tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40737478146620748822024-03-19T04:46:50.792-04:00MYSTAGOGY RESOURCE CENTERAn International Orthodox Christian Ministry of John SanidopoulosUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger700125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-67080733552161909242024-03-17T17:47:00.004-04:002024-03-17T17:53:07.132-04:00Cheesefare Sunday: The Weapons of a Christian (Fr. George Metallinos)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9-KeA2Uncy4AmriFVbvJdP4GWrwzbExSgSbnVxdfViIOMoNTFgWJopzkLOUsekkGDL-3PHkK1qZr0XIsyp6s66ZJbgrNXfSodwC6xFTGgyntMfTurIfSCgioKYfDLddWRp-EX3K87noNDGjd-wLEloPwjwEVrhoBPGrr7_c0Uef2H44g0ksTXDRWqQU/s1600/1-cf83ceb1cf81ceb1cebacebfcf83cf84ceb7f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9-KeA2Uncy4AmriFVbvJdP4GWrwzbExSgSbnVxdfViIOMoNTFgWJopzkLOUsekkGDL-3PHkK1qZr0XIsyp6s66ZJbgrNXfSodwC6xFTGgyntMfTurIfSCgioKYfDLddWRp-EX3K87noNDGjd-wLEloPwjwEVrhoBPGrr7_c0Uef2H44g0ksTXDRWqQU/w640-h412/1-cf83ceb1cf81ceb1cebacebfcf83cf84ceb7f.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Protopresbyter Fr. George Metallinos<br><br><i>"The race for the virtues has opened..."</i><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>1. We are at the end of the first part of the Triodion and from tomorrow we enter its second part, Great Lent. Our Church already taught us the virtue of humility, as a basic precondition of repentance, during the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. She assured us of the reality of salvation, when there is sincere repentance, on the Sunday of the Prodigal. And finally, she highlighted to us the reason for which we need to repent and return, that is, the event of the Universal Judgment, on Meatfare Sunday. Because Great Lent is a period of spiritual and physical preparation and introduction to the Passion of our Christ, the Church reminds us today of a serious and sad event, which became the reason for Christ to come into the world and suffer. It reminds us of man's expulsion from Paradise.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/cheesefare-sunday-weapons-of-christian.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-31882835823770272082024-03-16T12:01:00.008-04:002024-03-16T12:25:09.666-04:00A Liturgical Custom of Skiathos for the Saturday of Cheesefare<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMKDLS_JCdlW02cEvAc074dnU1xML5i5WSIkc-Aa7Zb41EPtHYPJIJe9AJ_gb-S5wqoWLQNfH4NRYPdv1OQAvvzfYZ1qvg6muLqFJYoar0euw1A5ru4-UerHU3A7elecixqtNl6bqAZVoIUAR47vRiATKuBYZjnulz1bsZfMd4ybqqwrHbMwuj5Dzhk/s450/DiptyxoSkoulikadou-341x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="341" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMKDLS_JCdlW02cEvAc074dnU1xML5i5WSIkc-Aa7Zb41EPtHYPJIJe9AJ_gb-S5wqoWLQNfH4NRYPdv1OQAvvzfYZ1qvg6muLqFJYoar0euw1A5ru4-UerHU3A7elecixqtNl6bqAZVoIUAR47vRiATKuBYZjnulz1bsZfMd4ybqqwrHbMwuj5Dzhk/w484-h640/DiptyxoSkoulikadou-341x450.jpg" width="484"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Konstantinos Koutoubas, <br>Theologian, Iconographer, Professor of Byzantine Music<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>A week after the common Saturday of Souls, the Triodion presents a complete Service for the Saturday of Cheesefare, during which "we commemorate all our Venerable God-bearing Fathers who shined as ascetics." All those who lived as monastics and ascetics and managed to attain the heavenly kingdom, after striving to receive not the crown of martyrdom, but the crown of patience and asceticism, are therefore remembered. All the Venerables, that is, those who became sanctified as ascetics and monastics.<br><br>The Service of the Triodion has a semi-celebratory character, with an Apolytikion and Kathismata in the Matins, a complete Canon (which, corresponding to the Saturday of Souls and in exhortation to mourning for the coming fast, also contains the mournful Second Ode), Praises, Doxastikon and a Great Doxology.<br><br>In the troparia of the Canon, all the great Ascetics of Christianity are mentioned alphabetically, from the first years of Asceticism to the last of the struggling Iconophiles and Hesychasts, all the authors of the <i>Gerontikon</i>, the <i>Philokalia</i> and the Neptic Texts, the Great Cenobiarchs and also Hermits. Venerable women of monasticism are also mentioned alphabetically, as well as the greatest and most representative Fathers of the Church.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/a-liturgical-custom-of-skiathos-for.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-70221710085417131772024-03-15T12:58:00.002-04:002024-03-15T13:19:53.500-04:00The Miracle of Saint Shio Mgvime Commemorated on Cheesefare Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghR40LNV5V744aUZnu9g5FxWBRFgPWUgc7EiZQcWxbIgtZJQjEsX6mZT19wJxp3iFJuqnxQ879Nne5Jydpis9cqUbDJHNuPJX5vVtAqSP0hA3-rqxJEKd2HODq7t7j9CWSbIVtvfc3AXhAGIGYsy6aEusSbvA_Q33niRrLQmAcL7iMFSKNiNoxiY_kp9Y/s960/shia1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghR40LNV5V744aUZnu9g5FxWBRFgPWUgc7EiZQcWxbIgtZJQjEsX6mZT19wJxp3iFJuqnxQ879Nne5Jydpis9cqUbDJHNuPJX5vVtAqSP0hA3-rqxJEKd2HODq7t7j9CWSbIVtvfc3AXhAGIGYsy6aEusSbvA_Q33niRrLQmAcL7iMFSKNiNoxiY_kp9Y/w426-h640/shia1.png" width="426"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint Shio Mgvime is commemorated by the Georgian Orthodox Church on May 9th, but on Cheesefare Thursday a miracle of his is also commemorated that would take place every year at his grave. <br><br>Venerable Shio was one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia as Christian missionaries. Saint Shio is said to have spent his last years as a hermit in a deep cave near Mtskheta, subsequently named Shiomghvime ("the Cave of Shio") after him. It was here that he was laid to rest.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/the-miracle-of-saint-shio-mgvime.