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St. Paisios Velichkovsky on the Jesus Prayer

April 23, 2015, 3:10 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the World (source)
  
The Jesus Prayer is a work common to the angels and to men. With this prayer, men quickly approach the life of the Angels.

The Prayer is the source of all good deeds and virtues, and drives far away from man the dark passions. In a short time, it makes man worthy to obtain the grace of the Holy Spirit. Obtain it, and before you die, you will obtain an angelic soul. The Prayer is divine rejoicing.

There is no other spiritual weapon that can so efficiently hinder the demons. It burns them like fire burns the brush.
-St. Paisios Velichkovsky
  
(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!
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The Prison and Instruments of Torture of St. George the Trophy-bearer

April 24, 2015, 3:59 am
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St. George the Great Martyr and Trophy-bearer, being tortured on the wheel for Christ (source)

Pilgrims to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (seat of the Patriarch of Alexandria) can have the opportunity to visit the purported prison where St. George the Trophy-bearer was held by the Emperor Diocletian, the chains that bound him, and some of the instruments of torture, including the wheel that he was tied to, but soon freed from by an Angel. Below are photos from the Greek site Agioritikovima and also from Mystagogy (see the respective links for more info).
  
I post this not at all to emphasize anything masochistic or macabre. The great sufferings of the Martyrs of Christ reveal their great love for Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and from their great love for Him, they would sacrifice anything and endure everything. This is especially poignant, as there are Christians still today who are giving their lives for Christ throughout the world. May the example of the Martyrs inspire us all, whether in a small or great way, to sacrifice and live lives pleasing to Christ, Who suffered for us all and rose from the dead. To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages. Amen.
  
The wheel that St. George was tortured on (source)
  
Close-up on some of the instruments of St. George's torture (source)
 
The chains that bound St. George in prison (source)
  
Be entreated, O Lord, by the sufferings endured for You by the Saints, and we pray You, heal all our pain.
(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!
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St. George Cathedral, Covasna, and Blessed Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959)

April 26, 2015, 11:45 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
From the interior of the Chapel of Panagia Pantanassa, St. George Cathedral, Covasna, Romania (source)
  
St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Covasna Romania, has dedicated one of its chapels toPanagia Pantanassa, the wondrous icon of the Theotokos from Vatopedi Monastery, through which many healings have occurred especially of cancer.
  
This church is also blessed to treasure among its holy relics, those ofBlessed Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959) (see the link for the life of the Elder). As such, this chapel is adorned with beautiful icons from the life of Elder Joseph.
  
Elder Joseph in prayer while still a layman (source)
  
Elder Joseph receiving Holy Communion at the hands of an Angel (source)
  
Christ and the Theotokos appearing to Elder Joseph in a vision (source)
  
The repose of Elder Joseph on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (source)
  
Elder Joseph was truly a spiritual giant of the 20th century, and continues to help thousands throughout the world through his example, his writings, and his prayers to the Lord. We pray that we all might have his blessing, and that we might soon celebrate his canonization by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
 
Icons of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, St. George Cathedral, Covasna, Romania (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly, the Lord is risen!
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St. Basil of Ostrog, the Wonderworker

April 29, 2015, 12:00 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
St. Basil of Ostrog, the Wonderworker - Commemorated April 29th (source)
  
A SHORT LIFE OF SAINT BASIL OF OSTROG
From the Prologue of Ochrid
Saint Basil was born in Popovo Polje, a village in Hercegovina, of simple and God-fearing parents. From his youth he was filled with love for the Church of God and when he reached maturity he entered the monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Trebinje and there received the monastic tonsure. As a monk he quickly became renowned because of his genuine and infrequently-found ascetic life. Saint Basil took upon himself mortification upon mortification, each one heavier and more difficult than the last. Later, against his will he was elected and consecrated as bishop of Zahumlje and Skenderija. As a hierarch he first lived in the monastery of Tvrdosh and from there, as a good shepherd, he strengthened his flock in the Orthodox Faith, protecting them from the cruelty of the Turks and the cunning ways of Latins. When Basil was exceedingly pressed by his enemies and Tvrdosh destroyed by the Turks*, he moved to Ostrog, where he lived an austere ascetic life, protecting his flock by his ceaseless and fervent prayer. He fell asleep peacefully in Lord in the sixteenth century, leaving behind his incorrupt Relics, incorrupt and miracle-working to the present day. The miracles at the grave of Saint Basil are without number. Christians and Muslims alike come before his Relics and find healing for their gravest illnesses and afflictions. A great people’s assembly (sabor) occurs there annually on the Feast of Pentecost.
-St. Nicolai of Zicha
 
*A new church was built in our day upon the ruins of the Old Tvrdosh monastery by Nikola Runjevac from the village of Poljica near Trebinje – a wonderful and glorious monumental church (zaduzbina) before God and before his people.
  
St. Basil of Ostrog, the Wonderworker (source)
  
THE GLORIFICATION OF ST.BASIL OF OSTROG
Immediately after the falling asleep of St.Basil in 1671. people started coming in great numbers to pray at his grave, just as they were accustomed to doing during his earthly life. Many miracles began taking place at the site of his grave and they have not ceased to this day.
 
Seven years after giving up his soul to God, in 1678., St.Basil appeared in a dream to father Rafailo (Kosijerevac) the Abbot of the St.Luke Monastery in Zhupa near Nikshich, and ordered him to go to Ostrog and open up the saint’s grave. The Abbot paid no attention to the dream and did not go. He had the same dream again but he again ignored it. St. Basil then appeared to the Abbot a third time, dressed in a bishop’s vestments, with a censer in his hand. The Abbot woke up in fear and trepidation and told the brotherhood of his monastery about his dream. They agreed at once to make a hasty journey to Ostrog. 
 
Upon their arrival they first informed the Ostrog monks of the Abbot’s dream and then look upon themselves a strict fast, all the while serving the complete cycle of daily prayers with Holy Liturgy. They did so for seven days. On the seventh day, they censed the Saint’s grave and opened it.
 
Before them appeared the Saint in a glorified body the colour of pure wax, giving out the fragrance similar to that of basil leaves. Then the monks placed his incorrupt body in a case and took it to the Upper Monastery, to the church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos, where it rests to this day.
  
The wonderworking Holy Relic of St. Basil of Ostrog, incorrupt to this day (source)
  
News of the glorification of St.Basil’s body quickly spread and people began to flock in great numbers to venerate his holy and wonderworking Relics. Not only Orthodox Christians, but also Roman Catholics and Lutherans, and even Muslims came to seek help at the great Sanctuary of Ostrog. According to their faith in the mercy of God and that of St.Basil they received help and found consolation.
 
Even today pilgrims from all parts of the country, of all nationalities and religions come before the Wonderworker of Ostrog. Many people travel to Ostrog from abroad. From the holy reliquary arise prayers in many languages. Many parents bring their children to be baptised before the relics of St.Basil and many name their offspring after the Saint. Many a marriage ceremony has been performed at Ostrog, countless confessions have been made and many people have partaken of the Holy Mysteries before the Holy Relics, while countless others have asked for prayers to be read for their health and salvation.
 
Many sacrifices and donations are brought to the Holy Father at the Ostrog monastery, but the greatest sacrifice of all is that of sincere repentance and the will to cleanse one’s heart before God and Saint Basil. Even the godless and atheists respect and honour St.Basil and utter his name with fear. For, as everyone knows, one did not make light of St.Basil while he lived, and one certainly does not make light of him now when he is glorified.
 
Before the merciful Ostrog saint the Serbs pour out their sorrows and pains and offer warm prayers for their living and departed relatives. Having prepared for this encounter by fasting and prayer, pilgrims from near and far, on feast days and on weekdays gather at Ostrog in great numbers to venerate the Saint, to tell him of their sorrows, to weep before his Reliquary and to confess their sins and receive a blessing. Besides the regular church fasts the people often promise to take on a special fast. This fast is called “the week of the Holy Father Basil”, and it usually precedes his Feast Day. Pronouncing the Saint’s name is traditionally accompanied by the words, “Glory and mercy be upon him”. Many an oath has been sworn before the relics of St.Basil, many a promise made …
  
Ostrog Monastery high on the mountain (source)
  
The Power of God and the Temptations of History
During his earthly life the Saint was never left in peace but was persecuted by many enemies of God and by the chief enemy of our salvation. After his repose his holy Relics were not spared by the evil one, either.
 
