Weeping Albanian Icon of the Theotokos (source) "In the church, we become one with every unhappy, suffering, and sinful person." — St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
St. Sophia and her daughters: Sts. Faith, Hope and Love (source) Homily on Sts. Sophia and her Daughters, by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes After the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, our Church celebrates, my beloved, the memory of Saints Sophia and her three daughters: Faith, Hope and Love. St. Sophia was born, according to the Synaxarion, in a great city of Italy. She lived during the era of early persecutions, which, as is known, lasted for at least three centuries. During that era, for one to be a Christian, it was costly. It cost one positions, honors, money, and even this life. Millions were sacrificed then for the love of Christ. With this heroic spirit, St. Sophia lived as well, and thus raised her daughters. It is not possible to not rouse the evil of persecutors. They seized her, therefore, together with her daughters, and led them before the governor. He gave them the opportunity of three days in order to make a response, and possibly change their minds. But, after three days, the mother and her daughters remained unshakable in their dedication towards our Lord Jesus Christ. The mother had fear that her daughters might deny Christ, because they were very young. The first, Faith, was twelve years old. Hope was ten. and Love was nine. Despite this, their weak flesh was strengthened by the grace of God, and they endured martyrdom with unprecedented boldness. They locked them in prison. They beat them with whips. They pierced them with fiery arrows. They threw them in cauldrons of boiling water. However, like the Three Youths in the Furnace, thus, these three girls hymned God, as those around heard the hymn harmoniously: "Praise ye the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages." In the end, the three were beheaded by the sword of the tyrant. Their martyrdom was followed by that of their holy mother. St. Sophia and her three daughters teach us, my beloved, that, if we wish to be faithful Christians, that Christianity will cost us. And the more faithful we are, the more it will cost us. Many of us have become successful in this world. We find a myriad of ways to justify our seemingly proper and scandalous station. And later with think that we are Christians. Woe to us, if we do not set as a foundation the heroic mindset which defined the holy martyrs. These three little girls should censure the world. And their mother, St. Sophia, censures those mothers who are upset and tremble, thinking that through their fasting, prayer and reading, that the bodily strength of their little girls will be lessened. The Martyrs are the greatest censure of our lukewarm, miserable and thrice-wretched Christianity. However, St. Sophia and her three daughters teach us not only through their martyrdoms, but also through their names. The name "Sophia", what does this teach us? "Wisdom", we hear in Church when the Priest holds the Gospel and raises it, showing it to the whole multitude of the faithful. The Gospel, in other words, is full of wisdom. There is no wiser book. Wisdom is Christ Himself, the Logos of God. Do you remember the wondrous apostolic reading which we read three days ago, on the feast of the Cross? He said: "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (I Corinthians 1) Christ is wisdom, truth and life. St. Sophia, therefore, through her name, brings to mind that we must seek from God the illumination of divine wisdom. The names of her three daughters bring to mind the three great theological virtues. Faith! Awesome power, light, a star, foundation and root. Oh, if there were within our hearts this virtue! We could even bring down the stars from the heavens to the earth, and we could melt the mountains, and even the greatest hindrances would be solved. Do we have faith? If we had faith, 100% faith, the world would be different. But today, people don't even believe 1%. Take almost any Christian and ask him, and you would see that he is full of doubts, totally full of "ifs." If one has an "if", then you don't have faith. Faith is to believe 100% in reality that which our holy Church teaches us. Hope also brings to mind that, in this world, we have a need for life-giving hope, which would warm us like the sun. The Christian who believes that God is a loving and nurturing Father, an almighty Father and all-wise, he would hope that all those things that God promised, all kinds of great and uplifted and indescribable good things, He will give to him. And finally, Love, with her name reminds us of the fulfillment and the crown of the virtues. In this world of hatred, egotism, greed, and other evils, love today has grown cold. It is truly a terrible thing, as the sacred Chrysostom says, for us to see the sun be quenched one day. But it is even more terrible for love to be quenched. It is better for the sun to be quenched than for love to be quenched, because it is the sun for our souls. And Christ Himself prophesied, that there will come a cursed day, in which the sun of love will be quenched, and cold and frost will reign upon the earth. (Matthew 24:12) We are speaking about love, but we don't