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-75662879794417946082024-03-14T17:13:00.005-04:002024-03-14T17:33:21.371-04:00Bishop Timothy of Assos on His Conversion to Orthodoxy and Mission in Latin America<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQFaSw12TiROjC0cZpSfTeLitxCF46bpUNzfnK8SYvh1KfHGyKDR1FyjzgrOvWLSaxfPhg7RZT3eWTTOBmKkGFdhJeY8OQc4SuZYh_nXoz6_X8HJRH1DMkREotbIrFxo8oDQpR_NyRkiIJpAkAWcEPI_cLaPydrIZxKQP_0AbUoSoJlGy02ZIVdqfFs/s583/timotheos_torres.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQFaSw12TiROjC0cZpSfTeLitxCF46bpUNzfnK8SYvh1KfHGyKDR1FyjzgrOvWLSaxfPhg7RZT3eWTTOBmKkGFdhJeY8OQc4SuZYh_nXoz6_X8HJRH1DMkREotbIrFxo8oDQpR_NyRkiIJpAkAWcEPI_cLaPydrIZxKQP_0AbUoSoJlGy02ZIVdqfFs/w456-h640/timotheos_torres.jpg" width="456"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am a local, I was born in Colombia, in a village on the border with Venezuela, and I come from an Indian tribe," says Bishop Timothy of Assos as he recounts his relationship with Orthodoxy, Greece and Cyprus.<br><br>"I encountered Orthodoxy when I was about 11 years old. I happened to see on television Archbishop Makarios from Cyprus, who as President had visited Colombia," he says. "I saw him," he continues, "and I asked a Western priest, 'Who is the one they are showing on TV now, who visited Colombia?' And he told me that he is an archbishop who is a heretic, but an Anglican priest said to him, “No, he is not a heretic. He is Orthodox. And Orthodoxy is the Mother Church, and if you want to be a Christian, become Orthodox and search Orthodoxy and don't easily believe what they tell you."<br><br>Bishop Timothy states that his first visit to Cyprus took place in 2010, when a strong earthquake hit Haiti, causing the death of thousands of people and massive material damage, and he had come to receive humanitarian aid from Cyprus.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/bishop-timothy-of-assos-on-his.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-16147812676325135222024-03-14T13:52:00.007-04:002024-03-14T15:01:41.450-04:00Evagoras Pallikarides: The Last Hours of the Cypriot Revolutionary Hero<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwAC_juIUd-4sX-6HPlfxpllJg1Y2sC0a1UuccmE8x_nd_Nnlsb2Nm3jvtr3PSybYX7q-ZQWm9y1KTlXu9xrOF1_fFP6uL6z5gruGM6vftW7aD652TZuCV4u0xOhYBzhEcMCnfPgkjKc_yaHefH5KhmieKZpk4iMyUoxwauDkL-RaYyhwpTtw1ibeaMM/s630/EVAGORAS-PALLIKARIDIS-6325234523453245-600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwAC_juIUd-4sX-6HPlfxpllJg1Y2sC0a1UuccmE8x_nd_Nnlsb2Nm3jvtr3PSybYX7q-ZQWm9y1KTlXu9xrOF1_fFP6uL6z5gruGM6vftW7aD652TZuCV4u0xOhYBzhEcMCnfPgkjKc_yaHefH5KhmieKZpk4iMyUoxwauDkL-RaYyhwpTtw1ibeaMM/w610-h640/EVAGORAS-PALLIKARIDIS-6325234523453245-600.jpg" width="610"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The story of Evagoras Pallikarides is related to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth of England in June 1953. In Cyprus, at that time, as in many other colonies under British rule, they had taken care to decorate all the cities for the great event.<br><br>15-year-old Evagoras Pallikarides was a student at the Paphos High School and disagreed when he saw that British flags were brought into his school. It was the time when the demand for the Union of Cyprus with Greece ("Enosis") stirred up the majority of Greek Cypriots.<br><br>The students refused to enter the High School, demanded that the flags be lowered, while Pallikarides headed towards the 28th of October Square. He climbed the mast and lowered the British flag to the applause of the crowd.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/evagoras-pallikarides-last-hours-of.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-43102187722749752532024-03-13T15:10:00.003-04:002024-03-13T15:10:40.958-04:00Jephthah and the Sacrifice of his Daughter<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqeCDCzLonr_2MnLoGc3AnxNq5yS6lJ1BpPq6h5sHLsqWHf1giUoauCN4FmSCNNXz4Psegp7aWf4Lt9TfQZvtkUwR-3ke_XT-YaPifpZ47RjXduIZdal4YLwECP2QZYnPNuBsIWSlLQIJEmxy4dyfU67773WaLPge57KCC2rZ8zEIIwcVO9L7Dyp9d7o/s501/jeph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="501" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqeCDCzLonr_2MnLoGc3AnxNq5yS6lJ1BpPq6h5sHLsqWHf1giUoauCN4FmSCNNXz4Psegp7aWf4Lt9TfQZvtkUwR-3ke_XT-YaPifpZ47RjXduIZdal4YLwECP2QZYnPNuBsIWSlLQIJEmxy4dyfU67773WaLPge57KCC2rZ8zEIIwcVO9L7Dyp9d7o/w640-h638/jeph.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="HwtZe" lang="en"><span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Jephthah meets his daughter.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Codex 602, folio 434b.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Monastery of Vatopaidi.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">13th century.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">A rare Byzantine depiction of Jephthah's reception of his daughter.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">It is the moment after the battle, when Jephthah, accompanied by warriors, arrives home and meets his daughter outside his house while she is holding cymbals in her hands. Jephthah is depicted with a halo.<br></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Maria Skabardonis<br></div><br>The book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament, it belongs to the so-called historical books and deals with the life and history of the Judges. The Judges were people to whom God entrusted the protection of the Israelite people when they turned away from Him.<br><br>Jephthah was one of the most notable and greatest Judges of Israel, and he is the 13th Judge in number. His story is described in the book of Judges chapter 11 verses 1–39.