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.
Be the defenders of purity and the sanctity of family life. Teach your children to understand and keep in purity what God has ordained, namely that youth be a period of purity... They receive God’s blessing through the Sacrament of Marriage give birth to blessed children, and God will always protect them because God will never be indebted.”
-- His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania
-- His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania
Saint Athanasius began his second of five exiles on April 16, 339, at Rome. It lasted seven and a half years. St. Gregory Nazianzen, fellow Doctor of the Church, said, "When I praise Athanasius, virtue itself is my theme: for I name every virtue as often as I mention him who was possessed of all virtues. He was the true pillar of the Church. His life and conduct were the rule of bishops, and his doctrine the rule of the Orthodox faith." (Or.21)
On Holy Pascha of 1993 (April 18), three monks of Optina Hermitage-- Hieromonk Vasily (Roslyakov), Monk Trophim (Tatarinov), and Monk Therapont (Pushkaryov)-- received holy martyrdom at the hands of a Satanist. Many faithful express the hope that these new martyrs for Christ will soon be canonized.
"On Great and Holy Friday, two days before Father Vasily’s death, he experienced a profound spiritual moment during a divine service. He suddenly paused while stepping onto the solea to proclaim stichera and fell silent. At that moment, the choir sang in his stead, 'Heaven at this was amazed, and the sun hid its rays.' Father Vasily remained discreet about the details of this experience.”
“Before the Paschal liturgy, Father Vasily was tasked with preparing the proskomidia. Normally adept at this duty, he found it unusually difficult this time. Urged by the dean to hasten, he responded, 'I’m sorry, I can’t. It’s so hard, as if I were cutting through my own flesh.'"
"On Great and Holy Friday, two days before Father Vasily’s death, he experienced a profound spiritual moment during a divine service. He suddenly paused while stepping onto the solea to proclaim stichera and fell silent. At that moment, the choir sang in his stead, 'Heaven at this was amazed, and the sun hid its rays.' Father Vasily remained discreet about the details of this experience.”
“Before the Paschal liturgy, Father Vasily was tasked with preparing the proskomidia. Normally adept at this duty, he found it unusually difficult this time. Urged by the dean to hasten, he responded, 'I’m sorry, I can’t. It’s so hard, as if I were cutting through my own flesh.'"
In 2005, a chapel in honour of the Resurrection of Christ was erected over the graves of the three monks who had suffered martyrdom. Many pilgrims receive grace through prayers to the new martyrs of Optina, and the monastery brethren are actively gathering evidence for the future canonisation of these slain ascetics.”
From https://obitel-minsk.org/en/optina-new-martyrs-slain-on-pascha
From https://obitel-minsk.org/en/optina-new-martyrs-slain-on-pascha