The ring of St. Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria (Dec 7/Nov 24 or 25)
In a vision the newly-illumined Catherine, daughter of the governor of Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Maximian (305-313), beheld both the Theotokos and Christ Himself. The Lord spoke to her: “Behold, this day I take thee as Mine unsullied bride forever. Diligently preserve this troth inviolate, taking no man to thyself!" When Catherine arose, a ring was indeed on her finger!
At the Monastery of the God-trodden Mountain of Sinai, which gradually became known as the Monastery of Saint Catherine, the holy martyr’s relics are kept inside two precious reliquaries given by the Russian Empire. One reliquary enshrines her precious head, and the other, her left hand. Her relics, which have continued over the centuries to exude a heavenly fragrance, are brought out for the veneration of the faithful on special occasions.
In a vision the newly-illumined Catherine, daughter of the governor of Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Maximian (305-313), beheld both the Theotokos and Christ Himself. The Lord spoke to her: “Behold, this day I take thee as Mine unsullied bride forever. Diligently preserve this troth inviolate, taking no man to thyself!" When Catherine arose, a ring was indeed on her finger!
At the Monastery of the God-trodden Mountain of Sinai, which gradually became known as the Monastery of Saint Catherine, the holy martyr’s relics are kept inside two precious reliquaries given by the Russian Empire. One reliquary enshrines her precious head, and the other, her left hand. Her relics, which have continued over the centuries to exude a heavenly fragrance, are brought out for the veneration of the faithful on special occasions.
Each pilgrim is given a silver ring bearing her monogram in honour of the ring that Saint Catherine received from Christ.
Holy Martyr Catherine, the all-praised Bride of Christ, pray for us!
Holy Martyr Catherine, the all-praised Bride of Christ, pray for us!
Russian President Vladimir Putin has many times related the story of a simple aluminum cross given to him by his mother, which he initially hid in a jewelry case. His father was an atheist and Communist party official. His mother was a devout Orthodox Christian. Eventually, Vladimir decided to wear the cross, a sign of his mother's faith and her hopes for her son, whom she had secretly baptized as an infant... [Continued at] since33.org/0701-putin-cross.html
O Lord, grant me, Thine unworthy servant, Thy salvation upon my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Thy Holy Gospel; my soul, with the love of Thy Cross; my heart, with the purity of Thy word; my body, with Thy passionless Passion. Keep my thought in Thy humility, and raise me up at the proper time for Thy glorification. For most glorified art Thou together with Thine unoriginate Father, and the Most Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: `The LORD is our righteousness.'”—Jeremiah 23:5-6
Over 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ. On a single day— the day of His crucifixion— twenty nine major prophecies were fulfilled.
Over 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ. On a single day— the day of His crucifixion— twenty nine major prophecies were fulfilled.
“The first step on the way of the Winter Pascha is the encounter with the man Jesus. We are invited with Philip and the disciples to ‘come and see’. If we want to come and want to see, we will. Like the first disciples, we will see ‘greater things’ than we ever expected.”
From "The Winter Pascha" by Fr. Thomas Hopko
From "The Winter Pascha" by Fr. Thomas Hopko
It was I remember, November 1975.
It had been a few months since I had become a monk, and as I was going up from the monastery of Stavronikita to the Athoniada School, and as usual I passed by the hut of Father Paisios.
There I found the elder sitting in his ascetic cell and writing.
He was writing non-stop, so at some point I asked him with my poor mind:
"Well, father, are you not thinking at all?"
And he gave me a really wonderful answer:
"The word of God is born, it is not made!"
So this is our theology!
https://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2020/09/it-was-i-remember
It had been a few months since I had become a monk, and as I was going up from the monastery of Stavronikita to the Athoniada School, and as usual I passed by the hut of Father Paisios.
There I found the elder sitting in his ascetic cell and writing.
He was writing non-stop, so at some point I asked him with my poor mind:
"Well, father, are you not thinking at all?"
And he gave me a really wonderful answer:
"The word of God is born, it is not made!"
So this is our theology!
https://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2020/09/it-was-i-remember
So when, if not during fasting, should we remember that we are called by the Lord Himself to restraint in our words: “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”(Matthew 12: 36–37).
