The Saints at War?

Several years ago, an Eastern Orthodox priest tried to correct this errant pro-Western Riter, believing perhaps that I just did not comprehend the glories of Byzantium. Given enough time and exposure, I'd fall in line and see how silly I'd been. Little did he know I love both rites deeply -- and I had worshipped with the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom far longer than he had. Nonetheless, he made it incumbent upon me to read two books: one was a book on Byzantine vestments and accoutrements, and the other was The Blessed Elder George Karslides (1901-1959) by Monk Moses the Athonite.

A few events in the Blessed Elder's life stood out. For one, he levitated, like the Roman Catholic saint Joseph of Cupertino. Another I will relate in a later message. However, this quotation came to mind this week, as we averted a terrorist attack; nonetheless, some insist all good Orthodox must essentially oppose both sides in any conflict -- anywhere, at anytime, for any reason including self-defense:

After a liturgy at Transfiguration, he related with great contrition: "We had visitors Saint Nicholas and Saint John, a strict visitor, Saint John the Forerunner..." When he censed him his hand trembled. At first he used to say: "Today we had the such and such saint concelebrating," afterwards he stopped mentioning this. On the eve of the war with the Italians, he cried constantly. They told him: "What do you have Elder, and why are you crying?" He said: "I remained an orphan." When the war was declared he said, "The Panaghia with Saint George left for the front." (pp. 63-65).

It seems he had made similar statements at other times:

Another villager related that during the Bulgarian occupation invaders came to murder the inhabitants of Sipsa. They took the Elder and led him to the cafe of the village together with other men. The head officer, addressing himself to them said: "You have some saint here who protects you Although we were coming intending not to leave even a chicken alive, our feet and hands are cut." The Elder told them when they left that the Precious Forerunner was cutting their feet and hands. (p. 80).

When women visited the monastery who on the way had denied giving water to soldiers who asked them for some, the Elder spoke to them strictly: "Strive for charity if you want to come to the Elder, be very careful of your actions, examine yourselves always, so that God will love you and the Elder will rejoice." (p. 106).

I wonder what Orthodox Peace Fellowship makes of this?