At the supper Christ took the bread and the wine and called on his disciples to eat and drink it as his own Body and Blood. This is the belief and practice of the early church. It became the centre of the Christian life, a life of "eucharist," which means "thanksgiving."
No evidence exists that the Holy apostles of Christ, nor their successors taught that the bread and wine of the eucharist were "mere symbols" as Protestants teach. Nor did they fall into rationalistic errors of Rome, which led to the dogma of "transubstantiation."
The Orthodox Church, as the ancient catholic and apostolic church, calls the Eucharist a “mystery” and the whole eucharistic liturgy a “spiritual and bloodless sacrifice.” These terms are used by the holy fathers themselves to describe the mystical communion of men with God, with each other, and with all men and all creation in Him through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
No evidence exists that the Holy apostles of Christ, nor their successors taught that the bread and wine of the eucharist were "mere symbols" as Protestants teach. Nor did they fall into rationalistic errors of Rome, which led to the dogma of "transubstantiation."
The Orthodox Church, as the ancient catholic and apostolic church, calls the Eucharist a “mystery” and the whole eucharistic liturgy a “spiritual and bloodless sacrifice.” These terms are used by the holy fathers themselves to describe the mystical communion of men with God, with each other, and with all men and all creation in Him through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
"Eucharist" applies not only to the elements of bread and wine, but to the whole act of gathering, praying, reading the Holy Scriptures and proclaiming God’s Word.
"We knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Earth, for surely there is no such splendour or beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot describe it to you, only this we know, that God dwells there among humans, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. For we cannot forget that beauty."
- Envoys of Vladimir the Prince of Kiev (July 15/July 28), after witnessing the celebration of the Eucharist in the Great Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople (10th century)
The great prince took to his whole heart the word of his envoys and had himself and his nation baptized into the Orthodox Church. St. Vladimir changed completely after his baptism. He destroyed all the pagan statues and replaced them with churches.
He also attempted to live in peace as much as possible with his neighbors and had only one wife. He is described as a wolf who became a lamb.
Holy baptizer and enlightener, Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles, Vladimir, pray to Christ our God for our salvation!
- Envoys of Vladimir the Prince of Kiev (July 15/July 28), after witnessing the celebration of the Eucharist in the Great Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople (10th century)
The great prince took to his whole heart the word of his envoys and had himself and his nation baptized into the Orthodox Church. St. Vladimir changed completely after his baptism. He destroyed all the pagan statues and replaced them with churches.
He also attempted to live in peace as much as possible with his neighbors and had only one wife. He is described as a wolf who became a lamb.
Holy baptizer and enlightener, Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles, Vladimir, pray to Christ our God for our salvation!
In 2007 Father Panagiotis Tsiolis was digging in his garden and crying for a blasphemous movie that was going to be played in the cinemas. Then he heard a voice from the sky telling him: “Why do you cry priest and wail, I am too high, their arrows don’t reach me, they are going to fall on their heads.”
Kimon Mpallas
—from Ask About the Orthodox Faith
Kimon Mpallas
—from Ask About the Orthodox Faith
"All images reveal and make perceptible those things which are hidden. For example, a man does not have immediate knowledge of invisible things ... Therefore the icon was devised that he might advance in knowledge, and that secret things might be revealed and made perceptible. Therefore, icons are a source of profit, help, and salvation for all, since they make things so obviously manifest, enabling us to perceive hidden things. Thus, we are encouraged to desire and imitate what is good and to shun and hate what is evil."
☦️ St John of Damascus
☦️ St John of Damascus
The Dormition Fast
Aug 1-14 / Aug 14-28
Let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall prostrate in repentance, calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, come and help us. Have compassion upon us; hasten, for we are lost in a throng of transgressions; do not turn your servants away with empty hands, for you alone are our only hope.
