In 2018, Hieromonk Antipy of the Monastery of St. Sava, Ukraine, began to disassemble a case containing an icon of St John John of Shanghai and San Francisco (June 19/ July 2), in order to make a new case. He was surprised to see that the image of the saint was completely imprinted on the glass. During the All-Night Vigil on March 17, 2018, Rector Met. Luke confirmed it as a miracle.
Even as Archbishop, St John (Maximovitch), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco (June 19/ July 2) lived in poverty, wearing a cassock was made of Chinese "peasant cloth" stitched with crosses by orphans once in his care. His "miter" was sometimes a cloth cap to which he had glued paper icons. He went barefoot in all seasons, even in the United States-- until, after a foot infection, his Metropolitan ordered him to wear shoes. St John chose sandals.
At his funeral, the eulogist declared that because Archbishop John was able to live the spirituality of the Orthodox Church so fully, even in modern, western, urban society, so should we-- without excuse.
At his funeral, the eulogist declared that because Archbishop John was able to live the spirituality of the Orthodox Church so fully, even in modern, western, urban society, so should we-- without excuse.
Beloved 7th-century Syrian saint, ✠Andrew of Crete (July 4 / July 17) is said to have remained mute until age seven, when he gained the power of speech after receiving Holy Communion.
The Venerable Father, Bishop, Theologian, Homilist and Hymnographer (also known as Andrew of Jerusalem) is best known as the author of the “Great Canon,” a lengthy penitential Compline prayer traditionally offered during Lent, filled with praises to the All-Pure Virgin.
St Andrew’s sermons and liturgical hymns reflect a deep interior life of faith. “I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, the wounds of my soul and body, which murderous thoughts, like thieves, have inflicted inwardly upon me.”
Through thine intercessions, O Andrew, deliver us from shameful passions and, we pray thee, make us now partakers of Christ’s Kingdom; for with faith and love we sing thy praises.
The Venerable Father, Bishop, Theologian, Homilist and Hymnographer (also known as Andrew of Jerusalem) is best known as the author of the “Great Canon,” a lengthy penitential Compline prayer traditionally offered during Lent, filled with praises to the All-Pure Virgin.
St Andrew’s sermons and liturgical hymns reflect a deep interior life of faith. “I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, the wounds of my soul and body, which murderous thoughts, like thieves, have inflicted inwardly upon me.”
Through thine intercessions, O Andrew, deliver us from shameful passions and, we pray thee, make us now partakers of Christ’s Kingdom; for with faith and love we sing thy praises.
Many times St Athanasius, the Founder of the Great Lavra and Coenobitic Monasticism on Mt. Athos (July 5 / July 18) saw the most blessed Theotokos with his own eyes.
There once occurred such a lack of food at the Lavra that the monks one after the other left, until St Athanasius alone remained. In a moment of weakness, he also considered leaving. Suddenly he beheld a Woman beneath an ethereal veil, coming to meet him. “Who are you and where are you going?” She asked quietly. Saint Athanasius replied, “I am a monk from here,” and spoke about his worries.
“Would you forsake the monastery which was intended for glory from generation unto generation, just for a morsel of dry bread? Where is your faith? Turn around, and I shall help you.” “Who are you?” asked Athanasius. “I am the Mother of the Lord,” she replied, and told Athanasius to strike his staff upon a stone. There gushed forth a spring of water, which exists even now, in remembrance of the miraculous visit from the Mother of God.
There once occurred such a lack of food at the Lavra that the monks one after the other left, until St Athanasius alone remained. In a moment of weakness, he also considered leaving. Suddenly he beheld a Woman beneath an ethereal veil, coming to meet him. “Who are you and where are you going?” She asked quietly. Saint Athanasius replied, “I am a monk from here,” and spoke about his worries.
“Would you forsake the monastery which was intended for glory from generation unto generation, just for a morsel of dry bread? Where is your faith? Turn around, and I shall help you.” “Who are you?” asked Athanasius. “I am the Mother of the Lord,” she replied, and told Athanasius to strike his staff upon a stone. There gushed forth a spring of water, which exists even now, in remembrance of the miraculous visit from the Mother of God.
“In the Christian context, we do not mean by a 'mystery' merely that which is baffling and mysterious, an enigma or insoluble problem. A mystery is, on the contrary, something that is revealed for our understanding, but which we never understand exhaustively because it leads into the depth or the darkness of God. The eyes are closed—but they are also opened.” - Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way
“Laughter has been implanted in our soul, that the soul may sometime be refreshed.”
✝️ St John Chrysostom
https://orthodoxmissionkenya.org/sponsor-a-child
✝️ St John Chrysostom
https://orthodoxmissionkenya.org/sponsor-a-child
Holy Apostles and all Saints, pray for us, that we may be delivered from dangers, sorrows and afflictions; for we have obtained you as fervent intercessors with the Saviour.
Under thy tender compassion we run to you, O Mother of God. Reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, O only pure, only blessed one.
Icon: All Saints of North America
Under thy tender compassion we run to you, O Mother of God. Reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, O only pure, only blessed one.
Icon: All Saints of North America
The struggle for purity
"Sins of a sexual nature are common among many people today. Much of the struggle is directly related to the fact that people do not take advantage of having a spiritual father. If you are your own guide the struggles with sexual passions can be beyond your ability to fight, leading to despair. ...
Without the help of a spiritual father or mother, abstinence can seem impossible, especially given the powerful drive of our sexual nature, and the pressures of our society to express our sexuality freely. ...
Frequent confession with one's spiritual father or confessor is a tool that can make all the difference in our struggle to be free of sinful passions, and triumphant in our goal of purity before the Lord, who loves us so." —Abbot Tryphon, All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
"Sins of a sexual nature are common among many people today. Much of the struggle is directly related to the fact that people do not take advantage of having a spiritual father. If you are your own guide the struggles with sexual passions can be beyond your ability to fight, leading to despair. ...
Without the help of a spiritual father or mother, abstinence can seem impossible, especially given the powerful drive of our sexual nature, and the pressures of our society to express our sexuality freely. ...
Frequent confession with one's spiritual father or confessor is a tool that can make all the difference in our struggle to be free of sinful passions, and triumphant in our goal of purity before the Lord, who loves us so." —Abbot Tryphon, All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
"Pray to Christ Our God, O Lady Mary, Queen and Theotokos, that all cities and lands be protected from our enemies, and that they will be saved who in faith venerate your most pure icon."
The miracle-working Sitka Icon of the Mother of God (July 8 ), painted in the style of the Kazan Mother of God Icon, is a “pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art of ineffable gentleness, purity and harmony.” The Sitka icon is located at the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska. It is attributed to famed iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1758-1826), a protégé of the Empress Catherine II who was instructed at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.
The miracle-working Sitka Icon of the Mother of God (July 8 ), painted in the style of the Kazan Mother of God Icon, is a “pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art of ineffable gentleness, purity and harmony.” The Sitka icon is located at the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska. It is attributed to famed iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1758-1826), a protégé of the Empress Catherine II who was instructed at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.
“O Mother of God, chosen from all generations to be the protectress of the Christian people; we offer you songs of thanksgiving for your wonderworking Icon that has come to Alaska. You are a fountain of mercy and help all who seek refuge in you. Defend us in all afflictions, necessities and tribulations that we may cry to you: Rejoice, zealous defender of the Orthodox faithful in America.” (Kontakion, Tone 8 )