“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 Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (May 8/Apr 25), who wrote the holy Gospel (ca. 62-63) bearing his name, is in iconography represented by a lion, symbolizing the might and royal dignity of Christ (Rev 5:5).
One of the central themes in the Gospel of St Mark is the power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. By the power of the Holy Spirit, St Mark indeed did what was humanly impossible, again and again throughout his vast missionary travels— preaching, teaching, and healing.
The school he 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.
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (May 8/Apr 25), who wrote the holy Gospel (ca. 62-63) bearing his name, is in iconography represented by a lion, symbolizing the might and royal dignity of Christ (Rev 5:5).
One of the central themes in the Gospel of St Mark is the power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. By the power of the Holy Spirit, St Mark indeed did what was humanly impossible, again and again throughout his vast missionary travels— preaching, teaching, and healing.
The school he 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.
"Christianity is either fire or it is nothing." ☦️ St Maria of Paris
It would be a great lie to tell searching souls: "Go to church, because there you will find peace. The opposite is true. The Church tells those who are at peace and asleep: 'Go to church, because there you will feel real anguish for your sins, for your perdition, for the world's sins and perdition. There you will feel an unappeasable hunger for Christ's truth. There, instead of becoming lukewarm, you will be set on fire; instead of pacified, you will becone alarmed; instead of learning the wisdom of this world you will become fools for Christ.
It would be a great lie to tell searching souls: "Go to church, because there you will find peace. The opposite is true. The Church tells those who are at peace and asleep: 'Go to church, because there you will feel real anguish for your sins, for your perdition, for the world's sins and perdition. There you will feel an unappeasable hunger for Christ's truth. There, instead of becoming lukewarm, you will be set on fire; instead of pacified, you will becone alarmed; instead of learning the wisdom of this world you will become fools for Christ.
Pascha at Dachau concentration camp
“In the entire history of the Orthodox Church there has probably never been an Easter service like the one at Dachau in 1945.”
April 29, 1945:
“After the electric power is turned off, the gates open and the American GIs make their entrance. As they stare wide-eyed at our lot, half-starved and suffering from typhus and dysentery, they appear more like fifteen-year-old boys than battle-weary soldiers...
An international committee of prisoners is formed to take over the administration of the camp. Food from SS-stores is put at the disposal of the camp kitchen. A US military unit also contributes provisions – my first taste of American corn. By order of an American officer, radio receivers are confiscated from ‘prominent Nazis’ in the town and distributed to the prisoners. The news comes in: Hitler has committed suicide, the Russians have taken Berlin, and German troops have surrendered in the South and in the North…
“In the entire history of the Orthodox Church there has probably never been an Easter service like the one at Dachau in 1945.”
April 29, 1945:
“After the electric power is turned off, the gates open and the American GIs make their entrance. As they stare wide-eyed at our lot, half-starved and suffering from typhus and dysentery, they appear more like fifteen-year-old boys than battle-weary soldiers...
An international committee of prisoners is formed to take over the administration of the camp. Food from SS-stores is put at the disposal of the camp kitchen. A US military unit also contributes provisions – my first taste of American corn. By order of an American officer, radio receivers are confiscated from ‘prominent Nazis’ in the town and distributed to the prisoners. The news comes in: Hitler has committed suicide, the Russians have taken Berlin, and German troops have surrendered in the South and in the North…
A fellow prisoner and chief interpreter of the international prisoner's committee, Boris F., paid a visit to my typhus-infested barracks, Block 27 to inform me that efforts were underway, in conjunction with the Yugoslav and Greek National Prisoner's Committees, to arrange an Orthodox service for Easter, May 6th.
Among the prisoners there were Orthodox priests, deacons and monks from Mount Athos. But there were no vestments, no books, no icons, no candles, no prosphoras, no wine. Efforts to acquire all these items from the Russian parish in Munich failed, as the Americans could not locate anyone from that parish in the devastated city.
