Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 194 Repent, Elias
When you push open the door and walk into the church, the first thing that catches your eye is the dazzling altar, on which is enshrined a gorgeous statue, surrounded by exquisite candles that emit fragrance.

The walls on both sides are decorated with rich murals depicting images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and many saints.

In such a luxurious church, Father Arcos found his old boss, Bishop Anthony of the Mesaoria Church.

Bishop Anthony is already quite old, with a very dangerous hairline, but he also has a thick beard, which makes him look both kind and majestic.

After recognizing Father Arcos, Bishop Anthony took him to a confessional nearby to avoid being noticed by people with ulterior motives.

In this small space, the first thing the bishop said was: "You shouldn't have come back."

Arcos responded: "I have to come back."

"Some time ago, an uprising broke out in the south of the island, and thousands of people were killed by Isaac's mercenaries!"

"That guy has gone crazy now, no one can stop him!"

"Basil Pentaconus tried to stop him from ordering the massacre, but Isaac ordered his feet to be chopped off!"

When he heard the news, Aljos was also a little surprised.

Because Basil Pentaconos was Isaac's teacher, he was the highest civil servant on the island of Cyprus, responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the island, a role similar to that of a prime minister.

But he had his feet chopped off?

For a moment, even Aljos was speechless.

All I can say is that this is a matching mechanism unique to the Middle East region.

When the ruler relies on military force to usurp everything, the so-called civil service system is essentially just a facade, or a servant serving the warlords [tyrants].

But Alchos didn't expect that Isaac wouldn't even let his teacher go!

When he heard the news, Aljos couldn't help but think of what Garys had said, and once again felt from the bottom of his heart that Garys was right.

The current killing order in this world is a sin and a blasphemy against God.

【The world is not an empty space prepared for heaven, because there is an untouchable power in it. 】

[This world is a country that worships idols and the god of death, and a country that has nailed the true God to the cross.]

【Love for life can only reveal the reality of heaven by defeating death.】

[In the name of eternal order and peace, this world wants to crucify the life of resistance. ]

[However, the God of Life is not the God of Order. Life is the sacred entity that transcends all order.]

[Any order based on killing is a sin and a blasphemy against God.]

——"Gailis's Words"

In this situation, Arcos still spoke: "Bishop, I want to tell you that the Word of God has once again become flesh and lives among us."

Bishop Anthony was silent for a while. He was not sure what Alchos meant, because the Word of God became flesh, and this sentence actually refers to Christ Jesus.

“Our nature is sick and needs to be healed; it is fallen into sin and needs to be lifted up; it is dead in trespasses and needs to be resurrected.”

"We have lost our former glory and need it back; we are in darkness and need light; we are captives and hope for a savior; we are imprisoned in chains and long for liberation; we are slaves and suffer and look forward to a liberator."

“Since mankind has fallen into extreme misery and suffering, shouldn’t the Almighty God have mercy on us and come to the world?”

"All this has moved the Lord, and He has revived the flesh of His own Son through the Holy Spirit, and has walked on this earth, announcing the revelation of the new millennium."

[When all things have not yet submitted to Him, when the new heaven and new earth full of justice have not yet appeared, these creatures are groaning in pain, waiting for the revelation of God's children. For this reason, Christians pray, especially in the Eucharist, to urge Christ to come again, saying to Him: "My Lord, come!"]

"Now, He has come, and He has announced to us that the Kingdom of Heaven is coming and is coming very soon."

“Unless we follow the Lord’s death and resurrection through this final Passover, we will not enter into the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Bishop Anthony moved his lips, then put his hand on Aljos' forehead, trying to see if the boy had a fever, and then he uttered: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

To this, Father Arcos responded: “Teacher, I saw a miracle.”

"That man died and was resurrected. His mind was filled with the wisdom of God. He had a strength greater than Samson's, and he built the prototype of a new kingdom."

Miracles are very important to Christians of this generation, and even more so to the Orthodox Church.

Miracles are so important in the Orthodox Church because they are seen as signs of the Father's direct intervention in human history and life, demonstrating God's presence and grace.

Miracles are seen as God's way of manifesting his divinity through the material world, demonstrating his grace and providence.

They reveal God's omnipotent power and His willingness to intervene in human lives to help and save believers.

This not only brings comfort and hope to believers, but also strengthens their faith in God.

