“The light emanating from Christ’s icon and the icons of the saints directs us toward the unending light of divine glory in the Heavenly Kingdom, and the holiness of the icon also calls us to the sanctification of our lives.”
Pastoral Letter of Patriarch Daniel and the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church for the Sunday of Orthodoxy 2025
Pastoral Letter of Patriarch Daniel and the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church for the Sunday of Orthodoxy 2025
"Together let us honour the holy company united by faith, those noble warriors of the Master of all."
The holy martyrs of Sebaste (Mar 9) were 40 devout Christian soldiers "who wielded equally well the sword of battle and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)" who would come to endure many tortures and finally martyrdom for their faith.
The Armenian town of Sebaste is located in what is now eastern Turkey. There, the Forty Holy Martyrs, a group of Roman soldiers were tortured and thrown into the frozen waters of lake of Sebastea.
All remained steadfast except one. Seeing the radiant crowns of holiness over the heads of the martyrs, one of the guards proclaimed publicly confessed his faith in Christ and entered the lake with the remaining thirty-nine, thus receiving his own martyr’s crown.
The holy martyrs of Sebaste (Mar 9) were 40 devout Christian soldiers "who wielded equally well the sword of battle and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)" who would come to endure many tortures and finally martyrdom for their faith.
The Armenian town of Sebaste is located in what is now eastern Turkey. There, the Forty Holy Martyrs, a group of Roman soldiers were tortured and thrown into the frozen waters of lake of Sebastea.
All remained steadfast except one. Seeing the radiant crowns of holiness over the heads of the martyrs, one of the guards proclaimed publicly confessed his faith in Christ and entered the lake with the remaining thirty-nine, thus receiving his own martyr’s crown.
"Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. "
+ from Psalm 85 (86)
+ from Psalm 85 (86)
The practice of hesychasm is a faithful response to Christ's injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "go into your closet to pray." Hesychasm calls us to move beyond our senses and withdraw inwards to pray. Hesychasm often includes repeating the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner".
An ardent defender of the hesychastic life was St Gregory Palamas, commemorated the
2nd Sunday of Great Lent.
Before hesychasm would gain wide acceptance, St Gregory paid for his defense of it with a "life on the run," and jail time. Yet he who suffered much would come to perform many miracles of healing later in life. On the eve of St Gregory's repose, St John Chrysostom appeared to him in a vision with the words “To the heights! To the heights!”
"O wonder-working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved."
An ardent defender of the hesychastic life was St Gregory Palamas, commemorated the
2nd Sunday of Great Lent.
Before hesychasm would gain wide acceptance, St Gregory paid for his defense of it with a "life on the run," and jail time. Yet he who suffered much would come to perform many miracles of healing later in life. On the eve of St Gregory's repose, St John Chrysostom appeared to him in a vision with the words “To the heights! To the heights!”
"O wonder-working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved."
Lord have mercy! Radical Islamists have in recent days murdered thousands of Christians in Syria and the rampage continues. Despite the danger, many are marching in the streets in brave protest against the violence aimed at Christians and other minority religious groups.
Thousands of Syrian Christians have fled to a Russian airbase where they are being protected by Russian Soldiers. #PrayforSyria
Thousands of Syrian Christians have fled to a Russian airbase where they are being protected by Russian Soldiers. #PrayforSyria
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
A Prayer in Affliction
O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, my helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest my weakness. Thou hearest my cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver me from pain, sorrow and impending threats, that I may continue to serve Thee in peace and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, my helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest my weakness. Thou hearest my cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver me from pain, sorrow and impending threats, that I may continue to serve Thee in peace and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
"The Son of God has become the Son of Man in order to make us, men, sons of God.“ ☦️ St Symeon the New Theologian (Mar 12)
The Church, recognizing St. Symeon’s remarkable life of prayer and holiness, as well as the heights of his spiritual understanding, calls him "the New Theologian." Only two others have received the title: John the Evangelist and Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople.
The Church, recognizing St. Symeon’s remarkable life of prayer and holiness, as well as the heights of his spiritual understanding, calls him "the New Theologian." Only two others have received the title: John the Evangelist and Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Heavenly Father, eternal salvation of our souls and bodies: grant Your heavenly blessing to my child(ren) (names). In all the changes and chances of this fleeting world, extend Your mighty hand over them to shield them from all physical and spiritual danger and adversity. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, that he/she/they may always love You and strive to fulfill Your holy will as devout members of Your Church. Grant him/her/them so to please You in this age that he/she/they may finally inherit Your glorious Kingdom in the age to come. For Yours it is to save us, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
“When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine, be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress, thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars, throw yourself at God’s feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, who created and arranged all things for your benefit, to have you know, love and praise their Creator.” ✝️ St Basil the Great (330-379)
No vice or passion appears under its real name. Fornication goes by the name of love, covetousness calls itself prosperity, gambling by fun, drunkenness and partying, by friendship, envy by justice and equality. In fact, often behind the rebellion against injustice and inequality is ordinary envy!
☦️ Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
☦️ Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
☦️St Gregory Palamas, defender of Hesychasm, o on the Second Sunday of Great Lent
St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica was a defender of the contemplative life of hesychasm (inner silence). He taught that while it is impossible to know God in his essence (God in Himself), it is possible to know God in His energies (to know what God does, and who He is in relation to the creation and to man).
St Gregory also taught that when the Apostles Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor, they were in fact seeing the uncreated light of God-- a light that can be seen by others with repentance, spiritual discipline and contemplative prayer.
☦️St Gregory Palamas, defender of Hesychasm, o on the Second Sunday of Great Lent
St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica was a defender of the contemplative life of hesychasm (inner silence). He taught that while it is impossible to know God in his essence (God in Himself), it is possible to know God in His energies (to know what God does, and who He is in relation to the creation and to man).
St Gregory also taught that when the Apostles Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor, they were in fact seeing the uncreated light of God-- a light that can be seen by others with repentance, spiritual discipline and contemplative prayer.
St. Aristobulus (Mar 15), brother of the Apostle Barnabas and numbered among the Seventy Apostles, was made the first bishop of Britain by the Apostle Paul. There he endured the torments and malice of the pagans who smote him, dragged him through the streets, mocked him and jeered at him. Aristobulus remained steadfast in the Gospel and helped convert many.
Such was the Apostle Aristobulus' influence amongst the Brythonic Celts that a region was named after him: Arwystli. This region later became a small medieval British kingdom, and continues to this day as a district (known as a cantref) in the county of Powys, Wales.
Pray unto God for us, O holy Saint Aristobulus, well-pleasing to God: for we turn unto you who are the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. Amen.
Such was the Apostle Aristobulus' influence amongst the Brythonic Celts that a region was named after him: Arwystli. This region later became a small medieval British kingdom, and continues to this day as a district (known as a cantref) in the county of Powys, Wales.
Pray unto God for us, O holy Saint Aristobulus, well-pleasing to God: for we turn unto you who are the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. Amen.