www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization ByzanTEEN Byzantine Cause

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Konstantinos:

"I do not care what any of you say whether it be through rudeness or opinions."

If you don't care what any of us have to stay, than why did you join this message board? If you do not wish to hear any opinions about your statements you should post your monologues on your own home page istead of at this place of dialogue...

"None of you have any personal ambition..."

I think this is the root of the problem, that your motivation is personal ambition.

"I would go at any length to save my people, whether it be forging a New Byzantium or being slain upon the fields of Anatolia.

But as again, if you would like to stay here and do nothing just merely contributing by critisizing a youthful, ambitious leader than so be it."

I'm sorry, but I think what most people here look for in a leader is not "youthfullness" (read lack of experience) and "ambition" (read PERSONAL ambition).

If you really want to help the suffering Orthodox Christians of Serbia and otherwhere, there is plenty you can do, but you do not help them by seeking personal glory and dreaming about being Emperor of an Empire long lost.

There is a place for you to do the work of a Christian, but it's not fighting "upon the fields of Anatolia"!

Sincerely,
Christian

Konstantinos - I know some guys down in Nigeria that you could hook up with for funding for your cause.

Between Konstantinos and your response to him, the whole thing is sounding like the plot of a Chesterton novel.

Well I would be interested in this organization or group, please send me a link if you have it.

Sincerely,

Konstantinos

Dear Konstantinos,

Because you are only a child, you may be unaware of the Nigerian Banking Scam.

I think it just possible that you should learn a little more about the world before you try to rule an empire.

Gaudior, in all seriousness.

No! No! No!

I suggest that we unite in resurrecting the Empire of Tsar Simeon the Great so that all may feel the beneficial and wise rule of the Bulgarians. To stop all the jurisdictiona bickering, we can declare the Bulgarian Patriarch a Major-Catholicosand make rakia the national drink (the Bulgarian version, of course....not those Greek, Serbian, etc cheap imitations...).


Anton

Serious monarchists, including those who would like to restore the Christian Roman Empire, would do well to remember that only God can send a King.
Incognitus

Can we be certain that he hasn't? Only we can honor and follow one....

In the case of the Christian Roman Empire there are several candidates, including the crowned character in Rome who dispenses chocolates to his special favorites. Alas, I don't know what kind of chocolates they are (me, I like truffles).
Incognitus

Truffles are good. But, my question is how will we recognize the real emperor, when he comes along?

Father Elias's question is eminently fair. I don't have a complete answer. My suspicion would be that God will find some way to make the real emperor recognizable - and that it behooves us to be open to the leading of God.
On a lighter note, one might remember a conversation staged between two Russian noblemen early in the movie *Anastasia*. At a reception to garner support for the claimant, one says to the other "tell me: do you think she is real?" The other answers: "Look - red caviar!".
Incognitus

*snicker*

I'll put in a good word for him too with my friend George from Nigeria.

Dear Friends,

An "Empire" is usually thought of these days as a group of nations that have been enslaved by an imperial power etc.

In fact, that need not be the definition of "empire" at all.

When Brazil was a monarchy with the King of Portugal as its royal head, he was styled the "Emperor of Brazil." And Japan is an empire, even though it has lost its imperial hold on its former colonies.

The flags of S. Korea and the former flag of S. Vietnam were the flags of their "empires."

With respect to Byzantium, there was the view that the Third Rome, or Moscow had assumed all the privileges of the Old and New Roman Empires and that its Tsar was the final Orthodox Emperor.

But owing to the development of the nation-state, I very much doubt any will accept a similar emperor, in Byzantium or in E. Europe.

The one nation that functions today as a true imperial power is, of course, the USA.

And there are those around who believe that a lot of American foreign policy has much that is "Byzantine" about it . . .

Alex

Such an aim...

It is good to find someone who also wishes for the Old Country (for so shall I call it) to be restored. I too have wished that.

But, alas, one must remember: People have been infected with a little germ that is hateful to all aspiring emperors:

Nationalism.

People generally don't like to be pushed around. So, my advice would be to, instead of trying for the recreation of an empire (a good christian, in fact, would have no want for an empire, as it would impede on his daily prayers and meditations)through your martial abilities, try to, in fact go there and see the people you intend to rule.

I will not treat your plan as a grandiose diseas of the mind, because one such figure actually DID manage to reforge a country, and was younger than you: St. Joan of Arc (She IS a Western Saint, I know, but the meaning, think of the meaning!). But the times were right for her.

Kid, think. Make the people want to be ruled by you, or, if you decide to actually go forward, your great-great-great-great-great-great-(oh, Christ hasn't come yet?)great-great grandson. As shown by another war of occupation, If you don't curry the people's favor, then they will most assuredly try to show you, in no uncertain terms, what they think of you. War cannot be the way a Christian, much less Catholic, empire is formed.

If you truly wish to raise from the long scattered ashes the Eastern Roman Empire, and you truly believe that God has blessed you (and I can't say if he has, God does choose the most unlikely candidates for his avatars, I mean, his SON was a carpenter! Besides, trying to even concieve of a NOTION of God's essence is a unachievable effort for a sinner such as myself, then, Godspeed. But be wary, kid. Satan has managed to convince much of the world he doesn't exist.

If he can do that, then he just may be using you as well.

I would much like to see an Empire restored, but as I said earlier, there is no way in the modern world that one can create a stable empire through martial efforts. The people must WANT you to lead them, and willing to accept the heir of your choosing. The Muslims and Jews just might not want to leave their homes of, oh, just over a millenia and a half, so the policy the emperors put forth in the past (through faith, alas! they could not see what their intolerant policies were doing!) WILL not work in a new one, if new one your descendants manage to create, and it will be your descendents, not YOU.

One more thing, kid. I personally wouldn't worry about recreating the empire, though a worthy dream it may be. If you further the Faith of the Empire, then you are furthering the Empire. Convert, and then they MAY willing subvert.

In hope that the dreams of one do not turn out to be the ardour of all,

Shoot. I messed up, and have to write this from scratch. I had so much written too. Ah well, the Lord may humble me with time restraints. At least he isn't asking anything more.

Now, for what seems to be the question of the Empire, I have, maybe, a solution that will not satisfy all, but seems to be the most sensible.

Forget the secular institution of the Empire of the Romaioi. It won't work, because no one likes to be pushed around.

Instead, further the Faith of the Empire.

I mean, to put it in a media byte catchphrase:

Convert, then they may subvert.

If they don't want you to be their ruler, then you won't be their ruler. Simple. Byzantine would be most accepting of a Byzantine state. In the modern state of the world, there is an idea that is the hatred of all aspiring emperors:

Nationalism.

So, my dear friend, plow the field, as it were, to make the harvest ripe for you children (if any you have). The evil Muslims and Jews won't want to leave their homes of respectively just over a millenia and a half. I'm sorry, but that's just the way life is. You get a place to live, you don't wanna leave. Not easily, that is.

I can't even try to fathom the very echo of my guardian angel's call of warning when I fall into temptation, so trying to fathom the Will of our Lord is utterly out of the question. So, I will not judge your aspirations. God used Joan of Arc, he may yet use you. I will leave with a warning:

Satan managed to convince much of the world he does not exist. He may be using you, as well. Be careful when you speak of Empires, kid. Power is a pretty seductive thing, no matter the intent.

In hopes that the aspirations of one turn not to be the ardour of all,
I am, most truly and faithfully,
Menkalinan