possess love. Love is a heavenly thing, which is ineffably joined with humility, with obedience, with discipline, the great virtues. It is not something indiscriminate, like ecumenists reach, like worldly people teach. Love differs from love. There is carnal love, love of money, love of small and meaningless things. And there is furthermore love for one's father and mother, which, in the final analysis, also contains something physical. The love which Christ brings to the world, however, has the wings of an eagle, and flies to the third Heaven, and makes man a Cherubim and Seraphim. Love, therefore, not only for relatives and friends, not just towards Christians, but love for the whole world. Love, even for those who crucify you! For we have Christ as our prototype, Who is love crucified. This love we must have as well. My beloved, if one were to ask now which of these three virtues are the greatest, the greatest is the third, love. Its beauty is indescribable. The Apostle Paul paints all of this in his beautiful sayings on love, which we have properly heard in vain to this point. "If," he says, "I spoke in the tongues of men and Angels," even if I have done miracles, even if I distribute my earthly goods, even if I go to martyrdom and shed my blood, "and I have not love, then I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." "I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13:1-2) These, my beloved, I have to tell you. Believe, in this age of faithlessness. Hope, in this age of hopelessness. Love, in this age of hatred. And first and foremost, keep love, which, as the Apostle Paul says, remains eternally. (ibid 13:7) For what is Paradise? Is it rivers, crystalline springs? Is it the songs of the Angels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, is it the Saints, the Martyrs, is it that whole and beautiful world, and indescribable good things? It is these things. But first and foremost, it is love, the love of God towards man. If I took out love from Paradise, immediately Paradise would become Hell. That Paradise we ourselves should seek, if we sense the dawn of love, if we believe unshakably in the Lord, and if we have steadfast hope in the promises of God unto the ages. Then, in the heights of Heaven, together with St. Sophia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, we will hymn the Triune God, saying: "Praise ye the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages." (+) Bishop Avgoustinos Recorded from a homily that occurred in the Chapel of St. Sophia of the Orphanage of the "Agape" Brotherhood of Florina on 9/17/1970, (source) Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth...And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1: 14, 16-17
St. Kosmas Aitolos, the New Hieromartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles (source) "The Most Gracious God made us, my brethren, human beings, and not animals. He made us more honorable than the whole world. The most gracious God gave us, my brethren, eyes to look at the sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars so we can say: "O my God, if the sun which is your creation is so bright, how much brighter are you, O Holy Name, you who are the creator of heaven and earth, the author and fashioner? O my God, find me worthy to enjoy you." God, my brethren, put the mind in our heads. Our mind is like a dish in which we should put all the teachings of the Gospel and not myths and idle talk, which are the art of the devil. He gave us ears to hear the Divine Liturgy which is celebrated by the priest in the church. He gave us a mouth to glorify our Lord, for us to say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the living God, through the Theotokos and all the angels, have mercy on us and forgive us who are sinners and your unworthy servants." We should confess with pure faith and receive the holy Sacraments with pure faith and fear and awe. That is how God wants us, brethren, and not to swear, not for one to betray another, not to take oaths and lie, not to steal from one another, not to take something belonging to another, not to take the name of God in vain for the smallest reason. Do you want to say, my brother: "By God"? Why don't you say: 'By the truth" ? Instead of swearing so your brother will believe you, tell him the straight truth, and if he doesn't believe you, go on your way. We should refrain, my brother, from swearing in the name of God or from taking oaths, and citing our saints. Some insignificant people even swear by the name of the Holy Trinity. Woe to them; a flaming tire will burn them and enflame them. Do you know, brother, how God wants you to be? Just as you don't want your wife to have anything to do with another man, so God doesn't want you to have anything to do with the devil. Do you enjoy having your wife fornicate with another? Of course not. For someone else to kiss her? Neither do you want this. That is what God wants of you too, not to have anything to do with the devil." -St. Kosmas Aitolos, the New Hieromartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! St. Matrona of Moscow (source) Akathist to St. Matrona of Moscow, the Venerable Wonderworker Translated from the Church Slavonic by Mr. Andreas Moran here. Kontakion 1 Chosen by the Holy Spirit of God from thy swaddling