“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

"…deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just."

Konatkion, Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday)

Icon by the hand of Viktor Vasnetsov

Tourist at monk's cell:"Where is your furniture?"
Monk: "Where is yours?"
Tourist: "Mine? I'm only a tourist here."
Monk: "And so am I"

☦️ St. Joseph the Hesychast

“We are spiritually sick. And some of us are already dead.”

People feel unhappy and don’t know why. They feel that something is wrong but can’t put their finger on what it is. They feel uneasy in the world, confused and frustrated, alienated and estranged, and can’t explain it. They have everything and yet want more; and when they get it, they’re still left empty and dissatisfied. They want happiness and peace, and nothing seems to bring it. They want fulfillment, and it never seems to come.

Everything is fine, yet everything is wrong. In America this is almost a national disease. It is covered over by frantic activity and endless running around. It is buried in activities and events. It is drowned out by television programs and games. But when the movement stops and the dial is turned off and everything is quiet...then the dread sets in, and the meaninglessness of it all, and the boredom, and the fear. Why is this so? Because, the Church tells us, we are really not at home.

We are in exile. We are alienated and estranged from our true country. We are not with God our Father in the land of the living. We are spiritually sick. And some of us are already dead.”

Fr. Thomas Hopko, "The Lenten Spring”

If it is merely habit that sends you to the Physician, you will not receive healing. The all-merciful One wants love from the one who comes to Him, and if the supplicant brings love and tears he receives freely the gift of forgiveness.

✝️ St. Ephrem the Syrian

"The Son of God has become the Son of Man in order to make us, men, sons of God.“

☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (Mar 12)

The Church, recognizing St. Symeon’s remarkable life of prayer and holiness, as well as the heights of his spiritual understanding, calls him "the New Theologian." Only two others have received the title: John the Evangelist and Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.“ 2 Corinthians 2:15

“A fish that is alive swims against the flow of water. One that is dead floats down with the water. A true Christian goes against the current of sinful age. A false one is swept away by its swiftness.”

☦️ St. Philaret of Moscow, Orthodox Life Vol. 63 No. 3 May-June 2012

A prayer for the afflicted

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, help us and defend us in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver us from the threats that surround us. Send Thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those who are suffering. Guide the hands of physicians, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve thee in peace and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

“Prefer nothing, absolutely nothing, to the love of Christ”

✝️ St. Benedict of Nursia (March 14)

Entered into eternal rest on March 13. Memory Eternal!

"God is Intellect and transcends the creatures that in His Wisdom He has created; yet He also changelessly begets the Logos as their dwelling-place, and, as Scripture says (cf. John 14:26), sends the Holy Spirit to endow them with power. He is thus both outside everything and within everything. " ✝️ St. Nikitas Stithatos

St. Aristobulus (Mar 16), brother of the Apostle Barnabas and numbered among the Seventy Apostles, was made the first bishop of Britain by the Apostle Paul. There he endured the torments and malice of the pagans who smote him, dragged him through the streets, mocked him and jeered at him. Aristobulus remained steadfast in the Gospel and helped convert many.

Such was the Apostle Aristobulus' influence amongst the Brythonic Celts that a region was named after him: Arwystli. This region later became a small medieval British kingdom, and continues to this day as a district (known as a cantref) in the county of Powys, Wales.

Pray unto God for us, O holy Saint Aristobulus, well-pleasing to God: for we turn unto you who are the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. Amen.

“I know for certain, that before I was humbled I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and He that is mighty came and in His mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for His great favours in this world and forever, that the mind of man cannot measure.”

✝️ The Confession of Saint Patrick (Mar 17), Enlightener of Ireland