"You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other " + St Seraphim of Sarov
St Seraphim of Sarov (Jan 2/ Jan 13), a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
St Seraphim of Sarov (Jan 2/ Jan 13), a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
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"If touching the Savior’s garment, and the garments and handkerchiefs of the Apostles could restore health to the sick, much more are the images of the Savior and of the Mother of God powerful to heal every affliction…" ☦️ St John of Kronstadt (Dec 20/ Jan 2)
In her services, the Church calls St Basil the Great (Jan 1/ Jan 14) a "bee of the Church of Christ": bringing the honey of divinely-inspired wisdom to the faithful, stinging the uprisings of heresy. He is also called and the "mouth of fire of the Holy Spirit." In a vision, a hermit named Effrem saw a tongue of fire speaking in St Basil's mouth, causing him to declare, "Truly Basil is great, truly Basil is the pillar of fire, and verily the Holy Ghost speaketh in his mouth."
Even as a bishop, Basil continued to live the life he had lived as a hermit, without any possessions other than a worn garment to cover himself. As the Arian heresy battered against the Church, St Basil's wisdom-filled defense of Orthodoxy in sermons and writings has earned him the title "Basil the Great.
Even as a bishop, Basil continued to live the life he had lived as a hermit, without any possessions other than a worn garment to cover himself. As the Arian heresy battered against the Church, St Basil's wisdom-filled defense of Orthodoxy in sermons and writings has earned him the title "Basil the Great.
If someone asks you, why do you pray to heartless icons, what is the use of them to you? Tell them that we receive incomparably more benefits from our icons than from the most kind and charitable person; tell them that there always comes from icons gracious power and help to our souls, delivering us from sins, sorrows and diseases, especially from the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God; that a single hearty faith in them, as living and near us, saves us from evil sorrows, passions and spiritual darkness, that if touching the Savior’s robes and the shawls of the apostles made the sick healthy, then the faces of the Savior and Our Lady are strong to heal the believers from all sorrow, by faith in the Lord and the Mother of God.
+ St John of Kronstadt (Dec 20/Jan 2), The World of Prayer
+ St John of Kronstadt (Dec 20/Jan 2), The World of Prayer
The Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (Dec 27/ Jan 9), the first Apostolic-era martyr for Jesus Christ, entered into Christ's Kingdom asking for forgiveness towards his murderers: "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." Acts 7:59
"You confounded the council of those who persecuted you, beholding your Saviour enthroned at the Father’s right hand. Never cease praying that our souls may be saved!"
"You confounded the council of those who persecuted you, beholding your Saviour enthroned at the Father’s right hand. Never cease praying that our souls may be saved!"
When the Holy Infant was born in Bethlehem and honoured by the Magi, King Herod "in exceeding wrath ... harvested the infants as sorrowing wheat" (Kontakion). Herod had been replaced by the True King of All.
The Holy Innocents (Dec 28/Jan 10) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod in Bethlehem after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
The Holy Innocents (Dec 28/Jan 10) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod in Bethlehem after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
"If grief befalls you, dive into [the Scriptures] as into a chest of medicines; take from them comfort in times of trouble, no matter if your troubles be loss, or death, or bereavement of relations; or rather do not only dive into them but take them wholly into to yourself; keep them in your mind. Ignorance of the Scriptures is the cause of all evils. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come out safe? In this way we can be content, even without them." + St John Chrysostom (Nov 13/Nov 26), Homily 9 on Colossians
Prayer for the Departed
O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil, and given life to Thy world, do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin, for Thou only art without sin, Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth.
For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen.
O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil, and given life to Thy world, do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin, for Thou only art without sin, Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth.
For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen.
“Death is not the opposite of life: the opposite of life is fear.” -Bishop Irenei, W. European Diocese, ROCOR
This world has shown, in these past few months, what really governs it — and it is not wisdom or compassion, or science, or truth. It is fear. For many years now the world has been . . . determining what man should be afraid of, and who, and when — and has made into a norm the concept that the driving force in human life is to be the reaction to such fear. And so we have seen the human race grow accustomed to living in fear of everything: of war; of enemies known and imagined; of the economy; of other people . . . The list could go on forever. Man has grown accustomed to being afraid — of everything.". https://bit.ly/2TCvzCm
This world has shown, in these past few months, what really governs it — and it is not wisdom or compassion, or science, or truth. It is fear. For many years now the world has been . . . determining what man should be afraid of, and who, and when — and has made into a norm the concept that the driving force in human life is to be the reaction to such fear. And so we have seen the human race grow accustomed to living in fear of everything: of war; of enemies known and imagined; of the economy; of other people . . . The list could go on forever. Man has grown accustomed to being afraid — of everything.". https://bit.ly/2TCvzCm
"It has thundered; now is the time to make the sign of the Cross!"
On Nov. 5, 1917, Vserosiysky Tserkovno-Obschestvenniy Vestnik published the news of the martyrdom of St John Kochurov (Oct 31/Nov 12), "for each of us, a dire reminder, an ominous warning. We therefore must be ready for anything . . . It has thundered; now is the time to make the sign of the Cross!" By his passion-bearing death, St John Kochurov (Oct 31/Nov 12), became the first in to enter the assembly of the Russian New-Martyrs of the 20th century. O Father John. Entreat Christ God to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
On Nov. 5, 1917, Vserosiysky Tserkovno-Obschestvenniy Vestnik published the news of the martyrdom of St John Kochurov (Oct 31/Nov 12), "for each of us, a dire reminder, an ominous warning. We therefore must be ready for anything . . . It has thundered; now is the time to make the sign of the Cross!" By his passion-bearing death, St John Kochurov (Oct 31/Nov 12), became the first in to enter the assembly of the Russian New-Martyrs of the 20th century. O Father John. Entreat Christ God to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
May the Lord give us the spiritual strength to transform ourselves. We know that time is running out, and the evil spirits know this, too. They do not want a single person to be free from evil thoughts. With that aim, they teach even small children to oppose their parents so that, when these children grow up, they will be easy prey for them…
But it can all take a turn for the good if each one of us begins with himself, if the transformation starts with us. We should try to have good thoughts which will radiate from us. A meek and humble person is always very pleasant to be with, for he emanates peace and warmth. That person may not say a single word, yet we rejoice to be in his presence. So, if we all begin with ourselves, transformation will take place. Goodness will be renewed and established all around us, in our country, and further abroad.
+Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, from the book, "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives – The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica"
But it can all take a turn for the good if each one of us begins with himself, if the transformation starts with us. We should try to have good thoughts which will radiate from us. A meek and humble person is always very pleasant to be with, for he emanates peace and warmth. That person may not say a single word, yet we rejoice to be in his presence. So, if we all begin with ourselves, transformation will take place. Goodness will be renewed and established all around us, in our country, and further abroad.
+Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, from the book, "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives – The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica"
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
An icon of Theotokos at Agios Dimitrios Church in Vyronas, southeast of Athens, has begun streaming tears. The tears were first noticed on September 8, the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Article and video at greekcitytimes.com/2020/09/10/virgin-mary-icon-weeps/
An icon of Theotokos at Agios Dimitrios Church in Vyronas, southeast of Athens, has begun streaming tears. The tears were first noticed on September 8, the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Article and video at greekcitytimes.com/2020/09/10/virgin-mary-icon-weeps/