“Anyone fortunate enough to attain to the divine energy, and to undergo divine transformation, himself becomes completely like the light. He is with the light, and by means of it sees clearly things which, were it not for this great and inexpressible grace, would be invisible to all. ..." ☦️ Saint Gregory Palamas
Photo: Mosaic of the Transfiguration illuminated by the reflected beams of the morning sun rising over the Monastery of Mt. Sinai.
www.fatherjustinsblog.info
Photo: Mosaic of the Transfiguration illuminated by the reflected beams of the morning sun rising over the Monastery of Mt. Sinai.
www.fatherjustinsblog.info
Icon of the Theotokos shines in the Philippines!
The central icon of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila, is the icon that Orthodox recognize as The Mother of God “of the Passion.”
The icon is everywhere -- high above the altar in the nave of the cathedral, on all four walls of the outside of the carillon, as a mosaic on in the area where people light candles to pray, and in the visitor centre.
The central icon of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila, is the icon that Orthodox recognize as The Mother of God “of the Passion.”
The icon is everywhere -- high above the altar in the nave of the cathedral, on all four walls of the outside of the carillon, as a mosaic on in the area where people light candles to pray, and in the visitor centre.
Saint Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, Wonderworker of Zadonsk and All Russia lived a life of simplicity. He slept on straw, covered by a sheepskin coat. In his humility, he paid no attention when workers laughed at him as he walked about the monastery. He would say, “It is pleasing to God that even the monastery workers mock me, and I deserve it because of my sins.” He often said, “Forgiveness is better than revenge.”
Once, a fool named Kamenev struck St Tikhon on the cheek saying, “Don’t be so haughty.” The saint accepted this with gratitude, and gave the fool three kopeks every day for the rest of his life.
Once, a fool named Kamenev struck St Tikhon on the cheek saying, “Don’t be so haughty.” The saint accepted this with gratitude, and gave the fool three kopeks every day for the rest of his life.
The Prophet Joel (800 B.C., Oct 19) foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28, quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:17), and the saving power of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Joel 2:32).
The central message of the Book of Joel is thus that “the day of The Lord draws near” (1:15) All must be made aware of the darkness and gloom that is to come. The Prophet Joel calls for the people to turn back to God with all their hearts because He is merciful and compassionate. Repentance will save the Lord’s people from captivity.
The central message of the Book of Joel is thus that “the day of The Lord draws near” (1:15) All must be made aware of the darkness and gloom that is to come. The Prophet Joel calls for the people to turn back to God with all their hearts because He is merciful and compassionate. Repentance will save the Lord’s people from captivity.
O my brethren, how lamentably shallow are the minds of all those who do not know the Law of God! The depth of man’s mind is measured by the depth of his knowledge of God’s law. The mind of him who meditates on the mysteries of God’s law is deep, wide and exalted; and the mind is the rudder of the heart and will. O my brethren, how shallow, unstable and dissolute is the will of him who does not subordinate his will to the will of God! Indeed, it is lamentably shallow, unstable and dissolute. What is the Law of God, brethren? It is the expression of God’s will. Where is that expression to be found? In Holy Scripture and in the Tradition of the saints of the Church of God. Blessed is he who knows the will of God and fulfills it.
O Lord God, great and powerful, merciful and just; enlighten our minds by Thy holy law, so that we may conform our wills to Thy man-loving and saving will.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
Excerpt from The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by St Nikolai Velimirovich
O Lord God, great and powerful, merciful and just; enlighten our minds by Thy holy law, so that we may conform our wills to Thy man-loving and saving will.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
Excerpt from The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by St Nikolai Velimirovich
In Greek the Unmercenary Saints are physicians known as "Anargyroi", which translates as "no silver", meaning that they received no money for their work.
Elder Theophylaktos of New Skete once had a vision of the Holy Unmercenaries (Synaxis, Oct 17, Greek tradition and the Sunday after Nov 1, Slavic tradition) being led by St Panteleimon: "young, blonde, magnificent and with a physician's medal on his chest. The rest followed him chanting their hymn melodiously. They climbed the stairs of the kalyve above where the church is, and entering, they stood in two lines as two choirs and began to chant hymns from their service. When they finished the psalmody, they returned and exited towards the upper area of the Skete, having left me their blessing and much consolation; for many days I was full of joy and spiritual happiness."
