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Philaret of Moscow

Vasily Mikhaylovich Drozdov
(26 December 1782 – 1 December 1867) - Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna and the most influential figure in the Russian Orthodox Church for more than 40 years, from 1821 to 1867.

The Lord demands your heart. The Church puts prayer in the mouth, so that it penetrates the heart. In order for a beggar to receive alms, he must stretch out his hand; in order for an infant to receive food, he must open his mouth. Similarly, a man must reach out to God in order to attain his grace, and he must have an open soul in order to receive His gifts.
Prayer is an outstretched hand to receive the grace of God, an open mouth to partake of the food of heaven.
The Holy Spirit is given to prayer by God to help sinners who have felt and hated their sinfulness, who have a strong desire for purification and complete reform.

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Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
(in memory of the liberation of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612)

October 22/November 4

The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is a revered miraculous icon of the Mother of God that appeared in Kazan in 1579. It is one of the most revered icons of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The history of the icon begins in 1579, when, after a great fire in Kazan, the Virgin appeared in a dream to a nine-year-old girl, Matrona, and ordered her to dig up her icon from the ground. The girl told her parents about the vision, and indeed, a small icon was found under the ashes of the burned-down house. Miracles began to occur from the icon: the blind were given sight, the sick were healed, and those who doubted were strengthened in their faith. Soon, at the behest of Ivan the Terrible, the Bogoroditsky Monastery was built, and a copy of the Kazan icon spread throughout Russia.

The Feast reminds us of the miraculous help we received in difficult times and the great intercession of the Virgin.
October 22/November 4 is the day of the capture of Kitai-Gorod by the troops of the Russian people's militia led by Minin and Pozharsky, when the entire militia prayed before the decisive battle in front of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The meaning of the holiday is to commemorate the miracle that occurred during the Time of Troubles, when the Russian army, made up of peasants, nobles, and merchants, defeated the well-armed and regular forces of a foreign state.
Even after centuries, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God remains one of the most revered icons in Russia. It is a symbol of hope, comfort, and protection. People turn to it for prayers about the protection of the Fatherland, peace in the family, and the health of their children. It is considered the patroness of the home and is often given as a wedding gift to newlyweds, blessing them with a long and happy life.

The Kazan Icon is an unshakable reminder of the Virgin's mercy towards the Russian land, and of Her intercession for our country during the most difficult years for Russia. As we turn our eyes towards it, we call out: "Intercessor, Mother of the Lord of the Highest... grant all that is useful and save all... for You are the Divine Protection of Your servants!

Metropolitan John (Snychev)
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St. Silouan the Athonite

Semyon Ivanovich Antonov (January 17, 1866, village of Shovskoye, Tambov province — September 11 [24], 1938, Athos, Greece) -
Russian Saint who lived on Mt. Athos in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and known for his ascetic feats and spiritual teachings.
He was glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople on November 26, 1987.

My soul is in fear and trembling when I think of the glory of the Mother of God. My mind is small, and my heart is poor and weak, but my soul rejoices and is drawn to write at least a few words about Her. My soul is afraid to touch Her, but my love compels me to express my gratitude for Her mercy. The Mother of God did not write down her thoughts, her love for God and her Son, or her suffering at the crucifixion, because we could not understand it anyway. Her love for God is stronger and more passionate than the love of the Seraphim and Cherubim, and all the heavenly forces of angels and archangels marvel at her.

Although the life of the Mother of God is shrouded in holy silence, the Lord of our Orthodox Church has made it known that She embraces the entire world with her love, and in the Holy Spirit she sees all the nations on earth, and like her Son, she pities and forgives them all.

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St.Seraphim of Sarov

(30 July [O.S. 19 July] 1754 or 1759 – 14 January [O.S. 2 January] 1833)
Born Prókhor Isídorovich Moshnín (Mashnín)  -  one of the most renowned Russian saints.
He taught that the purpose of the Christian life was to receive the Holy Spirit.

When a man has supplied his soul with the word of God, he will understand what is good and what is evil.

