“The Divine Liturgy is truly a Heavenly Service upon Earth, during which God Himself, in a particular, immediate, and most close manner, is present and dwells with men, being Himself the Invisible Celebrant of the Service, offering and being offered.
There is nothing upon Earth Holier, higher, grander, more solemn, more Life-Giving than the Liturgy. The Temple, at this particular time, becomes an Earthly Heaven; those who Officiate represent Christ Himself, the Angels, the Cherubim, Seraphim and Apostles.
The Liturgy is the continually repeated solemnization of God’s Love to mankind, and of His All-Powerful mediation for the Salvation of the whole world, and of every member separately: the marriage of the Lamb – the marriage of the King’s Son, in which the bride of the Son of God is – every faithful Soul; and the Giver of the bride – the Holy Spirit.” ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
There is nothing upon Earth Holier, higher, grander, more solemn, more Life-Giving than the Liturgy. The Temple, at this particular time, becomes an Earthly Heaven; those who Officiate represent Christ Himself, the Angels, the Cherubim, Seraphim and Apostles.
The Liturgy is the continually repeated solemnization of God’s Love to mankind, and of His All-Powerful mediation for the Salvation of the whole world, and of every member separately: the marriage of the Lamb – the marriage of the King’s Son, in which the bride of the Son of God is – every faithful Soul; and the Giver of the bride – the Holy Spirit.” ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
"As a life-giving fount, thou didst conceive the Dew that is transcendent in essence, O Virgin Maid, and thou hast welled forth for our sakes the nectar of joy eternal"
The feast day of the Life-Giving Spring is commemorated every Bright Friday, honouring all at once a miracle-working spring, the Life-Giving Spring icon, and the Theotokos herself. The Mother of God is often hymned as a holy fountain or spring.
In some places, there is custom to sanctify springs located near churches, dedicate them to the Holy Mother, and paint icons of The Life-Giving Spring.
The feast day of the Life-Giving Spring is commemorated every Bright Friday, honouring all at once a miracle-working spring, the Life-Giving Spring icon, and the Theotokos herself. The Mother of God is often hymned as a holy fountain or spring.
In some places, there is custom to sanctify springs located near churches, dedicate them to the Holy Mother, and paint icons of The Life-Giving Spring.
When “Pope” Paul VI went to Jerusalem, Patriarch Benedict said, “I will make you an offer: Go to the Holy Tomb and bring out the Holy Fire for us, just once, and if you succeed in this, we will all become “Catholics,” including myself. But if you fail, I am asking you, will you become Orthodox?” The Pope refused the Patriarch's request. So, do you see? They see Orthodoxy as the only truth, but they do not wish to change.
☦️ Elder Ephraim of Saint Andrew's Skete of Mount Athos, who reposed March 30, 2023
☦️ Elder Ephraim of Saint Andrew's Skete of Mount Athos, who reposed March 30, 2023
I remember once I told Saint Porphyrios: "I'm afraid of what is to come, the ugly times."
He looked at me puzzled and giving me a swift slap on the hand he said: "Who can do you harm, my child, if you have Christ inside your heart. Turn your eyes towards Christ. You don't become saints by chasing away the evil. Forget about the evil. You should actually turn your eyes towards Christ and He will save you. Instead of standing at the door and shooing away the enemy, despise him. When you see evil approaching from one direction, you softly give your attention to something else. So, when the evil is coming to offend you, give your interior strength to good, to Christ. Plead: "Our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."
He looked at me puzzled and giving me a swift slap on the hand he said: "Who can do you harm, my child, if you have Christ inside your heart. Turn your eyes towards Christ. You don't become saints by chasing away the evil. Forget about the evil. You should actually turn your eyes towards Christ and He will save you. Instead of standing at the door and shooing away the enemy, despise him. When you see evil approaching from one direction, you softly give your attention to something else. So, when the evil is coming to offend you, give your interior strength to good, to Christ. Plead: "Our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."
He knows how to give you His mercy and in whatever way that is best for you. And after you are full of good, then you no longer turn your attention towards the evil. With the grace of God, you become good. And then the evil is unable to find a place to stand and disappears."
—His Grace Bishop George of Canberra
—His Grace Bishop George of Canberra
The Warrior Saints are a group of saints who were usually actual soldiers in life and martyrs to Christ in death. Their prototype was Holy Martyr Longinus, the centurion who witnessed the Crucifixion and confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mt. 27:54). He was later beheaded for preaching the Gospel.
St Longinus was the first of a wave of soldier-martyrs who converted to Christ while in the Roman military. These soldiers would inevitably come to find their faith at odds orders to sacrifice to idols or to persecute Christians. These martyrs' steadfastness in the midst of the most brutal tortures and executions would lead thousands to Christ.
They remain our heavenly protectors and continue to work miracles centuries after their deaths.
Images
+St Longinus icon from the Nea Moni, 11th-century monastery on the island of Chios, Greece
+17th-century icon of Demetrius, George, Procopius and Artemy from the Hilander Monastery, Mt Athos
St Longinus was the first of a wave of soldier-martyrs who converted to Christ while in the Roman military. These soldiers would inevitably come to find their faith at odds orders to sacrifice to idols or to persecute Christians. These martyrs' steadfastness in the midst of the most brutal tortures and executions would lead thousands to Christ.
They remain our heavenly protectors and continue to work miracles centuries after their deaths.
