One parishioner stopped going to church. Time passed, and one day the parish priest decided to visit him.
The entrance door was open and the priest went inside. The man was sitting all alone by the fireplace. He saw the priest, nodded his head in greeting and motioned to him to sit down.
The priest settled comfortably into the armchair, and also began to look at the flame beautifully playing in the fireplace.
Both were silent.
A few minutes later, the priest got up, took the fireplace tongs, grabbed a burning brand with them and put it aside, away from the fire. Then he sat down again.
The silence continued.
The brand meanwhile ceased to blaze, then completely cooled down and turned black. The priest got up again, took the tongs and put the black brand back into the fire. A moment later, it was already burning like the others.
The entrance door was open and the priest went inside. The man was sitting all alone by the fireplace. He saw the priest, nodded his head in greeting and motioned to him to sit down.
The priest settled comfortably into the armchair, and also began to look at the flame beautifully playing in the fireplace.
Both were silent.
A few minutes later, the priest got up, took the fireplace tongs, grabbed a burning brand with them and put it aside, away from the fire. Then he sat down again.
The silence continued.
The brand meanwhile ceased to blaze, then completely cooled down and turned black. The priest got up again, took the tongs and put the black brand back into the fire. A moment later, it was already burning like the others.
The priest put aside the tongs, and without saying a word headed for the exit. When he was already at the door, he heard the words: “Thank you for the visit, and for your sermon by the fireplace. This Sunday I will definitely come to the service.”
Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God, crying out, "You are my Lord and my God!" By the intercessions of Thine Holy Apostle Thomas, O Christ our Lord and our God, have mercy on us.
The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas (Oct 6/19) did not want to be found guilty of careless belief. St Thomas did not say “Except I see,” but, “Except I handle” (John 20:25). He did not want to believe an apparition.
When St Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. It was the preaching for the risen Lord, not some apparition, that earned the Apostle a martyr's death.
Icons named “The Doubting Thomas” are incorrectly titled. In Greek, the inscription reads, “The Touching of Thomas.” In Slavonic, it says, “The Belief of Thomas.”
The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas (Oct 6/19) did not want to be found guilty of careless belief. St Thomas did not say “Except I see,” but, “Except I handle” (John 20:25). He did not want to believe an apparition.
When St Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. It was the preaching for the risen Lord, not some apparition, that earned the Apostle a martyr's death.
Icons named “The Doubting Thomas” are incorrectly titled. In Greek, the inscription reads, “The Touching of Thomas.” In Slavonic, it says, “The Belief of Thomas.”
“If you believe in the divinity of Christ, this means that the Heavenly Father has touched your heart.
This is a mystery.”
—Archpriest Theodore Gignadze
Sermons by Father Theodore Gignadze
on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/100066583281191/](https://www.facebook.com/100066583281191/)
This is a mystery.”
—Archpriest Theodore Gignadze
Sermons by Father Theodore Gignadze
on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/100066583281191/](https://www.facebook.com/100066583281191/)
The Order of Saint George, Greek TV, the Greek Reporter and multiple additional sources are reporting that St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza City has been bombed.
Archbishop Alexios is reportedly alive but possibly hundreds of people being housed at the church and monastery have reportedly been killed or injured. Reports on the number of people inside the church buildings vary widely. It is also widely reported than many are trapped under the rubble.
Lord have mercy!
Photo Source: Order of Saint George the Martyr website
Archbishop Alexios is reportedly alive but possibly hundreds of people being housed at the church and monastery have reportedly been killed or injured. Reports on the number of people inside the church buildings vary widely. It is also widely reported than many are trapped under the rubble.
Lord have mercy!
Photo Source: Order of Saint George the Martyr website
St Porphyrios of Gaza, pray for the new martyrs of the church that bears your name!
The ancient St Porphyrios Orthodox Church, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims have been sheltering from Israeli airstrikes, has itself been hit by an airstrike. Reports vary widely as to the number of the number of dead, wounded and trapped but prayers are needed for all. Lord have mercy!
O wise Porphyrios, you were excellent in word and deed, healing many and strengthening all with the grace of godliness. Since you always serve Christ, do not cease to pray for the world!
The ancient St Porphyrios Orthodox Church, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims have been sheltering from Israeli airstrikes, has itself been hit by an airstrike. Reports vary widely as to the number of the number of dead, wounded and trapped but prayers are needed for all. Lord have mercy!
O wise Porphyrios, you were excellent in word and deed, healing many and strengthening all with the grace of godliness. Since you always serve Christ, do not cease to pray for the world!
