“If you do not have a confessional spirit, you will have a hard time dying. It will be hard to answer before God, Whom you did not confess openly, but only secretly, for fear of ridicule.”
☦️ St Alexy (Solovyov)
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” —Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, a Russian Orthodox Christian, commenting on his refusal to wear a rainbow jersey for warm ups during “Pride Night”
☦️ St Alexy (Solovyov)
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” —Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, a Russian Orthodox Christian, commenting on his refusal to wear a rainbow jersey for warm ups during “Pride Night”
"A tree frequently transplanted does not bear fruit. Whoever desires to do good, can do it from the place where he is."
The 5th-century desert-dwelling, miracle-working ascetic St Euthymius the Great (Jan 20/ Feb 2), drew around him many glorious saints as his disciples. Among them: Cyriac the Hermit, St. Sabas the Sanctified, and Theotictus.
His words call all of us to "at all times ready for combat and prepared for the departure of the soul from the body, lest, seduced by love of pleasure, we be unbearably tormented at the time of departure…"
The 5th-century desert-dwelling, miracle-working ascetic St Euthymius the Great (Jan 20/ Feb 2), drew around him many glorious saints as his disciples. Among them: Cyriac the Hermit, St. Sabas the Sanctified, and Theotictus.
His words call all of us to "at all times ready for combat and prepared for the departure of the soul from the body, lest, seduced by love of pleasure, we be unbearably tormented at the time of departure…"
He who goes according to the will of the evil one does not experience attacks, but is simply turned more and more toward evil. As soon as one begins to come to himself and intends to begin a new life according to God’s will, immediately the entire satanic realm enters into action: they hasten to scatter good thoughts and the intentions of the repentant one in any way they can.
…
If they do not succeed in suggesting evil they attempt to distort the truth … They do not even let one die in peace; even after death they pursue the soul, until it escapes the aerial space where they hover and congregate.
You ask, “What should we do? It is hopeless and terrifying!”
For a believer there is nothing terrifying here, because near a God-fearing man demons only busy themselves, but they do not have any power over him. A sober man of prayer shoots arrows against them, and they stay far away from him, not daring to approach, and fearing the defeat which they have already experienced.
☦️ St Theophan the Recluse
…
If they do not succeed in suggesting evil they attempt to distort the truth … They do not even let one die in peace; even after death they pursue the soul, until it escapes the aerial space where they hover and congregate.
You ask, “What should we do? It is hopeless and terrifying!”
For a believer there is nothing terrifying here, because near a God-fearing man demons only busy themselves, but they do not have any power over him. A sober man of prayer shoots arrows against them, and they stay far away from him, not daring to approach, and fearing the defeat which they have already experienced.
☦️ St Theophan the Recluse
The number of the New Martyrs of Russia (Sunday closest to Jan. 25) far exceeds that of all the martyrs who died for Christ during the first three centuries of Christianity. The Russian Church lost millions of its sons and daughters, not only at the hands of external enemies, but also those of their own country. Among those who were murdered and tortured in the years of persecution were countless Orthodox: laity, monks, priests, and bishops, whose only “crime” was their unshakable faith in God.
Among those who suffered for their faith were some who labored in America before the Russian Revolution: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (April 7); St. Alexander Hotovitzky (Dec. 4); St. John Kochurov (Oct. 31).
☦️ Holy New Martyrs of Russia, pray for us!
Among those who suffered for their faith were some who labored in America before the Russian Revolution: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (April 7); St. Alexander Hotovitzky (Dec. 4); St. John Kochurov (Oct. 31).
☦️ Holy New Martyrs of Russia, pray for us!
Saint Basil the fool for Christ of Moscow had an habit that appeared most strange. As he passed the houses of people who were drinking and cursing, he stopped and kissed the walls.
When he passed outside the houses of pious Christians, he threw stones on the walls.
When people asked him why he did such a thing, the blessed Basil replied: “When a house falls into sin, angels come out of it and stand by the walls crying. For this, I go and kiss them. At the houses that live piously, the demons cannot enter and stay out of the walls. That’s why I throw stones at them.”
Blessed Basil, pray to God for us! #Basil
When he passed outside the houses of pious Christians, he threw stones on the walls.
When people asked him why he did such a thing, the blessed Basil replied: “When a house falls into sin, angels come out of it and stand by the walls crying. For this, I go and kiss them. At the houses that live piously, the demons cannot enter and stay out of the walls. That’s why I throw stones at them.”