The first time that the Ostrog monks had to conceal the Relics of St.Basil was in 1714., when Numan-pasha Chuprilich attacked and devastated Montenegro. The monks buried the relics below the monastery, near the Zeta river. The river overflowed and flooded the area where the relics were buried, but miraculously the water penetrated neither the reliquary, nor the relics of the Saint.
 
The second time the relics had to be hidden was during the siege of Ostrog in the winter of 1852. The Turkish commander Omar Pasha encircled the monastery and the siege lasted for nine days. Thirty Montenegrins, headed by the great vojvoda (duke) Mirko Petrovic, father of prince Nikola, courageously defended the monastery. When they succeeded, with the help of St.Basil, in driving away the Turks, they served a thanksgiving molieban to God, the Most Holy Theotokos and St.Basil in the little church of the Presentation. After that the Montenegrins took the Saint with them to Cetinje and placed him in the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, near the Relics of St.Petar of Cetinje. There they remained until the spring of 1853, when they were again returned to Ostrog. During the war with the Turks the monastery of Ostrog was burned and looted. Many Ostrog treasures, as well as documents dating from the time of St.Basil, disappeared forever.
 
The third time the relics of the Saint were transferred was during the war in 1876-1877. They were again taken to Cetinje, where they remained for about a year. They were brought back to Ostrog in a majestic procession in 1878.
 
During World War II, in February 1942, when enemy grenades rained upon Ostrog, the monks, fearing that the Church of the Presentation might be hit and destroyed, took the holy Relics into a little cave behind the monastery building. This fear proved to be unfounded, for the grenades flew all around the monastery and fell and exploded, but the monastery itself was never hit, nor was anyone injured during these attacks. The Saint guarded his flock as he had always done before …
Archimandrite Justin of Chelije
  
See the source site for numerous miracles of St. Basil of Ostrog, taken from the excellent book: Healings of Soul and Body, St. Basil of Ostrog, translated by Ana Smiljanic, published by Svetigora in 2003, filled with over 300 pages of astonishing miracles of the Saint.
  
St. Basil of Ostrog, the Wonderworker (source)
  
TROPARION OF SAINT BASIL - Tone 4:
From your youth you gave yourself entirely to the Lord, remaining in prayer, labor and fasting, O God-bearing Father. Because you were an example of virtues and good works to your flock, seeing your good work, God established you as a pastor and good hierarch of His Church. And after your repose, He kept your body incorrupt, O Holy Basil. Therefore, with boldness pray to Christ God to save our souls.
 
Kontakion of Saint Basil -Tone 8:
Even as a youth, you served the Lord, O Wise one, belaboring your body with prayer and vigil. Because you were shown to be a precious vessel  of the Holy Spirit, He established you as a pastor of His Church which you tended well. And as such, you departed to the Lord whom you loved. We pray to you to remember us who keep your memory with faith, that all  may shout unto you: Rejoice, O most honorable Basil.
 
St. Basil of Ostrog, the Wonderworker (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly, the Lord is risen!
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Selected hymns to St. Argyre the New Martyr

April 29, 2015, 6:45 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
St. Argyre the New Martyr of Prousa - Commemorated on April 5th (her repose) and April 30th (the uncovering of her relics) (source)
  
Selected hymns to St. Argyre the New Martyr (amateur translations below from source text)
  
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Second Tone
O all-glorious Argyre, you were just joined in marriage, as the pride of Prousa and the boast of Byzantium, when the prideful serpent, through the terrible tyrant tried to convince you to soil the virginity of your marriage. But you conquered him, ascending to the heavens with glory, where you now entreat the Risen God, to preserve the multitudes of the Orthodox in peace, and for us who in faith honor your grace-flowing body, grant forgiveness and great mercy.
 
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
You put to shame tyrants through enduring tortures, O pure one, you were shown forth, O much-suffering one, as strong as a diamond, o glorious martyr of Christ, you showed forth in struggles for Christ the Savior, love and zeal and unquenchable longing, Who worthily glorified you, O Argyre.
  
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
As an all-bright moon, you have shown upon the world, illumining with your pains like precious stones, O Argyre, and healing illnesses for those who cry out: Rejoice, the pride and boast of the Martyrs.
  
Icon of St. Argyre the New Martyr, with scenes from her life. She appeared to the iconographer (Fr. Theologos Sakale), telling him to depict her holding the Orthodox marriage crowns, as she struggled her whole life to preserve her crown undefiled, and as she is a "protector of Marriage, and pious youth" (source)
  
Oikos
Let us in faith gather for this most sacred and divine festival, which shines greater than silver and gold, of the all-honored Champion, Argyre the New Martyr, all the faithful who love the Martyrs, celebrating your all-radiant and glorious feast, harmoniously praising your super-human struggles, your deeds and pains, which you endured to preserve your marriage in virginity spotlessly, and the true faith of the Heavenly King, Christ God, entreating that we be granted, through your sacred and fervent intercessions to Him, [to partake] of that heavenly blessedness, in which the choirs joyously cry out: Rejoice, the pride and boast of the Martyrs.
  
Synaxarion
On this day (April 5th or 30th), the memory of the holy, glorious New Martyr Argyre.
  
Verses
Argyre, through tortures in prison
Shines upon us greater than silver*.
  
*Note:"Argyre" in Greek means silver.
  
Doxastikon in the Plagal of the First Tone
Come, all you who love the Martyrs, let us gather to praise the virgin martyr Argyre, for today she receives from Him the Crown of Struggles, having struggled lawfully. She rent asunder the prideful serpent, with the power of the Cross. She bore the Orthodox faith in her steadfast mind, and shines greater than the sun. Therefore, rejoice together, O ranks of Angels and bands of Martyrs, together with those upon the earth, and celebrate and glorify her, whose greatly-struggled body was granted to the earth as a healing place of passions of the soul, and dangerous trials.
  
Megalynarion
As a radiant star, the much-suffering Martyr of Christ has dawned from Bithynia, enlightening all the multitudes of the faithful; let us magnify the glorious Argyre.
  
St. Argyre the New Martyr (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly, the Lord is risen!
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"At Christ’s Rising let us dance with faith today..."

May 2, 2015, 7:39 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Christ healing the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda (source)
  
At Christ’s Rising let us dance with faith today, O peoples: Hell has been despoiled; rapidly he gave up the prisoners he held, as they hymned the wonderful works of God.
  
O Christ, who once with divine power braced the limbs of the paralytic by your word and ordered him who had been weak for many years to take up his bed, heal my fearsomely sick soul.
  
Once the Angel would come down into the Sheep Pool and cure one person each year; but now by divine Baptism Christ cleanses unnumbered multitudes.
-Excerpt from the Canon for the Sunday of the Paralytic
(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly, the Lord is risen!
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St. Ephraim saves a young woman from death

May 4, 2015, 7:21 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
St. Ephraim of Nea Makri, the Great Martyr, Venerable Wonderworker, and Newly-revealed - Commemorated on May 5th (martyrdom) and January 3rd (finding of his relics) (source)
  
Mother Makaria of Blessed Memory (+1999) relates the following astonishing miracle of St. Ephraim of Nea Makri:"Several days after the draft of 1974, I got a phone call from Chalkida. It was from a man to whom Saint Efraim had appeared when the man was traveling abroad for treatment for a serious eye problem. This man was instantly cured and the terrible pain ceased. His eyelid, that had been closed, opened up and has never caused him any problem since then.

