Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” This Psalm is traditionally read at the Sixth Hour of each day, along with Psalms 53 and 54. It is also read in Great Compline and in the funeral service.
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Many of our Orthodox Saints are Saints because they remained faithful to Christ and His Church by choosing to disobey leaders who promoted false teachings. Blind obedience is not Orthodox practice! Father Peter Heers:
"We can keep guard over the whole world by keeping guard over the atmosphere of heaven within us, for if we lose the Kingdom of Heaven, we will save neither ourselves nor others. He who has the Kingdom of God in himself will imperceptibly pass it on to others. People will be attracted by the peace and warmth in us; they will want to be near us, and the atmosphere of heaven will gradually pass on to them. It is not even necessary to speak to people about this. The atmosphere of heaven will radiate from us even when we keep silence or talk about ordinary things. It will radiate from us even though we may not be aware of it."
✝️ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
✝️ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
“Hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian” ✝️ Hieromartyr St. Polycarp of Smyrna (23 Feb/ 8 Mar), disciple of John the Evangelist
“Through godly virtues, thou broughtest forth for the Lord God much spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so didst prove worthy of God thy Lord, O wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have all been enlightened through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy memory and glorify Christ the Lord.”
“Through godly virtues, thou broughtest forth for the Lord God much spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so didst prove worthy of God thy Lord, O wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have all been enlightened through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy memory and glorify Christ the Lord.”
“God, be merciful to me a sinner!”
The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first Sunday of a three-week period before the start of Great Lent. It marks the beginning of a time of preparation for the spiritual journey of Lent. It is a time for Orthodox Christians to draw closer to God through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of charity.
“Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee! And learn humility from the Publican’s tears! Let us cry to our Savior, have mercy on us, only merciful One!”
—Kontakion, Tone 4
The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first Sunday of a three-week period before the start of Great Lent. It marks the beginning of a time of preparation for the spiritual journey of Lent. It is a time for Orthodox Christians to draw closer to God through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of charity.
“Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee! And learn humility from the Publican’s tears! Let us cry to our Savior, have mercy on us, only merciful One!”
—Kontakion, Tone 4
O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace, your head has blossomed from the earth as a sacred rose. We are ever being healed, for as of old, You preach repentance to the world. Kontakion (Tone 3), First and second finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John (Feb 24/ Mar 9)
O Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of all, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction (John 1:29). It is time for repentance. I draw near to Thee, my Creator. Take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Photo: Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Pskov-Caves Monastery
Photo: Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Pskov-Caves Monastery
“Christ alone is God: He alone has overcome." ☦️ St. Porphyrios of Gaza (Feb 26), Keeper of the True Cross of Christ
St. Porphyrius remains especially dear to Palestinians, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, Christian and non-Christian— especially in light of the current war in Gaza and the recent fatal bombing that took place on the church that bears the saint’s name.
Following the death of Gaza’s bishop in 395, St. Porphyrius took Christians under his protection from pagan harassment.
St Porphyrius’ good relations with the emperor inspired the empowerment to give money for the construction of a new church in Gaza, to be built on the site of the chief pagan temple. This church, now named after the saint, has undergone many reconstructions over the centuries but it has remained as the oldest and largest church in Gaza.
St. Porphyrius remains especially dear to Palestinians, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, Christian and non-Christian— especially in light of the current war in Gaza and the recent fatal bombing that took place on the church that bears the saint’s name.
Following the death of Gaza’s bishop in 395, St. Porphyrius took Christians under his protection from pagan harassment.
St Porphyrius’ good relations with the emperor inspired the empowerment to give money for the construction of a new church in Gaza, to be built on the site of the chief pagan temple. This church, now named after the saint, has undergone many reconstructions over the centuries but it has remained as the oldest and largest church in Gaza.
The Church, containing his holy relics suffered damage from an Israeli bomb strike in October, 2023, with many fatalities. May the memories of the new martyrs for Christ be eternal!
The damaged church still stands and is reportedly serving as a makeshift hospital.
Our father Porphyrios, priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
The damaged church still stands and is reportedly serving as a makeshift hospital.
Our father Porphyrios, priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
Syrian-born St Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn (Feb 27) was the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Innocent performed his service at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn. Bishop Raphael never neglected his growing flock, travelling throughout America, Canada, and Mexico in search of them so that he might care for them. In a protestant-influenced culture, He kept them from straying into strange pastures, and he protected them from spiritual harm. At the time of his repose, the Syro-Arab Mission had thirty parishes with 25,000 faithful."
"Rejoice, O Father Raphael, Adornment of the Holy Church!
Thou art Champion of the true Faith,
Seeker of the lost, Consolation of the oppressed,
Father to orphans, and Friend of the poor,
Peacemaker and Good Shepherd, Joy of all the Orthodox,
Son of Antioch, Boast of America:
Intercede with Christ God for us and for all who honor thee."
