Thomas Cosmades
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A martyr of the Greek Asia Minor tragedy In the countless
line of victims of the Asia Minor tragedy there is a special place and
meaning for the sacrifice of those who conscientiously toiled to retain the
moral upper ground of the Hellenic element.
And Pavlos Pavlides is one of those who without
question deserve to be characterized martyrs of a new epoch.
He did not only work as a ‘tireless’ worker of God in the Asia Minor pasture
sacrificing his life, but he also left heirs to continue the work of the
spiritual worker, the infants, then his children, who after coming to Greece
lived up to the sacrifice of their father. The Indescribable Tragedy of Losing Jesus Many of us have endured the loss of
a cherished loved one, a highly valued piece of property or a hefty sum of
money.
Some lose opportunities which can never be brought
back.
Jesus Christ who came precisely to seek and find the
lost is the only one who presents every calamity in its proper perspective.
He warns us of the loss which surpasses all others:
“For
what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits
himself?” (Luke 9:25).
Three of his renowned parables are about
the lost and found
(cf. Luke 15)...
more
Maria, God’s Angel
to Widows and Orphans in
One of the most horrific legacies of war are the helpless orphans.
Children left to fend for themselves on the streets are a
heart-rending consequence of these conflicts.
In every age the need to establish
homes for orphans has been paramount and universal.
Securing shelter, along with clothing, feeding and educating orphans
has always been a colossal undertaking...Disturbing
news was coming from the
In
countries where these three agencies function, dissatisfaction from many
quarters is common. The cry of
reflective people is worldwide: Where is the ideal government with all three
components operating justly?
Everyone will agree that there is no such government in our tarnished world.
There has never been any; neither shall there be one, except… when
the wise men from the East came to
(Daniel 7:27; Ephesians 6:12; II Thessalonians 2:7) The ferocious foe encountered by the Church across the span of the universe is not mere Islamic terrorism, Hindu extremism, secular retuperation, or whatever. It is the mobilized forces controlling the current campaign of hatred against the Lord Jesus Christ and his church on earth. It is the ongoing offensive of the cosmocrators who steer their predatory aggression... more
Corruption has taken on a universal dimension that has become one of the main morasses in governmental and NGOs, as well as business circles everywhere. An African leader said recently, “Corruption in our continent is as virulent as HIV.” The thrust to fight corruption is supposedly on the agenda of many governments. Well said, well intended! But the practice is evident among high- and low-level officials and free-wheeling individuals all over... more
He animatedly told me how in the vast courtyard of this famous church he had addressed a large crowd in Arabic, with a Turk who knew the language translating his talk into Turkish. His message was on the Sophia of God. He proceeded to present Christ to his audience who were intently listening to this western scholar speaking about the Sophia of God in fluent Arabic.
While I was living in Marash word reached us that there was a distinguished soldier of the Cross in Aintab who was God’s instrument in the revival there...… But we were astonished to see an ordinary-looking man, clothed as if he were from the poorest peasant class. It was he, along with twenty-seven other Christian believers, who were burned to death in Osmaniye on April 14, 1909, on their way to the Cilician Convention in Adana. … more
During the past few decades, Turkey (Anatolia) has been in the limelight of activity for the Savior of all people. Hundreds of proclaimers of Good Tidings from many countries have been motivated to spread Christ’s message all the way from the main metropolises to the remotest hamlets in this historic land. The brief life story of Stephanos Sirinides (1846-1916) will elucidate contemporary laborers in this same land… more
WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARS FOREVER Story of Vahram Tatikyan (1909-1965) Vahram's single-minded service to God and man, first in Istanbul, then in Anatolia and finally in different countries around the world reads like a spiritual epic... What is so distinctive and striking about this godly man and yet whose name is virtually unknown in our times? How was it that he, who knew neither school nor university, was able to speak to hundreds of thousands of people... more
Every statement from the Incarnate Word bears timeless significance. However, in the last seven words which Christ pronounced from the cross there is historic, theological and existential relevance. From the hour they were first heard during the Savior’s tormenting agony, much has been communicated on the subject. Always some new light or insight emanates from these unfading pronouncements... more
In a compendium article, we took the subject of The Churches in Christ’s Eyes. In sequence to this, a striking observation comes to light: The letters to the Seven Churches are loaded with serious imperatives from him, related to his solemn pronouncements. These are dispersed between the lines of the epistles, constantly reminding the reader about the urgency of decision and action ... more
St. Thomas was a disciple of Jesus Christ whose life and ministry carry great weight to the Christians in India, some of whom belong to the Martoma Church. In the Church calendar, the Sunday following Easter is celebrated as St. Thomas' Day. The emotional turmoil observed in the conduct of this renowned apostle exposes the span of conflicts surfacing within my soul and yours. Incidents affecting our overall behavior can be readily traced to battles that troubled this reputable disciple's life. It is of benefit for every believer to examine the pros and cons in Thomas' stormy behavior, which mirror our own ups and downs... more
The Quranic claim to the quality, capacity and finality of Islam is nothing less than direct defiance of YAHWEH’s covenant pronouncement once made to Abraham. The intrusion and usurpation of the defiant religion launched by Ishmael's most prominent son testifies to his deep-seated grudge. It cries out that his people were cheated and short-changed by Isaac's progeny. In the very beginning of the new religion the grievance of the founder comes to light ... more
THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN CHRIST'S EYES The church, Christ's body on earth, has undergone – and is undergoing – a number of variations and transformations since its inception. Alas! Many for the worse... more
Tathlis - Tawhid, Principle Difference Between The Two Basic differences, even contradictions among religions, are an actuality. An expression which we may call conciliatory is often voiced: three monotheistic religions of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam are described in this way. Dialogs and exchange of views on the subject have become the burning passion of some. The three religions to which ordinary folks refer as monotheistic are basically discordant and in many cases antithetical. Monotheism, as is being used today, starts with Abraham. ... more
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The Story
of the Life and Times of Thomas Cosmades
History is a storehouse of events involving humans. Many of these happenings
are suppressed. Or they are twisted in keeping with certain accepted
positions... In front of the Archives Department in Washington, D. C., the
passer-by can notice this impressive motto: “Study the past; it is the
prologue.” Can anyone take issue with this? I have decided to abandon the
dead-end road of reticence and to use my moral courage by putting in writing
events and episodes which affected my life...