Blessed Basil, pray to God for us! #Basil
Seeking employment? Praying to find a spouse? Prayers to St. Xenia of St Petersburg continue to work constant miracles to this day.
Communist officials allowed no one access to the church which was built the burial site of Blessed Mother St Xenia of St Petersburg. A 10-foot high fence was built to keep out the faithful, but they continued to visit, placing flowers in the fence, along with notes asking her for prayers. When flowers were declared forbidden, the faithful made paper flowers. #Xenia #Ksenia
Communist officials allowed no one access to the church which was built the burial site of Blessed Mother St Xenia of St Petersburg. A 10-foot high fence was built to keep out the faithful, but they continued to visit, placing flowers in the fence, along with notes asking her for prayers. When flowers were declared forbidden, the faithful made paper flowers. #Xenia #Ksenia
"He prays, but he answers prayers. He weeps, but wipes away tears. He asks where Lazarus has been laid, for he is man; but he raises him to life, for he is God. He is sold, dirt cheap, for thirty pieces of silver, but he redeems the world, at great cost, with his own blood. … He dies, but he brings to life, and by his own death destroys death. He is buried, but he rises again. He descends into hell, but rescues the souls imprisoned there."
☦ St Gregory the Theologian #Jan25 #Feb7
☦ St Gregory the Theologian #Jan25 #Feb7
At the time of the translation the relics of St. John Chrysostom #Jan27 #Feb9 many who were ill and who touched the sarcophagus were healed. When the relics arrived in the capital, Emperor Theodosius, in the name of his mother (who was responsible for banishment of St John), prayed to him as though his mother, Eudoxia, was herself speaking: "While I lived in this transient life, I did you malice and, now, when you live the immortal life, be beneficial to my soul. My glory passed away and it helped nothing. Help me, father; in your glory, help me before I am condemned at the Judgment of Christ!”
When the saint was brought into the Church of the Twelve Apostles and placed on the patriarchal throne, the masses of people heard the words from St. Chrysostom’s mouth saying: “Peace be to you all.”
When the saint was brought into the Church of the Twelve Apostles and placed on the patriarchal throne, the masses of people heard the words from St. Chrysostom’s mouth saying: “Peace be to you all.”
"Christ is the salvation that comes, and Zacchaeus is the house to which He comes. Each of us, my brethren, is a house in which sin dwells while Christ is afar off, and to which salvation comes as Christ draws near. Whether Christ is able or not to draw near to my house and yours depends on us. You see that He did not force an entry into Zacchaeus' house, but came as a warmly invited guest. Little Zacchaeus had climbed up into a tree, to see the Lord Jesus with his own eyes. He had sought Him, desired Him. And we must seek Him in order to find Him, and desire that He draw near to us, and climb up high in spirit to meet His glance. Then He will visit our house as He visited the house of Zacchaeus, and bring salvation with Him.
Draw near to us, O Lord, draw near, and bring us Your eternal salvation!" #Zaccheaus
☦ St Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Draw near to us, O Lord, draw near, and bring us Your eternal salvation!" #Zaccheaus
☦ St Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
The Synaxis of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom arose from the controversy over who was the greatest among them. #Jan30 #Feb12
The three hierarchs appeared to St John, the Bishop of Euchaita in 1084, declaring their equality before God. They told him that all disputes should stop and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. “There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another.”
The three hierarchs appeared to St John, the Bishop of Euchaita in 1084, declaring their equality before God. They told him that all disputes should stop and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. “There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another.”
For those who love icons within icons, the wonderworking Saint Macrina, sister of the holy hierarchs Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa here holds the icon of her brothers, with St John Chrysostom. The three are hymned as "Torch-bearers of the triune Godhead." #3Hierarchs #Jan30 #Feb12
The prayer of St Simeon from the Meeting of Our Lord at the Temple (Feb 2/ Feb 15) is said or sung at every Vespers.
Simeon "took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.’ And Joseph and His Mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him." (Luke 2:28-33)
Video: Fr. Ioan Bizau explains the meaning of the icon of the Meeting of Our Lord https://otelders.org/orthodox-icons-explained/the-icon-of-the-presentation-of-our-lord-at-the-temple-february-2
#Meeting #Presentation
Simeon "took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.’ And Joseph and His Mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him." (Luke 2:28-33)
Video: Fr. Ioan Bizau explains the meaning of the icon of the Meeting of Our Lord https://otelders.org/orthodox-icons-explained/the-icon-of-the-presentation-of-our-lord-at-the-temple-february-2
#Meeting #Presentation