When a group of Christian children playing at the seashore decided to baptize their pagan playmates, they chose the lad Athanasias (May 2/ May 15) as "bishop". Young Athanasius performed the baptism, precisely repeating the words he had in church during this sacrament.
Patriarch Alexander observing this from a window, summoned the children and their parents and attested that the baptism performed by the children at play was in everything in accord with the Church ustav (rule). He acknowledged the Baptism as real and supplemented it with the sacrament of Chrismation. From this moment the Patriarch looked after the spiritual upbringing of Athanasias and in time brought him into the clergy.
Patriarch Alexander observing this from a window, summoned the children and their parents and attested that the baptism performed by the children at play was in everything in accord with the Church ustav (rule). He acknowledged the Baptism as real and supplemented it with the sacrament of Chrismation. From this moment the Patriarch looked after the spiritual upbringing of Athanasias and in time brought him into the clergy.
“I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God, and Your God”+ John 20:17
"In the Ascension resides the meaning and the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection." - Fr. George Florovsky
With Christ, man’s nature ascends also. As God-man, Christ's ascension shows that we are capable of being deified-- united, both body and soul, eternally.
The Ascension is also a sign and token of Pentecost and of the Second Coming. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
"O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory, Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured That You are the Son of God, The Redeemer of the world!" (Troparion, Tone 4)
"In the Ascension resides the meaning and the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection." - Fr. George Florovsky
With Christ, man’s nature ascends also. As God-man, Christ's ascension shows that we are capable of being deified-- united, both body and soul, eternally.
The Ascension is also a sign and token of Pentecost and of the Second Coming. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
"O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory, Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured That You are the Son of God, The Redeemer of the world!" (Troparion, Tone 4)
“Christ Has Ascended!"
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
Among the 318 bishops who gathered at the First Ecumenical Council (5th Sunday of Pascha) were many confessors who bore the marks of torture upon their bodies. At Nicea, they would confront not the instruments of physical torture, but the heresy of Arianism which was spreading across the Empire and infecting the Church.
Arius, a priest, denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father. He falsely taught that the Saviour is not consubstantial with the Father. Arius' Christ was a creature, a most honourable one, but a creature nonetheless. Arius' Christ was not the true Saviour for Whom the martyrs gave their lives. Arius' clever teachings received their "walking papers" at Nicea.
Christ’s declaration, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
Arius, a priest, denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father. He falsely taught that the Saviour is not consubstantial with the Father. Arius' Christ was a creature, a most honourable one, but a creature nonetheless. Arius' Christ was not the true Saviour for Whom the martyrs gave their lives. Arius' clever teachings received their "walking papers" at Nicea.
Christ’s declaration, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
St. Theodore the Sanctified (May 16/ May 29) disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (368), at the age of twelve, looked upon a festive meal of delicacies prepared by his family for the feast of Theophany. He told them, “If you enjoy this food, you will not enter into eternal life.”
At Tabenissi monastery, any penance he assigned to his brethren, he also completed the same for himself.
At Tabenissi monastery, any penance he assigned to his brethren, he also completed the same for himself.
“O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple.” Within 24 hours of the Fall of Constantinople (May 29, 1453) almost all residents had been raped, despoiled, or enslaved, some inside Hagia Sophia.
Constantine XII, the last Byzantine Emperor, died defending the city. However, he accepted (and never publicly renounced) the false "union" of Florence, and so is counted by some as a heretic. Many Orthodox Christians, including many of the people of Constantinople, saw the city's fall as divine retribution for the Empire's acceptance of the union.
Constantine XII, the last Byzantine Emperor, died defending the city. However, he accepted (and never publicly renounced) the false "union" of Florence, and so is counted by some as a heretic. Many Orthodox Christians, including many of the people of Constantinople, saw the city's fall as divine retribution for the Empire's acceptance of the union.
Holy Pentecost is the celebration of "the end, "the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit --the achievement and fulfillment-- of the entire history of salvation. But for the same reason, it is also the celebration of "the beginning," the “birthday” of the Church.
Pentecost took "cowards, who throughout the duration of the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ were hidden in the Upper Room 'for fear of the Jews'"-- and turned them into "lions." When the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, they "set their fear aside, gained strength and spiritual courage, braved all the difficulties, even unto death." - John Sanidopolous, "The Holy Twelve Apostles as Models for our Lives" johnsanidopoulos.com
Pentecost took "cowards, who throughout the duration of the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ were hidden in the Upper Room 'for fear of the Jews'"-- and turned them into "lions." When the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, they "set their fear aside, gained strength and spiritual courage, braved all the difficulties, even unto death." - John Sanidopolous, "The Holy Twelve Apostles as Models for our Lives" johnsanidopoulos.com
At Pentecost, the fullness of the Godhead is manifested with the Spirit’s coming to man, thus Pentecost is also called Trinity Day. The Holy Trinity icon, depicting the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, is often placed in the middle of the church, alongside the traditional Pentecost icon.
An orchid species called "Flower of the Holy Spirit" (Peristeria elata) starts blooming during Pentecost each year.
Before it blooms, it looks like monks praying. When the flower blooms, it resembles a flying dove.
Before it blooms, it looks like monks praying. When the flower blooms, it resembles a flying dove.
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)