clothes, blessed eldress Matrona, thou didst receive bodily infirmity and blindness from God for thy spiritual cleansing. Thou wast enriched with the gift of foresight and wonderworking, and hast been adorned with an incorruptible crown from the Lord. Wherefore in gratitude we on earth offer unto thee crowns wrought from praises, crying out: Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Ikos 1 As an angel in the flesh didst thou appear on earth, blessed Matrona, fulfilling the will of God. Though born in bodily blindness, yet the Lord, Who maketh wise the blind and loveth the righteous, enlightened thy spiritual eyes, that thou mightest serve His people, and the works of God be made manifest through thee. Wherefore with love we cry unto thee such things as these: Rejoice, chosen by God from infancy; Rejoice, thou that wast covered by the grace of the Holy Spirit from thy cradle; Rejoice, thou that from childhood wast enriched with the gift of miracles; Rejoice, thou that wast filled with wisdom from God on high; Rejoice, thou that didst foresee the will of God through spiritual eyes; Rejoice, thou that puttest to shame the wise of this age that are blinded in mind; Rejoice, thou that leadest deluded souls unto God; Rejoice, thou that relievest from grief and from sorrow; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 2 When thou wast baptised, blessed one, the people and the priest beheld a wonderful pillar like smoke above thy head, and smelled a strong fragrance. Astonished, they wondered what this maid was destined to be, whilst singing unto God: Alleluia. Ikos 2 Being enlightened in mind, the priest of God Vasily, discerned her whom he baptised to be a vessel of the grace of God, and called thee, righteous Matrona, a holy maiden. In our zeal we bring praises such as these: Rejoice, thou that wast made fragrant in the holy font by the grace of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, for the sign of the cross was imprinted on thy chest; Rejoice, thou prayerful one given to the people by God; Rejoice, ever-burning candle, shining before the Lord; Rejoice, thou that by the gift of miracles from God wast famed upon earth; Rejoice, thou that by thine unfading crown art crowned by the Lord in heaven; Rejoice, herald to sinners of the mercies of God; Rejoice, thou that from the source of living water dost refresh the thirsty; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 3 Thou didst feel the Power of God's grace whilst yet in infancy, blessed Matrona, stretching forth to the holy icons, and with a pure heart and infant lips proclaimed praise unto God: Alleluia. Ikos 3 Having from God the gift of foresight from infancy, blessed mother, thou knewest the most hidden things in the hearts of them coming to thee, telling the future like the present, and by this set many people on the path of righteousness. Whereby thou didst glorify God, making wise the blind, and we cry out to thee thus: Rejoice, wondrous seer; Rejoice, denouncer of hidden sins; Rejoice, brightest teacher of darkened souls; Rejoice, merciful guide of them that had gone astray; Rejoice, star pointing the way to the faithful; Rejoice, candle giving light in the darkness of this age; Rejoice, thou that didst serve the one God; Rejoice, for by the grace of the Holy Spirit thou didst trample down the wiles of the devil; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. St. Matrona of Moscow (source) Kontakion 4 A storm of bewilderment and confusion in the people concerning thy miracles was dispelled, and them that were made wise by God, Who is wondrous in His saints, glorified and praised thee, and with thanksgiving sang unto God: Alleluia. Ikos 4 Hearing how thou givest help in sicknesses of spirit and body, mother Matrona, people came to thee with hope, and, receiving favourable counsel and healing, gave thanks to God and sang unto thee: Rejoice, for thou receivest them of a diseased and suffering soul; Rejoice, for thou bestowest peace upon grieving souls; Rejoice, enlightener of them that were in delusions; Rejoice, teacher of piety; Rejoice, reliever of our sorrows; Rejoice, consoler in griefs; Rejoice, blessed unmercenary; Rejoice, benevolent healer of divers ailments; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 5 As a divinely moving star, blessed mother Matrona, thou didst shine forth in evil times in the land of Russia as a new confessor, and didst bear the yoke of Christ boldly and fearlessly throughout thy life; and strengthened by the grace of God, thou gavest enlightenment to the bewildered, relief to the suffering, and healing to the sick, who thankfully cried unto God: Alleluia. Ikos 5 Seeing miracles and healings given by thee through the grace of God - the lame walking, the paralytic and bedridden healed, evil spirits cast out of the possessed - many Russian people rushed to thee, mother, as to a source inexhaustible and drank from it profusely, and with tender heart cried out to thee thus: Rejoice, called to the right path from infancy; Rejoice, righteous one, bestowed upon us by God; Rejoice, healer of our ailments; Rejoice, speedy helper in our needs; Rejoice, thou that enlightenest us through thine inspired advice; Rejoice, quick resolver of our bewilderment; Rejoice, thou that drivest away unclean spirits from the people; Rejoice, thou that protectest from every evil by thy prayer; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 6 Herald of the holiness and righteousness of thy life, blessed mother, the holy and righteous Father John of Kronstadt appeared to be when he saw thee in the church, and he called thee his heir and eighth pillar of Russia. And all that heard this glorified the Lord, proclaiming to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 6 Through thy prayers, mother Matrona, the light of God's grace shone in hearts of them having no knowledge of God and burdened by many sins which angered Him. And seeing the miracles performed by thee, they turned to the Lord, crying to thee in gratitude thus: Rejoice, thou whose feats glorify God; Rejoice, revealer to us of the glory of God; Rejoice, guide of the faithless to the right path; Rejoice, thou that cleansest by thy prayers those defiled by sins; Rejoice, thou that callest us to repentance; Rejoice, thou that dost admonish us to thank the Lord for all things; Rejoice, thou who dost teach us to love the divine Church; Rejoice, gatherer of the scattered sheep within the walls of the Church; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 7 Wishing worthily to glorify the Most Holy Lady Theotokos, mother Matrona, thou didst order the people to have her depicted in the most honourable icon called "Seeker of the Perishing" and place it in God’s church in thy village, that all who look upon the bright face of the most pure one, might tenderly praise her, and to the Lord also cry out: Alleluia! Ikos 7 The Lord gave thee as a new protectress, prayerful mediator, and intercessor with God, to the Russian people in the hard times when many forsook the holy Church; and thou, mother, by word and deed, didst set on the right path the fainthearted and deceived, revealing the wonderful miracles of God. Wherefore we hymn thee thus: Rejoice, thou that dost feel ceaseless compassion for the country of Russia; Rejoice, intercessor for our salvation; Rejoice, thou that movest to compassion God the righteous Judge; Rejoice, protectress of the diseased and wronged; Rejoice, helper of the weak and desperate; Rejoice, ceaseless warrior against the spirits of malice; Rejoice, for at thee the demon chiefs do tremble; Rejoice, for at thee angels and people rejoice; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 8 Strange it was for the weak in faith and the unwise that, though born blind, thou couldest see and know not only the present, but also the future, for they knew not that the power of God is fulfilled in human weakness. And we, blessed mother, seeing the wisdom of God manifested in thee, cry out to God: Alleluia. Ikos 8 Many vexations and offences, exiles and reproaches didst thou bear, blessed mother, not complaining of these, but in all things thanking God. For these things and for teaching us each with patience to carry his cross, we praise thee thus: Rejoice, thou that prayed without ceasing; Rejoice, thou that drove away spiritual wickedness by fasting and prayer; Rejoice, thou that hast gained graceful peace; Rejoice, for by thy love many about thee were saved; Rejoice, for thy life of service to many; Rejoice, for after thy repose people are ever helped by thee; Rejoice, for now thou fervently heedest our petitions; Rejoice, thou that leavest not them that put their trust in thy care; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. St. Matrona of Moscow (source) Kontakion 9 All manner of sorrows and diseases thou didst bear, mother Matrona, ever leading the struggle with the forces of darkness, denouncing their machinations and guile, and expelling demons from the possessed; and up to the end of thy days thou didst help them in sufferings, illnesses and grievings, ever singing unto God: Alleluia. Ikos 9 Eloquent orators are not able worthily to glorify thy holy life, nor the miracles wrought by thee through the power of God, most marvellous eldress. And we, wishing by hymns to praise God in His saints, and with heartfelt love inspired, dare to sing to thee thus: Rejoice, thou that didst choose the narrow path and strait gates; Rejoice, thou that shone by many virtues; Rejoice, thou that didst reject all in life that is passing; Rejoice, thou adorned with the precious crown of humility; Rejoice, thou bird of heaven, that didst live the Gospel on earth; Rejoice, thou that followed the Son of God Who had not where to lay His head; Rejoice, thou rejoicing now in the mansions of paradise; Rejoice, thou whose mercy is never failing to us sinners who pray to thee; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 10 Wishing to save many people from bodily sufferings and spiritual sicknesses, thou didst stay all night in prayer, O righteous one of God, beseeching for them help and strengthening of our Lord Jesus Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 10 A rampart and protection wert thou in the days of thy life, blessed mother, to all who resorted to thee, and after death thou ceaselessly intercedest before God for the people who in faith run toward to thy tomb. Wherefore, hearken now unto us sinners, by sorrows, sickness and many griefs consumed, and hasten to help by thy prayers all that cry unto thee: Rejoice, speedy intercessor for the distressed; Rejoice, comforter of