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."
One parishioner stopped going to church. Time passed, and one day the parish priest decided to visit him.
The entrance door was open and the priest went inside. The man was sitting all alone by the fireplace. He saw the priest, nodded his head in greeting and motioned to him to sit down.
The priest settled comfortably into the armchair, and also began to look at the flame beautifully playing in the fireplace.
Both were silent.
A few minutes later, the priest got up, took the fireplace tongs, grabbed a burning brand with them and put it aside, away from the fire. Then he sat down again.
The silence continued.
The brand meanwhile ceased to blaze, then completely cooled down and turned black. The priest got up again, took the tongs and put the black brand back into the fire. A moment later, it was already burning like the others. -1/2-
The entrance door was open and the priest went inside. The man was sitting all alone by the fireplace. He saw the priest, nodded his head in greeting and motioned to him to sit down.
The priest settled comfortably into the armchair, and also began to look at the flame beautifully playing in the fireplace.
Both were silent.
A few minutes later, the priest got up, took the fireplace tongs, grabbed a burning brand with them and put it aside, away from the fire. Then he sat down again.
The silence continued.
The brand meanwhile ceased to blaze, then completely cooled down and turned black. The priest got up again, took the tongs and put the black brand back into the fire. A moment later, it was already burning like the others. -1/2-
-2/2- The priest put aside the tongs, and without saying a word headed for the exit. When he was already at the door, he heard the words: “Thank you for the visit, and for your sermon by the fireplace. This Sunday I will definitely come to the service.”