"This time the man called me and told me that he was sleeping when the Saint woke him up saying.
"Hurry up, get up, and go to the house next door. Someone is dying." The man thought it was still a dream and went back to sleep. Again the Saint woke him up and strictly told him, "Wake up quickly. Why didn't you do what I've told you? Someone is dying. I am Saint Efraim. I've told you that someone is dying in the house next door." The man went next door and rang the bell. No one answered. He kept ringing the bell and after awhile he heard a slight groaning coming from inside. He tried again to open the door, but he couldn't. He called the police who came and opened the door. Inside the house, they found a young woman who had slashed her veins because her husband had been drafted.

"The Saint saved this young woman. Who can be unmoved from this miracle! My Saint Efraim, we beg you, don't leave us, stay with us, be our protector, our helper and our governor in our lives!"
  
Excerpt from the book: Visions and Miracles of the Great Martyr and Miracle-Worker Ephraim Neophanoys, Volumes A&B.
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly, the Lord is risen!
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"The mid-point of the days is here..."

May 5, 2015, 7:17 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, preaching in the Temple (source)
  
The mid-point of the days is here, which begin with the saving Resurrection and are sealed by the divine Pentecost. It shines for it shares the brilliance of them both and unites the two, and it is honoured for it reveals in advance the coming glory of the Master’s Assumption.
  
Sion heard and was glad, when the good tidings of the Resurrection were proclaimed. Her faithful offspring rejoiced when they saw him also washing away by the Spirit the stain of the murder of Christ. Keeping festival she makes ready the joyful mid-point of them both.
  
The abundant outpouring of the divine Spirit upon all is near, as it is written. The herald is the day that forms the half-way mark of the certain promise which was given by Christ to his Disciples after his death and burial and Resurrection, and shows the manifestation of the Comforter.
-Prosomoia of the Stichera in the Fourth Tone, from the Great Vespers for the Wednesday of Mid-Pentecost
(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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St. Paisios of the Mount Athos recognized by the Patriarchate of Russia

May 8, 2015, 3:58 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Icon of St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain with Russian inscription (source)
  
After the canonization of Elder Paisios the Athonite by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, yesterday, the Holy Synod of the Russian Church decided to include him in their synaxarion as well.
 
The message from the Holy Synod of the Russian Patriarchate notes:
"With thanks to God, we received the notice of the glorification among the Saints of Paisios the Athonite. We have included the name of St. Paisios from Athos in the synaxarion of the Russian Orthodox Church, and planned to celebrate his memory June 29th / July 12th, as planned by the Orthodox Church of Constantinople."
(source)
 
Note that this occurs very commonly. For example, the Russian Patriarchate recently acknowledged Sts. Meletios the New, Nikephoros the Leper, and Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia.
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by dead, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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"The Source of wonders came to the source..."

May 9, 2015, 8:19 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Christ talking with the Samaritan Woman (and later St. Photini) at Jacob's Well (source)
  
The source of wonders came to the source at the sixth hour to catch the fruit of Eve; for at the same hour Eve had left Paradise by the deception of the serpent. The woman of Samaria then came near to draw water. When the Saviour saw her he said: Give me water to drink and I will fill you with water welling up. The wise woman ran to the city, and at once announced to the crowds: Come, see Christ the Lord, the Saviour of our souls.
-Idiomelon from Great Vespers of the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, First Tone.
(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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Service for the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas, by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain

May 9, 2015, 9:06 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
The Translation of the Holy Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (source)
  
Service for the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas,
by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain
 
Introduction of the Translator
In 1081 AD, the Holy Body of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was taken from the Church of his See in Myra, to the city of Bari on the west coast of Italy. Some have looked at this event, and see it as a theft from, and a great loss for, the Greeks of Asia Minor, to the benefit of the Italians. Other see even in this event, God's love and providence.St.Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain takes the latter point of view, as he relates that thetransfer of the Saint's Relic was by the will of God: “on the one hand, that his Relic not remain without honor and glory, and on the other, that the West might partake of his wonders, as [the Christians of Bari at that time] had not yet fallen into heresies and false beliefs, but was Orthodox, and united with the Church of the East.” (source)
  
Likely because some mourn the loss of St. Nicholas' Body to the East, the memory of the translation of his Relic is generally not as widely celebrated in Orthodox Greece as it is in Russia and other countries. However, St. Nikodemos did feel strong enough that this event deserves memory that he composed a service for this feast, as he relates: “For this feast, my weakness has composed a Service for St. Nicholas, and whoever desires to celebrate the Saint, let him seek it, for it is found in the Cell of St. Nicholas, called Barberadon, near Karyes.” (source)
  
It should also be noted, that areas in the Peloponese, Zakynthos and other Ionian Islands, etc. that the Italian ships would have passed have maintained that this “passing-by” of the Relics of St. Nicholas was a great blessing for them, and many places celebrate this festally. St. Nikodemos refers to this in his service, where he hymns the “passing” of the Relic of the Saint, through which he sanctified not just these areas of Greece and Italy, but “everything under the sun”. Because various areas had greeted the Relics on different days, the custom arose to variously celebrate the translation of St. Nicholas May 9th, May 10th, May 20th, or other days during that period. The service by St. Nikodemos was written, however, to be celebrated on May 10th.
  
On the feast of St. Nicholas, according to St. Nikodemos, fragrant and wonderworking myrrh poured forth from the feet of his Holy Relics like two flowing springs during the duration of the Divine Liturgy. Another source mentions that when the Latin people of Bari later lost Orthodoxy, that the fragrant myrrh of St. Nicholas would no longer flow in this way, but they would need to call an Orthodox priest to serve the Divine Liturgy on the feast. Behold how St. Nicholas continues to emphasize the Divine Liturgy,and defends Orthodoxy as strongly after his repose as he did in life!
  
In order to honor this great Wonderworker, my weakness has translated this beautiful service that is attributed to St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, as I I found it online. If there have been changes or alterations to the texts through the passage of time, I apologize. Please note that this service is not yet complete, as I don't have the time currently to translate the two Canons to the Saint in the Orthros. I hope to do so soon. Please note that nothing is set to the meter of the original melody. And I ask that you try to review the text before any public or liturgical use, as it is my amateur translation, without an editor.

Truly, there are many who need the Lord's help in our troubled world. I pray that Saint Nicholas might protect and guide everyone, healing all those who suffer in body or soul throughout the whole world.

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (source)
  
Service for the Translation of the Holy Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myria in Lycia - May 10th

Written by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain
  
Great Vespers
  
After the Psalm, “Bless the Lord, O my soul…”, the “Blessed is the man…”, then at the “Lord I have cried…”, six verses (of the Prosomoia of the Saint), and two of the present feast.
Stichera in the Fourth Tone. As the brave one among the Martyrs.
The Church rejoices at your precious Relic, through which you have sanctified everything under the sun, and she magnifies the Lord, Who showed you forth to be the adornment of Hierarchs, and the deliverer of the faithful, therefore intercede, that deliverance from offenses be granted to those who hymn you in faith, O thrice-blessed Archbishop Nicholas.
  
The leader of the people of Myra, the pride of the Fathers, the boast and support of the whole world, the guide towards piety, he who demonstrates dogmas, and the chosen vessel. We know you to be the fragrance of the Spirit, the treasure of the poor, and the savior and deliverer of the storm-tossed, O Nicholas, the Father of the Fathers.
  
Having been aflame with divine zeal for Christ, O blessed one, you deposed the boldness of Arius the godless, and you preached the Son as being consubstantial with the Father, and truly equal in honor. Through His immeasurable compassion, He received our clay without confusion, and ineffably deified it, translating it to heaven.
  
You wholly desired Christ, O all-honored one, and you followed His paths, as an all-holy Hierarch, and an all-perfect mystic, and the boast of the faithful, the supporter of the poor. Therefore, the Lord truly showed you to be wondrous with a multitude of miracles, both while alive and after your repose.
  
Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Plagal of the Second Tone.
The great treasure among the Hierarchs, the unassailable surrounding wall of the Church, the boast of the whole world, and the glory and rejoicing of the Angels, let us gather to hymn him, and fervently cry out: Rejoice, you who proclaimed the Son and Word of God as consubstantial and equal in glory to the Father, God the Word, through your all-wise tongue, and through Whom you received all things. Rejoice, the protection of orphans and widows. Rejoice, the most-speedy helper of those who sail the seas. Rejoice, the most-radiant light, who sanctified everything under the sun with miracles. And now, be present with us, who with fervor hymn the honored passing of your divine Relic, O Hierarch Nicholas.
  
Both now. Of the Feast.

Then “O gladsome light...”, followed by the Prokeimenon of the Day, then the reading of the Hierarch.
  
The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon (3:1-9)
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God...”
  
The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon (5, 15-23, and 6:1-3)
“The righteous live unto the ages, and their reward is from the Lord...”
  
The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon (4: 7-15)
“The righteous man, even if he happens to die, is at rest...”
  
At the Litia
First Tone
O Father Nicholas, from infancy, you desired the Lord, and abandoned the world, and counted its joys as refuse, as you distributed your wealth to the poor. You were zealous for the Angelic way, as you offered to the Master ceaseless hymns. Therefore, He Who beheld the hidden things of your soul, made you worthy of divine wonders, granting the ability to work them, and that unending blessedness of the age to come. Having reposed, you now dwell with the Angels. Do not cease to intercede on behalf of us, O Saint Nicholas.
  
O adornment of the Fathers, divine Nicholas, the all-perfect shepherd of the sheep of the Church of Christ God, for in a godly manner you led your people towards the heavenly sheepfold, as a perfect guide, and were shown to be a nourisher of orphans, and a savior and deliverer of those who sail. Intercede on behalf of us to the Lord, who with fervor hymn the translation of your sacred and divine Relic.
  
Second Tone
You were shown to be truly a shepherd of the Arch-shepherd, and a disciple of Christ, O Hierarch Nicholas. Therefore, you rightly condemned the Arians, and through your pastoral protection, you cast them out, and having been filled with divine zeal, you gave the godless Arius a slap, and you showed all those who were of like mind with him to be fools, giving pasture to your rational sheep. And now in the heavens, as you had laid down your life for your sheep, you receive the reward for your deeds from Christ God, and the Savior of our souls.
  
Third Tone
Who would not glorify, who would not rightly bless the Arch-priest and Teacher Nicholas, whom the Holy Trinity has blessed? For he was shown to be a famed teacher of the Holy Church, an unshakable pillar of piety, and a most-exacting canon of truth, the defender of the First Ecumenical Synod, he who uproots the tares of deception of the demons, the dissolver of heretics, the guide for the deluded, the common Father of orphans, the protector of Greece which calls upon him, and the rejoicing of the whole world.
  
Glory. Plagal of the Second Tone.
Come today, O you who dwell on earth, let us celebrate with hymns of praise, hymning the divine passing of the Holy Relic of the Great and thrice-blessed Nicholas, and in faith, let us cry out, saying: Rejoice, the surpassing helper of all those who call upon you in faith. Rejoice, the faith of the poor, and the deliver and protector of those on the seas. And now, entreat Christ God on behalf of us, O Hierarch Nicholas.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
Aposticha in the Second Tone. When You were taken down from the tree.
Rejoice, the enricher of orphans, rejoice the benefactor of widows, and the savior of those who sail, rejoice the most-fervent deliverer of the innocent. The rejoicing of the faithful, the wonder of the Angels, the pillar and foundation of the Church of Christ, rejoice the pride of the Fathers, the true boast of the people of Myra, and the chaste adornment of the divine Venerable Saints.
  
Verse. My mouth will speak wisdom...
When the terrible and insane Arius moved his tongue against Christ impudently, then, at the holy Gathering, with the sling of the Spirit, you cast him out like another Goliath, from the community of the faithful. Then, being aflame with divine zeal in deed and word, you deposed him, O divine Nicholas.
  
Verse. The mouth of the righteous man meditates on wisdom...
You hearkened to the word of the Prophet, as a wise Hierarch, and built temples and raised altars to Christ God, O all-wise one, and offered bloodless sacrifices, as another Melchizedek, O Holy one, as a sacred Hierarch. Therefore, the Master of all glorifies your all-precious Body before all, O Nicholas.
  
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Second Tone.
When, O all-blessed one, you delivered your soul unto the hands of the Creator, then the whole multitude of the people of Myra, of every age, surrounded the bier, and wearily shed tears upon your spotless Body, and bitterly mourned, saying: “Why have you abandoned your children, O Saint? And how will we be able to pass through the rest of life without you?” And more than this was heard: “The orphans have been robbed of their Father, the poor of their treasure, those upon the seas of their guide, those in sicknesses of their free healer, captives of their deliverer, the Priests of their Shepherd.” But, O all-holy Nicholas, do not cease to visit us from the heavens, who celebrate the memory of the honored passing of your divine Relic with fervor.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
The “Lord, now let your servant...”, followed by the Trisagion, then the Apolytikia.

Apolytikion in the First Tone
Come, let us all praise with hymns the veneration of the divine Relic of our Blessed Shepherd, as we cry out to him in joy: Help us, who are in all kinds of dangers, and who hymn you with faith, O Hierarch Nicholas. Glory to Christ Who glorified you, magnifying you with praise, for you were shown to be our radiant pride, and an image of holiness.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (source)
  
Orthros
  
After the First Stichologia,
Kathisma in Tone One. Your tomb, O Savior.
Greatly has God glorified you, O Father, with all kinds of wonders during your life, for you shepherded the people of Myra with faith. After your repose, He showed your all-holy Body to be pouring-forth wonders, which we faithfully glorify.
  
Glory.
The protector of the people of Myra, the pride of Greece, you shown forth, O thrice-blessed one, in the city of Bari, dissolving their bitterness, and bringing in joy for them, O all-wise one, through the holy case of your Relics, which we praise sacredly, O all-blessed Nicholas.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
After the Second Stichologia,
Kathisma in the Fourth Tone. You have appeared today.
Today, the whole world celebrates reverently, at the passing of your sacred Relic, O Hierarch Nicholas, hymning Christ, Who magnified you.
  
Glory.
You appeared as a perfect worshiper of the Divine Trinity, and you served as a priest on earth in purity, O all-holy one. And now, O divine Nicholas, together with the Angels, you chant unto God with rejoicing.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
After the Polyeleos, then,
Kathisma in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. The Wisdom and Word.
The all-working grace of the Spirit wholly dwelt within you, O blessed one, and showed you to be a God-inspired Hierarch, as you spiritually and divinely shepherded your flock to your holy sheepfold in holiness. Therefore, the Master, in return for your struggles, has glorified you with incomparable wonders, O Holy Hierarch Nicholas, intercede for Christ God that remission of offenses be granted, to those who celebrate the honored veneration of your Relic with fervor.
  
Glory. Of the same tone.
The defender and protector of rulers, the providence of widows and orphans, you were shown to be, O Father, and the deliverer of the innocent, and the savior and helper of all those upon the seas, the deliverer of the sick, the adornment of the Fathers. Therefore, we who have gathered in your Church in faith hymn you, O glorious Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God, that forgiveness of offenses be granted, and that we be made partakers of His heavenly Kingdom.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
Then, the first Antiphon of the Fourth Tone, followed by the Prokeimenon:
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable one. (2)
Verse:What shall we offer to the Lord, for all that He has given us?
  
The Gospel of the Orthros. (see December 6th)
  
The 50thPsalm.
  
Glory. Through the intercessions of the Hierarch...
Both now. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos...
  
Idiomelon in the Plagal of the Second Tone
Have mercy on me, O God...
The foundation of the Fathers, O divine Nicholas, the worshiper of the Three-Sunned Godhead, the mystic of virtues, and the glory and rejoicing of the people of Myra, as you now stand before the Master's Throne, and dance with the Angels, intercede on behalf of us, O most-holy Father.
  
Then the Canons to the Saint [to be translated at a later date].
  
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
Though you descended into the grave.
Though you descended into the grave, O Nicholas, yet you still visit us who hymn you, and as our intercessor before God, you grant speedy help to those who faithfully entreat you, O Hierarch and leader of the people of Myra.

Oikos
Open my mouth, O God my Savior, and fill it with divine wisdom, that I might be strengthened to worthily hymn the Great Teacher among Hierarchs, the Shepherd and Leader of the people of Myra, who was truly innocent, spotless, and in all ways blameless. The protector of widows, the Father of orphans, the entreator for sinners, the savior of the innocent, and the guide and helper of those who sail the seas. Through the passing of his Holy Relic, he sanctified everything until the sun. But being astonished by the multitude of his divine graces, I cry out to him with faith: Protect and keep the world, through your prayers, O Hierarch and leader of the people of Myra.
 
Synaxarion
On this day, we celebrate the Passing of the Sacred and Holy Relic of our Father among the Saints, Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, the Wonderworker.
  
Verses
O rational flock that is present, now join chorus to entreat
Nicholas, hymning him whose Body is passing on the tenth.
Your dead body was found in the East, O Godly-minded one,
And now has been shown working awesome wonders in the West.
  
 
Exaposteilarion. O women, hearken.
The Church of Christ radiantly celebrates the radiant passing of your Relic, O all-holy one, and it praises you with rejoicing. Preserve her, O thrice-blessed one, from trials, and scandals of the foe, through your intercessions to God, O Hierarch Nicholas.
  
And of the feast.

At the Praises, we chant four verses, chanting the following Prosomoia
Tone One. The heavenly ranks.
Let us praise the pride of Arch-priests, the leader of the people of Myra, the protector of orphans, the staff of rulers, and the great deliverer of the faithful, the helper of those who are in danger upon the seas, the redeemer of the innocent.

The Shepherd of Priests, the nourishment for orphans, the deliverer of captives, the savior of those who sail, the giver to the poor, the unsleeping intercessor of the faithful, and the free healer of the sick, we hymn you, O Nicholas.
  
At the light-bearing and divine Passing of your Holy Relic, the divine Church sacredly celebrates a feast with honor, for through this, you sanctified the whole world, and we hymn Jesus with praise, Who glorified you with wonders.
  
The city of Myra knows you to be truly as another Joseph the Giver-of-grain, and a deliverer from all kinds of pains and calamities, a patron and defender. Therefore, we ceaselessly hymn you harmoniously, O most-holy Nicholas.
  
Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the First Tone.
O venerable Father, you hearkened to the voice of the Gospel, freely distributing your wealthy to the poor, and thereby inheriting from Him the heavenly share, O revered one. As you stand before the throne of the Trinity, and ever chant together with the Angels the thrice-holy hymn, entreat that He have mercy on us and save us, O Saint Nicholas.
  
Both now. Of the feast.
  
Great Doxology, and Apolysis.
  
Divine Liturgy
  
The typika from the canon of the feast at the Third Ode, and of the Saint for the Sixth Ode.
  
The Epistle and Gospel from the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th.
  
Communion hymn
The memory of the righteous is unto the ages. Alleluia.
  
Megalynaria
In a fitting tongue, let us all hymn the holy passing of your Body with faith, therefore protect us from danger, and keep us all unharmed, for we call upon you, O divine Nicholas.
  
Having your sacred icon, O blessed Nicholas, as a strong surrounding wall, we take refuge in all dangers, and from every trial are we redeemed.
  
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly He is risen!
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St. Porphyrios on Egotism and Raising Children

May 13, 2015, 9:07 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)
  
"The truth of Christ stresses that, if you praise a person, you make him an egotist. The egotist is burdened, and is guided by the devil and the evil spirit. Thus, growing up in the midst of egotism, the first act is to deny God and to be an egotistical misfit in society..."

"When, therefore, we praise the child we create this 'super-ego', we choke him with egotism, and we cause a great evil. We make him more susceptible to diabolic things..."

"In all things, we should teach children to seek the help of God...To the child you shouldn't say: 'You did it, you are the most impressive, you are young, you are brave, you are perfect!...' The child is not helped by this. You can, however, tell him to pray. Tell him: 'My child, the gifts that you have, God gave to you. Pray that God gives you His grace.' This is the perfect [way]..."

"You should tell the truth, so that the person can learn. Otherwise, you support them in their ignorance. When you tell someone else the truth, this instructs them, he pays attention, and when he hears it from others, it is strengthened. Thus, you should tell the child the truth, you should scold him, saying that that which you are doing is not good. What does the wise Solomon say? 'He who spares the rod, hates his son, but he who loves him will carefully chasten him.' However, you are not to flog him with the stick. Then we go outside the boundaries and the opposite occurs..."

"Parents are responsible first for the failures of children in life, and teachers afterwards. They praise them constantly. They speak to them with egotistical words. They don't offer the Spirit of God, they estrange them from the Church. When the children get a little older and go to school with this egotism, they flee from religion and despise it, loosing their reverence towards God, towards their parents, towards everyone. They become untamed and harsh and apathetical, without honoring religion nor God. We release egotists into life and not Christians..."

"The devil has managed to remove himself from people [directly]. and to use other names. Doctors and psychologists say continuously that a person is suffering: 'Ah, you have neuroses! Ahh, you have anxiety!', and the like. They don't accept that the devil stimulates and excites egotism within man. And where there is the devil, there is the evil spirit...The first people, Adam and Eve, were simple and humble, and because of this they lived in Paradise. They did not have egotism...After...the devil managed to praise them and delude them. He filled them with egotism..."

"Praise makes man deaf and drives out the grace of God..."

"The grace of God comes only with holy humility..."

"We must teach children to live humbly and simply, and to not seek praise and a 'bravo'. We should teach them that humility exists, which is the health of life..."
  
(amateur translation of text from source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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The ascetical places of Elder Joseph the Hesychast

May 16, 2015, 11:47 am
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Elder Joseph the Hesychast and Cave-dweller (+1959) (source)
  
The following is a beautiful video from a pilgrim to Mount Athos, which discusses Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959), a true spiritual giant of the 20th century (not yet officially canonized). The video discusses his life (in Greek) and shows many pictures. More interestingly, they show video of some of the various places where Elder Joseph lived with his synodeia on the Holy Mountain. These humble dwellings are very moving to see.
  
(source)
  
Here are a few directions, for those who can't understand Greek:
-1:45 - Cave of the Theotokos
-3:18 - Fr. Ephraim of the synodeia of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, of Blessed Memory, as the tour guide of the video. His kalyve (hut), named after St. Ephraim, is where his Elder lived.
-8:20 - The kalyve of the Annunciation (essentially a cave), where Elders Joseph and Arsenios lived under obedience to Elder Ephraim the Barrel-maker. Fr. Ephraim mentions that the Elder Joseph would pray here noetically for six hours every night.
-10:27 - The kalyve of St. Basil, where the Elders moved for further silence and prayer.
-12:25 - The chapel at St. Basil's. Here Elder Joseph lived great deeds of ascesis and witnessed many wonders. His first synodeia lived here.
-15:01 - A cave at St. Basil's where Elder Joseph lived in asceticism.
-16:35 - Room where Elder Joseph slept, and where he wrote many of his grace-filled letter.
-23:30 - The cave near Mikri Agia Anna (Little St. Anna's Skete) where they then moved, with the chapel built in honor of the Precious Forerunner (celebrated the feast of his nativity).
-26:12 - The cells which they built to live in near Mikri Agia Anna.
-34:58 - The chapel built at the grave of Elder Joseph, in New Skete.
  
This is a special blessing, especially for those unable to travel to Mount Athos. May these places, filled with grace from the prayers and ascesis of many righteous men, help kindle our zeal for the risen Lord! And may we have his blessing!
  
Elder Joseph the Hesychast (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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"Give sight, O Lord, to the eyes of my soul..."

May 16, 2015, 12:45 pm
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Christ healing the man born blind, fresco from Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos (source)
  
Give sight, O Lord, to the eyes of my soul, maimed by gloomy sin, by grafting in humility, O merciful, and cleansing me with tears of repentance.
-Exaposteilarion from the Sunday of the Blind Man

(source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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Elder Ephraim of Arizona on Slander

May 17, 2015, 11:06 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Synaxis of the Holy Athonite Fathers (source)
  
As time passes, it has been disheartening for me to see more and more slander and hatred directed towards Elder Ephraim of Philotheou (now Arizona), and the monasteries which he helped to build in America. I do not know what is in the minds and hearts of those who write condemnations about this great man and his work, which continues to be strengthened through the Grace of the Holy Spirit. In short, all that I can say is that I have seen first-hand what a great blessing that we all have been given.
  
As for myself, I have never, ever seen anything (in many readings of his, in visits to monasteries, in meetings and discussions with monks and nuns from throughout the world) that is out of line from true Orthodox tradition. What I have seen consistently is a love for patience, prayer, ascesis, forgiveness, humility and love: essentially, an angelic life that is Orthodoxy. I have seen time and time again how such love then transforms other people's lives, making their hearts aflame with the love for Christ and for their fellow men. And this is how it is meant to be, as St. John Climacus writes: "Angels are a light for monks, and the monastic life is a light for men." I do not intend this to be a formal defense of Orthodox Monasticism in the country, but just to give my perspective on events as I have seen them.
  
As today is the Sunday of the Blind Man, I pray that we might be like him who allowed the Lord to heal his physical and spiritual blindness. While those around him never did accept the miracle before their eyes, but breathed condemnations and slander against the work of God, the Blind Man proclaimed Christ, and was granted to see and venerate his Creator. May the Lord heal all of our blindness, and may these moving words of Elder Ephraim below help keep us from slandering our brethren (which is a great sin) and lead us all to repentance!
  
Elder Ephraim of Arizona on Slander
Slander is a great evil. Just as the little rudder steers the whole ship wherever it wants, likewise the tongue leads a person either to good or to evil. The holy fathers greatly censure judging other people’s sins, faults, or evil habits. When we judge our brother, we condemn ourselves to a great sin. But when we cover our brother, God will also protect us from great sins. When we expose our brother, we drive the grace of God away from us and He permits us to fall into the same sins so that we learn that we are all weak and that the grace of God supports us. Whoever guards his tongue guards his soul from great sins and grievous falls. The chief cause of criticism and slander is pride and egotism, because one considers oneself better than the others. For this reason it is very beneficial for a person to think of himself as below everyone, so that he considers his brother than him in order that, with the help of God, he may be delivered from this evil.
  
If something pushes you to criticism in any matter regarding a brother or the monastery, try to pray about the matter instead, without passing it under the judgment of your reason. If you turn within yourself through prayer, humility, and mourning, you will find a spiritual treasure—just keep pride and criticism far from you.
  
Be attentive, my child, that you not judge any soul. For God permits the one who judges his neighbor to fall, so that he learns to have sympathy for his weak brother. The mercy of God supports all of us, but if we become proud, God will remove His grace and we shall become worse than the others. It is one thing to condemn someone and another to be fought by thoughts of condemnation. To condemn is a terrible passion, but to be fought by such thoughts and to fight back—this is an occasion for crowns.
  
Each person must bear the weaknesses of others. Who is perfect? Who can boast that he has kept his heart undefiled? Hence, we are all sick, and whoever condemns his brother does not perceive that he himself is sick, because a sick person does not condemn another sick person. Love, endure, overlook, do not get angry, do not flare up, forgive one another, so that you resemble our Christ and are counted worthy to be near Him in His kingdom. My children, avoid condemnation—it is a very great sin. God is greatly saddened when we condemn and loathe people. Let us concern ourselves only with our own faults—for these we should feel pain. Let us condemn ourselves and then we shall find mercy and grace from God.
  
Love one another, and do not be embittered out of egotism. Humility is a sure guide; it does not let the one who possesses it hit the reefs of carelessness and be shipwrecked, but as a luminous guide it leads him faultlessly on sure ground. Egotism is the most evil of evils; it causes all our lapses through unsubmissive thoughts. Fear this and strive to get rid of it, for the more it remains within us, the more it will wound us with the proportionate pain. I beg that you not criticize one another, for this is downright egotism. Excuse your brother’s fault; this is evidence of humility and love. The brother who acts thus will find much grace from God, but he who judges and scandalizes his neighbor should know that not only will he not find grace, but even if he has something he will lose it, so that he may learn the lesson of humility through suffering. Be particularly afraid of inner criticism, that is, thoughts of criticism, because it does not come to light through the spoken word, in which case it is likely to be corrected by someone who hears it. Be careful, I say, about criticism from within, which imperceptibly makes us fatally guilty and deprives us of the life of divine grace and offers as a most bitter drink the death of the soul. I pray that love and freedom from criticism will reign in every expression among you, so that the Holy Spirit may rest in your souls.
  
Experience has shown that it is wrong to accuse and condemn someone without letting him defend himself. As also the sacred Gospel says: “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (Jn. 7:51 ). If we are not attentive, many sins of condemning others heap up within us, and then repentance is needed. How often a person repents because he spoke! Let us bear in mind the words of Abba Arsenios: “I have often repented for speaking, but I have never repented for keeping silent”. If we are often deceived by the sense of touch, how much more so we are by people’s words. Therefore, much attention is needed, for the devil prowls around roaring to devour us (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8 ). A Christian ought to be like the many-eyed Cherubim, for evil has multiplied greatly, especially the sin of condemnation, which is a common as “bread and cheese”. May God cleanse us and sanctify us for His glory. “Do not let the sun go down on the wrath of your brother” (cf. Eph. 4:26 ). That is, let no one be angry and enraged against his brother past the setting of the sun. have you heard about that brother who was negligent and lazy, who did not go to the all-night vigils and did not do his duties, whom the brethren knew to be a negligent monk? When he fell ill and the hour of his death drew near, the brethren gathered to hear something beneficial, or to comfort him, or in case he wanted to say something to them, but they saw him joyful, cheerful. One brother was scandalized and said, “What is this we see in you, brother? We see that you are joyful even though you are approaching death. But we have the thought that you were not a violent monk, so how do you have such courage and a cheerful face? How do you justify yourself?” “Yes, brethren”, he said, “indeed I was a negligent person and I did not fulfill my duties. But I achieved one good thing, by the grace of God: not to condemn any brother and not to scandalize anyone; and never did I let my heart have something against any brother of the monastery when the sun set. And inasmuch as I did not judge any brother, I believe that God will not judge me either, for He said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1 ) and since I did not judge, I will not be judged”. The brethren marveled and said, “Brother, you found the way of salvation very easily”. And the brother died with much joy. Do you see how the Fathers struggled and how they found the way of salvation?
  
Elder Ephraim of Arizona, blessing (source)
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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Selected hymns to Blessed Father John Karastamatis (+1985) of Santa Cruz

May 18, 2015, 8:19 am
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Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Icon of Blessed Father John Karastamatis (+1985) of Santa Cruz (source)
  
Fr. John Karastamatis was a Greek Orthodox priest, originally from the island of Andros in Greece. He later served in many places in the United States, and was known for his virtue and love to spread the Orthodox faith. He was killed on May 19th, 1985 in the church were he was serving in Santa Cruz. From the radiant life that he led, from his brutal sacrifice for Christ at the hands of satanists, and for the miracles that bear witness to his holiness, many throughout the world hold him to be a Saint and a new Hieromartyr of the Church, though he has yet to be officially acknowledged so by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Out of reverence for him, a service has been written in his honor (likely by Nun Isidora the Hymnographer, from source), and I provide my amateur translation of some selections below for any whom they would benefit. May the Lord continue to grant help and consolation to his family and his flock, and may we imitate his life, his faith, and his willingness to give his life for Christ!
  
Doxastikon of the Litia in the Plagal of the First Tone
Let us rejoice and exult in you, in the joy of the Resurrection, O Hieromartyr John of Santa Cruz. For your rejoicing has become joy for all the Orthodox. What mystagogy occurred on that night? You offered your fervor to the incorruptible Bridegroom, Who says: “Those who love me, I will love.” The Beloved therefore revealed His mystery to him whom He loved. Therefore, you were made worthy to resemble the Master’s passion, and were made worthy to resemble His glory. Therefore, as you now are at the Master’s bosom at His banquet, you have found all mercy.
  