<br><br>This story has much in common with that of Iphigenia, whom Agamemnon's father was asked to sacrifice because it would appease the wrath of the goddess Artemis. <br><br>Jephthah came from Gilead, and while he had been cast out by his brothers for being the illegitimate son of a harlot, he later led the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites. He was particularly bold and brave, but his life was linked to a specific event: the sacrifice of his daughter, an event that many take advantage of to accuse the Old Testament of practicing human sacrifice. Let's look at it in detail.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/jephthah-and-sacrifice-of-his-daughter.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-20454661643594471022024-03-13T12:41:00.003-04:002024-03-13T12:41:58.622-04:00Saint Ypomoni and the Taxi Driver<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi524SN0fejnNFybNchWBIcR578tEPppzwumUpS7gRGJUC08dJarKTFqOi3FaQsAgqRzAJzrYlFPna90VZULrQDIsg_YCf9CPGPHfgRFxTEx8PaPaFgsX01TUf3EvsQXWanOI4djUwtlaXZkpp8b_OSJZzQyydfeKOHBD1liPiqAqV5NN2fl1z_ZPhbNnA/s1192/Saint_Hipomini_icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi524SN0fejnNFybNchWBIcR578tEPppzwumUpS7gRGJUC08dJarKTFqOi3FaQsAgqRzAJzrYlFPna90VZULrQDIsg_YCf9CPGPHfgRFxTEx8PaPaFgsX01TUf3EvsQXWanOI4djUwtlaXZkpp8b_OSJZzQyydfeKOHBD1liPiqAqV5NN2fl1z_ZPhbNnA/w430-h640/Saint_Hipomini_icon.jpg" width="430"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint Ypomoni, the mother of the last Roman Emperor who reposed on March 13th 1450 after living the last 25 years of her life as a nun, once appeared as a nun to a resident of Athens, who worked as a taxi driver. She signaled for the taxi to stop and pick her up, and asked to bring her to Loutraki, near Corinth.*<br><br>The taxi driver at his time had skin cancer on his hands and was in great despair. On the way the nun wearing a cowl with a red cross asked him: "Why are you melancholy?" He did not hesitate to confess the truth. Then she asked him if he wanted her to bless him with the sign of the cross so that he would be healed, and he accepted. Soon after this he got the sudden urge to sleep, and asked the nun for them to stop for a while, so that they would not be killed. They were near the toll booth and could easily find another taxi if she was in a hurry.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/saint-ypomoni-and-taxi-driver.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-36375269618582416802024-03-12T17:12:00.006-04:002024-03-13T02:09:48.256-04:00The First Chapel Dedicated to Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis is Consecrated<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG_Zs-c6N-13HxVDS3PiAx0XMsaRVU3WgjgwkEnCrtR_tmJpHTNqvkG5xvBUSn-BLFdseAJjE3XqtGK5xmI4eDD_OTvp646i4q16knbwnh2X_uDF4zZVMvvCY79vB3obg__21UJpKKPcUbzaS8ejToXxQJID8g9dD4F7D2q2Pf0s5Iif_V6Sa-Zcpt1M/s1040/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2016-47-25%20EgkainiaOsGerasimouDovra2024-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1040" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG_Zs-c6N-13HxVDS3PiAx0XMsaRVU3WgjgwkEnCrtR_tmJpHTNqvkG5xvBUSn-BLFdseAJjE3XqtGK5xmI4eDD_OTvp646i4q16knbwnh2X_uDF4zZVMvvCY79vB3obg__21UJpKKPcUbzaS8ejToXxQJID8g9dD4F7D2q2Pf0s5Iif_V6Sa-Zcpt1M/w640-h414/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2016-47-25%20EgkainiaOsGerasimouDovra2024-1.png" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the morning of Tuesday the 12th of March 2024, the first chapel dedicated to Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis the Hymnographer was consecrated on the grounds of the Monastery of Panagia Dobra in Beroea.<br><br>According to the ritual of consecration, Matins took place in the katholikon of the Monastery, and from there a procession took place with the relics of martyrs (and the right arm of Saint Gerasimos) to the chapel. The consecration was presided over by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Beroea, Naoussa and Campania, who was a spiritual child of Saint Gerasimos. Metropolitan Panteleimon, as the head of the monastic brotherhood and being the place where he resides, chose this monastery for the chapel, it being the 49th consecration of his pastorate. Then the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated with five other Hierarchs, and in the presence of a large crowd and local monastics, including some from Mount Athos, specifically from the Skete of Little Saint Anna where Saint Gerasimos lived as a monastic.<br><br>At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was held for the 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Dobra (March 12, 1822) and the hanging of the abbot Gerasimos.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/the-first-chapel-dedicated-to-saint.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-24865032015375192562024-03-12T13:07:00.004-04:002024-03-12T13:07:44.422-04:00"I Kiss His Name Many Times": Saint Paisios the Athonite's Reverence for Righteous Phinehas<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ibBFPCk9iLmvdrzId2SfvFhy3SZs8V3O5KXC2JKShUQEC8nj7V2ePgeBgwh4ZT3-7iBEPJ0HJUiY2auAddRe1MgEJkYpweQhtgNZ32MPeRNBea_YQAw-03BheU1LF84nRl3YMmdbeDBZW6GkqFG7lFCGE8O9NiL_YLplXvtpoScrMJqmNZsXneVUhgo/s847/phinehas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="847" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ibBFPCk9iLmvdrzId2SfvFhy3SZs8V3O5KXC2JKShUQEC8nj7V2ePgeBgwh4ZT3-7iBEPJ0HJUiY2auAddRe1MgEJkYpweQhtgNZ32MPeRNBea_YQAw-03BheU1LF84nRl3YMmdbeDBZW6GkqFG7lFCGE8O9NiL_YLplXvtpoScrMJqmNZsXneVUhgo/w640-h580/phinehas.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;">Speaking on the topic of righteous anger, Saint Paisios the Athonite said the following:</span><br><br>There is a righteous, divine indignation, and only this indignation is justifiable in man. <br><br>When Moses saw the people sacrificing to the golden calf, he got very angry and threw down the tablet of stone with the commandments given to him by God, and they broke (cf. Ex. 32:1-20).