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.

Merry Christmas, and Peace and Joy!

My table full of gifts – from Russia with love. I got this all from my angel Nikushka!

A Russian Orthodox Christian music CD called «Приидите,
поклонимся. Песнопения Божественной Литургии» (in
English: Come, Let Us Worship. Chants of the Divine Liturgy).

A little wooden box, made in Russia. Not only is it pretty, but it
smells very good: like bark and resin. My mother would have loved
this. She loved beautiful old fashioned objects like this – and so do I.

Yuri Gagarin exclusive collector's coin (Юрий Алексеевич

Гагарин Эксклюзивная коллекционная монета). Ура!!!!!

This year, we have "black Christmas" in Finland. That means, ground is black and we have no snow, except in Lapland. We have less than 5 hours of daylight, so it's very dark. Air temperature is about +2 °C or 36 °F by day. Abnormal weather at this time of the year. Too bad, because I love snow, and winter is my favorite season.

After all, it's a Christmas time, no matter whether it is black or white. Internal is more important than external. We can find a bigger light, inner light – Christ in our hearts. Christmas is the birthday of Our Saviour Jesus Christ. He brings the light into the darkness. Though the ground is black the whiteness can be in you.

This year, I'm going to spend Christmas alone again. Never mind, I used to live like a monk in his cell (in Russian: келья). Haha. Actually, I like this peace and silence around me. Last year, "my Russian angel" saved my Christmas by chatting back and forth with me. Finally, I didn't feel the loneliness at all.

There is a saying, "present but not present". But you can also be present even though you're not physically present. Presence is very subtle mental or spiritual experience. Time and space are not only dimensions, and physical world is not the only world we live in. Am I here if my heart is there, and where is love if she is not here with me? We have to admit, things like these are ultimately mysteries, at least not clear. For me, the physical things are not so important. I am a mystic at heart. I deeply feel, I'm a spirit already, not just after the death.

Besides, death doesn't really exist. The Bible says, "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive" (The Gospel of Luke 20:38). Lord himself says, "Whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (The Gospel of John 11:26). Now this is very radical statement, and I believe it's true.

To being more down-to-earth, these days I'm going to read a lot and watch some nice movies (like old Disney and Soviet cartoons) and chat with my angel. What I am reading? A Russian short stories, chapters of the Bible, and the Finnish children's book called Joulupukki (in English: Santa Claus) written and drawn by Mauri Kunnas. I got that book as a Christmas gift when I was 11 years old. So this is very nostalgic reading experience for me.

Christmas is the celebration of peace and joy that light up the whole world. On Christmas night, the angels said to the shepherds, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people... Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased" (The Gospel of Luke 2:10, 14).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016 to all my friends! （＾—＾）

"Christ is born! Glorify Him!" (A traditional Orthodox Christian Christmas greetings.)

Teisuka


A later addition:

Christmas Gifts from Nika

A few days after Christmas, I received a huge parcel from my Russian angel Nika. The parcel included many kinds of lovely gifts: souvenirs and decorative items, like different sorts of boxes (also a wooden box), a wooden mug, a beautiful Moscow plate, a Russian tablecloth, three bars of chocolate, a lollipops, a tea pack, a refrigerator magnets and postcards, Ded Moroz (in English: Grandfather Frost, in Finnish: Pakkasukko) and Snegurochka (in English: The Snow Maiden, in Finnish: Lumityttö) figure candles, and a beautiful Russian spiritual music CD. My absolute favorite is the exclusive collector's coin of Yuri Gagarin (Nika knows I'm a fan of Gagarin and I love all kinds of space stuff)! ^^

Wow, these are my best Christmas gifts for years! Feels like I'm a child again. :) Thank you very much, my sweet angel. You are the best, and I love you! Большое спасибо, ангел мой! Я люблю тебя! ♥

Teisuka

(Updated December 31, 2015.)

First snow on my home street, November 22.

A beautiful frozen tree in my neighborhood.

 

Christmas icon or the Eastern Orthodox icon of the birth of Christ.

