FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

★. 　☆　　　 ｡☆　　.　　　★・｡　・
　 ☆　　★ . . ｡
☆　FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND .★・ ｡ 　☆　

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord,
That if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you."

MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS)

MOTHER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS)
Theotokos Maria, Mother of Jesus Christ

The Virgin Mary is the woman God chose to bear His Son in this world. The Orthodox believe in the ever-virginity of Mary. Since God chose her to manifest His presence among men, she is called, " All Holy" and the bridge between God and man. For this reason, she is highly praised and venerated in the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox always pray to the Virgin Mary, beseeching her to intercede for us to God. The Orthodox do not worship the Virgin Mary-worship is do to God alone. The Orthodox make a distinction between worship and intercessory prayer. Just as we ask other people to pray for us, we ask the Virgin Mary, for she has found favor in God's eyes and has a very unique relationship with God, to pray (intercede) for us. It should be noted that the Virgin Mary and all the saints are ceaselessly praying for all of us.

Praying to the Guardian Angel: Whom Christ loves, His Angels Love Too!

Praying to the Guardian Angel: 
Whom Christ loves, His Angels Love Too!

It is a wonderful truth that the Angels in Heaven love our children – indeed, all children – and we can take great comfort that at the moment of our Baptism, when we are received into the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and He provides each one of us with a Guardian Angel. This Angel remains with us throughout our lives, watching over us, in the same way that we each benefit from the prayers and loving care of our Patron Saint, after whom we are named at our Baptism. The hosts of Heaven love and care for us!

The Life and Work of St. Paisius Velichkovsky, a Great Hesychast Father

 

The Life and Work of St. Paisius Velichkovsky,

 a Great Hesychast Father

Saint Paisius Velichkovsky (1722-1794) was a great figure of monasticism who lived a few years on Mount Athos and communicated in Slavic lands, especially in Ukraine, Moldova and Wallachia, but he spread throughout the Balkan and Russian lands and other areas.

He was a great prophetic figure in the field of monasticism in the 18th century, having reintroduced to monasticism in the Balkans and Russia its ancient patristic sources, since monasticism had changed under the reforms made by Peter the Great, when Russia leaned towards the enlightening and romantic spirit of the West.

St. John of Kronstadt brings homeless children to the shelter.

St. John of Kronstadt and the Education of Children

    

A child’s soul is divine beauty

St. John of Kronstadt considered love for children to be the foundation of a teacher’s work—a foundation that is very often denied by modern-day so-called technicians of secular educational sciences and activities. He said to the students of the gymnasium where he taught, “You are my children, for I gave birth to you and continue to give birth in you to the good tidings of Jesus Christ. My spiritual blood—my instructions—flow in your veins. You are my children, because I have you always in my heart and I pray for you. You are my children, because you are my spiritual offspring. You are my children, because truly, as a priest I am a father, and you call me “batiushka” (“little father”, an affectionate term for a priest).