Metropolitan Meletios of Nikopolis and 666 as the Number of the Antichrist

Until 1981, no matter how much one looked, no matter where one turned to in their research, one would not find a single hint in the Orthodox world, not even a possibility of whether 666 is the mark of the antichrist. Orthodox tradition completely ignores such a theory.

From 1981, however, opinions diametrically opposed to the Orthodox began to circulate. It has been claimed that 666 is the antichrist's mark, that those who accept it, even in the form of a barcode, are transformed into demonic personalities, that 666 as a code on identity cards is a lifelong and indelible seal of the antichrist by the energy of Satan, etc. These views started in the United States of America from Mary Stewart Relfe's writings, which became bestsellers, but they also reached Greece. They were supported, in fact, to such an extent that theologians, monasteries, hieromonks, etc. fought against the barcode, considering it the antichrist's mark, and preached with all their might that anyone who accepts it is transformed into a demonic personality and takes upon himself the seal of Satan.

Fear of the Antichrist

A nun asked Saint Paisios the Athonite:

"Elder, when I hear about the Antichrist, I feel a fear inside me."

He replied:

"What are you afraid of? Will he be more terrible than the devil? He is a man. Why Saint Marina beat up the devil and Saint Justina dispersed so many demons. All in all, we did not come to be comfortable in this world."

Source: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos: Spiritual Counsels II: Spiritual Awakening. 

Liquid Chips, 5G Towers and the Mark of Antichrist. The Perspective of a Priest and Physicist

 

 

By Priest Maxim Pervozvansky

Before becoming a priest, I graduated from the Department of Experimental and Theoretical Physics of the Moscow Institute of Engineering and Physics, so I will try to explain the ideas behind the liquid chips and 5G towers, first from the technical and then from the spiritual standpoint.

Good news No. 1: “Liquid chip” is a misnomer. The chip has a solid silicon structure and simply cannot be liquid in the typical meaning of the word. What it actually refers to is quantum dots or quantum sensors. A quantum dot assembly may be placed in a colloidal capsule. So the ubiquitous “liquid chip” is nothing more than a colloidal capsule with quantum dots in it.

Good news No. 2: Technically, this “liquid chip” cannot function as a controller. According to the publicly available scientific data, the quantum dot research has been continuing since 1998, reaching its peak in 2008-2013. Later on, concerned that competitors may steal their inventions, the companies stopped publishing any information about their discoveries in this field.

Russian Patriarch Warns Smartphone Users To Be Careful of the Antichrist

Smartphone Users Warned to be Careful of the Antichrist

People's dependence on smartphones and modern technology could bring about the coming of the Antichrist, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has warned.

By Anastasia Clark and Chris Bell

8 January 2019

BBC News

Russian social media users largely responded with humour and scepticism, while some accused the Church of "serving the regime".

Speaking to Russian state TV, Patriarch Kirill said smartphone users should be careful when using the "worldwide web of gadgets" because it represented "an opportunity to gain global control over mankind".

"The Antichrist is the person who will be at the head of the worldwide web, controlling all of humankind," he said.

Did Kosmas the Aitolos Say "Curse the Pope" and "The Pope is the Antichrist"?

Fr. Irenaios Delidimos

By John Sanidopoulos

On 14-15 November 2014 at the Monastery of Vlatadon in Thessaloniki, Fr. Irenaios Delidimos gave a revealing speech titled "Saint Kosmas the Aitolos and the Theological Authority of his Works. An Anniversary: 1714-2014." In one section of this speech he analyzed two phrases attributed to St. Kosmas, in which he supposedly said "Curse the Pope" and "The Pope is the Antichrist," among other things.

Fr. Irenaios begins by stating that in the biography of St. Kosmas by Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotis, certain passages attributed to St. Kosmas were doubted to be authentic by the Metropolitan. Among these, for example, were passages by St. Kosmas in which he allegedly talks about the origins of Judas Iscariot. However, regarding the phrase "Curse the Pope," the Metropolitan passes it over in silence, although he often made comments throughout his book, especially with passages that made a particular impression on him. It seems like he did not know what to do with it, and perhaps the Metropolitan did not like this passage, because it contradicted the Apostle Paul: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Rom. 12:14).

Concerning the Antichrist (St. John of Damascus)

By St. John of Damascus

It should be known that the Antichrist is bound to come. Everyone, therefore, who confesses not that the Son of God came in the flesh and is perfect God and became perfect man, after being God, is Antichrist.1 But in a peculiar and special sense he who comes at the consummation of the age is called Antichrist. First then, it is required that the Gospel should be preached among all nations, as the Lord said,2 and then he will come to refute the impious Jews. For the Lord said to them: “I am come in My Father’s name and you received Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.”3 And the Apostle says, “Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”4 The Jews accordingly did not receive the Lord Jesus Christ Who was the Son of God and God, but will receive the imposter who calls himself God. For, that he will assume the name of God, the angel teaches Daniel, saying these words: “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers.”5 And the Apostle says: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day of the Lord shall not come except there come the apostasy first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits in the temple of God,6 showing himself that he is God;” in the temple of God he said, not our temple, but the old Jewish temple. For he will come not to us but to the Jews, not for Christ or the things of Christ: wherefore he is called Antichrist.

Problems in Contemporary Antichristology

By Protopresbyter Fr. Thomas Bambinis

The Schengen Treaty, electronic identities and sermons on the Antichrist, whose number is said to be in the barcode system, constitute a powerful temptation for the members of the Church. The Orthodox people are choked with terror about future suffering and the risk of losing the gift of Chrismation. Two possibilities are put before them: either receive the mark of the Antichrist which results in eternal damnation, or not accept it which results in suffering, because then you can neither buy nor sell. Naturally this dilemma is stressful and creates anxiety and concern for the future. In some cases this anxiety takes the form of panic or even leads to financial planning for the future in order to overcome the difficult years of the Antichrist. Under these conditions, people's reactions take political overtones. Thus, the struggle is oriented towards pressing the government to not create favorable conditions for the rule of the Antichrist.

