"On the mountain lives an old monk, working out his salvation in prayer and seclusion. He is just the one to show Nikola the holiness in each moment."
Are your children reading Orthodox books? Dessi Jackson is a mother of six, an immigrant from Bulgaria, living in the countryside of Maryland, and she writes books about Saints that you and your children are likely to fall in love with. http://amzn.to/2sH8Itd
* Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
* Saint Felix and the Spider
* The Saint and His Bees
* Nikola and the Monk
View all at http://amzn.to/2sH8Itd
Are your children reading Orthodox books? Dessi Jackson is a mother of six, an immigrant from Bulgaria, living in the countryside of Maryland, and she writes books about Saints that you and your children are likely to fall in love with. http://amzn.to/2sH8Itd
* Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
* Saint Felix and the Spider
* The Saint and His Bees
* Nikola and the Monk
View all at http://amzn.to/2sH8Itd
“Grant me torrents of tears, O most pure one, to cleanse my soul from impurity. I offer the groans of my heart to thee unceasingly, strive for me, O Sovereign Lady. Accept my service of supplication and offer it to compassionate God. O thou who art above the angels, raise me above this world's confusion. O Light-bearing heavenly tabernacle, direct the grace of the Spirit in me. I raise my hands and lips in thy praise, defiled as they are by impurity, O all-immaculate one. Deliver me from soul-corrupting evils, and fervently intercede with Christ, to Whom is due honour and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
Most Holy Theotokos, shelter us under your mantle.
Most Holy Theotokos, shelter us under your mantle.
“Thou didst enter the flame as it were a place a bloom with flowers…”
Saint Thecla the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles (Sept 24/ Oct 7) was taught by the Holy Apostle Paul. Her holy relics are at the monastery bearing her name in Maaloula, Syria, an ancient Christian village which came under attack in 2013 by ISIS-affiliated militants. Their attempt to burn down the entire monastery failed. Twelve nuns who were kidnapped were later released. Looted icons were eventually retrieved. Who can doubt the intercession of the Holy First-Martyress?
Icon photo credit: The Eastern Orthodox Church on Facebook
Saint Thecla the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles (Sept 24/ Oct 7) was taught by the Holy Apostle Paul. Her holy relics are at the monastery bearing her name in Maaloula, Syria, an ancient Christian village which came under attack in 2013 by ISIS-affiliated militants. Their attempt to burn down the entire monastery failed. Twelve nuns who were kidnapped were later released. Looted icons were eventually retrieved. Who can doubt the intercession of the Holy First-Martyress?
Icon photo credit: The Eastern Orthodox Church on Facebook
Christ God ... Wall us about with your holy Angels, that, protected and guided by their host, we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayers of the Day in the Orthodox Church by Mother Thekla, edited by Fr. Christopher
http://amzn.to/2rXz4GZ
Prayers of the Day in the Orthodox Church by Mother Thekla, edited by Fr. Christopher
http://amzn.to/2rXz4GZ
When you are praying alone, and your spirit is dejected, and you are wearied and oppressed by your loneliness, remember then, as always, that God the Trinity looks upon you with eyes brighter than the sun; also all the angels, your own Guardian Angel, and all the Saints of God.
☦️St. John of Kronstadt
Photo: Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles
☦️St. John of Kronstadt
Photo: Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles
"... for the eyes of our soul to see the light of intelligible and divine realities, that is the depths of things, they must first be filled with the light which radiates from these depths. In him who sees must be found something of what is seen."
—Fr. Dimitru Staniloae, Orthodox Spirituality
Sometimes if seems radiant, divine, inner illumination is captured even by the eyes of ordinary souls, even unbelievers, such as happens Holy Saturday at the Holy Sepulchre when the Holy Light is seen by all. Holy illumination may even be captured by a photo lens.
This photo was captured at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico, several years ago. Father John Bethancourt is the priest in the center of the photo. It was taken after three baptisms, as Fr John was completing the chrismations.
One of the baptized was a convert from Judaism. Her father, a rabbi, is said to have taken the photos. It is believed that he did not retouch the photo and had no motivation to do so.
—Fr. Dimitru Staniloae, Orthodox Spirituality
Sometimes if seems radiant, divine, inner illumination is captured even by the eyes of ordinary souls, even unbelievers, such as happens Holy Saturday at the Holy Sepulchre when the Holy Light is seen by all. Holy illumination may even be captured by a photo lens.
This photo was captured at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico, several years ago. Father John Bethancourt is the priest in the center of the photo. It was taken after three baptisms, as Fr John was completing the chrismations.
One of the baptized was a convert from Judaism. Her father, a rabbi, is said to have taken the photos. It is believed that he did not retouch the photo and had no motivation to do so.
If you aspire to friendship with Christ, you will hate money and the gluttonous love of money; for money lures towards itself the mind of whoever loves it and diverts it from love of Jesus…
You should realize, however, that money is in fact disastrous to you, and the disaster will be all the greater because you will also lose your true wealth, God, without whom the life of salvation is impossible.
If you love money you do not love Christ…
+ St Nikita Stithatos (On The Inner Nature of Things)
You should realize, however, that money is in fact disastrous to you, and the disaster will be all the greater because you will also lose your true wealth, God, without whom the life of salvation is impossible.
If you love money you do not love Christ…
+ St Nikita Stithatos (On The Inner Nature of Things)
Holy Apostle, heal the wounds of our souls, and pray for our salvation!
A physician with compassion, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke (Oct 18/ Oct 31) was a companion to St Paul on his missionary journeys and gave a doctor's help when Paul was beaten, stoned or nearly drowned.
Born a Greek in Antioch, St Luke was the only Gentile to have written books included in our Bible. Only in Luke's gospel are the stories told of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat, the Presentation and Jesus' remaining in Jerusalem.
Only in Luke's gospel are the words spoken by the angel to Mary at the Annunciation recorded. "Hail Mary, full of grace." We also hear Elizabeth's words to Mary, "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus."
A physician with compassion, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke (Oct 18/ Oct 31) was a companion to St Paul on his missionary journeys and gave a doctor's help when Paul was beaten, stoned or nearly drowned.
Born a Greek in Antioch, St Luke was the only Gentile to have written books included in our Bible. Only in Luke's gospel are the stories told of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat, the Presentation and Jesus' remaining in Jerusalem.
Only in Luke's gospel are the words spoken by the angel to Mary at the Annunciation recorded. "Hail Mary, full of grace." We also hear Elizabeth's words to Mary, "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus."