"The world is against you, Athanasius!"
"Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius (Jan 18/ Jan 31) didn't "go with the flow" of his time. Fighting against the Arian heresy, St Athanasius defied 4 emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
☦️St Athanasius, radiant beacon of Orthodoxy, pray to Christ our God to give us courage to stand for truth against all compromise.
"Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius (Jan 18/ Jan 31) didn't "go with the flow" of his time. Fighting against the Arian heresy, St Athanasius defied 4 emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
☦️St Athanasius, radiant beacon of Orthodoxy, pray to Christ our God to give us courage to stand for truth against all compromise.
A joint feast day for Ss Athanasius and Cyril, Archbishops of Alexandria (Jan 18/ Jan 31) helps these two often-persecuted stalwarts of Orthodoxy to remain in the hearts of Orthodox faithful. Their memory is upheld as preeminent defenders of the Orthodox Faith, God-inspired interpreters of Holy Scripture, and fearless guardians of Christ's Church against the delusions of the heretics.
St. Macarius (Jan 19/ Feb 1) was once asked by a pilgrim how to find salvation in the world. He told the man to go to the cemetery and insult the dead people who were buried there. This he did and returned to the saint. The saint then told him to return to the cemetery and sing the praises of those who were buried there. This he did and returned.
The saint then asked the pilgrim: “What did the dead people do when you insulted them?”
“Why, nothing, of course, Holy Father,” the man replied.
St. Macarius continued, “What did the dead people do when you praised them?”
“Why, nothing, of course, Holy Father,” he replied again.
“Go and do the same, and you will be saved. Be dead both to the praises and curses of men and you will obtain salvation.”
The saint then asked the pilgrim: “What did the dead people do when you insulted them?”
“Why, nothing, of course, Holy Father,” the man replied.
St. Macarius continued, “What did the dead people do when you praised them?”
“Why, nothing, of course, Holy Father,” he replied again.
“Go and do the same, and you will be saved. Be dead both to the praises and curses of men and you will obtain salvation.”
The number of the New Martyrs of Russia (Sunday closest to Jan. 25) far exceeds that of all the martyrs who died for Christ during the first three centuries of Christianity. The Russian Church lost millions of its sons and daughters, not only at the hands of external enemies, but also those of their own country. Among those who were murdered and tortured in the years of persecution were countless Orthodox: laity, monks, priests, and bishops, whose only “crime” was their unshakable faith in God.
Among those who suffered for their faith were some who labored in America before the Russian Revolution: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (April 7); St. Alexander Hotovitzky (Dec. 4); St. John Kochurov (Oct. 31).
☦️ Holy New Martyrs of Russia, pray for us!
Among those who suffered for their faith were some who labored in America before the Russian Revolution: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (April 7); St. Alexander Hotovitzky (Dec. 4); St. John Kochurov (Oct. 31).
☦️ Holy New Martyrs of Russia, pray for us!
In 1995-96, Alexander Sergeevich Kanyshev made a cross procession of 400 km on his knees from the Monastery of Saint Seraphim of Sarov to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. His journey lasted over 9 months. The 1990s were a period of mass conversion in Russia. The blessed Alexander had himself experienced a vision of the Mother of God and became an Orthodox Christian.
"He prays, but he answers prayers. He weeps, but wipes away tears. He asks where Lazarus has been laid, for he is man; but he raises him to life, for he is God. He is sold, dirt cheap, for thirty pieces of silver, but he redeems the world, at great cost, with his own blood. … He dies, but he brings to life, and by his own death destroys death. He is buried, but he rises again. He descends into hell, but rescues the souls imprisoned there."
☦️ St Gregory (Nazianzus) the Theologian (Jan 25/ Feb 7)
☦️ St Gregory (Nazianzus) the Theologian (Jan 25/ Feb 7)
"It is essential for us to confess that the holy Ever-Virgin Mary is actually Theotokos (Birth-giver of God), so as not to fall into blasphemy. For those who deny that the Holy Virgin is actually Theotokos are no longer believers, but disciples of the Pharisees and Sadducees"
☦️St. Ephraim the Syrian (Jan 28), "To John the Monk"
☦️St. Ephraim the Syrian (Jan 28), "To John the Monk"
“O Lord and Master of my life...", the familiar prayer said during Great Lent, comes to us from the Monk Ephrem the Syrian (Jan 28/ Feb 10) a most humble teacher of repentance of the 4th century. He was an ardent student and sought-after teacher of Holy Scripture as well as composer of many prayers and hymns which have enriched Church's Divine-services.
Saint Ephrem “accepted only the dignity of deacon, in which he remained until death.” Saint Basil the Great “once invited the Monk Ephrem to accept the cathedra-chair of a bishop, but the saint feigned folly to avoid for himself this honour, in humility reckoning himself unworthy of it.”
Saint Ephrem “accepted only the dignity of deacon, in which he remained until death.” Saint Basil the Great “once invited the Monk Ephrem to accept the cathedra-chair of a bishop, but the saint feigned folly to avoid for himself this honour, in humility reckoning himself unworthy of it.”
[St Ephrem 2/2] Because the Lord “gave him a gift of teaching … people began to come to him, wanting to hear his guidances, which produced a particular effect upon the soul, since he began with self-accusation. The monk both verbally and in writing instructed everyone in repentance, faith and piety, and he denounced the Arian heresy, which during those times was disrupting Christian society. And pagans likewise, listening to the preaching of the monk, were converted to Christianity.”
—quotes are from the Synaxarion
—quotes are from the Synaxarion
Among the inhabitants of Constantinople disputes raged over which of three saints was the greatest. These three were the "three great torch-bearers of the triune Godhead": Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.
Some called themselves Basilians, others referred to themselves as Gregorians, and others as Johnites.
The most remarkable thing about these disputes was that the three hierarchs settled it themselves.
Some called themselves Basilians, others referred to themselves as Gregorians, and others as Johnites.
The most remarkable thing about these disputes was that the three hierarchs settled it themselves.
[The Three Holy Hierarchs 2/2] By the will of God, Basil, Gregory and John appeared to St John Mauropous ('Black-foot') Bishop of Euchaita. They told him they were equal before God: "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another." St John chose January 30 for their Feast, thus peacefully ending the division among the people.
“Let us who love their words gather together
And honor with hymns the three great torch-bearers of the triune Godhead:
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine doctrines.
They are sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom filling all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.
Ceaselessly they intercede for us before the Holy Trinity!” —Troparion (Tone 1)
“Let us who love their words gather together
And honor with hymns the three great torch-bearers of the triune Godhead:
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine doctrines.
They are sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom filling all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.
Ceaselessly they intercede for us before the Holy Trinity!” —Troparion (Tone 1)
Troparion for Wednesday: The Holy Cross
O LORD save your people and bless your inheritance. Grant victory to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries and by the virtue of your cross preserve your habitation!
Kontakion for the Holy Cross
As You were voluntarily crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by your name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victory over their adversaries, by bestowing upon them the invincible trophy, your weapon of peace.
O LORD save your people and bless your inheritance. Grant victory to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries and by the virtue of your cross preserve your habitation!
Kontakion for the Holy Cross
As You were voluntarily crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by your name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victory over their adversaries, by bestowing upon them the invincible trophy, your weapon of peace.