May 25, Tuesday Arrival in New York City

We were met at JFK International Airport in New York City by the dynamic TLIG core group of Roman Catholics, Greek and Russian Orthodox. Vassula had visited New York just last year, and had spoken in Newark, NJ. This time, the group decided to set up Vassula’s NY Meeting in the Armenian Orthodox Church Hall.

May 26, Wednesday Breakfast with the Russian Orthodox Priests

Father Stavros with Vassula in St Sergius Chapel

We were driven through the early morning NY traffic to Long Island, to the Archdiocese of The Orthodox Church of America which is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church in the U.S., located in Syosset, NY. There are 600 Russian Orthodox parishes in the U.S., several monasteries and 3 Romanian monasteries. Vassula was enthusiastically welcomed by Fr. Stavros Strikis, a priest who had been reading the Messages of True Life in God and who was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet Vassula in person. Fr. Stavros was joined by Fr. David, the assistant to the Metropolitan; they both very kindly showed us around their office, their Archives and their Chapel dedicated to St. Sergius. We were introduced to icons of different Russian Orthodox saints of America namely St. Alexis Toth and St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Russia, the Enlightener of North America, who died in 1925.

Over breakfast, Vassula witnessed about her experience and her mission. She spoke of the openness of the Armenian Orthodox clergy to her and to the Messages and how she was warmly welcomed recently by the Armenian Archbishop in L.A. They talked about the tendency in the Church “to back off” from Prophecy. Many people seem to think that God has already spoken in Scriptures and find it hard to believe that He speaks in our day. Vassula explained that thinking and believing that God has stopped speaking to His people contradicts what St. Paul says in Scriptures, as well as St. John in Jn 16:12-13 where Jesus says, “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now; but when the Spirit of Truth comes He will lead you to the complete Truth …” Unfortunately, judgments are made by different priests without their having even studied the writings. She finds that the Orthodox priests outside of Greece are generally more receptive and open.

Fr. Stavros took the opportunity to bring up some questions he had regarding the Messages. He wondered why Jesus comes to us in True Life in God as the Sacred Heart and she answered that first of all, the Sacred Heart’s language is loving, tender and intimate, and His children need to know Him and become intimate with Him. Secondly, the Orthodox do not have the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lord would like us not to differentiate between Orthodox and Catholic devotions.

Another interesting question was the matter of being “slain in the Spirit” to which Vassula answered: “this is what happens when one is in direct contact with the Holy Spirit.” She recalled Jn 18:6, the scene in Gethsemane when Jesus answered: “I Am he” and the soldier fell instantly, “slain in the Spirit.” Fr. Stavros was intrigued to hear of the phenomenon which she said started in the Charismatic Movement and spread in the Catholic Church. Her first experience observing the Holy Spirit in action in this special way was in Canada years ago, with Henri Lemay, the Canadian charismatic leader. She was amazed to see people falling off their chairs “slain!” The very first time she prayed over people and saw them “slain” was at a conference in Pittsburgh, using the crucifix containing a relic of the True Cross, which had just been given to her. She prayed over a little sick boy in his mother’s arms, traced crosses on his forehead, palms and soles of his feet and he was healed.

Each one of us was given a beautiful Russian icon of St. Herman of Alaska and All America, the first to bring Orthodoxy to the continent, the first Russian Orthodox American saint. Vassula in turn, gave them a compilation of the True Life in God prophecies for Russia, the Odes of the Holy Trinity and Vol. 12 with the CDF Questions and her answers. They showed us such hospitality; Fr. Stavros was so delighted with the visit that he didn’t want to see us go.

Visit to the Dean of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of N.Y.

Georgia Klamson is a member of the Greek community in New York and attends the Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Knowing Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos, the Dean of the Cathedral quite well, she set up this appointment for him to meet Vassula. Having read some of the Messages, Fr. Robert was curious to make the acquaintance of a Greek Orthodox woman endowed with such a gift and was eager to know her views on current issues in the U.S. such as feminism and homosexuality. With regard to homosexuality, Vassula referred to St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Romans 25-32, adding that people should come back to living according to the way God created them.

