When receiving praised by others, St Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov referred to himself as "the poor wretch Seraphim." St Seraphim was healed thrice by the Mother of God. When he fell ill at the age of 10, the miracle-working Kursk icon of Theotokos passed by his family home. After Seraphim's mother took him to kiss the icon, he recovered quickly.
The Uncovering of St Seraphim's relics took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose and is commemorated on July 19/ August 1. In 1991, St Seraphim’s relics were rediscovered after being hidden in a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years.
Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.
The Uncovering of St Seraphim's relics took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose and is commemorated on July 19/ August 1. In 1991, St Seraphim’s relics were rediscovered after being hidden in a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years.
Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.
"We Christians of the latter times are still called to work persistently on ourselves, to be obedient to spiritual fathers and authorities, to lead an orderly life with at least a minimum of spiritual discipline and with regular reading of the Orthodox spiritual literature... to watch over our own sins and failings and not judge others." ☦️Blessed Seraphim Rose
“We fall many times during our life, and it is absolutely necessary to reveal everything [in Confession] to a priest who is a witness to our repentance.
Repentance is the renewal of life. This means we must free ourselves from all our negative traits and turn toward absolute good. No sin is unforgivable except the sin of unrepentance."
—Thaddeus of Vitovnic
Repentance is the renewal of life. This means we must free ourselves from all our negative traits and turn toward absolute good. No sin is unforgivable except the sin of unrepentance."
—Thaddeus of Vitovnic
And Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, as it were, into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, “Father! Father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
In iconography the Prophet Elijah (Elias) is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. The Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah (July 20) did not experience physical death. Instead, he was, as we read in the Second Book of kings, taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
The life of the holy Prophet is recorded in 3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sirach/Ecclesiastes 48: 1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58. At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Saviour upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30
According to the Tradition of Church, St Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world.
In iconography the Prophet Elijah (Elias) is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. The Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah (July 20) did not experience physical death. Instead, he was, as we read in the Second Book of kings, taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
The life of the holy Prophet is recorded in 3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sirach/Ecclesiastes 48: 1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58. At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Saviour upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30
According to the Tradition of Church, St Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world.
She stayed when the others fled in fear
At the Lord’s Crucifixion, Holy Myrrhbearer Mary Magdalene (July 22 / August 4) remained at the cross with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. She was a witness to Christ's burial and first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:1-10) and is thus honoured as the "Apostle to the Apostles."
"Holy Myrrhbearer and Apostle to the Apostles, now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!"
At the Lord’s Crucifixion, Holy Myrrhbearer Mary Magdalene (July 22 / August 4) remained at the cross with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. She was a witness to Christ's burial and first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:1-10) and is thus honoured as the "Apostle to the Apostles."
"Holy Myrrhbearer and Apostle to the Apostles, now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!"
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35
Holy Martyrs and Passionbearers Boris and Gleb (July 24 / Aug 6), in baptism Roman (Romanus) and David (1015) were the sons of the great Prince Vladimir, the baptizer of the Russian people.
After their father's death, their jealous and power-hungry brother, Sviatopolk, the Prince of Kiev sent assassins to kill them. Boris already knew of Sviatopolk's intentions but vowed not to lift a hand against his own brother. He prayed to the Lord to strengthen him for the suffering to come, and that God would not count Sviatopolk's sin against him. Before stabbing him, St Boris' assassins found him chanting psalms and praying before an icon of Christ.
St Gleb was lamenting the deaths of his father and brother when his assassins arrived. However, it was Gleb's cook who killed him with a knife.
Holy Martyrs and Passionbearers Boris and Gleb (July 24 / Aug 6), in baptism Roman (Romanus) and David (1015) were the sons of the great Prince Vladimir, the baptizer of the Russian people.
After their father's death, their jealous and power-hungry brother, Sviatopolk, the Prince of Kiev sent assassins to kill them. Boris already knew of Sviatopolk's intentions but vowed not to lift a hand against his own brother. He prayed to the Lord to strengthen him for the suffering to come, and that God would not count Sviatopolk's sin against him. Before stabbing him, St Boris' assassins found him chanting psalms and praying before an icon of Christ.
