The Romanian "I AM"

The Apostle Andrew first brought the Gospel to Scythia Minor, a Roman province, which is known today as Dobruja in Romania. There he converted pagans to Christianity, who later became the first Slavic martyrs.

Paul wrote of the Scythians, referring to them as believers:

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:11) These were members of the early apostolic church.

Many Christian artifacts and remains from early churches dating from 300 AD to 400 AD have been located in Romania.

During the early 300s AD, the believers of Scythia Minor underwent horrific persecution at the direction of Roman Emperor Diocletian. (Georgi Atanasov, Pontica, 2023. Muzeul de Istorie Națională și Arheologie Constanța)

Monasticism rose up from the early Romanian church. Living lives of humbleness devoted to God and being always in prayer, these men became leaders in church doctrine. (Emanuel GAFIŢA, “Scythian Monks and their contribution to the clarification of the fourth century theology,” Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, 2020.)

Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk, established the usage of numbering the years in remembrance of Jesus—Anno Domini—The Year of the Lord, thus replacing the pagan method of counting the years of Emperor Diocletian, the murderer he hoped to forget.

The monks have continued the ancient ways of prayer, as initiated by Jesus and taught by the apostles for 2000 years.

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Each day the monks pray: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.” Known as the Jesus prayer, it keeps the speaker humble and the Lord in full control.

The Romanian monks have kept the forefathers commands to be always in prayer.

Paul wrote: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Prayer is important to God. It is a gift from Him to His people, that they might speak and be heard and then receive His Word in response.

Since the time of the Apostolic Fathers and the early church, the monks have kept specific times, ways and words of prayer.

Jesus went alone to the wilderness to overcome the devil with Scripture. He also went up mountaintops to pray, especially at night.

The Romanian monks have a tradition of hermitage following in the footsteps of Christ, even today. These men seek to live in God’s presence continually. They seek purity and unification with God. Keeping oneself from sin and being in unity with God through prayer is a lifestyle of servant leadership, as demonstrated by Christ.

In Romania, the Valley of the Cells has international recognition; it is a mountain where men come to become “hesychasts,” or hidden monks (hermitage), living individually within caves. An archaeological monument, the monastery there has existed since 1215 AD.

The monks of Romania live alone, centering themselves and their hearts on God alone, withdrawing from distractions. (100 years old monk’s life advice, TRINITAS TV, 2009. Elders.org) In this way, they may always pray.

When one is praying, he is always thinking about the Lord, who Himself prays for His church, always interceding. “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:34)

The monks are valuable intercessors.

Communism came to Romania in 1959. Monasteries were closed. Monks were sent out to work instead of to pray. Some leadership fled to the forests to live alone and continue to pray.

Communism was a spiritual attack against the Romanian Orthodox Church, its unification and power of prayer.

The adversary also sought to destroy Jesus at the cross, but was defeated. This act of God gave birth to the church and made it powerful—full of the Holy Spirit.

“However, instead of weakening the monks, the years of communist persecution only made them stronger. Hidden in the light of God, these hesychast monks protected the country with their prayer.” (Cristian Curte, “The Last Great Romanian Spiritual Father on Mount Athos: On Elder Iulian of Prodromou Skete,” Translation by Jesse Dominick, Orthodox Christianity, 2023)

Nothing can stop prayer.

Thus, the Romanian monks have endured persecution both in the past and in modern days. Overcoming spiritual attacks is a type of preparation that builds spiritual hierarchy.

Other ancient preparations by Romanian monks include fasting and perpetual prayer. The Lord fasted 40 days in the wilderness. Romanian monks fast and encourage their church to fast at specific times.

They recall the words of the Lord when describing how to cast out a deaf and dumb spirit: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)

(Patriarchate of Romania, Patriarch of Romania: Humble prayer and fasting fill man with God’s sanctifying love, Orthodox Times, 2025.)

Romanian Orthodox monks’ prayers can break curses and cast out demons, even the hardest types to remove.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Romanian Orthodox Church leadership, took action. Each day church bells would be rung at noon and specific prayers were to be made in unison by both the clergy and laity of the Church. “‘Priests in parishes and monasteries will also read special prayers for the end of the pandemic,’ the office of the Holy Synod said at the end of the statement.” (Romanian faithful to jointly pray from their homes daily at noon, Orthodox Times, 2020.)

