"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

St John of Kronstadt called St Matrona of Moscow (May 2) his "replacement, the eighth pillar of Russia." Her healing gifts would become widely known during the years of persecution of the Church by the Bolsheviks. At her grave, healings continue to this day.

When you take your Mother to the bus station.

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. -Proverbs 10:19

"What I see around me would drive me insane if I did not know that no matter what happens, God will have the last word." + St Paisios of Athos

Put the devil in a panic. Pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

"Cheerfulness is not a sin. It drives away weariness, and it is from weariness that despondency comes." + St Seraphim of Sarov (Jan 2/ Jan 15)

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" was the unceasing prayer of the Ven. Job, Wonderworker of Pochaev (Oct 28/ Nov 10). His disciple Dositheus once found the saint illumined by a heavenly light as he prayed. God glorified St Job with incorrupt relics.

Whatever you may be seeking, seek it with all your strength, but do not expect your own search and efforts to bear fruit of themselves. Put your trust in the Lord, ascribing nothing to yourself, and He will give you your heart's desire.

+ St Theophan the Recluse

In His compassion, God thirsts for our salvation and He longs to grant forgiveness to those who seek Him with sincerity and serve Him with love.

"God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or anyone else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves."

+ St John Chrysostom

Only prayer, silence and love are effective... It is better to turn to the heart of other people through secret prayer than to their ears. + St Porphyrios of Kavsokalyiva

Orthodox Faith
@since33
At St Tikhon's Monastery in Pennsylvania in 2004, myrrh began streaming from the miracle-working icon of the Holy and Righteous Anna, Mother of the Theotokos. Her icon continues to exude a sweet fragrance and it has brought many healings.

Like Noah's Ark, the Church gives us shelter from the storm. But St John Chrysostom notes the difference. The animals left the Ark in the same state they entered. When we enter the Church as sinners, we have the capacity to leave as saints.

Tornado, Surgut, Siberia

St Euphemia, during a vision to St Paisios: "If I knew then how eternal life would be & the heavenly beauty the souls enjoy by being next to God, I would have asked for my martyrdom to last forever. It was nothing compared to the gifts of grace of God!”

Prayers for the Current Time of Day (Morning, Noon, Evening) since33.org

Prayer Before Reading Scripture

Illumine our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father, Who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

oca.org/readings

The greater the love, the greater the suffering of the soul;
the fuller the love, the fuller the knowledge;
the hotter love, more ardent the prayer;
The more perfect the love, the holier the life.

+ St Silouan the Athonite

Prayer against demonic snares #demons
"Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having struck down the ancient serpent and bound him in Tartarus by bonds of darkness, protect me from his snares. Through the prayers of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, of the holy Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly hosts, of the holy Prophet and Baptist John, of the holy Evangelist John the Theologian, of the holy Martyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justinia, of St. Nicholas the wonderworker, of St. Nikita of Novgorod, of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the wonderworker ... and of all the saints, by the power of the life-giving Cross and by the intercession of my Guardian Angel, deliver me from evil spirits, from cunning people, from sorcery, curses, the evil eye, and from any slanders of the enemy. By Thine almighty power preserve me from evil, so that I, enlightened by Thy light, may safely reach the quiet anchorage of the Heavenly Kingdom and there eternally thank Thee, my Savior, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thy Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit. Amen."

"The angel came to the myrrhbearing women at the tomb and said: Myrrh is meet for the dead; but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption! So proclaim: The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy!"

+ Troparion for Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph of Arimathea