Nevertheless, some of the problems could be solved. The approximately 400 Catholic priests detained in Dachau had been allowed to remain together in one barrack and say mass every morning before going to work. They offered us Orthodox the use of their prayer room in Block 26. The chapel was bare, save for a wooden table and an icon of the Theotokos hanging above the table.
A creative solution to the problem of the vestments was also found. New linen towels were taken from the hospital of our former SS-guards. When sewn together lengthwise, two towels formed an epitrachilion and when sewn together at the ends they became an orarion. Red crosses, originally intended to be worn by the medical personnel of the SS-guards, were put on the towel-vestments.
Among the prisoners there were Orthodox priests, deacons and monks from Mount Athos. But there were no vestments, no books, no icons, no candles, no prosphoras, no wine. Efforts to acquire all these items from the Russian parish in Munich failed, as the Americans could not locate anyone from that parish in the devastated city.
Nevertheless, some of the problems could be solved. The approximately 400 Catholic priests detained in Dachau had been allowed to remain together in one barrack and say mass every morning before going to work. They offered us Orthodox the use of their prayer room in Block 26. The chapel was bare, save for a wooden table and an icon of the Theotokos hanging above the table.
A creative solution to the problem of the vestments was also found. New linen towels were taken from the hospital of our former SS-guards. When sewn together lengthwise, two towels formed an epitrachilion and when sewn together at the ends they became an orarion. Red crosses, originally intended to be worn by the medical personnel of the SS-guards, were put on the towel-vestments.
On Easter Sunday, May 6, Serbs, Greeks and Russians gathered at the Catholic priests' barrack. Although Russians comprised about 40 percent of the Dachau inmates, only a few managed to attend the service. By then ‘repatriation officers’ of the special ‘Smersh’ units had arrived in Dachau by American military planes, and began the process of erecting new lines of barbed wire for the purpose of isolating Soviet citizens from the rest of the prisoners – the first step in preparing them for their eventual forced repatriation.
In the entire history of the Orthodox Church there has probably never been an Easter service like the one at Dachau in 1945. Greek and Serbian priests together with a Serbian deacon wore the make-shift vestments over their blue and gray-striped prisoners uniforms. Then they began to chant, changing from Greek to Slavonic, then back to Greek. The Easter Canon, the Easter Sticheras – everything was recited from memory. The Gospel – ‘In the beginning was the Word’ —also from memory. The Homily of St. John Chrysostom also from memory. A young Greek monk from the Holy Mountain stood up in front of us and recited it with such infectious enthusiasm that we shall never forget him as long as we live. St. John Chrysostomos himself seemed to speak through him to us and to the rest of the world as well!
In the entire history of the Orthodox Church there has probably never been an Easter service like the one at Dachau in 1945. Greek and Serbian priests together with a Serbian deacon wore the make-shift vestments over their blue and gray-striped prisoners uniforms. Then they began to chant, changing from Greek to Slavonic, then back to Greek. The Easter Canon, the Easter Sticheras – everything was recited from memory. The Gospel – ‘In the beginning was the Word’ —also from memory. The Homily of St. John Chrysostom also from memory. A young Greek monk from the Holy Mountain stood up in front of us and recited it with such infectious enthusiasm that we shall never forget him as long as we live. St. John Chrysostomos himself seemed to speak through him to us and to the rest of the world as well!
Eighteen Orthodox priests and a deacon, most of them Serbs, participated in this unforgettable service. Like the sick man who had been lowered through the roof of a house and placed in front of the feet of Christ the Savior, the Greek Archimandrite Meletios was carried on a stretcher into the chapel, where he remained prostrate throughout the service.
The priests who participated in the 1945 Dachau Easter service are commemorated at every Divine Service held in the Dachau Russian Orthodox Memorial Chapel, along with all Orthodox Christians who lost their lives ‘at this place, or at another place of torture.’
Within the Dachau Resurrection Chapel is a large icon depicting angels opening the gates of the Dachau concentration camp and Christ Himself leading the prisoners to freedom.