The church in every nation must ring their bells and unite in prayer at specific times for specific purposes.

The Romanian Orthodox Church stands united, as a Christian nation.

The Romanian monks are the example of Christian leadership to the church today. They live lives devoted to Christ; they have been tested by government change, persecution and plague. In addition, they are spiritually prepared to battle in prayer and direct their church in how, when and what to pray.

The Romanian language is Latin (an early church language) at its core, the only tongue within the Eastern Orthodox Church to have a Romance language. Before the Great Schism of 1054 AD, the Romanian Orthodox Church was aligned with Constantinople. Its liturgical language was Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament. In 1568, its Divine Liturgy began in the Romanian language.

Today, the Romanian Orthodox Church retains 386 monasteries, with 2,886 monks and 5,225 nuns. (World Council of Churches) Approximately 19 million people worldwide belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church. During the coronavirus, many of these faithful prayed for its end. To this, the church worldwide owes them thanks, specifically to their leadership and monasteries who initiated the prayers and promoted them. The prayer lives of the Romanian monks are an inspiration to all the church.

To honor the Lord and the witness of the Romanian Orthodox Church for Jesus and keeping the ways of the early church for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Romanian “Eu sînt” meaning “I AM” from John 18:5 into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s prayer in Romanian:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Georgian "I AM"

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus; an important location, it is the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The area has been contested for by the ancient Persian and Roman Empires and in modern days, by the former USSR.

Georgia first heard the Gospel in the first century from the Apostle Andrew. Upon this apostolic account, the Georgian Orthodox Church is founded.

God’s timing is perfect.

Around the year 300 AD, a young Roman woman, remembered as Saint Nino, came to Georgia. A believer, she led key individuals to the Lord, and they too became known as Christians. This included King Mirian III, who founded the Chosroid dynasty. A royal family, they were descendants of Iranian Mihranids (Persians).

God can use just a few obedient persons as His witnesses to alter a nation for good. He can use women as well as men to lead others to the knowledge of Christ. “For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)

It is important that government leaders are true believers. Those who are not may be put in place by God to become godly leaders. Brave men and women who will give a true account of Jesus to political figures are necessary to lead them to the Truth.

Archeological evidence demonstrates that Christians lived in Georgia during the 3rd Century.

The ancient city of Mtskheta is a holy city to the Georgian Orthodox Church; it is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Georgia. In 337 AD, it was in the nation’s capital of Mtskheta that Christianity was declared the official religion of Georgia. The city today remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church. UNESCO

The Chosroid dynasty sat squarely at the crossroads of the East (Persian Empire) and the West (Roman Empire) which went to war with one another. The Georgian king was a vassal of the Persians, but his faith was that of the Christians in Rome.

Persian influence spread Zoroastrianism, but the Georgian Church stood against it.

Zoroastrianism is no friend of Christianity.

About 400 AD the Georgian alphabet was created to bring the written Gospel to Georgians. The first reference comes from an inscription on a church in Israel/Palestine.

Literacy is important for the spread of the Truth of Jesus.

Known as Asomtavruli, the oldest Georgian alphabet was based upon the Greek Gospel and birthed by King Parnavaz (Ministry of Education, Georgia). This written script united the Georgians in language, giving it dominance over any other tongue spoken. (Chkhartishvili, Mariam. 2021. Narrative Sources on the Creation of Georgian Alphabet PRO GEORGIA.JOURNAL OF KARTVELOLOGICAL STUDIES. .No 31 — 2021,pp.. 101 -113 ISSN 1230-1604. 31. 101 -113.)

The creation of the written Georgian language was a work of God for His people, the church.

The Georgian letter called “jani” looks like the letter “X” in English. The Georgian word ჯვარი or “cross” begins with “jani” (X).

Jesus is described as “The Word” by John in the Gospel. Words are formed from letters. Jesus stated, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” These are Greek letters.

