"Be careful! This town is not going to burn and its people are not going to be captured. They are innocent. Do you hear me? " ✝️ These were the words of warning from St. Haralambos (Feb 10/ Feb 23), given in a dream to a shocked German officer who had been ordered to burn the town of Filiatra in Greece in 1944. The order had been given in retribution for sabotage against German soldiers. The town was spared.
When the officer later saw an icon of St. Haralambos, he recognized him as the one who had appeared to him. The miracle continues to move Greek faithful.
When the officer later saw an icon of St. Haralambos, he recognized him as the one who had appeared to him. The miracle continues to move Greek faithful.
Blessed Triodion!
"Use the time of the Triodion to cleanse your souls through persistent prayer, fasting, and good deeds. Let the chants of the Triodion penetrate your heart and awaken your longing for God.
May the Lord bless you and strengthen you in this spiritual struggle, so that you may reach with joy the light of His Resurrection!"
☦️ Saint Theophan the Recluse
Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee!
Let us learn humility from the Publican’s tears!
Let us cry to our Savior:
“Have mercy on us, O only merciful One!”
—Kontakion Tone 4
"Use the time of the Triodion to cleanse your souls through persistent prayer, fasting, and good deeds. Let the chants of the Triodion penetrate your heart and awaken your longing for God.
May the Lord bless you and strengthen you in this spiritual struggle, so that you may reach with joy the light of His Resurrection!"
☦️ Saint Theophan the Recluse
Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee!
Let us learn humility from the Publican’s tears!
Let us cry to our Savior:
“Have mercy on us, O only merciful One!”
—Kontakion Tone 4
Prayer Upon Entering a Church
I rejoiced with those who told me: in the house of the Lord I shall go (Ps. 131:1). In the greatness of Your mercy, O Lord, I will enter Your house; I will worship in Your holy Church, O Lord.
In Your righteousness guide me, because of my enemies make Your way straight before me, so that with a clear mind I may glorify You: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!
I rejoiced with those who told me: in the house of the Lord I shall go (Ps. 131:1). In the greatness of Your mercy, O Lord, I will enter Your house; I will worship in Your holy Church, O Lord.
In Your righteousness guide me, because of my enemies make Your way straight before me, so that with a clear mind I may glorify You: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!
God is one and Christ is one, and His Church and faith are one, and the people joined together with the glue of concord into the unbroken unity of a body. It is not possible for the unity to be rent asunder, nor the one body to be divided by the tearing apart of the structure, nor to be torn into fragments with the violent rending apart of its vital organs. Whatever splits off from the parent tree is not able to live and breathe apart from it. It loses the essential nature of health.
☦️ St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church
☦️ St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church
Receive me, O Christ, the Lover of all men, as You received the prostitute, the thief, the tax-collector and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, for You take away the sins of the world; You heal the infirmities of men, You call to Yourself and give rest to those who labour and are heavy-laden.
Prayer of Spouses for Each Other: "O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who through Your holy apostle Paul have taught us to bear one another's burdens and so fulfil Your holy Law: mercifully grant me to bear the burdens of my husband/wife in love. Bless our marriage, sending down upon us perfect and peaceful love, preserving us in oneness of mind and in steadfast faith. Pour out Your love upon my husband/wife (name), that he/she may be filled with joy and may please You in all things. Defend us from quarrels and temptations and preserve us in peace and harmony that together we may forever glorify Your holy Name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan (Feb 16/ Mar 1), prayerful intercessor for Japan and its people brought the Gospel to Japan in an era when Japanese looked upon foreigners as beasts and Christianity as a villainous foreign sect. In this atmosphere, the Russian-born Archbishop Nicholas and his flock endured many years of persecution. Yet, in 1911, a half century since the young hieromonk Nicholas had first set foot on Japanese soil, there were over 33,000 Orthodox Christians in 266 communities.
Archbishop Nicholas departed peacefully to the Lord in 1912.
When The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church glorified St Nicholas in 1970, he had for many decades been honoured in Japan as a righteous man, and a prayerful intercessor before the Lord.
Archbishop Nicholas departed peacefully to the Lord in 1912.
When The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church glorified St Nicholas in 1970, he had for many decades been honoured in Japan as a righteous man, and a prayerful intercessor before the Lord.
We venerate Your most pure image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God. Of Your good-will You were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh and deliver Your creatures from bondage to the enemy. Therefore with thankfulness we cry aloud to You: You have filled all with joy, O our Saviour, for You came to save the world!
The earliest known prayer to the Theotokos (Greek, Θεοτοκος, meaning “Bearer of God”) is found on a fragment of papyrus dating back to approximately AD 250.
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."