“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
The Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos (Mar 25) "is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!" (Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4)
The Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos (Mar 25) "is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!" (Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4)
“The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the future Kingdom, who is really pained by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, carry, or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers, or anything at all on earth. But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation. . ."
☦️ St John of the Ladder
☦️ St John of the Ladder
Having been a sinful woman,
she became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
“Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
St Mary of Egypt (5th Sunday of Great Lent) to St Zosimas
“The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels!”
Troparion — Tone 8
she became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
“Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
St Mary of Egypt (5th Sunday of Great Lent) to St Zosimas
“The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels!”
Troparion — Tone 8
On the long ladder of Lent, Christ “waits patiently to receive us at the top. More than that, the Lord is at our side during this ascent, giving us the strength to keep climbing and catching us when we slip. To paraphrase St. John [of the Ladder], Let us hasten, brethren, to make our ascent! —Met. Tikhon of America
If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. … Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
"On Great Tuesday at Matins we are still in the time of repentance, for repentance alone makes us partakers of the Pascha of Our Lord, opens to us the doors of the Paschal banquet." (The Very Rev. Alexander Schmemann) We remember the Lord's condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees, those who think they are the leaders of man, but who in fact “shut up the Kingdom of heaven to men."
At the Presanctified Liturgy, we remember Christ's parables of the End: the ten wise virgins who had enough oil in their lamps and the ten foolish ones who were not admitted to the bridal banquet, the resurrection of the dead, the ten talents, and the Last Judgment.
At the Presanctified Liturgy, we remember Christ's parables of the End: the ten wise virgins who had enough oil in their lamps and the ten foolish ones who were not admitted to the bridal banquet, the resurrection of the dead, the ten talents, and the Last Judgment.
St Tikhon, the Apostle to America and Enlightener of North America Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (repose April 7) was known for his loving manner with everyone and was never overbearing. Even when he had to reprimand someone, he did so in a good-natured, sometimes even joking, manner that encouraged the person to correct their mistakes.
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
You crucify, O people, Him who is the hope of the despairing, the consolation of the comfortless, the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, the resurrection of the dead.
God crucified… Have you been satisfied, fighters against God? Have you rejoiced, killers of God? What do you think Christ is upon the Cross? A deceiver? Weak? A scandal-maker? But what does the Lord think upon the Cross about the people who stand beneath it?
That which only the God of love and meekness can think:
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
☦︎ Saint Justin Popović
God crucified… Have you been satisfied, fighters against God? Have you rejoiced, killers of God? What do you think Christ is upon the Cross? A deceiver? Weak? A scandal-maker? But what does the Lord think upon the Cross about the people who stand beneath it?
That which only the God of love and meekness can think:
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
☦︎ Saint Justin Popović
The Holy Fire has descended! Israeli authorities only yesterday lifted the ban on visiting holy sites in Jerusalem. This ensured the attendance of many faithful and the Holy Fire being preserved and shared again this year in churches and homes. https://youtube.com/shorts/g1GjKH7ZR4E
YouTube
The Holy Fire ritual at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old City Jerusalem. 🇮🇱✝️ #holyfire
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Christ is Risen!
One of the most beautiful and profound images in Orthodox Paschal hymnography is this: the Savior came forth from the tomb as from a bridal chamber.
The tomb - a place of darkness, death, and sorrow - was transformed by the Resurrection into a place of perfect joy, union, and new life. Just as the bridegroom emerges from the bridal chamber radiant, full of life and gladness, so Christ arose from the tomb as the eternal Bridegroom of His Church.
This image carries deep theological richness. It reminds us of the mystical wedding between Christ and humanity. Through the Cross, He betrothed Himself to us in sacrificial love; through the Resurrection, the union was fulfilled. Death is no longer an end, but the path to the joy of the eternal wedding feast.
Holy Scripture itself prepares us for this mystery: “He, like a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber, will rejoice like a giant to run his course” (Psalm 18:5-6).
—Fr Christopher, Romania
One of the most beautiful and profound images in Orthodox Paschal hymnography is this: the Savior came forth from the tomb as from a bridal chamber.
The tomb - a place of darkness, death, and sorrow - was transformed by the Resurrection into a place of perfect joy, union, and new life. Just as the bridegroom emerges from the bridal chamber radiant, full of life and gladness, so Christ arose from the tomb as the eternal Bridegroom of His Church.
This image carries deep theological richness. It reminds us of the mystical wedding between Christ and humanity. Through the Cross, He betrothed Himself to us in sacrificial love; through the Resurrection, the union was fulfilled. Death is no longer an end, but the path to the joy of the eternal wedding feast.
Holy Scripture itself prepares us for this mystery: “He, like a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber, will rejoice like a giant to run his course” (Psalm 18:5-6).
—Fr Christopher, Romania
“How can we know that we are not lying when we say 'Christ is Risen' or 'Indeed He is Risen'? We are taught by the last hymn of the Resurrection service: 'It is the day of the Resurrection. Let us shine brightly for the festival, and also embrace one another.' How can we shine brightly? Not by turning on the lights, because not even the holy light from Jerusalem illuminates us… Only Christ the Resurrected One illuminates us, by helping us to understand His will." —Fr. Claudiu Melean
When St Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. Icons named “The Doubting Thomas” are incorrectly titled. The correct inscription is “The Touching of Thomas” or “The Belief of Thomas.” His passionate belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and his eyewitness experience to the Resurrected Lord carried St Thomas to tirelessly preach the message of Christ over a vast geographical area until he received the crown of martyrdom.
Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God, crying out, "You are my Lord and my God!" By the intercessions of Thine Holy Apostle Thomas, O Christ our Lord and our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God, crying out, "You are my Lord and my God!" By the intercessions of Thine Holy Apostle Thomas, O Christ our Lord and our God, have mercy on us. Amen.