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."
"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
☦️ St Gregory the Theologian
“We are spiritually sick. And some of us are already dead.”
People feel unhappy and don’t know why. They feel that something is wrong but can’t put their finger on what it is. They feel uneasy in the world, confused and frustrated, alienated and estranged, and can’t explain it. They have everything and yet want more; and when they get it, they’re still left empty and dissatisfied. They want happiness and peace, and nothing seems to bring it. They want fulfillment, and it never seems to come.
Everything is fine, yet everything is wrong. In America this is almost a national disease. It is covered over by frantic activity and endless running around. It is buried in activities and events. It is drowned out by television programs and games. But when the movement stops and the dial is turned off and everything is quiet...then the dread sets in, and the meaninglessness of it all, and the boredom, and the fear. Why is this so? Because, the Church tells us, we are really not at home.
People feel unhappy and don’t know why. They feel that something is wrong but can’t put their finger on what it is. They feel uneasy in the world, confused and frustrated, alienated and estranged, and can’t explain it. They have everything and yet want more; and when they get it, they’re still left empty and dissatisfied. They want happiness and peace, and nothing seems to bring it. They want fulfillment, and it never seems to come.
Everything is fine, yet everything is wrong. In America this is almost a national disease. It is covered over by frantic activity and endless running around. It is buried in activities and events. It is drowned out by television programs and games. But when the movement stops and the dial is turned off and everything is quiet...then the dread sets in, and the meaninglessness of it all, and the boredom, and the fear. Why is this so? Because, the Church tells us, we are really not at home.
We are in exile. We are alienated and estranged from our true country. We are not with God our Father in the land of the living. We are spiritually sick. And some of us are already dead.”
Fr. Thomas Hopko, "The Lenten Spring”
Fr. Thomas Hopko, "The Lenten Spring”