“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."
“St Gerasim was a great elder, and he had a lion. We are small, so we have cats"
☦️ St Nectarios of Optina
☦️ St Nectarios of Optina
On judging others
"Have compassion on him who has not. Do not condemn him for what he does not have, that he is sinful, wicked, deceitful, talkative, a thief, a fornicator, and a liar. If you gain this knowledge, you can never judge anyone, even if you see him mortally sinning. For immediately you say, "He has not Your grace, my Christ, therefore he sins. If You go away from me also, I will do worse. He is poor. So how do you demand that he be rich? Give him riches so he can have them. He is blind. Give him eyes to see."
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
"Have compassion on him who has not. Do not condemn him for what he does not have, that he is sinful, wicked, deceitful, talkative, a thief, a fornicator, and a liar. If you gain this knowledge, you can never judge anyone, even if you see him mortally sinning. For immediately you say, "He has not Your grace, my Christ, therefore he sins. If You go away from me also, I will do worse. He is poor. So how do you demand that he be rich? Give him riches so he can have them. He is blind. Give him eyes to see."
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
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Annual Theophany Miracle at the River Jordan (Julian Calendar)
The annual Theophany miracle is a re-creation of Psalm 113/114 when the "sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back" (verse 3), as well as the parting of the Jordan for Elisha (2 Kings 13-14). This is depicted in icons which display the swirling waters at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
What of this miracle and other miracles like the Holy Fire of Pascha and Holy Cloud of the Transfiguration, all unique to the Orthodox Church?
St Paisios of the Holy Mountain reminds us, "From the outside, all things pertaining to the spiritual life seem upside down. Indeed, the mysteries of God will be impossible to know and will appear strange and contrary to nature as long as we don't overturn our secular mindset and see everything with spiritual eyes. Those who believe that they can come to know God's mysteries through mere scientific theory, without a spiritual life, resemble a fool who thinks he can look through a telescope and see Paradise."
The annual Theophany miracle is a re-creation of Psalm 113/114 when the "sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back" (verse 3), as well as the parting of the Jordan for Elisha (2 Kings 13-14). This is depicted in icons which display the swirling waters at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
What of this miracle and other miracles like the Holy Fire of Pascha and Holy Cloud of the Transfiguration, all unique to the Orthodox Church?
St Paisios of the Holy Mountain reminds us, "From the outside, all things pertaining to the spiritual life seem upside down. Indeed, the mysteries of God will be impossible to know and will appear strange and contrary to nature as long as we don't overturn our secular mindset and see everything with spiritual eyes. Those who believe that they can come to know God's mysteries through mere scientific theory, without a spiritual life, resemble a fool who thinks he can look through a telescope and see Paradise."
☦️ In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the age to come; in Thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Thine ear unto me and save me. Be Thou unto me a God that is my defender and a place of strength that Thou mayest save me, for Thou art my foundation and refuge.
Psalm 70 (Psalm 71 - Hebrew Numbering), verse one, from Kathisma 10, Wednesday Vespers
Psalm 70 (Psalm 71 - Hebrew Numbering), verse one, from Kathisma 10, Wednesday Vespers
Christ’s baptism in the Jordan was “theophany,” a manifestation of God to the world, because it was the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. It was also a “theophany” in that the world was granted a revelation of the Holy Trinity. All three Persons were made manifest together: the Father testified from on high to the divine Sonship of Jesus; the Son received His Father’s testimony; and the Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, descending from the Father and resting upon the Son.
The theme of “manifestation” or “revelation” is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing, “Christ has appeared and enlightened the world.” Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
The theme of “manifestation” or “revelation” is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing, “Christ has appeared and enlightened the world.” Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
—Abbot Tryphon, All Merciful Savior Monastery, Vaschon Island, Washington
☦️ When standing before the Holy Chalice, St Porphyrios says: “I bow my head and I pray for you, for this person and that, and for the whole Church. You should do the same. … Don't pray for your health. Don't say, 'O Lord, make me well.' No! Rather say, Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, with selflessness, with love and without expecting anything. —from “Wounded by Love”
Image: Markogiannakis Evangelos, “Divine Communion”
Image: Markogiannakis Evangelos, “Divine Communion”