“The modern world fears and shuns the cross. But the Lord sends a cross for salvation. If there is no cross, there is no resurrection with Christ.”
—Archimandrite (Aghiorite) Methodius (Markovic) of the Serbian Sacred Monastery of Hilandar (Mount Athos)
The Cross of St. George, at the entrance of the city of Kragujevac, Serbia is 18 metres high. The Crucifixion of Christ is on one side, and the icon of St. George on the other. It was blessed by Serbian Patriarch Irinej on July 21, 2010.
—Archimandrite (Aghiorite) Methodius (Markovic) of the Serbian Sacred Monastery of Hilandar (Mount Athos)
The Cross of St. George, at the entrance of the city of Kragujevac, Serbia is 18 metres high. The Crucifixion of Christ is on one side, and the icon of St. George on the other. It was blessed by Serbian Patriarch Irinej on July 21, 2010.
God always was, and always is, and always will be. Or rather, God always Is. For Was and Will be are fragments of our time, and of changeable nature, but He is Eternal Being. And this is the Name that He gives to Himself when giving the Oracle to Moses in the Mount. For in Himself He sums up and contains all Being, having neither beginning in the past nor end in the future; like some great Sea of Being, limitless and unbounded, transcending all conception of time and nature, only adumbrated [intimated] by the mind, and that very dimly and scantily.
☦️ St. Gregory the Theologian
☦️ St. Gregory the Theologian
A miracle of St.Anastasia the Roman (Oct 29/ Nov 11)
In October, 2010 at the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, a young woman, Georgia, mother of two, was declared brain dead. Her husband and relatives begged St. Anastasia for her intervention, remembering her last words: “Whoever invokes me, my Lord, heal him.”
To the shock of doctors, her neurological image began to show signs of activity and she began to move her hands, baffling doctors. Her husband asked her, “Georgia, who cured you?" With effort, she responded, “Anastasia.” When she left the hospital, the amazed doctors called her “Lazarus.”
The miracle is one of countless miracles of St. Anastasia throughout the centuries, including many in recent times. The Fathers in the monastery of Grigoriou, Mt. Athos, jokingly say that the doctors monastery’s hospital don’t have a job to do because whoever is sick goes first to the icon and relics of St. Anastasia and is healed.
In October, 2010 at the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, a young woman, Georgia, mother of two, was declared brain dead. Her husband and relatives begged St. Anastasia for her intervention, remembering her last words: “Whoever invokes me, my Lord, heal him.”
To the shock of doctors, her neurological image began to show signs of activity and she began to move her hands, baffling doctors. Her husband asked her, “Georgia, who cured you?" With effort, she responded, “Anastasia.” When she left the hospital, the amazed doctors called her “Lazarus.”
The miracle is one of countless miracles of St. Anastasia throughout the centuries, including many in recent times. The Fathers in the monastery of Grigoriou, Mt. Athos, jokingly say that the doctors monastery’s hospital don’t have a job to do because whoever is sick goes first to the icon and relics of St. Anastasia and is healed.
“If you want to serve God, prepare your heart not for food, not for drink, not for rest, not for ease, but for suffering … for 'by many afflictions is it appointed to us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven'.” (Acts 14:22)
☦️St. Sergius of Radonezh
At the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Kyiv, the icon of the church’s patron saint recently began to stream myrrh.
☦️St. Sergius of Radonezh
At the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Kyiv, the icon of the church’s patron saint recently began to stream myrrh.
“One night, John was alone in his cell, writing a commentary on the Scriptures by candlelight, Proclus, his attendant, came to the door to tell the saint the request of someone in need, but before knocking, he looked through the keyhole to see whether the Patriarch was occupied. He saw that Saint John was sitting and writing and that an elder of most venerable appearance stood behind him, bent down toward the ear of the Patriarch and speaking softly to him. The man entirely resembled Saint Paul as he was depicted upon the icon which stood against the wall. Proclus was amazed, for he did not know who was speaking with the Patriarch, nor could he understand how the elder had entered the cell since the door was locked. He waited for the man to depart, and as soon as the hour for Matins drew near, the elder disappeared. Proclus saw this for three nights in succession, and finally dared to ask the Patriarch, 'Master, who is it that speaks into your ear at night?'