Jesus also said, “I am the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)

The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the “tav.” It too in its first form is the shape of the cross. (Theopolis Institute) In the book of Ezekiel, all those marked with the “sign” or the “tav” would be saved from destruction. (Ezekiel 9:4)

All true Georgian believers are spiritually marked with the sign of the cross or “jani” which is a reminder to them everyday in the usage of their alphabet.

Asomtavruli is still utilized by the Georgian Orthodox Church in religious texts and ceremonies. It is a holy alphabet, a Christian language, as are its descendants, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli.

The unique Georgian language is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity.

The Georgian tongue is an early church language. The Georgian people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church.

By 500 AD, pilgrims were already making the trek from Georgia to the Holy Land to see where the Lord was born in Bethlehem and where He grew up in Nazareth. Their presence was notable as well in Jerusalem.

In 1226 AD, the Mongol Sultan Jalal al-Din captured the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. It was a city of Christians. Those who would not give up Jesus were put to death. Thousands became martyrs.

In 1624, Queen Consort Ketevan of Georgia was tortured and executed in Iran because she would not give up Jesus.

Islam is no friend of Christianity.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has withstood 2,000 years of the world and its ways. It endured 70 years of Soviet communism, governing control and purges. Churches were closed. Monks were imprisoned and executed. Persecution by the Soviets aimed to banish the Church and promote atheism.

Atheism and Communism are no friends of Christianity.

After that time, the Church rose again, to establish itself as the “custodian” of Georgian nationalism. The Georgian people trust their Church because it has been stable throughout history.

Today, Georgian Orthodox Church leadership stands against immorality, specifically coming from Western allies.

“…one leading Georgian cleric, Metropolitan of Vani and Baghdati Diocese Anton Bulukhia, publicly rebuked the U.S. and EU embassies in Tbilisi and said he was closing a European club in his diocese. ‘You want to force your profligate, obscene and depraved ideals’ on Georgia, he said on July 11. (Archil Gegeshidze and Mikheil Mirziashvili, The Orthodox Church in Georgia’s Changing Society, July 23, 2021, Carnegie Endowment Org.)

Immorality is no friend of Christianity.

Generations of men, like the grass of the field, come and then fade quickly. But the Church must stand. To stand, unity is necessary. The Lord prayed for this unity. In fact, He gave up His life, that the church would be one body, each part covered with His shed blood.

Jesus prayed, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

The Georgian Orthodox Church has stood together both with the Lord and with the Georgian people, even at the point of martyrdom for 2,000 years. They have survived and will continue to do so. This branch of the church is an inspiration for others, “that the world may believe” that Jesus was sent by God the Father.

What has held the Georgian Orthodox Church together? The Lord Himself. He has prayed that the church would be united. (John 17) His Gospel, His Word, the Name of Jesus is the power of God to stand firm.

Paul equated the ability to “stand firm” to a phalanx—a military unit of eight men across and eight men deep with shields overlapping one another, armed with spears. Together, holding the shield of faith, they hold their place and their faith. (Ephesians 6:13)

The phalanx is armed with prayer, calling upon the power of God. It moves forward in offense and can also maintain a defense against every fiery dart of the enemy.

They are as the church praying to God for the release of Peter from the prison. (Acts 12:5)

All branches of the church—Orthodox, Catholic, Protestants, Oriental and the Church of the East, must stand together peacefully with the Georgian Orthodox Church against immorality which is indeed consuming the world. (Romans 1:24) It should not consume the church as well. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

All branches of the church should be speaking out against immorality. (Colossians 3:5)

When the Lord returns, He will find His bride spotless. To be clean of sin is to be free of immorality. The bride must make herself and keep herself ready. (Rev 19:7)

To honor the Lord and the witness of the Georgian Orthodox Church for Jesus among the Persians, Mongols, Muslims and Communists for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Georgian მე ვარ , meaning “I AM” from John 18:5 into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s prayer in Georgian:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Turkish "I AM"

Antakya, Turkey—A BackLook at Antioch

Believers were first called “Christians” in Antioch. (Acts 11:26) It was the location of the first Gentile church. Historically, this city in present day Turkey was a safe haven for those of the church fleeing persecution within the Roman Empire. Jewish believers from Jerusalem went to Antioch, mixing with Gentile Christians.

