Our inner eye
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be clean, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness" + Mt. 6:22-23
This eye is our conscience; the body is our entire being. If our conscience is clean, then our entire being will be full of light. We keep our conscience clean by maintaining a vigilant watch over our thoughts and every movement of our heart and call always on Christ "the true Light, Who enlightens every man who comes into the world."
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be clean, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness" + Mt. 6:22-23
This eye is our conscience; the body is our entire being. If our conscience is clean, then our entire being will be full of light. We keep our conscience clean by maintaining a vigilant watch over our thoughts and every movement of our heart and call always on Christ "the true Light, Who enlightens every man who comes into the world."
St Theophan the Recluse: “You ask about the prayer rule. Yes, because of our weakness, it is proper to have a prayer rule. For one thing, it controls excessive zeal. The great men of prayer had a prayer rule and kept to it. Every time, they began prayer with the established prayers, and then, if self-initiated prayer came, they turned to it from reciting prayers. If they needed a prayer rule, then we need one even more! Without formal prayers, we would not know how to pray correctly at all. Without them, we would be completely without prayer. Nevertheless, we should not collect too many prayers. A few prayers, correctly read, are better than many prayers raced through.”
At Pentecost, the fullness of the Godhead is manifested with the Spirit’s coming to man, thus the 8th Sunday of Pascha is also known as the Feast of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Trinity icon, depicting the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, is often placed in the middle of the church, alongside the traditional Pentecost icon.
The Holy Trinity icon, depicting the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, is often placed in the middle of the church, alongside the traditional Pentecost icon.
“The Lord sometimes allows people who are devoted to Him to fall into such dreadful vices; and this is in order to prevent them from falling into a still greater sin-- pride.
Your temptation will pass and you will spend the remaining days of your life in humility. Only do not forget your sin.”
☦️ St Seraphim of Sarov
Your temptation will pass and you will spend the remaining days of your life in humility. Only do not forget your sin.”
☦️ St Seraphim of Sarov
Prophet and Forerunner John, we honour you in love at your nativity, the beginning of your proclamation to the world of the incarnation of the Son of God!
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
On June 24, 2022, the Nativity Feast of the Holy Baptist and Forerunner John, unborn children regained their legal right to life as the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe vs. Wade.
The Holy Baptist recognized the personhood and divinity of Jesus Christ while they were both in their mothers' womb. His mother, Holy Elizabeth, on meeting the Mother of our Lord, declared (Luke 1:44) that her babe “leaped in my womb for joy!”
The Holy Baptist recognized the personhood and divinity of Jesus Christ while they were both in their mothers' womb. His mother, Holy Elizabeth, on meeting the Mother of our Lord, declared (Luke 1:44) that her babe “leaped in my womb for joy!”
Prayers for the Non-Orthodox Departed
St. Leonid of Optina introduced this prayer to a disciple who was in despair over the suicide of his father: "Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father, if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."
Based on St Leonid's prayer, we may pray this prayer for the Non-Orthodox departed "Have mercy, O Lord, if it be possible on the souls of Thy departed servants (names), who have departed into eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church. Unsearchable are Thy decrees. Do not account this, my prayer as a sin, but may Thy holy will be done."
We may also pray the Akathist for the Repose of the Departed, found in The Book of Akathists (published by Holy Trinity Monastery) privately. This akathist, for anyone who has departed, gives us a means to pray for those for whom a Pannikhida cannot be done.
St. Leonid of Optina introduced this prayer to a disciple who was in despair over the suicide of his father: "Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father, if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."
Based on St Leonid's prayer, we may pray this prayer for the Non-Orthodox departed "Have mercy, O Lord, if it be possible on the souls of Thy departed servants (names), who have departed into eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church. Unsearchable are Thy decrees. Do not account this, my prayer as a sin, but may Thy holy will be done."
We may also pray the Akathist for the Repose of the Departed, found in The Book of Akathists (published by Holy Trinity Monastery) privately. This akathist, for anyone who has departed, gives us a means to pray for those for whom a Pannikhida cannot be done.
“Confess, partake, and fear nothing. Confession is the key to the kingdom of heaven.
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt
The Orthodox Church is growing in India. Missionary priests like Fr. Stanislav Rasputin and Fr. George Maximov have brought many souls into the Orthodox Church.
There is much confusion about strength of Orthodoxy in the land where the Holy Apostle Thomas established the Church. Today, most churches that call themselves “Orthodox”— such as "Malankara" and “Syriac"— are not canonical, though they have existed for centuries.
However, the situation is changing. Hundreds have been baptized into the canonical Church and many Orthodox communities have been created in recent years.
There is much confusion about strength of Orthodoxy in the land where the Holy Apostle Thomas established the Church. Today, most churches that call themselves “Orthodox”— such as "Malankara" and “Syriac"— are not canonical, though they have existed for centuries.
However, the situation is changing. Hundreds have been baptized into the canonical Church and many Orthodox communities have been created in recent years.
“If you say something evil about your brother or sister, even if it is true, your soul suffers an unhealable wound. You can reveal the sins of another only when the sole intention in your heart is the benefit of the soul of the sinner." ☦️ St. Nikon of Optina (June 25)
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints from every corner of the earth.
The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
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,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!