The holy and glorious Martyr Thomais of Alexandria is called upon for those wanting to be set free from lusts and other impurities.
St Thomais died at the hands of her father-in-law for refusing his sexual advances. Before being killed by him she declared, “Even if you cut me to pieces, I shall not stray from the commandments of the Lord.”
At the time of her burial at Oktodekadian monastery near Alexandria, some monks were scandalized by the burial of a woman there. St Daniel of Skete, who was visiting the monastery at the time, replied, “She is a mother to me and to you, because she died for her chastity.”
Holy womanmartyr Thomais, pray to Christ our God that we may be freed from every lust and impurity.
St Thomais died at the hands of her father-in-law for refusing his sexual advances. Before being killed by him she declared, “Even if you cut me to pieces, I shall not stray from the commandments of the Lord.”
At the time of her burial at Oktodekadian monastery near Alexandria, some monks were scandalized by the burial of a woman there. St Daniel of Skete, who was visiting the monastery at the time, replied, “She is a mother to me and to you, because she died for her chastity.”
Holy womanmartyr Thomais, pray to Christ our God that we may be freed from every lust and impurity.
I have sinned more than the harlot who, on learning where You were, brought myrrh and came boldly to anoint Your feet, my God,
my Master and my Christ. As You did not turn her away when she came with her heart, so O Word, turn me not away but give me Your feet to hold, to kiss and to anoint boldly with a stream of tears as a precious ointment. Wash me with my tears, O Word and cleanse me with them! Remit my transgressions and grant me forgiveness.
my Master and my Christ. As You did not turn her away when she came with her heart, so O Word, turn me not away but give me Your feet to hold, to kiss and to anoint boldly with a stream of tears as a precious ointment. Wash me with my tears, O Word and cleanse me with them! Remit my transgressions and grant me forgiveness.
“I come to You, O Christ,
Blind from birth in my spiritual eyes
And I call to You in repentance:
You are the most radiant light of those in darkness!”
The miracle described in the Gospel reading (John 9:1-38), for the Sunday of the Blind Man (Sixth Sunday of Pascha), is even more remarkable than it might seem at first.
St Basil and other Fathers tell us that our Lord didn't just give sight to a blind man born "who was blind from his birth" (John 9:1). He placed clay in the man’s empty sockets and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. When the blind man, did this, the eyes of clay became living eyes!
Saint Demetrius of Rostov, in his Great Synaxarion, mentions that the blind man's name was Celidonius. One tradition ascribes to St. Celidonius the founding of the Christian church at Nîmes in Gaul (present-day France).
Blind from birth in my spiritual eyes
And I call to You in repentance:
You are the most radiant light of those in darkness!”
The miracle described in the Gospel reading (John 9:1-38), for the Sunday of the Blind Man (Sixth Sunday of Pascha), is even more remarkable than it might seem at first.
St Basil and other Fathers tell us that our Lord didn't just give sight to a blind man born "who was blind from his birth" (John 9:1). He placed clay in the man’s empty sockets and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. When the blind man, did this, the eyes of clay became living eyes!
Saint Demetrius of Rostov, in his Great Synaxarion, mentions that the blind man's name was Celidonius. One tradition ascribes to St. Celidonius the founding of the Christian church at Nîmes in Gaul (present-day France).
“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. “ ✝️ John 16:2
“The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs“, Holy Apostles Bartholomew of the Twelve and Barnabas of the Seventy (June 11/ June 24), “As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!“
“The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs“, Holy Apostles Bartholomew of the Twelve and Barnabas of the Seventy (June 11/ June 24), “As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!“
The bell tower of the submerged St. Nicholas Monastery Cathedral of Kalyazin, central Russia, serves as a beacon to navigation. It also stands as a testament to the resilience and reemergence of the Orthodox Church in Russia— and Josef Stalin’s failure to suppress the Church.
When Stalin ordered the construction of the Uglich Dam on the Volga River in 1939, the old parts of Kalyazin, including the monastery, were flooded. Only the Bell tower survived.
In order to prevent the tower’s collapse, large amounts of soil were placed around the tower. This created a small man-made island, to which a boat dock has been added. Liturgies are sometimes served there.
When Stalin ordered the construction of the Uglich Dam on the Volga River in 1939, the old parts of Kalyazin, including the monastery, were flooded. Only the Bell tower survived.
In order to prevent the tower’s collapse, large amounts of soil were placed around the tower. This created a small man-made island, to which a boat dock has been added. Liturgies are sometimes served there.
“The world is against you, Athanasius!”
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius wasn’t one to “go with the flow.” Fighting against the Arian heresy, Saint Athanasius defied four emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St. Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
”Then I am against the world."
Saint Athanasius wasn’t one to “go with the flow.” Fighting against the Arian heresy, Saint Athanasius defied four emperors and lived with the constant threat of death. More than 20 of his 50 years as bishop were spent in exile.
St. Athanasius, we need strength to stand for truth against all compromise. Pray for us!
“Christ Has Ascended!"
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues: “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Psalm 46 (Septuagint), verse 5.
The psalm continues: “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
How to become impoverished
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️ St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honouring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfil them, even one's own life; in considering God's Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will. The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart: "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It is as though he himself disappears; everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God — in himself and in others. "Let everything be Thine, not mine."
☦️ St John Kronstadt
(Glorification May 31/ June 13)
✝️Blessed are You, Lord, Almighty Master, who illumines the day with the light of the sun and the night with the glow of the moon, Who has made us worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near to the onset of the night; hear our petitions and those of all You people. Forgive us all our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, and accept our evening supplications and send down the multitude of Your mercies and compassions upon Your people. Protect us with Your holy angels. Arm us with the weapons of Your truth. Envelop us with Your righteousness. Preserve us by Your power and deliver us from every oppression and from every conspiracy of the cunning one. Grant us that this evening and the approaching night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without doubt and vain imaginings.