One day after the commemoration of Saint George, who famously put a serpent (or dragon) in its place, Saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker of Constantinople (Apr 24) did the same— and not with a sword, but simply by the power of her prayer.
At her tomb, many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received their sight. Portions of St Elizabeth’s relics can be found at the Monastery of Saint Anna in Lygaria, Crete and the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli in Athens.
At her tomb, many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received their sight. Portions of St Elizabeth’s relics can be found at the Monastery of Saint Anna in Lygaria, Crete and the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli in Athens.
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (April 25) is in iconography represented by a lion, symbolizing the might and royal dignity of Christ (Rev 5:5).
One of the central themes in the Gospel written by Saint Mark is the power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. By the power of the Holy Spirit, St Mark did exactly that— achieving the impossible, again and again throughout his vast missionary travels— preaching, teaching, and healing.
The school he established in Alexandria would produce such Fathers and teachers as Clement of Alexandria and many others. The pagans, whom he had so often confronted, seized St Mark (ca. 62-63) when he was serving the Liturgy at Alexandria and he received his glorious martyrdom there.
One of the central themes in the Gospel written by Saint Mark is the power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. By the power of the Holy Spirit, St Mark did exactly that— achieving the impossible, again and again throughout his vast missionary travels— preaching, teaching, and healing.
The school he established in Alexandria would produce such Fathers and teachers as Clement of Alexandria and many others. The pagans, whom he had so often confronted, seized St Mark (ca. 62-63) when he was serving the Liturgy at Alexandria and he received his glorious martyrdom there.
The Angel cried to the Lady, full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again, I say: Rejoice, your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb!
With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, O ye people!
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you.
Exult now, and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!
With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, O ye people!
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you.
Exult now, and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!
Among the 318 bishops who gathered at the First Ecumenical Council (7th Sun. of Pascha) were many confessors who bore the marks of torture upon their bodies. At Nicea, they would confront not the instruments of physical torture, but the heresy of Arianism which was spreading across the Empire and infecting the Church.
At Nicea, the Church stood victorious in unity against the gates of hell and its disguises. She proved herself bigger than the pernicious beliefs that individual members, even priests and bishops, might promote.
Our Lord's promise, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
At Nicea, the Church stood victorious in unity against the gates of hell and its disguises. She proved herself bigger than the pernicious beliefs that individual members, even priests and bishops, might promote.
Our Lord's promise, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
What can be impossible for God, Who is able to give life to stone and form man out of it? He can miraculously accomplish the same with a painted image. "All things are possible to him that believeth"; [Mark 9:23] and the Highest miraculously comes down from heaven to him that believeth. He is similarly united with, and works miracles by, the sign of the life-giving cross.
My Life in Christ, ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ, ☦️ St John of Kronstadt
Christ the Pantocrator is one of the most widespread icons of Christ— found even in the post-schism churches of the West.
The word “Pantocrator” is translated from Greek as “the one who governs everything, the one who can do everything.”
Let us praise Him thus: “The very elements of nature obey You. Nothing happens by chance. What happens to us does not happen at random. Not a single hair from our heads falls to the ground without Your powerful will. We are in Your hands. What we are, whatever good we have in us, comes from You, the source of every goodness.” —Father Emmanuel Hatzidakis
Photos: Cefalù Cathedral, Sicily; Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, UK.
The word “Pantocrator” is translated from Greek as “the one who governs everything, the one who can do everything.”
Let us praise Him thus: “The very elements of nature obey You. Nothing happens by chance. What happens to us does not happen at random. Not a single hair from our heads falls to the ground without Your powerful will. We are in Your hands. What we are, whatever good we have in us, comes from You, the source of every goodness.” —Father Emmanuel Hatzidakis
Photos: Cefalù Cathedral, Sicily; Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, UK.
“Confess, partake, and fear nothing. Confession is the key to the kingdom of heaven.
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt