Saint Gregory of Tours credits the preaching of St Irenaeus (130-202) (Aug 23), Bishop of Lugdunum, for transforming all of Lugdunum (Lyons) into a Christian city. Holy Hieromartyr St Irenaeus is the third link in an unbroken chain of the grace of succession which links, in backward order, to Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, to the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, to the Original Pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Thus, he received his schooling from the best.
St Irenaeus recalled conversations that took place at the blessed Polycarp's house, where St Polycarp "spoke of the conversations which he had with John and others who had seen the Lord, how he remembered their words, and what he heard from them about the Lord ... I listened eagerly to these things, by the mercy of God, and wrote them, not on paper, but in my heart.”
St Irenaeus recalled conversations that took place at the blessed Polycarp's house, where St Polycarp "spoke of the conversations which he had with John and others who had seen the Lord, how he remembered their words, and what he heard from them about the Lord ... I listened eagerly to these things, by the mercy of God, and wrote them, not on paper, but in my heart.”
St Irenaeus (Aug 23) was a lion in his refutations of the gnostic heresy which was influencing the Church during his time. In doing so, he leaves us with the Orthodox teaching of salvation through the Incarnation. “Jesus Christ the Son of God, through exceedingly great love for His creation, condescended to be born of a Virgin, having united mankind with God in His own Self.” Through the Incarnation of God, creation becomes co-imaged and co-bodied to the Son of God. Salvation consists in the “Sonship” and “Theosis” (“Divinization”) of mankind. "By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, you became a successor to their throne. Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. Hieromartyr Irenaeus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.”
Quotes from His Eminence Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, reposed in the Lord, August 24, 2022. May his memory be eternal!
"When I pray the Jesus prayer it is like an experience of the rising sun. That then is one way in which the Jesus Prayer is all embracing, glory and forgiveness." - Discovering the Inner Kingdom
“In the Christian context, we do not mean by a 'mystery' merely that which is baffling and mysterious, an enigma or insoluble problem. A mystery is, on the contrary, something that is revealed for our understanding, but which we never understand exhaustively because it leads into the depth or the darkness of God. The eyes are closed—but they are also opened.” - The Orthodox Way
“Tradition is not only a protective, conservative principle; it is, primarily, the principle of growth and regeneration… Tradition is the constant abiding of the Spirit and not only the memory of words.” - The Orthodox Church
"When I pray the Jesus prayer it is like an experience of the rising sun. That then is one way in which the Jesus Prayer is all embracing, glory and forgiveness." - Discovering the Inner Kingdom
“In the Christian context, we do not mean by a 'mystery' merely that which is baffling and mysterious, an enigma or insoluble problem. A mystery is, on the contrary, something that is revealed for our understanding, but which we never understand exhaustively because it leads into the depth or the darkness of God. The eyes are closed—but they are also opened.” - The Orthodox Way
“Tradition is not only a protective, conservative principle; it is, primarily, the principle of growth and regeneration… Tradition is the constant abiding of the Spirit and not only the memory of words.” - The Orthodox Church
An Iconographer by Miracle
A diving accident left Sergei Kozlov critically injured and under water more 20 minutes before he was rescued. That alone should have left him dead. Even in the emergency room of the hospital, doctors gave him little hope. Miraculously, Sergei survived, paralyzed-- but with an amazing talent for writing icons.
Today from his bed in Voronezh, Russia, he writes beautiful icons with a barely moveable hand and the help of digital technology. Watch the full video and view Sergei's icons at http://gitie.ru/Napisanie-ikon.html.
A diving accident left Sergei Kozlov critically injured and under water more 20 minutes before he was rescued. That alone should have left him dead. Even in the emergency room of the hospital, doctors gave him little hope. Miraculously, Sergei survived, paralyzed-- but with an amazing talent for writing icons.
Today from his bed in Voronezh, Russia, he writes beautiful icons with a barely moveable hand and the help of digital technology. Watch the full video and view Sergei's icons at http://gitie.ru/Napisanie-ikon.html.
"Expel every evil thought with anger and fervent prayer." Fr. Kosta Kaltsidis reads Elder Ephraim's writings on prayer and watchfulness.
—from Fr. Kosta's Homily on Matthew 19 (Marriage, Divorce and Celibacy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K3dQEI17EU
—from Fr. Kosta's Homily on Matthew 19 (Marriage, Divorce and Celibacy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K3dQEI17EU
Where is the head of St. John Baptist? (Aug 29)
Since the 13th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens, France has housed the bones of the face of St. John the Baptist. Mount Athos also claims to have the head of the Holy Forerunner. Are these counter claims? No. In the pious tradition in the Church One part of the head or body is simply referred to as if it were the whole.
The main portion of the head of St. John rests in Amiens. In recent years, Orthodox molebens and sometimes Divine Liturgies have been served there.
Since the 13th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens, France has housed the bones of the face of St. John the Baptist. Mount Athos also claims to have the head of the Holy Forerunner. Are these counter claims? No. In the pious tradition in the Church One part of the head or body is simply referred to as if it were the whole.
The main portion of the head of St. John rests in Amiens. In recent years, Orthodox molebens and sometimes Divine Liturgies have been served there.
