Synaxarion of our Holy Father Kallinikos the Metropolitan of Edessa

By Metropolitan Joel of Edessa

On the eighth of this month, we commemorate our Holy Father Kallinikos the Bishop of Edessa.

Verses

We honor Kallinikos of Edessa,
A holy Spirit-bearing Bishop.

This beloved of God Bishop was born in Sitaralonon of Thermos in Aitolia on the 26th of the month of January in the year 1919, to pious parents. From a young age he was catechized piously and venerably. He entered the sacred clergy and became prominent as a liturgist and preacher. In the year 1967 he was elected the Metropolitan of Edessa and Pella. He remained a Bishop until 1984 when he departed as an excellent example to all. His commemoration is celebrated on the eighth of August.

Synaxis of the Tolga Icon of the Mother of God

Synaxis of the Tolga Icon of the Mother of God (Feast Day - August 8)

The Tolga Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared on August 8, 1314 to Bishop Prochorus of Rostov (Tryphon in schema). Going about his diocese, the Saint visited the environs of White Lake and from there traveled along the banks of the Rivers Sheksna and Volga, to Yaroslavl. He stopped with the approach of night seven versts distant from Yaroslavl, at the right bank of the Volga River where there flows opposite into it the River Tolga.

Distress for Beirut and the Romans

Metropolitans Elias of Beirut and Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

I have been following these days with distress the terrible explosion in Beirut with so many deaths, injuries and with the destruction of a large part of the city and many churches, hospitals and houses. This event reminded many of an older event, that of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with its terrifying effects on people and the environment.

Both of these events took place on those days when we solemnly celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, where the face of Christ shone like the sun and His garments became as white as the light.

Faith in God and the Coronavirus

By Archimandrite Vasilios Bakoyiannis

"Do not be afraid. If you have faith, nothing will happen to you!", said a priest from Georgia to a woman who was watching the ship "Norman Atlantic", which caught fire in the Adriatic (December 2014).

And the priest helped the lady to get into a small boat, a lifeboat, and the woman was saved, but after a while the priest drowned! "Who can know the mind of the Lord?" (Rom. 11:34)

When the Constantinople was in danger from the Avars (610), God saved the City. However, this did not happen when the City was besieged by the Turks (1453).

Saint Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves (+ 1141)

St. Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves (Feast Day - August 7)

Venerable Pimen, Faster of the Kiev Caves Lavra, labored in the Far Caves. His abstinence was such that he ate food only once a week, and only in the most necessary quantity. His outward fasting corresponded to an inward abstention from any actions, thoughts or feelings that were displeasing to God. He was also noted for being a hard worker, constantly carrying out his monastic obedience. Never was he weakened from fasting: whether he was grinding in a millstone, or carrying firewood on him. And through the night he stood in vigilant prayer. Because of this, he was richly blessed by God and filled with His grace. Saint Pimen was also abbot of the Kiev Caves Lavra from 1132 to 1141.