Kun ohi on elonaika

I wrote a little poem, this time in the Finnish language (sorry, it's much easier for me, more natural). English title of the poem is When the Harvest is Over. This poem is a bit melancholic and it's inspired by these Bible verses: "You who are my comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me. – The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved" (Jeremiah 8:18, 20; in Finnish: "Missä on virvoitus minun murheeseeni? Minun sydämeni on sairas. – Ohi on elonaika, lopussa kesä, mutta ei ole meille apua tullut").

Tämä runo kertoo kaipuusta, kesän loppumisesta ja siitä, ettei voi olla sen luona, jota sydän halajaa. Japanilainen kirjailija Yasushi Inoue on sanonut, että "kärsimys on poissaoloa kaiken sen luota, josta pitää" (in English: "Suffering is the absence from all that you like").

Silti tässä runossa on myös onnellisuutta. Se odottaa kenties jossakin tulevaisuudessa ja syksyn raikkaudessa, kun surullinen ja kirottu kesä on (Jumalan kiitos) vihdoin ohi. Olen aina inhonnut kesää. Miksi siis edes suren sen loppua ja laitan siihen mitään odotuksia. Kesä ei ole minun aikaani. Minun aikani ei ole vielä edes tullut. Mutta tervetuloa ihana, raikas syksy! Toivottavasti se tuo jotain onnellista mukanaan, eikä sateenkaari pakene minua loputtomiin, loputtomiin...

And here is the poem:

Kun ohi on elonaika

syksyn tummenneen taivaan alla

vihdoin onnellisina

kohtaamme toisemme siellä,

kulkien rahisevalla kylätiellä

ilman kiirettä ja huolta.

The English translation:

When the harvest is over
under the darkening autumn sky
finally we will happily
face each other there,
walking on the country road
without hurry and worry.

 

Teisuka (August 13, 2016)

Traveling with the Angel

Icon of the Archangel Raphael.

I just read The Book of Tobit, written in the 2nd century BC and containing 14 short chapters. Very impressive and delightful little book. It's a book of scripture that is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon (The Bible). Instead, it usually doesn't belong to The Bible of the Protestants – they regard Tobit as apocryphal book.

The book tells of a man called Tobit who is righteous and had been blinded by a freak accident involving birds, and his son, Tobias who journeys out to collect a debt owed to his father but Tobias gets married on the way while being accompanied and guided by Raphael the Archangel who calls himself Azarias which means God helps, who also helps Tobias' wife and Tobit.

The Book of Tobit is also a love story in two ways: it tells us of God's love for man, and human love for human. A young woman named Sarah prays for death in despair. She has lost seven husbands (!) to the demon of lust (Asmodeus) who abducts and kills every man she marries on their wedding night before the marriage can be consummated. God sends the Archangel Raphael free Sarah from the demon.

Raphael tells Tobias of the beautiful Sarah, whom Tobias has the right to marry, because she is related to his tribe. He instructs the young man to burn the fish's liver and heart to drive away the demon when he attacks on the wedding night. The two marry, and the fumes of the burning organs drive the demon to Upper Egypt, where Raphael follows and binds him. Wow! Such a weird story.

There are really some mystical and strange aspect in this book, and momentarily it's even humorous. Well, Martin Luther called it comedy, but I think he was only partly right. For the most part, there is a very serious message in this book, comparing The Book of Job.

Are you interested to read this strange little travelling story? If so, please click here to find it. The book is available in English, in Russian and also in some other languages. Finnish version is available here.

May angel guide you, like he guided young Tobias on his journey. We are never alone in this world. We are surrounded by countless spirits – angels and demons. The spirit world is very real. Thank God, good is always stronger than evil.

Teisuka

Attachment: The Orthodox Christian prayer to your Guardian Angel

O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me of everything I have done to offend you every day, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. May I never offend God by my sin. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, and of the Most Blessed Theotokos [the Mother of God], and of all the Saints. Amen.

In the Cool of the Night

I'm in heart, I'm in prayes.
I'm a thought, I'm a dream.

There are two of me –
the one out there in your heart
on the lighted street of dreams,
another one here walking along
the alley of the shadow of death.

Is it the same me that is loved
or is it just a dream you love?