Should you ever come to Germany, be sure to visit our Russian chapel at Dachau and pray for all those who died ‘at this place, or at another place of torture.’”
— from “In Communion”, Pascha/ Spring 2011 (Issue 60)
The priests who participated in the 1945 Dachau Easter service are commemorated at every Divine Service held in the Dachau Russian Orthodox Memorial Chapel, along with all Orthodox Christians who lost their lives ‘at this place, or at another place of torture.’
Within the Dachau Resurrection Chapel is a large icon depicting angels opening the gates of the Dachau concentration camp and Christ Himself leading the prisoners to freedom.
Should you ever come to Germany, be sure to visit our Russian chapel at Dachau and pray for all those who died ‘at this place, or at another place of torture.’”
— from “In Communion”, Pascha/ Spring 2011 (Issue 60)
Watch live streams of the Holy Fire service at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 1pm Jerusalem/ 6am ET in N. America on Holy Saturday: www.tv4e.gr/livestreaming.php and at facebook.com/JerusalemPatriarchate/
"God never abandons a soul that puts its trust in Him, even though it is overpowered by temptations, for He is aware of all weaknesses. A man knows the weight that can be placed on the back of an ass, a mule or a camel, and burdens each beast with as much as it can carry; the potter knows how long he must keep his clay in the fire, for if he exposes it too long to the flames, the pot will crack, and if he does not bake it long enough, it will not be fit for use. Now if a man has judgment as precise as this, how infinitely greater is the wisdom of God in judging the degree of temptation which a soul is able to bear?"
☦️ St. Nilus of Sora
☦️ St. Nilus of Sora
There are five marks of the Church: one, holy, Catholic, apostolic — and persecuted.
Pray for the canonical church in Ukraine, for her peace and protection during this Holy Week.
In recent months, an escalation of persecution by the anti-Christian, anti-Orthodox government of Ukraine has resulted in the arrests, imprisonment, and house arrest of hundreds of metropolitans, bishops and priests. Their “crime” is their refusal to obey the political institution called "Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
The persecution — beatings, killings, temple takeovers and sometimes their outright destruction — is reminiscent of the brutality of Soviet times. And again, most of the world turns a blind eye to the plight of the faithful.
Pray for Metropolitans Onufry, Pavel, Longin, Jonathan, Bishop Agathangelo, and all priests, monks, nuns, and faithful Orthodox lay people, many of whose beloved temples and monasteries have been illegally confiscated with the encouragement of local authorities and the Kyiv regime.
Pray for the canonical church in Ukraine, for her peace and protection during this Holy Week.
In recent months, an escalation of persecution by the anti-Christian, anti-Orthodox government of Ukraine has resulted in the arrests, imprisonment, and house arrest of hundreds of metropolitans, bishops and priests. Their “crime” is their refusal to obey the political institution called "Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
The persecution — beatings, killings, temple takeovers and sometimes their outright destruction — is reminiscent of the brutality of Soviet times. And again, most of the world turns a blind eye to the plight of the faithful.
Pray for Metropolitans Onufry, Pavel, Longin, Jonathan, Bishop Agathangelo, and all priests, monks, nuns, and faithful Orthodox lay people, many of whose beloved temples and monasteries have been illegally confiscated with the encouragement of local authorities and the Kyiv regime.
Lord, have mercy! Grant protection and give courage to the persecuted faithful of Ukraine!
Hieromartyr St Simeon, the Kinsman of the Lord (April/ 27/ May 10), one of the Apostles of the 70 and second Bishop of Jerusalem, is hymned as one who guided his flock "to the heavenly sheepfold" and for the sake of Christ, "crucified, imitating His passion."
The Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon (Symeon) was a first cousin of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of Clopas (or Cleopas, also called Alphaeus), the brother of Joseph the Betrothed. At 100 years of age, he was seized by pagans and, after prolonged torture, crucified.
The Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon (Symeon) was a first cousin of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of Clopas (or Cleopas, also called Alphaeus), the brother of Joseph the Betrothed. At 100 years of age, he was seized by pagans and, after prolonged torture, crucified.