<br><br>Phinehas, the grandson of the high priest Aaron, had committed two murders and yet God established a covenant whereby the perpetual priesthood of Israel would derive from him and his descendants. When he saw the Israelite man Zimri sinning with the Midianite Cozbi before Moses and all the Israelites, Phinehas could not control himself; he rose and slew both of them, putting an end to God's anger. Had he not slain both of them, the wrath of God would have befallen all the people of Israel (cf. Num. 25:1-15). What a fearful thing! <br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/i-kiss-his-name-many-times-saint.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-65024013555501160782024-03-10T10:22:00.004-04:002024-03-10T10:22:58.520-04:00Homily One for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (St. Luke of Simferopol)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQli0Hp_3RVGCmBfWfv3NDRLSvhNMvCv3rHnBalNb4nfo_GIkSS_XwDQD_PTsZBVgw60FLEDJhmpC0Dg9BOjt-qpSwEGnMfFJETaKalpYvF281qhK9ApKUgVG7CINJpAQv4YUAXWGBhW9QA0tP0rJ_GbDsBnyLHCQWAjZlj4Gji15O-DfqXj77yQK19NY/s758/strashnyj-sud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQli0Hp_3RVGCmBfWfv3NDRLSvhNMvCv3rHnBalNb4nfo_GIkSS_XwDQD_PTsZBVgw60FLEDJhmpC0Dg9BOjt-qpSwEGnMfFJETaKalpYvF281qhK9ApKUgVG7CINJpAQv4YUAXWGBhW9QA0tP0rJ_GbDsBnyLHCQWAjZlj4Gji15O-DfqXj77yQK19NY/w624-h640/strashnyj-sud.jpg" width="624"></a></div> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>On the Last Judgment</b><br><br>By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea<br><br><i>(Delivered on February 24, 1946)</i><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>For the third month now, a terrible trial has been going on in Nuremberg over villains whom the world has never seen before, a terrible trial for them, for they are awaiting the death penalty.<br><br>This death penalty is demanded by the conscience of all peoples, of all humanity, for the world is shocked, as it has never been shocked before, by atrocities that cannot be described in words.<br><br>Tens of millions of civilians were exterminated, not to mention the killed soldiers. In the Auschwitz camp alone, 5,121,000 people were exterminated.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/homily-one-for-sunday-of-last-judgement.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-31173088811150961872024-03-09T17:32:00.005-05:002024-03-09T17:49:19.514-05:00Encomium to the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (St. Ephraim the Syrian)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTtP0Af91t9Jcwg_bFTf9rbGYBwXv3AOQOeOXjds4qfuHfPoo_-YecuERvdkhU2K5PvZ_WjnGaHmdu2umPSZuxnIG6Qg8NNmDzQBPDUpHdYn6ui5gJ6JJJJ9FXyfumTFItTH6QPEKQB3rYC6z56Vs2KewQKqkv4eStEMUV33CLnesl4oS3PNDYZa7Dq0/s1024/%CE%9C%CE%AC%CF%81%CF%84%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%82.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTtP0Af91t9Jcwg_bFTf9rbGYBwXv3AOQOeOXjds4qfuHfPoo_-YecuERvdkhU2K5PvZ_WjnGaHmdu2umPSZuxnIG6Qg8NNmDzQBPDUpHdYn6ui5gJ6JJJJ9FXyfumTFItTH6QPEKQB3rYC6z56Vs2KewQKqkv4eStEMUV33CLnesl4oS3PNDYZa7Dq0/w640-h486/%CE%9C%CE%AC%CF%81%CF%84%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%82.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By St. Ephraim the Syrian<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>It is time, beloved brethren, to turn our attention to athletic contests; it is time to tread the spiritual course; it is time to double the gains of the talents. For I said that there were a certain legion of Forty Martyrs, who lived in piety, who immediately from the beginning showed that their company would be famous and revered.<br><br>So I have gathered you here, to tell you about the Martyrs, a description of a prophetic image. That is, Moses, after fasting forty days, accepted God's law on Mount Sinai; but they, after sacrificing their bodies, equal in number to the forty days of fasting, enjoyed eternal life. And Moses, when he saw the people seized with rage, was enraged and broke the tablets on the mountain; but they, when they saw the demons seized with rage, kept their faith steadfast. Again for the second time the meek Moses took the tablets in his hands, and thus gave the law of God to all the Jews; but these Forty Martyrs, with a single cruciform seal, proclaimed Christ with themselves to all men.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/encomium-to-holy-forty-martyrs-of.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-65167883047309450212024-03-06T15:32:00.000-05:002024-03-06T15:32:31.336-05:00The Love of the Heavenly Father (Elder Ephraim of Arizona)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqssEeWgCUm0CSm6P8PGjJ6je622Xx8YIamCN_PfgK7SwG1wUgI8-bQiBYC-Szluil0G2y_Oo4M4Piw5OLJE2iP1QdK7RQyaRddk7PrmK7H0JU1QMhdHsXllWqHZpyAtjP3lmlDwVVhrMiyZXmflQLQn0EF5GjxlpYKMhHF99elSb9pUlAJF8WFGzq4E/s945/asotos_ios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="945" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqssEeWgCUm0CSm6P8PGjJ6je622Xx8YIamCN_PfgK7SwG1wUgI8-bQiBYC-Szluil0G2y_Oo4M4Piw5OLJE2iP1QdK7RQyaRddk7PrmK7H0JU1QMhdHsXllWqHZpyAtjP3lmlDwVVhrMiyZXmflQLQn0EF5GjxlpYKMhHF99elSb9pUlAJF8WFGzq4E/w640-h512/asotos_ios.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Elder Ephraim of Arizona <br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our God is love and "he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Any Christian who does not have the love of God in his heart does not have the life of Christ in his soul. This great work of God's philanthropy, for God to come down, for the Word of God to become man, to take flesh, to dwell among us, to draw near to us, was nothing but the infinite philanthropy of divine love. God's love is what protects us and takes care of us for everything. We humans sin and grieve God. We often disrespect, but His philanthropy is infinite and He forgives all. All of us, including me first, have grieved this great heart of God, which is called love for man. That is why we should be careful in our life, and then not to give Him the bitterness of sin again.<br><br>The Parable of the Prodigal Son described in the Holy Gospel is the most perfect example possible of God the Father’s love for sinful man. We see the prodigal son, who represents every sinful person on the earth, asking his father for his entitled portion of the inheritance. <br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/the-love-of-heavenly-father-elder.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-85655939199021089612024-03-06T14:26:00.002-05:002024-03-06T14:26:33.266-05:00The Location Where the True Cross of Christ Was Found by Saint Helen<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2-SG2fvKHdiR44MVIsYdpb1xL-bEllqdnBYU5KuGA1Zje__PHLqYFQO0ZWLqHc8jF24jlUPsPPU5O68b2RXjs2BP-xU9tp9weP0j6oLAbfo-e9akA8ncX7wrlId8hhlt2-BbzxYlXlGviafcg0O88fZ7iEp3zoEw7ov0GxW9C5A3syF1kzM6EMWiXEw/s600/discovery-of-the-true-cross-holy-land-pilgrimages-600x385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2-SG2fvKHdiR44MVIsYdpb1xL-bEllqdnBYU5KuGA1Zje__PHLqYFQO0ZWLqHc8jF24jlUPsPPU5O68b2RXjs2BP-xU9tp9weP0j6oLAbfo-e9akA8ncX7wrlId8hhlt2-BbzxYlXlGviafcg0O88fZ7iEp3zoEw7ov0GxW9C5A3syF1kzM6EMWiXEw/w640-h410/discovery-of-the-true-cross-holy-land-pilgrimages-600x385.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Descending 29 steps below the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, one comes to the Armenian Chapel of Saint Helen, which has a dome and an elaborate mosaic floor. Descending 13 more steps below this chapel, which is the deepest part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we enter the Franciscan Chapel of the Finding of the Cross. In this 12th century chapel, there is a purple-white slab of marble with an engraved Cross (that says "Jesus Christ Conquers") which belongs to the Greek Orthodox, and this spot marks the exact location where according to tradition the True Cross of Christ, together with the Crosses of the Robbers, the Crown of Thorns and the Sacred Nails were found in a miraculous manner by Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, on March 6, 326.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/the-location-where-true-cross-of-christ.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-34757116963030870362024-03-05T16:18:00.002-05:002024-03-05T16:18:36.834-05:00Reflection for the Monday of Meatfare Week (St. Theophan the Recluse)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Quzrlu0rHIZycBtYabpSkGSBXM3c4nfD_hSLpqrJLtFVhiTsJnLsSGrm9j9Cmm7RpeFMi_nendcnx6NYV17Jod202aFY8_k8vHjlYe95x0oKUArF4ADobtcEJI26jtEZWTZtq6EZ5PvKWeACUjmYL6JRhtsKSTi-MbIUt3VBYHr6uDq6HV-RMebixto/s1454/Screenshot_20240303_080019_Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Quzrlu0rHIZycBtYabpSkGSBXM3c4nfD_hSLpqrJLtFVhiTsJnLsSGrm9j9Cmm7RpeFMi_nendcnx6NYV17Jod202aFY8_k8vHjlYe95x0oKUArF4ADobtcEJI26jtEZWTZtq6EZ5PvKWeACUjmYL6JRhtsKSTi-MbIUt3VBYHr6uDq6HV-RMebixto/w476-h640/Screenshot_20240303_080019_Facebook.jpg" width="476"></a></div><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Monday of Meatfare Week</b><br><br><i>(1 John 2:18–3:10; Mark 11:1–11)</i><br><br>By St. Theophan the Recluse<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>Yesterday the parable about the prodigal son invited us to return from dissipation to the good path. Now the holy Apostle John inspires us for this, giving assurance that if we do this, when the Lord appears, we will be like Him. What can compare with such a dignity?! I should think that upon hearing this, you would be filled with a desire to attain this for yourself. It is a good and most importantly needful thing! Do not delay undertaking that through which it is attained. <br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/reflection-for-monday-of-meatfare-week.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-85272841659729690252024-03-04T17:31:00.005-05:002024-03-04T17:31:56.387-05:00Seek Patience, Not Deliverance (St. Ephraim of Katounakia)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcFON9YfetzoTH3ML2dtCdT7EXT5Pae8aguV9CQaiP9Ry_RNoI9XO4UxMao0uPFW4SUKN5kP5T8eR9_C-aJHsHTOa2KqnyO4nQ1VWSzeV7mFUxzcdF_5JNWWRqhJOe46nplVWV7Z3USyJJCS-uN72WXHTqkTKVplPrCVKMu22lAVEuCvxRhX5moU3H-I/s400/ephraim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcFON9YfetzoTH3ML2dtCdT7EXT5Pae8aguV9CQaiP9Ry_RNoI9XO4UxMao0uPFW4SUKN5kP5T8eR9_C-aJHsHTOa2KqnyO4nQ1VWSzeV7mFUxzcdF_5JNWWRqhJOe46nplVWV7Z3USyJJCS-uN72WXHTqkTKVplPrCVKMu22lAVEuCvxRhX5moU3H-I/w480-h640/ephraim.jpg" width="480"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint Ephraim of Katounakia once said:<br><br>There is an Eldress, whose name I will not mention. She suffers from cancer, surgeries, this and that, and still while in prayer she saw the Panagia on her throne.<br><br>"Move forward you who are venerables," she said. So all the venerables moved to the front of the parade, where the Panagia was.<br><br>"Move forward you who are the great martyrs," she said.<br><br>Meanwhile the Eldress, who was an Abbess, just stood by.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/seek-patience-not-deliverance-st.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-82145834259952681852024-03-04T16:52:00.002-05:002024-03-04T16:52:25.883-05:00Homily on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (St. Justin Popovich)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwezXDE8ry8k53DU-T4nCRuDXypdSVF5n2wo3o_IQ6tPyk1qmaFjZfi_0tf5p-cM25peR73mmtvvckPb5N6hXG3xYe1idggezKftwXEtJUEQBpb_yd2g8-oULxOvQR4aPWraaePj37bIJhH7MKiLJ0ZXZ3-HNcL1dr9HqzkuXXV-7PorfI05fETZCPzM/s1040/prodigal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1040" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwezXDE8ry8k53DU-T4nCRuDXypdSVF5n2wo3o_IQ6tPyk1qmaFjZfi_0tf5p-cM25peR73mmtvvckPb5N6hXG3xYe1idggezKftwXEtJUEQBpb_yd2g8-oULxOvQR4aPWraaePj37bIJhH7MKiLJ0ZXZ3-HNcL1dr9HqzkuXXV-7PorfI05fETZCPzM/w640-h594/prodigal.