On the subject of her Inter-Religious mission, we were reminded of the Terrorist Issue which has inhibited Americans in their attitude towards Moslems in general. Fr. Robert questioned her on how she, as a Christian, interacts with Moslems. She told him about the Atisha Dipankar and Visuddhananda Peace Gold Award she received from the Buddhists in Bangladesh last year, and the ensuing invitation from a Moslem professor from the Dept. of World Religions, for her to speak to his students at the Moslem University of Dacca where she delivered a Christian message, reading from the Beatitudes. She emphasized to Fr. Robert that one must witness for Christ and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit to convert people. This is the difference between witnessing for your faith and proselytizing.

After a polite exchange of good wishes, Vassula handed Fr. Robert Vol. 12 of the Messages, the Odes to the Holy Trinity and a booklet of TLIG Messages for the Greek Orthodox. He wished her a successful meeting the following Saturday, excusing himself from attending due to preparations for Pentecost Sunday, and that Fr. Angelo Gavalas would be there in his stead.

4:30 p.m. Visit to the Greek Ambassador to the United Nations

Vassula was very pleased to meet Mr. Michael Daratzikis, Ambassador, and Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations. They both discovered they shared a common background; the Ambassador was also born in Egypt. She briefly told him of her experience and her work, and on seeing the book, he was very impressed by the beauty of the handwriting. Reading a few pages, he commented that he believed and said it reminded him of the Fathers of the Church. She encouraged him to read on and assured him that reading the Messages would give him peace. The openness, warmth, and graciousness of Mr. Daratzakis marked our first full day in New York.

May 27, Thursday Appointment at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, with its headquarters in New York City, is an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is composed of an Archdiocesan District – New York and 8 Metropolises: New Jersey, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston and Denver. It is governed by the Archbishop and the Eparchial Synod of Bishops.

Fr. Alex Karloutsos holds office as an advisor in the Archdiocese headquarters and is also the Parish Priest of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church in Southampton, N.Y. Georgia Klamson had told Fr. Alex about Vassula and had furnished him with information of her activities and the Messages. He demonstrated a keen interest in her work and in her person, so, on knowing of her visit to New York, he arranged to invite Vassula and Georgia to an informal lunch in the City. The meeting point was at his office in the Archdiocese building at 11:30 a.m. They were received amid a rush of phone calls for which Fr. Alex apologized, expressing the need to escape to quieter surroundings where he could at last give his undivided attention to his special guest. Over lunch, Fr. Alex shared his amazement at how someone with no theological training could produce such a divine work, that it could only come from God. He compared the poetry of True Life in God to the Songs of Solomon and had difficulty in understanding when he learned that many Orthodox priests were wary and afraid of it. Vassula took the opportunity to mention the ordeals of her mission for Church Unity and the obstacles put in her way due to the rejection by the majority of the Greek Orthodox clergy. He was sympathetic on hearing of her trials; he encouraged and reassured her of his support. They parted with the hope and the wish to meet again in the near future.

2:30 p.m. Visit to the Parish Priest of the Armenian Cathedral in New York City

The TLIG organizers in New York reserved the Parish Hall of the Armenian Cathedral for Vassula’s Meeting the following Saturday afternoon. Fr. Mardiros, the Dean of the Armenian Cathedral, St. Vartan’s, welcomed us and very proudly showed us his church. He gave us the background of the Cathedral, the first to be built in America. The biggest Armenian communities in the U.S. are found in New York and more recently, California. Vassula talked about her visit to Armenia last year, and was happy to inform him that Vergine and Tigranuhi from Armenia would be at the Meeting.

3:15 p.m. Interview on Greek National T.V.

