[Hlennisal]

First, I’d just like outline what we, as Orthodox Christians, believe in very, very simple words :


-Sin, suffering and death came into the world because Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Everyone is affected even babies through no sin of their own but just by being born into this world.

-God can perform miracles i.e. go against His natural order in various ways, one of the least spectacular being the sudden activation of the immune system inside the bodies He created through some cause or other – usually an unrelated virus.

-But what if there is no miracle? Why should babies suffer and where is God in their suffering?

Babies and children suffer because sin is alive and well in this world. Sin (greed) causes pollution, chemicals, unhealthy methods of growing food. Sometimes our own bodies - the genes we inherit from our parents - are responsible.


I found this in one of the articles I have been reading (LifeLine) and I believe it is true :

“God is present in the midst of pain, sorrow and suffering through our Christ-like actions to each other.”

The kind-hearted nurse going out of her way to ease the suffering of her patients, the mother keeping vigil over a sick child and making sure it has everything it wants even before it knows it wants it, friends of the family making time to spend with the sick child and entertaining it to ensure that it is happy. We saw all of this in the article I posted. In the midst of Katya’s suffering the people near to her made very certain that no method of comforting her was overlooked.

The last paragraph of the article I found on the LifeLine site :

“Where is God in times of suffering? As He promised, He is with us. God is powerful enough to wipe out the evil of this world, but that would mean wiping us out. Because of His unsurpassed love for us He found another way that does not compromise our free will. If we separate ourselves from sin, death becomes a doorway to joining with Him for eternity where He, “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).”



I found a very good site that deals with what the Fathers say about suffering and it is definitely worth reading. : Bishop Alexander Mileant : The Holy Fathers On Illness Missionary Leaflet # EA30

An excerpt :

“The patience we can learn on a sickbed cannot be overemphasized. Elder Macarius of Optina wrote about this to one who was ill:

"I was much pleased to hear from your relation how bravely you are bearing the cruel scourge of your heavy sickness. Verily, as the man of the flesh perishes, so is the spiritual man renewed."

The above is relevant to Owen and Sophia’s posts :

Sophia : “What I settled on was that it all helps us to become better people. I have learned to be more compassionate and patient because I too have been sick and hurt. I am more greatful for every seemingly small blessing because I have felt what it is to have nothing. I cherish and love others because I have been loved and supported through difficulties.”

Owen : “Our natural state is immortality and to live in perfect harmony with God and His creation. It is an unnatural state to suffer and die. But this doctrinal perspective comes from an experiential examination of the alternatives. Either fear and anger on the one hand, or humility and compassion on the other. And people found that with the latter comes illumination and purity of heart”.

There is something that I need help with :


Why did St. Chrysostom say : Whether God brings upon us a famine, or a war, or any calamity whatsoever, He does so out of His exceeding great care and kindness" (St. John Chrysostom, Homily 7, On the Statues).

Could someone please explain this to me. Does God cause disaster or does he allow it. St. Chrysostom uses the words “brings upon us”. He doesn't say "allows".