We must not avoid communion because we deem ourselves to be sinful. We must approach it more often for the healing of the soul and the purification of the spirit, but with such humility and faith that considering ourselves unworthy ... we would desire even more the medicine for our wounds. It is impossible to receive communion once a year, as certain people do ... for when they receive, they think themselves worthy. It is much better if, in humility of heart, knowing that we are never worthy of the Holy Mysteries we would receive Them every Sunday for the healing of our diseases, rather than, blinded by pride, think that after one year we become worthy of receiving Them! ✝️ St John Cassian (360 - 435)

"Divine Communion", by Markogiannakis Evangelos, 1934

“If you tell others that your life is gloomy, and believe it yourself, it will become true.

So, when you wake up in the morning and somebody asks you, “How’s life? Any news?”, do not say, “No news.. It’s the same old story - nothing but a nightmare..” Do not say that.

Why? Because your whole body, every single cell of it, hears that. If 365 days a year you say that you are cursed, that your life is hard, that there’s nothing you can do, then eventually your whole body will absorb this attitude..

Instead, say “God be praised! Everything will be fine! God always gives me gifts.”

—Archimandrite Andrey Konanos

Renew in us O God Thy love and forgiveness,
That we may all walk once again on the path of salvation,

Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia,
Pray Unto God For Us!

Pray for us, Passion-bearers Nicholas and Alexandra
And innocents Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei,

Holy New Martyrs of Russia,
Pray Unto God For Us!

Photo: Procession to the monastery of the Holy Royal Martyrs, Yekaterinburg 2016

“Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched life? What first- fruit shall I offer, O Christ, for my present lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me release from my falls. “

✝️St Andrew of Crete (July 4/July 17), luminary of the Church: hierarch, theologian, teacher and hymnographer

During the Russian Revolution, Saint Elizabeth (July 5/July 18) and those with her were martyred by being thrown alive by God-hating Bolsheviks down an abandoned mine-shaft. When the fall did not kill them, soldiers threw grenades down the shaft to complete their work. Saint Elizabeth was singing the Cherubic Hymn when she died.

O holy martyr Princess Elizabeth, pray ye in behalf of our souls!

Hermit-monk St Sisoes the Great of Egypt (July 6/ July 19) was asked by a brother monk as to how he might attain a constant mindfulness of God.
St Sisoes replied: "That is still not of much consequence, my son, but more important is this – to account oneself below everyone else, because such disparagement assists in the acquisition of humility".

On his way to mercilessly persecute Christians at Alexandria, the future Holy Great Martyr Procopius (July 8/ July 21) known in the world as Neanius, had a vision of the Lord Jesus. This encounter, which took place in 303, was starkly reminiscent of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. A Divine voice exclaimed: "Neanius, why persecutest thou Me?" Neanius asked: "Who art Thou, Lord?" – "I am the crucified Jesus, the Son of God". And at this moment in the air appeared a radiant cross.
Neanius was joyously transformed from being a persecutor for the emperor Diocletian into a zealous follower of Christ, struggling victoriously against the barbarian pagans until his torture and beheading.

"Mother of God is offended by those who never ask her for anything! She is the prayerful intercessor for people; and as much as God can do through His power, so much can the Mother of God do by Her prayer.”

✝️ Elder Arsenie Papacioc (1914-2011)
#RomanianOrthodoxElders

Orthodox do not worship icons, as critics claim. But we venerate with joy created works that open to us the Truth of our Lord’s Incarnation.

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

✝️ Luke 1:41-43

Sin is every thought that doesn’t correspond to the spirit of the evangelical commandments. And we have to get away from it. But how can we get away? When the work of a certain thought manifests in us, then we cry out: “Lord, heal my mind! Lord, heal my heart! Lord, heal me whole! You see how painful is when the thought, which doesn’t even make sense, torments me like a slave. I pray You, protect me! You know that I have no other desire than to live according to Your commandments. Your commandment is the highest law of my whole being: both temporary and eternal. You inspired me to love Your commandments. You gave me Your light, in order to see the beauty of the divine life. And now, save me from the power of passionate lust!

+Saint Sophrony Sakharov of Essex, 20th century Saint

Full audio transcript at otelders.org/theology-and-spirituality/a-wonderful-recording-of-saint-sophrony-sakharov-of-essex/

Nothing ever happens either in the world or in the universe without the will of God or His permission. All that is good and noble is God's will, and all that is negative and bad happens because He allows it. He knows why He allows these things to happen and for how long. If the incorporeal angelic powers or we men were allowed to do as we please, there would be total chaos in the world and in the entire universe. But God is present everywhere and He is Light, a Light that penetrates all.

—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Having furnished thy mind with wings of divine knowledge, O ever-glorious Olga, pray for thy spiritual descendants in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, that Christ our God grant them lasting peace from above!

The first female ruler of Rus was Equal-to-the-Apostles, St. Olga (July 11/ July 24), in baptism, Helen, is known also as “Viking-Russian Princess," “Missionary to Ukraine,” and “Scourge of the Drevlians.”

When the Drevlians brutally murdered her husband Igor, Olga unleashed vengeful terror on them, taking their land to further expand the principality of Kiev.

A visit to Constantinople became for both the pagan Olga and her land, a road to redemption. She was moved by the Christians she met at Constantinople and soon received Holy Baptism. In what is now Ukraine and Russia, she exerted her royal influence to begin missionary efforts. She invited Orthodox clergy to come from Byzantium, she set up hospitals, and provided welfare for the poor. Even after her pagan son had ascended to the throne, St Olga’s efforts to heal the violence in her realm and spread Christianity were unmatched.

A generation after Olga’s death, her grandson, St. Vladimir would continue the task of bringing Orthodox Christianity to what is now Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

St Basil #Psalms