“THE JESUS PRAYER”. A SIMPLE BUT VERY POWERFUL PRAYER.

“THE JESUS PRAYER”.

 A SIMPLE BUT VERY POWERFUL PRAYER.

‘‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me a sinner’’

How should we say the Jesus Prayer, and what do its words mean?

“Lord”: When we say “Lord” we must recog­nize the Lordship of Christ, enthrone Him in our life, in order to acquire the mind of Christ; in our heart, so that our heart be pure; in our will, so that our intention will be to be totally faithful to the Gospel of God.

“Jesus”: Jesus is the human name of God. We are profess­ing His incarnation. Do we believe it or not? 

“Christ”: He’s the fulfilment of the Old Testament. He is our King.

Some sayings of the Holy Fathers about "Jesus Prayer"

Some sayings of the Holy Fathers about "Jesus Prayer"

"LORD JESUS CHRIST SON OF GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER"

At your work, flee conversation; only measured words in case of need. The hands should work for the needs of the body, and the mind should say the sweetest name of Christ, so that the need of the soul, which we must not forget even for moment, also will be provided for.  

REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, "Counsels from the Holy Mountain"

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Continually say the Prayer [of Jesus] intensely, with zeal, with longing; only thus does one become strong in soul. Avoid idle words by means of all sacrifice, for they weaken the soul and it does not have the strength to struggle.  

REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, "Counsels from the Holy Mountain"

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Saint Agnes, the little sheep of God + January 21st

Saint Agnes, the little sheep of God
+ January 21st

 

In the first three centuries A.D. the Christian Church lived one of the most bloody and most heroic periods in its history. Masses of Christians wrote with their blood moving pages of love about the Crucified Jesus and His Gospel.

Terrible and horrible tortures were invented, to eradicate from the hearts of the faithful Christians the love they had for our Lord Jesus Christ.

The boldness, however, and the courage all the Christians showed when facing the tortures were remarkable! With unimaginable patience and bravery, children and adults, men and women, young and old, even young children suffered all these tortures with enthusiasm, for the sake of their Christian faith.

One such child, the young noble Agnes, was in her early teens, when she was asked to confess with courage the love she had for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saint Agnes was born in the year 290 A.D. in Rome. The Emperor was then the great persecutor of Christians, Diocletian. Her parents had aristocratic origins and were very wealthy. From the time she was a toddler Agnes learnt about Christ and like a thirsty fawn which runs to the spring of gurgling water to drink, she was studying the holy Gospel and the great teaching of love, as interpreted through the Holy Book.

An angel is giving answers to Abba Macarius!

‘‘An angel is giving answers!’’

An interesting conversation between Abba Macarius and an angel of the Lord

One day Abba Macarius was walking in the desert, when an angel of the Lord came up behind him and said:
‘‘Your blessing, Holy Father.’’  

Abba Macarius took him to be a hermit and said:
‘‘May the Lord forgive you my child.’’ 

As they walked along together, Abba Macarius noticed the figure and appearance of the monk and said to him:  

‘‘My child, I see you and marvel! How beautiful you are! I have never seen such beauty in a human face. Perhaps you aren’t a man? In the name of God in Heaven tell me the truth.’’ 

Then the angel bowed to the elder and said: 
‘‘Bless me father, as you can see I’m an angel and have come to teach you the hidden mysteries which you want to know.’’

The elder bowed too and prayed:
‘‘Lord, I thank you, because you’ve sent me such a guide to teach me about things unknown and mysteries which I desire to learn.’’

The angel said to him softly:
‘‘Tell me what it is you wish to know.’’

SAINT ANTHONY THE GREAT +January 17th

 

By Archimandrite Elpidios Vagianakis (in greek)

SAINT ANTHONY THE GREAT

FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN MONASTICISM

(Commemorated on January 17th)

HIS CHILDHOOD YEARS

Saint Anthony was born in 251 A.D.  in Koma, a small village in south Memphis in Egypt near the banks of the Nile River, during the era of the Roman Emperor Decius, a notorious persecutor of Christians.

His parents were rather wealthy but also devout Christians. By his nature little Anthony was an extremely sweet, polite, and humble child. Everyone loved him as their own child for the goodness and respect which he showed to all people.

He loved everyone, even the most scorned person. Whenever Anthony saw a poor, orphaned or sick child, he was inclined to assist them. 

Even though he was so young, his words were full of wisdom and prudence.

But what most impressed everyone and made them refer to him as a child of God was his great devotion and tender love towards Jesus Christ. Whenever he spoke of Him, his heart would burn like lava in a volcano.

