Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
☦️ Luke 12:27-31
☦️ Luke 12:27-31
"Commanders of God’s armies and ministers of the divine glory, princes of the bodiless angels and guides of mankind, ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy, supreme commanders of the Bodiless Hosts."
—Kontakion, Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel (Nov 8/ Nov 21)
—Kontakion, Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel (Nov 8/ Nov 21)
Where does the idea of prayers to angels and to saints come from? Actually it’s more than an idea. It’s a reality found in Holy Scripture.
Abbot Tryphon notes that “the Bible indeed directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray with us. In Psalms 103, we pray, ‘Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!’ (Psalms 103:20-21). And in Psalms 148 we pray, ‘Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!’ (Psalms 148:1-2).
Abbot Tryphon notes that “the Bible indeed directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray with us. In Psalms 103, we pray, ‘Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!’ (Psalms 103:20-21). And in Psalms 148 we pray, ‘Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!’ (Psalms 148:1-2).
Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In the book of Revelation, we read: ‘[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God’ (Rev. 8:3-4).
Those in heaven who offer to God our prayers aren’t just angels, but humans as well. John sees that ‘the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints’ (Rev. 5:8). The simple fact is, as this passage shows: The saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.
If Christ is the only intercessor before the Throne why do our Protestant friends ask fellow believers from praying for them? We all ask our friends to pray for us all the time. Why, then, would we not want to ask for the prayers of those who have already won their place in Paradise, and are already standing before the Throne of God, worshiping the Holy Trinity?”
Those in heaven who offer to God our prayers aren’t just angels, but humans as well. John sees that ‘the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints’ (Rev. 5:8). The simple fact is, as this passage shows: The saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.
If Christ is the only intercessor before the Throne why do our Protestant friends ask fellow believers from praying for them? We all ask our friends to pray for us all the time. Why, then, would we not want to ask for the prayers of those who have already won their place in Paradise, and are already standing before the Throne of God, worshiping the Holy Trinity?”
“How many heresies have depraved men raised up against the Church from the days of the holy apostles even to the present? What things did the holy fathers before us not suffer at their hands? Yet the Church always remained unvanquished. Those who endured sufferings have been splendidly glorified and received their crown, but heretics have received that which they merited for their deeds”
☦️ St Theodore the Studite, speech to the faithful concerning the iconoclastic laws of Emperor Leo the Armenian (8th century)
☦️ St Theodore the Studite, speech to the faithful concerning the iconoclastic laws of Emperor Leo the Armenian (8th century)
Rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, the Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip (Nov 14/Nov 27) waited the coming of the Messiah. When the Saviour called him (John 1:43), Philip followed.
Christ Our God, Your disciple, friend and imitator of Your passion, the God-preaching Philip, proclaimed You to the universe! By his prayers deliver Your Church from her enemies; through the Theotokos protect every city, most merciful Christ!
Christ Our God, Your disciple, friend and imitator of Your passion, the God-preaching Philip, proclaimed You to the universe! By his prayers deliver Your Church from her enemies; through the Theotokos protect every city, most merciful Christ!
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
“Let not one think, my fellow Christian, that only priests and monks need to pray without ceasing and not laymen. No, every Christian without exception ought to dwell always in prayer.”
✝️ St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonika, defender of Hesychasm (Nov 14/ Nov 27 and the 2nd Sun. of Great Lent)
“Let not one think, my fellow Christian, that only priests and monks need to pray without ceasing and not laymen. No, every Christian without exception ought to dwell always in prayer.”
✝️ St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonika, defender of Hesychasm (Nov 14/ Nov 27 and the 2nd Sun. of Great Lent)
“God is waiting for us.” Why are we late?
“Think about it. If we are consistently late for work, then we would be out if a job. Be three minutes late for a plane or train, and they will leave without you. But, with church, that's not even the case. It should be known that the Liturgy begins well before its “beginning.” Upon entering the church temple, the priest is to pray the Door Prayers in front of the iconostasis. He then prays Proskomedia, where he prepares the offering for the Eucharistic Liturgy. While this is happening, the cantor/chanter is singing the Hours in order to establish the setting of prayer and praise. People are lighting candles and praying silently for their intentions, in preparation to encounter our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist.
