In the Era of Comforts, There Is So Much Discomfort
Because modern conveniences have exceeded all bounds, they have become inconveniences. Machines have multiplied and so have distractions; man has been turned into a machine. All kinds of machines and inventions now rule over man. This is why human hearts too are turning into steel. All of these modern comforts make the cultivation of conscience in people difficult. In the old days, people used to work with animals and were more compassionate. If you overloaded an animal and the poor thing kneeled down from the weight, you felt bad for it. If it was hungry and looked at you sniveling, it broke your heart. I remember, when a cow of ours fell ill, we suffered with it, because we considered it a member of the family. Today people own lots of devices made of steel, but, unfortunately, even their own hearts have turned into steel. + St Paisios of Mt Athos
Because modern conveniences have exceeded all bounds, they have become inconveniences. Machines have multiplied and so have distractions; man has been turned into a machine. All kinds of machines and inventions now rule over man. This is why human hearts too are turning into steel. All of these modern comforts make the cultivation of conscience in people difficult. In the old days, people used to work with animals and were more compassionate. If you overloaded an animal and the poor thing kneeled down from the weight, you felt bad for it. If it was hungry and looked at you sniveling, it broke your heart. I remember, when a cow of ours fell ill, we suffered with it, because we considered it a member of the family. Today people own lots of devices made of steel, but, unfortunately, even their own hearts have turned into steel. + St Paisios of Mt Athos
Weekly Cycle of Prayer for Monday
Troparion for the Holy Angels Tone 4
Supreme Leaders of the heavenly hosts, we implore you to ceaselessly encircle us unworthy as we are with the shelter of your prayers and to cover us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory. We fall down before you crying aloud: protect us from all danger, O princes of the powers on high!
Kontakion Tone 2
Supreme leaders of the hosts of God and ministers of the divine glory, princes of bodiless angels and guides of men, ask for what is good for us and great mercy, as the leaders of the bodiless hosts!
Troparion for the Holy Angels Tone 4
Supreme Leaders of the heavenly hosts, we implore you to ceaselessly encircle us unworthy as we are with the shelter of your prayers and to cover us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory. We fall down before you crying aloud: protect us from all danger, O princes of the powers on high!
Kontakion Tone 2
Supreme leaders of the hosts of God and ministers of the divine glory, princes of bodiless angels and guides of men, ask for what is good for us and great mercy, as the leaders of the bodiless hosts!
At the Meeting of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in the Temple, the Holy, Righteous Anna the Prophetess was there, giving thanks and bearing witness of Him "to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem."
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. " +Luke 2:36-38
Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; for you saw things far off as if they were near. Therefore, we honour you, blessed and glorious Prophetess Anna.
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. " +Luke 2:36-38
Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; for you saw things far off as if they were near. Therefore, we honour you, blessed and glorious Prophetess Anna.
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. See a video excerpt from Fr. Ioan Bizau's explanation of the icon of the Meeting of Our Lord. at https://mewe.com/join/orthodoxfaith.
On the video excerpt the Toparion for the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord is sung by the monks of the Putna Monastery, Romania. See the full video at https://otelders.org/orthodox-icons-explained/the-icon-of-the-presentation-of-our-lord-at-the-temple-february-2/
On the video excerpt the Toparion for the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord is sung by the monks of the Putna Monastery, Romania. See the full video at https://otelders.org/orthodox-icons-explained/the-icon-of-the-presentation-of-our-lord-at-the-temple-february-2/
Praise ye the name of the Lord; O ye servants, praise the Lord.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good; chant unto His name, for it is good.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, Israel for His own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
-from Psalm 134 (Psalm 135 - Hebrew Numbering), Kathisma 19, Friday Matins.
Psalms 134 and 135 are the core of Orthros on the great feast days. Together they are called the Polyeleos ("Many Mercies"). Ascension Cathedral, Novocherkassk, Russia
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good; chant unto His name, for it is good.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, Israel for His own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
-from Psalm 134 (Psalm 135 - Hebrew Numbering), Kathisma 19, Friday Matins.