Reading the word of God should be done in solitude, so that the whole mind of the reader may be immersed in the truths of the Holy Scriptures and receive from God the warmth that produces tears in solitude. This warms the whole person and fills them with spiritual gifts that delight the mind and heart more than any other word.

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Metropolitan Macarius 

Mikhail Andreyevich Nevsky
 
(1 October 1835 – 2 March 1926) was the Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna from 1912 to 1917, an outstanding missionary and enlightener of the masses in the Altai region (people used to call him the "Siberian pillar of Orthodoxy" and "Apostle of the Altai")

It is better and easier for you to fight if you force yourself to drive away bad thoughts at the very beginning: it is easier to put out a spark than a flame.
Avoid idleness and empty conversations.
Always have an interesting and spiritually edifying book at hand.

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Feast of the Miraculous Icon 
The Joy of All Who Sorrow

October 24/November 6

The Joy of All Who Sorrow or the Joy of All Afflicted is the name of an icon and a title given to the Theotokos (Mary, mother of Jesus). The iconography is specifically Russian, without Byzantine precedent.
The icon was first glorified in 1648 after, according to tradition, the sister of Russian patriarch Joachim was healed through prayer before the icon.
This icon is particularly revered, as the Theotokos comforts those in distress, supports the sick and the oppressed, and provides hope to those facing challenges. On this day, believers pray, remember those in need, and seek the intercession of the Holy Mother.
The name of the icon is the beginning of a liturgical chant (stichera) addressed to the Virgin: "Joy of All Who Sorrow and Protector of the Oppressed..."
The name of the icon speaks for itself. Those who are in trouble find relief and comfort through prayer to the Mother of God. The Mother of God supports everyone in their times of sorrow. She does not magically solve all their problems, but she gives them the strength to endure, heal, and find hope and light within themselves.
This is how the tradition of depicting the Virgin Mary next to those who suffer was born: the sick, the poor, the wronged, and the hungry. And around them are angels who, at the Virgin Mary's behest, help everyone and guide people towards her.
In St. Petersburg, there is a special icon of the Virgin, "Joy of All Who Sorrow," which is known as the "Groshek" icon. This icon gained fame after a miraculous event that occurred in 1888. A lightning bolt struck the chapel of a glass factory where the icon was kept, but the icon itself remained unharmed. What happened next was later described as a clear sign. When the lightning struck, the glass frame cracked, and the copper coins (known as "Groshek" coins) that were in a nearby donation basket attached themselves to the icon. These coins are still on the icon, and they can still be seen today.
Among the miraculous images of the Most Holy Theotokos, the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" is especially revered and close to the heart of the Orthodox Christian. This is not surprising, as everyone faces difficulties, sorrows, illnesses, and trials throughout their lives. The very name of this icon carries a sense of comfort: the Mother of God comes to the aid of those in need, providing solace, support, and hope.

Look upon us, Mother of God, with the eye of mercy, stretch out your pure hands to us, as you are depicted on your icon, and grant joy to all those who sorrow, healing to the sick, and deliverance from all troubles, for you are the quick intercessor for our souls.
O Most Holy Lady and Mother of God,
You are the joy of the afflicted and the help of the needy.
Comfort us in our troubles and sorrows,
Be our intercessor before God.
Do not leave us without mercy, but bring us to quiet joy and peace. Amen.

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Theophan the Recluse.

(January 10, 1815 – January 6, 1894), Russian Orthodox bishop and theologian, recognized as a saint in 1988.
Born as Georgy Vasilievich Govorov, he became a monk in 1841, taking the name Theophan.

A person has three lives: spiritual, mental, and physical. The first is directed towards God and heaven, the second is focused on managing one's earthly life, and the third is concerned with taking care of the body. It is rare for all these lives to be equally developed, but one person may have a stronger emphasis on one aspect, another person may have a stronger emphasis on another aspect, and a third person may have a stronger emphasis on the third aspect. The spiritual life is the most important, as the spirit is superior to the soul and the body, and it brings a person closer to their ultimate goal, which is heaven and God.