them bearing hardships; Rejoice, guardian of worthy marriage; Rejoice, pacifier of all that persist in strife; Rejoice, defender of them brought unjustly to trial; Rejoice, merciful advocate before God for those guilty before an earthly judgment; Rejoice, refuge of them deprived of shelter; Rejoice, protectress of all that call upon thee; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 11 Thou didst hear angelic singing, worthy mother Matrona, whilst yet living on earth. And teach us, the unworthy, how we should glorify God in the Trinity worshipping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Whom also the heavenly host unceasingly sing with a great voice: Alleluia. Ikos 11 Thy life shineth with luminous light, blessed Matrona, enlightening the darkness of this too-busy world, and thou dost draw unto thee our souls. Wherefore we, by the ray of the grace of God, will be enlightened, and our mournful way in this temporal life shall pass in a manner pleasing to God, and thus attain unto the kingdom of God, where thou, mother, now takest up thine abode, hearing our voice calling to thee: Rejoice, ever-burning candle of God; Rejoice, precious pearl, illuminating us by the light of thy holiness; Rejoice, sweet-smelling flower that by the Holy Spirit coverest us with fragrance; Rejoice, rock of faith, stablishing the fainthearted in piety; Rejoice, brightest star pointing out to us the right way; Rejoice, good warrior of Christ, by the sword of prayer frightening demonic hosts; Rejoice, for throughout thy life thou wast holy and undefiled; Rejoice, for thy death is precious in the sight of the Lord; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 12 The grace of God, already richly perceived even from the cradle, O blessed mother, will be with thee all the days of thy life. We believe without doubt, that also after thy repose this grace is with thee abundantly. Wherefore, falling down before thee, we pray: deprive not us still wandering on earth of thy help and intercession, beseeching the Lord to have mercy on all who sing unto Him: Alleluia. Ikos 12 Singing of thy many and marvellous wonders, mother Matrona, we glorify God Who gave thee to the city of Moscow and to the Russian land in the days of atheism and persecution as a staunch pillar of piety and faith. Now, blessed mother, with grateful heart we hymn thee thus: Rejoice, for thou hast attained the peace of Christ in thy soul; Rejoice, for many people about thee thou didst lead to God; Rejoice, for in thy feeble body, the power of God's grace was shown; Rejoice, for in the finding of thine honourable relics, God’s mercy to us is revealed; Rejoice, thou that dost bloom in the assembly of the saints of Moscow; Rejoice, glorious adornment of the city of Moscow; Rejoice, constant intercessor for the Russian land before God; Rejoice, thou that callest all to repentance and prayer for the Russian land; Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. Kontakion 13 O blessed mother, hear now our hymns of praise which we sing to thee, and ask for us of the Lord Jesus Christ, the remission of sins, a Christian death, and peaceful repose, and a good answer at His dread judgment, and that we shall be blessed with thee in the dwellings of Paradise to glorify the Holy Trinity, crying: Alleluia. Repeat Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 St. Matrona of Moscow (source) Prayer Blessed mother Matrona, thy soul in heaven standeth before the throne of God, thy body resteth upon earth, and thou bestowest divers miracles through grace given thee from on High. Look down with thy merciful eye upon us sinners who pass our days in sorrows, sicknesses and sinful temptations. Console us who are in despair. Heal our grievous ailments which God allowed because of our sins. Deliver us from many misfortunes and attacks of evil spirits. Beseech our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us all our trespasses, transgressions and falls, and our sins committed from our youth up to the present day and hour. And by thy prayers obtain for us grace and great mercy, that we may glorify the Trinity, one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Troparion, Tone 2 Let us the faithful today praise blessed eldress Matrona made wise by God; flower of the land of Tula and glorious adornment of the city of Moscow, for whom daylight was unknown but who wast enlightened by the light of Christ and enriched by the gifts of insight and healing: Thou wast a sojourner and wanderer upon earth, but now in the heavenly chambers thou standest before the throne of God and intercedest for our souls. Kontakion, Tone 7 Thou wast chosen from thy mother’s womb for service to Christ, righteous Matrona, treading a path of sorrows and griefs, but showing firm faith and piety which were pleasing to God. Wherefore, we venerate thy memory, and we beseech thee, blessed eldress: help us to dwell in God’s love. Magnification We magnify thee, O holy righteous blessed Matrona, and honour thy holy memory, thou that dost pray for us to Christ our God. Sts. Xenia of St. Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow, two great ascetics and wonderworkers of Russia, who help many throughout the world (source) Christ is risen from the dead, by dead, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!
