EVERGETINOS (Vol. 3) - Hypothesis 31: The greatest among the virtues is discretion; the believer ...

 

Saint Metrophanes Chi Sung | A Witness of Faith and Courage.

 

From Garden to Plate - A Fasting Cabbage Soup.

 

ΑΒΡΑΜΙΟΣ και ΜΑΡΙΑ - A Hermit's Greatest Sacrifice | Orthodox Movie.

 

How a Simple Monk Solved a Problem That Stumped Everyone | An Orthodox Christian Story.

 

Blessed Winter - Protecting Time to Create Things for God!!!

 

The Thoughts of a Sanctified Person and the Thoughts of a Wicked Person.

 

The Hidden Hesychast of Mount Athos: Met. Athanasios Remembers Elder Aimilianos [Part 1/2]

 

The Good Soil | The Parable of the Sower!!!

 

The Weight He Was Never Meant to Carry | An Orthodox Animated Short Film!!!

 

Father Iliodor (Gairiyants) of Optina, the “Greek“On October 26, the Our righteous Father Archdeacon Iliodor (Gariyants) of Optina, the “Greek“, reposed in the Lord on 2020.

 

We’re parting, but not saying goodbye

From his youth, Father Iliodor was a virtuoso piano player. In the worldly world, he even had his own musical group and wrote poetry and music. Before entering the monastery, he burned a large pile of his compositions.

– Father, why did you do this? We could learn your songs now.

– Why?

Nevertheless, when visiting his spiritual children, Father Iliodor often played music. His favorite love song was “A Million Scarlet Roses.” “Who among you is ready to do such a thing for the sake of a loved one, huh?” he would ask.

I’ll help everyone in one fell swoop

When my godfather was hospitalized, we were confident he would definitely recover. His condition became serious, but we continued to hope he would recover.

On Sunday evening, October 25th, like a bolt from the blue, news came from the doctors: the only hope was a miracle, his condition was critical. The feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was approaching. The words from the Akathist hymn came to mind: “Rejoice, blessed Gatekeeper, who opens the gates of paradise to the faithful.” We understood everything, but we didn’t want to let our godfather go. We practically cried out to the Mother of God: “No, Queen of Heaven! We need a priest here!”

On the night between Sunday and Monday, we were driving along the night road to Kaluga. I was driving and asking my husband to continue praying for his father. He was reading the Psalter and seemed to hear a familiar voice in his soul: “Volodenka, don’t! It’s all over… The Lord showed me that while I’m here, I won’t be able to help everyone at once, but if I’m there, I’ll help everyone in one fell swoop, you understand?”

Here on earth, we were happy with our godfather, and now we believe that in him we have found a heavenly patron for our family.

Elena Galkina

Source: Monastic Bulletin, No. 1 (49) 2022. Pp. 40–49.

[Google Translate]

https://pravoslavie.ru/146834.html

***

Hierodeacon Iliodor

A story about disobedience

Once we were on Mt. Athos, at the Skete of the Panagia. The skete is a small building: Inside there is a hall with a fireplace that can be kindled to get dry and spend the night in warmth, and part of the building is a small chapel. Pilgrims usually spend the night in the skete, and in the morning, having rested, make the last dash to the Church of the Transfiguration on the summit of Mt. Athos. They also stop for a bit in the skete before going back down.

And we took a break before our descent; we ate, we drank coffee, and we felt good; we were happy. I said: “Now, let’s read the Akathist to the Mother of God, as usual, and then we’ll head down.”

But our secular companions said: “No, we don’t have time to read the Akathist here; we’re in a hurry! We need to get down the mountain faster!”

I gave in to their entreaties, and we all started to go down together.

There is no vegetation on the mountain there, the rocks are slippery under your feet, it’s easy to fall and it’s easy to hurt yourself, rolling down the mountain. And just as we began our descent, thunder cracked and a storm began. And instead of an Akathist in the chapel, we went down the mountain in the rain. We went down to the cross at the fork, where people usually make another stop, dirty, wet, and we stood, looking at each other. Well, we were in a hurry…

We started reading the Akathist to the Mother of God at the cross…

https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/

Father Iliodor (Gairiyants) of Optina, the “Greek“On October 26, the Our righteous Father Archdeacon Iliodor (Gariyants) of Optina, the “Greek“, reposed in the Lord on 2020.

 

“My son, give me your heart…” (Proverbs 23:26)

Above all canons and regulations is love.

Father Iliodor fully brought these words spoken by Saint Gabriel (Urgebadze) to life.

“I approach the hotel, it’s raining and cold, a woman with a child is knocking on the door, but they won’t let her in because the hotel closes at eleven o’clock. So I knock again and complain, ‘How can this be? Are you not letting Christ, the Mother of God, in?'” Father Iliodor recounted.

Often, when we arrived at the monastery, we’d find our godfather not in his cassock, but in sweatpants and a robe. “The abbot took him off. I took a child, a wheelchair user, to Jerusalem without his blessing. I promised him, but the abbot didn’t bless him, but how could I not fulfill my promise?”

There was a children’s camp near Optina in the summer. Having visited there and discovered that the children had neither fresh vegetables nor milk or sour cream, Father Iliodor immediately ran to the brotherhood’s refectory, loaded a cart with boxes of cucumbers, tomatoes, and jars of milk, “harnessed” one of the pilgrims to it, and took it to the children. Hegumen Nikon came running toward him:

– Are you robbing the brethren! Without a blessing?!

– Father, you are a priest, so bless us to feed the children.

“On Valaam there lived ascetics, and at Optina, comforters. Such were the venerable elders of Optina. We must continue this tradition.” This principle became the foundation of Father Iliodor’s monastic life.

Mom, how many times do I have to kiss you?

Father Iliodor taught all his children that they should strive to receive communion often:

“We don’t ask, ‘Mom, how many times do I have to kiss you?’ It’s the same here. In communion, we unite with God, who loves us more than anyone.”

There were cases when priests wouldn’t bless someone for communion. The godfather would go and investigate. Some were even successfully “won back.”

His reverence for the Holy Gifts was also astonishing. One day, a little girl vomited in church immediately after receiving Communion. She had been complaining of feeling unwell since the morning, but her mother insisted on going to church. She had brought a plastic bag with her, into which the child vomited. When she told Father Iliodor about the incident, the girl’s mother heard: “Come back with this in a few hours.” Having fasted, the godfather consumed the contents of the bag.

Heart ultrasound and the formula for Christian life

“No fasting will save us,” Father Iliodor instructed his parishioners on New Year’s Day 2020. “Up in heaven, they won’t do stomach ultrasounds. They’ll do heart ultrasounds. We’ll take with us only our hearts, our consciences, and good deeds, if any of us have any.”

His instructions, even if sometimes stern, never depress anyone, never offend or hurt anyone, never alienate anyone. Around him, people felt inspired.

“A person needs a little attention and nothing more. A listening ear and, if possible, a hug and a kiss.”

Father Iliodor left us all a “formula,” as he called it, for Christian life: “Love everyone, pity everyone, justify everyone, pray for everyone.”

https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/

Elder Pachomios, the oldest member of the brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, at the age of 93.

The Miracle of the Rain 🌧️ | Saint Hilarion's Amazing Story | Christian Animation.

 

TOWARDS PERFECTION .

The Robber and the Tears | An Orthodox Christian Story of Repentance!!!

 

The parable of the Sower is about evangelism and the importance of “sowing the seeds” of Christ’s gospel.

Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:

The parable of the Sower is about evangelism and the importance of “sowing the seeds” of Christ’s gospel. Thus, we are reminded that our Church is apostolic and every practicing Christian has the sacred obligation and duty to share, spread, and grow the Word of God so that it bears fruit. Sadly, however, many find this to be an uneasy task; afraid to share steadfast truths amidst an ever-widening sea of political correctness and the oppressive waves of moral ambiguity. They are intimidated by the thought of not knowing what to say or how to say it, terrified of looking foolish, and worse yet, fearful of offending someone.

When God called upon Ezekiel to be His prophet, He said, “Listen closely, and take to heart every word I say to you. Then go to the people and proclaim my word, whether they listen or not.” (Ezekiel 3:10-11)

Therefore, our mission is no greater or lesser than Ezekiel’s: we are simply called upon to take God’s Word to heart and then share it with others as truthfully, honestly, and respectfully as we can. And one need not worry about whether you will succeed or fail, because that is a matter between God and those with whom you’ve shared His Word. If God so chooses to bless your efforts, that’s great, but your obligation to share the Faith comes with no guarantees. In other words, God doesn’t call upon us to be successful, He only expects you to be faithful.

Fr. John

A Voice from the Grave | A Miracle of Saint Macarius of Egypt.

 

Εποχή συγκομιδής κάστανων στο Άγιον Όρος. Chestnut Harvest Season on Mount Athos.

An elder said: "If you ask God for something and He grants it, say 'Thank You.' If He does not grant it, say 'Thank You' a thousand times... because He protected you from something."