“Wherever James traveled, he left a wonder:
Spiritual vessels full and overflowing with honey,
Inexhaustible, life-creating honey:
Holy churches, full of pure, sweet richness.” ☦️ St Nikolai Velimirovich
The Holy Apostle James (Jacob) (Oct 9/ Oct 22), Son of Alphæus, and brother of the Holy Apostle Matthew, is called the “Divine Seed” for sowing the seed of the word of God in people's hearts. With the First-Called Apostle Andrew, he made missionary journeys to Judea, Edessa, Gaza, Eleutheropolis, preaching, healing, driving out demons, smashing idols, destroying pagan temples, and bringing a multitude of people to Christ.
St James finished his apostolic work In the Egyptian city of Ostrachina, where he was crucified by pagans.
“O Holy Apostle James, entreat the merciful God that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.”
Spiritual vessels full and overflowing with honey,
Inexhaustible, life-creating honey:
Holy churches, full of pure, sweet richness.” ☦️ St Nikolai Velimirovich
The Holy Apostle James (Jacob) (Oct 9/ Oct 22), Son of Alphæus, and brother of the Holy Apostle Matthew, is called the “Divine Seed” for sowing the seed of the word of God in people's hearts. With the First-Called Apostle Andrew, he made missionary journeys to Judea, Edessa, Gaza, Eleutheropolis, preaching, healing, driving out demons, smashing idols, destroying pagan temples, and bringing a multitude of people to Christ.
St James finished his apostolic work In the Egyptian city of Ostrachina, where he was crucified by pagans.
“O Holy Apostle James, entreat the merciful God that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.”
As the prophets beheld,
As the Apostles have taught,
As the Church has received,
As the teachers have dogmatized,
As the universe has agreed,
As grace has illumined
As truth has revealed,
As falsehood has been dispelled,
As wisdom has presented,
As Christ has triumphed:
This we believe,
This we declare,
This we preach:
Christ our true God, and His saints we honour in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, in icons, on the one hand bowing down and worshipping Christ as God and Master, on the other hand honouring the saints as true servants of the Master of all, and offering to them due veneration.
This is the faith of the Apostles!
This is the faith of the Fathers!
This is the faith of the Orthodox!
This is the faith that has established the Universe!
+ Acclamation of the 7th Ecumenical Council
As the Apostles have taught,
As the Church has received,
As the teachers have dogmatized,
As the universe has agreed,
As grace has illumined
As truth has revealed,
As falsehood has been dispelled,
As wisdom has presented,
As Christ has triumphed:
This we believe,
This we declare,
This we preach:
Christ our true God, and His saints we honour in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, in icons, on the one hand bowing down and worshipping Christ as God and Master, on the other hand honouring the saints as true servants of the Master of all, and offering to them due veneration.
This is the faith of the Apostles!
This is the faith of the Fathers!
This is the faith of the Orthodox!
This is the faith that has established the Universe!
+ Acclamation of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Icon: Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Twelve Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, the son of Alphæus, Jude, the brother of James, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias
“At some time, St. Anthony the Great thought to himself, ‘I wonder with whose spiritual achievements my spiritual life can be compared with’. God, however, in order to humble this thought, revealed to him in a dream that superior to him was a shoemaker who had a store in the back streets of Alexandria.
Once it was daybreak, the saint headed off to the city. He wanted to meet in person this virtuous shoemaker. With great difficulty he discovered his store, sat down at the counter and began asking questions about his life.
The shoemaker was a simple man and it didn’t even occur to him who this elderly monk was that had come so unexpectedly into his store querying him. The man, while continuing to work and without taking his eyes off the shoes he was working on replied gently;
Once it was daybreak, the saint headed off to the city. He wanted to meet in person this virtuous shoemaker. With great difficulty he discovered his store, sat down at the counter and began asking questions about his life.
The shoemaker was a simple man and it didn’t even occur to him who this elderly monk was that had come so unexpectedly into his store querying him. The man, while continuing to work and without taking his eyes off the shoes he was working on replied gently;
‘Elder, I don’t know if I have ever done anything good. Every morning after waking up, I pray and then I start work. First, I think to myself how every person in this city, from the smallest to the greatest will be saved, and only I will be condemned due to my countless transgressions. And in the evening when I go to sleep, I have the same thoughts.’
The Elder rose with wonder and embraced and kissed him. He said emotively: ‘You, my brother, like a good merchant, have gained the priceless pearl without toil. I have grown old in the desert, sweated and toiled but have not reached your level of humility.’”
☦️ From the gerantikon
The Elder rose with wonder and embraced and kissed him. He said emotively: ‘You, my brother, like a good merchant, have gained the priceless pearl without toil. I have grown old in the desert, sweated and toiled but have not reached your level of humility.’”
☦️ From the gerantikon
Right Glory. Right Worship. A simple explanation of the meaning of Orthodoxy
[https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I](https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I
[https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I](https://youtube.com/shorts/Gy2k2OofF2I
YouTube
Orthodoxy = CORRECT Worship ☦️🙏