What should we do in this case? Should I leave social networks completely, at least for the duration of the fast? But what if one’s work is connected with the constant presence on the Internet?
Here everything depends on the person himself and his self-control. It is worth consulting with one’s confessor. Someone clearly needs to disconnect from the social network, perhaps for an extended period of time. Someone should limit their stay. Also, prayer will help us before each time we go online. After all, we pray before starting any business with a special prayer, we also pray before leaving the house. And visiting the Internet is also a kind of “leaving the house.” Why not pray before this? Also, when creating each post, each comment, you should not rush, it is important to pause, at least for a few seconds, and cross yourself. And this will surely protect both us and our neighbors from many rash words and unpleasant situations.
—Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).
https://www.pravmir.com/metropolitan-anthony-pakanich-unworthy-behavior-of-the-clergy-and-believers-is-what-draws-people-away-from-the-church/
What should we do in this case? Should I leave social networks completely, at least for the duration of the fast? But what if one’s work is connected with the constant presence on the Internet?
Here everything depends on the person himself and his self-control. It is worth consulting with one’s confessor. Someone clearly needs to disconnect from the social network, perhaps for an extended period of time. Someone should limit their stay. Also, prayer will help us before each time we go online. After all, we pray before starting any business with a special prayer, we also pray before leaving the house. And visiting the Internet is also a kind of “leaving the house.” Why not pray before this? Also, when creating each post, each comment, you should not rush, it is important to pause, at least for a few seconds, and cross yourself. And this will surely protect both us and our neighbors from many rash words and unpleasant situations.
—Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).
https://www.pravmir.com/metropolitan-anthony-pakanich-unworthy-behavior-of-the-clergy-and-believers-is-what-draws-people-away-from-the-church/
Pravmir
Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich): Unworthy Behavior of the Clergy and Believers Is What Pushes People Away from the Church | A Russian…
Ahead of the Nativity Fast, it is a good time to talk about one's behavior in social network.
However, considering that there are some Orthodox hierarchs who do allow these vaccines, and considering the great fear campaign that is being waged by the governments and the media, I can understand if people do decide to get vaccinated. People also need to know that many of those who are getting vaccinated are dying or experiencing severe side effects. We must be aware of what we are doing. Whatever our personal choice is in this matter, we must still live as Orthodox Christians, loving and encouraging one another, being an example of Christian love and piety both to those in our Church communities and to others. Let us re-focus our priorities and focus more on our own spiritual life, not just on preserving our physical life in this sinful world, so when the time comes that God summons us to the next life, we may be able to give a good account of our life here on earth, time in which we should be repenting and preparing ourselves spiritually for eternity. We should remember that whether we get sick from the virus or not is up to God, and when and how we die is up to God, not determined by a virus. Let us ask God to give us repentance, the ‘vaccine’ for eternity, as Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev has expressed it, so that we will be able to live and die as good Orthodox Christians.”
—His Grace, Bishop George of Canberra Auxiliary Bishop Australia-New Zealand Diocese Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
https://www.rocor.org.au/news10/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Epistle-English-5-August-2021.pdf
—His Grace, Bishop George of Canberra Auxiliary Bishop Australia-New Zealand Diocese Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
https://www.rocor.org.au/news10/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Epistle-English-5-August-2021.pdf
“When the garden of your soul is full of thistles (i.e. passions), do not try to uproot them, for as long as you concern yourself with them you will always end up being injured and infected by germs. Concentrate all your energy on the flowers of your soul, water them and then the thistles will wither themselves. And the best flower of all is your love for Christ. If you water this and it grows, all the thistles will die off.”
☦️Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia
☦️Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia
Prayer to St. Nicholas (Dec 19/Dec 6)
"You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence. Because of your lowliness heaven was opened to you, because of your poverty riches were granted to you. O holy Bishop Nicholas, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!"
The lampada in this photo is in the form of a boat with St. Nicholas inside burns continuously in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy.
"You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence. Because of your lowliness heaven was opened to you, because of your poverty riches were granted to you. O holy Bishop Nicholas, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!"
The lampada in this photo is in the form of a boat with St. Nicholas inside burns continuously in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy.