Our Orthodox Church has dedicated Monday to the holy angels. Therefore, every Monday in the church services we are reminded of the holy angels with praise and prayer: "Holy Archangels and Angels, pray to God for us.
☦️ St Nicholai Velimirovic
Early 20th century Russian icon. The archangel Michael is in the centre.
☦️ St Nicholai Velimirovic
Early 20th century Russian icon. The archangel Michael is in the centre.
As early as 258, there was already a tradition of commemorating the martyrdoms of both St. Peter and St. Paul on the same day (June 29/ July 12).
St. Augustine of Hippo preached in 395 that “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days. ... And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”
St. Augustine of Hippo preached in 395 that “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days. ... And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”
On the Synaxis (general commemoration) for all of the Holy Apostles (June 30/ July 13) let us also remember their deaths as martyrs.
Peter was crucified upside-down. Andrew was crucified. James was beheaded. Philip was crucified. Bartholomew was crucified, then flayed and beheaded. Thomas was pierced with five spears. Matthew was burned by fire. James the Son of Alphaeus was crucified Thaddeus was crucified. Simon the Zealot was crucified. Matthias was stoned, then beheaded with an axe when dead. Paul was beheaded. Only John escaped martyrdom, but his miraculous life and blessed repose are worthy of honour. Sentenced to death under Emperor Nero, he escaped an attempt at poisoning. Later, he emerged unharmed after being thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. St John, who suffered many times for his faith in Christ, reposed at more than a hundred years old.
Peter was crucified upside-down. Andrew was crucified. James was beheaded. Philip was crucified. Bartholomew was crucified, then flayed and beheaded. Thomas was pierced with five spears. Matthew was burned by fire. James the Son of Alphaeus was crucified Thaddeus was crucified. Simon the Zealot was crucified. Matthias was stoned, then beheaded with an axe when dead. Paul was beheaded. Only John escaped martyrdom, but his miraculous life and blessed repose are worthy of honour. Sentenced to death under Emperor Nero, he escaped an attempt at poisoning. Later, he emerged unharmed after being thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. St John, who suffered many times for his faith in Christ, reposed at more than a hundred years old.
St John of Shanghai ad San Francisco: the day of his repose, from the memoirs of Patrick Bradin
“On the last day of his life, Vladyka prayed for a very long time”
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On July 2, 1966, Vladyka John arrived in Seattle with the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. It was planned that after that he would go to us in Vancouver with a miraculous image. My close friend Georgy Patrikeev and I also came to Seattle to accompany the Archbishop on his trip to Canada.
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First, we served the Divine Liturgy, after which Vladyka, as usual, remained in the altar. I remember that that day he prayed there for an extremely long time.
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Leaving the altar, the archbishop went up to the second floor of the parish house, and everyone else was waiting for him below. At some point, we heard something heavy falling above. Someone got up and saw Vladyka lying on the floor.
“On the last day of his life, Vladyka prayed for a very long time”
⠀
On July 2, 1966, Vladyka John arrived in Seattle with the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. It was planned that after that he would go to us in Vancouver with a miraculous image. My close friend Georgy Patrikeev and I also came to Seattle to accompany the Archbishop on his trip to Canada.
⠀
First, we served the Divine Liturgy, after which Vladyka, as usual, remained in the altar. I remember that that day he prayed there for an extremely long time.
⠀
Leaving the altar, the archbishop went up to the second floor of the parish house, and everyone else was waiting for him below. At some point, we heard something heavy falling above. Someone got up and saw Vladyka lying on the floor.
"Your heart went out to all who entreat you with love, O hierarch John, and who remember the struggle of your life, and thy painless and easy repose, O faithful servant of the all-pure Directress. " --Kontakion, Tone 4
When our venerable father Athanasius (July 5) arrived at Mount Athos in the 10th century, it was a place of scattered monastic dwellings of monks seeking an ascetic life. Athanasius chose a place called Melanos, at the very extremity of Athos, far off from the other monastic dwellings, to practice the solitary life.
The first monastery of Athos, the Monastery of the Great Lavra would come to be built at Athanasius' initiative. Over the centuries, the Great Lavra has home to the relics of many saints. St Athanasius' tomb is located in the chapel of the Forty Martyrs. A cypress tree that grows outside the katholikon is said to be planted by Athanasius himself.
“The ranks of Angels were awed by your life in the flesh, how in the body, you went forth toward invisible struggles, O renowned one, and smote the hordes of demons with mortal wounds; for this reason, Athanasios, Christ rewarded you with abundant gifts. Therefore, O Father, pray that our souls may be saved.”
The first monastery of Athos, the Monastery of the Great Lavra would come to be built at Athanasius' initiative. Over the centuries, the Great Lavra has home to the relics of many saints. St Athanasius' tomb is located in the chapel of the Forty Martyrs. A cypress tree that grows outside the katholikon is said to be planted by Athanasius himself.
“The ranks of Angels were awed by your life in the flesh, how in the body, you went forth toward invisible struggles, O renowned one, and smote the hordes of demons with mortal wounds; for this reason, Athanasios, Christ rewarded you with abundant gifts. Therefore, O Father, pray that our souls may be saved.”