St. Dionysios of Zakynthos, the Bishop of Aegina - Commemorated December 17 (his repose) and August 24 (the transfer of his Relics) (source) For a fuller life of this great Saint, see: http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009/12/saint-dionysios-of-zakynthos-1.html. Saint Dionysius of Zakynthos, the Bishop of Aegina was born in 1547 on the island of Zakynthos. Though born into a noble family, he was determined to flee the world and set his mind upon heavenly things. He entered the monastery of Strophada, and after the prescribed time, he was clothed in the angelic schema by the abbot. Though young in years, he surpassed many of his elders in virtue, and was found worthy of ordination to the holy priesthood. Although he protested his unworthiness, St Dionysius was consecrated Bishop of Aegina. In that office he never ceased to teach and admonish his flock, and many were drawn to him in order to profit from his wisdom. He feared the praise of men, lest he should fall into the sin of vainglory, so he resigned his See and returned to Zakynthos. In 1579 the diocese of Zakynthos was widowed (when a bishop dies, his diocese is described as "widowed"), and Dionysius agreed to care for it until a new bishop could be elected. Then he fled from the worldly life which gave him no peace, and went to the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Anaphonitria, twenty miles from the main village. St. Dionysios of Zakynthos (source) A certain stranger murdered the saint's brother Constantine, an illustrious nobleman. Fearing his victim's relatives, the stranger, by chance or by God's will, sought refuge in the monastery where St Dionysius was the abbot. When the saint asked the fugitive why he was so frightened, he confessed his sin and revealed the name of the man he had murdered, asking to be protected from the family's vengeance. St Dionysius wept for his only brother, as was natural. Then he comforted the murderer and hid him, showing him great compassion and love. Soon the saint's relatives came to the monastery with a group of armed men and told him what had happened. He pretended to know nothing about it. After weeping with them and trying to console them, he sent them off in the wrong direction. Then he told the murderer that he was the brother of the man he had killed. He admonished him as a father, and brought him to repentance. After forgiving him, St Dionysius brought him down to the shore and helped him to escape to another place in order to save his life. Because of the saint's Christ-like virtue, he was granted the gift of working miracles. Icon depicting St. Dionysios forgiving and protecting his brother's murderer (source) Having passed his life in holiness, St Dionysius reached a great age, then departed to the Lord on December 17, 1624. The dormition of St. Dionysios of Zakynthos (source) Not only are the saint's relics incorrupt, but he is also one of Greece's "walking saints" (St Gerasimus and St Spyridon are the others). He is said to leave his reliquary and walk about performing miracles for those who seek his aid. In fact, the soles of his slippers wear out and must be replaced with a new pair from time to time. The old slippers are cut up, and the pieces are distributed to pilgims. On August 24, we celebrate the Transfer of his Holy Relics. Through the prayers of Saint Dionysius, may Christ our God have mercy upon us and save us. (source) The holy, incorrupt and wonderworking Relic of St. Dionysios of Zakynthos (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
Weeping Albanian Icon of the Theotokos (source) "In the church, we become one with every unhappy, suffering, and sinful person." — St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
“The idea of doing a painting which somehow claims to be a representation of the Savior Jesus Christ seems both presumptuous and impossible. At the very least it is intimidating. Each individual Christian probably has a very personal and unique image of Him in their... Read More ›
This is a collection of vintage Christmas images and art from my vintage paper collection. These are delightful and old fashioned images taken mostly from an antique postcard collection left to me by my great uncle. I've collected a few on my own...
