"If you manage to correct yourself, one small part of the Church is immediately corrected. Naturally, if everyone did the same, the body of the Church would be in good health. But, today, people concern themselves with anything but themselves. You see, judging others is easy, whereas working on yourself takes effort." ☦️ Saint Paisios
Prophet and Forerunner John, we honour you in love at your nativity, the beginning of your proclamation to the world of the incarnation of the Son of God!
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
June 24/ July 7: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
A myrrh-streaming icon located at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist in Homer Glen, Illinois has brought healing and conversion. It began streaming myrrh in 2015.
BOOK: "The Friend Of The Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner" by Sergius Bulgakov, sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist. The author has been described as the greatest Russian theologian of modern times. amzn.to/2sAEW8W
“If you say something evil about your brother or sister, even if it is true, your soul suffers an unhealable wound. You can reveal the sins of another only when the sole intention in your heart is the benefit of the soul of the sinner." ☦️ St. Nikon of Optina (June 25)
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
Say "Our Father", even if you do not live as a son; perhaps this would remind you that God is your Father.
Say "Who art in heaven", even if you only think of worldly things; perhaps this would lift your mind to the Heavens.
Say "Hallowed be Thy Name" even if you only glorify your own name; perhaps this would bring you the thought that without God your name is nothing.
Say "Thy Kingdom come", even though if you only seek possessions; perhaps this would urge you to desire the Kingdom of God.
Say "Thy will be done", even though you only do your own will; perhaps this would make you realize that the will of God is your holiness.
Say "Give us this day our daily bread", even if you exclusively cling to the material; perhaps this would free your body from the earthly.
Say "Forgive us today our trespasses", even though you do not forgive others' mistakes against you; perhaps this way you will realize that forgiving is Heaven's door.
Say "Who art in heaven", even if you only think of worldly things; perhaps this would lift your mind to the Heavens.
Say "Hallowed be Thy Name" even if you only glorify your own name; perhaps this would bring you the thought that without God your name is nothing.
Say "Thy Kingdom come", even though if you only seek possessions; perhaps this would urge you to desire the Kingdom of God.
Say "Thy will be done", even though you only do your own will; perhaps this would make you realize that the will of God is your holiness.
Say "Give us this day our daily bread", even if you exclusively cling to the material; perhaps this would free your body from the earthly.
Say "Forgive us today our trespasses", even though you do not forgive others' mistakes against you; perhaps this way you will realize that forgiving is Heaven's door.
Prophecies from the Elders
"America will then perish terribly, completely. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves. It will be so.” —Elder Stefan Karulsky of Holy Mount Athos
"Something will happen that will bring America down to its knees. It will cease to be a superpower. Great evil will come to America.” —Venerable Elder loannis Kalaidis
"The U.S. will feed the world, but in the end it will collapse.” —St. Aristokles of Moscow
“A bloody battle will break out. It will take hundreds of millions of lives. The Lord will allow this tragedy to cleanse the world of those mired in sins. But after the catastrophe, a religious upsurge will begin.” —Elder Joseph of Vatopedi
"America will then perish terribly, completely. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves. It will be so.” —Elder Stefan Karulsky of Holy Mount Athos
"Something will happen that will bring America down to its knees. It will cease to be a superpower. Great evil will come to America.” —Venerable Elder loannis Kalaidis
"The U.S. will feed the world, but in the end it will collapse.” —St. Aristokles of Moscow
“A bloody battle will break out. It will take hundreds of millions of lives. The Lord will allow this tragedy to cleanse the world of those mired in sins. But after the catastrophe, a religious upsurge will begin.” —Elder Joseph of Vatopedi
"All of Creation rejoices in thee, O full of grace:
the angels in heaven and the race of men,
O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise..."
St John of Damascus wrote zealously in defense of Orthodoxy in the time of time of the Iconoclasts. For this, the hand with which he wrote was ordered severed by the Caliph-- and then restored after his petitions to the Theotokos. St John's joyful response to the miracle was to place on the icon a hand fashioned of silver. Thus, the icon received its name “Of Three Hands.” The miracle also inspired the writing of the hymn of thanksgiving to the Mother of God: “All of creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace.”
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Three Hands", "Tricheroussa", of Hilandar, Mount Athos (8th century), commemorated June 28/ July 11
the angels in heaven and the race of men,
O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise..."
St John of Damascus wrote zealously in defense of Orthodoxy in the time of time of the Iconoclasts. For this, the hand with which he wrote was ordered severed by the Caliph-- and then restored after his petitions to the Theotokos. St John's joyful response to the miracle was to place on the icon a hand fashioned of silver. Thus, the icon received its name “Of Three Hands.” The miracle also inspired the writing of the hymn of thanksgiving to the Mother of God: “All of creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace.”
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Three Hands", "Tricheroussa", of Hilandar, Mount Athos (8th century), commemorated June 28/ July 11
"Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons" Mark 3:14-15
On the day after the Feast of the Glorious and First-Ranked among the Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29/ July 12) we commemorate all of the Apostles:
Peter, Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, the son of Alphæus, Jude, the brother of James, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias
(Synaxis June 30/ July13)
O holy Apostles of Christ Pray to our merciful God, That He may grant us remission of our sins!
On the day after the Feast of the Glorious and First-Ranked among the Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29/ July 12) we commemorate all of the Apostles:
Peter, Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, the son of Alphæus, Jude, the brother of James, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias
(Synaxis June 30/ July13)
O holy Apostles of Christ Pray to our merciful God, That He may grant us remission of our sins!
Every time you want to go to church, if you want to be consistent to what our spotless faith tells us, make sure you remember, don't forget, that you're entering the shining palace of the Most High. Where His throne is. Where the angelic hymn resounds without ceasing: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabbaoth!
Take care, then, how you go and how you enter… If your soul's free of lies, hatred, antagonism, wicked thoughts, and vile desires, put on simple, ordinary clothes, clothes that are suitable for Christians (nothing outrageous, nothing for show, nothing for secular gatherings). And go to church, in the fear of God, with humility, with love. If you go to church like that you should know that you're thrice-blessed. Even in this life. And even more so in the life eternal.
+ Saint Maximos the Greek
Take care, then, how you go and how you enter… If your soul's free of lies, hatred, antagonism, wicked thoughts, and vile desires, put on simple, ordinary clothes, clothes that are suitable for Christians (nothing outrageous, nothing for show, nothing for secular gatherings). And go to church, in the fear of God, with humility, with love. If you go to church like that you should know that you're thrice-blessed. Even in this life. And even more so in the life eternal.
+ Saint Maximos the Greek
“Children! You are now in a position similar to that of those youths in Babylon. We are surrounded by people who do not know the Orthodox faith and do not obey the laws of the Church. You have a choice: either to fill yourself with food prohibited by the Church, or, like Ananias, Azariah and Misael, to freely reject what is forbidden. Who do you want to be with—with those young men or with those who were against them? Do you want to imitate these saints, the same age as you, or want to go a broad path, neglecting all the rules?”
☦️St. John of San Francisco, from a Letter to the Pupils of the Shelter of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, 1952
☦️St. John of San Francisco, from a Letter to the Pupils of the Shelter of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, 1952