Agion Oros (Holy Mountain), Athos
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
- Psalm 45:1-5, Kathisma 6 (Psalms 37-45), Monday Vespers
http://bit.ly/kathisma6
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
- Psalm 45:1-5, Kathisma 6 (Psalms 37-45), Monday Vespers
http://bit.ly/kathisma6
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 Herod had been replaced by the True King of All.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 (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
The Holy Innocents (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
Pray with pain in your heart for the world. Do you know what great power such prayer has?
☦️St Paisios
☦️St Paisios
This original icon, Panagia Paradisiotissa, is for the remembrance of all babies who have fallen asleep both in the womb and as newborns. It was painted with the blessing of Elder Gabriel and has been kept since December 2020 in the Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Ireni in Pachyammos, Paphos Cyprus.
"A certain monk asked St. Anthony the Great, 'What must I do to be saved?' The elder answered him, 'Don't trust in your own righteousness, don't worry about what's past, and constrain your tongue and your stomach.'"
- Ancient Patericon
- Ancient Patericon
Have patience. The temptations that come to us are from God, for the benefit of our soul. They teach us to come closer to God, to call on Him with heartache, teach us not to fall into arrogance and humble ourselves. But God wants us not to grieve, and then the temptation will slowly pass. This is human life.
+Saint Joseph the Hesychast
+Saint Joseph the Hesychast
It is not right to speak of the former years and to bless them and to curse our own age. We must know that in every age and in every place, people who actually seek their salvation, find it.
+Saint Luke, Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea, the Blessed Surgeon
+Saint Luke, Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea, the Blessed Surgeon
The Lord was circumcised so that no one would doubt that He had truly assumed human flesh, and that His Incarnation was not merely an illusion, as some heretics taught. In the Lord's Circumcision and Naming (Jan 1/Jan 14), we are reminded that we have entered into a New Covenant with God.
"For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ." Col. 2:9-11.
"Enthroned on high with the Eternal Father and Your divine Spirit, O Jesus, You willed to be born on earth of the unwedded handmaid, your Mother. Therefore You were circumcised as an eight-day old Child. Glory to Your most gracious counsel; glory to Your dispensation; glory to Your condescension, O only Lover of mankind." - Troparion
"For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ." Col. 2:9-11.
"Enthroned on high with the Eternal Father and Your divine Spirit, O Jesus, You willed to be born on earth of the unwedded handmaid, your Mother. Therefore You were circumcised as an eight-day old Child. Glory to Your most gracious counsel; glory to Your dispensation; glory to Your condescension, O only Lover of mankind." - Troparion
The Synaxarion describes St Basil the Great (Jan 1/ Jan 14) as a ship, loaded down full of learning, to the extent allowed of by human nature".
Also from the Synaxarion:
Basil the great was attracted to the wilderness. He and his good friend Gregory the Theologian practiced strict asceticism in their hovel, without roof and without fireplace, and the food was very humble. At the request of monks, Basil wrote down a collection of rules for virtuous life. By his preaching and by example, St Basil assisted in the spiritual perfecting of Christians in Cappadocia and Pontus; and many indeed turned to him.
Also from the Synaxarion:
Basil the great was attracted to the wilderness. He and his good friend Gregory the Theologian practiced strict asceticism in their hovel, without roof and without fireplace, and the food was very humble. At the request of monks, Basil wrote down a collection of rules for virtuous life. By his preaching and by example, St Basil assisted in the spiritual perfecting of Christians in Cappadocia and Pontus; and many indeed turned to him.
Overcoming the heretics "by the weapon of his mouth, and by the arrows of his letters", as an untiring champion of Orthodoxy, Saint Basil all his life gave challenge to the hostility and the every which way possible intrigues of the Arian heretics.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone:
"For the Church art thou in truth a firm foundation, granting an inviolate lordship unto all mortal men and sealing it with what thou hast taught, O righteous Basil, revealer of heavenly things."
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone:
"For the Church art thou in truth a firm foundation, granting an inviolate lordship unto all mortal men and sealing it with what thou hast taught, O righteous Basil, revealer of heavenly things."
"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 13/ Jan 2), 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 13/ Jan 2), 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.