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By St. Justin Popovich<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>Behold the Gospel which concerns the mind and body of each of us. It is the Gospel of loving-kindness. It is the Savior’s wonderful parable, in which he depicts the whole of our life. Mine, yours, that of every human being on the face of the earth. Today’s Gospel concerns all of us. All of us.<br><br>How marvelous we are! These divine treasures here on earth. Look at our body, the eye, the ear, the tongue. What amazing wealth. The eye. Is there anything more wondrous that we could possibly conceive in this world? And yet, this eye was created by the Lord, as was the soul and body. The soul, in fact, is entirely from heaven. What riches! The body. An amazing gem which has been given to you for eternity, not just for this fleeting life on earth. And the soul, also committed to eternity. Listen to what Saint Paul preaches today: "The body is for the Lord" (1 Cor. 6:13). The Lord made the human body for eternal life, for eternal righteousness and eternal love; both body and soul. All of these are gifts from God, sublime, great, abundant and - most importantly - immortal and eternal.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/homily-on-sunday-of-prodigal-son-st.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-43685725174514930992024-03-04T16:05:00.002-05:002024-03-04T16:05:31.814-05:00Saint Gerasimos of Jordan and the Resurrection of a Dead Monk<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZEjc5NHSyEG2_srDtoBQ2vCmGLcOzuOuGK_JIugPNWNXfCfoIWeoJ-k-ZtkCgA123YTL9HUwiKuirFseW3kE0aHBvKp3XMJI6o6aqH3y-lqxFcPrYq9UJlOo3co5gdacX5XEQzp_Ro4-l42XePdPa10-fdGtSf69ZCZfsxvdaLU-1l1FSGVjsqRvL9c/s800/gerasimos1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZEjc5NHSyEG2_srDtoBQ2vCmGLcOzuOuGK_JIugPNWNXfCfoIWeoJ-k-ZtkCgA123YTL9HUwiKuirFseW3kE0aHBvKp3XMJI6o6aqH3y-lqxFcPrYq9UJlOo3co5gdacX5XEQzp_Ro4-l42XePdPa10-fdGtSf69ZCZfsxvdaLU-1l1FSGVjsqRvL9c/w640-h426/gerasimos1.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When he was still alive, Saint Gerasimos of Jordan resurrected a dead man. But how did this great and paradoxical miracle happen? Once a certain monk of his Lavra reposed and the Saint, who was then abbot, did not know about it. When the semantron for his funeral was struck, the Elder also went to the temple. When he saw the body he was sad, because he did not say farewell to him before he passed away. So he went near the coffin and said to the deceased:<br><br>"Get up, brother, let us say our farewells."<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/saint-gerasimos-of-jordan-and.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-2276518784746675062024-03-03T10:54:00.001-05:002024-03-03T10:54:34.654-05:00Homily One for the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (St. Luke of Simferopol)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKuXIoZMVsKAEdQSNIfaI5OLgtfiAsbn4zZwCUXEdgV8PpqtSHpKNd1wT3hucSzwg1CPWkmoHZTPWevlzCLaJ29srQZnPb6MLTIUEMWl7yWFnCPxEyZAqrN_fEdr6LMOXrWKTMpHHFOa8EZPVwh_xdPHrN45SdtZA4_RMQj-GgTHJR36GJX9HMubcAVM/s1024/prodigal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1024" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKuXIoZMVsKAEdQSNIfaI5OLgtfiAsbn4zZwCUXEdgV8PpqtSHpKNd1wT3hucSzwg1CPWkmoHZTPWevlzCLaJ29srQZnPb6MLTIUEMWl7yWFnCPxEyZAqrN_fEdr6LMOXrWKTMpHHFOa8EZPVwh_xdPHrN45SdtZA4_RMQj-GgTHJR36GJX9HMubcAVM/w640-h410/prodigal.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunday of the Prodigal Son</b><br><br>By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea<br><br><i>(Delivered on March 4, 1945)</i><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>To you, young shoots, to you, spring sprouts, to you, buds sprinkled with God's dew, my word now is directed to you. For the deeply touching Parable of the Prodigal Son, illuminated by the divine light of Christ’s love, applies first of all and most of all to you. In this parable, the Lord Jesus Christ showed us how often young people go astray, how often they follow the path of destruction. For this youngest son followed the hard path of destruction, who became bored in his father’s house, who wanted freedom, who wanted to arrange his life according to his own desire.<br><br>And he asked his father to give him his due share of the inheritance, and left him for a distant country. And there, in pursuit of pleasure, in pursuit of fun, he soon took the path of destruction, soon squandered his property, living with dissolute women, began to starve and began to herd pigs. Severely starving, he would have been glad to eat what the pigs were fed, but they didn’t give him that either. He sank as low as possible, reaching a bestial state, living in the company of pigs.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/homily-one-for-sunday-of-prodigal-son.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-60612949893860813592024-03-02T17:14:00.002-05:002024-03-03T09:23:34.001-05:00Saint Nicholas Planas - a short biography<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_MkSgl7a9DgMGpPymgdWtdiTaPrvC5W3USZMhWSo6cC17yDKHyRdsvUCVp8ZgHFakh45UHvbc7sdu-iULSPReux7e5QwPfjj0kD8un2Evj8n8ZGi914TpRAD9mo5izGtfCTR2mik6-a0Mgow7fFBYyqx1wWllbTMRFPk5IXMgygaHYvzUyLXOHYsd5M/s608/planas.