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+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++ Photographer Olga Cherkunova. Voronezh 💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

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On Sunday, 11th February 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain presided during Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St Charalambos in Luton. Amongst those concelebrating were the Revd Presbyter Dr. Andreas Andreopoulos, the Rev Oeconomos Nikolaos Kokkinos and the Rev. Presbyter David Somalis, Priest-in-charge. The Rev. Archdeacon Dr. George Tsourous served too.

Following the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Nikitas presented an epigonation to Fr Nikolaos Kokkinos previously the Priest-in-charge, honouring his years of dedicated service to the St Charalambos parish. Additionally, The Archbishop extended his gratitude towards the current Priest-in-charge, Fr David Somalis, for his exemplary leadership and the significant support provided by the Parish Council. In his address to the congregation, Archbishop emphasised the significance of unity in Christ, highlighting how the diverse and multicultural congregation of St Charalambos comes together as one family. Despite the variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, all members are united in their shared Orthodox faith, exemplifying a beautiful blend of diversity within unity.

The day’s celebrations culminated in a festal meal held in the Community hall. This gathering was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and joy, bringing together the parish community. Archbishop Nikitas also unveiled a plaque commemorating the Great Benefactors and supporters of the Parish. This gesture served not only as a token of appreciation but also as a lasting tribute to the collective effort and generosity that sustains the parish’s vibrant community life.

[Text and photo credit]

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Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the underground salt church at Ocna Dej, Romania, on its patronal feast, St. Barbara, on December 4, 2023. Photo credit: Metropolis of Cluj / Darius Echim

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La Jolla Cove

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Достойно есть икона Божией Матери

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St. Cassian (John Cassian) Roman Hieromonk

MEMORIAL DAY MARCH 13

Having previously cleansed yourself by fasting, you have achieved the knowledge of wisdom. From the God-bearing fathers who live in the desert, you have learned to restrain your passions. Therefore, through your prayers, grant us the obedience of our body to our spirit, because you are the teacher, St. Cassian, of all those who glorify your memory in Christ.

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May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

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“You must bear the spiritual infirmities of your brother gladly, and without annoyance. For when someone is physically ill, we are not only not annoyed with him, but we are exemplary in our care of him; we should also set an example in cases of spiritual illness.”

—St Moses of Optina, “Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina”

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Engjëlli nuk i shkroi emrat e atyre që morën kungim me mëkate të parrëfyera

Rufinus Presbyter. "Jeta e baballarëve të shkretëtirës".

( e përkthyer nga Rusishtja)

Ne nuk mund t'i kalojmë në heshtje banorët e shkretëtirës që ngjitet me detin Porfenian dhe kufizohet me zonën e qytetit Diolk. Aty pamë një prift të mrekullueshëm, të quajtur Piammon, i cili shquhej për përulësinë absolute dhe kënaqësinë e butë. Atij iu dha hiri i zbulesës. Pasi i solli Zotit flijimin pa gjak, ai pa një Engjëll të Zotit pranë Altarit: ai mbante një libër në të cilin shkruante emrat e murgjve që iu afruan Altarit të Shenjtë. Plaku vuri re me kujdes emrat e kujt i humbi Engjëlli. Pas përfundimit të liturgjisë, ai thirri veçmas secilin nga të humburit nga Engjëlli dhe e pyeti nëse kishte bërë ndonjë mëkat fshehurazi në ndërgjegje. Në këtë rrëfim, ai zbuloi se secili prej tyre ishte fajtor për një mëkat të vdekshëm ... Pastaj ai i bindi ata të sillnin pendimin dhe duke u hedhur para Zotit bashkë me ta, u lut me lot ditë e natë, sikur të ishte i përfshirë. në mëkatet e tyre. Dhe ai ishte në pendim dhe lot derisa pa përsëri Engjëllin, duke qëndruar përpara altarit dhe duke shkruar emrat e atyre që po merrnin Misteret e Shenjta. Pasi kishte shkruar emrat e të gjithëve, Engjëlli madje filloi t'i thërriste secilit me emër, duke ftuar të vinte në altar për pajtim me Zotin. Dhe plaku, duke e parë këtë, e kuptoi se pendimi i tyre u pranua dhe i pranoi të gjithë me gëzim në Altar.

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“The cross is the principle of our salvation; the cross is the basis of innumerable goods. Because of it, we, who were previously deprived of honor and rejected, are now accepted into the title of sons; because of it we are no longer in delusion, but have known the truth; because of it we, who before worshiped trees and stones, now know the Creator of all things; because of it we, who have been the servants of sin, have been brought into the freedom of righteousness; finally, because of it, the earth became heaven.

