The foundation of man's true life is the fear of God. And this does not consent to dwell in the soul as long as there exists the distraction of outward things. For the heart, by the service of the senses, is turned away from the delight in God.
+St. Isaac the Syrian, First Treatise on the Behavior of Excellence
+St. Isaac the Syrian, First Treatise on the Behavior of Excellence
Through a mother's prayers, an empire was defended and heresy conquered.
The Feast of Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen is commemorated on May 21/ June 3. "Having seen the figure of the Cross in the heavens, and like Paul not having received his call from men," Constantine, 4th century emperor of the Roman Empire -- through the influential life and prayers of his mother, St Helen-- ended three hundred years of persecution. Christians could finally practice their faith without fear.
The emperor renounced paganism and moved the capital from ancient Rome to the city of Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople.
Ss. Constantine and Helen are hymned as the saints to whom the precious True Cross of Christ was miraculously revealed as “the weapon of the faithful against their enemies. For our sakes, it has been shown to be a great sign, and fearsome in battle.”
The Feast of Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen is commemorated on May 21/ June 3. "Having seen the figure of the Cross in the heavens, and like Paul not having received his call from men," Constantine, 4th century emperor of the Roman Empire -- through the influential life and prayers of his mother, St Helen-- ended three hundred years of persecution. Christians could finally practice their faith without fear.
The emperor renounced paganism and moved the capital from ancient Rome to the city of Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople.
Ss. Constantine and Helen are hymned as the saints to whom the precious True Cross of Christ was miraculously revealed as “the weapon of the faithful against their enemies. For our sakes, it has been shown to be a great sign, and fearsome in battle.”
When the Emperor Constantine sent his mother, the Empress Saint Helena (both commemorated on May 21/ June 3) to locate the Holy Sepulchre, the tomb of Jesus Christ, in 325 AD, she did so with the help of locals. To prevent early believers from venerating the site, the Roman emperor Hadrian had a temple built to Jupiter over the Holy Sepulchre in 125 AD. However. the location of the site was never forgotten.
Local believers directed St Helen to the temple and veneration and pilgrimage has continued since then. The True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also discovered by St Helen, was elevated (Elevation Feast Day Sept 14/ Sept 27) in the Church of the Resurrection.
Recently, the Holy Sepulchre was opened as part of a larger project to repair damage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The original surface of Christ's Holy Tomb was exposed during restoration work. Until the restoration, marble had encased the slab since at least 1555 AD. It has been re-sealed and might not be revealed again for centuries.
Local believers directed St Helen to the temple and veneration and pilgrimage has continued since then. The True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also discovered by St Helen, was elevated (Elevation Feast Day Sept 14/ Sept 27) in the Church of the Resurrection.
Recently, the Holy Sepulchre was opened as part of a larger project to repair damage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The original surface of Christ's Holy Tomb was exposed during restoration work. Until the restoration, marble had encased the slab since at least 1555 AD. It has been re-sealed and might not be revealed again for centuries.
Considering *many* medicines and vaccines are tested on or actively use fetal tissue in their production, hagiography appears to inveigh against this:
“Saint Constantine fell ill with the dreaded disease of leprosy. As a cure, the pagan priests and physicians counseled him to bathe in the blood of slaughtered children. However, he rejected that. Then the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him and told him to seek out Bishop Sylvester, who would cure him of this dreaded disease. The bishop instructed him in the Christian Faith and baptised him, and the disease of leprosy vanished from the emperor's body.”
(Prologue of Ochrid, 5-21), copied from The Eastern Orthodox Church on Instagram
“Saint Constantine fell ill with the dreaded disease of leprosy. As a cure, the pagan priests and physicians counseled him to bathe in the blood of slaughtered children. However, he rejected that. Then the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him and told him to seek out Bishop Sylvester, who would cure him of this dreaded disease. The bishop instructed him in the Christian Faith and baptised him, and the disease of leprosy vanished from the emperor's body.”
(Prologue of Ochrid, 5-21), copied from The Eastern Orthodox Church on Instagram
“Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments” Psalm 118 (119):164
Seven times a day we have prayers that remind us of the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are accustomed to praying only morning and evening prayers, we will be blessed to remember to pray even a short prayer at other times, as we strive to "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
1. Evening Prayer (Vespers) – 6PM
2. Bedtime Prayer (Compline) - 9PM
3. Night Prayers (Nocturns, with three “watches”) – 12AM, The triumphant Resurrection of our Lord. “Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Glory be to You O God!”