The deity of Jesus Christ is readily seen without any difficulty in the following Bible verses .... by Loving Gospel
St. Sophia and her daughters: Sts. Faith, Hope and Love (source) Homily on Sts. Sophia and her Daughters, by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes After the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, our Church celebrates, my beloved, the memory of Saints Sophia and her three daughters: Faith, Hope and Love. St. Sophia was born, according to the Synaxarion, in a great city of Italy. She lived during the era of early persecutions, which, as is known, lasted for at least three centuries. During that era, for one to be a Christian, it was costly. It cost one positions, honors, money, and even this life. Millions were sacrificed then for the love of Christ. With this heroic spirit, St. Sophia lived as well, and thus raised her daughters. It is not possible to not rouse the evil of persecutors. They seized her, therefore, together with her daughters, and led them before the governor. He gave them the opportunity of three days in order to make a response, and possibly change their minds. But, after three days, the mother and her daughters remained unshakable in their dedication towards our Lord Jesus Christ. The mother had fear that her daughters might deny Christ, because they were very young. The first, Faith, was twelve years old. Hope was ten. and Love was nine. Despite this, their weak flesh was strengthened by the grace of God, and they endured martyrdom with unprecedented boldness. They locked them in prison. They beat them with whips. They pierced them with fiery arrows. They threw them in cauldrons of boiling water. However, like the Three Youths in the Furnace, thus, these three girls hymned God, as those around heard the hymn harmoniously: "Praise ye the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages." In the end, the three were beheaded by the sword of the tyrant. Their martyrdom was followed by that of their holy mother. St. Sophia and her three daughters teach us, my beloved, that, if we wish to be faithful Christians, that Christianity will cost us. And the more faithful we are, the more it will cost us. Many of us have become successful in this world. We find a myriad of ways to justify our seemingly proper and scandalous station. And later with think that we are Christians. Woe to us, if we do not set as a foundation the heroic mindset which defined the holy martyrs. These three little girls should censure the world. And their mother, St. Sophia, censures those mothers who are upset and tremble, thinking that through their fasting, prayer and reading, that the bodily strength of their little girls will be lessened. The Martyrs are the greatest censure of our lukewarm, miserable and thrice-wretched Christianity. However, St. Sophia and her three daughters teach us not only through their martyrdoms, but also through their names. The name "Sophia", what does this teach us? "Wisdom", we hear in Church when the Priest holds the Gospel and raises it, showing it to the whole multitude of the faithful. The Gospel, in other words, is full of wisdom. There is no wiser book. Wisdom is Christ Himself, the Logos of God. Do you remember the wondrous apostolic reading which we read three days ago, on the feast of the Cross? He said: "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (I Corinthians 1) Christ is wisdom, truth and life. St. Sophia, therefore, through her name, brings to mind that we must seek from God the illumination of divine wisdom. The names of her three daughters bring to mind the three great theological virtues. Faith! Awesome power, light, a star, foundation and root. Oh, if there were within our hearts this virtue! We could even bring down the stars from the heavens to the earth, and we could melt the mountains, and even the greatest hindrances would be solved. Do we have faith? If we had faith, 100% faith, the world would be different. But today, people don't even believe 1%. Take almost any Christian and ask him, and you would see that he is full of doubts, totally full of "ifs." If one has an "if", then you don't have faith. Faith is to believe 100% in reality that which our holy Church teaches us. Hope also brings to mind that, in this world, we have a need for life-giving hope, which would warm us like the sun. The Christian who believes that God is a loving and nurturing Father, an almighty Father and all-wise, he would hope that all those things that God promised, all kinds of great and uplifted and indescribable good things, He will give to him. And finally, Love, with her name reminds us of the fulfillment and the crown of the virtues. In this world of hatred, egotism, greed, and other evils, love today has grown cold. It is truly a terrible thing, as the sacred Chrysostom says, for us to see the sun be quenched one day. But it is even more terrible for love to be quenched. It is better for the sun to be quenched than for love to be quenched, because it is the sun for our souls. And Christ Himself prophesied, that there will come a cursed day, in which the sun of love will be quenched, and cold and frost will reign upon the earth. (Matthew 24:12) We are speaking about love, but we don't possess love. Love is a heavenly thing, which is ineffably joined with humility, with obedience, with discipline, the great virtues. It is not something indiscriminate, like ecumenists reach, like worldly people teach. Love differs from love. There is carnal love, love of money, love of small and meaningless things. And there is furthermore love for one's father and mother, which, in the final analysis, also contains something physical. The love which Christ brings to the