Through miracles manifested by saints, relics or icons, Orthodoxy emphasizes that God's power not only existed in the past but is still active in the present.

Miracles thus became powerful witnesses of faith, helping believers to become more steadfast in their faith and encouraging them to follow the example of the saints.

Miracles were not only temporary divine interventions, but were also seen as a harbinger of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Eastern Orthodoxy emphasizes that miracles foreshadow the future full reign of God and the complete renewal of the world.

Thus, miracles provide believers with a glimpse of heaven, reminding them that the glory of the Kingdom of God will be fully revealed and all disease, death, and sin will be destroyed.

If Anthony thought that Arcos was talking nonsense at first, he couldn't help but become cautious when the priest performed the miracle.

If the miracles spoken by the priest are verifiable, then it means that God has indeed brought down a new revelation to this world.

If it were anyone else, Bishop Anthony probably wouldn't believe it, but Father Arcos, in a sense, was actually his adopted son, whom he raised personally.

He understood the character of his student. Although he was indeed nonsense and even messed up in some aspects, he was not a bad person by nature.

“What else did He say?”

“He told me: We must love everyone, but it is impossible to love everyone in the same way.”

“We love the oppressed by liberating them.”

"We love our oppressors by fighting them."

“We love the oppressed and liberate them from their miserable conditions.”

“We love the oppressors and free them from their sins.”

“This is ‘God so loved the world’”

……

On the main road of the village, dust and blood were intertwined, and the air was filled with the aftermath of battle.

Broken Viking shields were scattered on both sides of the road, and traces of heavy axes could be vaguely seen on the broken wooden boards.

The bodies of the Varangians lay on the ground, their muscles exposed and blood spreading from their wounds, staining the muddy road red.

Those survivors stood still like stone statues, their eyes filled with fear, not daring to move rashly.

Their eyes were focused on Gellis, the blond Frank, whose ferocity reminded them of those legendary beings.

[Odin can plunge the enemy into darkness, blindness and deafness, and make them feel fear like a cold wind piercing their bones. The sharp blade in his hand is as soft as a willow branch and as brittle as hay.]

[However, Odin's warriors do not need armor. They are as fierce as wolfhounds, holding shields in their mouths, as violent as bears, and as strong as wild bulls. They kill with one strike, and the enemy has nowhere to hide.]

[Neither fire nor steel can stop them. ]

[They are called "Berserkers".]

——Inglinga Saga

Garys stood on the pile of corpses, sweat and blood running down his cheeks.

He gripped the axe handle tightly with both hands, breathing heavily and firmly.

Everyone could feel the aura of death emanating from him. The silent pressure made the air around them seem to freeze, and no one dared to face his wrath again.

He was isolated in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by dead silence.

In front of him, there was a man kneeling on the ground, his hands and feet were tied with hemp ropes, he was trembling, and the crotch between his legs was already wet.

After completing this battle, the reasons for the arrival of this group of "Varangis" were also confirmed.

The "Varangis", who were not sure whether they were Russians or Normans, revealed everything about the Elias family's collusion with Isaac, their attempt to set an ambush, and their plans to betray their compatriots in the Liberation Front.

During this process, Elias' servants, in order to survive, dumped out all the things Elias had done.

This wasn't the first time Elias had done something like this.

In fact, since Nicholas's rebellion failed, Elias began to look for a way out for himself and think about how to get out of it safely.

Taking advantage of his family's connection with the Turks, Nicholas was arrested earlier because of his secret betrayal and leaking the news to the Turks.

The reason why Elias did not defect directly was that the Turks hoped that he could find more hiding places for other rebel forces.

Then, who would have thought, we would bump into Garys.

It can be said that since meeting Garys, Simple Nicholas and his gang, Elias has been thinking about how to make a big sale.

But two accidents happened during this process.

Accident 1: The Turks were replaced by the "Varangis". The new "Varangis" were not familiar with his family, and instead took this opportunity to rob his village.

Surprise 2: The fighting power displayed by Garys was a little too terrifying.

Such a heavy two-handed broadsword, in Garys's hand, can be easily wielded with one hand.

A dozen javelins could not hurt him at all, and with his own strength, Gairis smashed the shield wall of the Varangians.