 

A Finnish picture book called Joulupukki (in English: Santa Claus)

by Mauri Kunnas. I got this book as a Christmas gift when I was
11 years old. Ah, that was so long ago... and still like yesterday.

Update on My Life

Me in Vaasa, September 2015, in front of the statue of Toivo Kuula, a

famous Finnish conductor and a composer. I love his beautiful music.

Hello, my friends! ( ^.^)ノ Sorry for the long silence. For the past couple of months, I've been busy, or just lazy when it comes to writing my blog. So, now it's time to share my news since last summer.

To be honest, my summer wasn't very happy. In my life, bad things have always happened in summer. Last summer, I had to live in the shadow of fear. I visited my doctor many times, because there was something wrong with my blood. Lymphocyte levels were elevated (and they still are), which means that everything is not completely normal. That's why they kept testing my blood over and over again, for many months.

The doctor said it could even be leukemia! For a while, I was really nervous and scared. The thought of death was on my mind all the time, and that's not such a nice way to spend your summer. Life is so unpredictable, and nothing should be taken for granted in this world. I asked myself, am I going to die? They did a bone marrow examination on me in the hospital. It was a somewhat painful examination, but not as bad as I had thought.

Finally, the doctor told me that there are no signs of any malignant disease. Thank God, and thanks for the prayers of my "Russian angel", who prayed and prays for me every day! Some time ago, she requested daily prayers for me in the Moscow monastery. It's really great, and I'm grateful for that! Of course, I also pray for my angel every day. I really believe in the power of prayer.

What else am I doing? Last summer, I did a special Mannerheim guided tours for the museum (please click here to read more about the Marshal Mannerheim, who is called the greatest Finn of all time).

In addition to that, I've been working as a karaoke host in the local pub for a couple of months. It's an interesting and challenging job and not always as easy as it might seem. I would have never believed that one day I would be working as a karaoke host. That, anyway, is what I ended up doing last July when I was asked to take over this job. And I will do my best at it, although I'm already looking for a new job that would be more suitable for me.

These days, I'm okay, my spirit is high and my faith is strong. I've completely stopped drinking alcohol – not even a beer anymore, not for four months. I'm working, I'm reading a lot, and spending time with my friends.

What kind of literature have I been reading lately? Russian classics, non-fiction (mainly history and politics), thrillers, religious texts and spiritual literature... My favorite book this year thus far has been Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Pelurit (in Finnish; in Russian: Игрок; in English: The Gambler), which was first published in 1866. At the moment, I'm reading Konstantin Paustovsky's short stories. Nature and its beauty are in the heart of his humane tales. The book is named Venäjän sydänmailla (in Finnish; in Russian: Во глубине России, in English: In the depths of Russia).

I'm thankful to God and to my friends for everything. Orthodox Christianity is very important to me, it's the foundation of my whole life. "Everything is in the hands of God, and we are instruments in His hands as well." I learned this from my Russian angel.

Blessings and all the best to my friends! Keep your faith, love and be loved, and never lose your hope. （＾—＾）

Teisuka

(Updated November 17, 2015.)

Me surrounded by museum visitors on a Mannerheim tour.

Hot air balloons above my home last August. The photo is taken from
my balcony.

Finding the Way

A selfie of me, taken a few years ago. 武士 is kanji for bushi
 ("warrior"). It has been "my character" since 2007.

Goodbye, goodbye –
how long it takes to say?
A part of me is going to die
and to find a way

out from a farewell
when heart is an empty shell
it may take longer
until you get stronger
to live without love –
poor, misleading love.

