The Finding of the Precious Cross of Christ (Mar 6) commemorates the finding of the true cross and nails by Saint Helen, the pious mother of the Emperor Constantine in 326 AD.
At the place where the cross was buried, lay a flowering basil plant, which St Helen named “Vasiliko”, meaning “of the King.” The story also goes that when the Empress looked under the basil, she found two other crosses-- the ones used in the crucifixion of the two thieves on either side of Christ. In order to determine which cross was the true Cross of Christ, a sick woman was brought to kiss each of the three crosses. When she kissed the True Cross, she was made well immediately.
Fragments of the True Cross are kept at several churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
At the place where the cross was buried, lay a flowering basil plant, which St Helen named “Vasiliko”, meaning “of the King.” The story also goes that when the Empress looked under the basil, she found two other crosses-- the ones used in the crucifixion of the two thieves on either side of Christ. In order to determine which cross was the true Cross of Christ, a sick woman was brought to kiss each of the three crosses. When she kissed the True Cross, she was made well immediately.
Fragments of the True Cross are kept at several churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Panagia tou Harou (The Holy Virgin of Death) is a miracle-working icon in the Church of St. John the Theologian at Leipsoi, Greece.
A bouquet of lilies, originally placed with the icon in the 1940s by a woman expressing her gratitude for many answered prayers, blooms fresh every year on its Feast Day (Aug 23).
A bouquet of lilies, originally placed with the icon in the 1940s by a woman expressing her gratitude for many answered prayers, blooms fresh every year on its Feast Day (Aug 23).
“Only children and those who are innocent like children are able to rejoice with others. For a child, there is no such thing as other people's joy. A child shares anyone’s smile, even a mockery is a smile for them. No one on Earth is more like unto God than an innocent child.”
☦️ St Nikolai (Velimirovich)
☦️ St Nikolai (Velimirovich)
The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross cross marks the halfway point of Great Lent. The church reminds us of where we are journeying—to the cross and ultimately the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We cannot think of the Cross without remembering of Resurrection. We cannot imagine the death and the passions of Christ without having in mind the empty tomb radiating hope. Christ’s death has no meaning without His Resurrection.
We cannot think of the Cross without remembering of Resurrection. We cannot imagine the death and the passions of Christ without having in mind the empty tomb radiating hope. Christ’s death has no meaning without His Resurrection.
In 5th-century Ireland, Saint Patrick (Mar 17) took up the unfinished fight against paganism. He did so with the missionary zeal of one who before conversion, was in his words “like a stone lying in deep mire” until “He that is mighty came and in His mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for His great favours in this world and forever, that the mind of man cannot measure.”
✝️ Holy Enlightener of Ireland, pray for us! ✝️
✝️ Holy Enlightener of Ireland, pray for us! ✝️
Abba Macarius of Egypt said there is no need to waste time with words [in prayer]. It is enough to hold out your hands and say, “Lord, according to your desire and your wisdom, have mercy.”
If pressed in the struggle, say, “Lord, save me!” or say, “Lord.” He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us.
If pressed in the struggle, say, “Lord, save me!” or say, “Lord.” He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us.
St. John Climacus thought himself unworthy to compose a guide to the monastic life. However, in obedience to his abbot, St. John (4th Sunday of Great Lent) did so, drawing inspiration from the story of Jacob's ladder in the Old Testament (Gen. 28:12). St. John called his work The Ladder, for the book is “a fixed ladder leading from earthly things to the Holy of Holies." The thirty steps of spiritual perfection correspond to the Lord's age at the beginning of His ministry.
In the book, the fourth step of the ladder is obedience— a word so many people misunderstand. It is not “giving up one's will and losing one's freedom. Christian obedience … is the proper exercise of our freedom, freely offered to God and to our neighbor. As St. John Climacus teaches us, this type of obedience - true obedience- is an act of love.”
In the book, the fourth step of the ladder is obedience— a word so many people misunderstand. It is not “giving up one's will and losing one's freedom. Christian obedience … is the proper exercise of our freedom, freely offered to God and to our neighbor. As St. John Climacus teaches us, this type of obedience - true obedience- is an act of love.”
“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
The Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos (Mar 25) "is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!" (Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4)
The Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos (Mar 25) "is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!" (Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4)
“The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the future Kingdom, who is really pained by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, carry, or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers, or anything at all on earth. But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation. . ."
☦️ St John of the Ladder
☦️ St John of the Ladder
Having been a sinful woman,
she became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
“Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
St Mary of Egypt (5th Sunday of Great Lent) to St Zosimas
“The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels!”
Troparion — Tone 8
she became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
“Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion."
St Mary of Egypt (5th Sunday of Great Lent) to St Zosimas
“The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels!”
Troparion — Tone 8
On the long ladder of Lent, Christ “waits patiently to receive us at the top. More than that, the Lord is at our side during this ascent, giving us the strength to keep climbing and catching us when we slip. To paraphrase St. John [of the Ladder], Let us hasten, brethren, to make our ascent! —Met. Tikhon of America
If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. … Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"