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_MkSgl7a9DgMGpPymgdWtdiTaPrvC5W3USZMhWSo6cC17yDKHyRdsvUCVp8ZgHFakh45UHvbc7sdu-iULSPReux7e5QwPfjj0kD8un2Evj8n8ZGi914TpRAD9mo5izGtfCTR2mik6-a0Mgow7fFBYyqx1wWllbTMRFPk5IXMgygaHYvzUyLXOHYsd5M/w404-h640/planas.jpeg" width="404"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Archimandrite Alexandros Mostratos, <br>Preacher and Chancellor of the Metropolis of Paronaxia<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>The life and work of the holy Priest Nicholas Planas, a saint of our days, is the supreme expression of the true Christ-like life of every conscious believer and more so of the genuine and perfect Priest.<br><br>The beautiful, courageous and saint-bearing Naxos had the divine favor and blessing to be his birthplace. He was born in the year 1851. His parents, Captain John and Augustina, were pious and benevolent people, like all the islanders, and wealthy. They also had a commercial boat, which went from Naxos to Smyrna, Constantinople, and even to Alexandria in Egypt. Inside some of their estates they also had a small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas.<br><br>Saint Nicholas Planas was sanctified from infancy. Most of the time as a child he was in this Sacred Temple and spent many hours there chanting what he knew and many times wearing, instead of a priestly phelonion, some kind of sheet, imitating the Priests. One day he chanted so rapturously that he caused the admiration of the passers-by.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/03/saint-nicholas-planas-short-biography.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-12844190802853103232024-02-29T15:41:00.009-05:002024-02-29T15:56:08.157-05:00The Irony of the Only Greek Orthodox Church Dedicated to Saint John Cassian Being in Nicosia<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayILQxyoaxDKWe1bqiTYk0N8VRMQtwQh5YDceLNc52rvSzp9gY6vjqGsGhs1S7YDGh1DG7sPlzfMlccxpb-qCi-uesiqZdSV6h8IkPZrn4Ug4cVStcCGfOPM1D69FFv5yUa0sUefmCtaYZ9QLHAO_h9L0CSYMC2t4ZWMClly0vL-gR-ucyUHjhVPtPrg/s600/kassianos-3-e1531459114498.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayILQxyoaxDKWe1bqiTYk0N8VRMQtwQh5YDceLNc52rvSzp9gY6vjqGsGhs1S7YDGh1DG7sPlzfMlccxpb-qCi-uesiqZdSV6h8IkPZrn4Ug4cVStcCGfOPM1D69FFv5yUa0sUefmCtaYZ9QLHAO_h9L0CSYMC2t4ZWMClly0vL-gR-ucyUHjhVPtPrg/w640-h480/kassianos-3-e1531459114498.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is ironic that the only Greek Orthodox Church dedicated to Saint John Cassian is located in Nicosia of Cyprus. According to a folk tradition among Greeks, which stems from the fact that Saint John Cassian is only celebrated every four years because his feast falls on February 29th, the binary leap year, he is considered the only officially "unfairly treated" Saint of the Church. It is said that this day was imposed on him because in Paradise he was being "mischeivous" and would disperse "fiery demons" from there. The respected Professor of Modern Greek History at the University of Cyprus, Mr. Petros Papapolyvios, informs us that in modern Greek literature, Georgios Vizyinos (1884) and Christos Christovasilis (1903) refer to this specific punishment. Nicosia also, as the capital of Cyprus, is divided into a binary, with half of it being under the Greeks while the other half under the Turks. During the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the invasion stopped just 30 meters away from the Church of Saint Cassian, which is considered a miracle on his part, and from there the binary division took place.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span></div></b></div></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/02/the-irony-of-only-greek-orthodox-church.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-26242427347679851252024-02-28T17:49:00.005-05:002024-02-28T17:53:55.708-05:00The Unorthodox Position on Holy Relics by a Cypriot Theologian<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbi5nqFKWN1zEjlgtUo8fS6KbBAbQMoCMgxQfjb7XBsCCeSkbmnTwSchvf-9uLK-8y2pUhzU7mO2XTRBaFW3srGvDRmS8wiU7WlglAVjqm9WUHXnibU7wKkXwupXYxA9B4kRmtMtXeUnH32o5bdTIXKbE12WuoW0B1Bktrz7XQ3c_vTYLtSpsQoFzkq4/s630/gerontas2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="630" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbi5nqFKWN1zEjlgtUo8fS6KbBAbQMoCMgxQfjb7XBsCCeSkbmnTwSchvf-9uLK-8y2pUhzU7mO2XTRBaFW3srGvDRmS8wiU7WlglAVjqm9WUHXnibU7wKkXwupXYxA9B4kRmtMtXeUnH32o5bdTIXKbE12WuoW0B1Bktrz7XQ3c_vTYLtSpsQoFzkq4/w640-h480/gerontas2.jpg" width="640"></a></div> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Vasilios Haralambous, theologian<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>In an article published on the SigmaLive website dated 2/2/2024, titled "<a href="https://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/1191871/theologomaxia-gia-agia-zoni-to-paidi-anastithikei-theia-xari-den-apothikevetai">Theological Battle for the Holy Zoni: The Child Resurrected - Divine Grace is Not Stored</a>," we note, among other things, the following: "A great uproar has been caused in the last few days on the subject of the circulation of relics, bones and icons for veneration."<br><br>Unfortunately, these things are mentioned on the occasion of the Holy Zoni of our Panagia arriving in Cyprus. However, there has been no commotion. No disturbance has been caused. There was no turmoil, no confusion. The Cypriot state officially welcomed the Holy Zoni of the Panagia, together with the people of Cyprus. What ruckus are they talking about?<br><br>Not even the political parties were worried about the arrival of the Holy Zoni, as a multitude of people from all parties venerated the miraculous Holy Zoni of our Panagia. Those who did not want to venerate, have not announced it.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/02/the-unorthodox-position-on-holy-relics.