In the cool of the night
neither you are real.
Nothing on Earth isn't true.
We know the Paradise is lost
and we all here are ghosts.

But love is true and dream is good
so who cares are we real.

Всё равно.

Teisuka

Everything (Ode to My Love)

You are everything: the purity and sanctity,

the illusion and surreality or super-reality,

a closed garden and an open oasis,

floating prayers above the desert of everyday

coming down like clouds of the night,

a healing voice around these ruins of mine.

You are every spring after the winters

and everything is the same but different

and time itself is an icon of eternity.

In a corner of reality there is a place for us

who dare not wake up since it's so good:

every dream that gently comes after the day.

Teisuka

Looking for Solitude and Silence

Me in our little chapel. 24th of March, 2016.
On that day, I was tired but happy. Photo by Anya.

Lately, I've been very active in the local Orthodox Christian association. Last February, we rented a little room, and now it's our chapel – a place of fellowship, prayer and worship. Little by little, we have furnished the room. There are furnitures and beautiful cloths, and also many icons on the wall.

This is a big step for us, because we are minority church in Finland. There are only about 70.000 Orthodox Christians in Finland. In my city, we have no own church nor 'chasovnya'. Not yet, but we are hopeful that one day we will have it. Actually, a biggest dream of our association is to build a chasovnya or Orthodox church on this city. Our little chapel is the beginning.

I've been the chairman in this association since 2014. My tasks are to lead this little community, writing emails and letters round, manage the public relations (PR), and so on. Since last February, I've been also a moderator on our Facebook site. Please click here to see it (available only in Finnish, but you can use the Google translator). Sometimes, I can also deliver the Evening Service (a layman's service) in our chapel. Usually, I'm just "the Reader", and our cantor Lily delivers the Service. The priest visits only a few times a year, because he lives so far.

For me, Orthodox Christianity is the most important thing. It's a way of life, the base of my life, not only "one of the hobby". Just recently, I am tired with too much sociability and busy life. I hate to be busy and stressed. I need to spend enough time in solitude and silence, otherwise I don't feel very well. I need time to read, it is a hobby that requires solitude. So I decided to make some changes in my life. "The most important things first..."

"Seek solitude and silence." Thus teaches the ancient mystics of the Church. In modern times, it is more challenging. But when I'm calm and when I feel mentally well, I live in solitude and silence with pleasure, and my home is like a monk's cell.

In recent months, our Christian community has been the only area in my life, where the things are going well. Perhaps I should completely devote to spirituality, because it seems God will not allow me to enjoy the worldly happiness or family happiness. (I won't say I'm gonna do that, just sometimes I think perhaps I should.)

Sometimes I'd like to be a true ascetic, but maybe it's too demanding for me. So I think I can be a half-ascetic or something, or just as good as I can. Haha. Anyway, spirituality is the most important thing for me. Just yesterday, I realized something. It was like a little enlightenment. In the near future, I'm going to make some changes in my life... Слава Богу за всё – thank God for everything. Guide me, O Lord.

These are my recent and most important news in brief. Blessings and all the best to all my friends!

Teisuka

Our cantor Lily (left) and the secretary of our Orthodox Christian association,
Anya, in the chapel during the Evening Service. Photo by Teisuka.

 

 "The Inexhaustible Cup". Икона Божией Матери "Неупиваемая Чаша".

Size: 41 cm x 34 cm, price: 25 euros. This is a Russian Marian icon which

is considered miracle-making. The Russian Orthodox Church claims

the icon (and the Mother of God herself) help those who suffer from

alcoholism and drug addiction. I bought this icon on 15 April 2016.

Here We Go – for Faith and Love!

Me at the anti-racism demonstration. The English translation of the text on my sign:
"Orthodox for charity, against hate speech." In Christian theology, charity means
that we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Hello, my friends! 〈( ^.^)ノ Sorry for the long silence. It's time to share my news again.

Lately, I've been quite busy. Except that I'm working in the studio technology museum project and karaoke bar, I am very active in the local Orthodox Christian union. I've been a chairman in this association since 2014.

