Orthodox Faith
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Orthodoxy: the unbroken unity of the Christian faith, the “One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,” "catholic" meaning full and complete, lacking nothing. The Orthodox Church precedes Roman Catholicism and denominations. The Bible came from us!
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Right Glory. Right Worship. A simple explanation of the meaning of Orthodoxy
[https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I](https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I
When you are offended, be silent without fail, and you will acquire humility. However, one needs to be silent not only with one’s mouth, but also with one’s heart. Against pride, just as against judging, one needs to fight with silence.

-Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev (1881-1950)
"Say the prayer fervently; struggle mightily; abstain; pray; wear simple, humble clothes; read spiritual books; get up at night and pray in order to be warmed and become as sturdy as a rock." —Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Deliver me, O Lord, from useless thoughts which defile me and from all evil desires. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church, Gaza. Just days ago, victims of an Israeli bomb strike on church buildings were buried. Today, nine baptisms were performed. ☦️
Elder Joseph the Hesychast on Judgemental Thoughts

“Justify everyone and take all the blame yourself. As soon as you start having negative thoughts about someone … interrupt the thoughts and say to yourself: ‘What he is saying and doing is right. My ego is making me think evil about my brother, and so there’s no point trying to analyze it.’”
Halloween, as we know it today, is a demonstration of how “modern man feels perfectly comfortable to join the demons to teddy-bears and unicorns; to mix the sinister with the trivial. This is because he has lost the sense of how powerfully our idle ‘play’ affects the inner disposition of the heart. We think that if we don’t take something ‘seriously’, it cannot seriously affect us—but look how much woe and despair there is in the world, as the result of this delusion!

No, it is time to stand fast against this ridiculous trend. God has given you children; and now, in this very dilemma you are feeling in your heart, He is asking you how you will look after them. Will you, for the sake of “social norms”, start them at so precious and tender an age down the path of considering the spiritual world a realm of partying and jest, toying with images of evil as if they were of no consequence? Or will you spend this night teaching them of the joy of the spiritual life as it really is?”

—Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)
O Theotokos, thou art the only hope of the hopeless, the ever-ready protection of them that hasten unto thee, and the refuge of all Christians.
Holy Apostle, heal the wounds of our souls, and pray for our salvation!

As a compassionate physician, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke (Oct 18/ Oct 31), gave a doctor's help to St Paul when Paul was beaten, stoned, or nearly drowned.

St Luke was the only Gentile to have written books included in our Bible. Only in Luke's gospel are the stories told of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat, the Presentation, and Jesus' remaining in Jerusalem.

Only in Luke's gospel are the words spoken by the angel to Mary at the Annunciation recorded. "Hail Mary, full of grace." We also hear Elizabeth's words to Mary, "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus."
“Halloween” (18th / 31st October) coincides with the eve of the feast day of our beloved pastor and illumined Father in the faith, St John of Kronstadt; and it is also the feast day of the pious virgin St. Frideswide of Oxford. Look, how God has planted for you two spiritual trees that can bear fruit in your family’s life on this very night. Take your children to the Divine Services; encourage them precisely in the fact of doing something that others are neglecting—that while the world outside plays about in the frivolities of delusion and mixes demons with daydreams, you will enter into the Holy Temple where the God of all spirits dwells, to receive the Holy Spirit and be joined into a life that turned a parish priest into a clairvoyant miracle worker and a meek young woman into a wonder-working healer! And teach your children that He longs to do the same for them, that He desires to make of them great saints whom the whole world will know, if only they, and you, will let Him.
May God give you strength to stand steadfast with joy amidst these worldly trials! May He bless you, and bless your children.

—Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)
The Holy and Glorious Prophet Joel (Oct 19/ Nov 1) declared “the day of The Lord draws near” (Joel 1:15)
He calls for the people to turn back to God with all their hearts because He is merciful and compassionate. Repentance will save the Lord’s people from captivity.
The Holy Prophet also foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28, and quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:17), and the saving power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Joel 2:32).
Joel also prophesied and described the Dread Judgment of God, and also prophesied the glory of God's Holy Church.
“Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; for you saw things far off as if they were near. Therefore, we honor you, blessed and glorious Prophet Joel.” —Kontakion, Tone 4
“If we truly live the Orthodox world-view, our Faith will survive the shocks ahead of us and be a source of inspiration and salvation for those who will still be seeking Christ even amidst the shipwreck of humanity which has already begun today.”

—Fr. Seraphim Rose
The Apostle James, Brother of the Lord (Oct 23/ Nov 5) was holy from his mother's womb to his last breath at his violent martyrdom.

“For his God-pleasing life he was chosen first bishop in the Church at Jerusalem. Saint James presided over the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem, and his word was decisive (Acts 15). In his thirty years as bishop the Apostle James converted many of the Jews to Christianity. Annoyed by this, the Pharisees and the Scribes plotted together to kill Saint James. Having led the saint up on the roof of the Jerusalem Temple, they demanded that he renounce the Saviour of the world. But the holy Apostle James instead began to bear witness, that Christ is the True Messiah. Then the Jewish teachers shoved him off downwards. The saint did not die immediately, but gathering his final strength, he prayed to the Lord for his enemies, who at this while were stoning him.”
—Synaxarion
☦️ St Justin Popovich
"Be contemptible in your own eyes, and you will see the glory of God in yourself. For where humility burgeons, there God’s glory wells forth." ☦️ St Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh (613 – c. 700)
For his teaching zeal, the Holy and Glorious Greatmartyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher of Thessalonica (Oct 26/ Nov 8), became for Thessalonika "a second Apostle Paul" in the same city where St Paul founded the first community of believers (1 Thes., 2 Thes.).

In the early 4th century, emperor Galerius Maximian gave orders to "put to death anyone who calls on the name of the Crucified." Demetrius, proconsul of Thessalonika, disobeyed. Instead of executing Christians, Demetrius instead openly confessed and taught the Christian faith.

His relics were once thought to be lost, but later appeared in Thessaloniki, and determined to be genuine after they started emitting a liquid and strong scented myrrh. This gave St Demetrius the epithet Μυροβλήτης, or "Myrrh-streamer."

Holy great Martyr Demetrius, invoke Christ God for us, that He may grant us His great mercy.
When you are offended, be silent without fail, and you will acquire humility. However, one needs to be silent not only with one’s mouth, but also with one’s heart. Against pride, just as against judging, one needs to fight with silence.

—Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev (1881-1950)
“The Lord sometimes allows people who are devoted to Him to fall into such dreadful vices; and this is in order to prevent them from falling into a still greater sin-- pride.
Your temptation will pass and you will spend the remaining days of your life in humility. Only do not forget your sin.”

☦️ St Seraphim of Sarov