Holy Apostle Matthias (Aug 9/ Aug 22) of the 70 Apostles, was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot of the 12 Apostles.
Angry pagans once forced the saint to drink poison. It not only failed to harm him but he went about healing others who had been blinded by the potion.
Using the prophecies of the Old Testament, the Apostle Matthias demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the True God, the long-awaited Messiah. This declaration ensured his martyrdom. The Apostle Matthias received the martyr’s crown after being stoned in the year 63.
Angry pagans once forced the saint to drink poison. It not only failed to harm him but he went about healing others who had been blinded by the potion.
Using the prophecies of the Old Testament, the Apostle Matthias demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the True God, the long-awaited Messiah. This declaration ensured his martyrdom. The Apostle Matthias received the martyr’s crown after being stoned in the year 63.
Amidst opposition, thousands of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians make the procession to the Pochaev Lavra singing with prayers to God. Pray for the faithful of the canonical UOC.
Video: https://twitter.com/uncreated_light/status/1694351430197371314/video/1
Video: https://twitter.com/uncreated_light/status/1694351430197371314/video/1
“It is a fearful thing to hate whom God has loved. To look upon another– his weaknesses, his sins, his faults, his defects– is to look upon one who is suffering. He is suffering from negative passions, from the same sinful human corruption from which
“It is a fearful thing to hate whom God has loved. To look upon another– his weaknesses, his sins, his faults, his defects– is to look upon one who is suffering. He is suffering from negative passions, from the same sinful human corruption from which you yourself suffer. This is very important: do not look upon him with the judgmental eyes of comparison, noting the sins you assume you would never commit. Rather, see him as a fellow sufferer, a fellow human being who is in need of the very healing of which you are in need. Help him, love him, pray for him, do unto him as you would have him do unto you.”
☦️Saint Tikhon the Bishop of Voronezh and Wonderworker of Zadonsk and All Russia (Aug 13/ Aug 26)
☦️Saint Tikhon the Bishop of Voronezh and Wonderworker of Zadonsk and All Russia (Aug 13/ Aug 26)
“Through the wise providence of God, the Apostle Thomas had been destined not to be present at the burial of the Mother of God. Arriving late on the third day at Gethsemane, he lay down at the sepulchral cave and with bitter tears bespeaking loudly his desire, that he might be vouchsafed a final blessing of the Mother of God and have final farewell with Her. The Apostles out of heartfelt pity for him decided to open the grave and permit him the comfort of venerating the holy remains of the Ever-Virgin Mary. But having opened the grave, they found in it only the grave wrappings and were thus convinced of the bodily ascent or assumption of the Most Holy Virgin Mary to Heaven.”
Photos: Empty tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane
Photos: Empty tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane
“O believers, come, let us go unto the tomb of the Mother of God and embrace it longingly, and with sincerity touch it with our lips and eyes and foreheads of our hearts, and we shall then obtain from that ever-welling fountain the divine gifts of healing that issue abundantly.” (Hymn from the Matins of the Feast)
O heavenly mother, Panagia, intercede for us!
Photo: St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church, Sydney, Australia
O heavenly mother, Panagia, intercede for us!
Photo: St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church, Sydney, Australia
We must not avoid communion because we deem ourselves to be sinful. We must approach it more often for the healing of the soul and the purification of the spirit, but with such humility and faith that considering ourselves unworthy ... we would desire even more the medicine for our wounds. It is impossible to receive communion once a year, as certain people do ... for when they receive, they think themselves worthy. It is much better if, in humility of heart, knowing that we are never worthy of the Holy Mysteries we would receive Them every Sunday for the healing of our diseases, rather than, blinded by pride, think that after one year we become worthy of receiving Them! + St John Cassian (360 - 435)
"Divine Communion", by Markogiannakis Evangelos, 1934
"Divine Communion", by Markogiannakis Evangelos, 1934
“LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy wrath”
Monday Vespers, Kathisma 6
http://bit.ly/kathisma6
Monday Vespers, Kathisma 6
http://bit.ly/kathisma6
One should always endure any trial for the sake of God with gratitude. Our life is a single minute in comparison with eternity; and therefore, according to the Apostle, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).
☦️ St Seraphim of Sarov
☦️ St Seraphim of Sarov
St Irenaeus (Aug 23/ Sept 5) was a lion in his refutation of the gnostic heresy. Salvation is through the Incarnation. “Jesus Christ the Son of God, through exceedingly great love for His creation, condescended to be born of a Virgin, having united mankind with God in His own Self.” Through the Incarnation of God, creation becomes co-imaged and co-bodied to the Son of God. Salvation consists in the “Sonship” and “Theosis” (“Divinization”) of mankind.
“Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. Hieromartyr Irenaeus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.”
“Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. Hieromartyr Irenaeus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.”