Merry Christmas!
It is necessary to realize WHAT happened on this day many years ago. That "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth". That "no one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is in the bowels of the Father, He has made Himself known." That an event of such cosmic magnitude had taken place as had not happened before and would not happen afterward. God, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of the infinite cosmos, the Creator of our earth, the Creator of man as a perfect creature, the Almighty, who commands the movement of the planets, the entire cosmic system, the existence of life on earth, whom no one has ever seen, and only a few in the history of mankind have been able to behold only a part of the manifestation of His power... And now this God became a man, a baby, completely defenseless, small, subject to everything, including the possibility of being killed. And all this is for us, for each of us.
If we realize the scale of the event we are celebrating, WHAT happened on this day, then all culinary delights, carols, round dances, dressing up and fortune-telling will seem to us trifles and husks, not worth our attention at all. We will be absorbed in the contemplation of God, the Creator of the universe, lying in a manger next to the animals in a simple stable. This will exceed everything.

Христос рождается, — славьте! Христос с небес, — встречайте! Христос на земле, — возноситесь! Пой Господу, вся земля, и с веселием воспойте, люди: ибо Он прославился. Аминь

Christ is born - praise! Christ from heaven, welcome! Christ is on earth - exalt yourselves! Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with gladness, O men: for he is glorified. Amen

Christmas 2024 in Donetsk, DPR
Рождество Христово 2024 г. Донецк, ДНР

January 7 - THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
The main event in every person's life, regardless of whether he or she is a believer or not, is a personal meeting with God.
And it will be much more constructive if this meeting takes place consciously and voluntarily. All means for this purpose were given to us two thousand years ago, when the incomprehensible Almighty God appeared in a modest human form, spoke to us in understandable human language, for the sake of saving human life.
We are required only one thing - not to close our ears to His voice, which is heard not only in the most important earthly book called the Gospel, but also in the rigor of mathematical formulas and even in the usual everyday life.

Let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and present an ancient song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (May God give you happiness) of the XVI century in an exclusive arrangement by the brethren of the Valaam Monastery (ENGLISH SUBS).
Let's not be ashamed of being Christians.
Christ is born. Happy Holidays!

Winter magic.

If you knew how quickly people would forget you after your death, you would not strive in your life to please anyone but God.
John Chrysostom

☦️ Не знаю почему, но моя самая любимая православная молитва - это Молитва Святому Духу:

Царю Небесный, Утешителю, Душе истины, Иже везде сый и вся исполняяй, Сокровище благих и жизни Подателю, прииди и вселися в ны, и очисти ны от всякия скверны, и спаси, Блаже, души наша.

☦️ I don't know why, but my favorite Orthodox prayer is the Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

HAPPY OLD NEW YEAR!

Иконы плачут.
Люди – водку жрут,
глотают сериалы и судачат,
и бесконечно врут, и врут, и врут.
Иконы – плачут.

Заплачь, душа.
ведь скоро Страшный Суд.
А дальше жизни не переиначить,
когда тебя на кладбище снесут.
Нас слёзы покаяния спасут.
Пока за нас иконы плачут.

Протоиерей Андрей Логвинов

C праздником Богоявления! 🕊
СВЕТ ОТ СВЕТА, ВОЗСИЯ МИРОВИ ХРИСТОС СПАС НАШ, ЯВЛЕЙСЯ БОГ, ЯКО В ВОДАХ ВСЕХ НАС ОБНОВИЛ ЕСИ! 

Happy Holy Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ! 🕊
LIGHT FROM LIGHT, CHRIST OUR SALVATION HAS RISEN TO THE WORLD, GOD MANIFEST, BECAUSE IN THE WATERS YOU HAVE RENEWED US ALL!

When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan / the worship of the Trinity was made manifest / for the voice of the Father bore witness to You / and called You His beloved Son. / And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the truthfulness of His word. / O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself / and have enlightened the world, glory to You!

Мы продолжаем помогать жителям Донбасса. В канун праздника Богоявления наши волонтеры навестили семьи священников. Огромная благодарность всем неравнодушным людям!

https://youtu.be/Kwj9DVc5ilk?si=PITjYovupD3HyOA6