“Lazarus, come forth!”+John 11:43
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” +John 11:41-43
#LazarusSaturday
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” +John 11:41-43
#LazarusSaturday
As we approach Palm Sunday, let us remember Saint Corona patron saint of plagues and afflictions. The Greek variant of her name is Stephanie.
The saint was tied between two palm trees and when the tree trunks were released her body was torn.
St Corona/Stephanie had caught the attention of authorities at the age of 16 for coming to the aid of a Roman soldier named Victor, who was being tortured for being a Christian. Victor had his eyes gouged out and was beheaded. The two martyr-saints are commemorated on November 11.
The saint was tied between two palm trees and when the tree trunks were released her body was torn.
St Corona/Stephanie had caught the attention of authorities at the age of 16 for coming to the aid of a Roman soldier named Victor, who was being tortured for being a Christian. Victor had his eyes gouged out and was beheaded. The two martyr-saints are commemorated on November 11.
Be the defenders of purity and the sanctity of family life. Teach your children to understand and keep in purity what God has ordained, namely that youth be a period of purity... They receive God’s blessing through the Sacrament of Marriage give birth to blessed children, and God will always protect them because God will never be indebted.”
-- His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania
-- His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania
Now we worry about a piece of bread, about a roof over our heads, about our social conditions. And it seems to us that the meaning of life consists of this. But the Church says, Look at the pussy willows: leaves will sprout and later flowers and fruit. So it is even in a Christian soul.
+ Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko) 1893-1978
+ Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko) 1893-1978
Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday and continuing through the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church observes a special service known as the Service of the Bridegroom. Each evening service is the Matins or Orthros service of the following day (e.g. the service held on Sunday evening is the Orthros service for Holy Monday).
Traditionally, the icon of Christ the Bridegroom (Gr: O Nymphios/Ο Νυμφίος) is brought to the front of the church on Palm Sunday evening, where it remains until Holy Thursday. In the icon, Christ's wedding garment is the robe the soldiers gave Him. His wedding crown is the crown of thorns. His head is bowed low and his arms are crossed in humility, laying down His life for His Bride. The wedding will be His Crucifixion on the Cross just behind Him. We are invited guests to the wedding. This is a week for us to prepare. [1/2]
Traditionally, the icon of Christ the Bridegroom (Gr: O Nymphios/Ο Νυμφίος) is brought to the front of the church on Palm Sunday evening, where it remains until Holy Thursday. In the icon, Christ's wedding garment is the robe the soldiers gave Him. His wedding crown is the crown of thorns. His head is bowed low and his arms are crossed in humility, laying down His life for His Bride. The wedding will be His Crucifixion on the Cross just behind Him. We are invited guests to the wedding. This is a week for us to prepare. [1/2]
[2/2] “Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night,
And blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant;
But unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful.
Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep,
Lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom;
But rise up crying out: 'Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God;
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.'”
(Troparion of the Bridegroom Service)
And blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant;
But unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful.
Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep,
Lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom;
But rise up crying out: 'Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God;
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.'”
(Troparion of the Bridegroom Service)
“The Church, under persecution, scores victories... It sails through rough seas, but it does not sink. It fights, but it is never defeated. O man, there is nothing more powerful than the Church.” + St John Chrysostom
Photo: Palm Sunday procession of 800 priests through the Romanian capital.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Photo: Palm Sunday procession of 800 priests through the Romanian capital.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Let us hasten, O believers, moving from one divine festival to another from palms and branches to the fulfilment of the august and saving sufferings of Christ. Let us watch Him, bearing His sufferings voluntarily for our sake; and let us sing unto Him with worthy praise, crying, O Fountain of mercy, O Haven of Salvation,O Lord, glory to You.
—Palm Sunday Evening Vespers.
—Palm Sunday Evening Vespers.
On Great and Holy Monday, we remember Christ's divine power and of God's judgment symbolized in Christ’s cursing of the fig tree. The tree portrayed the Jewish synagogue, which had not produced the fruit of faithful obedience to God and so was stripped of all spiritual grace. (Matthew 21: 18-20)
We also remember the patriarch Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver. In the Old Testament story (Genesis 37, 39, 41), Joseph typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death and glorification of out Lord Jesus Christ.
We also remember the patriarch Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold to foreigners for thirty pieces of silver. In the Old Testament story (Genesis 37, 39, 41), Joseph typifies in himself the betrayal, Passion, death and glorification of out Lord Jesus Christ.
“He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15). On Holy Monday, we remember Christ’s cleansing of the Temple, which took place just days before His crucifixion.
His fiery actions bring to mind the prophetic words of the Psalmist, “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalm 69:9).
His fiery actions bring to mind the prophetic words of the Psalmist, “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalm 69:9).
Love now. Forgive now. The time is now. Saint Gheorghe Calciu, a survivor of torture in Romania’s communist prisons, gives us a timeless Holy Week: "Those of you who couldn’t love, start to love now. Forgive those who have wronged you. You who never had the power to forgive even the slightest mistake… Make out of this week, a week of purification, of angelic life. Be like angels!"