Quick Hearing icon of the Theotokos, St. Panteleimon Monastery, Mount Athos
“When God apportioned the nations according to his Angels, knowing that you, O Virgin, would be his immaculate Mother, he then allotted you this great and beautiful mountain as an inalienable inheritance.” ☦️ Theotokion from the First Ode of the Canon of the Athonite Fathers
“When God apportioned the nations according to his Angels, knowing that you, O Virgin, would be his immaculate Mother, he then allotted you this great and beautiful mountain as an inalienable inheritance.” ☦️ Theotokion from the First Ode of the Canon of the Athonite Fathers
If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is then that you will feel an indescribable delight, a wonderful inner peace and joy such as you have never experienced before, and at the same time you will feel an influx of spiritual strength; prayer will become easier and your faith stronger. Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When the Lord decides to honor you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy. Occasionally the Lord allows us to get a foretaste of future blessings so that we will put forth a greater effort in seeking His eternal Kingdom.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
Prosecutor: “Priest and professor Voyno-Yasenetsky, how is it that you believe in God? Have you seen Him?”
St. Luke of Crimea: “Citizen Public Prosecutor: Indeed, I have not seen God. But I have also operated much on the (human) brain; and, having opened the skull, neither did I ever see the mind. And neither did I ever find the conscience there.”
St. Luke of Crimea: “Citizen Public Prosecutor: Indeed, I have not seen God. But I have also operated much on the (human) brain; and, having opened the skull, neither did I ever see the mind. And neither did I ever find the conscience there.”
Do not do anything without signing yourself with the sign of the Cross! When you depart on a journey, when you begin your work, when you go to study, when you are alone, and when you are with other people, seal yourself with the Holy Cross on your forehead, your body, your chest, your heart, your lips, your eyes, your ears. All of you should be sealed with the sign of Christ’s victory over hell. Then you will no longer be afraid of charms, evil spirits, or sorcery, because these are dissolved by the power of the Cross like wax before fire and like dust before the wind.
✝️ Elder Cleopa
✝️ Elder Cleopa
St Tikhon, the Apostle to America and Enlightener of North America Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (repose April 7) was known for his loving manner with everyone and was never overbearing. Even when he had to reprimand someone, he did so in a good-natured, sometimes even joking, manner that encouraged the person to correct their mistakes.
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
"O Holy Confessor and Patriarch, Father Tikhon, Chosen by God in a turbulent time, you glorified God in complete holiness; and attained greatness through humility. Pray to Christ God to Whom you were also crucified, that He may save our souls."
The Divine Liturgy is a Theophany
“We stand in the place of Moses, and wrestle in the place of Jacob. We gaze with Ezekiel and the fiery wheels with the Son of Man in their midst. We stand with St. John the Theologian and the vast crowds of heaven before the Lamb-slain-from-the-foundation upon the altar with the four beasts and angels surrounding Him.
The Liturgy presents us with a living icon on the one hand, but also with the sacramental reality as well. We not only see the icon of what has been shown to the prophets, but also do what they did not: we eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink His blood. He dwells in us and we in Him.” —Fr. Stephen Freeman
“We stand in the place of Moses, and wrestle in the place of Jacob. We gaze with Ezekiel and the fiery wheels with the Son of Man in their midst. We stand with St. John the Theologian and the vast crowds of heaven before the Lamb-slain-from-the-foundation upon the altar with the four beasts and angels surrounding Him.
The Liturgy presents us with a living icon on the one hand, but also with the sacramental reality as well. We not only see the icon of what has been shown to the prophets, but also do what they did not: we eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink His blood. He dwells in us and we in Him.” —Fr. Stephen Freeman
Some people living carelessly in the world have asked me: “We have wives and are beset with social cares, and how can we lead the solitary life?” I replied to them: “Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not lie to anyone; do not be arrogant towards anyone; do not hate anyone; do not be absent from the divine services; be compassionate to the needy; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man’s domestic happiness, and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you behave in this way, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven”.
✝️ St John Climacus (of The Ladder)
✝️ St John Climacus (of The Ladder)
Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, And blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, And again unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed down with sleep, Lest you be given up to death and lest you be shut out of the Kingdom. But rouse yourself crying: Holy, Holy, Holy, are You, O our God! Through the Theotokos have mercy on us!
Prayer of Spouses for Each Other
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who through Your holy apostle Paul have taught us to bear one another's burdens and so fulfil Your holy Law: mercifully grant me to bear the burdens of my husband/wife in love. Bless our marriage, sending down upon us perfect and peaceful love, preserving us in oneness of mind and in steadfast faith. Pour out Your love upon my husband/wife (name), that he/she may be filled with joy and may please You in all things. Defend us from quarrels and temptations and preserve us in peace and harmony that together we may forever glorify Your holy Name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who through Your holy apostle Paul have taught us to bear one another's burdens and so fulfil Your holy Law: mercifully grant me to bear the burdens of my husband/wife in love. Bless our marriage, sending down upon us perfect and peaceful love, preserving us in oneness of mind and in steadfast faith. Pour out Your love upon my husband/wife (name), that he/she may be filled with joy and may please You in all things. Defend us from quarrels and temptations and preserve us in peace and harmony that together we may forever glorify Your holy Name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Pascha is coming! Christ will swallow up death forever. God’s promises and assurances:
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death...O grave, I will be your destruction.” (Hos. 12:14) “I know that my redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:25-26)
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this motal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writen, Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Cor. 15:54) “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” ☦️ Resurrection Troparion. Orthodox Resurrection Matins
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death...O grave, I will be your destruction.” (Hos. 12:14) “I know that my redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:25-26)
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this motal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writen, Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Cor. 15:54) “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” ☦️ Resurrection Troparion. Orthodox Resurrection Matins
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." Psalm 138:7-8
Underground Orthodox Church: Targu-Ocna salt mine in Romania, several hundred meters below ground.
Underground Orthodox Church: Targu-Ocna salt mine in Romania, several hundred meters below ground.