Map of Bible Sites in Asia Minor
Albert Owens was a
Five young plotters were at work, preparing a monstrous crime. In
their thinking a serious problem had developed in the place they lived.
From
Sailing the Seas to Seeking the Strays A
brief sketch of the Life of Hasan Unutmuş Beloved
servant of Christ Hasan’s remains were buried in a large Muslim cemetary in Istanbul with about one hundred fifty relatives and friends attending the graveside service. Several Christians gave testimony to Hasan’s life and faithfulness...more
"NO LONGER LONELY" AND GALLIPOLI Who knows how many of these young Anzac lads and other soldiers met their resurrected Savior as they were cut down by the bullets in the trenches.. more
My residence was at the palace of Herod in Caesarea. During the Jewish feasts I moved to Jerusalem to prevent any possible turmoil caused by Jewish extremists ... more
The story of Dr. Daniel Morrison Benonia Thom written by Nellie Elona Thom Freyer Father came to the United States when a minor with his father and mother, brothers and sisters. They settled in Wisconsin and then moved to Minnesota near Owatonna, Steele County, Minnesota. He studied at Rush Medical College, Chicago and went to Mardin, Turkey as a medical missionary (for forty years) with his wife in 1874, where he remained until he was deported by the Turks during the first World War at the instigation of the Germans, to Sivas, Turkey, where he died of typhus on 8 December 1915 and was buried there. His wife passed away in childbirth resulting from uremia poisoning on 16 January 1888... more
HE DIED AT SATAN'S THRONE (Rev. 2:13) Success catapults one into the limelight. The world sings the praises of those who succeed, acclaims those who achieve. Undeserving persons are placed on a pedestal, while unsung heroes are buried in the archives of negligence. There is a vast army of heroes of faith encountered in the Old Testament and the New, along with those mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, whose commitment to the Triune God draws due admiration. There are also a large number of puissant champions, who are either mentioned in a cursory manner in the Scriptures or not at all. The Holy Spirit apportions another manner of divine recognition for them... more
There are many proverbs in the Bible, with a whole book carrying this title. Of these, the earliest, if not the first, is "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before YAHWEH" (Genesis 10:9). Immediately following is a statement about this mighty man, who became the founder of Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, all in Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah and Resen – eight famous city kingdoms. The first four were in Shinar – Hebraicised form of Sumer (Babylonia); the latter four in Asshur (Assyria) (cf. 11:2)... more
An Analysis of the Paraphrased New Testament by FRONTIERS A group in Turkey associated with a society called ‘Frontiers’ have been enthusiastically involved in paraphrasing a Turkish New Testament with Islamic intonation. This attempt is already stirring wide controversy and audible alarm among young Turkish pastors, ordinary believers and most of the missionaries... more
In a compendium article, we took the subject of The Churches in Christ’s Eyes. In sequence to this, a striking observation comes to light: The letters to the Seven Churches are loaded with serious imperatives from him, related to his solemn pronouncements. These are dispersed between the lines of the epistles, constantly reminding the reader about the urgency of decision and action. There are ten imperatives addressing the churches, each one a direct command to every individual within each fellowship ... more
(Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:1-11; Hebrews 9:1-14; 24-28) The glory of the Incarnation and Redemption fixes our eyes on the Savior’s Ascension. Today he is in a different involvement than in his pre-incarnate state. In Revelation, the gleaming ascension of Christ is treated as the climax of the ultimate fulfillment of his ministry. It is to be lamented that the remembrance of this crowning chapter goes unnoticed in most of the evangelical churches or in individual remembrances. more
Story of Haralambos Bostanjoglou Approximately five million Christians lost their homeland and many their lives during World War I and afterwards... Some of them are bathed in sublime joy and others drenched in human blood. This remarkable account of Haralambos Bostanjoglou is only one in the series of brilliant achievements in Asia Minor prior to the blotting out of the Christian faith. The reader will observe unswerving gallantry against an unrelenting adversary, fascinating reception and appalling rejection, a desperate community and a despondent outcome... more
The Dreadful Warfare Symbolized By The Cup The chief question is related to our Lord’s supplication, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me.” What is this cup? This age-long question has drawn many answers throughout the centuries. Here are a few of the attempted explanations that will be dismissed by anyone acquainted with Christ’s commission and its impeccable fulfillment ... more
Pentecost (Ephesians 5:6-20)
On May 11th we celebrate the day of Pentecost. I have written this message for the occasion, with prayer that it will refresh your heart in this dry world. Thomas Cosmades The Incarnation is the most distinctive event in history. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14). In this momentous occurrence divine and human natures appeared in oneness in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son... more
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