world, however, has the wings of an eagle, and flies to the third Heaven, and makes man a Cherubim and Seraphim. Love, therefore, not only for relatives and friends, not just towards Christians, but love for the whole world. Love, even for those who crucify you! For we have Christ as our prototype, Who is love crucified. This love we must have as well. My beloved, if one were to ask now which of these three virtues are the greatest, the greatest is the third, love. Its beauty is indescribable. The Apostle Paul paints all of this in his beautiful sayings on love, which we have properly heard in vain to this point. "If," he says, "I spoke in the tongues of men and Angels," even if I have done miracles, even if I distribute my earthly goods, even if I go to martyrdom and shed my blood, "and I have not love, then I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." "I am nothing." (I Corinthians 13:1-2) These, my beloved, I have to tell you. Believe, in this age of faithlessness. Hope, in this age of hopelessness. Love, in this age of hatred. And first and foremost, keep love, which, as the Apostle Paul says, remains eternally. (ibid 13:7) For what is Paradise? Is it rivers, crystalline springs? Is it the songs of the Angels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, is it the Saints, the Martyrs, is it that whole and beautiful world, and indescribable good things? It is these things. But first and foremost, it is love, the love of God towards man. If I took out love from Paradise, immediately Paradise would become Hell. That Paradise we ourselves should seek, if we sense the dawn of love, if we believe unshakably in the Lord, and if we have steadfast hope in the promises of God unto the ages. Then, in the heights of Heaven, together with St. Sophia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, we will hymn the Triune God, saying: "Praise ye the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages." (+) Bishop Avgoustinos Recorded from a homily that occurred in the Chapel of St. Sophia of the Orphanage of the "Agape" Brotherhood of Florina on 9/17/1970, (source) Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
No physical item will be sent. This listing is for a digital download. Frames are for display purposes only they are not included. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 The perfect decor for living rooms, bedrooms, or offices. Also makes a great Christmas gift for friends and family. Includes: 3 zipped png files 16x20 in. Can be printed as 8x10 in, 16x20 in 18x24 in. Can be printed as 9x12 in, 12x16 in, 18x24 in 24x36 in. Can be printed as 8x12 in, 16x24 in, 20x30 in, 24x36 in How to download: Go to Your Account - Purchases and Reviews - Download files How to use: 1. Download the print you purchased 2. Print at home or an online or local printing shop 3. Frame it and hang it up You can make as many copies as you would like Have any questions? Just message me on Etsy. Where I got the mockups: Picture One: Background psd created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com Picture Two: Background psd created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com Picture Three: Background psd created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com Picture Four: Flower psd created by wuttichai1983 - www.freepik.com This product is for personal use only. Using it for commercial purposes or resale is prohibited. Shop more designs like these at https://www.etsy.com/shop/HisWordDesignStudio Thanks for shopping His Word Design Studio!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Envelope greeting: (With Psalm Luke 2:10-11) Inches Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.. for unto you is born a Savior. Inches Inside greeting: (With Psalm John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Inches May the Christmas Story in all its glory bring hoy to you and yours. Have a Blessed Celebration Inches 6.75 Inches Tall x 4.6 Inches Wide 2 Envelopes Included Recycled Paper Soy-based Ink Certified Green Printer Made in the USA Original Art by Howard Robinson
Jesus Christ: "Let the children come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" (source) Selected hymns from the Orthodox Funeral Service for Infants Tone 8 Who would not lament for you, my child, as your end journey begins from this world to another home? For while still a little child, all too soon from your mother's arms, as might a birdling on speeding wing upborne, are you departed to Him that made all things. O child, who from lament could refrain when he beholds your lovely face, which was like a gladsome rose, now fading fast away? Who would not with groaning sighs, my child, and floods of clamorous tears mourn the wealth of your comeliness and the beauty shining forth from the innocence of your heart? For like a caravel which leaves no wake behind, so are you vanished, and from my eyes are sped. Come, my beloved friends, kinsfolk, neighbors, now draw nigh to join with me in the kiss of last farewell, and bear him (her) to his (her) grave. O Lord Who watches over children in the present life and in the world to come because of their simplicity and innocence of mind, abundantly satisfying them with a place in Abraham's bosom, bringing them to live in radiantly shining places where the spirits of the righteous dwell; receive in peace the soul of Your little servant (Name), for You Yourself have said: "Let the little children come to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." For only Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Eternal Father and Your All; Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. (source) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