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Archbishop Philaret of Chernigov

Dmitry Grigorievich Gumilevsky

(October 23/November 4, 1805, Lesnoye Konobeyevo, Shatsky Uyezd, Tambov Province — August 9 [21], 1866, Konotop, Chernigov Province) - was the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Riga (1841–48), Archbishop of Kharkov (1848–59), and Archbishop of Chernigov (1859–66).

Brothers and sisters in the Lord! If the soul lives by the love of Christ, how many powers and means it has for the works of love!
Every action, every occupation of it, spreads peace and quiet around it.
Respect for the elders, greeting and service to the equals, and sympathy for the sorrowful. Has another sinned? Love covers the sin. Is another angry? It does not notice it. Has someone fallen? It lifts him up as much as it can. Has someone grown weak from labor? It helps the weak. In order to protect the peace of others, and especially of the highest, love sacrifices its own peace. Even if it lacks health or the ability to provide comfort, it prays for others, and prayer, as you know, is powerful.
The love of a father or a mother may sometimes express a strict word, but it does not contain anger or malice. Instead, it is peaceful and calm, reaching from the heart of the lover to the heart of the beloved like a healing balm.

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Metrophanes of Voronezh

The first bishop of Voronezh and Yelets.
(November 8,1623 village of Antilokhovo, Savinsky District - November 23,1703, Voronezh).
He took monastic vows after his wife's death in 1663, managed the Kosmin Monastery near Yuryev-Polsky and the Unzha Monastery.
He is reputed to have possessed miracle-working powers.

But it is not only the satisfaction of the necessary needs of nature, such as daily bread, food, and clothing, that makes labor necessary for man; no, labor has a higher and more salutary significance: it is necessary for man to succeed in moral life; the necessity of labor is closely connected with the need to perfect and go to the eternal, unchangeable goal of our earthly journey,- to the Salvation.

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Commemoration of the Demetrius of Thessalonica

October 26/November 8

A great martir, military commander who suffered for Christ in the early fourth century.

The veneration of the saint reached its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries, during the Tatar-Mongol invasion and the beginning of the Moscow princes' conquest of Russian lands. The saint came to be seen as a protector of Russia, and his memory was associated with military heroism, loyalty, and the defense of the Fatherland.
The first stone church in the Moscow Kremlin, built in the 1280s by Saint Daniel of Moscow, was consecrated in the name of Demetrius of Thessalonica.
After the victory at Kulikovo Field in 1380, Prince Dmitry Donskoy ordered that all fallen warriors be commemorated annually on the Saturday before the feast day of Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica.

I know, O merciful Lord, that Your bounties exceed our sins, so that the iniquities of the whole world will not overcome Your mercy.
You have shed Your blood for the sake of sinners and given Your soul for us; show Your mercy on this city and do not let me leave it.
You have appointed me to guard this city, so I will be like You, my Lord, and I will give my soul for its citizens, and if they perish, I will perish with them.

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Patriarch Tikhon

Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin
(31 January 1865 – 7 April  1925), a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. On 5 November 1917  he was selected the 11th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

On October 9, 1989, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Patriarch Tikhon, the Confessor, as a saint. Through his life and his holy deeds, His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon followed the ideals he preached to the end.

Compassion is certainly a highly respectable feeling, but only if it is sober and healthy, rather than false and sentimental.

Only on the stone of healing evil with good is the unshakable glory and greatness of our Holy Orthodox Church built.

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Bishop Vasily of Kineshma

Veniamin Sergeyevich Preobrazhensky
(January 7 (19), 1876, Kineshma, Kostroma Province — August 13, 1945, Birilyussy village, Krasnoyarsk Krai) - bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Ivanovo, and vicar of the Vladimir Diocese.
He was canonized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in August 2000.

To prevent discouragement, we must firmly remember that no effort, no matter how small, is wasted, and leaves its mark on the soul.
If we do not notice progress, it is often because our spiritual vision is not yet experienced enough to discern it when it is not large in size, but if the effort is made with sincerity, the results are undeniable.
Consider the slow, subtle growth of a tree. It is almost impossible to determine how much it has grown in a single day, and only at the end of the year is a significant increase noticed.
So it is in the spiritual life.

