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He also founded the great Lavra in Palestine famous for its strict and simple monastic rule that exists to this day. Steadfast and uncompromising on matters of faith, he was also compassionate and loving with people and animals.
The Great Lent is the longest fasting season of the year for the Orthodox. We all know about the importance of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. But what are the rules of fasting? Are there some things, we should not do during the Lent?
The spiritual message of the icon revealed itself with time. It promises eventual forgiveness to the Russian people and the return of the supreme power from the Holy Theotokos after a long period of suffering and repentance.
In 1917, the icon's discovery brought particular comfort to believers: centuries-old statehood was crumbling before their eyes, moral foundations were collapsing, spiritual values were being trampled underfoot.
St Symeon was the first to identify the vision of Divine Light as the primary goal of ascetic striving. He was the first to speak of dispassion and deification in such a personal manner.
The first widely venerated icon of the Mother of God "Blessed Heaven" in Russia was the image from the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, painted in 1678-1680 by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
How often has it been said that we can imbue our actions and words with one meaning or another! How, and by what means, can we transform this Great Lent from a daunting trial into an inspiring journey?
