‘No one has been with me,' answered John. Then Proclus told him how he had seen through the keyhole an old man of venerable appearance, whispering into his ear as he wrote. Proclus also described the man’s face and clothing, and John marvelled greatly. Then Proclus glanced at the image of Saint Paul and exclaimed, 'The man whom I saw resembled in every way the saint depicted upon this icon!'
John then understood that it was the holy Apostle Paul whom Proclus had seen and that his work was pleasing to the Lord. Falling to the ground, he gave thanks to God, praying with tears in his eyes for a long time. After this, he devoted himself to the writing of sacred books with still greater zeal. These works he left to the Church of Christ as a precious treasure."
https://bit.ly/2NHByU8
John then understood that it was the holy Apostle Paul whom Proclus had seen and that his work was pleasing to the Lord. Falling to the ground, he gave thanks to God, praying with tears in his eyes for a long time. After this, he devoted himself to the writing of sacred books with still greater zeal. These works he left to the Church of Christ as a precious treasure."
https://bit.ly/2NHByU8
A church spared from a dictator's demolition plans
In the early 1980s, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu decided to raze the historic center of Bucharest to create a "Victory Boulevard of Socialism." A small Orthodox church. Schitul Maicilor (the Convent of the Sisters), erected in 1726, stood in harm's way of the massive demolition project.
Engineer Eugeniu Iordachescu considered the church a jewel to be saved at all costs. He convinced Ceausescu to allow him to 20 meters back from the boulevard. Surprisingly, Ceausescu, who had ordered the destruction of 22 places of worship between 1977 and 1987, allowed an elaborate project to lift the church and move it back 20 meters.
In the early 1980s, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu decided to raze the historic center of Bucharest to create a "Victory Boulevard of Socialism." A small Orthodox church. Schitul Maicilor (the Convent of the Sisters), erected in 1726, stood in harm's way of the massive demolition project.
Engineer Eugeniu Iordachescu considered the church a jewel to be saved at all costs. He convinced Ceausescu to allow him to 20 meters back from the boulevard. Surprisingly, Ceausescu, who had ordered the destruction of 22 places of worship between 1977 and 1987, allowed an elaborate project to lift the church and move it back 20 meters.
“Little Lent”, the Nativity Fast begins on Friday for Orthodox Christians following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar. The Nativity Fast lasts forty days, until December 24th. It is also known as Little Lent or St. Philip's Fast because it begins the day after the Saint's feast day (Nov 14). It is not as strict as the Lenten Fast before Pascha. The consumption of fish, wine and oil is allowed on some days.
Rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, the Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip (Nov 14/ Nov 27) waited the coming of the Messiah.
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” ☦️ John 1:43-45
“Your disciple and friend, emulator of Your passion, the divinely eloquent Philip, proclaimed You to the world as God. By his entreaties, and through the Theotokos, keep Your Church from lawless enemies, O most merciful.”
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” ☦️ John 1:43-45
“Your disciple and friend, emulator of Your passion, the divinely eloquent Philip, proclaimed You to the world as God. By his entreaties, and through the Theotokos, keep Your Church from lawless enemies, O most merciful.”
If you have a sinful habit of condemning your neighbor, then when you condemn someone, bow three earthly bows on this day with the following prayer:
"Save, Lord, and have mercy on someone (who has condemned) and with his prayers have mercy on the sinner"
And always do it when you judge someone. If you do this, the Lord will see your diligence and free you forever from this sinful habit.
And if you do not condemn anyone, God will never condemn you - and you will be saved.
☦ Confessor Sergius Pravdolyubov
"Save, Lord, and have mercy on someone (who has condemned) and with his prayers have mercy on the sinner"
And always do it when you judge someone. If you do this, the Lord will see your diligence and free you forever from this sinful habit.
And if you do not condemn anyone, God will never condemn you - and you will be saved.
☦ Confessor Sergius Pravdolyubov
In 1227, Georgia’s ruling sultan ordered icons of Christ and the Mother of God to be laid on the middle of the bridge over the Mtkvari River. Citizens were ordered to trample on them. Those who turned from Christ and defiled the holy icons were spared. The rest were beheaded.
For eight centuries every November 14th, Georgia has honoured the memory of the 100,000 Holy Martyrs who gave their lives for the faith.
