Once St. Matrona of Moscow (May 2) asked her mother to tell a certain priest about a book in his library with a picture of the Seeker of the Lost icon.
To the priest’s surprise, the picture was found. Matrona blessed the village women to collect money for it. One man unwillingly donated a ruble. Another man gave a kopeck for a laugh. When all the money raised was brought to Matrona, she found the ruble and the kopeck and removed them saying: “Give them their money back. It spoils the rest.”
An icon painter was found and Matrona asked him to have confession and receive Holy Communion before he started work. After awhile he came to Matrona and said that he could not do it. Matrona knew that he had one serious sin, which he had not confessed and she told him to repent. [1/2]
To the priest’s surprise, the picture was found. Matrona blessed the village women to collect money for it. One man unwillingly donated a ruble. Another man gave a kopeck for a laugh. When all the money raised was brought to Matrona, she found the ruble and the kopeck and removed them saying: “Give them their money back. It spoils the rest.”
An icon painter was found and Matrona asked him to have confession and receive Holy Communion before he started work. After awhile he came to Matrona and said that he could not do it. Matrona knew that he had one serious sin, which he had not confessed and she told him to repent. [1/2]
[2/2] The icon painter went to a priest, made confession, received Holy Communion again and asked Matrona to forgive him. She answered: “Go and paint the icon of the Heavenly Queen. Now you will do it.”
With the money left over, another copy of the Seeker of the Lost icon was painted in the town of Bogoroditsk.
With the money left over, another copy of the Seeker of the Lost icon was painted in the town of Bogoroditsk.
St John of Kronstadt called the Blessed Matrona of Moscow (April 19/ May 2) his "replacement, the eighth pillar of Russia."
"Once a militiaman came to arrest Matrona but she said: 'Go home quickly! It’s an emergency. I am blind and can’t walk and won’t escape from you.' He believed her and rushed for home. There he found his wife who was accidentally severely burned. He was just in time to take her to hospital. The next day they asked him at work: Have you arrested the blind one?” He answered: 'I’ll never arrest her. But for her, I would have lost my wife.'"
"Matronushka", as she was affectionately called, "was a warrior angel, as if she had a sword of fire in her hands to fight the evil power." - Zinaida Zhdanova
Source: orthochristian.com/79033.html
"Once a militiaman came to arrest Matrona but she said: 'Go home quickly! It’s an emergency. I am blind and can’t walk and won’t escape from you.' He believed her and rushed for home. There he found his wife who was accidentally severely burned. He was just in time to take her to hospital. The next day they asked him at work: Have you arrested the blind one?” He answered: 'I’ll never arrest her. But for her, I would have lost my wife.'"
"Matronushka", as she was affectionately called, "was a warrior angel, as if she had a sword of fire in her hands to fight the evil power." - Zinaida Zhdanova
Source: orthochristian.com/79033.html
St. Anastasius of Sinai teaches: if you see someone sinning, do not condemn him, for you do not know how he will finish his life. That thief crucified with Christ was a murderer, and Judas was an apostle of Christ's, but the thief entered paradise and Judas went to perdition.
lf you see someone sin, you do not know his good works For many sin in public and repent in private, and we see their sin but do not know of their repentance. Therefore, my brothers, let us condemn no man, that we be not condemned.
☦️ Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic. Prolog, 22 March, B#80, p. 219
Image: Andreas Pavias’s Icon of the Crucifixion. A pelican is nested at top of the cross. The pelican is often associated with Christ in medieval imagery. When food was scarce, the pelican was thought to feed her own blood to her young to keep them alive. The pelican then dies. With this understanding in mind, angels are shown catching the blood of Jesus in communion chalices for the Eucharist.
lf you see someone sin, you do not know his good works For many sin in public and repent in private, and we see their sin but do not know of their repentance. Therefore, my brothers, let us condemn no man, that we be not condemned.
☦️ Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic. Prolog, 22 March, B#80, p. 219
Image: Andreas Pavias’s Icon of the Crucifixion. A pelican is nested at top of the cross. The pelican is often associated with Christ in medieval imagery. When food was scarce, the pelican was thought to feed her own blood to her young to keep them alive. The pelican then dies. With this understanding in mind, angels are shown catching the blood of Jesus in communion chalices for the Eucharist.
The Myrrhbearing Women “were the first to see Jesus; and the sex that was most condemned first enjoys the sight of the blessings; this sex shows its courage the most. And when the disciples had fled, these were present... Do you see the women's courage? Do you see their affection? Do you see their noble spirit in matters of money? their noble spirit even unto death? Let the men imitate the women”
St. John Chrysostom, Homily LXXXVIII on Matthew XXVII
St. John Chrysostom, Homily LXXXVIII on Matthew XXVII
Faithful, Generous and Fearless: The Holy Myrrhbearing Women
✝️Mary Magdalene
✝️Mary the wife of Cleopas
✝️Joanna
✝️Salome, mother of the sons of Zebedee
✝️Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus
✝️The Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
They ministered unto Christ out of their own possessions, hearing His teaching and witnessing His miracles. They continued in their ministry even after Christ’s crucifixion— neither wavering in their faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers.
☦️The Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph of Arimathea is commemorated on the Second Sunday after Pascha
✝️Mary Magdalene
✝️Mary the wife of Cleopas
✝️Joanna
✝️Salome, mother of the sons of Zebedee
✝️Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus
✝️The Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
They ministered unto Christ out of their own possessions, hearing His teaching and witnessing His miracles. They continued in their ministry even after Christ’s crucifixion— neither wavering in their faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers.
☦️The Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph of Arimathea is commemorated on the Second Sunday after Pascha
ქრისტე აღსდგა! Christ is Risen!
