"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
O radiant Trinity, One God, save your people from men of violence in Syria, Israel, Gaza, and throughout the Middle East; in Ukraine, Russia, and in troubled places on the continents of Asia and Africa, for those who suffer for Thy sake in every place. And for those whose lives have become a sacrifice for Christ, may it not be in vain. Receive them, O Lord, even as martyrs, granting them rejoicing with Thy righteous ones, in Thine eternal Kingdom.
"The Apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ doctrines have established one faith for the Church. Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, It defines and glorifies the great mystery of Orthodoxy!" - Kontakion for the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils, Tone 8
On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of July we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451. In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.
“Do not separate from the Church, because there is nothing stronger than the Church. Your hope is the Church, your salvation is the Church, your refuge is the Church. It is higher than the sky, larger than the earth. It never gets old, but always blooms." ☦️St John Chrysostom
On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of July we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451. In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.
“Do not separate from the Church, because there is nothing stronger than the Church. Your hope is the Church, your salvation is the Church, your refuge is the Church. It is higher than the sky, larger than the earth. It never gets old, but always blooms." ☦️St John Chrysostom
After experiencing the Holy Liturgy at Agia Sophia in Constantinople, the emissaries of Holy Prince Vladimir (July 15/28) told him “We knew not whether we were on earth or in heaven… We only know that God dwells there among the people, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations."
Though his grandmother, had been a Christian, Holy Prince Vladimir (July 15/28) inherited the paganism of his father. Desiring something better, the prince sent emissaries to investigate the faiths of the Jews, the Muslims, the Western Christians and the Orthodox.
Prince Vladimir, moved by the emmisaries’ description of Orthodox worship, was baptized in Cherson in 988, receiving the name Basil. "He came forth from the font not only healed of a blindness lately afflicting him, but also from being passionate and warlike, he became meek, peaceable, and exceedingly godly." (Great Horologion)
Though his grandmother, had been a Christian, Holy Prince Vladimir (July 15/28) inherited the paganism of his father. Desiring something better, the prince sent emissaries to investigate the faiths of the Jews, the Muslims, the Western Christians and the Orthodox.
Prince Vladimir, moved by the emmisaries’ description of Orthodox worship, was baptized in Cherson in 988, receiving the name Basil. "He came forth from the font not only healed of a blindness lately afflicting him, but also from being passionate and warlike, he became meek, peaceable, and exceedingly godly." (Great Horologion)
Among the few personal effects of the royal family of St Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov (July 4/ July 17) that remained behind at the Ipatiev House, the place of their martyrdom, was a notebook of the young Holy Martyr Olga. On one of its pages, was the following prayer:
Grant us Thy patience, Lord, In these our woeful days,
The mob's wrath to endure,
The torturer's ire; Thy unction to forgive
Our neighbors' persecution, And mild, like Thee, to bear a bloodstained Cross.
And when the mob prevails, And foes come to despoil us,
To suffer humbly shame,
O Saviour, aid us!
Master of the world, universal God, Bless us in prayer
And grant rest to our humble soul
In this unbearable, dreadful hour.
And when the hour comes
To pass the last dread gate,
Breathe strength in us to pray, “Father, forgive them."
—from “The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What silence could not conceal”
Photo: (from left to right) Saints Olga, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alexandra, Tatiana, and in the front row Alexei and Maria ☦️
Grant us Thy patience, Lord, In these our woeful days,
The mob's wrath to endure,
The torturer's ire; Thy unction to forgive
Our neighbors' persecution, And mild, like Thee, to bear a bloodstained Cross.
And when the mob prevails, And foes come to despoil us,
To suffer humbly shame,
O Saviour, aid us!
Master of the world, universal God, Bless us in prayer
And grant rest to our humble soul
In this unbearable, dreadful hour.
And when the hour comes
To pass the last dread gate,
Breathe strength in us to pray, “Father, forgive them."
—from “The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What silence could not conceal”
Photo: (from left to right) Saints Olga, Nikolai, Anastasia, Alexandra, Tatiana, and in the front row Alexei and Maria ☦️
If you left the Church to get away from hypocritical people, you should also quit your job, drop out of school, disconnect yourself from all your friends and family, and lock yourself in your room.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
Or, you can see the Church for what she is: a hospital for wounded people, like you. There you are a patient as well as a practitioner. There are flaws wherever there are humans. Go for healing, but be a healer of messed up people who are sometimes rude, obnoxious and conniving in the throes of their diseases. Just like you.
Allow God's grace to transform you day by day, and to treat those who are yet being transformed with care, love and kindness.
And then what happened?
“Then Elijah said to them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.’ So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon, and slaughtered them there.” 3 Kingdoms 18:40
In Elijah’s time, thousands of people worshiped one idol, Baal, which was bad enough. Even more shocking is the adoration of the countless idols in our present day— material goods, wealth, power, and even ourselves. Anything dearer to us than God is idolatry. Not only are the multitude of idols dear to us, but they also consume us. What wrath will such unrepentant idolatry bring?!
“The incarnate Angel, the Cornerstone of the Prophets, the second Forerunner of the Coming of Christ, the glorious Elias (Elijah), who from above, sent down to Elisha the grace to dispel sickness and cleanse lepers, abounds therefore in healing for those who honor him.“ Apolytikion, Fourth Mode
“Then Elijah said to them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.’ So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon, and slaughtered them there.” 3 Kingdoms 18:40
In Elijah’s time, thousands of people worshiped one idol, Baal, which was bad enough. Even more shocking is the adoration of the countless idols in our present day— material goods, wealth, power, and even ourselves. Anything dearer to us than God is idolatry. Not only are the multitude of idols dear to us, but they also consume us. What wrath will such unrepentant idolatry bring?!
“The incarnate Angel, the Cornerstone of the Prophets, the second Forerunner of the Coming of Christ, the glorious Elias (Elijah), who from above, sent down to Elisha the grace to dispel sickness and cleanse lepers, abounds therefore in healing for those who honor him.“ Apolytikion, Fourth Mode
In iconography the Prophet Elijah (July 20/ Aug 2) is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. The Holy Prophet did not experience physical death but was instead taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Saviour upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30
According to the Tradition of Church, St Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world.
At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah conversed with the Saviour upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke. 9: 30
According to the Tradition of Church, St Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world.