4. Morning Prayer (Matins) – 6AM
5. 3rd Hour Prayer - 9AM, Christ was put to trial, taken to Calvary
6. 6th Hour Prayer - 12PM, Christ was hung on the Cross
7. 9th Hour Prayer - 3PM, Christ gave up His spirit on the Cross
Seven times a day we have prayers that remind us of the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are accustomed to praying only morning and evening prayers, we will be blessed to remember to pray even a short prayer at other times, as we strive to "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
1. Evening Prayer (Vespers) – 6PM
2. Bedtime Prayer (Compline) - 9PM
3. Night Prayers (Nocturns, with three “watches”) – 12AM, The triumphant Resurrection of our Lord. “Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Glory be to You O God!”
4. Morning Prayer (Matins) – 6AM
5. 3rd Hour Prayer - 9AM, Christ was put to trial, taken to Calvary
6. 6th Hour Prayer - 12PM, Christ was hung on the Cross
7. 9th Hour Prayer - 3PM, Christ gave up His spirit on the Cross
“Having come to the middle of the feast, refresh my thirsty soul with the streams of piety.”
The Feast of Mid-Pentecost is one of the most ancient Church holidays, celebrating the mid-point of the fifty days from the day of the Bright Resurrection of Christ to the day of the Ascent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Holy Pentecost.
Hieromonk Seraphim Rose:
"For too many of us, perhaps, the weeks following the radiant Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are a time of relaxation and even of indulgence; the rigors of the Fast being ended, the body revels while the spirit grows weak. But if this is unfortunately so, it is our own fault and not the fault of the Holy Church; for she never ceases to draw our minds upward and instruct us as to what thoughts and actions are appropriate for Orthodox Christians in this holy season. “
The Feast of Mid-Pentecost is one of the most ancient Church holidays, celebrating the mid-point of the fifty days from the day of the Bright Resurrection of Christ to the day of the Ascent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Holy Pentecost.
Hieromonk Seraphim Rose:
"For too many of us, perhaps, the weeks following the radiant Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are a time of relaxation and even of indulgence; the rigors of the Fast being ended, the body revels while the spirit grows weak. But if this is unfortunately so, it is our own fault and not the fault of the Holy Church; for she never ceases to draw our minds upward and instruct us as to what thoughts and actions are appropriate for Orthodox Christians in this holy season. “
The Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg was built between 1883 and 1907 on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded and is officially called the Resurrection of Christ Church.
When the Bolsheviks went on an offensive against religion and destroyed churches across Russia, the church was closed. It remained closed from the 1930s until it re-opened in 1997, after a 30-year restoration.
When the Bolsheviks went on an offensive against religion and destroyed churches across Russia, the church was closed. It remained closed from the 1930s until it re-opened in 1997, after a 30-year restoration.
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"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:29)
The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman by Jacob's well commemorates the woman who, tradition tells us, was named Photini (or Photine, Photina, Svetlana), which means "light" (Φωτεινός). She is sometimes called the first evangelist since after her encounter with Christ at the well, she told her townspeople that she had met the Christ.
"Now if a woman of Samaria is so eager to learn something profitable; if she stays with Christ though not yet knowing Him, what pardon shall we obtain? ... We know Him ... yet are unable to endure anything that is said, but are jaded in our knowledge." + St John Chrysostom
Great-Martyr Photini, Equal-to-the-Apostles, pray to Christ for the salvation of our souls
The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman by Jacob's well commemorates the woman who, tradition tells us, was named Photini (or Photine, Photina, Svetlana), which means "light" (Φωτεινός). She is sometimes called the first evangelist since after her encounter with Christ at the well, she told her townspeople that she had met the Christ.
"Now if a woman of Samaria is so eager to learn something profitable; if she stays with Christ though not yet knowing Him, what pardon shall we obtain? ... We know Him ... yet are unable to endure anything that is said, but are jaded in our knowledge." + St John Chrysostom
Great-Martyr Photini, Equal-to-the-Apostles, pray to Christ for the salvation of our souls