It freed us from delusions, it guided us to the truth, it reconciled God and people, it pulled us out of the depths of vice and raised us to the very summit of virtue, it destroyed demonic delusion, it destroyed deception. Because of it, there is no more smoke, the smell of burned idol offerings and the shedding of blood of unscrupulous animals, but there are spiritual services, chanting and prayers everywhere. Because of it, the demons were forced to flee, because of it, the devil was banished, because of it, human nature began to compete with the angelic one, because of it, virginity gained power on earth. Namely, since He was born of a Virgin, human nature has come to know this path to virtue. It enlightened us who sat in darkness, reconciled to God us, who fought against Him, it made us, who were far away, come closer, it made us, who were strangers, the citizens of heaven; it has ended our war, it has become a pillar of peace for us. Because of it, we are no longer afraid of the fiery arrows of the devil, since we have found the source of life; because of it we stopped being widows, because we have found the Bridegroom. Because of it, we are no longer afraid of the wolf, because we know the Good Shepherd. And the Lord Himself says: “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Because of it, we are no longer afraid of the tyrant, since we are sitting next to the King.

Do you see how much good the cross has caused us? That is why we celebrate it justly.”

—St John Chrysostom, “Sermons on the Cross and the Robber”

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Do not lose heart when facing any diabolical passion, no matter how gigantic it may look, for wherever God intervenes, the devil’s opposition is overcome...

I pray that the grace of God will overshadow you and give you sufficient strength to confront our wicked ego, the dreadful root of all the evil activities of polymorphous evil. Do not be afraid of the devil’s pressure, my child. The power of our God is so mighty that it helps unreservedly those who want to fight using it. The devil’s power is not trivial, but God miraculously protects us wretches. Have courage in the struggle, my child; study the law of God; say the sanctifying and salvific Jesus prayer, and hurl yourself into the fire of the battle. God will reward this struggle of yours with alleviation—as has already happened countless times—with high hopes for an eternal, bright future. Do not lose heart when facing any diabolical passion, no matter how gigantic it may look, for wherever God intervenes, the devil’s opposition is overcome.

Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Mos e humb zemrën kur përballesh me ndonjë pasion djallëzor, sado gjigant të duket, sepse kudo që Zoti ndërhyn, kundërshtimi i djallit kapërcehet...

Unë lutem që hiri i Perëndisë do t'ju mbulojë dhe do t'ju japë forcë të mjaftueshme për t'u përballur me egon tonë të ligë, rrënjën e tmerrshme të të gjitha aktiviteteve të liga të së keqes polimorfe. Mos ki frikë nga presioni i djallit, fëmija im. Fuqia e Perëndisë tonë është aq e fuqishme saqë ndihmon pa rezerva ata që duan të luftojnë duke e përdorur atë. Fuqia e djallit nuk është e parëndësishme, por Perëndia na mbron për mrekulli ne të mjerëve. Ki guxim në luftë, bija ime; studioni ligjin e Perëndisë; thuaj lutjen shenjtëruese dhe shpëtimtare të Jezusit dhe hidhu veten në zjarrin e betejës. Zoti do ta shpërblejë këtë luftë tuajën me lehtësim – siç ka ndodhur tashmë herë të panumërta – me shpresa të mëdha për një të ardhme të përjetshme e të ndritshme. Mos e humb zemrën kur përballesh me ndonjë pasion djallëzor, sado gjigant të duket, sepse kudo që Zoti ndërhyn, kundërshtimi i djallit kapërcehet.

Efraim i Arizonës

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Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius

MEMORIAL DAY FEBRUARY 27

To the Apostles, teachers of the same mind and Slavic countries, Cyril and Methodius the Wise, the Lord of all, pray to all Slavic peoples in Orthodoxy and unanimity to establish, protect the world with peace and save our souls.

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May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

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Falling into Fornication Happens to a Monk for Disobedience and Unconfessed Sins

Archimandrite Raphael. "From time to eternity. Sayings of the Fathers".

Hieromonk Vasily (Pirtskhalava) said: “The worst sin for a monk is fornication. Other sins, compared to it, are dust that can be easily blown away.”

He said: “I heard from an elder who lived for many years on Mount Athos that a priest who commits fornication and at the same time serves Liturgies is in hell even before death. When he proclaims: "Peace to all" and "The blessing of the Lord is upon you," the Angel of the altar says: "Blessing from God to the people, and to you - a curse." When he takes communion, his soul turns black, like burnt coal. When he finishes serving the Liturgy, the devil comes up to him and kisses him on the lips as his friend.”

He said: “Two monk brothers lived not far from each other. One went to the city on some business and fell there. And the other saw in a dream: a seething sea, his brother-monk was walking on a slippery rock and suddenly fell into the abyss. He began to scream in his sleep: “Help!”, but the sea drowned out his voice.”

I asked Hieromonk Vasily: “Is there a sin worse than this sin?”—“Despair and suicide,” he answered.—But most often it is fornication that leads a monk to despair.” “And why is a monk allowed to fall into fornication, because he prays to God and wants to be saved?” — “For disobedience and unconfessed sins.” I asked again: “Can this sin be forgiven for the priest?” “Let the bishop decide this,” he replied.

#eastern orthodoxy

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St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria

MEMORIAL DAY FEBRUARY 28

In you, mother, exactly what is in us in God's image has been preserved: for, taking up your cross, you followed Christ, and by deed you taught us to neglect the flesh as transitory, but to take care of the soul, an immortal creation. That is why your spirit rejoices with the Angels, Reverend Euphrosyne.

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May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

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