A Christian cannot be frightened by earthly hardships and even death. St. Basil the Great responded boldly to the royal threats of the confiscation of his property, exile, beatings, and even death:
“All this means nothing for me, since I possess nothing but old worn-out clothing and my few books, of which the entirety of my wealth is comprised. Exile means nothing to me, since I am bound to no particular place. This place in which I now dwell is not mine, and any place you send me shall be mine. Better to say: every place is God’s. Where would I be neither a stranger and sojourner (Ps. 38/39:13)? Who can torture me? I am so weak, that the very first blow would render me insensible. Death would be a kindness to me, for it will bring me all the sooner to God, for Whom I live and labor, and to Whom I hasten.” The prefect brought the sad news to the emperor, saying: “We stand defeated by a leader of the Church”.
—Andrei Gorbachev, How Good It Is to Be a Christian!
https://orthochristian.com/147878.html
“All this means nothing for me, since I possess nothing but old worn-out clothing and my few books, of which the entirety of my wealth is comprised. Exile means nothing to me, since I am bound to no particular place. This place in which I now dwell is not mine, and any place you send me shall be mine. Better to say: every place is God’s. Where would I be neither a stranger and sojourner (Ps. 38/39:13)? Who can torture me? I am so weak, that the very first blow would render me insensible. Death would be a kindness to me, for it will bring me all the sooner to God, for Whom I live and labor, and to Whom I hasten.” The prefect brought the sad news to the emperor, saying: “We stand defeated by a leader of the Church”.
—Andrei Gorbachev, How Good It Is to Be a Christian!
https://orthochristian.com/147878.html
It is a great asset to have a person who leads you to the higher, the spiritual, the divine and not the earthly, the vain and worldly.
It is a great asset to have a person whose life is an example for you and for everyone.
Blessed are those who are such people, gentle, discreet, cheerful, peaceful people.
And blessed are those who have them in their lives.
Don't just look for any person in your life who gives you temporary joy. Look for a person who helps you progress spiritually.
—Elder Ephraim Arizona
It is a great asset to have a person whose life is an example for you and for everyone.
Blessed are those who are such people, gentle, discreet, cheerful, peaceful people.
And blessed are those who have them in their lives.
Don't just look for any person in your life who gives you temporary joy. Look for a person who helps you progress spiritually.
—Elder Ephraim Arizona
“The lot of the departed is not considered decided until the general Last Judgment. Until then, we cannot consider anyone as finally judged; and on the basis of this we pray, convinced in our hope in God’s immeasurable mercy!” ☦️ St Theophen the Recluse
Many Orthodox faithful, especially in Russia, petition Saint Varus for the unbaptized, based on his intercession for the young son of the Cleopatra. Cleopatra is the widow who gathered Varus’ relics dor safekeeping after his martyrdom.
St Varus was a highly esteemed Roman soldier at Alexandria, who was received with honour into the Emperor’s palace. However, the holy Varus incurred royal wrath after revealing that he was a Christian— and for steadfastly refusing to deny his faith in Christ. This brought him unimaginable torments. He withstood them to the end and gratefully accepted martyrdom preferring it to a over a place of honour amongst the heroes of imperial Rome.
Many Orthodox faithful, especially in Russia, petition Saint Varus for the unbaptized, based on his intercession for the young son of the Cleopatra. Cleopatra is the widow who gathered Varus’ relics dor safekeeping after his martyrdom.
St Varus was a highly esteemed Roman soldier at Alexandria, who was received with honour into the Emperor’s palace. However, the holy Varus incurred royal wrath after revealing that he was a Christian— and for steadfastly refusing to deny his faith in Christ. This brought him unimaginable torments. He withstood them to the end and gratefully accepted martyrdom preferring it to a over a place of honour amongst the heroes of imperial Rome.
St Varus came to the grief stricken Cleopatra in a dream. He told her that he would resurrect the boy if she valued the glory that he would win in the empire's wars to be more important than his eternal life in heaven. In the dream, her son assured his mother that nothing would make him return to the world of sorrow.
Continually praying for her son, Cleopatra gave away her estate to the poor and served in a church until departing seven years later to experience the joy of heaven with him.
Continually praying for her son, Cleopatra gave away her estate to the poor and served in a church until departing seven years later to experience the joy of heaven with him.
We pray for those who have died beyond— that is, outside the Orthodox Church and “beyond our terrestrial realm.” However, “they are by no means beyond the merciful love of God.”
“O Lord, be Thou entreated by Thy holy martyr Varus, and clothe Thyself in mercy and compassions! Lo! they will be poured out even unto hades, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and, through Thy rich lovingkindness will bring pity unto NN., for whom we pray.
Refrain: O Varus, pray for our loved ones who are beyond!
O great martyr of Christ, be thou mindful of the afflicted and helpless NN. who sit, unenlightened, in the gloom of darkness; and do not cease to fall down before the compassionate Lord, until He comfort them with His rich lovingkindness.”
—from “Pray for Our Loved Ones who Are Beyond!”: Canon of Supplication to St Varus https://anothercity.org/pray-for-our-loved-ones-who-are-beyond-canon-of-supplication-to-st-varus/
“O Lord, be Thou entreated by Thy holy martyr Varus, and clothe Thyself in mercy and compassions! Lo! they will be poured out even unto hades, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and, through Thy rich lovingkindness will bring pity unto NN., for whom we pray.
Refrain: O Varus, pray for our loved ones who are beyond!
O great martyr of Christ, be thou mindful of the afflicted and helpless NN. who sit, unenlightened, in the gloom of darkness; and do not cease to fall down before the compassionate Lord, until He comfort them with His rich lovingkindness.”
—from “Pray for Our Loved Ones who Are Beyond!”: Canon of Supplication to St Varus https://anothercity.org/pray-for-our-loved-ones-who-are-beyond-canon-of-supplication-to-st-varus/