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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.
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.
Earthly kingdoms are temporary, and their laws are fallible. Our hope is to enter a Kingdom built on love rather than laws, no matter how flawless or defective they may be. As Blessed Augustine put it, “Love God and do as you please.”
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.
Among the vast communion of Orthodox saints, two holy men named John share the rare epithet "of Rila" (or Rylsky in Russian), despite living worlds apart in time and space.
March 8 poses a unique dilemma for those of us with a devout Orthodox Christian background and a "Soviet" childhood. This date is International Women's Day and often sparks contrasting views among the faithful.
The Triumph of Orthodoxy reaffirms the true humanity of Jesus Christ and our calling to participate in His holiness.
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.
The Great Lent starts on March 3 in the Belarusian Orthodox Church this year. The sisters of Saint Elisabeth Convent will embark on this journey to Easter by reading what the Church Fathers have said about the three pillars of Lent.
Great Lent guides us towards Easter and the Resurrection. While it entails moderating our food intake and leisure activities, fasting is not solely about refraining from food; it is about regaining inner serenity.
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?
