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.”
“O woe! You are in the Divine Liturgy, and while the Royal Table is prepared, while the Lamb of God is sacrificed for your sake, while the priest is struggling for your salvation, you are indifferent. At the time when the six-winged Seraphim cover their faces from awe and all the heavenly powers together with the priest beseech God for you, at the moment the fire of the Holy Spirit descends from Heaven and the blood of Christ is shed from His immaculate side in the holy Chalice, at this moment, I wonder, doesn’t your conscience censure you for your lack of attention?” ☦️St John Chrysostom, “On Church Attendance
“As the Lord’s disciple you received the Gospel, O righteous James; as a martyr you have unfailing courage; as God’s brother, you have boldness; as a hierarch, you have the power to intercede. Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.”
The Holy Apostle James (Jacob, Iakovos)(Oct 23) the Brother of our Lord, was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos. He is called the Less (Mark 15:40) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. This holy Apostle composed a Divine Liturgy, which guided the Liturgies of Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. The Church has preserved an Epistle of Saint James, addressed to the Jewish Christians of the diaspora.
The Holy Apostle James (Jacob, Iakovos)(Oct 23) the Brother of our Lord, was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos. He is called the Less (Mark 15:40) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. This holy Apostle composed a Divine Liturgy, which guided the Liturgies of Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. The Church has preserved an Epistle of Saint James, addressed to the Jewish Christians of the diaspora.
A forbidden icon: The Mother of God “Enthroned”
The “Enthroned” (or “Reigning”) Icon of the Mother of God appeared miraculously on March 2, 1917, the day of Tsar Nicholas’ abdication, in the village of Kolomskoye near Moscow.
Many copies of the icon were venerated throughout Russia, but these were confiscated by the Soviets. The original icon is in the Novodevichy Museum in Moscow. There is a copy in the Church of the Kazan Mother of God in Kolomskoye.
The “Enthroned” (or “Reigning”) Icon of the Mother of God appeared miraculously on March 2, 1917, the day of Tsar Nicholas’ abdication, in the village of Kolomskoye near Moscow.
Many copies of the icon were venerated throughout Russia, but these were confiscated by the Soviets. The original icon is in the Novodevichy Museum in Moscow. There is a copy in the Church of the Kazan Mother of God in Kolomskoye.
“Never even think of pleasing men. To be dishonoured by men – this is good. And what if people say that you have sins? Don’t you? We must endure insults, my dear, because the Saviour Christ praised us for this: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake (Matt. 5:11). We must endure everything with humility, my dear, endure with humility for the love of Christ, in order to win not all of Paradise but only a little corner, however small.”
✝️ Elder Paisie Olaru of Sihla (Romania)
✝️ Elder Paisie Olaru of Sihla (Romania)
Oct 26, 2025: The consecration of Romania's People's Salvation Cathedral, or Catedrala Natională (National Cathedral), the largest Orthodox Church in the world takes place in Bucharest, Romania. The event occurs on the Feast Day of Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer and Great Martyr of Thessaloniki, and the eve the Feast of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest (Oct 27).
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church will consecrate the church, dedicated to the Ascension of Christ, which in Romania is celebrated as Heroes' Day, and to Saint Andrew the Apostle, the protector of Romania.
The Cathedral, which can hold 7,000 people, is the tallest and largest Orthodox church building by volume
and area in the world. It also has the world's largest Orthodox iconostasis (24 meters long and 17 meters high) and the world's largest free-swinging church bell.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church will consecrate the church, dedicated to the Ascension of Christ, which in Romania is celebrated as Heroes' Day, and to Saint Andrew the Apostle, the protector of Romania.
The Cathedral, which can hold 7,000 people, is the tallest and largest Orthodox church building by volume
and area in the world. It also has the world's largest Orthodox iconostasis (24 meters long and 17 meters high) and the world's largest free-swinging church bell.
When difficulties and humiliations come our way, we must embrace them as from God. The Lord knows what we need, and if we are to acquire true humility like our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated during His Incarnation, we must trust that the Lord gives us that which we need for salvation. Just as a loving father does not spoil his child, so does the Lord allow periods of struggle, that we might be purified, and made whole. Let us thank Him for everything, and draw near to Him for comfort amidst the pains of life. We can make it through this humbling veil of tears to paradise if we persevere in faith, hope, and love.
—Abbot Tryphon
—Abbot Tryphon
As a commander in the Roman army, the Holy and Glorious Greatmartyr Demetrius (Oct 26/ Nov 8 ) earned the crown of martyrdom by refusing Emperor Maximian's orders to persecute Christians. Instead, Demetrius openly confessed and preached Christ at Thessalonica.
St Demetrius, the first recognized patron and protector of Thessalonica, has many times saved the city from calamity. Russians also consider Demetrius as the protector of Siberia.
Holy Demetrius, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy!
St Demetrius, the first recognized patron and protector of Thessalonica, has many times saved the city from calamity. Russians also consider Demetrius as the protector of Siberia.
Holy Demetrius, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy!