Many of the world’s orthodox saints are associated with predictions and prophecies about the future. Saints such as St. George, who is a protector of armies, and St. Cosmas, who is a patron of the nations, are well-known for their predictions. They often used words like “longed-for” to speak to their flocks, and it’s said that their prophecies are a great inspiration to national-liberation movements. In fact, many of their visits to enslaved Balkan lands resulted in these areas being liberated from Turkish rule.
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St. Cosmas
According to Greek legend, the prophecies of St. Cosmas of Aitolia were fulfilled. The orthodox saint was a fiery preacher who accomplished numerous miracles during his lifetime. He also suffered a martyr’s death. Today, he is considered one of the greatest prophets of the latter times. His prophecies were often accurate and included events that would impact mankind in the future. As a disciple of the apostles, he was able to accurately predict many events that would affect the human race.
Many of St. Cosmas’ prophecies are bound up with specific spheres of life, while others have global implications. Some of them refer to the destiny of Orthodoxy as a whole, while others concern the modern world as a whole. Fortunately, the majority of these prophecies have survived to modern times. They were preserved in codices and manuscripts dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
St. Paisios
In 1959, the Elder Paisios was invited to spend time in his hometown to defend the faith against the Protestants. During his stay, he helped countless people, including many children, and he also sold handcrafted wooden objects to raise money for the hungry. Eventually, he was canonized, and today the Church celebrates his memory on July 12.
Another one of Elder Paisios’ prophecies is that the Russian empire would fall apart and become a small nation, and that Orthodoxy would flourish. During his life, the Elder Paisios prophesied the fall of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
St. Cosmas’s prophecies
One of the orthodox saint prophecies of St. Cosmas concerns the future of the Greek islands. He predicted the liberation of the Ionian Islands, which had been occupied by the French. The English eventually liberated them. A large cross was raised to honor St. Cosmas in Polineri, where he prophesied the liberation of the islands.
Both Saint Cosmas and St. George were martyred for their beliefs, but their prophetic messages were often misinterpreted. Some did not want to give up the prophecies, so they “hide” them in Islamic sacred books. This is not a good idea, since they contain important information that is not generally shared.
Middle East will become arena of war
According to orthodox saint prophecies, the Middle East will be an arena for war. According to the prophet Ezekiel, a Russo-Chinese alliance will attack the Holy Land after the Millennium begins. This war will occur near Jerusalem.
In Jesus’ day, the Roman Empire enforced the Pax Romana in the Holy Land. This renewed Roman Empire will rule the Middle East in the end, bringing with it political, economic, and military might. This renewed Roman Empire could even play a role in the end-time conflicts in the Middle East.
The prophecies of Jesus and Saint Paul indicate that the Middle East will become an arena of war in the end time. In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus predicted that Jerusalem will be controlled by another superpower. Jesus also said that Judeans should flee to the mountains and not enter Jerusalem. He also said that days of vengeance will follow.
Resulting persecutions will lead Christians to unite
Persecution is one of the most defining aspects of Christianity, and it binds Christians together as members of the body of Christ. Whether they are physically incarcerated or mistreated, Christians suffer with one another in the life of the Body. As Christians, we are commanded to remember those who are suffering. We are also urged to pray for those who are undergoing persecution. Hebrews 13:3 emphasizes the practical connection Christians have with those who are persecuted. Persecutions come in many forms, and the church must be ready for any situation.
Persecutions are often carried out by authoritarian regimes, who seek to control every aspect of religious thought and expression. These governments closely monitor and control all aspects of society, including personal relationships and social life. They view certain religious groups as enemies of the state and a threat to the loyalty of their rulers.
