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Father Andrey Lemeshonok: "God is teaching and nurturing you, but you fiercely resist this teaching because you pity yourself too much. Your pride and your ego crave results."
The feast sends a powerful message to all of us – not to lose our hope and trust in the Lord and the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin even in the most hopeless situations.
The Annunciation of the Theotokos reminds us about the fact that our Savior Jesus Christ entered this world through Virgin Mary’s womb and became incarnate in order to save us.
St. Andrew of Crete writes in the “Discourse for the Day of the Annunciation”: “This is the mystery of reconciliation of God with humanity. This is the subject of the present celebration — the union of God with the earthly."
Standing of St Mary of Egypt is another name for the long Matins service on Thursday of the 5th week of Great Lent. Why is this service called this and what is so special about it? We invite you to read further to find out.
There is one miracle in her life of which we are all beholders. She transformed from a great sinner, a harlot, into a pure and righteous woman.
St Joseph’s main compositions are the canons sung and read at Matins. St Joseph brought order to the Menologion, honouring lesser-known saints who lacked canons. In these works, he poured all of his heart’s devotion and love.
For his tireless love for others, the Lord rewarded the Vyritsa elder with great spiritual wisdom, the gift of healing troubled souls, as well as true vision, guidance and prophecy.
Holy Righteous Sophia, Princess of Slutsk, came from an ancient family of Olelkovichs, who reigned in the city of Slutsk since 1395. During their reign, Slutsk was built and fortified.
Every Great Lent, the Church remembers the ascetic struggle of St Mary of Egypt. In the scorching heat, thirst, sands, and barren rocks, this remarkable desert flower grew, and her spiritual fragrance comforts us to this day.
The book Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John, hegumen of Mount Sinai is a guide for ascending to spiritual perfection. In his book, the Saint captured the entire spiritual path in a vibrant image of a ladder with thirty rungs.
In his famous book, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent", Saint John Climacus challenges us to step out of our comfort zone and depart on a spiritual journey.
The spiritual life is indeed a ladder to heaven. We climb, slip, and stumble, then rise and fall again. Even so, we must stand up once more. Many saints have left us a treasury of writings for our edification.
The Archangel Gabriel was the first to herald humanity’s salvation. The Lord chose him to reveal to the Virgin Mary, and through her to all people, the great joy of the Incarnation of the Son of God.
Archpriest Vasily Malakhov succumbed to typhus on March 24, 1937, while in exile. In 2005, he was canonized among the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia for universal veneration by the decree of the Holy Synod.
On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, we are reminded of Christ's calling to us: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
The history of venerating the icon of the Mother of God, brought at the end of the 14th century to the Polish city of Czestochowa, remains underexplored. Ancient Russian calendars and menologies do not mention it.
Each year, the feast of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste brightens our Lenten journey - the Church honours their memory on 22 March. The venerable hymnographer John Damascene composed a service in their honour.
Our patronal feast is like a small Easter during Great Lent. In the middle of the largest church in the Convent rests the decorated image of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God.
Our likes, preferences and mindsets may change, but God remains the same. We will be judged on how we knew Him – or failed to do so – in our present lives.
