St John Chrysostom and St Theophylactus, commenting on St Matthew’s Gospel, say that the star that revealed the Nativity to the Magi "was no ordinary star. Rather, it was “a divine and angelic power that appeared in the form of a star.” St Demetrius of Rostov says it was a '"manifestation of divine energy.”
The Magi -- Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25), when they entered the house where the Holy Infant lay, the Magi “fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).
The Magi -- Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25), when they entered the house where the Holy Infant lay, the Magi “fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).
Joseph, the Betrothed (Dec 26) was chosen by God to be the guardian of Jesus Christ and His holy Mother, a task which he performed with great humility and diligence.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
My blessed children, the holy Fathers teach that a man’s heart is entangled with the prickly roots of various passions which are lodged very deep within it. When a person, through enlightenment of God, attempts to uproot (in essence, to transfigure) a passion, he grips and removes the rootlets with forceps. However, as he attempts to uproot each passion, he simultaneously lacerates the heart. When the heart is cut open, it bleeds and hurts. If a person decides not to bear the pain, he gives up at that point, he abandons the struggle, and thus remains passionate and sinful. If, however, he patiently endures the pain, he removes the root of the passion and is set free." —Elder Ephraim, from Homily 5 of The Art of Salvation
When the Holy Infant was born in Bethlehem and honoured by the Magi, King Herod "in exceeding wrath ... harvested the infants as sorrowing wheat" (Kontakion). Herod had been replaced by the True King of All.
The Holy Innocents (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
The Holy Innocents (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
When you see the year coming to completion, give thanks to the Lord that he brought you to this period of years. Put your heart to rest, count up the time of your life, say to yourself: "The days move quickly and pass by, the years come to an end, we have already traversed much of the road - but what noble thing have we done? We will not go from here empty and lacking all righteousness. The judgment is at the doors. Life presses on and on toward our old age.
☦️ St John Chrysostom
☦️ St John Chrysostom
"You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other " ☦️St Seraphim of Sarov (Jan 2/ Jan 13)
St Seraphim of Sarov, a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
St Seraphim of Sarov, a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world, glory to You! #Theophany #Epiphany
On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Undivided is revealed through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by St John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save fallen mankind by grace.
On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Undivided is revealed through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by St John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save fallen mankind by grace.
From ancient times the Feast of the Theophany (Jan 6/ Jan 19) was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light, illuminating “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen humanity by grace.
The origin of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times. In the second century, Saint Clement of Alexandria gives testimony of the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.
Photo: Diveyevo Monastery of St Seraphim of Sarov, Theophany 2022
The origin of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times. In the second century, Saint Clement of Alexandria gives testimony of the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.
Photo: Diveyevo Monastery of St Seraphim of Sarov, Theophany 2022
“You were deemed worthy to baptize in the streams of the Jordan Him whom they foretold.”
On the day following the Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, the Church honours the saints who most essentially participated in the holy event being commemorated. Thus, on the Afterfeast of the Theophany of the Lord, the Church honours the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John (Jan 7/ 20) for his participation in the Baptism of Christ.
On the day following the Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, the Church honours the saints who most essentially participated in the holy event being commemorated. Thus, on the Afterfeast of the Theophany of the Lord, the Church honours the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John (Jan 7/ 20) for his participation in the Baptism of Christ.
“The Divine Liturgy is truly a Heavenly Service upon Earth, during which God Himself, in a particular, immediate, and most close manner, is present and dwells with men, being Himself the Invisible Celebrant of the Service, offering and being offered.
There is nothing upon Earth Holier, higher, grander, more solemn, more Life-Giving than the Liturgy. The Temple, at this particular time, becomes an Earthly Heaven; those who Officiate represent Christ Himself, the Angels, the Cherubim, Seraphim and Apostles.
The Liturgy is the continually repeated solemnization of God’s Love to mankind, and of His All-Powerful mediation for the Salvation of the whole world, and of every member separately: the marriage of the Lamb – the marriage of the King’s Son, in which the bride of the Son of God is – every faithful Soul; and the Giver of the bride – the Holy Spirit.” ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
There is nothing upon Earth Holier, higher, grander, more solemn, more Life-Giving than the Liturgy. The Temple, at this particular time, becomes an Earthly Heaven; those who Officiate represent Christ Himself, the Angels, the Cherubim, Seraphim and Apostles.
The Liturgy is the continually repeated solemnization of God’s Love to mankind, and of His All-Powerful mediation for the Salvation of the whole world, and of every member separately: the marriage of the Lamb – the marriage of the King’s Son, in which the bride of the Son of God is – every faithful Soul; and the Giver of the bride – the Holy Spirit.” ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
St. Silouan the Athonite once, exhausted, in despair, tired of crying, lay on the floor at night. The Lord appeared to him in an incomprehensible way and asked: "Why are you crying? … Do you not know that I will judge the world? … I will have mercy on every man who at least once in his life called God." Then the thought ran through his mind: "Then why are we so tormented all day? "And the Lord responded to the movement of his thought: "Those who suffer for My commandment will be My friends in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the rest I will just have pity." And the Lord departed.
A monk once asked Elder Cleopa:
"Father, when will be the end of the world?"
Elder Cleopa replied,
"Do you know when the world will end? When there will be no path from one neighbor to another. That is when love of people will die. Then comes the end. Bombs do not bring the end, they are the effect of hatred between people. Bombs or terrible diseases today are the result of major sins that people committed. But when love ends, the end of the world will come. Take heed and understand this mystery."
"Father, when will be the end of the world?"
Elder Cleopa replied,
"Do you know when the world will end? When there will be no path from one neighbor to another. That is when love of people will die. Then comes the end. Bombs do not bring the end, they are the effect of hatred between people. Bombs or terrible diseases today are the result of major sins that people committed. But when love ends, the end of the world will come. Take heed and understand this mystery."