Apolytikion in the First Tone
The radiance of the New World, and from the root of Andros, the glory of Hieromartyrs, let us honor John, for he was slaughtered in the Church on behalf of Christ, and shown forth perfectly in Santa Cruz, and he calls all the Orthodox everywhere to cry out: glory to Christ Who glorified you, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who showed you to be a wondrous protector of the nations.
  
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O John, you served your sacrifice in imitation of Christ, and were shown to be the adornment of Andros, and a God-inspired Apostle to Alaska, but as you laid down your life for your sheep, you now grant the gifts of wonders to those who cry out: Rejoice, O all-joyous Martyr.
  
Oikos
The Bodiless [Angels] join chorus to hymn with fervor, John, the mystic from Andros, and as you were slaughtered for Christ, you enlighten the Church with wonders, and granting graces to those who cry out to you:
Rejoice, revealing of divine co-mingling,
Rejoice, drop of mystical renewal.
Rejoice, you who hasten to your friends in haste,
Rejoice, you who strengthen those who entreat you with fervor.
Rejoice, fragrant cluster of lilies,
Rejoice, new ladder leading to the skies.
Rejoice, vessel of golden thanksgiving,
Rejoice, newly-woven crown of martyrdom.
Rejoice, you who received all kinds of wounds for God,
Rejoice, sprinkling of love.
Rejoice, good heart resembling a temple,
Rejoice, icon of divine sacrifice.
Rejoice, O newly-sacrificed Martyr.
  
Synaxarion
On the 19th of this month (May), the Holy New Hieromartyr John the Priest, who was killed in the city of Santa Cruz in America in the year 1985, by satanists.
  
You appeared as one offering the bloodless sacrifice,
O John, and you also became a sacrifice of blood.
On the nineteenth, John was violently flayed.
  
Doxastikon of the Praises in thePlagal of the First Tone
Pour forth, pour forth from your myrrh, O all-pure Lady of Andros, for the resurrectional joy of spring has called us together to hymn your mystic. For he himself became the fragrance of Christ, like pure nard offered to the Church. What could be higher that to be born again for Him Whom you love, and to be received by Him Whom you desire? For he says, “I am wounded by Your love!” Therefore, this wound became your boast, as you offered yourself as a martyrical sacrifice, prepared for the Master. Your soul, as a purified bride, was received by the Bridegroom into incorrupt eternity, O Hieromartyr John of Santa Cruz. And ever intercede, that our souls be shown mercy.
  
Megalynarion
Rejoice, the light of the New World, rejoice, root from Andros, rejoice, the fragrance of the Theotokos, rejoice the joyous consolation of the Orthodox, and protector of Santa Cruz, O universal Father.
  
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!
Truly the Lord is risen!
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Homily on the Ascension, by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes (+2010)

May 20, 2015, 1:39 pm
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The Ascension of Christ (source)
  
Homily on the Ascension, by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes (+2010)
Today, my beloved, is a great feast of the Master, the Ascension of the Lord. What is the story of the day? I will speak simply, so that everyone can understand me, so that it is not a sermon with the “voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” (Matthew 3:3)

Forty days have passed since our Lord rose from the dead. He appeared to many. His disciples saw him blessing them, heard Him and touched Him. And Thomas furthermore was compelled to say: “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) Forty days later, He told them to gather at the Mount of Olives, a hill a short distance from Jerusalem. They gathered there. It was Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Jude the son of James. Together with them were the Myrrhbearers, Mary, the Panagia and Mother of the Lord, as we see in the icon of the Ascension, and those who were called his brethren. (see Acts 1:13-14)
  
As they waited, Christ appeared before them, spoke to them, and gave them His final commandments. He blessed them, and then--even if the faithless do not believe, it is their right--a miracle occurred. As they were watching Him, the holy feet that had walked kilometers to find the lost sheep, the human sinner, those feet that furthermore bore the marks of the nails of the Cross, began to not walk on the earth anymore, but to be lifted up…
  
I once saw an eagle seated on a stone high up in the mountains of Grevena--it was a golden eagle--and I was amazed. And straightaway, I see it open its great wings and to fly. And I kept looking at it ascend into the air, ascend high, very high, as it turned into a small dot, and ultimately disappeared into the skies. The same occurred with Christ, Whom is named an eagle by the Revelation (12:14). It is Him Who have power to birds to fly, wouldn’t He have the same power?
   
Christ--to use a modern tongue--like the airplane which breaks through the clouds, ascended. And the disciples gazed at Him ascending. The Lord “ascended to heaven” today, and “sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). Then two angels appeared and told them: “Why are you standing looking at heaven? This Jesus that ascended, will return again in the same manner."
   
Yes, He will come. What are we thinking? --Who will come! Are you are telling us fairy tales now? Yes, the Lord will come “in [great] glory” (Matthew 24:30), to the wailing of the demons, to judge the whole “world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). The Lord will come: joy to the righteous, and sadness to the sinners.
  
This is the story of the feast. From everything we have said, let us pay attention to one thing: that the disciples and the Panagia remained looking up at heaven. They did not look down at the earth. They were looking high up. What does this mean?
  
From the creations of God, the four-legged creatures walk with their heads looking down. Only man was created to walk upright. Many say that this is a wonder. And the word “human” (“anthropos” in Greek), if we look at it etymologically, what does it mean? It means he who faces upwards. He looks on high, for he was created for the heavens.
  
It is said that an atheist once wanted proofs. When it became night, one of his friends showed him the countless stars and asked: “Who made all of these?” There is one answer, no other: God! Gaze above, therefore, at the firmament, and you will trust that God exists. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament is the work of His hands.” (Psalms 18:2)
  
A German poet saw a herd of pigs in the forest. The pigs love acorns. They therefore gathered to eat those that fell in the forest. And the poet, with an eloquent tongue, noted this. When he left the forest, no one returned to look at the acorns to say thank you!... Thus are many of us, and this comparison should not appear offensive to us. Our Christ thus characterizes some people: “Do not give the holy things to the dogs, and do not put pearls before swine.” (Matthew 7:6) This occurs. We partake of myriads of good things, but we never lift up our eyes to say: “Glory to You, O God.”
  
Is this perhaps a hyperbole? ...When you get up in the morning, and see the sun shining brightly, you should say: “Glory to You, O God”, “Glory unto You Who have shown forth the light” (Great Doxology). Nothing. You go out to go to work. Entreat God, and make the sign of the Cross. But not even one Cross [do we do]. Noon comes, you at the table for lunch, you have all good things: say a prayer. Nothing without thanksgiving. When you drink water, you should say thank you. When you eat bread, you should say thank you. The situation is becoming like swine. Have in mind that famine is coming, a great famine, and our bread will be little.
  
How it was in the older years! I remember in my village, around 1910, there were some older people who had not gone to school, neither high school nor college. Before they drank a cup of water, they made the sign of the Cross. And do you see anyone do it now? Because of this I tell you, the hour is coming that there will be a shortage of water, and fountains and springs, rivers and lakes will be dry, the water will become twice as valuable. And then, a glass of water will cost a lira! As St. Kosmas Aitolos prophesied, a handful of flour will cost a handful of gold. We will be punished for our swine-like state, where we live like animals, without being raised, without exalted thoughts, and in some ways being worse that animals. Do you see the dog? You toss him a bone, and though he doesn’t have a tongue, he turns to you as if to say: “Master, thank you.” Thankless and pitiless people, who often times blaspheme God night and day.
  
This is how it is, therefore. We are lower than animals. There is not the time to develop the theme and explain the word of the Psalms which says: “Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalms (Septuagint) 48:13). He is equal to, and sometimes lower than the animals (oxen, sheep, goats) and birds.
  