The church in Antioch grew and Barnabas was sent to investigate. (Acts 11:23) The believers in Antioch were an unusual mixture of people: former pagans who were new converts, Jews who believed Jesus was their Messiah, and Gentiles devoted to Judaism who had completely converted. (Bible Ref)

These differences could cause schism, but Barnabas told them all to be faithful to the Lord.

The church across the globe today is like the church of Antioch. It is Orthodox, Oriental, from the East, Catholic, Protestant and many other denominations, yet they must all be faithful to the Lord who is the Head of the church.

In the Church of Antioch, a potential conflict arose regarding the differences between believers of Jewish background and those from the Gentile world.

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, 'Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us..’” (Acts 15:7-8)

All believers in Jesus the Savior are given the Holy Spirit. They are sealed as the Lord’s and are each a necessary part of the body of Christ.

Antioch was also a missionary springboard (Paul, Barnabas, and others) for their good news journeys. (47-55 AD) As a result, many churches were founded in Turkey: Colossae, Laodicea, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Tarsus, Cappadocia, Constantinople, among others.

Many of the books of the New Testament were letters written to these churches. Some scholars believe the Gospel of Matthew may have been written in Antioch. (BLB)

The first Seven Ecumenical Councils of the church were held in Turkey. They defined Christianity.

Because Peter and Paul had founded the church in Antioch, the location became one of five important patriarchal city-centers among Christians. By 270 AD, the School of Antioch opened as a place of Christian learning. The church fathers were “influential in theology and ecclesiastical politics.” (Britannica)

Turkey, especially the region called Anatolia, was an area of widespread Christianity. The church there had strength. (Turkish Studies)

At one point, the Holy Spirit warned through a man of Antioch named Agabus, that famine was coming across the Roman Empire.

“One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.” (Acts 11:28-30)

God warns His people. God prepares His people. God uses His church to help other parts of the body. Though many believers had left Jerusalem because of persecution, some Christians remained behind as a witness of Christ.

This is the same today. Persecution has driven many believers from the Middle East to the West for safety, while others have remained on their lands for 2,ooo years as a witness for Jesus.

It is the duty of believers in the West to help the church body in Turkey and the Middle East where few who know the Lord remain.

A part of the Roman Empire, Antioch was the third largest city after Rome and Alexandria. Its location was a crossroads for Italy, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and the East. Caravans traveled to and through Antioch from the East with trade goods. The city flourished with between 100,000-300,000 people.

God uses major city centers of diverse peoples and languages to spread the Gospel.

After enduring a major fire and earthquakes (525-528 AD), Antioch then fell to the Persians, was taken back by the Byzantines (the Eastern Roman Empire), and later became a part of the Arab Caliphate (Islam) in 737 AD.

In 969 AD, the Byzantines reconquered the shrinking metropolis, but lost it to the Seljuk Turks (Islam) in 1084 AD. The Crusaders reclaimed Antioch in 1098 AD. The Mamluks (Islam) completely destroyed what was left in 1268 AD.

From 1517, the city remained a part of the Ottoman Empire (Islam), until its end (at the conclusion of World War 1). Afterward, the French mandated that Antioch become a part of Syria.

In 1939, Antioch was returned to Turkey (Islam), the former Ottoman Empire.

Although Antioch fluctuated between wars over strategic landscape, it also bounced back and forth between Christian and Islamic ownership.

What happened to Antioch’s large Christian community?

It endured natural disasters, regime changes, and persecution. In modern days, genocide specifically against Christian minorities by Turkish government. “Between 1.5 million and 2.5 million people died as a result of the genocide.” (The Thirty Year Genocide, Alex Bellamy, International Affairs, Volume 96, Issue 1, Jan 2020, Pages 247–249, Oxford Academic)

Islam is not a friend of Christians who live within the same nation’s borders. Christians are seen as those aligned with the West or as enemies of Islam. There is nothing new. It is the same situation today in many Islamic countries.

During the thirty year genocide of Christian minorities within Turkey, few helped. This was wrong. The church in the West must help the church in the East.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:

“But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.” (1Corinthinans 12:24-26)

Schisms arose in Antioch. Divisions came. The church became the Oriental Church, the Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox. (CNEWA, Sister Jean David)

Three major branches are still worshiping separately, yet, they are bound by the same faith and the same blood—that of Jesus’, and are filled with the same Holy Spirit.