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Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
 
Andrei Borisovich Bloom  
(June 6, 1914, Lausanne — August 4, 2003, London) was a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Sourozh. In 1965-1974 - Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, author of numerous books, memoirs and articles about spiritual life and Orthodox spirituality. One of the most popular Orthodox preachers of the 20th century.

Start with verbal silence, emotional silence, mental silence, and physical silence. However, it would be a mistake to imagine that we can start from the highest point, the silence of the heart and mind. We must begin with the silence of the tongue, with the silence of the body—that is, with learning to be still, to let go of tension, without falling into dreaminess or relaxation, but, as one Russian saint said, to be like a violin string that is tuned to produce the right sound: not too tight, so that it might break, but not too loose, so that it will only buzz.
And having begun with this, we must learn to listen to the silence, to be in perfect peace; and perhaps more often than we imagine, the word of the Book of Revelation will come true: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

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St.Demetrius of Rostov

Commemoration
October 28/November 10

Daniil Savvich Tuptalo
(December 11, 1651, Makarov village, Kiev regiment — October 28, 1709, Rostov the Great, Yaroslavl region, Russian Empire) — bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Rostov and Yaroslavl,  spiritual writer,  preacher, teacher.

Saint Demetrius was both a historian and a historiosophist, and a fiction writer in the best sense of the word. As a historian, he tried to avoid mistakes by comparing and critically evaluating the works of his predecessors, carefully explaining to his readers the historical realities of the past. As a historiosophist, he showed in each hagiography the source of every feat and victory — faith that transforms the world. As a writer, he created his own unique style, which is still admired today.

The main work of his life is Chety-Minei, a collection of hagiographies. Dimitry worked on it for 20 years, studying many sources, collecting information, and reworking and presenting it in a clear language.

Founder of the Rostov Grammar School, where Church Slavonic, ancient languages (Latin and Ancient Greek), philosophy, and versification were studied.

He died in 1709 in extreme poverty, and was canonized in 1757.

Praying is necessary in the same way that a staff is necessary for an overworked old man on the road; as a candle is necessary for someone sitting in the darkness of the night; as water is necessary for someone who has been rolling in the mud; as a strong foundation is necessary for a house. Burdened with sins, we rely on prayer as a strong staff; prayer dispels the darkness and gloom of our souls; it washes away our spiritual filth; and it serves as a solid foundation for good deeds.

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St Job of Pochaev (1551-1651)

Commemoration
October 28/November 10

St. Job is remembered as a defender of the Orthodox Faith, an ascetic and spiritual father, miracle worker, and abbot of the great monastery of Pochaev located today in western Ukraine.

Reverend Job, the Abbot of Pochaev, a miracle worker, is still the heavenly patron and intercessor for all those who turn to him with faith and love. His life is an eternal reminder of the power of faith, the strength of the spirit, and the boundless love for God and one's neighbor. He is an example to follow for all those who strive for spiritual perfection and the protection of Orthodoxy.

The Pochaev Lavra, founded and strengthened by the works of St. Job, is a place of pilgrimage for thousands of believers from all over the world. Here, they can touch the holy relics, pray at the relics of St. Job, and experience the blessed atmosphere of this holy place.

Reverend Job of Pochaev is not just a historical figure; he is a living example of holiness, faith, and love. His life and deeds continue to inspire and guide us on our journey to God.

And all the flock of the word should look constantly upon their Shepherd, and always love and honor Him, because He suffered for His flock, the Passionless and the Most Pure; and they should not glory in perishable garments, nor in luxurious living, nor in worldly food, but in deeds and in all honesty, to please the Creator.

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Abbot Savva (Ostapenko)

Nikolai Mikhailovich Ostapenko
(November 11, 1898,  Yeisk department, Kuban region — July 27, 1980, Pskov-Pechersk Monastery),clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, spiritual writer, Inhabitant of  the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. He is revered as an elder.

"Let us surrender ourselves and our entire lives to Christ God," is a cry that we often hear during worship. Let it resonate not only in our ears, but also in our hearts, reaching its deepest depths and finding a sincere and positive response.

"Thy will be done," the words of the Lord's prayer, like the gentle, warm rays of the sun, will warm our being, spreading a benevolent peace and a calm attitude towards all the hardships and joys of life, strengthening us in the activities assigned to us by our rank and position.