One week ago, we finally got own, permanent room (a modest leasehold) in this city. It's a big step for us, because we are minority church in Finland. In my city, we have no own church nor even chasovnya (chapel) – not yet, but we are hopeful that one day we will have it! There are about 70.000 Orthodox Christians in Finland, but 250 millions (!) in the whole world.

One thing to another: last Saturday (February 6) here was an anti-racism demonstration in my hometown, and I was also there. Actually, it was the first demonstration which I have ever participated. (And I think, I was the only Orthodox Christian there.) Whoa, I'm a radical! ┗(^o^)┐ Hahaha. To be serious, here is a quote from the website of 'No racism in my name' movement:

"No racism in my name! A demonstration for us who won’t be used as an excuse for racist speech and actions. No one has the right to patrol the streets or demand closing the borders in our name. We don’t need anyone in Finland taking the law in their own hands in order to 'protect our women', we just want everyone in this country to be able to live in peace, together."

The event was a counter-demonstration for the 'Close the borders!' demonstration that was held in the city's central square at the same time. We wanted to show that there are also open-minded and empathetic people in this city.  The organizers of the counter-demonstration were two young and brave female students. Another of them is a good friend of mine.

On the "enemy side", there were redneck racists, far-right activists and even neo-Nazis (the members of The Finnish Resistance Movement and Soldiers of Odin). I hate Nazism more than any other ism. It's totally sick and Satanic ideology.

Unfortunately, it's a fact that these days far-right movements are rising all over the Europe. The Red Army defeated the Nazis 71 years ago (and I'm grateful for that), but now those beasts are alive and well again. More and more, the current world situation brings to mind the 1930s, and I find it very worrying. To be honest, I'm afraid that we will see a new great war in next few years...

What we can do? I think we can only stay calm, keep our faith and hope and love. Where ever we are, we have to stand for humanity and human rights and freedom against racism, Nazism and other sinister ideologies. Trying to be a good person – this is something that everyone can do. World peace begins in your heart. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, "Love your neighbor as yourself".

From Finland with love and peace,

Teisuka

Birthday gifts from my Russian angel Nika: Putin mug and Gagarin mug. So cool.
Two guys I admire. Ура! Большое спасибо, милая моя! ヘ( ^.^)乂( ^.^)ノ

A later addition:

Birthday Gifts from Nika

I had a birthday last week (February 11), and today I received a massive parcel from my Russian sweetheart Nika. The parcel included many kinds of lovely souvenirs, like Gagarin mug and Putin mug, three collectors coins (Vladimir Putin, Valentina Tereshkova, and the Great Patriotic War), a refrigerator magnets, a little wooden church, and almost two kilograms (!) of chocolate. :D

My God, what a gifts! My personal favorites are Gagarin and Putin mugs. So cool to drink my coffee or tea by using these mugs of the guys I admire. Thank you very much, my angel! Once again, you made my day! I thank God for you, and I love you! Большое спасибо, милая моя! Я люблю тебя!  (￣ー￣)

Teisuka

(Updated February 15, 2016.)

Souvernirs, refrigerator magnets and collectors coins: Vladimir Putin, Yuri Gagarin,

Valentina Tereshkova, and the Great Patriotic War), and a little wooden church.

My table full of a Russian chocolate – almost two kilograms!!! Haha.

Thank you, Nikushka. Yummy! :D

Close-up of the collectors coins: a Russian president Vladimir Putin and a Soviet cosmonaut
Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space in 1963. Putin just congratulated
Tereshkova on her 79th birthday: "You are rightly considered an outstanding,
extraordinary personality, a true legend of the national and world cosmonautics. Your
strong character, profound knowledge and a proactive stance in life and civic activities
have always helped you achieve your goals and fully realise your rich professional
and creative potential." (Source: The official website of the Kremlin, March 6, 2016.)

A little wooden church (and a box at the same time).

Really lovely souvenir from Russia.

A birthday gift from my Finnish friend Gilmore: a Russian novel called

Medeia ja hänen lapsensa (in Finnish; in Russian: Медея и ее дети; in

English: Medea and Her Children), written by Lyudmila Ulitskaya. Kiitos!

Me in chasovnya of Lapua, 31 January 2016.

Chasovnya of Lapua. Chasovnya (in Finnish: tsasouna;
in Russian: часовня) is a Christian Orthodox chapel.