The earliest known prayer to the Theotokos (Greek, Θεοτοκος, meaning “Bearer of God”) is found on a fragment of papyrus dating back to approximately AD 250.
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."
O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world, glory to You! #Theophany #Epiphany
"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"
Mk 1:9-11 Eve of Theophany/Ephiphany, Great Blessing of the Waters
The holy hand that baptized our Lord has traveled far and wide. A colossal pilgrimage through many centuries would be required in order to follow the relics of the hand of St John the Forerunner and Baptist, given the number and diversity of locations in which they have been-- kept. Even the most recent centuries contain a rich history of this most holy relic.
Since 1917, the hand of St. John has been preserved in Germany, then Yugoslavia and now at the Monastery Church of St. Peter of Cetinje (Serbia) in Montenegro.
A portion of St. John's right hand is also kept and venerated at Dionysiou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
Mk 1:9-11 Eve of Theophany/Ephiphany, Great Blessing of the Waters
The holy hand that baptized our Lord has traveled far and wide. A colossal pilgrimage through many centuries would be required in order to follow the relics of the hand of St John the Forerunner and Baptist, given the number and diversity of locations in which they have been-- kept. Even the most recent centuries contain a rich history of this most holy relic.
Since 1917, the hand of St. John has been preserved in Germany, then Yugoslavia and now at the Monastery Church of St. Peter of Cetinje (Serbia) in Montenegro.
A portion of St. John's right hand is also kept and venerated at Dionysiou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
The 14-pointed silver star in the Grotto of the Nativity marks the precise spot of the birth, inscribed with "Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est" ("Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary"), symbolizing the three sets of 14 generations in Christ's genealogy from Matthew. Orthodox veneration emphasizes the cave's humility, prefiguring Christ's death and resurrection, as depicted in Nativity icons.
“Prepare thyself, O Bethlehem! Adorn thyself well, O manger! The Truth hath come! Receive Him, O cave! The shadow hath passed away, and God hath appeared to mankind through the Virgin, assuming our form and deifying our flesh.”
The Feast of the Nativity, Julian Calendar
“Prepare thyself, O Bethlehem! Adorn thyself well, O manger! The Truth hath come! Receive Him, O cave! The shadow hath passed away, and God hath appeared to mankind through the Virgin, assuming our form and deifying our flesh.”
The Feast of the Nativity, Julian Calendar
The bees of Isidor Timinis, a beekeeper near Athens, Greece show veneration for the Holy First-Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen (Dec 27/ Jan 9). The bees do the same with icons of the Lord, the Holy Theotokos and the saints. The bees regularly “wax" around the icons’ images, but never over top of them.
Who should appear in a photo of a group of workers on their way help build a church dedicated to Saint Gabriel the Confessor? Saint Gabriel himself! The photograph is of a group of faithful on their way to the construction site of the church, in the village of Inchkhuri, Martvili region, Georgia.
Nothing was visible at the time the photo was taken. It was only afterward that those viewing the photos noticed Saint Gabriel appearing among them. Glory to God in His Saints!
Nothing was visible at the time the photo was taken. It was only afterward that those viewing the photos noticed Saint Gabriel appearing among them. Glory to God in His Saints!
When being praised by all the world, St Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov (Jan 2/ Jan 13) referred to himself as "the poor wretch Seraphim." St Seraphim was healed thrice by the Mother of God. When he fell ill at the age of 10, the miracle-working Kursk icon of Theotokos passed by his family home. After Seraphim's mother took him to kiss the icon, he recovered quickly.
The Uncovering of St Seraphim's relics took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose and is commemorated on July 19/ August 1. In 1991, St Seraphim’s relics were rediscovered after being hidden in a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years.
Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.
The Uncovering of St Seraphim's relics took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose and is commemorated on July 19/ August 1. In 1991, St Seraphim’s relics were rediscovered after being hidden in a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years.
Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.
Receive me, O Christ, the Lover of all men, as You received the prostitute, the thief, the tax-collector and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, for You take away the sins of the world; You heal the infirmities of men, You call to Yourself and give rest to those who labour and are heavy-laden.