“The Lord, like a child-loving mother washing her child of all dirty, forgives us and graciously Sanctifies, as long as we repent sincerely.”
Saint Silouan the Athonite
We should repent every day in our prayer. And the Sacrament of the Confession should be regular and not rare in our life. It's something without out spiritual life is not possible.
Saint Silouan the Athonite
We should repent every day in our prayer. And the Sacrament of the Confession should be regular and not rare in our life. It's something without out spiritual life is not possible.
Saint righteous John of Kronstadt teaches us about keeping a heart pure and about danger to fall easily:
"Our soul is simple as thought, and rapid as thought or lightning. In an instant it can be wounded by sin and become attached to corruptible things; in an instant it can fall away from the love of God and its neighbor through a single unrighteous thought, through a single passionate desire, through a single malevolent thought,
and, therefore, we must constantly watch our heart, lest it should incline to words or thoughts of evil, and must ever strive to preserve it in God's simplicity and purity, and in the love of God and its neighbor."
"Our soul is simple as thought, and rapid as thought or lightning. In an instant it can be wounded by sin and become attached to corruptible things; in an instant it can fall away from the love of God and its neighbor through a single unrighteous thought, through a single passionate desire, through a single malevolent thought,
and, therefore, we must constantly watch our heart, lest it should incline to words or thoughts of evil, and must ever strive to preserve it in God's simplicity and purity, and in the love of God and its neighbor."
The 8-tone Orthodox chanting system, Octoechos consists of a cycle of eight distinct musical tones or modes, each with unique melodic patterns and characteristics. This cycle starts on Pascha (Easter), with each tone providing specific hymns for each day of the week to enhance worship and praise. The hymns in each tone are compiled in the liturgical book called the Octoechos, which includes various hymns such as troparia, stichera, canons, kontakions and others.
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☦️ The Orthodox Church of Japan began in 1861 with the arrival in Japan of a young Russian missionary priest-monk Nicholas, a future Saint. Originally assigned as chaplain to the Russian consulate in Hakodate, he soon turned his attention to missionary work among the Japanese, baptizing his first converts in 1868. The Russian Orthodox Holy Synod approved of his work and established an official mission to Japan in 1871.
Following the abrogation of the Japanese anti-Christian laws in 1873, the mission quickly gained ground.
Following the abrogation of the Japanese anti-Christian laws in 1873, the mission quickly gained ground.
When it seems hard to stay firm in spiritual life, we need ask strength from God.
"First, let me say that we have already received from God the ability to fulfil all his commands. We have then no reason to resent them, as if something beyond our capacity were being asked of us. We have no reason either to be angry, as if we had to pay back more than we had received." - St. Basil the Great
"First, let me say that we have already received from God the ability to fulfil all his commands. We have then no reason to resent them, as if something beyond our capacity were being asked of us. We have no reason either to be angry, as if we had to pay back more than we had received." - St. Basil the Great
The Bible is considered to be the most printed and read book in the world. No matter how many times you've read it, it's wonderfully how God opens new spiritual depths in it each time. But be careful, pray before reading and read Church Fathers interpretations as well. The Bible is the part of the Church and Sacred Tradition , and we can only understand it right within it.
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“The Bible is a scented garden, delightful, beautiful, it enchants our ears with birdsong in a sweet, divine, and spiritual harmony, it touches our heart, comforts us in sorrow, soothes us in a moment of anger, and fills us with Eternal joy.” - Saint John of Damascus
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“The Bible is a scented garden, delightful, beautiful, it enchants our ears with birdsong in a sweet, divine, and spiritual harmony, it touches our heart, comforts us in sorrow, soothes us in a moment of anger, and fills us with Eternal joy.” - Saint John of Damascus
To master the mundane will of the fallen self: ... First, you have to overcome avarice by embracing the law of righteousness, which consists in merciful compassion for one's fellow beings; second, you have to conquer self-indulgence through prudent self-restraint, that is to say, through all-inclusive self-control.
St Nikita Stithatos
St Nikita Stithatos
his patience in all his sufferings, most genuine evidence of sincerest piety toward the Deity, he bore away the crown of the victorious athletes of religion. At the same time Agapius and our contemporary, Thecla, having exhibited most noble constancy, were condemned as food for the wild beasts.
But who that beheld these things would not have admired, or if they heard of them by report, would not have been astonished? For when the heathen everywhere were holding a festival and the customary shows, it was reported abroad that besides the other entertainments, the public combat of those who had lately been condemned to wild beasts would also take place.
As this report increased and spread in all directions, six young men, namely, Timolaus, a native of Pontus, Dionysius from Tripolis in Phœnicia, Romulus, a subdeacon of the parish of Diospolis, northwest of Jerusalem, Pæsis and Alexander, both Egyptians, and another Alexander from Gaza, having first bound their own hands, went in haste to Urbanus, who was about to open the exhibition, evidencing great zeal for martyrdom. They confessed that they were Christians, and by their ambition for all terrible things, showed that those who glory in the religion of the God of the universe do not cower before the attacks of wild beasts.
Immediately, after creating no ordinary astonishment in the governor and those who were with him, they were cast into prison. After a few days two others were added to them. One of them, named Agapius, had in former confessions endured dreadful torments of various kinds. The other, who had supplied them with the necessaries of life, was called Dionysius. All of these eight were beheaded on one day at Cæsarea, on the twenty-fourth day of the month Dystrus...
Sts Timotheus, Agapius, Thecla and the rest of the eight Martyrs, pray for us!
But who that beheld these things would not have admired, or if they heard of them by report, would not have been astonished? For when the heathen everywhere were holding a festival and the customary shows, it was reported abroad that besides the other entertainments, the public combat of those who had lately been condemned to wild beasts would also take place.
