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.
“If you wish not to fall away from the love of God, do not let your brother go to bed feeling irritated with you, and do not go to bed yourself feeling irritated with him. Reconcile yourself with your brother, and then come to Christ with a clear conscience and offer Him your gift of love in earnest prayer (Mt. 5:24).”
✝️ St Maximos the Confessor
✝️ St Maximos the Confessor
When the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. When they had buried him up to his neck, he said: "Bring a linen cloth and place it on my face, then kiss me again for the last time, because you shall not see me anymore in this life."
Later, they returned and opened the grave, but the Saint's body was not there. Each year on May 8 (May 21) a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses.
Although the main Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is on Sept 26 (Oct 9), the Church also commemorates the Apostle on May 8 to mark the annual pilgrimage to his grave.
Later, they returned and opened the grave, but the Saint's body was not there. Each year on May 8 (May 21) a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses.
Although the main Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is on Sept 26 (Oct 9), the Church also commemorates the Apostle on May 8 to mark the annual pilgrimage to his grave.
Prayer of the Optina Elders
O Lord, grant that I may meet all that his coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will. Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent down from thee. Grant me to deal in a straightforward and wise manner with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. O Lord, grant me power to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that will take place during it. Guide my will and teach me to prayer, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.
O Lord, grant that I may meet all that his coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will. Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent down from thee. Grant me to deal in a straightforward and wise manner with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. O Lord, grant me power to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that will take place during it. Guide my will and teach me to prayer, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.
Tradition says that St Simon the Zealot of Cana in Galilee, (May 10) one of the Twelve, was the bridegroom at the wedding where Christ performed His first miracle, turning the water into wine. After witnessing this, Simon became a zealous follower of Christ. For this reason, he is known as St Simon the Zealot (Zealotes).
St Simon preached Christ in Egypt, Mauritania, Libya, Numidia, Cyrenia and Abkhazia, a region on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea. St. Dositheos, Bishop of Gaza (300) and St. Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople (758-829), say that St Simon took the Gospel to Britain, where an early tradition says he was crucified by idolaters and buried. A second tradition is that St Simon died in Persia together with the Apostle Jude Thaddeus as a martyr. The third is that he died and was buried in Nikopsia, near Dzhigentia, close to the Black Sea.
St Simon preached Christ in Egypt, Mauritania, Libya, Numidia, Cyrenia and Abkhazia, a region on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea. St. Dositheos, Bishop of Gaza (300) and St. Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople (758-829), say that St Simon took the Gospel to Britain, where an early tradition says he was crucified by idolaters and buried. A second tradition is that St Simon died in Persia together with the Apostle Jude Thaddeus as a martyr. The third is that he died and was buried in Nikopsia, near Dzhigentia, close to the Black Sea.
May we also be filled with zeal and love for Christ above all things, and cleave to Him!
"Holy Apostle Simon, entreat the merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions."
"Holy Apostle Simon, entreat the merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions."
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$10 spirituality: “Outside you are pious… Inside you are suffering.”
—Fr Felipe Balingit
—Fr Felipe Balingit