‘No one has been with me,' answered John. Then Proclus told him how he had seen through the keyhole an old man of venerable appearance, whispering into his ear as he wrote. Proclus also described the man’s face and clothing, and John marvelled greatly. Then Proclus glanced at the image of Saint Paul and exclaimed, 'The man whom I saw resembled in every way the saint depicted upon this icon!'
John then understood that it was the holy Apostle Paul whom Proclus had seen and that his work was pleasing to the Lord. Falling to the ground, he gave thanks to God, praying with tears in his eyes for a long time. After this, he devoted himself to the writing of sacred books with still greater zeal. These works he left to the Church of Christ as a precious treasure."
https://bit.ly/2NHByU8
John then understood that it was the holy Apostle Paul whom Proclus had seen and that his work was pleasing to the Lord. Falling to the ground, he gave thanks to God, praying with tears in his eyes for a long time. After this, he devoted himself to the writing of sacred books with still greater zeal. These works he left to the Church of Christ as a precious treasure."
https://bit.ly/2NHByU8
A church spared from a dictator's demolition plans
In the early 1980s, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu decided to raze the historic center of Bucharest to create a "Victory Boulevard of Socialism." A small Orthodox church. Schitul Maicilor (the Convent of the Sisters), erected in 1726, stood in harm's way of the massive demolition project.
Engineer Eugeniu Iordachescu considered the church a jewel to be saved at all costs. He convinced Ceausescu to allow him to 20 meters back from the boulevard. Surprisingly, Ceausescu, who had ordered the destruction of 22 places of worship between 1977 and 1987, allowed an elaborate project to lift the church and move it back 20 meters.
In the early 1980s, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu decided to raze the historic center of Bucharest to create a "Victory Boulevard of Socialism." A small Orthodox church. Schitul Maicilor (the Convent of the Sisters), erected in 1726, stood in harm's way of the massive demolition project.
Engineer Eugeniu Iordachescu considered the church a jewel to be saved at all costs. He convinced Ceausescu to allow him to 20 meters back from the boulevard. Surprisingly, Ceausescu, who had ordered the destruction of 22 places of worship between 1977 and 1987, allowed an elaborate project to lift the church and move it back 20 meters.
“Little Lent”, the Nativity Fast begins on Friday for Orthodox Christians following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar. The Nativity Fast lasts forty days, until December 24th. It is also known as Little Lent or St. Philip's Fast because it begins the day after the Saint's feast day (Nov 14). It is not as strict as the Lenten Fast before Pascha. The consumption of fish, wine and oil is allowed on some days.
Rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, the Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip (Nov 14/ Nov 27) waited the coming of the Messiah.
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” ☦️ John 1:43-45
“Your disciple and friend, emulator of Your passion, the divinely eloquent Philip, proclaimed You to the world as God. By his entreaties, and through the Theotokos, keep Your Church from lawless enemies, O most merciful.”
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” ☦️ John 1:43-45
“Your disciple and friend, emulator of Your passion, the divinely eloquent Philip, proclaimed You to the world as God. By his entreaties, and through the Theotokos, keep Your Church from lawless enemies, O most merciful.”
If you have a sinful habit of condemning your neighbor, then when you condemn someone, bow three earthly bows on this day with the following prayer:
"Save, Lord, and have mercy on someone (who has condemned) and with his prayers have mercy on the sinner"
And always do it when you judge someone. If you do this, the Lord will see your diligence and free you forever from this sinful habit.
And if you do not condemn anyone, God will never condemn you - and you will be saved.
☦ Confessor Sergius Pravdolyubov
"Save, Lord, and have mercy on someone (who has condemned) and with his prayers have mercy on the sinner"
And always do it when you judge someone. If you do this, the Lord will see your diligence and free you forever from this sinful habit.
And if you do not condemn anyone, God will never condemn you - and you will be saved.
☦ Confessor Sergius Pravdolyubov