“If you wish not to fall away from the love of God, do not let your brother go to bed feeling irritated with you, and do not go to bed yourself feeling irritated with him. Reconcile yourself with your brother, and then come to Christ with a clear conscience and offer Him your gift of love in earnest prayer (Mt. 5:24).”
✝️ St Maximos the Confessor
✝️ St Maximos the Confessor
When the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. When they had buried him up to his neck, he said: "Bring a linen cloth and place it on my face, then kiss me again for the last time, because you shall not see me anymore in this life."
Later, they returned and opened the grave, but the Saint's body was not there. Each year on May 8 (May 21) a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses.
Although the main Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is on Sept 26 (Oct 9), the Church also commemorates the Apostle on May 8 to mark the annual pilgrimage to his grave.
Later, they returned and opened the grave, but the Saint's body was not there. Each year on May 8 (May 21) a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses.
Although the main Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is on Sept 26 (Oct 9), the Church also commemorates the Apostle on May 8 to mark the annual pilgrimage to his grave.
Prayer of the Optina Elders
O Lord, grant that I may meet all that his coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will. Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent down from thee. Grant me to deal in a straightforward and wise manner with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. O Lord, grant me power to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that will take place during it. Guide my will and teach me to prayer, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.
O Lord, grant that I may meet all that his coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will. Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent down from thee. Grant me to deal in a straightforward and wise manner with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. O Lord, grant me power to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that will take place during it. Guide my will and teach me to prayer, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.
Tradition says that St Simon the Zealot of Cana in Galilee, (May 10) one of the Twelve, was the bridegroom at the wedding where Christ performed His first miracle, turning the water into wine. After witnessing this, Simon became a zealous follower of Christ. For this reason, he is known as St Simon the Zealot (Zealotes).
St Simon preached Christ in Egypt, Mauritania, Libya, Numidia, Cyrenia and Abkhazia, a region on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea. St. Dositheos, Bishop of Gaza (300) and St. Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople (758-829), say that St Simon took the Gospel to Britain, where an early tradition says he was crucified by idolaters and buried. A second tradition is that St Simon died in Persia together with the Apostle Jude Thaddeus as a martyr. The third is that he died and was buried in Nikopsia, near Dzhigentia, close to the Black Sea.
St Simon preached Christ in Egypt, Mauritania, Libya, Numidia, Cyrenia and Abkhazia, a region on the northeastern shore of the Black Sea. St. Dositheos, Bishop of Gaza (300) and St. Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople (758-829), say that St Simon took the Gospel to Britain, where an early tradition says he was crucified by idolaters and buried. A second tradition is that St Simon died in Persia together with the Apostle Jude Thaddeus as a martyr. The third is that he died and was buried in Nikopsia, near Dzhigentia, close to the Black Sea.
May we also be filled with zeal and love for Christ above all things, and cleave to Him!
"Holy Apostle Simon, entreat the merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions."
"Holy Apostle Simon, entreat the merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions."
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$10 spirituality: “Outside you are pious… Inside you are suffering.”
—Fr Felipe Balingit
—Fr Felipe Balingit
When a group of Christian children playing at the seashore decided to baptize their pagan playmates, they chose the lad Athanasias (May 2/ May 15) as "bishop". Young Athanasius performed the baptism, precisely repeating the words he had in church during this sacrament.
Patriarch Alexander observing this from a window, summoned the children and their parents and attested that the baptism performed by the children at play was in everything in accord with the Church ustav (rule). He acknowledged the Baptism as real and supplemented it with the sacrament of Chrismation. From this moment the Patriarch looked after the spiritual upbringing of Athanasias and in time brought him into the clergy.
Patriarch Alexander observing this from a window, summoned the children and their parents and attested that the baptism performed by the children at play was in everything in accord with the Church ustav (rule). He acknowledged the Baptism as real and supplemented it with the sacrament of Chrismation. From this moment the Patriarch looked after the spiritual upbringing of Athanasias and in time brought him into the clergy.
“I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God, and Your God”+ John 20:17
"In the Ascension resides the meaning and the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection." - Fr. George Florovsky
With Christ, man’s nature ascends also. As God-man, Christ's ascension shows that we are capable of being deified-- united, both body and soul, eternally.
The Ascension is also a sign and token of Pentecost and of the Second Coming. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
"O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory, Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured That You are the Son of God, The Redeemer of the world!" (Troparion, Tone 4)
"In the Ascension resides the meaning and the fullness of Christ’s Resurrection." - Fr. George Florovsky
With Christ, man’s nature ascends also. As God-man, Christ's ascension shows that we are capable of being deified-- united, both body and soul, eternally.
The Ascension is also a sign and token of Pentecost and of the Second Coming. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
"O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory, Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured That You are the Son of God, The Redeemer of the world!" (Troparion, Tone 4)
“Christ Has Ascended!"
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)