Images
+St Longinus icon from the Nea Moni, 11th-century monastery on the island of Chios, Greece
+17th-century icon of Demetrius, George, Procopius and Artemy from the Hilander Monastery, Mt Athos
Forwarded from St. Elisabeth Convent
OUR SISTERS WILL PRAY FOR YOU
Once again we congratulate you on the joyous occasion of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Christ is risen! Through His divine sacrifice, He has opened the gates of heaven and defeated death for our sake.
If you wish to pray together during the Bright week, feel free to leave a prayer request by clicking this link: https://obitel-minsk.org/prayer-request. As always, donations are welcome, but completely optional.
Once again we congratulate you on the joyous occasion of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Christ is risen! Through His divine sacrifice, He has opened the gates of heaven and defeated death for our sake.
If you wish to pray together during the Bright week, feel free to leave a prayer request by clicking this link: https://obitel-minsk.org/prayer-request. As always, donations are welcome, but completely optional.
As the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer (Apr 23/ May 6), was being tortured, he addressed Emperor Diocletian, “Do not imagine that it is any human learning which keeps me from being harmed by these torments. I am saved only by calling upon Christ and His Power. Whoever believes in Him has no regard for tortures and is able to do the things that Christ did” (John 14:12).
Saint George was the patron saint and protector of several of the great builders of the Russian state. St Vladimir’s son, Yaroslav the Wise (in holy Baptism George), advanced the veneration of the holy martyr in the Russian Church. He built the city of Yuriev, translated "of Yurii". “Yurii” is the diminutive of “George”. Yaroslav also founded the Yuriev monastery at Novgorod and built a church of Saint George the Victory Bearer at Kiev.
Saint George was the patron saint and protector of several of the great builders of the Russian state. St Vladimir’s son, Yaroslav the Wise (in holy Baptism George), advanced the veneration of the holy martyr in the Russian Church. He built the city of Yuriev, translated "of Yurii". “Yurii” is the diminutive of “George”. Yaroslav also founded the Yuriev monastery at Novgorod and built a church of Saint George the Victory Bearer at Kiev.
"You were bound for good deeds, O martyr of Christ: George;
by faith you conquered the torturer’s godlessness.
You were offered as a sacrifice pleasing to God;
thus you received the crown of victory.
Through your intercessions, forgiveness of sins is granted to all."
by faith you conquered the torturer’s godlessness.
You were offered as a sacrifice pleasing to God;
thus you received the crown of victory.
Through your intercessions, forgiveness of sins is granted to all."
Elder Paisie Olaru of Sihla gave the following counsel to one of his spiritual children regarding Confession: "You should confess regularly, for if you sweep the house more often, you’ll enjoy staying in it. If you wash the shirt, you’ll like wearing it. However, if a lot of garbage is produced in the house, it's more difficult to take it outside. You should confess more often, if not every week, at least every month."
By the power of the Holy Spirit given by Christ to the apostles, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (Apr 25/ May 8 ) performed mighty, miraculous works again and again. One of the central themes in the Gospel written by St Mark is the power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. In iconography, a lion represents the Holy Apostle, symbolizing the might and royal dignity of Christ (Rev 5:5).
The school that the Holy Apostle established in Alexandria would produce such Fathers and teachers as Clement of Alexandria and many others. The pagans, whom he had so often confronted, seized St Mark when he was serving the Liturgy at Alexandria and he received his glorious martyrdom there.
'''When you received the grace of the Spirit from on high, O Apostle, you broke the snares of the philosophers and gathered all nations into your net, bringing them to your Lord...'' - Kontakion, Tone 2
The school that the Holy Apostle established in Alexandria would produce such Fathers and teachers as Clement of Alexandria and many others. The pagans, whom he had so often confronted, seized St Mark when he was serving the Liturgy at Alexandria and he received his glorious martyrdom there.
'''When you received the grace of the Spirit from on high, O Apostle, you broke the snares of the philosophers and gathered all nations into your net, bringing them to your Lord...'' - Kontakion, Tone 2
"The angel came to the myrrhbearing women at the tomb and said: Myrrh is meet for the dead; but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption! So proclaim: The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy!" + Troparion for Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph of Arimathea, Third Sunday of Pascha
The Holy Apostle James (Apr 30) the son of Zebedee, was the brother of St John the Theologian, and the first martyr amongst the Twelve Apostles. He and his brother, Saint John. Christ called them the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). With the Apostle Peter, they witnessed the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, the Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Most praised James, ask remission of sins and great mercy for those who sing hymns to you.
Most praised James, ask remission of sins and great mercy for those who sing hymns to you.
ქრისტე აღსდგა! Christ is Risen!
On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches also commemorate the Holy Blessed Queen of Georgia, Tamara, who called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of widows."
After her coronation, she convoked a local Church council, honouring the bishops if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God. She exhorted them in humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
The Kingdom of Georgia expanded under her leadership, and lands were reclaimed from Muslim dynasts. Queen Tamara used her influence to shelter vulnerable Middle Eastern Christians and pilgrims. She also enabled the sending of missionaries all around the Caucasus and supported monasteries, churches, and hospitals as far as Sinai, Athos, Cyprus, Thrace and Petritsoni.
On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches also commemorate the Holy Blessed Queen of Georgia, Tamara, who called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of widows."
After her coronation, she convoked a local Church council, honouring the bishops if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God. She exhorted them in humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
The Kingdom of Georgia expanded under her leadership, and lands were reclaimed from Muslim dynasts. Queen Tamara used her influence to shelter vulnerable Middle Eastern Christians and pilgrims. She also enabled the sending of missionaries all around the Caucasus and supported monasteries, churches, and hospitals as far as Sinai, Athos, Cyprus, Thrace and Petritsoni.