On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches also commemorate the Holy Blessed Queen of Georgia, Tamara, who is also commemorated on her own feast day, May 1. Tamara called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of widows."
After her coronation, she convoked a local Church council, honouring the bishops if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God. She exhorted them in humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
The Kingdom of Georgia expanded under her leadership, and lands were reclaimed from Muslim dynasts. Queen Tamara used her influence to shelter vulnerable Middle Eastern Christians and pilgrims. She also enabled the sending of missionaries all around the Caucasus and supported monasteries, churches, and hospitals as far as Sinai, Athos, Cyprus, Thrace and Petritsoni.
On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches also commemorate the Holy Blessed Queen of Georgia, Tamara, who is also commemorated on her own feast day, May 1. Tamara called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of widows."
After her coronation, she convoked a local Church council, honouring the bishops if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God. She exhorted them in humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
The Kingdom of Georgia expanded under her leadership, and lands were reclaimed from Muslim dynasts. Queen Tamara used her influence to shelter vulnerable Middle Eastern Christians and pilgrims. She also enabled the sending of missionaries all around the Caucasus and supported monasteries, churches, and hospitals as far as Sinai, Athos, Cyprus, Thrace and Petritsoni.
Her tomb was empty
The Holy Martyr Irene of Thessalonica (May 5) is hymned as being “fair adorned before with pure and virginal beauty” but becoming “fairer still in thy brave contest” of cruel tortures for her faith.
Following her conversion to Christ, St. Irene zealously smashed the idols of her father, king Licinius. His enraged response was to command that she be trampled underfoot by horses. She remained unharmed, but one of the horses rose up and trampled him to death. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized.
While working miracles and converting many thousands of souls, St. Irene would come to suffer, but survive, torments for her faith, being repeatedly preserved by God’s power. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. [1/2]
The Holy Martyr Irene of Thessalonica (May 5) is hymned as being “fair adorned before with pure and virginal beauty” but becoming “fairer still in thy brave contest” of cruel tortures for her faith.
Following her conversion to Christ, St. Irene zealously smashed the idols of her father, king Licinius. His enraged response was to command that she be trampled underfoot by horses. She remained unharmed, but one of the horses rose up and trampled him to death. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized.
While working miracles and converting many thousands of souls, St. Irene would come to suffer, but survive, torments for her faith, being repeatedly preserved by God’s power. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. [1/2]
[2/2] Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. She is the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorin, a corruption of "Saint Irene."
The Angel cried to the Lady, full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again, I say: Rejoice, your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb!
With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, O ye people!
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you.
Exult now, and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!
With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, O ye people!
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you.
Exult now, and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!
A prayer for the afflicted
O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, help us and defend us in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver us from the threats that surround us. Send Thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those who are suffering. Guide the hands of physicians, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve thee in peace and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, help us and defend us in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver us from the threats that surround us. Send Thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those who are suffering. Guide the hands of physicians, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve thee in peace and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Have you lost your many possessions, experienced the tragic death of your sons and daughters? Are you gravely sick and your whole body covered with sores from top to toe? Are you laying on a rubbish heap, scouring your boils with shards broken pottery? You are now beginning to experience the Holy, Righteous and Long-suffering Job (May 6), descendant of Esau the grandson of Abraham, Job.
In all of these horrific experiences, Job did not complain of God, but patiently endured all his sufferings to the end. Therefore the Lord healed him and blessed the rest of his very long life with abundance.
Our own full healing will not come in this life, but in the meantime, we are not alone. Holy St Job is our model of patient endurance of every suffering that God sends us, and is a type of the suffering Christ. [1/2]
In all of these horrific experiences, Job did not complain of God, but patiently endured all his sufferings to the end. Therefore the Lord healed him and blessed the rest of his very long life with abundance.
Our own full healing will not come in this life, but in the meantime, we are not alone. Holy St Job is our model of patient endurance of every suffering that God sends us, and is a type of the suffering Christ. [1/2]
[2:2] “You were true and just, pious, blameless and holy, O glorious servant of God. You enlightened the world by your perseverance, much-afflicted Job. Therefore, we all honor and praise your divinely-wise memory." (Kontakion, Tone 8)
The Precious Cross appeared in the sky over Jerusalem on the morning of May 7, 351 during the reign of the emperor Constantius, the son of Saint Constantine.
St Cyril of Jerusalem was an eyewitness to the miracle, writing: "On the nones [or 7th] of May, about the third hour [or nine in the morning], a vast luminous body, in the form of a Cross, appeared in the heavens, just over the holy Golgotha, reaching as far as the holy Mount of Olives, seen not by one or two persons, but clearly and evidently by the whole city. This was not, as may be thought, a momentary transient phenomenon: for it continued several hours visible to our eyes, and brighter than the sun, the light of which would have eclipsed it, had not this been stronger. The whole city, struck with a reverential fear, tempered with joy, ran immediately to the church, young and old, Christians and heathens, citizens and strangers, all with one voice giving praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the worker of miracles…”
St Cyril of Jerusalem was an eyewitness to the miracle, writing: "On the nones [or 7th] of May, about the third hour [or nine in the morning], a vast luminous body, in the form of a Cross, appeared in the heavens, just over the holy Golgotha, reaching as far as the holy Mount of Olives, seen not by one or two persons, but clearly and evidently by the whole city. This was not, as may be thought, a momentary transient phenomenon: for it continued several hours visible to our eyes, and brighter than the sun, the light of which would have eclipsed it, had not this been stronger. The whole city, struck with a reverential fear, tempered with joy, ran immediately to the church, young and old, Christians and heathens, citizens and strangers, all with one voice giving praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the worker of miracles…”