Today there are approximately only 180,854 Christians in Turkey. (AA) This is about the size of the population of ancient Antioch. These people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church, now scattered across the country.

The early church in Turkey spoke Koine Greek. It is still used in Greek Orthodox churches today. They also spoke Aramaic—the language of the Lord from the cross—which is utilized in Syriac churches of Turkey today. Presently, Christians in Turkey also speak the common language of Turkish.

Today’s world is small. It is connected. So can the church be connected as one body today. This is the will of the Lord, who prayed for unity of His people while sweating great drops of blood for His own, in the Garden of Gethsemane. (John 17)

To honor the Lord and the witness of the Turkish church for Jesus among the Romans, Arabs and Turks for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Turkish, İsa, ‹‹Benim›› meaning, Jesus said, “It is I” into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the prayer of Jesus in Turkish:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Ge'ez "I AM"

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostle Philip was directed by the Holy Spirit to go to the Gaza road. There he found an important Ethiopian eunuch from the court of Queen Candace. He had been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip found him sitting in his chariot reading the scroll of Isaiah. Sent by the Holy Spirit, Philip approached the eunuch, then explained to him the Scripture and told him about Jesus. Shortly afterward, Philip baptized the Ethiopian. (Acts 8:25-39)

The Ethiopian church began with this one man.

In about 316 A.D., two Phoenician boys from Tyre, Lebanon, were captured while in a Red Sea port while traveling with their Christian uncle. The brother named Frumentius became the tutor to the Ethiopian king’s son, Ezana. Frumentius led the royal heir to the Lord.

Christian teachers are good for children.

Frumentius was later appointed head of the Ethiopian church in the Kingdom of Aksum, present day Ethiopia and Eritrea.

During the fourth century A.D., King Ezana made the Kingdom of Aksum, Ethiopia and Eritrea, a Christian nation.

Christian heads of state are excellent leadership for their own people.

By the fifth century A.D., the Bible began to be translated from Greek into Ge’ez, the common language of Aksum, (Ethiopia and Eritrea). Today Amharic is spoken in Ethiopia, whereas, Tigrinya is the language of Eritrea, but Ge’ez continues as the liturgical language of both the Ethiopian church and the Eritrean church.

The Garima Gospels are the world’s oldest complete illuminated Biblical manuscript of the four Gospels. They are written in the Ge’ez language. Traditionally, the Scriptures have been held at the Abba Garima Monastery in Ethiopia, close to the border of Eritrea. Recently, because of a power struggle between the countries, the Gospels have been removed and hidden in another undisclosed location.

Ge’ez was an early church language. Today, it is a holy language.

Today, the Ethiopian Oriental Orthodox Church has approximating 36 million members residing in Ethiopia. With other Christian denominations, they constitute 67.3% of the population.

In Eritrea, the number of Christians from varying denominations is 47-63%.

The believers of these two countries are one people, from one language, one faith, and one Lord. They are physical and spiritual descendants of the early church. Together, they are a significant part of the body of Christ which has kept the Ge’ez language of the early church.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, while the Lord sweated blood, he prayed:

“I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.” (John 17:11)

Belief in Jesus and the Scriptures unites nations, the church, and the family.

There should be no division in the church between Ethiopia and Eritrea—they are brothers, and part of the Kingdom of God.

To honor the Lord and the Christian Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea, “Jesus” in the Ge’ez language has been embroidered into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the “Lord’s Prayer” being sung in the Ge’ez language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Russian "I AM"

Russians believe that the Apostle Andrew, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, came through their nation in 55 A.D. He carried with him the good news of the existence of Jesus.

In 988 A.D., Vladimir the Great installed Christianity as the state religion after leaving paganism for Christ. Idolatry was abolished and Byzantine missionaries were allowed in. The Slav tribes were uniting as the Kievan Rus—a federation of Christian states, now known as Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus.

