Let the zealous be particularly attentive to themselves, lest, by condemning the careless, they themselves incur worse condemnation. And I think the reason why Lot was justified was because, though living among such people, he never seems to have condemned them.
☦️ St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 4, #100.
☦️ St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 4, #100.
We must reverently preserve the Orthodox Faith, standing firm in it in spite of the fact that we live in a non-Orthodox country....while faithfully preserving the Orthodox Faith, everyone must also take care to spread it among the non-Orthodox. Christ the Savior said that having lit the candle, men do not put it under a bushel but on a candlestick so that it gives light to all (Matt. 5.15). The light of the Orthodox Faith has not been lit to shine only for a small circle of people. No, the Orthodox Church is catholic; she remembers the commandment of her Founder, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature and teach all nations (Mark 16.15; Matt. 28.19).
☦️ St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America (Glorification Oct 9)
☦️ St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America (Glorification Oct 9)
Some icons are wonderworking in that they self-renew and/or self-repair. The Kursk Root icon was chopped in half by the enemies of Russia and the halves rejoined themselves. The self-renewing icon of the Theotokos of Harbin, China, is well known, and at our monastery there is a self-renewing icon of the Theotokos which was given to the keeping of Metropolitan Jonah (see below). Like that of Harbin, it began so dark it was hard to make out the figures, but it got lighter and the figures emerged, and this process continues. It got still lighter, recently, when the Hawaiian Icon came to the monastery. This is all very encouraging because we know that no matter how broken we may become, God can fix us, and no matter how dark our souls have become, they can be healed, and filled with His light.
— Fr. Aidan Keller
— Fr. Aidan Keller
St Tikhon, the Apostle to America (Glorification Oct 9), was known for his loving manner with everyone and was never overbearing. Even when he had to reprimand someone, he did so in a good-natured, sometimes even joking, manner that encouraged the person to correct their mistakes.
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
The Holy Apostle James (Jacob) (Oct 9/ Oct 22), Son of Alphæus, went with the First-Called Apostle Andrew to many places among the gentiles, where they smashed idols, destroyed pagan temples, healed diverse illnesses, drove from people evil spirits, and brought a great multitude of people to Christ.
St James sowed the seed of the word of God in people's hearts, he planted faith and piety. For this, he was called the "Divine Seed". St James finished his apostolic work In the Egyptian city of Ostrachina, where he was crucified by pagans.
St James sowed the seed of the word of God in people's hearts, he planted faith and piety. For this, he was called the "Divine Seed". St James finished his apostolic work In the Egyptian city of Ostrachina, where he was crucified by pagans.
Do you know what Paradise is? It is a continuous Divine Liturgy, a constant vigil. Think of a Divine Liturgy that does not last one or two hours but lasts forever! Will a person who does not love God endure? You see the people who do not love God, when after five minutes they can not stand in the Liturgy, they go out, that is, the devil takes them out. They are censed with incense ... they say a thousand and two excuses, but in the background is that there is sin, there is an evil spirit and it does not allow them to live the Kingdom of God in the Divine Liturgy. Because the Divine Liturgy is the Kingdom of God.
— Fr. Savvas Agioreitis
Photo: The Church of the Holy Martyrs Eustace, Teopista, Agapius and Teopisto in Bucharest, Romania 🇷🇴
— Fr. Savvas Agioreitis
Photo: The Church of the Holy Martyrs Eustace, Teopista, Agapius and Teopisto in Bucharest, Romania 🇷🇴
Rare photo: St. Savvas the New, with St. Nektarios of Aegina. The two each considered the other a saint.
St. Savvas the New (Dec 5), patron saint of the Greek Island of Kalymnos, was a shining example of virtue and was much sought after for his wise counsel. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence and some even saw him rising above the ground as he stood at prayer.
At Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina where he served as a priest for the nuns, St. Savvas confined himself to his cell for forty days. When he finally emerged from his cell, he was holding an icon of St. Nektarios. He handed it to the Abbess and asked her to place it in the church for veneration. The Abbess was surprised since St. Nektarios had not been glorified as a saint and she was afraid that the convent would get into trouble. The humble saint insisted: "You must show obedience. Take the icon and place it on the icon stand, and do not scrutinize the will of God." He knew the holiness and purity of St. Nektarios.”
St. Savvas the New (Dec 5), patron saint of the Greek Island of Kalymnos, was a shining example of virtue and was much sought after for his wise counsel. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence and some even saw him rising above the ground as he stood at prayer.
At Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina where he served as a priest for the nuns, St. Savvas confined himself to his cell for forty days. When he finally emerged from his cell, he was holding an icon of St. Nektarios. He handed it to the Abbess and asked her to place it in the church for veneration. The Abbess was surprised since St. Nektarios had not been glorified as a saint and she was afraid that the convent would get into trouble. The humble saint insisted: "You must show obedience. Take the icon and place it on the icon stand, and do not scrutinize the will of God." He knew the holiness and purity of St. Nektarios.”
Towards the end of his life, St. Savvas was in a state of intense concentration and holy contrition. On the eve of the feast of the Annunciation in 1948, as he was near his last breath, he received sudden strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last holy words: "The Lord! The Lord! The Lord!" One nun saw the soul of the saint ascending in a golden cloud towards heaven.
In accordance with Greek Orthodox custom, after about 10 years, the saint's grave was opened and a heavenly fragrance emanated from it. Numerous miracles and healings have since been attributed to St. Savvas.
Through the intercessions of St. Savvas the New, have mercy on us O Lord and save us! Amen.
In accordance with Greek Orthodox custom, after about 10 years, the saint's grave was opened and a heavenly fragrance emanated from it. Numerous miracles and healings have since been attributed to St. Savvas.
Through the intercessions of St. Savvas the New, have mercy on us O Lord and save us! Amen.
"Since 'the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force' (Mt. 11:12), and it is impossible for the faithful to enter it by any other way, unless they come through the narrow gate of trials and tribulations, the divine oracle rightly commands us, saying: 'Strive to enter by the narrow door' (Lk. 13:24). Again He says, 'By your endurance you will gain your souls' (Lk. 21:19), and, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven' (Acts 14:22)."
☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (Oct 12), Discourses
☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (Oct 12), Discourses
Christ’s Resurrection and His glory are our glory, which is accomplished in us, disclosed to us, and beheld by us through His Resurrection.
Once He has appropriated what is ours, that which He works in us He ascribes to Himself.
The resurrection of the soul is union with life.
Just as the body is dead and cannot live or be called alive unless it receives the living soul in itself and is united to it, though without admixture, so also the soul cannot live unless it is ineffably and unconfusedly united to God, Who is truly eternal.
☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 AD), commemorated Oct 12
Once He has appropriated what is ours, that which He works in us He ascribes to Himself.
The resurrection of the soul is union with life.
Just as the body is dead and cannot live or be called alive unless it receives the living soul in itself and is united to it, though without admixture, so also the soul cannot live unless it is ineffably and unconfusedly united to God, Who is truly eternal.
☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 AD), commemorated Oct 12