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.
The 15th-century St Tysilio's Church on Church Island (Ynys Dysilio), Wales, built in the early 15th century, is one of many Welsh churches named after Welsh Father, St Tysilio (Nov 8/21), son of Brochwel, king of Powys.
As a very young man in the latter 6th century, Prince Tysilio was drawn to the ascetic Christian life, leaving his home to study at the monastery of Meifod, founded by the holy hermit and abbot Gwydfarch (or Gwyddfarch). St Tysilio's life was one of contemplative prayer, missionary journeys, and scholarship. Some attribute “The Brut Tysilio” Welsh chronicle of kings to St Tysilio, who is venerated in North Wales to this day.
Holy Father Tysilio of Wales and Brittany, pray to God for us!
Church photo source: Geograph.org.uk
As a very young man in the latter 6th century, Prince Tysilio was drawn to the ascetic Christian life, leaving his home to study at the monastery of Meifod, founded by the holy hermit and abbot Gwydfarch (or Gwyddfarch). St Tysilio's life was one of contemplative prayer, missionary journeys, and scholarship. Some attribute “The Brut Tysilio” Welsh chronicle of kings to St Tysilio, who is venerated in North Wales to this day.
Holy Father Tysilio of Wales and Brittany, pray to God for us!
Church photo source: Geograph.org.uk
"By being in the Church, we become one with every unfortunate and hurting sinner. No one should want to save himself without others also being saved. It is wrong for a person to pray for himself so that just he will be saved. We should love everyone and we should pray that no one is spiritually lost, that all of them should be part of the Church. That has value. It is with such an attitude that a person should leave this life."
☦️ St. Elder Porphyrios "On the Issues of Sadness, Sorrow and Anguish," translated from the Greek by Fr. Constantine (Charles) J. Simones
☦️ St. Elder Porphyrios "On the Issues of Sadness, Sorrow and Anguish," translated from the Greek by Fr. Constantine (Charles) J. Simones