Christians in the highest levels of government are good for a nation. This is biblical:

“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people.” (2Chronicles 23:16)

Vladimir had been influenced for Christ by his grandmother, Olga of Kiev, who was first baptized in about 955 A.D. She began the building of churches in the region.

Believing grandparents make a spiritual difference in the lives of their grandchildren. (2Timothy 1:5)

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one early church. They are one people in Christ.

The Kiev Rus first received Scriptures translated from the Koine Greek and written in Glagolitic script, which was developed by two devout believers in 862 A.D. for the purpose of bringing the Slavic peoples the written Word of God. “Glagolitic” means “utterance” or “word.”

Glagolitic script was the precursor of the Cyrillic alphabet, named for Cyril, one of the two believers. Many of Cyrillic’s letters are rooted in the foundational languages of the Scriptures, coming from Hebrew and Greek. A few are Aramaic.

Jesus is a part of every word of Scripture, even the very letters. Three times he stated, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega.” (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Written language is extremely important to the Lord. Its fundamental purpose is for the spreading of the Gospel, as seen historically in Russia.

Cyrillic was used to unite the Russian people to the faith in Jesus.

Cyrillic is the alphabet for 50 different languages. God has used two men to reach generations of believers across Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The Cyrillic alphabet is now used in the Church in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The Gospel is the foundation of literacy and culture throughout Eastern Europe and into Russia.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one holy Scripture and one early church. They are one people in Christ.

In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, dividing the Catholic Church in Rome from the Orthodox Church in the East. Though all believed in Jesus the Christ and though all were descendants of the early church, receiving the Scriptures from the same original Greek source, the two sides held to political disputes, theological differences and cultural obstacles.

The church has a history of division. Jesus stated, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (Matthew 12:25)

The Russian Orthodox Church has been historically united to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople. In 1996, it split. Political differences regarding the Orthodox Church in Estonia were reconciled, and the two reunited.

In 2018, a similar split occurred again between the Russian Orthodox Church and Constantinople. This political difference involved the Ukraine. “Relations soured after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.” (BBC)

The church cannot allow other powers to divide it.

Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Every part of the church is necessary to the other parts.

“For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

These parts are to build the church up to unity in the faith. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The Russian Orthodox Church numbers approximately 112 million globally. Eastern Orthodox members constitute 300 million worldwide. These believers are all united in Christ since they received the Gospel, and should remain so.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

To honor the Lord and the Orthodox Church in Russia, the Russian words “It’s me,” meaning— “I AM” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer, spoken in the beautiful Russian language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Ukrainian "I AM"

Ukrainians believe that the Apostle Andrew, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, came through their nation in 55 A.D. He carried with him the good news of the existence of Jesus.

In 988 A.D., Vladimir the Great installed Christianity as the state religion after leaving paganism for Christ. Idolatry was abolished and Byzantine missionaries were allowed in. The Slav tribes were uniting as the Kievan Rus—a federation of Christian states, now known as Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus.

Christians in the highest levels of government are good for a nation.

Vladimir had been influenced for Christ by his grandmother, Olga of Kiev, who was first baptized in about 955 A.D. She began the building of churches in the region.

Believing grandparents make a spiritual difference in the lives of their grandchildren.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one early church. They are one people in Christ.

The Kiev Rus first received Scriptures translated from the Koine Greek and written in Glagolitic script, which was developed by two devout believers in 862 A.D. for the purpose of bringing the Slavic peoples the written Word of God. “Glagolitic” means “utterance” or “word.”

Glagolitic script was the precursor of the Cyrillic alphabet, named for Cyril, one of the two believers. Many of Cyrillic’s letters are rooted in the foundational languages of the Scriptures, coming from Hebrew and Greek. A few are Aramaic.

Cyrillic is the alphabet for 50 different languages. God has used two men to reach generations of believers across Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The Cyrillic alphabet is now used in the Church in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The Gospel is the foundation of literacy and culture throughout Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one holy Scripture and one early church. They are one people in Christ.

Approximately 41 million Ukrainians are of the Orthodox Church, but are divided by political problems and war, yet they are one people, one body, one language, one faith in Jesus Christ.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, while the Lord sweated blood, he prayed:

“ I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.” (John 17:11)

Belief in Jesus and the Scriptures unites nations, the church, and the family.