Vassula was driven to Astoria, Queens, the Greek quarter of New York, to tape a TV interview which was to be aired the following evening, advertising the Saturday event at the Armenian Center. The Greeks of New York are so numerous that “Little Athens” is like an island teeming with Greek restaurants, shops and churches. The Greek National TV station, which is owned by Demetrios Kastanas, is located in the center of Astoria where we heard Greek spoken everywhere we went. She was interviewed in the Greek language for half an hour by a pleasant young man, a reporter called Panicos.

May 28, Friday, 7 p.m. Meeting at the Holy Face of Jesus Monastery in Clifton, New Jersey.

Fr. Bernard and Fr. Louis, the monks from this Benedictine Monastery had invited Vassula, with the help of Anne Matthews and Thecla Johnides of TLIG, to speak to their youth group but many of their friends and parishioners joined, filling the beautiful chapel. Fr. Louis’ enthusiasm for True Life in God dates back many years, he has testified to the authenticity of the Messages and to the great influence they have in his contemplative life. Fr. Bernard introduced Vassula and then took his seat beside Fr. Louis to listen to Vassula’s testimony. One could see the delight in both priests’ faces as Vassula spoke of the early days of her conversion and the main themes of the Messages, dotting the profound teachings with her day to day experiences with the Lord. The atmosphere was warm and intimate; hearing her speak gave a calming and tranquil effect in the overfilled chapel. The Armenian TLIG songs contributed to the solemnity and warmth of the ambiance. A Greek Orthodox listener who had driven up from Massachusetts commented afterwards: “I felt that Vassula was genuine, a down-to-earth individual with extraordinary gifts, someone that does not flaunt her abilities, nor hide from them. She spoke with such faith and honesty…” Refreshments were laid out for everyone after the meeting; all were invited to share a few more beautiful moments together.

May 29, Saturday, 1 p.m. Meeting at the Armenian Church Center, New York City

This big Meeting organized by the TLIG Prayer Group of New York City fell on the Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend, one of the important holidays in the U.S. The pulse of the City slowed down almost to a halt as New Yorkers took some time out of their hectic rhythm to go out of town. The audience of approximately 500 people at the Armenian Church Center was satisfactory under the circumstances.

Vassula’s old friend Al Barbarino sang praise songs as people filled the hall before the meeting, and Vergine rendered the beautiful True Life in God songs in Armenian while Tigranuhi read the English translation of the verses. Mark Jordan gave the welcoming address, followed by a short introduction of Vassula and True Life in God by Fr. Louis of the Monastery of the Holy Face of Jesus.

Vassula’s talk introduced the Messages saying it is God speaking to us today, they are a foretaste of the Beatific Vision, and that in them, the Holy Trinity reveals Themselves to us. The True Life in God Messages call us for a radical transformation of self, mind and soul done with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. This coming of the Holy Spirit to transform us is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or baptism by fire, the Day of the Lord or the Visitation of the Lord, to purify us and to make us realize who we really are. Also called a New Pentecost, the Holy Spirit enables us to reach levels of pure light, levels of divinization whereby we become gods by participation. The Holy Spirit will give us a deeper and better understanding of God’s word, and of God’s mysteries, calling us to reach deification.

“I alone can clothe you in My splendour and give you the indispensable light; I alone, in My Divinity can impress upon your soul My Image of Holiness. Come to Me and prolong your gaze on My Holy Face so that you may understand fully that you are joint heiress with Me, united to Me and in Me…receive more of Me, allowing Me to receive more of you. My wish is to give more of Myself to you, so that you can give more of yourself to me. I will be obtaining in this way all that belongs to Me already; through My divine Love that will be poured in you, you will be deified, transfiguring your soul, so that My Father identifies you on Judgment Day with Me.” (April 25, 1999)

She continued about the need for Repentance and to confess our sins to empty ourselves and allow Him to burn to the root all that is not Him. In True Life in God, our soul answers the call to perfection, to rise above the heavens. It is a call to Detachment, leading to Dispassion, then to Impassibility, the 3 steps to holiness.

“If you al