"Arrow" prayer: "Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness..."
"Many Church Fathers taught the use of the 'arrow prayer', deliberately short prayers for personal devotion that were easily remembered, and could communicate one's love for God, while seeking His help...
One of my personal favorites is an arrow prayer attributed to Saint Gregory Palamas. 'Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness...'
It is a prayer in which we confess before God that we are living in a state of darkness, and asking Him to dispel all that darkness which keeps us from attaining holiness, and communing with Him."
Abbot Tryphon of the The Holy Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1580521368937934&id=1395030584153681
"Many Church Fathers taught the use of the 'arrow prayer', deliberately short prayers for personal devotion that were easily remembered, and could communicate one's love for God, while seeking His help...
One of my personal favorites is an arrow prayer attributed to Saint Gregory Palamas. 'Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness, Lord enlighten my darkness...'
It is a prayer in which we confess before God that we are living in a state of darkness, and asking Him to dispel all that darkness which keeps us from attaining holiness, and communing with Him."
Abbot Tryphon of the The Holy Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1580521368937934&id=1395030584153681
Epistle for the Third Sunday of Lent. Veneration of the Cross
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. " Hebrews 4:14-16
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. " Hebrews 4:14-16
From a Prophetic 1937 Sermon by Saint John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco
Our present day disasters are terrible for us because they befall us not as a result of the strength of our faith but because we do not endure them for Christ. Hence we do not set our hopes on being crowned for them.
We are made helpless in the struggle with adversities because we are not strengthened by the power of Christ, and rely not on God, but on human power and means. We forget the words of Holy Scripture: “Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation … Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Ps. 145:3, 5), and: “Except the Lord build the house, in vain do they labour that build it” (Ps. 126:1)
thoughtsintrusive.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/nothing-is-fearful/
Our present day disasters are terrible for us because they befall us not as a result of the strength of our faith but because we do not endure them for Christ. Hence we do not set our hopes on being crowned for them.
We are made helpless in the struggle with adversities because we are not strengthened by the power of Christ, and rely not on God, but on human power and means. We forget the words of Holy Scripture: “Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation … Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Ps. 145:3, 5), and: “Except the Lord build the house, in vain do they labour that build it” (Ps. 126:1)
thoughtsintrusive.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/nothing-is-fearful/
The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. Why Daffodils?
The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross cross marks the halfway point of Great Lent. The church reminds us of where we are journeying—to the cross and ultimately the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The cross of salvation is traditionally processed around the Church on a bed of daffodils. As the first flowers of spring, the time when nature is reborn, daffodils remind us of Resurrection. We cannot think of the Cross without remembering of Resurrection. We cannot imagine the death and the passions of Christ without having in mind the empty tomb radiating hope. Christ’s death has no meaning without His Resurrection.
The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross cross marks the halfway point of Great Lent. The church reminds us of where we are journeying—to the cross and ultimately the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The cross of salvation is traditionally processed around the Church on a bed of daffodils. As the first flowers of spring, the time when nature is reborn, daffodils remind us of Resurrection. We cannot think of the Cross without remembering of Resurrection. We cannot imagine the death and the passions of Christ without having in mind the empty tomb radiating hope. Christ’s death has no meaning without His Resurrection.
An Apostle in Turbulent Times
St Tikhon, Apostle to America (Apr 7/ Apr 20), was a zealous labourer for Christ's Church in North America and Russia. He returned to Russia to steer Russian Church as Primate in the hardest years of the revolutionary atheistic regime. St Tikhon 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."
St Tikhon, Apostle to America (Apr 7/ Apr 20), was a zealous labourer for Christ's Church in North America and Russia. He returned to Russia to steer Russian Church as Primate in the hardest years of the revolutionary atheistic regime. St Tikhon 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."
"[T]he Blood and the Body of Jesus Christ is the greatest medicine against the pandemic.” - Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa
https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-of-alexandria-blood-and-body-of-jesus-christ-is-greatest-medicine-against-pandemic/
https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-of-alexandria-blood-and-body-of-jesus-christ-is-greatest-medicine-against-pandemic/
On the fourth Sunday of Lent, we commemorate our devout Father John, author of The Ladder.
John, who was dead in the flesh while living,
Ever lives, while appearing to be dead and not breathing.
And shows us the way of his ascent to heaven.
By his intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
John, who was dead in the flesh while living,
Ever lives, while appearing to be dead and not breathing.
And shows us the way of his ascent to heaven.
By his intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
The Christian family is in crisis: the solution is to resist sin
“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
https://orthochristian.com/138417.html
“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
https://orthochristian.com/138417.html
5th Sunday of Great Lent: St Mary of Egypt
St Mary to St Zosimas: “Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
St Mary to St Zosimas: “Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother, for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels! + Troparion to St Mary of Egypt
Prayer is superior to all good works. It begets tears of repentance, greatly contributes to peace in one’s thoughts, leads one to think only of God Who is the ultimate Peace, and brings forth the love of God. Prayer alone purifies the rational part of the soul through the vision of God, Who causes the purification of the angels; it also preserves the desiring part of the soul in purity before God.
+St Kallistos Telikoudes, On the Practice of Hesychasm, Philokalia Vol. 5
+St Kallistos Telikoudes, On the Practice of Hesychasm, Philokalia Vol. 5
Pay attention to the details of Holy Scripture, learn from Holy Tradition, and don’t let Satan win! Fr. Kosta Kaltsidis brings rich detail to the meaning-filled history of the wood of the Holy and Life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ-- and how it came to be placed at Golgotha.
https://youtu.be/RB5epXVED2Q
https://youtu.be/RB5epXVED2Q
YouTube
Homily - Sunday of the Holy Cross
Fifth Saturday of Lent — Saturday of the Akathist to the Most-holy Theotokos
Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud thus: Rejoice, initiate of God’s ineffable will: Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in silence! Rejoice, beginning of Christ’s miracles: Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down: Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us from earth to heaven! Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded abroad: Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed afar! Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest birth to the Light: Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy secret to none! Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the knowledge of the wise: Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to the minds of the faithful! Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud thus: Rejoice, initiate of God’s ineffable will: Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in silence! Rejoice, beginning of Christ’s miracles: Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down: Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us from earth to heaven! Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded abroad: Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed afar! Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest birth to the Light: Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy secret to none! Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the knowledge of the wise: Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to the minds of the faithful! Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
At this moment, a beloved Filipino priest, Fr. Felipe Balangit needs our prayers. He is reportedly seriously ill.
Recently, Fr. Felipe posted:
"When we are praying let us be mindful that we are not alone. We are joining our prayers with all the Holy Monks of Mt. Athos with all the Holy Saints. In this manner, we are connected with them. Let us not lose connection. But rather see this as a privilege that in spite of our sinfulness and our heavy heart, we are being united with the totality of the whole church with those who are in heaven." Let us now pray for God's healing mercy for Fr. Felipe.
Recently, Fr. Felipe posted:
"When we are praying let us be mindful that we are not alone. We are joining our prayers with all the Holy Monks of Mt. Athos with all the Holy Saints. In this manner, we are connected with them. Let us not lose connection. But rather see this as a privilege that in spite of our sinfulness and our heavy heart, we are being united with the totality of the whole church with those who are in heaven." Let us now pray for God's healing mercy for Fr. Felipe.
The Orthodox Theological Society in America’s recent pro-vaccine statement has been condemned as “abhorrent to any informed, devout Orthodox Christian” by the recent dean and professor of Moral Theology at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New York. “A ‘lesser evil’ decision process cloaked in ‘greater good’ language is sophistry, prelest, and sheer moral evil.”