To surrender to God's guidance and come under His warm and loving shelter is the key to a happy life.

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Hieroschemamonk Macarius of Optina, venerable

Mikhail Nikolaevich Ivanov (November 20 (December3), Dmitrov district, Oryol viceroyalty, 1788 – September 7 (20), 1860, Optina Hermitage) a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church and a venerable Optina elder.

I will tell you that even now there is a serpent, Eve, and Adam, and a tree, and we are always subject to temptation and seduction: sensuality is the seductive serpent; Eve is our will, and Adam is our mind; sensuality seduces, the will agrees, and the mind, listening to the will, falls.
Thus, we daily partake of the forbidden fruit, succumbing to various passions.
So let us stand guard, doing and preserving; noticing our passions, resisting them, and humbling ourselves in weakness; and because of this, they overcome us, because instead of humility we have arrogance.

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Alexander Medem, martyr

Medem Alexander Ottonovich
(December 8, 1877 St. Petersburg — April 1, 1931, Syzran).
Alexander Medem was not a priest, and his sainthood, being a layman, testifies to his indomitable will in following the true faith.

Only a deeply and sincerely religious person can be truly free.

Dependence on the Lord God is the only dependence that does not humiliate a person and does not turn him into a miserable slave, but rather elevates him.

Believe firmly, without hesitation, and always pray fervently and with faith that the Lord will hear you.

Don't be afraid of anything in the world, except for the Lord God and your conscience, which He guides.
Don't consider anything else; never offend anyone (of course, I'm talking about blood-related offenses that last a lifetime), and I believe that you will be blessed.

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St. Metropolitan Nikolai (Mogilevsky)

Feodosiy Nikiforovich Mogilevsky
(April 9, 1877, Komissarovka, Yekaterinoslav Governorate - October 25, 1955, Alma-Ata) - bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan.
Thanks to the prayers of Bishop Nicholas, the plane with the failed engine was successfully landed. 
He was canonized as a saint of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in 2000. 

The guilty party in the passion of gluttony is not the most natural act of feeding onesel with food, but the human will, which allows the spirit to be enslaved to the flesh in its service to pleasure. And this very passion is rightly defined by the ascetic fathers as a disease of the corrupted will.

The consequence of this is that this soul, as the Holy Fathers call it, is "the mistress of the body," and because of its sensual pleasures, it becomes its slave, and the "pleasure of the body becomes harmful to the soul," because the latter, burdened with the bad habits of the body, becomes barren. Everything that constitutes a person's spiritual life is gradually weakened by the poison of gluttony.

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Alexander Yelchaninov

Alexander Viktorovich Yelchaninov
(March 1 (13), 1881, Nikolaev — August 24, 1934, Paris) - priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, a church historian, and a writer.
Father Alexander Yelchaninov left behind a rich literary and spiritual legacy.
His book "Notes" was published in unprecedented numbers in a resurgent Russia, inspiring many, especially in the 1990s, to embrace faith!

We usually live on the most superficial levels of our souls and minds. This is evident in the way we easily become indignant over trivial matters and place too much importance on things that are not worth it. Half of our frustrations and difficulties in life would disappear if we shifted our focus to a deeper level.
That is why I strongly recommend that you read the Gospel in the morning, because it will give a different tone to the beginning of each day and help you spend it more wisely.
It will help you keep your heart peaceful, no matter what storms life throws at you.

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St.Ambrose of Optina

Aleksander Mikhaylovich Grenkov
(December 5, 1812 – October 23, 1891) was a starets and a hieroschemamonk in Optina Monastery, canonized in the 1988 convention of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It is more useful for us to submit to the judgment of God and rely on God's all-good Providence. The Orthodox Church teaches the wise saying, "Man proposes, but God disposes." We propose, and the Lord will arrange things for our benefit, as it pleases His all-good and all-holy will. In this situation, we should firmly hold on to the comforting words of the Psalm:
"Open your way to the Lord and trust in Him, and He will complete it. And he will bring forth your truth like the light, and your fate like the noonday..."

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