Dear “John” (New Orthodox Convert): “Are you expecting a kind of earthly paradise with plenty of incense and the right kind of music?
Do you expect to go straight to heaven if you cross yourself slowly, pompously and in the correct form from the right side?
Are you an expert in kissing three times on every possible or improper occasion? … Can you prostrate elegantly without dropping a variety of stationery out of your pockets?
OR….. Have you read the Gospels?
Have you faced Christ crucified?… Above all, are you prepared to accept all things as from God?
If we are meant, always, to be ‘happy’, why the Crucifixion? Are you prepared, whatever happens, to believe that somewhere, somehow, it must make sense? That does not mean passive endurance, but it means constant vigilance, listening, for what is demanded; and above all, Love. [1/2]
Do you expect to go straight to heaven if you cross yourself slowly, pompously and in the correct form from the right side?
Are you an expert in kissing three times on every possible or improper occasion? … Can you prostrate elegantly without dropping a variety of stationery out of your pockets?
OR….. Have you read the Gospels?
Have you faced Christ crucified?… Above all, are you prepared to accept all things as from God?
If we are meant, always, to be ‘happy’, why the Crucifixion? Are you prepared, whatever happens, to believe that somewhere, somehow, it must make sense? That does not mean passive endurance, but it means constant vigilance, listening, for what is demanded; and above all, Love. [1/2]
[2/2] Poor, old, sick, to our last breath, we can love. Not sentimental nonsense so often confused with love, but the love of sacrifice – inner crucifixion of greed, envy, pride. … And never confuse love with sentimentality.
And never confuse worship with affectation.”
—excerpts from a 2009 letter to a new convert, from Mother Thekla, Abbess of the Monastery of the Assumption, Normandy
Mother Thekla reposed Aug 7, 2011 at the age of 93.
And never confuse worship with affectation.”
—excerpts from a 2009 letter to a new convert, from Mother Thekla, Abbess of the Monastery of the Assumption, Normandy
Mother Thekla reposed Aug 7, 2011 at the age of 93.
“Christ Has Ascended!"
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting , “Christ has Ascended!” “Into to the Heavens!” or, “God has gone up with a shout!” “The Lord with the sound of a trumpet!” (Psalm 46:6)
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
After the feast of the leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha, we replace the greeting, “Christ is Risen!” "Indeed He is Risen!" with the Ascension greeting , “Christ has Ascended!” “Into to the Heavens!” or, “God has gone up with a shout!” “The Lord with the sound of a trumpet!” (Psalm 46:6)
The psalm continues "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (verses 6-9)
The holy and righteous Emilia (also Emily or Emmelia) is often called “the mother of saints.” Influenced by Emilia’s loving zeal for Christ and His Church, five of her ten children are also commemorated as saints: Sts. Macrina, Basil, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Theosebia, a deaconess.
In addition to giving birth to saints, St. Emilia, was the daughter of a martyr, the wife of St. Basil the Elder, and daughter-in-law of saint Macrina the Elder.
Later in her life, St. Emilia and her daughter Macrina withdrew to a secluded family property in Pontus to begin a convent. The angelic life of this model monastic community, which included liberated female slaves, is said to have been undefiled by anger, jealousy, hatred, or pride.
St. Emilia is commemorated in many Orthodox Churches on May 8/May 21 but in the Greek Church on May 30 or May 8, along with her husband St. Basil the Elder and her mother-in-law, Saint Macrina the Elder.
Holy mother of saints, Emilia, pray unto Christ for our salvation.
In addition to giving birth to saints, St. Emilia, was the daughter of a martyr, the wife of St. Basil the Elder, and daughter-in-law of saint Macrina the Elder.
Later in her life, St. Emilia and her daughter Macrina withdrew to a secluded family property in Pontus to begin a convent. The angelic life of this model monastic community, which included liberated female slaves, is said to have been undefiled by anger, jealousy, hatred, or pride.
St. Emilia is commemorated in many Orthodox Churches on May 8/May 21 but in the Greek Church on May 30 or May 8, along with her husband St. Basil the Elder and her mother-in-law, Saint Macrina the Elder.
Holy mother of saints, Emilia, pray unto Christ for our salvation.
Among the 318 bishops who gathered at the First Ecumenical Council (7th Sun. of Pascha) were many confessors who bore the marks of torture upon their bodies. At Nicea, they would confront not the instruments of physical torture, but the heresy of Arianism which was spreading across the Empire and infecting the Church.
Arius, a priest, denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father. He falsely taught that the Saviour is not consubstantial with the Father. Arius' Christ was a creature, a most honourable one, but a creature nonetheless. Arius' Christ was not the true Saviour for Whom the martyrs gave their lives. Arius' clever teachings received their "walking papers" at Nicea.
At Nicea, the Church stood victorious in unity against the gates of hell and its disguises.
Our Lord's promise, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
Arius, a priest, denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father. He falsely taught that the Saviour is not consubstantial with the Father. Arius' Christ was a creature, a most honourable one, but a creature nonetheless. Arius' Christ was not the true Saviour for Whom the martyrs gave their lives. Arius' clever teachings received their "walking papers" at Nicea.
At Nicea, the Church stood victorious in unity against the gates of hell and its disguises.
Our Lord's promise, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18), was fulfilled at Nicea and continues to be fulfilled until His coming again.
☦️ I will come into Your house in the greatness of Your mercy: and in fear I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify You forever, One Divine Power worshiped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. ☦️
If you are not sick, if you do not suffer, it is … because the Lord calls you to participate in the suffering of others! You must be eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, legs to the lame. You must be a helper to the disabled, to people who cannot move on their own, so that the love of Christ may be revealed in this service!
☦️Saint Luke of Crimea
☦️Saint Luke of Crimea
In these difficult years, only a few simple priests will keep and preserve Orthodoxy. The big ones, the officers, will follow the other one.
People will be divided. Who are they going to follow? This will last a litlle and then the war will follow. After the war a canonical Synod will be convened and will put things in order.
☦️Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Photo: Tomb of Elder Ephraim of Arizona
People will be divided. Who are they going to follow? This will last a litlle and then the war will follow. After the war a canonical Synod will be convened and will put things in order.
☦️Elder Ephraim of Arizona
Photo: Tomb of Elder Ephraim of Arizona
The myrrh-bearing sisters Saints Mary and Martha are commemorated on June 4. The holy women reposed in Cyprus, where their brother became the first Bishop of Kition after his resurrection from the dead.
Saints Mary and Martha are hymned as having adorned themselves “with all the splendour of sacred virtues.”
“With your holy brother Lazarus, ye are also vouchsafed to dwell with the ranks of Saints on high, O ye sisters of Lazarus; and with him, O wise Mary and Martha, ye pray for us all unto the Master.”
Saints Mary and Martha are hymned as having adorned themselves “with all the splendour of sacred virtues.”
“With your holy brother Lazarus, ye are also vouchsafed to dwell with the ranks of Saints on high, O ye sisters of Lazarus; and with him, O wise Mary and Martha, ye pray for us all unto the Master.”