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.
In the summer of 2020, Orthodox faithful began flocking to the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in Apollo, Greece to venerate an icon of St. Paraskeva that had begun streaming myrrh. Metropolitan Cyril of Rhodes called the faithful to “humility and modesty” after witnessing the icon for himself.
"According to Ekklesia Online, the icon had been recently transferred to the church from the village cemetery. The church was kept open all day and night to accommodate those coming to pray before the myrrh-streaming icon."
https://bit.ly/30YWgUY
"According to Ekklesia Online, the icon had been recently transferred to the church from the village cemetery. The church was kept open all day and night to accommodate those coming to pray before the myrrh-streaming icon."
https://bit.ly/30YWgUY
Since there are Seven Holy Ecumenical Councils, why do we commemorate only the first six on the 4th Sunday after Pentecost? The Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 occurred after the yearly commemoration of the first six had begun. It is commemorated in October.
"You are most glorious, O Christ our God, You have established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, and through them, You have guided all of us to the true Faith! O greatly compassionate one, glory to You."
"You are most glorious, O Christ our God, You have established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, and through them, You have guided all of us to the true Faith! O greatly compassionate one, glory to You."
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O Lord, I know not what to ask of You. You alone know what are my true needs. You love me more than I myself know how to love.
Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me.
I dare not ask either a cross or a consolation.
I can only wait on You.
My heart is open to You.
Visit and help me, for Your great mercy's sake.
Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.
I worship in silence Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself as a sacrifice to You.
I put all my trust in You.
I have no other desire than to fulfill Your will. Teach me how to pray.
Pray Yourself in me. Amen.
+St Philaret Metropolitan of Moscow, A prayer
Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me.
I dare not ask either a cross or a consolation.
I can only wait on You.
My heart is open to You.
Visit and help me, for Your great mercy's sake.
Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.
I worship in silence Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself as a sacrifice to You.
I put all my trust in You.
I have no other desire than to fulfill Your will. Teach me how to pray.
Pray Yourself in me. Amen.
+St Philaret Metropolitan of Moscow, A prayer
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On his feast day (July 15/July 28), monastery bells ring across Russia, Ukraine, Slavic lands and throughout the Russian Diaspora in honour of Russia's baptizer and enlightener, Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir.
On renouncing idolatry, St Vladimir devoted all his labour to serving Christ and His Church. He decreed that churches be built throughout the land where the idols had been pulled down-- including the temple at Kiev, dedicated to the most holy Mother of God. It was built at the spot where St Theodore and his son John suffered martyrdom for Christ.
On renouncing idolatry, St Vladimir devoted all his labour to serving Christ and His Church. He decreed that churches be built throughout the land where the idols had been pulled down-- including the temple at Kiev, dedicated to the most holy Mother of God. It was built at the spot where St Theodore and his son John suffered martyrdom for Christ.
"The battle against Tsar Nicholas II (July 17) was clearly bound up with the battle against God and faith . . . He became a Martyr, having remained faithful to the Ruler of those who rule, and accepted death in the same way as the martyrs accepted it." +Saint John Maximovitch
Royalty and martyrdom were joined together, O blessed ones,
In your death for righteousness and right belief, O wise Sovereigns,
Nicholas and Alexandra, with your five children.
Hence, Christ our God counted you worthy of thrones in Heaven;
And with twofold crowns of glory,
You reign forever, adorned with grace divine.
Royalty and martyrdom were joined together, O blessed ones,
In your death for righteousness and right belief, O wise Sovereigns,
Nicholas and Alexandra, with your five children.
Hence, Christ our God counted you worthy of thrones in Heaven;
And with twofold crowns of glory,
You reign forever, adorned with grace divine.
The Righteous Anna (Dormition July 25/Aug 7), Mother of the Most Holy Theotokos, was of the tribe of Levi, and the daughter of Matthan the priest. After a long life pleasing to God, she entered into rest at a great age.
Divinely-wise Anna, you carried in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave life to our Life. Therefore, you are now carried joyfully to the inheritance of heaven, to the abode of those who rejoice in glory, where you seek forgiveness of sins for those who faithfully honour you, ever-blessed one.
Icon at the Monastery of St George, Jerusalem
Divinely-wise Anna, you carried in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave life to our Life. Therefore, you are now carried joyfully to the inheritance of heaven, to the abode of those who rejoice in glory, where you seek forgiveness of sins for those who faithfully honour you, ever-blessed one.
Icon at the Monastery of St George, Jerusalem