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-86121280632695263822024-02-27T17:35:00.003-05:002024-02-27T17:35:29.458-05:00Select Sayings of Saint Ephraim of Katounakia<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fOb79h5YVPmah04I0RpKGgKBc2ZhyuwYxYPUyyORA_mSbvteEvrCqxgpbt1so1S7FEfF1yv53VOPDmgMUXB-PgQE2_we02vK9E9LBy2yvS_vSKQK5muc6Z6g668V0zAoQvBGhEfQ6ajiNQJvXzNzSgn2iGK9eEBenO2XphK00ONuxqHGmKGc9UW6PLQ/s621/ephraim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="519" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fOb79h5YVPmah04I0RpKGgKBc2ZhyuwYxYPUyyORA_mSbvteEvrCqxgpbt1so1S7FEfF1yv53VOPDmgMUXB-PgQE2_we02vK9E9LBy2yvS_vSKQK5muc6Z6g668V0zAoQvBGhEfQ6ajiNQJvXzNzSgn2iGK9eEBenO2XphK00ONuxqHGmKGc9UW6PLQ/w534-h640/ephraim.jpg" width="534"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Papa-Ephraim was able to see the grace of a priest. If he saw the priest from the side door of the Sanctuary, he would perceive how much grace he has.<br><br>- Someone asked him how divine Grace is seen, and he replied: "To the beginners as a cloud, to the advanced (intermediates) as fire and to the perfect as light."<br><br>- "According to the faith and reverence you have in someone, you benefit and receive grace."<br><br>- “A person can perceive if someone is in a lower spiritual state from himself, but he cannot perceive the one who is in a higher spiritual state than himself."<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/02/select-sayings-of-saint-ephraim-of.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-70762207071988198712024-02-27T16:56:00.002-05:002024-02-27T16:57:58.580-05:00Saint Joseph the Hesychast Explains Why an Icon "Spoke" to Saint Ephraim of Katounakia<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe967LAbBiAwEzsZWMQVCs-OxmMCtgu_WzsWrDLSjxB48opsyrpDLj1fkTpD5ZyPHv5WolxEv4WznQ4oZFCnDPP8eaKu-37V23AX_cVP50bkrJ_cMoCwCulPJfdnlWysZpY-LJVbu1o7-yjVR9FbVsJEDVBZX-AFzrKFKDgxdkAOx0l1KjOwQa5ihg_U/s600/Agioi-Iosif-Hsyhastis-EfraimKatounakiotis-600-235235436354454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="600" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe967LAbBiAwEzsZWMQVCs-OxmMCtgu_WzsWrDLSjxB48opsyrpDLj1fkTpD5ZyPHv5WolxEv4WznQ4oZFCnDPP8eaKu-37V23AX_cVP50bkrJ_cMoCwCulPJfdnlWysZpY-LJVbu1o7-yjVR9FbVsJEDVBZX-AFzrKFKDgxdkAOx0l1KjOwQa5ihg_U/w640-h500/Agioi-Iosif-Hsyhastis-EfraimKatounakiotis-600-235235436354454.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Elder Gabriel lived alone his strict monastic life in a small house which was the extension of a cave, very close to the Cell of Saint Ephraim of Katounakia.<br><br>He was often visited by Elder Ephraim, to perform priestly duties.<br><br>Once, when together with Papa-Nikephoros he was celebrating the Mystery of the Prayer Oil [Holy Unction], Elder Ephraim heard a voice from the icon of the Archangels saying to him:<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/02/saint-joseph-hesychast-explains-why.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-10879057731996593902024-02-26T16:13:00.003-05:002024-02-26T16:18:44.958-05:00"From the Moment the Triodion Begins, One Must Begin to Journey Towards Golgotha" (St. Paisios the Athonite)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8NfsyRDrCkioNm_bO4fTZpFgDLu21iV5DbaNVCP38J8p00miMlOiJwLCnM-2IKlKG1di0tQj4g6bJ0OKYFjtQfJaMKFNKMGPGD1ADtBg__qx5ba0l0q6FDLUpRE9IY2giZPklQD70EbovXYpo3mFwWUkFzXcu7dJnvFEfPmQ_i5Mf-NCUjfEAjreV4M/s600/stavrosi-rentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8NfsyRDrCkioNm_bO4fTZpFgDLu21iV5DbaNVCP38J8p00miMlOiJwLCnM-2IKlKG1di0tQj4g6bJ0OKYFjtQfJaMKFNKMGPGD1ADtBg__qx5ba0l0q6FDLUpRE9IY2giZPklQD70EbovXYpo3mFwWUkFzXcu7dJnvFEfPmQ_i5Mf-NCUjfEAjreV4M/w640-h480/stavrosi-rentina.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saint Paisios the Athonite said:<br /><br />"From the moment the Triodion begins, one must begin to journey towards Golgotha. And, if he takes advantage of this period spiritually, when he dies, his soul will ascend, without being hindered by tolls and customs. <br /><br />Every year these holy days come, but every year we also lose a year and that's the point. Did we utilize it spiritually or did we waste it on material things?"<br /><br />Source: <i>Ὁσίου Παϊσίου Ἁγιορείτου, Λόγοι Στ', Περὶ προσευχῆς</i>, p. 98. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073747814662074882.post-58468302205633734542024-02-25T10:40:00.007-05:002024-02-25T11:42:14.784-05:00Homily One on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (St. Luke of Simferopol)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS7S7kqjgGXLtVNfdXXN5iFjOrwmh7eXSx2BtNQSNH8bRrD7WB-fhRjldm8JJ444NXRfKE30zW4K1qf1Dn9Spe6qRZjCHsskxZoFVd2BHS4dengYxZle_m9lhbHBD-AT57wUjBc3LdepXqxCDEdyasrBQu-HWyipSUcghI8n5fDXec11b2q9a3k1ZnXE/s500/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS7S7kqjgGXLtVNfdXXN5iFjOrwmh7eXSx2BtNQSNH8bRrD7WB-fhRjldm8JJ444NXRfKE30zW4K1qf1Dn9Spe6qRZjCHsskxZoFVd2BHS4dengYxZle_m9lhbHBD-AT57wUjBc3LdepXqxCDEdyasrBQu-HWyipSUcghI8n5fDXec11b2q9a3k1ZnXE/w504-h640/unnamed.jpg" width="504"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea<br><br><i>(Delivered on February 25, 1945)</i><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br>Great Lent is approaching, a time of prayer and repentance, the most important time of our lives, for there is nothing more important for the Christian soul than repentance and prayer.<br><br>When the Lord Jesus Christ came out to preach His message, the first thing He said was: “Repent!” (Matthew 4:17).<br><br>There are many great human deeds, but there is none so great, so important as repentance and prayer, for in prayer the spirit of man has direct communication with the Spirit of God. And the one whose prayer becomes bottomlessly deep and therefore extremely effective knows from his own experience how communication with the Spirit of God occurs. He knows that in prayer people receive direct instructions from God and the true direction of their life activities.<br><br><span></span></div><a href="http://www.mystagogyresourcecenter.com/2024/02/homily-one-on-week-of-publican-and.html#more"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com