"Through fasting a person becomes meek, a lamb. If he turns into a beast, it means one of two things: either that his undertaken asceticism exceeds his strength, or what he was doing was selfishness and therefore receives no divine help. Because if he fasts and has proud thoughts that what he performs makes him important, then all of his fasting is as nothing."
✝️ St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
✝️ St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
Holy Saturday epitomizes “bright sadness” and “joyful sorrow” (χαρμολύπη). We stand amidst the tension between the mourning and lamentation of Lent and Holy Week and the celebration of the Resurrection.
On the Epitaph (Eπιτάφιος), a beautiful cloth with an embroidered icon of Christ’s body, Christ appears to sleep. However, there is a miracle at work. Christ has descended into Hades to release the captive souls of Adam, Eve, the prophets, the righteous in a glorious event: the “Harrowing of Hell" (Greek: ἡ εἰς Ἅδου κάθοδος). The
On the Epitaph (Eπιτάφιος), a beautiful cloth with an embroidered icon of Christ’s body, Christ appears to sleep. However, there is a miracle at work. Christ has descended into Hades to release the captive souls of Adam, Eve, the prophets, the righteous in a glorious event: the “Harrowing of Hell" (Greek: ἡ εἰς Ἅδου κάθοδος). The
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
Greek - Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!
Church Slavonic - Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! Воистину воскресе! (Christos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!)
Russian - Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес! (Christos voskres! Voistinu voskres!)
Ukrainian - Христос воскрес! Воістину воскрес! (Hrystos voskres! Voistynu voskres!)
Arabic - El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm!
Serbian - Hristos Vaskrese! Vaistinu Vaskrese!
Romanian - Hristos a Inviat! – Adevarat a Inviat!
Filipino (Tagalog) - Si Kristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!
Aleut - Kristus aq ungwektaq! Pichinuq ungwektaq!
Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!
Chinese - Helisituosi fuhuole! Queshi fuhuole!
Mandarin - 基督復活了 他確實復活了 (Jīdū fùhuó le; tā quèshí fùhuó le!)
#PaschalGreeting #Pascha #Easter
Greek - Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!
Church Slavonic - Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! Воистину воскресе! (Christos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!)
Russian - Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес! (Christos voskres! Voistinu voskres!)
Ukrainian - Христос воскрес! Воістину воскрес! (Hrystos voskres! Voistynu voskres!)
Arabic - El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm!
Serbian - Hristos Vaskrese! Vaistinu Vaskrese!
Romanian - Hristos a Inviat! – Adevarat a Inviat!
Filipino (Tagalog) - Si Kristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!
Aleut - Kristus aq ungwektaq! Pichinuq ungwektaq!
Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!
Chinese - Helisituosi fuhuole! Queshi fuhuole!
Mandarin - 基督復活了 他確實復活了 (Jīdū fùhuó le; tā quèshí fùhuó le!)
#PaschalGreeting #Pascha #Easter
The Holy Light (Holy Fire) descends on the Holy Sepulchre of Christ on Great and Holy Saturday every year between 12 noon and 2 pm. This year was no exception. Again this year, video from the Uncreated Light shows the unique and inexplicable quality of the Fire, which for the first few minutes of its emergence from the tomb, does not burn.
The last few decades have seen repeated failed attempts to explain away the Holy Light as a hoax. This includes attempts to reproduce it with combustible materials. While a “spontaneous” ignition of a flame can be produced, a unique flame that does not burn has not.
It seems the only explanation left for skeptics is the far-fetched idea that that the Orthodox Church must have been practicing some sort of advanced chemistry for centuries. No such thing. We call it a miracle.
The last few decades have seen repeated failed attempts to explain away the Holy Light as a hoax. This includes attempts to reproduce it with combustible materials. While a “spontaneous” ignition of a flame can be produced, a unique flame that does not burn has not.
It seems the only explanation left for skeptics is the far-fetched idea that that the Orthodox Church must have been practicing some sort of advanced chemistry for centuries. No such thing. We call it a miracle.
A man from Adrianopolis visited Philotheou Monastery in 1830. He listened attentively to a monk tell the story of the holy Icon , “Sweet Kissing” (Apr 20) and the miracles associated with it. He considered the stories to be nothing more than fictitious tales. The monk was grieved at the man’s unbelief, and tried to persuade him that everything he had said was true. The skeptical pilgrim remained unconvinced.
The same day, the pilgrim was walking on an upper balcony of the monastery when he slipped and began to fall. He cried out, “Most Holy Theotokos, help me!” The Mother of God came to his immediate assistance. The pilgrim landed on the ground without a scratch.
