St Luke the Surgeon of Simferopol (repose June 11, 1961):
“O how large and terrible is the army of the demons. How numberless is their black horde! Unchanged, untiring, day and night, seeking to push all of us who believe in the name of Christ, to lure us on the road of unbelief, of evil, and of impiety. These unseen enemies of God have made their sole purpose, day and night to seek our destruction. But do not be afraid, take power from the name of Jesus.”
“O how large and terrible is the army of the demons. How numberless is their black horde! Unchanged, untiring, day and night, seeking to push all of us who believe in the name of Christ, to lure us on the road of unbelief, of evil, and of impiety. These unseen enemies of God have made their sole purpose, day and night to seek our destruction. But do not be afraid, take power from the name of Jesus.”
The Old Testament feast of Pentecost occurred 50 days after Passover-- the commemoration of the Exodus of the Israelites from captivity and slavery in Egypt. For Christians, the Passover is the celebration of Christ’s "passing over" from death to life and from earth to heaven in His Glorious Resurrection. It is also our "exodus" as God’s People from this sinful world to the eternal Kingdom.
Pentecost is the day the promised Holy Spirit came "like the rush of a mighty wind," filling "all the house where Christ's disciples were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4)
Pentecost is the day the promised Holy Spirit came "like the rush of a mighty wind," filling "all the house where Christ's disciples were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4)
The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints from every corner of the earth.
"The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!"
"The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!"
The humble soul
Thou art a flowering garden. and in the heart of the garden lies a fair dwelling wherein it pleases the Lord to take up His abode.
Thou art beloved of heaven and earth.
The Apostles, Prophets, Bishops and holy Fathers love thee.
The Angels, the Seraphim and Cherubim love thee.
The most holy Mother of the Lord loves thee, O humble Soul.
The Lord loves thee and rejoices in thee.
☦️ St Silouan the Athonite
Thou art a flowering garden. and in the heart of the garden lies a fair dwelling wherein it pleases the Lord to take up His abode.
Thou art beloved of heaven and earth.
The Apostles, Prophets, Bishops and holy Fathers love thee.
The Angels, the Seraphim and Cherubim love thee.
The most holy Mother of the Lord loves thee, O humble Soul.
The Lord loves thee and rejoices in thee.
☦️ St Silouan the Athonite
Prayer of Parents for Their Children
O God, our heavenly Father, Who lovest mankind, and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon our children, Thy servants, (names), for whom I humbly pray Thee, and commend them to Thy gracious protection. Be Thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavours; lead them in the path of Thy truth, and draw them near to Thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Thy love and fear; doing Thy will in all matters. Give (names) grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout and charitable. Defend (names) against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, for the merits of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Holy Mother, and Thy blessed saints. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father, Who lovest mankind, and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon our children, Thy servants, (names), for whom I humbly pray Thee, and commend them to Thy gracious protection. Be Thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavours; lead them in the path of Thy truth, and draw them near to Thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Thy love and fear; doing Thy will in all matters. Give (names) grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout and charitable. Defend (names) against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, for the merits of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Holy Mother, and Thy blessed saints. Amen.
Wisdom from Mount Athos
The Lord does not manifest Himself to a proud soul. All the books in the world will not help the proud soul to know the Lord. Her pride will not make way for the grace Holy Spirit, and God is known only through the Holy Spirit.
Enlightened by Baptism, people believe in God; but there are some who even know Him. To believe in God is good, but it more blessed to know God. Nevertheless those who believe are blessed too, as the Lord said to Thomas, one of the Twelve: 'Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who believe that have not seen, and yet have believed.'
If we were humble the Lord in His love would show us all things, would reveal to us all mysteries, but our trouble is that we are not humble: we puff ourselves up and boast over trifles, and so make both ourselves and others unhappy.
The Lord does not manifest Himself to a proud soul. All the books in the world will not help the proud soul to know the Lord. Her pride will not make way for the grace Holy Spirit, and God is known only through the Holy Spirit.
Enlightened by Baptism, people believe in God; but there are some who even know Him. To believe in God is good, but it more blessed to know God. Nevertheless those who believe are blessed too, as the Lord said to Thomas, one of the Twelve: 'Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who believe that have not seen, and yet have believed.'
If we were humble the Lord in His love would show us all things, would reveal to us all mysteries, but our trouble is that we are not humble: we puff ourselves up and boast over trifles, and so make both ourselves and others unhappy.
The Lord, though He is merficul, oppresses the soul with hunger on account of her pride, and withholds grace from her until she has learnt humility. I was perishing of my sins, and would long ago have been in hell had not the Lord and His holy and blessed Mother taken pity on me. O her quiet, gentle voice! A voice from heaven, the like of which we shall never hear on earth! And so now I write in tears of the Lord of mercy, as He were my Father. It is sweet for the soul to be with the Lord.
☦️ St Silouan
☦️ St Silouan
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE CHURCH
I rejoiced with those who told me: in the house of the Lord I shall go. In the greatness of Your mercy, O Lord, I will enter Your house; I will worship in Your holy Church, O Lord, in Your righteousness guide me, because of my enemies make Your way straight before me, so that with a clear mind I may glorify You: the me, Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and onto the ages of ages. Amen!
I rejoiced with those who told me: in the house of the Lord I shall go. In the greatness of Your mercy, O Lord, I will enter Your house; I will worship in Your holy Church, O Lord, in Your righteousness guide me, because of my enemies make Your way straight before me, so that with a clear mind I may glorify You: the me, Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and onto the ages of ages. Amen!
“My children, I beg you, for the love of God, do not stop saying the prayer of our Christ, not even for a moment. Your lips should continuously murmur the name of Jesus Who destroys the devil and all his plots. Cry out incessantly to our Christ, and at once He will hasten wholeheartedly to help us. Just as iron cannot be grabbed or even approached when it is red-hot, the same thing happens with the soul of him who says the prayer with the fervor of Christ. The demons do not approach it—and how could they? For if they draw near it, they will be burned by the divine fire which the divine name contains. Whoever prays is enlightened, and whoever does not pray is darkened. Prayer is the provider of divine light. This is why everyone who prays well becomes all radiant, and the Spirit of God dwells in him.”
☦️ St Ephraim of Arizona
☦️ St Ephraim of Arizona
On June 24/ July 7 we commemorate the Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John who was greater than all who are born of women.
An icon that began streaming myrrh in 2015 at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought many healings and conversions.
"Holy Prophet and Forerunner John, we honour you in love for your fearless proclamation to the world of the Incarnation of the Son of God!"
An icon that began streaming myrrh in 2015 at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought many healings and conversions.
"Holy Prophet and Forerunner John, we honour you in love for your fearless proclamation to the world of the Incarnation of the Son of God!"
It can hardly be ignored that Roe vs. Wade should be struck down on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Holy Baptist and Forerunner recognized the personhood and divinity of Jesus Christ while they were both in their mothers' womb.
His mother, Holy Elizabeth, on meeting the Mother of our Lord, declared (Luke 1:44) that her babe “leaped in my womb for joy!”
His mother, Holy Elizabeth, on meeting the Mother of our Lord, declared (Luke 1:44) that her babe “leaped in my womb for joy!”