If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is then that you will feel an indescribable delight, a wonderful inner peace and joy such as you have never experienced before, and at the same time you will feel an influx of spiritual strength; prayer will become easier and your faith stronger. Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When the Lord decides to honor you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
When the Lord decides to honor you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
A contrast revealed in icons
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received the longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas.
Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received the longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas.
Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
Fight to escape from your own cleverness. If you do, then you will find salvation and uprightness through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
☦️St. John Climacus
Cave of St. John Climacus, Mount Sinai
☦️St. John Climacus
Cave of St. John Climacus, Mount Sinai
The 5th week of Great Lent is often called “the most Lenten” week of Lent, with services abundant and overflowing with penitence.
Wednesday of the 5th week: Matins is celebrated with the reading of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete and the life of St Mary of Egypt.
Saturday of the fifth week: The Church commemorates the icon of the Theotokos, "Laudation of the Virgin." Akathists are generally not sung during Great Lent, but this Saturday is the only exception.
Sunday of the 5th week: We commemorate St Mary of Egypt. Her life as a moving testament to sincere repentance, and the miracle of salvation in Christ, open to the most obstinate of sinners, according to God's infinite mercy.
Wednesday of the 5th week: Matins is celebrated with the reading of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete and the life of St Mary of Egypt.
Saturday of the fifth week: The Church commemorates the icon of the Theotokos, "Laudation of the Virgin." Akathists are generally not sung during Great Lent, but this Saturday is the only exception.
Sunday of the 5th week: We commemorate St Mary of Egypt. Her life as a moving testament to sincere repentance, and the miracle of salvation in Christ, open to the most obstinate of sinners, according to God's infinite mercy.
“The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Mother. For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Mary, your soul rejoices with the angels.”
At the end of her earthly life, † St Mary of Egypt (Apr 1) asked the † Righteous Zosimas to recite both the Creed and the “Our Father.” When the prayers were finished, she partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Then she raised her hands to the heavens and said, “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation.”
At the end of her earthly life, † St Mary of Egypt (Apr 1) asked the † Righteous Zosimas to recite both the Creed and the “Our Father.” When the prayers were finished, she partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Then she raised her hands to the heavens and said, “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation.”
One has to understand that even though the modern woman is poisoned by the idea of the equality between the sexes, this equality does not exist in nature. And what can understand that bitter truth better than a woman's heart? This means that the woman, trying to adapt to the world in exterior, deep inside still wants protection, she is afraid of shame and betrayal, and she is dreaming of a strong shoulder. She is prepared to say "get lost" to all these ideas of equality and democracy in 99 out of 100 times, if she gets simple family happiness. So this domestic harmony should be given to her. She should receive it. She should be given earned money, sincere kiss and soothing words of approval. Every woman should receive all that from her husband. And, my God, so much happiness and power, energy and devotion, so much endearment and care will the manly part of humanity receive! However, it is a pity that the majority of us are no longer Knights.
—Archpriest Andrew Tkachev
—Archpriest Andrew Tkachev
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” Psalm 138:8
Archpriest Theodore Gignadze: “Even if you’re on the verge of death, even if you die and are put in a grave, even if you end up in hell – I will not leave you anywhere, because I have been in every place, and I can find you in every place.”
Archpriest Theodore Gignadze: “Even if you’re on the verge of death, even if you die and are put in a grave, even if you end up in hell – I will not leave you anywhere, because I have been in every place, and I can find you in every place.”