For eight centuries every November 14th, Georgia has honoured the memory of the 100,000 Holy Martyrs who gave their lives for the faith.
"Fast from criticism, feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity, feast on joy.
Fast from ill-temper, feast on peace.
Fast from resentment, feast on contentment.
Fast from jealousy, feast on humility.
Fast from selfishness, feast on service.
Fast from fear, feast on faith.
Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude."
--Fr John Bakas
Fast from self-pity, feast on joy.
Fast from ill-temper, feast on peace.
Fast from resentment, feast on contentment.
Fast from jealousy, feast on humility.
Fast from selfishness, feast on service.
Fast from fear, feast on faith.
Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude."
--Fr John Bakas
"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him. + Matt. 9:9
The primary affirmation of the Gospel account written by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (Nov 16/ Nov 29) is that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. There would not be another. (Matt.11:3).
St Matthew’s Gospel, written for Jews, includes the most references of any of the gospels to the Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament. The Gospel he wrote is also the most consistently used Gospel in the liturgical worship of the Church.
Only Matthew’s gospel contains Christ's exhortation: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (28:19)
"Divinely eloquent Matthew, we honour your precious memory!
Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.”
The primary affirmation of the Gospel account written by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (Nov 16/ Nov 29) is that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. There would not be another. (Matt.11:3).
St Matthew’s Gospel, written for Jews, includes the most references of any of the gospels to the Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament. The Gospel he wrote is also the most consistently used Gospel in the liturgical worship of the Church.
Only Matthew’s gospel contains Christ's exhortation: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (28:19)
"Divinely eloquent Matthew, we honour your precious memory!
Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.”
On setting a prayer rule:
"[I]f you get up in the morning and you whirl around the house because you have this and that to do, then your whole day goes poorly. So do a little of your rule every day, like the righteous Job, who offered sacrifice every day for his children in case they had sinned in their thoughts (cf Job 1:5)." ☦️ St Paisie Olaru
"[I]f you get up in the morning and you whirl around the house because you have this and that to do, then your whole day goes poorly. So do a little of your rule every day, like the righteous Job, who offered sacrifice every day for his children in case they had sinned in their thoughts (cf Job 1:5)." ☦️ St Paisie Olaru
Priests have huge shoes to fill. Through many temptations and trials, they walk in the path of the Holy Apostles of Christ. What an affront to the ancient enemy of Christ! Let us not take the enemy’s side when our priests do not meet our expectations. They struggle with even greater temptations than we do— and more cleverly devised. Pray! Lord have mercy!
“Never forget that the Son of God, for thirty years of His earthly life, was a carpenter. He had calloused hands and was not ashamed to extend His hand to receive payment for the plows and yokes He made, as was said in the time of Saint Justin the Philosopher and Martyr.
The highly intellectual Apostle Paul was not ashamed, after preaching during the day, to make bags, tents, and rugs from goat hair at night, as was customary in the East at that time. Both Saint Basil the Great and Saint John the Theologian, along with all the other saints, worked. Therefore, we too must not be ashamed or afraid of any work; we should only be ashamed and afraid of sin.
By doing so, through our faith and life in faith, we will fulfill the meaning and purpose of our existence in this world—that is, to attain bliss in our true heavenly homeland, in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
-Patriarch Paul of Serbia
The highly intellectual Apostle Paul was not ashamed, after preaching during the day, to make bags, tents, and rugs from goat hair at night, as was customary in the East at that time. Both Saint Basil the Great and Saint John the Theologian, along with all the other saints, worked. Therefore, we too must not be ashamed or afraid of any work; we should only be ashamed and afraid of sin.
By doing so, through our faith and life in faith, we will fulfill the meaning and purpose of our existence in this world—that is, to attain bliss in our true heavenly homeland, in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
-Patriarch Paul of Serbia
Hieromartyr Father Daniel Sysoyev (1974-2009) was a young, married priest of the Church of Russia who converted many Muslims and Protestants to Holy Orthodoxy. Fr. Daniel was shot and killed on Nov. 19, 2009, by a Muslim fanatic in his own Church.
Holy Hieromartyr Daniel, pray to God for the salvation of our souls ☦️
Holy Hieromartyr Daniel, pray to God for the salvation of our souls ☦️
“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-49
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.