably because it never occurred to me that these rich and powerful men every went to confession at all.  Or were not Christian in the first place.
          However, I could be wrong about that assessment.  I do think that there is a need in many people’s minds to “come clean” about crimes and/or egregious sins, often to perfect strangers.  Sometimes this takes literary form (i.e. Penthouse Forum), other times it’s just that fellow sitting next to you on the plane for 3 hrs.   
          If true (and I believe it is) then I can see how it’d be possible for some of these elites to go to confession to a priest and unburden their soul.  It’s also possible that the elders you mentioned (Paissius and Rose) were simply clairvoyant and given the gift of insight and/or prophecy.  And that they weren’t the only ones.  I mean, sometimes you can just look at some rich and powerful man and “know” that he’s into some really strange shenanigans, just “because”. 
          I dunno.  Just riffing here.  Still, it’s just a given now that among the super-rich and well-connected, that they engage in orgiastic and drug-fueled rituals.  Not all but a great many.  Regardless, I’m not sure that all the men in Epstein’s black book were pedos per se or at least they didn’t start that way.  Perhaps at first it was an 18 year old Playboy-quality young woman.  Then a 17 year old, then a 15, then 14.  All beautiful with an innocent look.  And all without the perp even knowing that they were minors or perhaps his powers of discrimination got dulled.  Regardless, the crime was committed and it was all on videotape.  And now it’s at the Dept of Justice.

          • I visited Mount Athos this year in May, and one of the profound observations I made was that these elders were required – or at least promised – to keep what can be referred to office hours – that is, many have promised to be available to all comers for questions, prayers, confessions, and hospitality. These elders literally could receive over 100 pilgrims a day.
            There is a daily rhythm on Athos. You are only allowed to stay at a monastery one night, which means you have to leave and walk or hike to the next one for your next visit. This is the time when pilgrims find and visit the elders in their remote cells. They talk to thousands of people. And it only takes one or two to make such a confession.
            Additionally, If you search and study the “conspiracy” type literature you will find that over history, there have been many such confessions made. This type of information was always suppressed, which is why you will never find it in library. You have to search for it but be careful about running down that rabbit hole if you haven’t yet. For me, understanding this stuff made Christ and the Orthodox Church more real than ever, and made me understand the gap between what we feel today and how the apostles and elders felt in their day. We have just been propagandized to believe “It Can’t Be”. Well, IT IS.
             

      • That weird “temple” looks like a mosque,  particularly the Dome of the Rock. No surprise, as Epstein and Mohammed are/were both pedos.

        • George Michalopulos says

          Anthony, that’s the first thing I noticed when I went to Drudge this morning: how much it looked like a mosque.

          • Helen T. says

            George, don’t discount it that it might be, or some form therein.  Temples (Greek and Roman) were always pluralistic, the Pantheon is the foremost example.  A little bit here, a little bit there; customize a bit.  The Romans’ fav military god was Mithras, that one a conglomerate of eastern deities, for example.  Have trouble getting out of mind T.Cruise’s movie, “Eyes Wide Open” and some particular scenes in it, Dionysian in nature.  I remember a book that came out maybe 10-ish years ago (fringe publishing house), “Money:  the 12th Religion.”  Something to ponder on…

          • George, it looks like the temple in the desert that the 4 virgins were taken to along with Perseus in the movie, “The Immortals” (somewhat recent with Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke…).  Hollywood, I know, but…Hollywood.  Or also, it looks like the inside of of the Romanesque Cathedral retooled into a mosque in Cordoba, Spain (the alternating light dark stonework). 

    • Mom of Toddler says

      I just wanted to recommend the first YouTube video link that Gene B recommends. The first two minutes make some references to Epstein and his ‘activities” but the majority of the video is about his financial investments in science/transhumanism.  Epstein is/was obviously in support of a lot of creepy things.  So its more of a NWO/science video than about Epstien’s deeds.  I’m glad I gave the video a chance…Thanks for recommending it. I will check out more of “Amazing Polly” videos are well.

  9. Michael Bauman says

    M. Stankovich, your comment here July 17, 2019 at 10:21 am said what I was trying to say, but you said it much better. Both Father Seraphim and Father Herman worked mightily against a lot of opposition to complete and publish good translations in quality editions. There can be no question that their works published in Russia in samizdat had significant influence on the new foundation for the revival of the Orthodox faith in Russia.

    I also know that those close to Fr. Herman were deeply saddened by his sins. Nevertheless they worked diligently to bring him to repentance so that he might end his life in the grace of the Church. To me that is just as much a fruit of the labors of both Frs. Seraphim and Herman as the rest. May their memories be eternal.

  10. I related to Michael Stankovich’s article about the legacy of “Orthodox Word”. After college, I was beginning to become a “cultural Orthodox member”. What I mean by that is that I felt that I was an heir to Byzantine history and the great Church Fathers and Saints it produced. I did not believe that Orthodoxy was alive today, but I was proud of its past as I had learned in GOA Sunday School. Orthodox Word taught me that Orthodoxy continues to be a source of holiness with hundreds of thousands of martyrs, Saints, and Church Fathers and Mothers. I used to eagerly wait for my bi-monthly copy of Orthodox Word, which played a big part in my joining ROCOR. May God have mercy on the reposed Platina Fathers, and grant them eternal memory!.