To honor the Lord and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Ukrainian words “This is me,” meaning— “I AM” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the “Lord’s Prayer” being sung in the beautiful Ukrainian language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Macedonian "I AM"

Macedonia is a key country in the spread of the message of “I AM,” or the knowledge of who Jesus is. It once was a province of the Roman Empire and borders Greece to the north.

The Apostle Paul, author of much of the New Testament epistles, was a traveling church planter. One night he dreamed of a man waving to him pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul went. (Acts 16:6-10) He landed in Philippi and began telling the good news of Jesus, the message “I AM,” for the first time in Europe.

After leaving, Paul returned twice to visit Philippi, and also wrote the Philippian church a letter just past 60 A.D., which is now part of the New Testament—Philippians.

Paul also traveled to Thessalonika, later penning them a letter too, now know as the Thessalonian epistle.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church has the oldest Christian traditions of any church in Europe. Though there have been movements to drop the title “Macedonian” from the church’s name, their Archbishop Stefan maintains that “Macedonian” will remain.

To honor the Word of God, which includes “Macedonia” as the first entrance of the Gospel to Europe, this church has kept its title.

After the fall of the western portion of the Roman Empire, the eastern half continued as the Byzantine Empire, which included the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

In 862 A.D., two brothers who were also Christian missionaries, Cyril and Methodius, developed the earliest form of the Cyrillic Script to help spread Christianity throughout Eastern Europe among the Slavic-speaking peoples. They translated the Greek Scriptures into the Slavic language and its new alphabet. These two brothers influenced culture and literacy across Eastern Europe. Cyril and Methodius were born in Thessalonika—they were Macedonians.

God uses language, both the spoken and the written, to unite the church and carry forward the message of Jesus, the “I AM.”

The Macedonian tongue is Slavic as well. It incorporates the Cyrillic alphabet, even in its Bible. This alphabet is yet in use in other Slavic languages and in Russian.

Today, there are approximately 260 million Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. God has used two Macedonian brothers, members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, to influence and create a foundation of Christ throughout Eastern Europe and into Russia which remains to this day.

Listen to Macedonian, the language of early believers:

The Spoken "I AM"

Jesus spoke more than one language. The common tongue at his time in the Holy Land was Aramaic. From the cross, the Lord cried out loudly in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) He wanted listeners to know what was happening.

Jesus also used Aramaic to raise a small girl who had died, “Talitha koum,” or “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mark 5:41) Though she was dead, he spoke to her in her native tongue.

Mark 7: 32-34 records that Jesus spoke Aramaic when he healed a deaf man. “They brought a man to him who was deaf and had a speech impediment. They pleaded with Jesus to place his hand on him.  Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.  After he looked up to heaven, he sighed and said, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’)” The man hadn’t been able to hear any language, but the first word he ever heard was Jesus speaking the Aramaic, “Ephphatha!”

Language is important to God. He communicates with his people through words. Even, his Son is called The Word. (John 1:1)

The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, but during the exile of the Israelites to Babylon, parts of the books of Daniel, Ezra and Jeremiah were recorded in Aramaic.

Over time, Aramaic displaced Hebrew as the everyday language of the Jewish people. The precedence of Aramaic continued until the rise of Islam, when Arabic replaced Aramaic in the Holy Land, approximately 600 years after the Lord ascended.

Aramaic is still used today by small groups of Christians in northern Syria, Iraq, Iran, southeast Turkey and in diasporic communities of Armenia, Georgia and Russia.

The Syriac Bible, a dialect of Aramaic is still used today by the Syrian Orthodox Church, whose headquarters are in Syria, where we were first called “Christians.” This branch of the church was the second established after that in Jerusalem. After 2,000 years, these believers are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church. They have kept the holy places and the living language of Christ.

Jesus also used Aramaic for teaching, “raca” or “fool,” and “mammon” meaning “wealth.” He wanted the people themselves to know and understand him, the Father and the kingdom of heaven. For that, they needed to hear in their own tongue. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They learned “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Listen to Jonathan Roumie pray “The Lord’s Prayer” in Aramaic. It is quite moving.

To honor the Lord and the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Aramaic word “Jesus” has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025