A poem by Teisuka

I add here also a passage from my previous book because it reflects my feelings at the moment:

"I started to think: where are all the angels when horrible things happen? I replied to myself: they are on the walls of nurseries and on the pages of picture books as beautiful, powerless images. All we have are pictures. Devotedly painted icons and carefully constructed images. It is said that God created man in his own image, as an icon of Him, but people have created gods in their own images, for better or for worse. The harder you believe in those pictures, the more real they become. Images dominate us. All kinds of images. Recollections. Mental images. Idols. Gods. And the picture of her."
(Translated from the Finnish by Gilmore)

P.S. A later additions:

July 7, 2015. The text above was written at the moment of weakness, for years ago. I haven't lost my faith, though it has been weak lately. Of course, I still believe in God. When I write, "people have created gods in their own images", I'm talking about the false gods and idols or graven images. ~Teisuka

August 13, 2015. The poem actually tells about my past goodbyes (at least, for the most part). Besides, I don't know how definitive word is 'sayonara' ("goodbye" in Japanese language). More, I like a Russian word 'dasvidaniya', which also means "goodbye" but literally, "until we meet again"... Once, Buddha drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: "When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever the diverging paths, on the said day, they will inevitably come together in the red circle." – I believe in these mystical words. Very wise and profound. And I will make a new update here, when I feel stronger and I know my health is fine. Right now, nothing is self-evident, and I don't know anything. ~Teisuka

Packets Back and Forth Between Russia and Finland

Finnish tin soldiers with submachine guns, snowsuits,and the flag of Finland.
Wow, I can't find such toys from Finland! I feel like I'm a little boy again! :)

It seems that me and my Russian friend Nika have a common hobby: we are sending packets back and forth. As I have playfully said, we have like a neverending Christmas. Just a few days ago, I received a packet from Russia – once again. Thank you very much, my dear Nikushka! Большое спасибо, милая моя! （＾—＾）

The parcel included many kinds of lovely gifts – to be exact, Victory Day souvenirs (Russian military and patriotic stuff): a Victory Day T-shirt, a variety of Victory Day chocolate candies and a Victory Day fancy cake (very tasty!), a Victory Day refrigerator magnet, a small Victory Day flag, St. George ribbons, and two cute keychains... In my opinion, the best gifts are the Finnish tin soldiers! Well, that's natural, because I'm a Finnish man and a patriot, haha. ^_^

You can see all the gifts in this article. I'll also post here some pictures of my gifts to Nika. (You can click the images to see them bigger.)

For those who don't know, Victory Day (9 May) marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the part of World War II that is known in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). Victory Day is a national holiday in Russia. The festivities culminate in a military parade at Moscow's Red Square.

Two weeks ago, I also sent a parcel to Nika, including many little gifts: a music CD (Nightwish), two scarves, two postcards, a toiletry bag, a vanity case, makeup products... Earlier, I sent her some gifts too, like a cute soft toy bear (see the picture below).

Again, thank you so much for your Victory Day parcel, Nikushka! You always make me happy, and you really are too kind to me. (￣ー￣)

Finally, happy spring to all my friends! I wish everyone had someone they love in their life. The Bible says, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).

Blessings from sunny Finland,

Teisuka

St. George ribbons and Victory Day chocolate. A red star includes candies, too. St. George
ribbon (Георгиевская ленточка браслет) is a symbolic ribbon, dedicated to the
celebration of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War.

More Victory Day candies, chocolate and souvenirs, and twokeychains, for example the
three mascots of the Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi. (Sorry, the flag is shown the
wrong way round – as a mirror image.)

Victory Day fancy cake. Please note the tank in the cake.

Nika knows I like the tanks so much I could eat them – yummy! :D

Very special Victory Day chocolate with the coat of arms of

the Russian Federation (the two-headed eagle). This is so

beautiful that I dare not even eat it!

T-shirt by Армия России (Russian Army).

Whoa, I'm in the Red Army now?! Xa-xa. ^^

Earlier, I sent this cute soft toy bear to Nika. The bear is named Umka.

The brown bear is the national animal in both Russia and Finland.

Two scarves (red and multicolored) which I sent to Nika.

My gifts to Her, for example a music CD. Nightwish is
a symphonic metal band from Finland.

A toiletry bag and a vanity case, both design stuff.

A toiletry bag opened: full of women's stuff, like makeup

products... for my angel! ^^

Two postcards – from Finland with love.