“St Gerasim was a great elder, and he had a lion. We are small, so we have cats"
☦️ St Nectarios of Optina
☦️ St Nectarios of Optina
On judging others
"Have compassion on him who has not. Do not condemn him for what he does not have, that he is sinful, wicked, deceitful, talkative, a thief, a fornicator, and a liar. If you gain this knowledge, you can never judge anyone, even if you see him mortally sinning. For immediately you say, "He has not Your grace, my Christ, therefore he sins. If You go away from me also, I will do worse. He is poor. So how do you demand that he be rich? Give him riches so he can have them. He is blind. Give him eyes to see."
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
"Have compassion on him who has not. Do not condemn him for what he does not have, that he is sinful, wicked, deceitful, talkative, a thief, a fornicator, and a liar. If you gain this knowledge, you can never judge anyone, even if you see him mortally sinning. For immediately you say, "He has not Your grace, my Christ, therefore he sins. If You go away from me also, I will do worse. He is poor. So how do you demand that he be rich? Give him riches so he can have them. He is blind. Give him eyes to see."
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
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Annual Theophany Miracle at the River Jordan (Julian Calendar)
The annual Theophany miracle is a re-creation of Psalm 113/114 when the "sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back" (verse 3), as well as the parting of the Jordan for Elisha (2 Kings 13-14). This is depicted in icons which display the swirling waters at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
What of this miracle and other miracles like the Holy Fire of Pascha and Holy Cloud of the Transfiguration, all unique to the Orthodox Church?
St Paisios of the Holy Mountain reminds us, "From the outside, all things pertaining to the spiritual life seem upside down. Indeed, the mysteries of God will be impossible to know and will appear strange and contrary to nature as long as we don't overturn our secular mindset and see everything with spiritual eyes. Those who believe that they can come to know God's mysteries through mere scientific theory, without a spiritual life, resemble a fool who thinks he can look through a telescope and see Paradise."
The annual Theophany miracle is a re-creation of Psalm 113/114 when the "sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back" (verse 3), as well as the parting of the Jordan for Elisha (2 Kings 13-14). This is depicted in icons which display the swirling waters at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
What of this miracle and other miracles like the Holy Fire of Pascha and Holy Cloud of the Transfiguration, all unique to the Orthodox Church?
St Paisios of the Holy Mountain reminds us, "From the outside, all things pertaining to the spiritual life seem upside down. Indeed, the mysteries of God will be impossible to know and will appear strange and contrary to nature as long as we don't overturn our secular mindset and see everything with spiritual eyes. Those who believe that they can come to know God's mysteries through mere scientific theory, without a spiritual life, resemble a fool who thinks he can look through a telescope and see Paradise."
☦️ In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the age to come; in Thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Thine ear unto me and save me. Be Thou unto me a God that is my defender and a place of strength that Thou mayest save me, for Thou art my foundation and refuge.
Psalm 70 (Psalm 71 - Hebrew Numbering), verse one, from Kathisma 10, Wednesday Vespers
Psalm 70 (Psalm 71 - Hebrew Numbering), verse one, from Kathisma 10, Wednesday Vespers
Christ’s baptism in the Jordan was “theophany,” a manifestation of God to the world, because it was the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. It was also a “theophany” in that the world was granted a revelation of the Holy Trinity. All three Persons were made manifest together: the Father testified from on high to the divine Sonship of Jesus; the Son received His Father’s testimony; and the Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, descending from the Father and resting upon the Son.
The theme of “manifestation” or “revelation” is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing, “Christ has appeared and enlightened the world.” Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
The theme of “manifestation” or “revelation” is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing, “Christ has appeared and enlightened the world.” Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
☦️ When standing before the Holy Chalice, St Porphyrios says: “I bow my head and I pray for you, for this person and that, and for the whole Church. You should do the same. … Don't pray for your health. Don't say, 'O Lord, make me well.' No! Rather say, Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, with selflessness, with love and without expecting anything. —from “Wounded by Love”
Image: Markogiannakis Evangelos, “Divine Communion”
Image: Markogiannakis Evangelos, “Divine Communion”
“If you do not have a confessional spirit, you will have a hard time dying. It will be hard to answer before God, Whom you did not confess openly, but only secretly, for fear of ridicule.”
☦️ St Alexy (Solovyov)
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” —Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, a Russian Orthodox Christian, commenting on his refusal to wear a rainbow jersey for warm ups during “Pride Night”
☦️ St Alexy (Solovyov)
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” —Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, a Russian Orthodox Christian, commenting on his refusal to wear a rainbow jersey for warm ups during “Pride Night”
"A tree frequently transplanted does not bear fruit. Whoever desires to do good, can do it from the place where he is."
The 5th-century desert-dwelling, miracle-working ascetic St Euthymius the Great (Jan 20/ Feb 2), drew around him many glorious saints as his disciples. Among them: Cyriac the Hermit, St. Sabas the Sanctified, and Theotictus.
His words call all of us to "at all times ready for combat and prepared for the departure of the soul from the body, lest, seduced by love of pleasure, we be unbearably tormented at the time of departure…"
The 5th-century desert-dwelling, miracle-working ascetic St Euthymius the Great (Jan 20/ Feb 2), drew around him many glorious saints as his disciples. Among them: Cyriac the Hermit, St. Sabas the Sanctified, and Theotictus.
His words call all of us to "at all times ready for combat and prepared for the departure of the soul from the body, lest, seduced by love of pleasure, we be unbearably tormented at the time of departure…"