Fire near the Monastery of St John the Forerunner, Goldendale, WA

Source

"The flames crept up to the edge of their buildings and a cemetery, leaving the wooden crosses intact." KOMO News

The last few days have been stressful for our community. The forest 
near our beloved monastery is on fire and it threatens the homes
and very lives of our friends and family.

For many years our church community has been struggling tirelessly
to help the monastic community establish itself and build the facilities
required. Many young women eagerly await for the construction to be
finished so they can move to the monastery and begin their monastic
vocation.

Needless to say, when I heard the news of the fire I was in tears. As if
the threat to the lives and homes of my loved ones wasn't enough, I
had another concern, how are we going to be able to identify the tombs
of our dear ones buried in the cemetery?


I am having flashbacks. I can see Fr Thomas serving in our parish. I 
remember Iannis and Photini seating at the table with me for dinner.
The memories come rushing one after another. Here we are, carrying
Fr Thomas' coffin to his grave. The silence on that occasion was
deafening but we were not without hope. Christ is risen from the dead!

But the fire receded. It reached the cross on  Iannis' tomb and it receded!
The fire reached the cross on  Fr Thomas' tomb and it receded! The 
monastery buildings and my friends' homes have also been spared. I may
still walk to Photini's resting place and pray.
Glory to God! 


Let us pray for those who are still in harm's way,

"Psalm 91 NKJV
Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

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