(Troparion, Tone 3)
"Rejoice, O Father Raphael, Adornment of the Holy Church!
Thou art Champion of the true Faith,
Seeker of the lost, Consolation of the oppressed,
Father to orphans, and Friend of the poor,
Peacemaker and Good Shepherd, Joy of all the Orthodox,
Son of Antioch, Boast of America:
Intercede with Christ God for us and for all who honor thee."
(Troparion, Tone 3)
"Be joyful, brothers and sisters, keep the holy faith and do your little good works"
"Always rejoice and be in the faith. Do the same little deeds that I did: you yourselves saw them and heard of them. I am following the path which our fathers walked before us."
+Our father among the saints, David of Wales (Mar 1/ Mar 14)
The glory of St. David as a wonderworker spread throughout Britain and Ireland both during his life and after his repose. On hearing his zealous preaching, many rulers and princes gave away their riches to the poor and in some instances abdicated their thrones and took up monastic life.
The relics of St. David have survived and are located at St. David's Cathedral (12th-14th centuries), on the site of the original monastery established by David. His shrine was ravaged and desecrated during the Reformation but his holy relics survived and continue to be venerated.
"Always rejoice and be in the faith. Do the same little deeds that I did: you yourselves saw them and heard of them. I am following the path which our fathers walked before us."
+Our father among the saints, David of Wales (Mar 1/ Mar 14)
The glory of St. David as a wonderworker spread throughout Britain and Ireland both during his life and after his repose. On hearing his zealous preaching, many rulers and princes gave away their riches to the poor and in some instances abdicated their thrones and took up monastic life.
The relics of St. David have survived and are located at St. David's Cathedral (12th-14th centuries), on the site of the original monastery established by David. His shrine was ravaged and desecrated during the Reformation but his holy relics survived and continue to be venerated.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
At times when we are far away from God herding our herd of pigs (sins) we grow hungry and cold we desire to be satisfied with the pigs feed but it is never enough.
If we contemplate on this hunger and cold we see the truth we hunger for the word of God “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” and the cold for we lack the warmth of the Holy Spirit.
If we wake for this truth we shall feel humility and run back to our Father's embrace and ask for forgiveness and no longer accept to work with pigs and eat of their feed for we are the inheritors of the Kingdom of God and we are kings and queen and our only sustenance is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
--Canon E Allam
At times when we are far away from God herding our herd of pigs (sins) we grow hungry and cold we desire to be satisfied with the pigs feed but it is never enough.
If we contemplate on this hunger and cold we see the truth we hunger for the word of God “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” and the cold for we lack the warmth of the Holy Spirit.
If we wake for this truth we shall feel humility and run back to our Father's embrace and ask for forgiveness and no longer accept to work with pigs and eat of their feed for we are the inheritors of the Kingdom of God and we are kings and queen and our only sustenance is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
--Canon E Allam
A tragedy of the reign of Henry VIII British Isles was the desecration and destruction monasteries and holy relics. Subjected to this destruction, on King Henry’s orders, were the holy relics of St. Chad, Evangelizer of Mercia, Bishop of Lichfield (Mar 2) a faithful disciple of St Aidan.
As a priest, and later bishop, St. Chad was known for his humility, prayerfulness and gentleness. In Mercia, there was fighting between neighbouring kingdoms. There was also division between the Romans and Celts in the Church. St Chad, belonging to the Celtic group, took up the task of mediation of these conflicts.
As a priest, and later bishop, St. Chad was known for his humility, prayerfulness and gentleness. In Mercia, there was fighting between neighbouring kingdoms. There was also division between the Romans and Celts in the Church. St Chad, belonging to the Celtic group, took up the task of mediation of these conflicts.
St. Chad established monasteries and is said to have dug wells for travelers. The water from these wells sometimes brought healings. St. Chad’s relics had been venerated by pilgrims for centuries at the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. In 1538 the Shrine was dismantled under the orders of King Henry. Some relics were destroyed. Others were recovered and hidden. Some later came into King Henry’s possession.
After the king’s death the holy relics were kept by the Jesuit from whom he had received the Last Rites, and eventually enshrined at a small chapel at Aston by Stone and later moved to a newly-built cathedral in Birmingham, consecrated in 1841. In 2022, a portion of the relics were returned to the original shrine in Lichfield Cathedral.
After the king’s death the holy relics were kept by the Jesuit from whom he had received the Last Rites, and eventually enshrined at a small chapel at Aston by Stone and later moved to a newly-built cathedral in Birmingham, consecrated in 1841. In 2022, a portion of the relics were returned to the original shrine in Lichfield Cathedral.