The Fast
"Fast from criticism, feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity, feast on joy.
Fast from ill-temper, feast on peace.
Fast from resentment, feast on contentment.
Fast from jealousy, feast on humility.
Fast from selfishness, feast on service.
Fast from fear, feast on faith.
Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude."
Fr John Bakas
"Fast from criticism, feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity, feast on joy.
Fast from ill-temper, feast on peace.
Fast from resentment, feast on contentment.
Fast from jealousy, feast on humility.
Fast from selfishness, feast on service.
Fast from fear, feast on faith.
Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude."
Fr John Bakas
Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hearken unto me, for poor and needy am I. Preserve my soul, for I am holy; save Thy servant, O my God, that hopeth in Thee. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for unto Thee will I cry all the day long; make glad the soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.
—Wednesday Vespers
Kathisma 12 (Psalms 85-90) bit.ly/3fvIPoh
It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and chant unto Thy name, O Most High, To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night, on a psaltery of ten strings, with an ode upon the harp.
For Thou hast gladdened me, O Lord, by Thy deeds, and in the works of Thy hands will I rejoice.
—Thursday Matins
Kathliisma 13 (Psalms 91-100), Kathisma 14 (Psalms 101-105) bit.ly/Kathisma13
—Wednesday Vespers
Kathisma 12 (Psalms 85-90) bit.ly/3fvIPoh
It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and chant unto Thy name, O Most High, To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night, on a psaltery of ten strings, with an ode upon the harp.
For Thou hast gladdened me, O Lord, by Thy deeds, and in the works of Thy hands will I rejoice.
—Thursday Matins
Kathliisma 13 (Psalms 91-100), Kathisma 14 (Psalms 101-105) bit.ly/Kathisma13
Does the Orthodox Church you attend have a roof? Walls unmarked by mortar damage? Glory to God! Consider the courage of your brothers and sisters in the face of danger and adversity and in the aftermath of terrifying attacks. These photos are from Eastern Ukraine, Kosovo, and Syria.
O Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation, God who alone doest wonders: In mercy and goodness look upon thy humble servants, and as the Lover of mankind hear us and have mercy on us. For, behold, our enemies have gathered themselves against us to destroy us and to bring ruin to our sanctuaries. Help us, O God our Saviour, and deliver us, for the glory of thy name, and grant that we also may say with truth, as did Moses when he spoke to the people of Israel, and said: “Be bold, and stand fast; and you shall see the salvation that comes from the Lord."
O Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation, God who alone doest wonders: In mercy and goodness look upon thy humble servants, and as the Lover of mankind hear us and have mercy on us. For, behold, our enemies have gathered themselves against us to destroy us and to bring ruin to our sanctuaries. Help us, O God our Saviour, and deliver us, for the glory of thy name, and grant that we also may say with truth, as did Moses when he spoke to the people of Israel, and said: “Be bold, and stand fast; and you shall see the salvation that comes from the Lord."
Prayer for a Sick Person
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You are the source of life and healing. Visit (name), Lord and grant (him/her) strength to bear the sickness with which (he/she) is afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. Bless the means used for (his/her) recovery and those who administer them. Grant that (his/her) sickness may be to (his/her) spiritual benefit and that (he/she) may live the rest of (his/her) life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You we give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You are the source of life and healing. Visit (name), Lord and grant (him/her) strength to bear the sickness with which (he/she) is afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. Bless the means used for (his/her) recovery and those who administer them. Grant that (his/her) sickness may be to (his/her) spiritual benefit and that (he/she) may live the rest of (his/her) life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You we give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
O sinful descendant of Adam, cheer up! Light lit up in your dungeon: God descended to the lower land of your banishment, in order to elevate you in your heavenly fatherland that you had lost. You wished to know good and evil: He left you this knowledge. You wanted to become like God, and from that you became like the devil by your soul, and like beasts and cattle by your body: God, uniting you to Himself, makes you god by grace. He forgives you your sins. Not only this! He extinguishes the root of evil from your soul, the very infection of sin, poison, thrown into your soul by the devil, and He gives you medicine for the entire way of your earthly life, for curing you from sin, no matter how many times you would get infected by it, because of your infirmity. This remedy is confession of sins.
+St Ignatius Brianchaninov
+St Ignatius Brianchaninov
“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour, for He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-49
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.
From the East came the Mongol Horde destroying everything in their path; from the West came the forces of the Teutonic Knights, which blasphemously and with the blessing of the Roman Pope, called itself "Cross-bearers" by wearing the Cross of the Lord. In the midst of terror, God raised up for the salvation of Russia holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (Repose Dec 6/Nov 23), courageous warrior and man of prayer.
Veneration of St Alexander began at his burial, where he miraculously extended his hand for the written prayer of absolution placed in the coffin.
O Blessed Alexander, God has granted you the grace of healing, entreat Him to strengthen your suffering spiritual children, and to save all Orthodox Christians.
Veneration of St Alexander began at his burial, where he miraculously extended his hand for the written prayer of absolution placed in the coffin.
O Blessed Alexander, God has granted you the grace of healing, entreat Him to strengthen your suffering spiritual children, and to save all Orthodox Christians.
What is Orthodoxy? Orthodoxy is the truth. It is the correct dogma of God, man, and the world, as it was handed to us by the incarnate God Himself through His extraordinary teaching, His holy life, and His redeeming sacrifice; as it was detailed, in following, by the divinely inspired mind and heart of the Apostle Paul; as it was brought to life by the Disciple of love, Saint John the Evangelist, and the other Evangelists and Apostles with the heavenly light of the Holy Spirit; as it was handed to us by the spirit-moved fathers of Alexandria, Constantinople, Cappadocia, Syria, and, later, Mount Athos. All these individuals, from the venerable Polycarp (the disciple of the Apostles) up until Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite (who fell asleep at the onset of the last century), through their wisdom, holiness sacrifices, and struggles entrusted us with the inheritance of proper faith and life: the treasure of Orthodox tradition.
…
An entire sacred army of heroic confessors, consisting of millions of men, women, and children martyrs throughout the centuries confirmed the truth of Orthodoxy with their precious blood. From the amphitheater of Rome to the concentration camps of Russia, they proved that Christianity is not a simple theory but the truth and life itself-it is the most splendid heroism, the victory over despicable acts of violence and tyranny, and the reign of the kingdom of the spirit.
- Elder Ephraim of Arizona, Homily 22 from The Art of Salvation
An entire sacred army of heroic confessors, consisting of millions of men, women, and children martyrs throughout the centuries confirmed the truth of Orthodoxy with their precious blood. From the amphitheater of Rome to the concentration camps of Russia, they proved that Christianity is not a simple theory but the truth and life itself-it is the most splendid heroism, the victory over despicable acts of violence and tyranny, and the reign of the kingdom of the spirit.
- Elder Ephraim of Arizona, Homily 22 from The Art of Salvation
Orthodox Sentinel Radio, “Defending the Faith, With the Sword of Truth”, is now streaming regularly at:
orthodoxsentinelradio.com/listen-live or on the Simple Radio app— Android and iPhone.
orthodoxsentinelradio.com/listen-live or on the Simple Radio app— Android and iPhone.