“We implore you, cover us with your holy veil (omophorion) and deliver us from all evil.”
On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (Oct 14/1) we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven. “Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and, venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you.”
On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (Oct 14/1) we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven. “Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and, venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you.”
Having named her daughters with the names of the three Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Love, their pious widowed mother, Saint Sophia, raised them up in love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Sophia and her young daughters (Sept 30/17) did not hide their faith in Christ and they openly confessed it to all— including their joyful confession in the face of martyrdom before the emperor Hadrian in the second century.
“You blossomed in the courts of the Lord as a fruitful olive tree, holy martyr Sophia; in your contest you offered to Christ the sweet fruit of your womb, your daughters Faith, Hope, and Love. Together with them intercede for us all.”
“You blossomed in the courts of the Lord as a fruitful olive tree, holy martyr Sophia; in your contest you offered to Christ the sweet fruit of your womb, your daughters Faith, Hope, and Love. Together with them intercede for us all.”
The Feast of the Protection of The Theotokos (Oct 14/1) commemorates the appearance of our holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the early sixth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ.
While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in the church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, radiant with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints.
St John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this, we keep a yearly feast of thanksgiving, beseeching our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.
Church photo: Holy Protection of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Cabramatta, New South Wales, Australia
While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in the church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, radiant with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints.
St John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this, we keep a yearly feast of thanksgiving, beseeching our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.
Church photo: Holy Protection of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Cabramatta, New South Wales, Australia
From his hermitage on the Holy Mountain, the God-bearing St Paisios (1924- 1994) guided and healed thousands of people who came to him from all over the world for relief from their spiritual and physical infirmities. The life of this great clairvoyant elder silences those who believe that saints are a myth or that there are no longer any saints in our times. Father Kosmas, priestmonk at the Holy Archangel Orthodox Monastery in Sydney, Australia, relates the experiences of a number of people who visited the elder, recounting their problems, concerns and questions and the elder's response in each case.
The following questions are also discussed: Can our sins affect our loved ones? How can one be "tied to the devil"? Why does God allow incurable illnesses? Is it always beneficial to witness a miracle? Is walking on water always a sign of holiness?
https://t.me/priestmontkosmastalks/2
The following questions are also discussed: Can our sins affect our loved ones? How can one be "tied to the devil"? Why does God allow incurable illnesses? Is it always beneficial to witness a miracle? Is walking on water always a sign of holiness?
https://t.me/priestmontkosmastalks/2
Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be laid bare; but with fear do we cry at midnight: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Icon: Most Holy Theotokos “Of Tender Feeling” of Diveyevo, cell icon of St Seraphim of Sarov.
With oil from the vigil lamp that burned before it, St Seraphim anointed the sick and they would be healed. He was praying to the Mother of God in front of this Icon when he reposed on January 2, 1833.
Icon: Most Holy Theotokos “Of Tender Feeling” of Diveyevo, cell icon of St Seraphim of Sarov.
With oil from the vigil lamp that burned before it, St Seraphim anointed the sick and they would be healed. He was praying to the Mother of God in front of this Icon when he reposed on January 2, 1833.
So you should continually keep in mind the great humiliation which the Lord took upon Himself in His ineffable love for us: how the divine Logos dwelt in a womb; how He took human nature upon Himself; His birth from a woman; His gradual bodily growth; the shame He suffered, the insults, vilification, ridicule and abuse; how He was scourged and spat upon, derided and mocked; the scarlet robe, the crown of thorns; His condemnation by those in power; the outcry of the unruly Jews, men of His own race, against Him: 'Away with him, away with him, crucify him' (John 19:15); the cross, the nails, the lance, the drink of vinegar and gall; the scorn of the Gentiles; the derision of the passers-by who said: 'If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and we will believe you' (cf Matt. 27:39-42); and the rest of the sufferings which He patiently accepted for us: crucifixion; death; the three-day burial; the descent into hell.
Then keep in mind all that has come from these sufferings: the resurrection from the dead; the liberation from hell and from death of those who were raised with the Lord; the ascension to the heavens; the enthronement at the right hand of the Father; the honor and glory that is 'far above every principality and power . . . and above every name that is named' (Eph. 1:21); the veneration of the Firstborn from the dead by all the angels, because of the sufferings He had undergone.
