“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)
—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
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
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
“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
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.
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.
“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
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
"The martyrs made their good confession during the first years of Christianity. There were numerous miracles taking place at the time. Christians would perform miracles with ease. Holiness was widespread. Virtue was cultivated abundantly. Today, conversely, we have no virtue. Nowadays, we make minimal effort, and the virtue we attain is trivial. Darkness, deception, and destruction are present everywhere. Sin and darkness prevail in all levels of human society. This darkness of unbelief and immorality will continue to escalate, multiply, and worsen as we proceed toward the close of this age. Thus, even the slightest virtue, even a slight amount of spiritual struggle will have immense value in the eyes of God."
—Geronda Ephraim of Arizona (1928-2019)
—Geronda Ephraim of Arizona (1928-2019)
☦️ Prayer of St Dimitrii of Rostov (Oct 28/ Nov 10)
Open, O doors and bolts of my heart, that Christ the King of Glory may enter!
Enter, O my Light, and enlighten my darkness; enter, O my Life, and resurrect my deadness;
enter, O my Physician, and heal my wounds;
enter, O Divine Fire, and burn up the thorns of my sins; ignite my inward parts and my heart with the flame of Thy love; enter, O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of my heart and reign in me alone, O Thou, my King and Lord.
Open, O doors and bolts of my heart, that Christ the King of Glory may enter!
Enter, O my Light, and enlighten my darkness; enter, O my Life, and resurrect my deadness;
enter, O my Physician, and heal my wounds;
enter, O Divine Fire, and burn up the thorns of my sins; ignite my inward parts and my heart with the flame of Thy love; enter, O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of my heart and reign in me alone, O Thou, my King and Lord.
“My Bridegroom, my riches, my life and my happiness is my Lord Jesus Christ, and with the threat of torments thou canst not part me from the Lord!"
☦️ The Monastic Martyress Anastasia the Roman (Oct 29/ Nov 11)
The torments St Anastasia was threatened with would quickly prove to be real. After this declaration of faith in Christ, Anastasia’s tongue was cut out. This so angered the crowd that her torture was cut short and she was beheaded.
By the supplications of the Martyress Anastasia, O Lord, save Thou our souls, for Thou art merciful.
☦️ The Monastic Martyress Anastasia the Roman (Oct 29/ Nov 11)
The torments St Anastasia was threatened with would quickly prove to be real. After this declaration of faith in Christ, Anastasia’s tongue was cut out. This so angered the crowd that her torture was cut short and she was beheaded.
By the supplications of the Martyress Anastasia, O Lord, save Thou our souls, for Thou art merciful.
"We must try to purify ourselves both externally and internally, especially our mind— because all the evil that takes place in our heart and with our body originates from the mind. Evil is externalized through the bodily members once the mind and intellect have succumbed to sin. Bees do not land on flowers lacking nectar. Rather, they fly to flora containing nectar, which they convert into sweet honey. Similarly, the Holy Spirit races around the earth in search of a pure mind and serene intellect, where He comes to rest and bears fruit. Therefore, in order for us to receive the Holy Spirit, Who will strengthen us and render us worthy of confessing the Divinity of our Christ, we must first struggle to purify ourselves spiritually and physically, and then be crowned."
☦️ Geronda Ephraim of Arizona (1928-2019), “Art of Salvation”
☦️ Geronda Ephraim of Arizona (1928-2019), “Art of Salvation”
In 2011, the discovery of the tomb of the Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip (Nov 14/27) left archaeologists breathless. The heavy wear of the marble of steps to the tomb, discovered with the help of satellite technology, indicates that the tomb received an extraordinary amount of veneration.
The holy apostle was crucified upside-down by the superstitious pagans of Hierapolis (in present-day Turkey) in about 80 AD but his relics were not contained at the discovery site. They were initially brought to Constantinople and in the sixth century taken to Rome and buried, next to the Apostle James, in the Church of Sts. James and Philip.
A portion of St Philip’s skull was taken to the village of Arsos, in Paphos, following the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204. The skull was transferred to Cyprus that year. The skull is now kept in a silver reliquary at the ancient Monastery of the Holy Cross in Omodos, and is the source of many miracles.
The holy apostle was crucified upside-down by the superstitious pagans of Hierapolis (in present-day Turkey) in about 80 AD but his relics were not contained at the discovery site. They were initially brought to Constantinople and in the sixth century taken to Rome and buried, next to the Apostle James, in the Church of Sts. James and Philip.
A portion of St Philip’s skull was taken to the village of Arsos, in Paphos, following the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204. The skull was transferred to Cyprus that year. The skull is now kept in a silver reliquary at the ancient Monastery of the Holy Cross in Omodos, and is the source of many miracles.