Holy New Martyr Natalia Ivanovna was widowed after authorities murdered her husband for his defence of the Church and outspokenness against Soviet collective farms. Yet she refused to remain broken and bitter. She was not afraid to openly support persecuted and imprisoned clergy and speak against the confiscation and closures of churches. In May 1937, at the initiative of the Church Council of Theophany Church in the village of Churiki, where she served as churchwarden, Natalia inspired her fellow villagers to participate in a peaceful procession against its closure. Half of the church had already been converted into a granary.
For being “hostile” to the Soviet regime and a religious “counterrevolutionary”, Natalia Ivanovna and two other members of the Church Council of the Theophany Church— Vasily Matveyevich Abramkin and Vasily Danilovich Orlov— were put in the Moscow Taganka Prison and shortly thereafter sentenced to death. Their martyrdom took place at the Butovo secret firing range, where 20,000 “enemies” of the regime were executed in 1937-38. Her children carefully preserved Natalia’s Bible and shawl and donated them to the memorial museum at the church in Butovo. One of Natalia’s sons wrote years later: “In those distant, monstrously tragic years, our mother Natalia Ivanovna Kozlova suffered. She was a mother of eight children, in whose upbringing she had invested her loving heart and kind, sincere soul. With great gratitude we cherish her maternal love, care and affection...”
Holy New Martyr Natalia, pray to God for us! #NewMartyr #Natalia #Sept14
Holy New Martyr Natalia, pray to God for us! #NewMartyr #Natalia #Sept14
In 1895, the New York Times published an article on a "Damascus Preacher" a "Minister for Syrians," a rapidly growing Christian "colony" in America. Father Raphael would later become the first Orthodox Bishop consecrated in North America and our father among the saints, Raphael of Brooklyn (Feb 27/ Mar 11).
No less than thirty North American parishes --from Montreal to Mexico City-- were established by him, a sign of St. Raphael's dedication, missionary zeal, and love and a miraculous accomplishment. As one nun declared, "Who can do what he did?"
"Father to orphans, and Friend of the poor, Peacemaker and Good Shepherd, Joy of all the Orthodox, Son of Antioch, Boast of America: Intercede with Christ God for us and for all who honor thee." (Troparion, Tone 3)
No less than thirty North American parishes --from Montreal to Mexico City-- were established by him, a sign of St. Raphael's dedication, missionary zeal, and love and a miraculous accomplishment. As one nun declared, "Who can do what he did?"
"Father to orphans, and Friend of the poor, Peacemaker and Good Shepherd, Joy of all the Orthodox, Son of Antioch, Boast of America: Intercede with Christ God for us and for all who honor thee." (Troparion, Tone 3)
Clean Monday (Greek: 'Καθαρά Δευτέρα'), marks the start of Great Lent. We now begin the holy period of prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving.
Many people clean their homes on this day, and in some places families even fly kites, a longstanding Greek tradition, symbolic of Christ’s Resurrection.
Many people clean their homes on this day, and in some places families even fly kites, a longstanding Greek tradition, symbolic of Christ’s Resurrection.
Having rivaled the first-created Adam by my transgression, I realize that I am stripped naked of God and of the everlasting kingdom and bliss through my sins. (Genesis 3)
Alas, wretched soul! Why art thou like the first Eve? For thou hast wickedly looked and been bitterly wounded, and thou hast touched the tree and rashly tasted the forbidden food.
The place of bodily Eve has been taken for me by the Eve of my mind in the shape of a passionate thought in the flesh, showing me sweet things, yet ever making me taste and swallow bitter things.
Adam was rightly exiled from Eden for not keeping Thy one commandment, O Savior. But what shall I suffer who am always rejecting Thy living words? (Hebrews 12:25; Genesis 3:23)
☦️ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— from The Great Canon St Andrew of Crete, Monday of the First Week
Alas, wretched soul! Why art thou like the first Eve? For thou hast wickedly looked and been bitterly wounded, and thou hast touched the tree and rashly tasted the forbidden food.
The place of bodily Eve has been taken for me by the Eve of my mind in the shape of a passionate thought in the flesh, showing me sweet things, yet ever making me taste and swallow bitter things.
Adam was rightly exiled from Eden for not keeping Thy one commandment, O Savior. But what shall I suffer who am always rejecting Thy living words? (Hebrews 12:25; Genesis 3:23)
☦️ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— from The Great Canon St Andrew of Crete, Monday of the First Week
Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched life? What first- fruit shall I offer, O Christ, for my present lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me release from my falls.
Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh, confess to the Creator of all. In future refrain from thy former brutishness, and offer to God tears in repentance.
— from The Great Canon of ☦️ St Andrew of Crete, Monday of the First Week
Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh, confess to the Creator of all. In future refrain from thy former brutishness, and offer to God tears in repentance.
— from The Great Canon of ☦️ St Andrew of Crete, Monday of the First Week
Like Cain, we too, O wretched soul, have likewise offered to the Creator of all foul deeds, defective sacrifice and a useless life. Therefore we too are condemned. (Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4)
In molding my clay into life, O Potter, Thou didst put in me flesh and bones, breath and vitality. But, O my Creator, my Redeemer and Judge, accept me who repent. (Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 18:1-10; Rom. 9:21)
I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, and the wounds of my body and soul which murderous thoughts like robbers within have inflicted upon me. (Luke 10:30)
I have sinned, O Savior, yet I know that Thou art the Lover of men. Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly. Thou seest me weeping and runnest towards me as the Father recalling the Prodigal. (Luke 15:20)
☦️ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
—from the Great Canon, Tuesday of the First Week
In molding my clay into life, O Potter, Thou didst put in me flesh and bones, breath and vitality. But, O my Creator, my Redeemer and Judge, accept me who repent. (Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 18:1-10; Rom. 9:21)
I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, and the wounds of my body and soul which murderous thoughts like robbers within have inflicted upon me. (Luke 10:30)
I have sinned, O Savior, yet I know that Thou art the Lover of men. Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly. Thou seest me weeping and runnest towards me as the Father recalling the Prodigal. (Luke 15:20)
☦️ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
—from the Great Canon, Tuesday of the First Week
O Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of all, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction. (John 1:29)
I fall prostrate before Thee, O Jesus. I have sinned against Thee, be merciful to me. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Enter not into judgment with me, by recording my deeds, demanding an account of my words, and examining my motives and desires. But in Thy compassion disregard my terrible past and save me, O God All-Powerful.
It is time for repentance. I draw near to Thee, my Creator. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
I have squandered in profligacy the substance of my soul, and I am barren of virtues and piety; but famished I cry: O Father of mercies, forestall and have compassion on me. (Luke 15:13, 17)
☦️ Troparia from The Great Canon, Thursday of the First Week
I fall prostrate before Thee, O Jesus. I have sinned against Thee, be merciful to me. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Enter not into judgment with me, by recording my deeds, demanding an account of my words, and examining my motives and desires. But in Thy compassion disregard my terrible past and save me, O God All-Powerful.
It is time for repentance. I draw near to Thee, my Creator. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
I have squandered in profligacy the substance of my soul, and I am barren of virtues and piety; but famished I cry: O Father of mercies, forestall and have compassion on me. (Luke 15:13, 17)
☦️ Troparia from The Great Canon, Thursday of the First Week
"Winter is harsh, but Paradise is sweet!"
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (Mar 9), an Armenian town in what is now eastern Turkey, were devout Christian soldiers "who wielded equally well the sword of battle and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)."
Because they refused to sacrifice to idols, they were sentenced to death. At first they were stoned. When the stones were miraculously turned aside they were thrown into a freezing lake as the lake was icing over.
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (Mar 9), an Armenian town in what is now eastern Turkey, were devout Christian soldiers "who wielded equally well the sword of battle and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)."
Because they refused to sacrifice to idols, they were sentenced to death. At first they were stoned. When the stones were miraculously turned aside they were thrown into a freezing lake as the lake was icing over.
When one soldier in their ranks gave in to the pressure and denied the Lord, the rest started praying to the Lord to increase their number to forty just as they were in the beginning. Immediately another one took the place of the deserter and forty of them became martyrs.
"Ever since their martyrdom on the second century, how many millions of knees have bowed in front of their icon in the churches, pleading humbly for their assistance? This is the glory which followed them on earth. In what kind of glory are they basking now that they have become sons of the Lord?
We also ought to urge ourselves along in this way. For as our Jesus said: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt. 26:41). The spirit and the flesh are two separate entities but they influence each other since they are in some way united. If we fail to find ways to coach the man of the 'flesh' away from his confusing and dark sentiments, acquired after the fall and he remains in this state, then his spirit will be affected and will obstruct his progress in spite of his good intentions. The flesh affects and drives him towards indifference and laziness, preventing him from accomplishing his fine goals."
+Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
"Together let us honour the holy company united by faith, those noble warriors of the Master of all." Holy Martyrs, pray for us!
"Ever since their martyrdom on the second century, how many millions of knees have bowed in front of their icon in the churches, pleading humbly for their assistance? This is the glory which followed them on earth. In what kind of glory are they basking now that they have become sons of the Lord?
We also ought to urge ourselves along in this way. For as our Jesus said: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt. 26:41). The spirit and the flesh are two separate entities but they influence each other since they are in some way united. If we fail to find ways to coach the man of the 'flesh' away from his confusing and dark sentiments, acquired after the fall and he remains in this state, then his spirit will be affected and will obstruct his progress in spite of his good intentions. The flesh affects and drives him towards indifference and laziness, preventing him from accomplishing his fine goals."
+Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
"Together let us honour the holy company united by faith, those noble warriors of the Master of all." Holy Martyrs, pray for us!
The Cost of Orthodoxy
St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica and defender of the contemplative life of hesychasm (inner silence), the uncreated Light of Tabor and the Divine Energies of God-- through which man can have true communion with God. St Gregory paid a price for this belief, including a four-year prison sentence.
St Gregory taught the Orthodox doctrine that while it is impossible to know God in his essence (God in himself), it is possible to know God in his energies (to know what God does, and who he is in relation to the creation and to man). In this way, the prophets had greater knowledge of God, because they had actually seen or heard God himself.
St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica and defender of the contemplative life of hesychasm (inner silence), the uncreated Light of Tabor and the Divine Energies of God-- through which man can have true communion with God. St Gregory paid a price for this belief, including a four-year prison sentence.
St Gregory taught the Orthodox doctrine that while it is impossible to know God in his essence (God in himself), it is possible to know God in his energies (to know what God does, and who he is in relation to the creation and to man). In this way, the prophets had greater knowledge of God, because they had actually seen or heard God himself.
When the Apostles Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, St Gregory on Mount Tabor, St Gregory maintained, they were in fact seeing the uncreated light of God-- a light that can be seen by others with repentance, spiritual discipline and contemplative prayer.
☦ O wonder working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved."
☦ O wonder working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved."