[MadMark]

Dear Marina, Effie, and members of this community,

I wish humbly to ask forgiveness from each and every one of you for my having opened the door to such a passionate dsicussion, especially during Great Lent.

We could talk on and on about the legality and morality of war, but in the end, we most likely would still hold to our original positions.

When I looked at some other message boards, I was very upset to see people in America bitterly fighting over "jurisdictions," OCA, Synod, GOA, and so on. Forgetting basic Chrsitian love, people hurl insults at each other, deepening the gap between people and Orthodox unity.

This community has been a blessing for me, for in my illness, I sometimes am not able to leave my small home for days at a time. I have found the people of this community to be pious, intelligent educated, sensitive, and interesting.

Great Lent will be over on Sunday, and the beautiful and moving services of Holy Week will commence, culminating in the joyous Pascha of the Lord. Let us put away this discussion, preparing our hearts for the Feast of Feasts

As long as man does not repent for his sins, refusing to love God with his whole heart and soul, and his neighbor as himself, wars and human suffering and loss of life will continue. War is an aspect of our fallen nature, and sad to say, whether we are against war or not, there will always be those who will find reason to march against other nations.

I have learned an important lesson from what has happended, for I saw most clearly how sinful, passionate and lacking in love I truly am. I am grateful to all of you for your patience and forbearance with me.

May the Lord richly bless and keep all of You

sinful

Averky