When you close the doors to your dwelling and are alone you should know that there is present with you the angel whom God has appointed for each man. This angel, who is sleepless and cannot be deceived, is always present with you; he sees all things and is not hindered by darkness. You should know, too, that with him is God who is in every place for there is no place and nothing material to which God is not, since He is greater than all things and holds all men in His hand.
+St. Anthony the Great
+St. Anthony the Great
A believer begins every work with prayer. It is certain that the Lord does not need many words. If an Orthodox Christian crosses himself before beginning an act and says in faith, "Lord, bless," the Lord will hear this short prayer and help the one who asks for all the details of the coming act.
+St. Athanasius (Sakharov)
+St. Athanasius (Sakharov)
Lord have mercy!
Christians in Afghanistan have quickly been targeted by the Taliban who quickly seized power with the aid of the grossly mishandled withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
“We’re hearing from reliable sources that the Taliban demand people’s phones, and if they find a downloaded Bible on your device, they will kill you immediately,” —Dr. Rex Rogers, president of the Christian nonprofit organization SAT-7 North America, quoted by Religion News Service
Christians in Afghanistan have quickly been targeted by the Taliban who quickly seized power with the aid of the grossly mishandled withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
“We’re hearing from reliable sources that the Taliban demand people’s phones, and if they find a downloaded Bible on your device, they will kill you immediately,” —Dr. Rex Rogers, president of the Christian nonprofit organization SAT-7 North America, quoted by Religion News Service
Only in the God-man and through the God-man can each human individual become truly human, completely human. Only with the God-man and his Church, and through his Church "with all the Saints," is it possible to achieve "complete personhood, as measured by the stature and fullness of Christ" (Eph. 3:18,4: ll-16).
Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia
Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ p.99
Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia
Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ p.99
☦️ I will come into Your house in the greatness of Your mercy: and in fear I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify You forever, One Divine Power worshiped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. ☦️
Orthodox Christianity is pro-life. The common "vaccines" being promoted by most governments are not. It is well presented by numerous Orthodox authorities in jurisdictions worldwide that the connection of mRNA technologies with aborted cell lines makes reception of mRna an unethical choice for Orthodox Christians. Sadly, a segment of Orthodox priests and bishops believe the "vaccines" are morally acceptable and are unwilling to support their parishioners' requests for religious exemptions. However, Orthodox faithful do not need clergy support for a religious exemption to covid vaccines.
“What matters is your deeply held, sincere interpretation of your religious beliefs." The website Orthodox Reflections provides advice for creating a request for vaccine exemption and a model letter for employees to their employers requesting religious acommodation in the face of workplace vaccine mandates.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/for-covid-vaccine-religious-exemptions-your-sincerely-held-beliefs-are-what-matters
“What matters is your deeply held, sincere interpretation of your religious beliefs." The website Orthodox Reflections provides advice for creating a request for vaccine exemption and a model letter for employees to their employers requesting religious acommodation in the face of workplace vaccine mandates.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/for-covid-vaccine-religious-exemptions-your-sincerely-held-beliefs-are-what-matters
St. Job of Pochaev, "pillar of the True Faith; a zealot of the commandments of the Gospel" was strictly aesthetic, kind and gentle. He was also an ardent defender of the Orthodox Faith against the persecution and forced conversion to Roman Catholicism.
At his repose at more than 100 years old, he had directed the Pochaev monastery for more than fifty years. The uncovering of St Job’s relics took place on August 28, 1659. There was a second uncovering of the relics on August 27-28, 1833.
You strengthened all people in Orthodoxy, Job, our venerable father; pray that our souls may be saved.
At his repose at more than 100 years old, he had directed the Pochaev monastery for more than fifty years. The uncovering of St Job’s relics took place on August 28, 1659. There was a second uncovering of the relics on August 27-28, 1833.
You strengthened all people in Orthodoxy, Job, our venerable father; pray that our souls may be saved.
"Let Herodias lament, for she entreated lawless murder, loving not the law of God, nor eternal life, but that which is false and temporal."
"The glorious beheading of the Forerunner became an act of divine dispensation for he preached to those in hell the coming of the Saviour." (The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, commemorated Aug 29/ Sep 11)
"The glorious beheading of the Forerunner became an act of divine dispensation for he preached to those in hell the coming of the Saviour." (The Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, commemorated Aug 29/ Sep 11)
As a prince, St. Alexander Nevsky (translation of his relics, Aug 30/ Sept 12) ruled at a tumultuous time in Russian history. Veneration of the Prince began at his burial, where the prince, who died as a monk, miraculously extended his hand for the written prayer of absolution placed in the coffin.
The Mongol Horde from the East brought calamity during his time. The Teutonic Knights from the West also wrought destruction with the blessing of the Pope of Rome, blasphemously calling themselves "Cross-bearers." Along with routing enemy forces, St Alexander is credited with saving Russia from a general insurrection which would have caused devastation.
O Blessed Alexander, God has granted you the grace of healing, entreat Him to strengthen your suffering spiritual children, and to save all Orthodox Christians.
The Mongol Horde from the East brought calamity during his time. The Teutonic Knights from the West also wrought destruction with the blessing of the Pope of Rome, blasphemously calling themselves "Cross-bearers." Along with routing enemy forces, St Alexander is credited with saving Russia from a general insurrection which would have caused devastation.
O Blessed Alexander, God has granted you the grace of healing, entreat Him to strengthen your suffering spiritual children, and to save all Orthodox Christians.
“As the Bush burned and was not consumed, so the Virgin gave birth to Thee yet remained a Virgin" (Octoechos, Dogmatikon Tone 2, "The shadow of the Law").
The Unburnt Bush is the Bush which the Holy Prophet and Godseer Moses (Sept 4/Sept 17) saw on Mount Horeb. It burned, yet was not consumed (Exodus 3:2). “Unburnt Bush” Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated on the Feast Day the Prophet Moses. The icon, which is especially revered in Russia where it is one of the most popular icons in homes, was, according to tradition, painted on a piece of the rock where Moses beheld it.
The Unburnt Bush is the Bush which the Holy Prophet and Godseer Moses (Sept 4/Sept 17) saw on Mount Horeb. It burned, yet was not consumed (Exodus 3:2). “Unburnt Bush” Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated on the Feast Day the Prophet Moses. The icon, which is especially revered in Russia where it is one of the most popular icons in homes, was, according to tradition, painted on a piece of the rock where Moses beheld it.
The Unburnt Bush signifies the Holy Virgin's sinless conception of Christ when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was overshadowed by the power of the Most High (Luke 1:35), revealing the Holy Trinity by naming the Holy Spirit, the Power which is the Son, and the Most High which is the Father" (Saint Theophylact).
The Icon is also commemorated on the sixth Sunday after Pascha (the Sunday of the Blind Man), because according to tradition, the Icon was transferred from the Kremlin to the newly-consecrated Khamovniki church on that day.
The Icon is also commemorated on the sixth Sunday after Pascha (the Sunday of the Blind Man), because according to tradition, the Icon was transferred from the Kremlin to the newly-consecrated Khamovniki church on that day.