Psalms 134 and 135 are the core of Orthros on the great feast days. Together they are called the Polyeleos ("Many Mercies"). Ascension Cathedral, Novocherkassk, Russia
St Theodosius of Chernigov (Feb 5/ Feb 18) grew to spiritual maturity in the tumultuous 17th century, near the relics of Sts Anthony and Theodosius and other God-pleasers of the Kiev Caves, and strove to imitate their holy lives as much as he could. He received monastic tonsure in honor of Saint Theodosius of the Caves (May 3/ May 16).
As bishop, St Theodosius worked tirelessly to raise the level of true Christian piety in his flock. He also put great effort into maintaining old monasteries, and founding new communities.
The saint devoted himself to prayer, meditation on God, and the reading of Holy Scripture. He has received the gift of healing from Christ the Saviour to cure bodily and spiritual infirmities of those who approach his relics.
"Holy Hierarch Theodosius, you were found to be most worthy among bishops and a light to your flock when translated to the eternal mansions. Pray at the throne of the King of Glory that we may be delivered from all present evil and that our souls may be saved.
As bishop, St Theodosius worked tirelessly to raise the level of true Christian piety in his flock. He also put great effort into maintaining old monasteries, and founding new communities.
The saint devoted himself to prayer, meditation on God, and the reading of Holy Scripture. He has received the gift of healing from Christ the Saviour to cure bodily and spiritual infirmities of those who approach his relics.
"Holy Hierarch Theodosius, you were found to be most worthy among bishops and a light to your flock when translated to the eternal mansions. Pray at the throne of the King of Glory that we may be delivered from all present evil and that our souls may be saved.
Photius, the Great (Feb 6/ Feb 19), most resplendent Father and teacher of the Church, the Confessor of the Faith and Equal to the Apostles, rooted out the tares of every alien teaching with fervency. This great lighthouse's zeal for truth brought great persecutions and distresses as he contended for the Orthodox Faith against the Manichaeans, the Iconoclasts, and other heretics.
Contending against the Latin error of the filioque-- the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son-- St Photius displayed clearly how the filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity.
Far-reaching beacon of the Church and God,
inspired Guide of the Orthodox,
you are now crowned with the flowers of song.
You are the divine words of the Spirit's harp,
the strong adversary of heresy and to whom we cry,
"Hail, all-honourable Photius." - Kontakion (Tone 8)
Contending against the Latin error of the filioque-- the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son-- St Photius displayed clearly how the filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity.
Far-reaching beacon of the Church and God,
inspired Guide of the Orthodox,
you are now crowned with the flowers of song.
You are the divine words of the Spirit's harp,
the strong adversary of heresy and to whom we cry,
"Hail, all-honourable Photius." - Kontakion (Tone 8)
A 1,500-year-old Greek inscription bearing the name “Christ, born of Mary” has been unearthed in northern Israel. The archaeologists discovered the inscription engraved at the entrance of what is believed to be a church from the Byzantine era.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/ancient-christ-born-of-mary-inscription-unearthed-in-northern-israel-656071
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/ancient-christ-born-of-mary-inscription-unearthed-in-northern-israel-656071
"Be careful! This town is not going to burn and its people are not going to be captured. They are innocent. Do you hear me? " - St Haralambos (Feb 10/ Feb 23), in a dream, to a shocked German officer who had been ordered to burn the town of Filiatra in Greece. The order had been given in retribution for sabotage against German soldiers.
The intercession of St Haralambos prevented the destruction of the small Peloponnesian town of Filiatra in 1944. The modern miracle continues to move all Greeks. This video tells the story. https://youtu.be/JBE5PeSqjxM?t=944
The intercession of St Haralambos prevented the destruction of the small Peloponnesian town of Filiatra in 1944. The modern miracle continues to move all Greeks. This video tells the story. https://youtu.be/JBE5PeSqjxM?t=944
O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace, your head has blossomed from the earth as a sacred rose. We are ever being healed, for as of old, You preach repentance to the world. Kontakion (Tone 3), First and second finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John (Feb 24/ Mar 9)