"As the Bush burned and was not consumed, so the Virgin gave birth to Thee yet remained a Virgin" (Octoechos, Dogmatikon Tone 2, "The shadow of the Law").
The Unburnt Bush is the Bush which the Holy Prophet and Godseer Moses (Sept 4/Sept 17) saw on Mount Horeb. It burned, yet was not consumed (Exodus 3:2). “Unburnt Bush” Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated on the Feast Day the Prophet Moses. The icon, which is especially revered in Russia where it is one of the most popular icons in homes, was, according to tradition, painted on a piece of the rock where Moses beheld it.
The Unburnt Bush signifies the Holy Virgin's sinless conception of Christ when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was overshadowed by the power of the Most High (Luke 1:35), revealing the Holy Trinity by naming the Holy Spirit, the Power which is the Son, and the Most High which is the Father" (Saint Theophylact).
The Unburnt Bush is the Bush which the Holy Prophet and Godseer Moses (Sept 4/Sept 17) saw on Mount Horeb. It burned, yet was not consumed (Exodus 3:2). “Unburnt Bush” Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated on the Feast Day the Prophet Moses. The icon, which is especially revered in Russia where it is one of the most popular icons in homes, was, according to tradition, painted on a piece of the rock where Moses beheld it.
The Unburnt Bush signifies the Holy Virgin's sinless conception of Christ when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was overshadowed by the power of the Most High (Luke 1:35), revealing the Holy Trinity by naming the Holy Spirit, the Power which is the Son, and the Most High which is the Father" (Saint Theophylact).
“The world is against you, Athanasius!”
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius didn't “go with the flow.”Fighting against the Arian heresy, St Athanasius defied 4 emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius didn't “go with the flow.”Fighting against the Arian heresy, St Athanasius defied 4 emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
“While just a little boy in the Lutheran Church, I remember asking the pastor why we didn't see miracles in the church like had happened in the Bible. He told me they were used in New Testament times to jump start the church, and were not needed now. As a boy of about ten, I remember feeling cheated, for I wanted to see miracles, and felt we still needed them in this age.
There is a man in Irvine, California, who prayed for help from Saint George the Great Martyr, only to have the saint appear before him, and give him a wooden cross. Within a short time this cross was gushing forth holy myrrh, and healing to those who'd been anointed with it. A priest friend showed me the video of the cross, and the myrrh was literally gushing out of the cross and into a bucket, continuously.
The Myrrh Streaming Icon of the Mother of God of Hawaii is another example of holy myrrh streaming forth, performing miracles of healing of both physical and spiritual nature. When I myself was scheduled for by-pass surgery, after anointing myself with the myrrh from the Hawaiian icon, the cardiologist canceled the surgery, right in the operating room, and this after two days of testing had shown I needed stints, and at the very least, one by-pass.
The scriptures tell us that we can move mountains if we only have the faith of a mustard seed, yet many don't expect they'll see a miracle, even when they pray for one.”
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
https://t.me/the_morning_offering/1333
There is a man in Irvine, California, who prayed for help from Saint George the Great Martyr, only to have the saint appear before him, and give him a wooden cross. Within a short time this cross was gushing forth holy myrrh, and healing to those who'd been anointed with it. A priest friend showed me the video of the cross, and the myrrh was literally gushing out of the cross and into a bucket, continuously.
The Myrrh Streaming Icon of the Mother of God of Hawaii is another example of holy myrrh streaming forth, performing miracles of healing of both physical and spiritual nature. When I myself was scheduled for by-pass surgery, after anointing myself with the myrrh from the Hawaiian icon, the cardiologist canceled the surgery, right in the operating room, and this after two days of testing had shown I needed stints, and at the very least, one by-pass.
The scriptures tell us that we can move mountains if we only have the faith of a mustard seed, yet many don't expect they'll see a miracle, even when they pray for one.”
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
https://t.me/the_morning_offering/1333
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Miracles
Living In Expectation Of Miracles
While just a little boy in the Lutheran Church, I remember asking the pastor why we didn't see miracles in the church like had happened in the Bible. He told me they were used in New Testament times to jump start…
Living In Expectation Of Miracles
While just a little boy in the Lutheran Church, I remember asking the pastor why we didn't see miracles in the church like had happened in the Bible. He told me they were used in New Testament times to jump start…
“Thus thou art also the fountain of true light, the inexhaustible treasury of life itself, the most fruitful source of blessing, who has won for us and brought us all good things—though for a while thou wast covered corporeally with death; nonetheless, thou dost pour out pure and inexhaustible streams of immense light, immortal life and true happiness, rivers of grace, fountains of healing and everlasting blessing.”
☦️ St John of Damascus, quoted from The Life of the Virgin Mary, Holy Apostles Convent, p 486.
☦️ St John of Damascus, quoted from The Life of the Virgin Mary, Holy Apostles Convent, p 486.
We must be crucified personally, mystically; for through crucifixion is the only path to resurrection. If we would rise with Christ, we must first be humbled with Him — even to the ultimate humiliation, being devoured and spit forth by the uncomprehending world. …. The world can only accept Antichrist, now or at any time. No wonder then, that it is hard to be a Christian — it is not hard, it is impossible. No one can knowingly accept a way of life which, the more truly it is lived, lead the more surely to one’s own destruction. And that is why we constantly rebel, try to make life easier, try to be half-Christian, try to make the best of both worlds We must ultimately choose — our felicity lies in one world or the other, not in both. God give us the strength to pursue the path to crucifixion; there is no other way to be Christian.”
☦️ Blessed Father Seraphim Rose
☦️ Blessed Father Seraphim Rose
Psalm 95 (Thursday Matins, Kathisma 13)
O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the heathen, and His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens.
Praise and beauty are before Him; holiness and majesty are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindred of the nations, ascribe unto the Lord glory and honour; ascribe unto the Lord glory to His name.
Bring sacrifices, and go into His courts: worship the Lord in His holy court. Let all the earth be moved at His presence.
O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the heathen, and His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens.
Praise and beauty are before Him; holiness and majesty are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindred of the nations, ascribe unto the Lord glory and honour; ascribe unto the Lord glory to His name.
Bring sacrifices, and go into His courts: worship the Lord in His holy court. Let all the earth be moved at His presence.
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth; for He hath established the world, which shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof. The fields shall rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord; for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof. The fields shall rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord; for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.
The Third Ecumenical Council, the Counsel of Ephesus (431) condensed into a single graphic: Jesus is God, and the word “Theotokos,” or “Mother of God,” reflects that truth.
The council condemned Nestorius’ overemphasis on the human nature of Christ at the expense of the divine. The Council decreed that Christ was one person, not two separate "people": fully God and fully man, with a rational soul and body.
The Virgin Mary is Theotokos because she gave birth not to a mere man but to God the Word, the man Jesus Christ.
The council condemned Nestorius’ overemphasis on the human nature of Christ at the expense of the divine. The Council decreed that Christ was one person, not two separate "people": fully God and fully man, with a rational soul and body.
The Virgin Mary is Theotokos because she gave birth not to a mere man but to God the Word, the man Jesus Christ.
“O thou greatest of them that are born of women, cease not to intercede for us who with faith honor thy divine conception, that we may find forgiveness of sins and Great Mercy."(from Great Vespers Doxasticon, Tone 6)
On Feast of the Conception of the Honourable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (Sept 23 / Oct 6) “the mercy, miracles and wisdom of God are celebrated: His mercy toward the devout and righteous parents of St John, the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth, who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracle, that of John's conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; His wisdom, in the dispensation of man's salvation.”
From ‘The Prologue of Ohrid: Lives of Saints, Hymns, Reflections and Homilies for Every Day of the Year’ by St Nikolai Velimirović.
On Feast of the Conception of the Honourable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (Sept 23 / Oct 6) “the mercy, miracles and wisdom of God are celebrated: His mercy toward the devout and righteous parents of St John, the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth, who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracle, that of John's conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; His wisdom, in the dispensation of man's salvation.”
From ‘The Prologue of Ohrid: Lives of Saints, Hymns, Reflections and Homilies for Every Day of the Year’ by St Nikolai Velimirović.
On the anniversary of the arrival of Russian missionaries in Alaska (September 24, 1794), we honour the New Martyrs Saint Peter the Aleut, Protomartyr of America, and Saint Juvenaly.
"Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates,
For the new world has been sanctified by martyrdom. Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving,
Iliamna and Kenai observe the festival of faith.
The Apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified,
And Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice,
In their devotion and love for the Lord,
They willingly endured persecution and death for the Truth.
Now in the Kingdom of Heaven, they intercede for our souls!"
- Troparion, Tone 4
"Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates,
For the new world has been sanctified by martyrdom. Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving,
Iliamna and Kenai observe the festival of faith.
The Apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified,
And Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice,
In their devotion and love for the Lord,
They willingly endured persecution and death for the Truth.
Now in the Kingdom of Heaven, they intercede for our souls!"
- Troparion, Tone 4
“Having lived as a stranger in the world, you outwitted the deviser of evil by your pretended foolishness, O Xenia, you received the grace from God to foresee and foretell things to come.”
Saint Xenia (Glorification Sept 11/ Sept 24) was widowed at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She was especially grieved for her husband because he died without Confession or Holy Communion.
Xenia lost interest in the things of this world, and followed the difficult path of a fool for Christ.
Against her will, her spiritual gifts become widely known and nearly everyone loved her. They said, “Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God.”
Saint Xenia (Glorification Sept 11/ Sept 24) was widowed at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She was especially grieved for her husband because he died without Confession or Holy Communion.
Xenia lost interest in the things of this world, and followed the difficult path of a fool for Christ.
Against her will, her spiritual gifts become widely known and nearly everyone loved her. They said, “Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God.”
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."
Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. This is the message of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostle and Evangelist John (also John the Theologian or John the Divine), one of the original twelve Apostles. (Repose Sept 26)
"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. This is the message of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostle and Evangelist John (also John the Theologian or John the Divine), one of the original twelve Apostles. (Repose Sept 26)
"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."