“From my youth, O Savior, I have rejected Thy commandments. Ruled by the passions, I have passed my whole life in heedlessness and sloth. Therefore I cry to Thee, O Savior, even now at the end: Save me. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.”
✠ St. Andrew of Crete (July 4), Venerable Father, Bishop, Theologian, Homilist and Hymnographer, also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, is best known as the author of the “Great Canon,” a lengthy penitential Compline prayer traditionally offered during Lent.
“Grant me the light of grace, from God’s providence on high, so that I may flee from the darkness of the passions and sing fervently the joyful tale of thy life, O Mary.” The Great Canon contains many such praises to the All-Pure Virgin.
Born in the Syrian city of Damascus in the mid-seventh century, St Andrew is said to have remained mute for the first seven years of his life, gaining the power of speech at age seven after receiving Holy Communion.
✠ St. Andrew of Crete (July 4), Venerable Father, Bishop, Theologian, Homilist and Hymnographer, also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, is best known as the author of the “Great Canon,” a lengthy penitential Compline prayer traditionally offered during Lent.
“Grant me the light of grace, from God’s providence on high, so that I may flee from the darkness of the passions and sing fervently the joyful tale of thy life, O Mary.” The Great Canon contains many such praises to the All-Pure Virgin.
Born in the Syrian city of Damascus in the mid-seventh century, St Andrew is said to have remained mute for the first seven years of his life, gaining the power of speech at age seven after receiving Holy Communion.
St Andrew’s sermons and liturgical hymns reflect a deep interior life of faith. “I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, the wounds of my soul and body, which murderous thoughts, like thieves, have inflicted inwardly upon me.”
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Through thine intercessions, O Andrew, deliver us from shameful passions and, we pray thee, make us now partakers of Christ’s Kingdom; for with faith and love we sing thy praises.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Through thine intercessions, O Andrew, deliver us from shameful passions and, we pray thee, make us now partakers of Christ’s Kingdom; for with faith and love we sing thy praises.
If you left the Church to get away from hypocritical people, you should also quit your job, drop out of school, disconnect yourself from all your friends and family, and lock yourself in your room.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
O angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything in which I have offended you this day, and deliver me from all the evil wiles of the enemy, that I may not anger my God by any sin. Pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that I may be counted worthy of the kindness
and mercy of the All-holy Trinity, of the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and of all the saints. Amen.
Prayers of the Hours, since33.org
Novodevichy Convent, Moscow
Photo Credit: Anton Zelenov
and mercy of the All-holy Trinity, of the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and of all the saints. Amen.
Prayers of the Hours, since33.org
Novodevichy Convent, Moscow
Photo Credit: Anton Zelenov
"Pray to Christ Our God, O Lady Mary, Queen and Theotokos, that all cities and lands be protected from our enemies, and that they will be saved who in faith venerate your most pure icon."
The miracle-working Sitka Icon of the Mother of God (July 8 ), painted in the style of the Kazan Mother of God Icon, is a “pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art of ineffable gentleness, purity and harmony.” The Sitka icon is located at the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska. It is attributed to famed iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1758-1826), a protégé of the Empress Catherine II who was instructed at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.
“O Mother of God, chosen from all generations to be the protectress of the Christian people; we offer you songs of thanksgiving for your wonderworking Icon that has come to Alaska. You are a fountain of mercy and help all who seek refuge in you.” (from the Kontakion, Tone 8 )
The miracle-working Sitka Icon of the Mother of God (July 8 ), painted in the style of the Kazan Mother of God Icon, is a “pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art of ineffable gentleness, purity and harmony.” The Sitka icon is located at the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska. It is attributed to famed iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1758-1826), a protégé of the Empress Catherine II who was instructed at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.
“O Mother of God, chosen from all generations to be the protectress of the Christian people; we offer you songs of thanksgiving for your wonderworking Icon that has come to Alaska. You are a fountain of mercy and help all who seek refuge in you.” (from the Kontakion, Tone 8 )
The virtuous life of the Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves (July 10/ July 23) illumined his homeland. At Mt Athos, his abbot gave the remarkably he zealous young ascetic Anthony obedience so that he would return to his beloved Russia to plant monasticism in the newly enlightened Christian country.
Anthony found none of the Greek monasteries there to his liking. He was accustomed to the more austere Athonite tradition. Anthony settled there as a hermit, subsisting almost exclusively on bread and water. Anthony's life of solitude was short-lived, as people began coming to ask his blessing and counsel. St Anthony's gifts of healing, of clairvoyance and spiritual discernment would become widely recognized.
"And having shown a multitude of monastics,
The pathway leading to the heavenly kingdom,
You led them to Christ,
Beseech Him, O Venerable Anthony,
That he may save our souls!"
Anthony found none of the Greek monasteries there to his liking. He was accustomed to the more austere Athonite tradition. Anthony settled there as a hermit, subsisting almost exclusively on bread and water. Anthony's life of solitude was short-lived, as people began coming to ask his blessing and counsel. St Anthony's gifts of healing, of clairvoyance and spiritual discernment would become widely recognized.
"And having shown a multitude of monastics,
The pathway leading to the heavenly kingdom,
You led them to Christ,
Beseech Him, O Venerable Anthony,
That he may save our souls!"