On the domes and bell-towers of churches, we see the birds’ nests. What should we say about the stork? The stork loves his children, and they love him. When a stork gets old, do you know what occurs? His children bring him food. And because the old stork is shedding and cold, they warm him with their wings! And man? When he doesn’t have ideals, resurrections, exaltations, and great ideas, what should we say of man? Tell me what he thinks about at midnight, and I’ll tell you that he is. If he thinks of money, rewards, women, other earthly things, then what is he? A small and insignificant being.
  
It is said, my beloved, that the pig, as we mentioned, that has its head turned down and eats clay, only once looks up to see heaven. When? When the butcher takes him to slaughter him. This also occurs with many people. They don’t think about God, they don’t step foot in church, they don’t pray. And they think that it will always be thus. However, the hour of death comes. Then, at the last instant, the Archangel will come with his sword, and they will only then remember God.
  
We were not created for the earth, which is a handful of sand, a drop amidst the universe. Is it worth it, O man, for a handful of sand or a drop of water to wage wars and shed blood of humanity? We have departed from God. Because of this: “Let us lift up our hearts.” (Divine Liturgy). And not just today, but the whole year. This is what the Ascension means. In every Divine Liturgy we honor the Ascension. When the Priest says: “Let us lift up our hearts”, what does he mean? Gaze on high, for you were created for heaven, for great and uplifted things. This does not mean indifference for this present life, no. If we embrace the whole Gospel of Christ, this earth will become Paradise. Now, old, young, grandfathers, bishops, right-wing, left-wing, white, black, in many ways we have trampled upon the Gospel, and this earth has become hell.
  
May we repent. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless everyone, Whom, O children of the Greeks, praise and exalt supremely, unto all the ages. Amen.
  
+Bishop Avgoustinos
Delivered in the Church of the Ascension, Perdikka, Eordaias, May 24th, 1990
     
(amateir translation of text from source)
  
The Ascension of Christ (source)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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"This is truly the King of glory. And why are Your garments scarlet?"

May 21, 2015, 3:35 am
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Icon depicting Christ's Ascension. It is interesting to note, and theologically correct, that the iconographer depicts the wounds from the Crucifixion in Christ's hands and feet. The Fathers hold that Christ had these wounds after His Resurrection, ascended with them into Heaven, and will have them for the rest of eternity as a sign of His love and what He suffered to save the world. As the Holy Angels saw Him ascending into Heaven, they marveled at this wonder. This fact was prophesied beforehand in the reading included below by the Prophet Isaiah (i.e. the Savior seen with the "clothing" of the flesh, which are "red", "as from a trodden winepress" from the Holy Passion), and mentioned in the hymn below as well. (source)
  
The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaias.
[62,10-63,3; 7-9]
Thus says the Lord: Walk, go through my gates; prepare my way and make a way for my people, and cast the stones out of the way; raise up a standard for the nations. For see, the Lord has made it heard to the ends of the earth: Say to the daughter of Sion: See, your Saviour has come, and his reward is with him, and his work before his face. And he will call it a holy people, redeemed by the Lord; while you will be called a city sought after, and not forsaken. Who is this who comes from Edom, the scarlet of his garments from Bosor, thus beautiful in his apparel? He cries out with much strength. I reason of justice and judgement of salvation. Why are your garments red, and your clothing as from a trodden winepress? I am full of the trodden grape; I have trampled the winepress quite alone, and no man from the nations was with me. I have remembered the mercy of the Lord, I will recall the Lord’s virtues, the Lord’s praise for all the things with which He rewards us. The Lord is a good judge for the house of Israel; he deals with us according to his mercy and according to the multitude of his justice. And he said: Are you not my people? Children will surely not be rebellious; and he became for them salvation out of their every distress. It was not an emissary, not an Angel, but the Lord himself saved them because he loved them and spared them. He redeemed them and took them up and exalted them all the days of the age.
  
Christ's holy wounds from His passion (source)
  
As you were taken up from the mount of Olives, the powers seeing you cried one to the other: Who is this? And they were told: This is the Mighty One, the Powerful, this is the Powerful in war, this is truly the King of glory. And why are your garments scarlet? He has come from Bosor, that is, from the flesh. But as God seated at the right hand of the Majesty you have sent us the Holy Spirit, to guide and save our souls.
-Idiomelon of the Aposticha for the Feast of the Ascension, in the Second Tone.
(source)
  
Icon depicting the Ascension of Christ, and the Etimasia (Preparation) of the Throne, and the Holy Trinity. Also included are icons of Sts. John the Forerunner, James the Apostle, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Anthony the Great, Onouphrios the Great, Sebastian the Martyr, Catherine and Paraskevi the Great Martyrs, and Constantine and Helen (source)
     
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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St. John the Russian heals a man near death

May 27, 2015, 3:46 am
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St. John the Russian, the New Confessor and Wonderworker - Commemorated May 27 (source)
  
E.P. from Eurytania, when he visited his homeland [Greece], got gravely sick from pneumonia, internal infection and cardiopathy. He was approaching his death. The doctors tried in vain to save him. He was battling with death for forty days. One day, a lawyer friend of the sick man came to visit him from Volos.

He told the despairing mother of the sick man that, once in Halkida, he heard someone talking about some St. John the Russian. The sick man, as he relates, was in such a terrible state that he could not sense, and could not follow what was going on around him. He only heard the word "Russian".

The next day, the man who was healed relates: "My state got even more dangerous. I couldn't sleep, but passed the hours in agony. I was awaiting my death. Then straightaway, I sensed that I wanted to sleep, and I fell into a very deep sleep.

"During the course of my sleep, I saw a strange dream, which I will never forget! I saw that the door of my room opened, and a young man dressed in a white shirt entered. He greeted me, and asked me who I was. I told him that the sickness had taken over me now, and that only death could free me. Then the young man told me in simple words: 'Listen to me. I am St. John the Russian. I will make you well in five days. But you should go venerate at my church. If you can't, then send your wife or your sister or your mother. Have faith and do not fear. In five days you will be well.'

"Immediately, the Saint disappeared from my room. In the morning when I awoke, I felt that my state had improved. This was confirmed by the doctor that visited me that day.

"As soon as I awoke, I called my relatives, and with emotion I related the strange dream. However, I and some of my relatives did not know anything about such a Saint. And only the Priest, Fr. Lambros, informed me that day in reality that I was saved by St. John the Russian, whose body remains whole [and incorrupt] outside of Halkida.

"In five days, I became totally well, and I will never forget the divine intervention of the Saint on behalf of my life. From my great gratitude towards the Saint, and in order to show my faith, I went to venerate the Holy Relics. This miracle occurred in 1937."

(amateur translation of text from source)
  
St. John the Russian and St. David the Elder, Protectors of the island of Evia (source)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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Serbian Patriarchate canonizes two new American Saints: Sebastian and Mardarije

May 30, 2015, 3:53 am
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Two new Serbian-American Saints: Sebastian of Jackson (+1940) and Mardarije of Libertyville(+1935) (source)
  
On May 29, 2015, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchate of Serbia glorified two new Serbian Saints who spread the faith in Christ in America:

"St. Sebastian Dabovich (1863-1940) has the distinction of being the first person born in the United States of America to be ordained as an Orthodox priest, and also the first native-born American to be tonsured as an Orthodox monk. His greatest distinction, however, lies in the tremendous apostolic, pastoral, and literary work that he accomplished during the forty-eight years of his priestly ministry... St. Nicholai (Velimirovich) of Zhicha, Serbia, who buried Fr. Sebastian at the Zhicha Monastery when the latter reposed there in 1940, called him “a viceless man” and fittingly designated him “the greatest Serbian missionary of modern times.” (for a fuller life of St. Sebastian, see here) His feast has been designated as November 30th.
  
St. Mardarije Uskokovic (1889-1935) was the first Serbian Bishop of North America, and founded the famous Monastery of St. Sava in Libertyville, one of the center-pieces of Serbian Orthodoxy in America. His feast has been designated as December 12th. (see here for more info)
  
St. Mardarije of Libertyville with St. Sava of Serbia, depicted as founders of the Monastery, standing before Christ and the Theotokos (source)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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