Passion Week: Holy and Great Monday. The cursing of the fig tree. “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. Matthew 21:19b
The Lord rebukes, the Lord encourages.
The "parable of the Fig tree which had leaves but was barren of any fruit. With this image, the Lord is rebuking those around Him who adorned themselves with the greenery of external piety but were devoid of inner virtue, as well as those who throughout history, had become slaves to the law and had not borne the fruit of the spirit....
By cursing the barren fig tree, the Lord is not simply revealing his Divine power, but encouraging us to persevere in faithful prayer, for He says, Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. And so we must, first of all, enter into this coming week with a prayerful heart and a pure mind. If we can do this, even in a small measure, we shall receive the grace of God in abundance."
The Lord rebukes, the Lord encourages.
The "parable of the Fig tree which had leaves but was barren of any fruit. With this image, the Lord is rebuking those around Him who adorned themselves with the greenery of external piety but were devoid of inner virtue, as well as those who throughout history, had become slaves to the law and had not borne the fruit of the spirit....
By cursing the barren fig tree, the Lord is not simply revealing his Divine power, but encouraging us to persevere in faithful prayer, for He says, Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. And so we must, first of all, enter into this coming week with a prayerful heart and a pure mind. If we can do this, even in a small measure, we shall receive the grace of God in abundance."
Homily delivered at the Bridegroom Matins Service at the Chapel of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, April 13, 2014
https://oca.org/holy-synod/statements/his-beatitude-metropolitan-tikhon/the-barren-fig-tree
https://oca.org/holy-synod/statements/his-beatitude-metropolitan-tikhon/the-barren-fig-tree
Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday and continuing through the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church observes a special service known as the Service of the Bridegroom. Each evening service is the Matins or Orthros service of the following day (e.g. the service held on Sunday evening is the Orthros service for Holy Monday).
Traditionally, the icon of Christ the Bridegroom (Gr: O Nymphios/Ο Νυμφίος) is brought to the front of the church on Palm Sunday evening, where it remains until Holy Thursday. In the icon, Christ's wedding garment is the robe the soldiers gave Him. His wedding crown is the crown of thorns. His head is bowed low and his arms are crossed in humility, laying down His life for His Bride. The wedding will be His Crucifixion on the Cross just behind Him. We are invited guests to the wedding. This is a week for us to prepare.
Traditionally, the icon of Christ the Bridegroom (Gr: O Nymphios/Ο Νυμφίος) is brought to the front of the church on Palm Sunday evening, where it remains until Holy Thursday. In the icon, Christ's wedding garment is the robe the soldiers gave Him. His wedding crown is the crown of thorns. His head is bowed low and his arms are crossed in humility, laying down His life for His Bride. The wedding will be His Crucifixion on the Cross just behind Him. We are invited guests to the wedding. This is a week for us to prepare.
"Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night,
And blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant;
But unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful.
Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep,
Lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom;
But rise up crying out: 'Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God;
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.'”
(Troparion of the Bridegroom Service)
And blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant;
But unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful.
Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep,
Lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom;
But rise up crying out: 'Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God;
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.'”
(Troparion of the Bridegroom Service)
On Great and Holy Monday, we remember Christ's divine power and God's judgment symbolized in Christ’s cursing of the fig tree. The tree portrayed the Jewish synagogue, which had not produced the fruit of faithful obedience to God and so was stripped of all spiritual grace. (Matthew 21: 18-20).
Also, on Great and Holy Monday the we commemorate Joseph the Patriarch, the beloved son of Jacob, betrayed by his brothers and sold to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver. In the Old Testament story (Genesis 37, 39, 41), Joseph typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death and glorification of out Lord Jesus Christ.
Also, on Great and Holy Monday the we commemorate Joseph the Patriarch, the beloved son of Jacob, betrayed by his brothers and sold to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver. In the Old Testament story (Genesis 37, 39, 41), Joseph typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death and glorification of out Lord Jesus Christ.