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/
The Church in Ukraine: resiliency in the midst of adversity
Orthodox faithful have rescued crosses brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that were reportedly tossed into a garbage bin by schismatics who seized a village church. The church is located Olyanitsya, Vinnitsa Province. The schismatics are also accused of dumping altar server robes and other blessed items.
Throughout Ukraine, local politicians and schismatics conspire in the illegal practice of reregistering parishes in their localities to the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” despite the pleas of parish members.
Despite her many trials, the canonical church in Ukraine is showing amazing resilience. Seizures of churches are not a new phenomenon. Over many years, canonical churches have been captured by schismatics in Ukraine. Yet, the faithful have consistently mobilized to build new temples.
Orthodox faithful have rescued crosses brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that were reportedly tossed into a garbage bin by schismatics who seized a village church. The church is located Olyanitsya, Vinnitsa Province. The schismatics are also accused of dumping altar server robes and other blessed items.
Throughout Ukraine, local politicians and schismatics conspire in the illegal practice of reregistering parishes in their localities to the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” despite the pleas of parish members.
Despite her many trials, the canonical church in Ukraine is showing amazing resilience. Seizures of churches are not a new phenomenon. Over many years, canonical churches have been captured by schismatics in Ukraine. Yet, the faithful have consistently mobilized to build new temples.
Ternopil Diocese is one diocese hit particularly hard by church seizures over the past several years. But new churches have already been built in Butin, Katerinovka, Kolosova, and Rakhmanov.
news.church.ua
news.church.ua
Happy New Year!
Let us resolve this new year to be holy and acceptable to the Lord! September 1 marks the beginning of the Church Year, when, according to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue with a proclamation from Isaiah 61:1-2:
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...” (Luke 4:16-22)
Let us resolve this new year to be holy and acceptable to the Lord! September 1 marks the beginning of the Church Year, when, according to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue with a proclamation from Isaiah 61:1-2:
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...” (Luke 4:16-22)
It is only out of delusion we believe we do not need others to see, understand, and treat our spiritual sickness. Anyone who believes that he alone can cure his spiritual diseases has isolated himself from a Mystery of the Church and will come to ruin. —Abbot Tryphon
https://t.me/the_morning_offering/1282
https://t.me/the_morning_offering/1282
It has reached my ears that you, it seems, consider my sermons very strict and suppose that nowadays no one should think like that, no one should live like that and, therefore, no one should teach like that. Times have changed!
How I rejoiced, having heard this. It means that you listen attentively to what I say — and not only listen, but are prepared to fulfill it. What more could be desired for us who preach as we were commanded, and what we were commanded?
Despite all this, I can in no way agree with your judgment, and I consider it my duty to comment on it and correct it.
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Christianity should remain eternally unchanging, not in the least dependent on or governed by the spirit of the times.
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How I rejoiced, having heard this. It means that you listen attentively to what I say — and not only listen, but are prepared to fulfill it. What more could be desired for us who preach as we were commanded, and what we were commanded?
Despite all this, I can in no way agree with your judgment, and I consider it my duty to comment on it and correct it.
…
Christianity should remain eternally unchanging, not in the least dependent on or governed by the spirit of the times.
…