Synaxis of the Icon of the Mother of God “In Giving Birth, You Preserved Your Virginity”

 

Synaxis of the Icon of the Mother of God “In Giving Birth, You Preserved Your Virginity” (Feast Day - October 17)

 

The Icon of the Mother of God “In Giving Birth, You Preserved Your Virginity” (“A Virgin Before Birth and After Birth”) was transferred to the Nikolaev Peshkov Monastery of the Moscow diocese by the Moscow merchant Alexis Grigorievich Mokeev. Around the year 1780 Alexis joined the brethren of the monastery. He had given all of his wealth to the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Macarius, and the holy icon remained in his cell.

 

After Alexis’s death, the icon was brought to the archimandrite, who observed that the icon was painted in oil on canvas and not according to the prescribed rules of iconography (using egg tempera on wood), and he installed it over the exit door of the Chapel of Saint Methodius, which was on a street not far from the monastery.

Homily for the Ninth Sunday of Matthew - Three Movements of God Towards Man (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

Homily on the Three Movements of God Towards Man

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

(Ninth Sunday of Matthew - 14:22-34)

Today's Gospel refers to the cessation of the storm that tormented the ship on which the Disciples were. And this calmness came about by the miraculous energy of Christ.

Christ, after the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves, ascended the mountain to pray, while on the ship the Disciples suffered from the waves. At this difficult time Christ came walking on the waves and first healed Peter's lack of faith and then calmed the wind so that the other Disciples could calm down.

The Temptations and Troubles That Come Against Us During Great Lent (Saint Joseph the Hesychast)

By St. Joseph the Hesychast

The more time passes and as his end draws near, the more the devil fights against us with an extremely violent mania to damn us.

Especially now with Great Lent which is coming upon us, many temptations and many troubles come against us by the malicious demons.

The Temptations in the Wilderness

By Alexandros Kosmatopoulos

In the narrative of the event of the baptism of Christ, the Forerunner is hesitant and in awe at the prospect of baptizing Jesus: ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus insisted, however, and replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness’ (Matt. 3:14-16). Time has to be completed, the past has to be completed, a long period of preparation has to be completed for the way to appear between the baptism in water and the baptism of fire (Matt. 3:11).

I believe that the baptism of fire involves an encounter with the powers of darkness. The battle is fought not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the principalities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12). With these words, Saint Paul implies that these powers claim to be of a transcendental nature and that they play an important role in people’s lives. Christ’s encounter with the devil introduces us to the struggle with this ancient evil.

When the Cross You Bear Seems Unbearable (Archim. Aimilianos of Simonopetra)

By Archimandrite Aimilianos of Simonopetra

When, my beloved, your Christian life begins to become difficult and it seems like your cross is unbearable, remain steadfast, become a martyr. Say to yourself, "Let us stand aright," remain steadfast. Say, like the Prophet, "Behold, Lord, I stand here to execute Your will," or like the Panagia, "Behold, the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word."

Righteous Job the Much-Suffering as a Model for our Lives

Righteous Job the Much-Suffering (Feast Day - May 6)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The righteous Job came from the ancient city of Ausis, which was located in Arabia, near Damascus. He is known for his admirable patience in the temptations and tribulations he encountered, hence the well-known phrase "Job-like patience", which indicates his great patience in the difficulties and sorrows of life.

He was richly blessed by God with material wealth, but also through childbearing, having seven sons and three daughters. But God allowed all of his children to die together, to lose all his material goods, and then be infected with an incurable disease that tormented him throughout his body. His wounds were full of pus, that smelled bad and hurt, which is why he would scratch them with a shell while sitting on manure far from his home and people. But, despite his great sorrow and physical pain, he continued to glorify God. To his wife, who urged him to blaspheme God in order to end his life, he responded: "Why do you speak like a senseless woman? If we accept what is good from God, should we not endure what is evil?" Then he said: "The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Homilies on the "Lord's Prayer", Also Known as the "Our Father" (7 of 9)

...continued from part six.

"And Bring Us Not Into Temptation"

The entire life of man is an ordeal. For this reason Christ taught us to pray to God - "Father, do not allow us to enter into temptations, precisely because we are weak and sick." Besides, all the discomforts that have come into our life are a continuation of that first and great temptation received by the first-formed in Paradise. They succumbed to the temptation, even though they had the Grace of God and were entering into communion with Him. How much more can this happen to us who have a mortal and impassioned body, with all its consequences.

Saint Kendeas the Wonderworker as a Model for our Lives

St. Kendeas the Wonderworker (Feast Day - October 6)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Kendeas was an Alemanni in origin and at the age of eighteen he became a monk in Palestine. The continuous raids of bandits in that area led him to emigrate, together with other monks, to Cyprus. After much suffering due to the rough seas, they arrived at the coast of Paphos and Saint Kendeas took refuge in a cave. There he was tested by many and varied temptations. One of the greatest of these was the presence in the region of a thief, who would harass the Saint for a long time until he was arrested by the authorities. Later, he was informed that his friend and fellow ascetic Fr. Jonah was in the region of Famagusta and he rushed to meet him. After much wandering it pleased God for them to meet and they embraced each other, they discussed various spiritual issues and "and were comforted in no ordinary measure" (Acts. 20:12). Saint Kendeas then lived his ascetic life in the region of Famagusta, near the village of Avgorou. In this region today a Sacred Convent exists, and there is also a sacred church in Paphos, that honor his name. It is to be noted as well that the Saint has the gift of working remedies and cures, primarily neuralgia.

Arming Ourselves Against Temptations

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Christians must arm themselves against the abominations of this world. They must be armed against every attack and against all temptations, so that every evil rebounds from them. Armor is not made in a day, nor in two days but is diligently and laboriously wielded by long-lasting exercise. Of what value is all our virtue if we succumb to the first abomination?

Speaking of this, Saint Gregory of Nyssa cites an example with a monkey in Alexandria. He says: "An animal trainer in Alexandria taught a monkey to skillfully impersonate a female dancer on stage. The spectators at the theatre praised the monkey who was dressed as a female dancer and danced to the beat of the music. But while the viewers were occupied observing such a novel spectacle, a comedian wanted to show everyone that a monkey is nothing more than a monkey. While they all shouted and applauded at the skill of the monkey, the comedian tossed sweets on the stage, sweets that monkeys particularly like. As soon as the monkey saw the sweets, he forgot the dance, the applause, the expensive clothing and jumped with his paws for the sweets but as his dress interfered, he began to tear it apart with his nails attempting to remove it. Instead of praise and amazement, laughter commenced among the viewers." For through the torn mask of the "dancer," a monkey was revealed.