"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
When you are about to pray to our Lady the Holy Virgin, be firmly assured, before praying, that you will not depart from her without having received mercy.
To think thus and to have confidence in her is meet and right. She is, the All-Merciful Mother of the All-Merciful God, the Word, and her mercies, incalculably great and innumerable, have been declared from all ages by all Christian Churches; she is, indeed, an abyss of mercies and bounties.
☦️ St John of #Kronstadt
To think thus and to have confidence in her is meet and right. She is, the All-Merciful Mother of the All-Merciful God, the Word, and her mercies, incalculably great and innumerable, have been declared from all ages by all Christian Churches; she is, indeed, an abyss of mercies and bounties.
☦️ St John of #Kronstadt
The “Triodion” refers to the ten weeks leading up to Pascha as well as to the book which contains the hymns, readings, and prayers specific to this season.
The name "Triodion" means “three odes”. During this period, the Canons (the series of hymns sung at Matins) contain only three odes instead of the usual nine.
The Lenten Triodion book is used continuously in services from the Sunday of the Publican through Great Lent and Holy and Great Week.
The name "Triodion" means “three odes”. During this period, the Canons (the series of hymns sung at Matins) contain only three odes instead of the usual nine.
The Lenten Triodion book is used continuously in services from the Sunday of the Publican through Great Lent and Holy and Great Week.
Consider well, my soul: dost thou fast? Then despise not thy neighbour.
Dost thou abstain from food? Condemn not thy brother.
Come, let us cleanse ourselves by almsgiving and acts of mercy to the poor,
Not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity. Let not our left hand know what our right hand is doing; Let not vainglory scatter the fruit of our almsgiving;
But in secret let us call on Him that knows all secrets: Father, forgive us our trespasses, for Thou lovest mankind.
Dost thou abstain from food? Condemn not thy brother.
Come, let us cleanse ourselves by almsgiving and acts of mercy to the poor,
Not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity. Let not our left hand know what our right hand is doing; Let not vainglory scatter the fruit of our almsgiving;
But in secret let us call on Him that knows all secrets: Father, forgive us our trespasses, for Thou lovest mankind.
St. Nicholas of Japan (Feb 16) was the first to bring Orthodoxy to Japan. There are now more than forty active Orthodox churches. The parishioners of the country’s main Orthodox church— the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tokyo— are not mostly transplanted faithful from Russia and other Orthodox lands but are mainly Japanese.