His greatest joy was attending divine services with his beloved parents in their small village church. There, he would listen carefully to the reading of the Gospels, which he had an eager desire to follow and apply precisely in his life.

St Efimia and St Paisios the Athonite

St Efimia and St Paisios the Athonite
A TRUE STORY

The Elder (Paisios) was in the front yard of his retreat when he was visited by one of his spiritual children. He was repeating, from the heart, “Glory to You, o God”, over and over again.
“Can someone be rendered useless – in a good sense?” the Elder suddenly asked him.

“Who would that be, Elder?”
“Well, I was sitting in my Cell quietly, then she came here and drove me crazy… They are having such a good time, ‘up there’..”
“What’s troubling you, Elder?”
“I will tell you, but don’t you tell anyone.”
He went on to narrate the following:

Be the Bee and not the Fly -Saint Paisios-

-Saint Paisios-

Be the Bee and not the Fly

Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, “Are there any flowers in this area?” it will say, “I don’t know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want.” And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to.

Now, if you ask a honeybee, “Have you seen any unclean things in this area?” it will reply, “Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers.” And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow.

THIS WAS FROM ME -St Seraphim of Vyritsa-

"This Was From Me"

The Spiritual Testament of St Seraphim of Vyritsa (1866-1949)

Although written to one of the saint's spiritual children, a bishop who had been imprisoned, this testament is in fact addressed to us all.

Have you ever thought that all what concerns you, concerns Me too? For what concerns you, concerns the apple of My eye. 

You are precious in My sight, of great value, and I have loved you, and so it is a great joy for Me to educate you. 

When temptations rise up against you, when the enemy surges against you like the rough sea, I want you to know that - 

This was from Me.

Mount Athos - Chalkidiki, Greece (photos in slides)

Mount Athos - Chalkidiki, Greece from Nikos Michailidis

Byzantine Art (in slides)

Byzantine Art PowerPoint from smolinskiel

Meteora Rocks : Eastern Orthodox monasteries (in slides)

Meteora Rocks : Eastern Orthodox monasteries from Georgia Zacharopoulou

Orthodox worship (in slides)

Orthodox worship from Sherin Babu

"REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISMAL VOWS"! - Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk -

 

 

- Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk - 

"REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISMAL VOWS"!

Holy Baptism is like a door by which those that are baptized enter into the holy Church and become fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Eph. 2:19). And not just so, but before Baptism there are renunciations and vows:

1. We then renounced Satan and all his evil works. Satan is a wicked and evil spirit. He was created good by God, but he and those of like mind with him apostasized from Him, and so from light they became dark, and from good they became evil and wicked. His works are idolatry, pride, adultery, prodigality, all uncleanliness, slander, blasphemy and every sin; for he is the inventor of sin, and he beguiled our ancestors in paradise and led them into sin and apostasy from God. We renounce this wicked spirit and all his evil works before Baptism.

Value of Holy Water

Value of Holy Water

During this time many Orthodox Christian will take from the Church bottles of Holy water to be used throughout the year. It is common for the priest to come to the home during this period to bless the home with Water that has been consecrated on the day of Theophany. Here are some thoughts on the value of Holy Water by Saint John of San Francisco.

On Theophany, the Day of the Lord's Baptism, every year a great miracle is performed. The Holy Spirit, coming down upon the water, changes its natural properties. It becomes incorrupt, not spoiling, remaining transparent and fresh for many years. This Holy Water receives the grace to heal illnesses, to drive away demons and every evil power, to preserve people and their dwellings from every danger, to sanctify various objects whether for church or home use. Therefore, Orthodox Christians with reverence drink Holy Water — a great Agiasma (holy thing), as the Greeks call it.


One should always have at home enough Theophany water to last the whole year, and make use of it at every need: in cases of illness, leaving on a journey, whenever one is upset, students prior to examinations, etc. People who drink a little Holy Water daily, before eating any kind of food, do well. It strengthens the powers of our soul—if it is done with prayer and reverence, and one does not merely expect a mechanical result from it.

Basil the Great: The Lion of Christ

THE TRADITION AND THE STORY OF THE "VASILOPITA"

The tradition of baking and cutting a special "pita" (which can mean a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie!) each year on January 1" is observed in honor of our Holy Father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia - hence its name Vasilopita.  This tradition is observed in both parish churches and in the homes of the faithful. What is the meaning of this tradition and how did it begin? For centuries upon centuries parents, grandparents and Godparents have related the following story to Orthodox children about St Basil and the Vasilopita.