During this process, many actions were left with afterimages by Garys. Is this really an effect that can be achieved by human power?
【We love the oppressors by fighting them.】

"Repent, Elias."

"If you repent from your heart, then the Father will forgive your sins."

"After being cleansed and purified by the Heavenly Father, maybe one day you too will be able to step into heaven."

As Garys said these words, there were already many gaps on the blade of the two-handed broadsword in his hand. Dark red blood had solidified on the axe handle, and blood was still dripping from the axe tip from time to time.

Elias swallowed his saliva after listening to Gairis' words. Hope suddenly rose in his heart. In this situation, he hurriedly and anxiously asked Gairis: "If I confess, can I live? Will you not kill me?"

He longed for life so much, longed to live, and for the sake of his own life, he was willing to offer sacrifices to idols and the "God of Death".

But this longing for life is a kind of greed and a betrayal of the vast majority of people.

"Elias, I want to tell you that man is created in the image and likeness of God, and the voice of the poor who want to live is the voice of God."

“What you do to the poor and lowly is what you do to Jesus.”

“If you betray your fellow man, are you not betraying Christ Jesus?”

“You must know that Judas, who sold innocent blood, also wept bitterly after Jesus’ death, threw his money on the ground, and hanged himself outside the temple.”

"Those who commit suicide cannot go to heaven. I have given you the opportunity to redeem yourself."

"Do you want to be like Judas, separated from God in hell, struggling forever, tasting the taste of God's suffocation?"

In traditional Christian teaching, suicide is considered a serious sin because it is considered a rejection of life, which goes against the gift of life given by God.

In both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches, suicide is seen as an act of rebellion against God, since only God has the authority to determine the beginning and end of life.

Elias' lips opened and closed again. When Gaillis compared him to Judas, he knew that he was doomed to die, but how could he repent?
That kind of heartfelt, tearful, all-purifying repentance was indeed enough for God to forgive him for all his sins.

But Elias can't do it!

His only fear now is that he is going to die...

Elias' tears are only shed for himself.

Seeing that Elias didn't move for a long time, Garys raised the axe in his hand.

Elias, with his hands and feet tied, couldn't move at all. Before the axe fell, a few drops of blood dripped on his neck, making him feel a little cold.

"I……"

Before he could finish his words, the axe had already chopped down. Elias' head rolled on the ground for several times, and finally his eyes stared at the sun in the sky, without the strength to open and close his eyelids.

"Almighty and merciful God, you bring the hope of eternal life, I pray devoutly"

“May you accept Elias and forgive him for all his sins, whether in thought, word, or deed, and may he rest in peace in your holy arms.”

"Please send angels to guide him and prevent the devil from harming his soul. May we cherish the gift of life, strive to do good, and look forward to reunion."

“May he share in your glory forever,

"To You be the glory forever and ever."

"Amen."

Garys cut a shallow cut on his index finger, squeezed out a drop of blood, and dropped it on Elias' lips before Elias died completely.

This indicated that Elias had drunk the holy blood before his departure.

"If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will have eternal life, and I will teach you to resurrect at the last day."

【We love the oppressors so that we can free them from their sins. 】

This scene was a little too weird.

In this sea of ​​corpses and blood, what Nicholas and his men saw was not a bloodthirsty monster.

This is an exceptionally sacred existence, with its shining golden hair, which seems to emit a halo under the sunlight.

Nicholas, who was standing by, took a few breaths and said to Andre, who was standing by, “This is the light of Tabor.”

Andre was a little confused. He didn't see any light or halo. Garys just chopped off the head of a sinner.

Nicholas shook his head. Of course, it was true that there would not be an extra halo on Garys's head, but his holiness did not need to be highlighted by any external objects.

This holy light of Tabor is a purifying flame for the souls of the righteous and a punishing flame for the sinners.

Many Orthodox theologians believe that the Light of Tabor is the fire of Hell.

According to these theologians, Hell is the state of those who do not accept God’s uncreated light and love for God and are burned by it.

For sinners: "The divine light will be seen as the punishing fire of hell".

This is a kind of love, this is a kind of salvation.

Elias should be grateful to Garys, because at least Garys gave him the chance to go to heaven instead of letting him wander in hell like Judas.

After completing all this, Gailis turned his attention to the "Varangis" again.

These Varangians trembled, they felt the heat and flames, as if burning their souls.

