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."
'Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy Hymn to the life-creating Trinity...''
https://youtu.be/son4z8d4PYY
https://youtu.be/son4z8d4PYY
YouTube
Cherubic Hymn - Russian (English Subtitles)
Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the Thrice-holy Hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly cares. That we may receive the King of all who comes invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia.
“We should go to the Liturgy even if we stand there like logs. Someone might say: ‘I'm not what I should be, I don't understand anything there, I can't concentrate.’ But go as you are. An elder says: ‘When you enter a perfumery and then leave, your clothes will smell nice, even if you didn't want them to, even if you didn't buy anything.’ He says the same thing happens when you go to the Liturgy.
Maybe you couldn't do anything spiritual, but it's already something that you went, that you stood there like a log. So tell yourself: ‘I am going as I am – an unpolished log. Because God can work with an unpolished log.’ And if you don't go because you say, ‘I can't concentrate’, things will get worse and worse, and you will never improve.”
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
Maybe you couldn't do anything spiritual, but it's already something that you went, that you stood there like a log. So tell yourself: ‘I am going as I am – an unpolished log. Because God can work with an unpolished log.’ And if you don't go because you say, ‘I can't concentrate’, things will get worse and worse, and you will never improve.”
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
“It is not without a deep prophetic significance that Christ asked children to come unto Him... I am sure, if anybody has ears for His voice today, amidst the thunderings of guns and passions and revenges, one would hear the same call: Let the children come unto Me! – Not kings and politicians, not journalists and generals, not the grown-up people, but children.”
+ St Nikolai Velimirovic
+ St Nikolai Velimirovic
"O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just."
Konatkion, Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday)
Konatkion, Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday)
Orthodox Christianity. It's a bit overwhelming at first. Don’t give up the struggle. God is with you.
#OrthodoxChurch
#OrthodoxChurch
☦️ The Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian (prayed also Wednesday and Friday of Cheesefare Week)
Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant. (prostration)
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
O God, cleanse me a sinner! (bow 12 times)
O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.(prostration)
Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant. (prostration)
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
O God, cleanse me a sinner! (bow 12 times)
O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.(prostration)
"Forgive me, a sinner."
On Forgiveness Sunday, the last Sunday before Great Lent, we remember the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.
As their descendants, we have become heirs of death and corruption-- and in need of forgiveness.
We enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us. "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses." + Matthew 6:14
On Forgiveness Sunday, the last Sunday before Great Lent, we remember the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.
As their descendants, we have become heirs of death and corruption-- and in need of forgiveness.
We enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us. "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses." + Matthew 6:14