As this report increased and spread in all directions, six young men, namely, Timolaus, a native of Pontus, Dionysius from Tripolis in Phœnicia, Romulus, a subdeacon of the parish of Diospolis, northwest of Jerusalem, Pæsis and Alexander, both Egyptians, and another Alexander from Gaza, having first bound their own hands, went in haste to Urbanus, who was about to open the exhibition, evidencing great zeal for martyrdom. They confessed that they were Christians, and by their ambition for all terrible things, showed that those who glory in the religion of the God of the universe do not cower before the attacks of wild beasts.
Immediately, after creating no ordinary astonishment in the governor and those who were with him, they were cast into prison. After a few days two others were added to them. One of them, named Agapius, had in former confessions endured dreadful torments of various kinds. The other, who had supplied them with the necessaries of life, was called Dionysius. All of these eight were beheaded on one day at Cæsarea, on the twenty-fourth day of the month Dystrus...
Sts Timotheus, Agapius, Thecla and the rest of the eight Martyrs, pray for us!
🙏 In his childhood St Necarios went about barefoot and in ragged clothing, but he trusted in God. Seeing that the merchant received many letters, Anastasius (bapt. name) also wanted to write a letter. To whom could he write? Not to his parents, because there were no mail deliveries to his village.. he decided to write to Christ to tell Him of his needs.
"My little Christ," he wrote. "I do not have an apron or shoes. You send them to me. You know how much I love you."
Anastasius sealed the letter and wrote on the outside: "To the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven." On his way to mail the letter, he ran into the man who owned a shop opposite the one in which he worked. The man asked him where he was going, and offered to mail it for him, since he was on his way to the post office.
The merchant happened to notice the address, and read the letter. Touched by the boy's simple faith, the merchant placed some money in an envelope and sent it to him anonymously. Anastasius was filled with joy and gave thanks to God.
"My little Christ," he wrote. "I do not have an apron or shoes. You send them to me. You know how much I love you."
Anastasius sealed the letter and wrote on the outside: "To the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven." On his way to mail the letter, he ran into the man who owned a shop opposite the one in which he worked. The man asked him where he was going, and offered to mail it for him, since he was on his way to the post office.
The merchant happened to notice the address, and read the letter. Touched by the boy's simple faith, the merchant placed some money in an envelope and sent it to him anonymously. Anastasius was filled with joy and gave thanks to God.
Icons have a great significance in Orthodox Church. It is simply ignorant to say that Orthodox pray to icons. Of course not. Icons represent all good and heavenly. Icons are means of teaching, reminding, expression of faith. We venerate Saints and worship God, and icons help us to remember why....
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“When you look upon the Icon of the Mother of God, with her Eternal Infant, marvel how most truly the Godhead was united with human nature, glorify the goodness and omnipotence of God, and, recognising your own dignity as man, live worthily of the high calling to which you are called in Christ – that is, the calling of a child of God and an heir to eternal bliss.”
Saint John of Kronstadt
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“When you look upon the Icon of the Mother of God, with her Eternal Infant, marvel how most truly the Godhead was united with human nature, glorify the goodness and omnipotence of God, and, recognising your own dignity as man, live worthily of the high calling to which you are called in Christ – that is, the calling of a child of God and an heir to eternal bliss.”
Saint John of Kronstadt
“Christ is the artist, tenderly wiping away all the grime of sin that disfigures the human face and restoring God’s Image to its full beauty.” - Saint Gregory of Nyssa
In the 1st chapter of the Genesis we read that man was created in God's image, after His likeness.
Church Fathers explain the image of God as the rational and spiritual nature of the human person, as as our free will and self-determination, the human person's immortality, his dominant position in the world and his striving towards good, our ability to create.
Church Fathers explain also it had been originally fixed by God in us, and the likeness is to be attained throughout life by getting virtues. St Gregory of Nyssa says, 'the limit of a life of virtues is the assimilation of God'.
In the 1st chapter of the Genesis we read that man was created in God's image, after His likeness.
Church Fathers explain the image of God as the rational and spiritual nature of the human person, as as our free will and self-determination, the human person's immortality, his dominant position in the world and his striving towards good, our ability to create.
Church Fathers explain also it had been originally fixed by God in us, and the likeness is to be attained throughout life by getting virtues. St Gregory of Nyssa says, 'the limit of a life of virtues is the assimilation of God'.
We know from our dogmatic theology that God is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. It means that He is everywhere (like air, only He is not limited at all), He knows everything and He is powerful over everything.
At first it can be difficult to understand such things, but it comes with spiritual growth. And to grow spiritually we need to be part of Church life, read and learn, pray and trust God and His Church.
“It is easier to measure the entire sea with a tiny cup than to grasp the ineffable greatness of God with the human mind.”
Saint Basil the Great
At first it can be difficult to understand such things, but it comes with spiritual growth. And to grow spiritually we need to be part of Church life, read and learn, pray and trust God and His Church.
“It is easier to measure the entire sea with a tiny cup than to grasp the ineffable greatness of God with the human mind.”
Saint Basil the Great
It happens that people talk about shame as an excuse why they don't go the Church or Confession. They say that they are too sinful/or they are ashamed to tell their sins during Confession. Saint John Chrysostom explains why this is wrong and dangerous.
“Pay attention carefully. After the sin comes the shame; courage follows repentance. Did you pay attention to what I said? Satan upsets the order; he gives the courage to sin and the shame to repentance.”
“Pay attention carefully. After the sin comes the shame; courage follows repentance. Did you pay attention to what I said? Satan upsets the order; he gives the courage to sin and the shame to repentance.”