“Think about it. If we are consistently late for work, then we would be out if a job. Be three minutes late for a plane or train, and they will leave without you. But, with church, that's not even the case. It should be known that the Liturgy begins well before its “beginning.” Upon entering the church temple, the priest is to pray the Door Prayers in front of the iconostasis. He then prays Proskomedia, where he prepares the offering for the Eucharistic Liturgy. While this is happening, the cantor/chanter is singing the Hours in order to establish the setting of prayer and praise. People are lighting candles and praying silently for their intentions, in preparation to encounter our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist.
All of this reminds us of the eternal choirs of angels singing in praise of our Lord—an eternity that we, as Christians, aspire to attain once we leave this earth. The church temple is meant to reflect heaven, where we meet our Lord and Savior in HIS house surrounded by the sounds, sights, and smells of His dwelling. ⠀ In church, God is waiting for us. And if we nurture a relationship of trust and love with our God, then the issue of being late doesn't even arise. After all, going to the Liturgy is not a weekly Sunday obligation. It is something that we freely should choose to do, not to “gain” anything, but because we truly believe in our Lord and Savior, and we want to offer Him praise and spend time with Him in His house. Simply put, the time that we spend in church is meant to be a taste of what eternity in heaven will be like.
Simply put, if we are focused on God, we would find being late for church unacceptable in our lives. We would take every safeguard to be on time for our dream vacation… Going to church is the joy of meeting, the pursuit of union with our Creator—it is our sincere response to His invitation... Let's hurry to God!”
—Author unknown
—Author unknown
"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him." + Matt. 9:9
The primary affirmation of the Gospel account written by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (Nov 16/ Nov 29) is that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. There would not be another. (Matt.11:3).
Divinely eloquent Matthew, we honour your precious memory!
Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.
The primary affirmation of the Gospel account written by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (Nov 16/ Nov 29) is that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. There would not be another. (Matt.11:3).
Divinely eloquent Matthew, we honour your precious memory!
Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.
"We have found the Messiah.”
☦️ The Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called (Nov 30)
“Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to His appearing from heaven, rejoicing when He does appear and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.” ☦️ St John Chrysostom
☦️ The Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called (Nov 30)
“Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to His appearing from heaven, rejoicing when He does appear and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.” ☦️ St John Chrysostom
"The Holy Apostle Andrew, in Greek, Andreas, interpreted as "strong, manly" and "courageous", is a dramatic example of courage for us in these times when Christians have lost their courage!
St Andrew wiillingly accepted death by crucifixion. As people were being converted to Christ by the spectacle of Andrew's torturous death, he prayed to God prolong his agony so that even more would become Christians.
St Andrew wiillingly accepted death by crucifixion. As people were being converted to Christ by the spectacle of Andrew's torturous death, he prayed to God prolong his agony so that even more would become Christians.
Fear God—not the demons. Fear God and His judgments, for when He decides to punish us with some kind of penance for our pride, who is able to stop Him? Therefore, when the evil is still small, let us take care to remedy it. For once it has grown worse, you will not be able to be delivered even if others help you. So love God more, since He has sent you the medicine for your illness—that is, patience, humility, and courage—and see to it that you take it.
☦️ Elder Ephraim of Arizona
☦️ Elder Ephraim of Arizona
When I was seriously ill and on the point of leaving this life, I didn’t want to think about my sins. I wanted to think about the love of my Lord, my Christ, and about eternal life. I didn’t want to feel fear. I wanted to go to the Lord and to think about His goodness, His love. And now that my life is nearing its end, I don’t feel anxiety or apprehension, but I think that when I appear at the Second Coming and Christ says to me:
'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?"
I will bow my head and I will say to Him:
‘Whatever you want, my Lord, whatever your love desires. I know I am not worthy. Send me wherever your love wishes. I am fit for hell. And place me in hell, as long as I am with You. There is one thing I want, one thing I desire, one thing I ask for, and that is to be with You, wherever and however You wish'.
✝️ Saint Porphyrios (Bairaktaris), who fell asleep in the Lord on Nov 19/ Dec 2, 1991.
'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?"
I will bow my head and I will say to Him:
‘Whatever you want, my Lord, whatever your love desires. I know I am not worthy. Send me wherever your love wishes. I am fit for hell. And place me in hell, as long as I am with You. There is one thing I want, one thing I desire, one thing I ask for, and that is to be with You, wherever and however You wish'.
✝️ Saint Porphyrios (Bairaktaris), who fell asleep in the Lord on Nov 19/ Dec 2, 1991.