Elder Porphyrios: "I Don't Like To Prophesy"

By Hieromonk Fr. George Kavsokalyvites

(From the Holy Kalyva of Zoodochos Pege, of the Holy Skete of Kavsokalyvia on Mount Athos)

At a time when more and more people feel the need, because of the profound crisis affecting mankind, to deal with eschatological events as described in the Apocalypse of Saint John the Theologian, as well as those things revealed by the Grace of God to the Prophets, the Fathers of the Church and contemporary saintly elders like Elder Paisios, we must especially stand with the view of Elder Porphyrios, and decode why such a great Saint of our time, while knowing with precision and detail everything that we are living and where things come from, avoided talking about these things.

The Freedom of the Fathers and the Enslavement of Fanaticism

The following is from an interview with Bishop Atanasije (Jevtic), a disciple of St. Justin Popovich, translated from the Russian to Serbian and published in a Serbian monastery periodical in 2002 (here, in Serbian).

Below is a part of his answer to the question, 

“Our Church warns us about that which is called the personal tax number, which you refer to as the social number, etc. We know the Greeks had similar issues (Identification Card).”

If we look at it realistically, can the Church avoid the required laws and norms of mass registration? I believe that it’s not our issue. In Greece there are a few who said that this was the number of the Antichrist – 666 - and that everyone will be sealed with it. Which means that this is the seal of the Antichrist which will be on us. However, I think this is nonsense. Would the demons offend us in such a way – through computers, numbers? This is too primitive. However, a worse thing can occur – the more deeper and mightier we begin losing the feeling, we are opening the door wider for the demons. He can act more deeper within us....

What Do Athonite Monks Say About the Last Days? (Abbot Ephraim of Vatopaidi)

Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of Vatopaidi Monastery, was asked the following question and responded:

What do Athonite Monks say about the Last Days?

Well, nowadays it is fashionable to speak about the Antichrist. Satan attacks from the left and from the right: he advises man either not to take care for the end times, or he tries to convince him that the end of time comes tomorrow. People apt to think about the End Times are afraid of everything, and that can bring only spiritual harm. A great number of such advice is not God-pleasing. A true Christian has to take care about the moment of his death – our death is our Last Day. Be devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Church that keeps the Tradition will inform us about the Antichrist, and She is the One that will tell us what to do.

About the Battle of the Lamb with the Beasts (Rev. 17:14)

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

"They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings" (Rev. 17:14).

Who speaks these marvelous words? John, who saw God. Who is this Lamb? Christ the Lord. Who is this Lord of Lords and King of Kings? Christ the Lord. With whom will He wage war and whom will He defeat? He will defeat the beast which has seven heads and all those whom receive authority, honor and riches from the unclean beast.

Elder Ambrose Lazaris: "Christians Do Not Await the Coming of the Antichrist"

Elder Ambrose Lazaris said:

Christians do not await the coming of the Antichrist to earth, to fight against him, since they are already fighting against him.

The Apostle Paul says that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, faith, temperance.

Christ also says, however, that in the human soul there are passions: anger, murder, fornication, adultery, lewdness, rudeness, disorder, disputation.

Elder Porphyrios: "We Ought Not To Fear the Antichrist Or 666"

One day Elder Porphyrios had told me:

"Father Athanasios (taking me by the hand tightly), I'm blind now, my eyes do not work physically because I have cancer of the pituitary gland, but I have spiritual eyes and see. Before you leave, I want you to tell me, what did Elder Aemilianos say about 666 and the Antichrist?"

This was in the days of Chernobyl. People were upset by this and went by the dozens every day, particularly to Elder Porphyrios near Athens, asking: "What will happen? Will the Antichrist come and stamp us with 666?"

The Elder asked me: "Tell me, my child, what did Elder Aemilianos say about 666 and the Antichrist?"

I told him: "He told us in a gathering a few days ago to not worry. We should be interested in having a vibrant relationship with Christ and not give much attention to the Antichrist, because then he will become the center of our lives and not Christ."

Elder Daniel of Katounakia on 666 and the Antichrist

On 5 September 1925 the late Elder Daniel of Katounakia (1846-1929) sent a letter to S. Bergonin, who had prepared a treatise that dealt with the number 666 and the Antichrist. After nearly 90 years this letter continues to be timely and instructive, as can be read below.

Letter of Elder Daniel of Katounakia (9/5/1925)

With much joy I just received these past days from Father Hilarion, spiritual child of the late Hieromonk Savvas, your letter on May 25th.

I read it with great attention and commend, as it should be, your divine zeal and that as a good Christian you cared to investigate Holy Scripture and to write a study that deals with the number 666, which implies the Antichrist.

The Antichrist and 666 Was Not the Primary Message of Elder Paisios

By Elder Makarios of Maroudas

(Holy Skete of the Nativity of the Theotokos "Maroudas", Mount Athos)

...Others come to Mount Athos running around to find prophets and futurists. The unfortunate ones see these things on television and the internet and they come to confirm it first hand, and they are victims of the exploitation of the terror they receive. They exploit even the words and writings of the late Elder Paisios. The Elder, as we came to know him, was a man full of peace, love and goodness. You went near to him, and your soul was calmed; he gave you hope and joy for life. Today there are distributed hundreds of photocopies of a manuscript of his about the Antichrist and 666, as if this was the primary message of the Elder.