The seraphim seen by the Prophet Ezekiel (July 21/Aug 3) “is an image of faithful souls, who strive to attain perfection. He had six wings full of eyes; He also had four faces looking at four sides: one face like the face of a man, the other the face of the calf, the third the face of a lion, the fourth the face of an eagle. [Ezek. 1: 4-9]
The first face of Seraphim, which is a human face, means the faithful, who live in the world, fulfill the commandments on them. If one of them goes into monasticism, then he becomes like the face of a calf, because he bears hard work performed by the monastic rules and performs more physical feats. Who, having accomplished the dormitory order, goes into solitude and enters the fight against invisible demons, he is likened to the face of a lion, the king of wild animals. When he conquers invisible enemies and will prevail over the passions and subordinate them to himself, then the mountain will be enraptured with the Holy Spirit and will see the Divine visions; here he will become like the face of an eagle: his mind will then see everything that can happen to him from six sides, following those six wings full of eyes. So he will become a fully spiritual Seraphim and will inherit eternal bliss. ”
✝️ St Anthony the Great
✝️ St Anthony the Great
She stayed when the others fled in fear
At the Lord’s Crucifixion, Holy Myrrhbearer Mary Magdalene (July 22 / August 4) remained at the cross with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. She was a witness to Christ's burial and first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:1-10) and is thus honoured as the "Apostle to the Apostles."
"Holy Myrrhbearer and Apostle to the Apostles, now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!"
At the Lord’s Crucifixion, Holy Myrrhbearer Mary Magdalene (July 22 / August 4) remained at the cross with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. She was a witness to Christ's burial and first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:1-10) and is thus honoured as the "Apostle to the Apostles."
"Holy Myrrhbearer and Apostle to the Apostles, now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!"
Forwarded from Orthodox Christians Pro-Life (Dimitri Baranov)
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Born into a life of status and privilege, the 3rd-century virgin-martyr Christina of Tyre (July 24/ Aug 6) was converted to Christ through an angel. She roused the swift wrath of her idol-loving parents by smashing her own idols and declaring her new faith. She escaped many attempted executions initiated by her hate-filled father. With each of her tortures, more souls were converted to Christ until finally, she inherited the crown of martyrdom.
The prayers of St Anna (Dormition July 25/ Aug 7) are invoked for conceiving children and for help in difficult childbirth.
“O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God’s pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Wherefore, thou hast now passed with joy to thy heavenly rest, wherein is the abode of them that rejoice in glory; and thou askest forgiveness of sins for them that honour thee with love, O ever-blessed one.” —Troparion for The Dormition of St Anna, Tone 4
“O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God’s pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Wherefore, thou hast now passed with joy to thy heavenly rest, wherein is the abode of them that rejoice in glory; and thou askest forgiveness of sins for them that honour thee with love, O ever-blessed one.” —Troparion for The Dormition of St Anna, Tone 4
There is some joyful news from Ukraine— from amidst the daily illegal government attacks, false charges, and arrests of clergy of the canonical Church (UOC).
His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl has been released on bail. The faithful have raised the exorbitant amount set for Met. Pavel, who oversaw the complete restoration of the holy monastery after the years of godless communism.
The Church in Ukraine is now under constant attack from the new enemy, the Kiev political regime. Violent schismatics continue collude with local civil authorities throughout Ukraine to illegally seize church buildings from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl has been released on bail. The faithful have raised the exorbitant amount set for Met. Pavel, who oversaw the complete restoration of the holy monastery after the years of godless communism.
The Church in Ukraine is now under constant attack from the new enemy, the Kiev political regime. Violent schismatics continue collude with local civil authorities throughout Ukraine to illegally seize church buildings from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Forwarded from OrthoChristian
Orthodox Christianity
Abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra released after months of house arrest and detention
Finally, after months of being unjustly held under round-the-clock house arrest and then in a detention center, the abbot of the Kiev Caves Lavra has been released on bail.
Prayer for a Sick Person
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You are the source of life and healing. Visit (name), Lord and grant (him/her) strength to bear the sickness with which (he/she) is afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. Bless the means used for (his/her) recovery and those who administer them. Grant that (his/her) sickness may be to (his/her) spiritual benefit and that (he/she) may live the rest of (his/her) life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You we give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You are the source of life and healing. Visit (name), Lord and grant (him/her) strength to bear the sickness with which (he/she) is afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. Bless the means used for (his/her) recovery and those who administer them. Grant that (his/her) sickness may be to (his/her) spiritual benefit and that (he/she) may live the rest of (his/her) life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You we give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Moses prefigured the Cross
“Lifting up the rod, he stretched out his hand and split the Sea for Israel to cross on land. Then he stretched it out again, and the sea returned and covered Pharaoh's chariots. The Cross was thus portrayed as our invincible armor. So let us sing to the Lord, Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.”
—Katavasias of the Cross, Ode i. Mode pl. 4 on the commemoration of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord (Aug 1/ Aug 14)
“Lifting up the rod, he stretched out his hand and split the Sea for Israel to cross on land. Then he stretched it out again, and the sea returned and covered Pharaoh's chariots. The Cross was thus portrayed as our invincible armor. So let us sing to the Lord, Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified.”
—Katavasias of the Cross, Ode i. Mode pl. 4 on the commemoration of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord (Aug 1/ Aug 14)
O Lord, I know not what to ask of You. You alone know what are my true needs. You love me more than I myself know how to love.
Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me.
I dare not ask either a cross or a consolation.
I can only wait on You.
My heart is open to You.
Visit and help me, for Your great mercy's sake.
Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.
I worship in silence Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself as a sacrifice to You.
I put all my trust in You.
I have no other desire than to fulfill Your will. Teach me how to pray.
Pray Yourself in me. Amen.
+St Philaret Metropolitan of Moscow, A prayer
Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me.
I dare not ask either a cross or a consolation.
I can only wait on You.
My heart is open to You.
Visit and help me, for Your great mercy's sake.
Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.
I worship in silence Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself as a sacrifice to You.
I put all my trust in You.
I have no other desire than to fulfill Your will. Teach me how to pray.
Pray Yourself in me. Amen.
+St Philaret Metropolitan of Moscow, A prayer