Elder Theophylaktos of New Skete once had a vision of the Holy Unmercenaries (Synaxis, Oct 17, Greek tradition and the Sunday after Nov 1, Slavic tradition) being led by St Panteleimon: "young, blonde, magnificent and with a physician's medal on his chest. The rest followed him chanting their hymn melodiously. They climbed the stairs of the kalyve above where the church is, and entering, they stood in two lines as two choirs and began to chant hymns from their service. When they finished the psalmody, they returned and exited towards the upper area of the Skete, having left me their blessing and much consolation; for many days I was full of joy and spiritual happiness."
Researchers have uncovered a tomb in Turkey’s Antalya Province that could belong to St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.
Rising Mediterranean seawater in the Middle Ages flooded the church and the site has since been buried under alluvial deposits. Another church was constructed over the original basilica in the seventh and eighth centuries to protect it. After archeologists excavated the church, they found an early fourth-century floor covering from the ancient basilica where St. Nicholas reigned as bishop.
Relics of St. Nicolas have resided at Bari, Italy, since the 11th century. However, Dr. Osman Eravşar, Chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board, told news agency DHA that other relics could still be inside the tomb.
Rising Mediterranean seawater in the Middle Ages flooded the church and the site has since been buried under alluvial deposits. Another church was constructed over the original basilica in the seventh and eighth centuries to protect it. After archeologists excavated the church, they found an early fourth-century floor covering from the ancient basilica where St. Nicholas reigned as bishop.
Relics of St. Nicolas have resided at Bari, Italy, since the 11th century. However, Dr. Osman Eravşar, Chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board, told news agency DHA that other relics could still be inside the tomb.
When a consecrated person commits a transgression, a greater punishment awaits him than awaits a layman, less enlightened in the mystery of the will of God than he, who commits the same sin. St. Arethas [12th c., Oct 24] was a monk in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves, and was very avaricious. He would give nothing to anyone of the piles of possessions in his cell, not even a kopeck. But once, he became very seriously ill and saw, as if in a vision, devils snatching his soul from the angels, screaming, "He is ours, he is ours!" and citing as their proof Arethas's greed and miserliness. Upon his recovery Arethas amended his life, and from then on counted all earthly goods as nothing. Our benevolent God forgave him, and later endowed him with abundant grace.
☦️ Prologue of Ohrid
☦️ Prologue of Ohrid
As a commander in the Roman army, the Holy and Glorious Greatmartyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher (Oct 26/ Nov 7) earned the crown of martyrdom by refusing Emperor Maximian's orders to persecute Christians. Demetrius openly confessed and preached Christ at Thessalonica. He became for Thessalonika "a second Apostle Paul" in the same city where St Paul founded the first community of believers (1 Thes., 2 Thes.).
In the early 4th century, emperor Galerius Maximian gave orders to "put to death anyone who calls on the name of the Crucified." Demetrius, proconsul of Thessalonika, disobeyed. Instead of executing Christians, Demetrius instead openly confessed and taught the Christian faith. At dawn on October 26, 306 soldiers appeared in the Saint's underground prison and ran him through with lances.
In the early 4th century, emperor Galerius Maximian gave orders to "put to death anyone who calls on the name of the Crucified." Demetrius, proconsul of Thessalonika, disobeyed. Instead of executing Christians, Demetrius instead openly confessed and taught the Christian faith. At dawn on October 26, 306 soldiers appeared in the Saint's underground prison and ran him through with lances.
During the reign of Saint Constantine (306-337), a church was built over the grave of St Demetrius. A hundred years later, during the construction of a majestic new church on the old spot, the incorrupt relics of the holy martyr were uncovered. Since the seventh century, there has been a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh beneath the crypt of the Great Martyr This gave St Demetrius the epithet Μυροβλήτης, or "Myrrh-streamer."