St Gleb was lamenting the deaths of his father and brother when his assassins arrived. However, it was Gleb's cook who killed him with a knife.
Righteous passion-bearers, pray that those who honour your memory may be pleasing to God.
One day a devout woman came to me and asked, “What should I do, Father? I am illiterate and do not know any prayers. Will I be saved without praying?”
I asked her, “Do you not pray at all?” “Yes, I do!” “How do you pray?” So she told me, “This is how I pray - when I am sweeping the floor, I pray to God: Oh, God, clean the dirt out of my soul the way I am cleaning this dirt out of my house. Oh, God, may You like my soul the way I like my clean house.
When I am doing the laundry, I also say: Oh, Lord, wash away evil from my soul, so that I will be clean the way this shirt is. I always say something like that, no matter what I am doing. Is it right to do that?”
My answer to her was, “Live all your life in this way!” This is an unceasing prayer of the mind. That is, in all circumstances, when you are doing something, see the presence of God and do what you are doing, for you can do it.
+St Paisios of Mount Athos
I asked her, “Do you not pray at all?” “Yes, I do!” “How do you pray?” So she told me, “This is how I pray - when I am sweeping the floor, I pray to God: Oh, God, clean the dirt out of my soul the way I am cleaning this dirt out of my house. Oh, God, may You like my soul the way I like my clean house.
When I am doing the laundry, I also say: Oh, Lord, wash away evil from my soul, so that I will be clean the way this shirt is. I always say something like that, no matter what I am doing. Is it right to do that?”
My answer to her was, “Live all your life in this way!” This is an unceasing prayer of the mind. That is, in all circumstances, when you are doing something, see the presence of God and do what you are doing, for you can do it.
+St Paisios of Mount Athos
Do you have a family member or friend who needs prayer? Commemorations for the living can be submitted online any time for the weekly moleben service before relics of St John of Shanghai. Holy Virgin “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Cathedral, San Francisco. Requests received Thursday before 3:00pm Pacific will be included in moleben on Saturday at 5:30pm Pacific.
http://sfsobor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=71&lang=en
http://sfsobor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=71&lang=en
Prayer against demonic snares
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having struck down the ancient serpent and bound him 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.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having struck down the ancient serpent and bound him 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.
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
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
Rejoice! First flower of the Alaskan wilderness! Rejoice! First son of the Aleut nation called to the Holy Priesthood! Rejoice! Joy of the Pribilof Islands!
Saint Jacob Netsvetov, Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska (July 26/ Aug 8 ) has been called a "new Job" for the multitude of hardships he endured evangelizing and teaching the native peoples of Alaska and the Yukon. He battled the Enemy who sought to demoralize, discredit and destroy him in countless ways as he brought salvation to peoples like Kol’chane and Ingalit, traditional enemies whose animosity towards one another was healed by their newfound faith in Christ.
St. Jacob was a gifted storyteller who created an alphabet for the people of Atka so they could learn to read the Gospels and the services. As a priest of the Kvikhpak Mission on the Yukon River, Father Jacob sometimes baptized hundreds of people at a time.
Saint Jacob Netsvetov, Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska (July 26/ Aug 8 ) has been called a "new Job" for the multitude of hardships he endured evangelizing and teaching the native peoples of Alaska and the Yukon. He battled the Enemy who sought to demoralize, discredit and destroy him in countless ways as he brought salvation to peoples like Kol’chane and Ingalit, traditional enemies whose animosity towards one another was healed by their newfound faith in Christ.
St. Jacob was a gifted storyteller who created an alphabet for the people of Atka so they could learn to read the Gospels and the services. As a priest of the Kvikhpak Mission on the Yukon River, Father Jacob sometimes baptized hundreds of people at a time.
Even when ravaged with illness Father Jacob cared for the sick and dispensed medicine to the sick everyday. He died on July 26, 1864 at the age of 60. During his final missionary travels in the Kuskokwim/Yukon delta region, he baptized 1,320 people—distinguishing himself as the evangelizer of the Yup’ik and Athabascan peoples.
Righteous Father Jacob, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Photo: Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Atka
Righteous Father Jacob, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Photo: Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Atka