The same day, the pilgrim was walking on an upper balcony of the monastery when he slipped and began to fall. He cried out, “Most Holy Theotokos, help me!” The Mother of God came to his immediate assistance. The pilgrim landed on the ground without a scratch.
"There is nothing impossible unto those who believe; lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye. Besides, even without our sincere and firm faith, miracles are accomplished, such as the miracles of the sacraments; for God's Mystery is always accomplished, even though we were incredulous or unbelieving at the time of its celebration. "Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" (Rom. 3:3). Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God's wisdom, nor our infirmity God's omnipotence."
+ "My Life in Christ," St John Kronstadt
+ "My Life in Christ," St John Kronstadt
On Bright Tuesday, we read the story of the road to Emmaus from the Gospel of St. Luke, where two disciples on the road to Emmaus do not recognize Jesus. Likewise, we realize Jesus sometimes, perhaps often, appears to us unrecognized, even as He journeys with us. The disciples finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. In the Communion of the Holy Mysteries, we see and receive the Resurrected Christ, who promised “behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)”
In Saint George the Great Martyr and Triumphant (April 23/May 6), courage bears witness to Jesus Christ. At his martyrdom, he addressed the Emperor: “I am saved only by calling upon Christ and His Power. Whoever believes in Him has no regard for tortures and is able to do the things that Christ did.” (John 14:12)
His own torturers were among those converted on witnessing the saint’s courage while being tormented for his faith.
His own torturers were among those converted on witnessing the saint’s courage while being tormented for his faith.
No vice or passion appears under its real name. Fornication goes by the name of love, covetousness calls itself prosperity, gambling by fun, drunkenness and partying, by friendship, envy by justice and equality. In fact, often behind the rebellion against injustice and inequality is ordinary envy!
☦️ Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
☦️ Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
Inasmuch as everything was meant to be beautiful in Eden, then sinful souls will be treated as gardeners treat withered trees—that is, they’ll be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore, brethren, it’s absolutely necessary to be renewed beforehand and, drinking the water of life and being warmed by the sun of grace, to begin to bear fruits of grace—we must resurrect here so as not to die an eternal death there!
☦️St. Innocent of Kherson
Therefore, brethren, it’s absolutely necessary to be renewed beforehand and, drinking the water of life and being warmed by the sun of grace, to begin to bear fruits of grace—we must resurrect here so as not to die an eternal death there!
☦️St. Innocent of Kherson
Here in this world, we celebrate Holy Pascha for a very short time. Joy passes and again tribulations, sorrows, temptations and many other evils come. But in heaven, in the other world, Pascha will last forever, and there will be no end. It will be the Pascha of eternity, and there will be no end to it. - Elder Ephraim of Arizona
“You feel that you won’t be saved – and that’s an important thought to have! It’s bad ‘not’ to have it, for without it you can fall into self-esteem and false pride, and so perish in spite of your good deeds.
On the other hand, it’s also bad to indulge in this thought too much, because you can fall into despair. Pray. Pray. Pray. That’s all I can tell you in this regard, and the Lord will make you understand.
Fight your laziness at least. Don’t give in to it…Your whole struggle consists in fighting your passions. Fight!
☦️St Innocent of Alaska, in a letter to his daughter Paraskovia, 1854
On the other hand, it’s also bad to indulge in this thought too much, because you can fall into despair. Pray. Pray. Pray. That’s all I can tell you in this regard, and the Lord will make you understand.
Fight your laziness at least. Don’t give in to it…Your whole struggle consists in fighting your passions. Fight!
☦️St Innocent of Alaska, in a letter to his daughter Paraskovia, 1854
Slaying serpents (or dragons) isn't just a man's work. One day after the commemoration of St George who famously put a serpent in its place, we honour St Elizabeth the Wonderworker of Constantinople (Apr 24/ May 7), who famously put a serpent in its place. St Elizabeth, who was Abbess of the Saints Cosmas and Damian Monastery, lived centuries after St George. St Elizabeth did it not slay the creature with the aid of a sword, but simply by her prayer.
St Elizabeth, who practiced an ascetic life from her youth, also healed a woman with an issue of blood who had been ill for many years and cast out unclean spirits. At her tomb, many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received their sight.
Portions of St Elizabeth’s relics can be found at the Monastery of Saint Anna in Lygaria, Crete and the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli in Athens, Greece.
St Elizabeth, who practiced an ascetic life from her youth, also healed a woman with an issue of blood who had been ill for many years and cast out unclean spirits. At her tomb, many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received their sight.
Portions of St Elizabeth’s relics can be found at the Monastery of Saint Anna in Lygaria, Crete and the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli in Athens, Greece.