“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. “ ✝️ John 16:2
“The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs“, Holy Apostles Bartholomew of the Twelve and Barnabas of the Seventy (June 11/ June 24), “As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!“
“The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs“, Holy Apostles Bartholomew of the Twelve and Barnabas of the Seventy (June 11/ June 24), “As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!“
The bell tower of the submerged St. Nicholas Monastery Cathedral of Kalyazin, central Russia, serves as a beacon to navigation. It also stands as a testament to the resilience and reemergence of the Orthodox Church in Russia— and Josef Stalin’s failure to suppress the Church.
When Stalin ordered the construction of the Uglich Dam on the Volga River in 1939, the old parts of Kalyazin, including the monastery, were flooded. Only the Bell tower survived.
In order to prevent the tower’s collapse, large amounts of soil were placed around the tower. This created a small man-made island, to which a boat dock has been added. Liturgies are sometimes served there.
When Stalin ordered the construction of the Uglich Dam on the Volga River in 1939, the old parts of Kalyazin, including the monastery, were flooded. Only the Bell tower survived.
In order to prevent the tower’s collapse, large amounts of soil were placed around the tower. This created a small man-made island, to which a boat dock has been added. Liturgies are sometimes served there.
“The world is against you, Athanasius!”
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius wasn’t one to “go with the flow.” Fighting against the Arian heresy, Saint Athanasius defied four emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St. Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius wasn’t one to “go with the flow.” Fighting against the Arian heresy, Saint Athanasius defied four emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St. Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
“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)
How to become impoverished
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️ St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️ St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
✝️Blessed are You, Lord, Almighty Master, who illumines the day with the light of the sun and the night with the glow of the moon, Who has made us worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near to the onset of the night; hear our petitions and those of all You people. Forgive us all our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, and accept our evening supplications and send down the multitude of Your mercies and compassions upon Your people. Protect us with Your holy angels. Arm us with the weapons of Your truth. Envelop us with Your righteousness. Preserve us by Your power and deliver us from every oppression and from every conspiracy of the cunning one. Grant us that this evening and the approaching night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without doubt and vain imaginings.
By the intercessions of the holy Theotokos; Who first taught by word, and then gave testimony in deed while bearing the saving passion, teaching us Your unworthy, sinful servants, to offer You our supplications with bent head and knee, for our sins and human ignorance, we pray to You O Lord, for to You belong all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona on Love
Love overlooks the flaws of our brother. It forgives mistakes. It tolerates bad habits. It gives way to obstinacy. It avoids criticism, it is oblivious to sarcasm. It disperses suspicions. It does not accept slander. It does not pass judgment or debase others publicly. It covers all shortcomings in a polite and brave manner. “Loves suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seeks its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil”(1 Cor. 13:46), thunders the Apostle Paul. Love, through its simplicity and sincerity, is unaware of evil. No fierce wave of evil or deceit can disturb it.
The Art of Salvation and other books by Elder Ephraim at http://amzn.to/2sv9r0g
Love overlooks the flaws of our brother. It forgives mistakes. It tolerates bad habits. It gives way to obstinacy. It avoids criticism, it is oblivious to sarcasm. It disperses suspicions. It does not accept slander. It does not pass judgment or debase others publicly. It covers all shortcomings in a polite and brave manner. “Loves suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seeks its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil”(1 Cor. 13:46), thunders the Apostle Paul. Love, through its simplicity and sincerity, is unaware of evil. No fierce wave of evil or deceit can disturb it.
The Art of Salvation and other books by Elder Ephraim at http://amzn.to/2sv9r0g
In Russia alone there are more than three hundred icons, that according to pious tradition, appeared in some miraculous way.
Three of the most famous are Our Lady of Vladimir, Our Lady of Kazan, and Our Lady of Smolensk
More honourable than the Cherubim
And more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim:
Without defilement you gave birth to God the Word:
True Theotokos, we magnify you.
Three of the most famous are Our Lady of Vladimir, Our Lady of Kazan, and Our Lady of Smolensk
More honourable than the Cherubim
And more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim:
Without defilement you gave birth to God the Word:
True Theotokos, we magnify you.
Among the 318 bishops who gathered at the First Ecumenical Council (7th Sun. 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.
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.
At Nicea, the Church stood victorious in unity against the gates of hell and its disguises. She proved herself bigger than the pernicious beliefs that individual members, even priests and bishops, might promote.
Our Lord's promise, “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.
Our Lord's promise, “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.
Our inner eye
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be clean, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness" + Mt. 6:22-23
This eye is our conscience; the body is our entire being. If our conscience is clean, then our entire being will be full of light. We keep our conscience clean by maintaining a vigilant watch over our thoughts and every movement of our heart and call always on Christ "the true Light, Who enlightens every man who comes into the world."
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be clean, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness" + Mt. 6:22-23
This eye is our conscience; the body is our entire being. If our conscience is clean, then our entire being will be full of light. We keep our conscience clean by maintaining a vigilant watch over our thoughts and every movement of our heart and call always on Christ "the true Light, Who enlightens every man who comes into the world."
St Theophan the Recluse: “You ask about the prayer rule. Yes, because of our weakness, it is proper to have a prayer rule. For one thing, it controls excessive zeal. The great men of prayer had a prayer rule and kept to it. Every time, they began prayer with the established prayers, and then, if self-initiated prayer came, they turned to it from reciting prayers. If they needed a prayer rule, then we need one even more! Without formal prayers, we would not know how to pray correctly at all. Without them, we would be completely without prayer. Nevertheless, we should not collect too many prayers. A few prayers, correctly read, are better than many prayers raced through.”