In this situation, they longed for life and tried to escape from Garys' axe.

Of course, Garys killed people based on principles, and he did not kill innocent people indiscriminately, as Garys has been saying these days.

This is not personal revenge, but God's fair judgment through the hands of the righteous.

After a sinner repents and dies, his destination can only be decided by Heavenly Father.

And thus ended all the hatred and revenge concerning him.

Things end here and will not and should not continue to extend aimlessly.

In the end, a few people from this group of "Varangis" actually survived.

The news that Gellis and his group had killed the emperor's "Varangian Guard" also drifted to all corners of the island with the falling leaves.

……

Still in the church, Bishop Anthony was speechless. Opposite his seat was Aljos, his favorite student, or adopted son.

The bishop, whose hairline was dangerous, looked up at the sky after hearing the news.

In the eyes of most churches, peace and order are above all else, more important than protecting people, buildings, and land.

Therefore, some monasteries or churches even reached agreements with the robbers, stating that they would give permission as long as they robbed the peasants.

But as a bishop who educated Father Arcos, Anthony still has compassion.

Therefore, as early as after Nicholas's uprising failed, he went to find Isaac's teacher, Basil, hoping that he could persuade Isaac.

All I can say is that it did have some effect in the beginning, but when Nicholas and his gang escaped from prison, Isaac's rage erupted like a volcano.

Isaac, feeling betrayed, disregarded the friendship between teacher and student and cut off the legs of his teacher, the "Prime Minister" of Cyprus.

"The Lord has said: 'You shall not kill!' God's commandments are paramount. Soldiers are not obliged to obey orders that are contrary to God's commandments."

"Even when faced with a sinful order to kill, one should act according to one's conscience."

"But I think that Isaac, the Turks, or the Varangians, they all have no conscience."

"The Savior we believe in is present in those suffering faces. How can we remain indifferent in the face of such history?"

Listening to these words from his student, Bishop Anthony realized that the priest had grown a lot.

This 36-year-old middle-aged man has found his own path and has a mature system of thinking and logic.

However, this system is almost heresy in this era.

But if the miracles that Archos described are indeed true, then Archos will become the "apostle" of the new millennium. He may be a figure like St. Peter or the Apostle Paul.

But just today, news about the blond Frank came, and the rumors were more outrageous than the last.

Ordinary people would just treat it as idle chat, just to kill the boredom in reality.

But after hearing this, Bishop Anthony became a little worried that in this era, there really was a prophet who was like Samson, killing people everywhere, but was assisted by God.

For the earth will be broken into pieces, the old world will be set on fire, and rivers of blood will flow.

Is that kind of future really the paradise that Aljos talked about?

In this context, Bishop Anthony said: "Violence not only threatens our brotherhood and takes the Kingdom of Heaven further away from us, but also represents the failure of the violent perpetrators themselves."

“Trying to solve all problems once and for all by escalating violence will only push our society into an abyss of killing and destruction, and bring unpredictable consequences to our social and spiritual life.”

Bishop Anthony did not specifically mention the suppression actions of Isaac's mercenaries, nor did he criticize the rebels led by Garys. He was just stating his opinion.

After hearing this, Archos stood up, pressed the bishop's shoulders, and leaned his head towards him.

"Teacher, the Holy Son said something that I think I can repeat to you. I sincerely hope that it is not reality."

"what?"

“Religious suffering is both a manifestation of real suffering and a protest against this suffering.”

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed soul, the feeling of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless state."

“Religion is the people’s placebo.”

"Teacher, are you going to remain silent? Do you really want our church to become the sigh of the oppressed?"

In this small confessional, Bishop Anthony shrank his head. His student had indeed grown up, and now possessed an indescribable aura.

“The previous Nicholas rebellion is not over yet, a new storm is coming. If our church does not make the right choice, it will be abandoned by the people of Cyprus!”

"Those who were abandoned on the garbage heap to compete with birds and beasts for food, those who deserved to be in despair, will light up the light of Tabor!"

God walked in this bloody world, Archos firmly believed it.

If the church does not make the right decision at this juncture, Garys will ruthlessly wipe out the church.

After all, for sinners: Tabor's divine light will be seen as the punishment fire of hell.

The Russian Orthodox Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor was completed around 1408.

　The updated word count is more than the two-in-one!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)