As the Apostle says: 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though He is in the form of God, He did not insist on clinging to His equality with God; but He emptied Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. Being in this likeness. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, things on earth and things under the earth' (Phil. 2:5-10). See to what a height of glory the Lord's human nature was raised up by God's justice through these sufferings and humiliations. ☦️ St. Mark the Ascetic
To the Champion Leader, our Mistress, the Theotokos do we, thy servants, offer hymns of praise, as ones who have acquired a mighty shield, an insuperable rampart and an ever-vigilant guardian through the arrival of thy precious image. As thou art possessed of invincible might, protect and defend us, O Mistress, from all enemies, visible and invisible, and deliver us from all harm of body and soul, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O good Gatekeeper, who openest the portal of paradise unto the faithful!
Grumbling is caused by misery and it can be put aside by doxology (giving praise). Grumbling begets grumbling and doxology begets doxology. when someone doesn’t grumble over a problem troubling him, but rather praises God, then the devil gets frustrated and goes off to someone else who grumbles, in order to cause everything to go even worse for him. You see, the more one grumbles, the more one falls into ruin.
Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes us unable to be pleased with anything; however, one can celebrate all things in a spiritual manner, with doxology, and secure God’s constant blessing.
☦️ St Paisios of Mt. Athos
Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes us unable to be pleased with anything; however, one can celebrate all things in a spiritual manner, with doxology, and secure God’s constant blessing.
☦️ St Paisios of Mt. Athos
Glory to the great God and Lord!
Chant my spirit with joy,
My heart longs for your holy church
Where is the Sweetest Lord Jesus!
You are my life the only hope,
You enliven me in my afflictions and illnesses.
Be always for me joy, cover and hope,
I hand into Your hands my whole life.
Oh my most beautiful Savior,
Give me Your grace!
You are the wonderful guardian of my life,
My good father and my tender mother.
I admire Your heavenly glory,
Far is the vanity of this earthly world!
My spirit and my heart long for only one thing
The Kingdom of the Heavens with its beauty…
There in the heavens the choirs of saints
The myriads of angels
Chant with one mouth the beautiful hymn
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Sabaoth!”
You are the joy of my heart
Creator, God and my Father.
My soul burdened with sins longs for heaven
Where the afflictions and the illnesses will stop.
Chant my spirit with joy,
My heart longs for your holy church
Where is the Sweetest Lord Jesus!
You are my life the only hope,
You enliven me in my afflictions and illnesses.
Be always for me joy, cover and hope,
I hand into Your hands my whole life.
Oh my most beautiful Savior,
Give me Your grace!
You are the wonderful guardian of my life,
My good father and my tender mother.
I admire Your heavenly glory,
Far is the vanity of this earthly world!
My spirit and my heart long for only one thing
The Kingdom of the Heavens with its beauty…
There in the heavens the choirs of saints
The myriads of angels
Chant with one mouth the beautiful hymn
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Sabaoth!”
You are the joy of my heart
Creator, God and my Father.
My soul burdened with sins longs for heaven
Where the afflictions and the illnesses will stop.
Glory to the great God and Lord!
Chant my spirit with joy,
My heart longs for your holy church
Where is the Sweetest Lord Jesus!
☦️ Our venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim of Vyritsa (1866-1949)
Father Seraphim was a monastic known especially for his gifts of prophecy and miracle-working. He was proclaimed a Saint by the Russian Church in 2000 and is commemorated on March 21.
Chant my spirit with joy,
My heart longs for your holy church
Where is the Sweetest Lord Jesus!
☦️ Our venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim of Vyritsa (1866-1949)
Father Seraphim was a monastic known especially for his gifts of prophecy and miracle-working. He was proclaimed a Saint by the Russian Church in 2000 and is commemorated on March 21.
“Be near to Thy virgin, O Savior,
And protect me, lest the evil ones defile me.
Better that they burn my body with cruel fire,
Better that they drown it in the azure sea,
Than that they profane it by a shameful deed,
Before the heavenly angels and the righteous saints."
The Lord did according to Charitina's prayer, And immediately received her soul into Paradise.
☦️ from a hymn of praise to the holy virgin-martyr Charitina (Oct 5)
And protect me, lest the evil ones defile me.
Better that they burn my body with cruel fire,
Better that they drown it in the azure sea,
Than that they profane it by a shameful deed,
Before the heavenly angels and the righteous saints."
The Lord did according to Charitina's prayer, And immediately received her soul into Paradise.
☦️ from a hymn of praise to the holy virgin-martyr Charitina (Oct 5)