Troparia To the Theotokos, from the Service of the
Small Paraklesis (Supplicatory Prayer) To the Most Holy Theotokos
Image: Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, above the entrance to the Iveron spring, Iveron Monastery, Mt. Athos
Aug 1-14 / Aug 14-28
Let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall prostrate in repentance, calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, come and help us. Have compassion upon us; hasten, for we are lost in a throng of transgressions; do not turn your servants away with empty hands, for you alone are our only hope.
Troparia To the Theotokos, from the Service of the
Small Paraklesis (Supplicatory Prayer) To the Most Holy Theotokos
Image: Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, above the entrance to the Iveron spring, Iveron Monastery, Mt. Athos
"When you choose a wife for yourself, you should be for her not only a husband, but a father, a mother, and a brother, because she is leaving her family for the sake of being with you and following in your path. So give her to see in your the mercy of a father, the tenderness of a mother, and the friendship of a brother."
☦️ Tsarina Martyr Alexandra Feodorovna
☦️ Tsarina Martyr Alexandra Feodorovna
☦️ "Let us lay aside all earthly cares" during the Dormition Fast and attend the Small Paraklesis and Great Paraklesis services. The theme of these services centres around the petition, “Most Holy Mother of God, save us.”
In some places, the services on weekdays during the Dormition Fast are similar to the services during Great Lent.
In the Greek tradition, during the Fast either the Great Paraklesis (Supplicatory Canon) or the Small Paraklesis is celebrated every evening except Saturday evening and the Eves of the Transfiguration and the Dormition.
Image: the Orsha Icon of the Mother of God, which miraculously appeared in 1631 at the foundation of the Kuteinsky Holy Epiphany Monastery near the city of Orsha (Belarus)
In some places, the services on weekdays during the Dormition Fast are similar to the services during Great Lent.
In the Greek tradition, during the Fast either the Great Paraklesis (Supplicatory Canon) or the Small Paraklesis is celebrated every evening except Saturday evening and the Eves of the Transfiguration and the Dormition.
Image: the Orsha Icon of the Mother of God, which miraculously appeared in 1631 at the foundation of the Kuteinsky Holy Epiphany Monastery near the city of Orsha (Belarus)
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Mortify the understanding of my flesh, О most pure Virgin who hast given birth unto life, and deliver me from every torment.
With the most radiant splendour of Him Who shone forth from thee, О Virgin, enlighten the eyes of my soul, that I may glorify thee.
✝️Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pray thou, О holy Lady who alone art the Theotokos, that I may obtain salvation and divine radiance on the day of judgment.
Mortify the understanding of my flesh, О most pure Virgin who hast given birth unto life, and deliver me from every torment.
With the most radiant splendour of Him Who shone forth from thee, О Virgin, enlighten the eyes of my soul, that I may glorify thee.
✝️Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pray thou, О holy Lady who alone art the Theotokos, that I may obtain salvation and divine radiance on the day of judgment.
St Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, was once nearly beaten to death by robbers and walked with a bent back for the rest of his life from the injuries he received. This hunched stance shows in many icons. After recovering from his injuries, he spent a thousand days and nights in prayer on a large rock in the forest, sometimes standing, other times kneeling, leaving the rock only for brief periods. The Uncovering of the Relics of St Seraphim is commemorated on July 19/ Aug 1.
"You loved Christ from your youth, O blessed one, and longing to work for Him alone you struggled in the wilderness in constant prayer and labor. With penitent heart and great love for Christ you were favored by the Mother of God. Therefore we cry to you: 'Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.'” --Troparion, Tone 4
"You loved Christ from your youth, O blessed one, and longing to work for Him alone you struggled in the wilderness in constant prayer and labor. With penitent heart and great love for Christ you were favored by the Mother of God. Therefore we cry to you: 'Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.'” --Troparion, Tone 4
I cannot describe to you how much our Panagia likes chastity and purity. Since she is the only pure Virgin, she wants and loves everyone to be like that. As soon as we cry out to her she rushes to our help. You don’t even finish saying, ‘All-holy Theotokos, help me’ and at once, like lightning, she shines through the nous and fills the heart with illumination. She draws the nous to prayer and the heart to Love.
✠ St Joseph the Hesychast
✠ St Joseph the Hesychast