ONE THING IS NEEDED.

"I, the Light, have come into the world, that whoever believes in Me not remain in darkness."

"I, the Light, have come into the world, that whoever believes in Me not remain in darkness."

For the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ

IN THE LIGHT OF DIVINE LOVE

At the foot of the God-trodden Mountain of Sinai, Emperor Justinian built the great basilica of St. Catherine's Monastery to the Transfiguration of Christ - the 'Feast of monastic feasts'.

‘Let us be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration,’ exhorted St. Anastasios of Sinai in his sermon on the Feast, for ‘Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven … making us sharers in His divinity and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.’

Archbishop Damianos of Sinai has pointed out that the manifestation of the Holy Trinity at the Transfiguration was foreshadowed by the earlier theophany on Mount Sinai, where the voice of God, the light of the Sun of Righteousness, and the cloud of the Holy Spirit were all similarly present.

There is a difference though: While the eyes of the apostles were enabled to see ‘a dim ray’ of the divine radiance of Christ at His Transfiguration, the Uncreated Light appears to Moses on Sinai as ‘luminous darkness’. It is invisible - except to eyes that have been transformed by the Holy Spirit.

As His Eminence also noted, the full revelation of the Trinity is reserved for the New Testament. Thus the wishes of both Moses and Elias to see God clearly on Sinai are fulfilled at the Transfiguration of Christ. ...

                        --------------------------------------------------------

... A significant characteristic of Orthodox Christianity is its understanding of the distinction between the essence of God and His uncreated energies; Orthodox saints understand creation as the voluntary will of the divine energies, an outpouring of love - reflected in the words of the Holy Trinity, 'Let us make man.'

What does this mean? That man is destined not for contemplation of God, but for union with Him. Receiving the divine energies within himself, he is created 'to become by grace what God is by nature'.

It also means that salvation is not reserved for a chosen few, but the free gift of grace offered to all. One need only reach out to take the gift, striving to follow Christ through the mysteries of the historic Orthodox Church founded by Christ through His apostles.

Thus, St. Gregory of Sinai says that Peter, James, and John were not randomly selected to participate in the Transfiguration, for each was distinguished by some individual combination of 'faith, effort, and love for Christ – even though the same grace of the Spirit had been given to all.'

Enamored of the divine radiance, Peter exclaims, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here!' His next thought is to remain in the divine glory.

At this point - validating the faith of Peter who had replied 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' to Jesus' question six days earlier, 'Who do you say I am?' - the voice of the Father comes from the cloud: 'This is my beloved Son - listen to him.'

This is the exact moment portrayed in the icon of the Transfiguration - as illustrated in the Sinai icon above with the words of the Father inscribed across the top - portraying not just the divine energies of God's unapproachable glory - but how one may remain within it:

Geronta Pavlos of Sinai explains that the New Testament verb for 'listen' implies 'doing'. Those who seek union with God by fulfilling His commandments will be transfigured by the light of Christ into the abode of the Holy Spirit, and through them, all creation.

According to the patristic Saints of the Orthodox Church, this is the radiant message of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, whose week-long celebration will draw to its close on August 13th, but which never dims in the hearts of the faithful.

'I, the Light, have come into the world,' said the Lord, 'that whoever believes in Me not remain in darkness.'

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Sinai's Codex Theodosianus is one of the most splendid manuscripts to survive from Byzantine times. It is a copy of the Gospels, written in Constantinople in the tenth century. It was written in one of the imperial scriptoria, and every letter on every page is executed in gold leaf. The beautiful letters gleam and flash as they catch the light.

This image [below right] shows the beginning of the Gospel passage for the Feast of the Transfiguration. One can see here the abbreviation for the Name 'Jesus' formed by its first and last letters, with a decorative line above to indicate the contraction. Names such as ‘Jesus Christ’ and ‘Lord'  were always written as abbreviations, in that they are nomina sacra, 'sacred names.'

From Article "Who do you say I am?" by Sr. Joanna at FMSM's News Blog http://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/news-blog/transfiguration2017

Father Philotheos Zervakos remembers:

Father Philotheos Zervakos remembers: “During the days when I was with St. Nektarios of Aegina, before the Matins were called, entering the Holy Altar through the door of the Sanctuary, I would wait in a corner until the church bell was sounded, so that Midnight Mass could begin.  As soon as the bell rang, the Saint entered the sanctuary through the door

of the sanctuary and first made three penances in front of the Holy Altar, embraced the Holy Gospel, the Holy Altar and then "ran" to the Savior

and Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ hanging on a tree behind the Holy Altar and, bending the knees of soul and body, embraced the Cross and with silent sighs, with sobs and tears of contrition, embraced the Holy

Cross and as if he were seeing Christ Himself, the King of all, he conversed with prayer"

Bibliography Archimandrite John Kostof.

 The Semantra of the Word.

Publications of the Holy Monastery of Saint John of Damascus, Oropos, Attica.

Saint Anne (2024)From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog.

In the Chapel of St. Anne: "In these chapels we encounter the ancient Sinai."For the Feast of the Dormition of ST. ANNE, the MOTHER of the VIRGIN MARY

Saint Anne (2024)

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog

This year, once again, we were able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of Saint Anne (dates likely before the 9th or 10th century, during the most active Sinai monasticism) on her feast day. The only person who could go with me needed to be back at the monastery to open the gift shop when the monastery is open to visitors. That is why we decided to have the service at night. 

We left the monastery at 9:00 PM. It was more difficult to make our ascent in the dark, but a little after midnight, we saw the chapel above us and were soon inside. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy proceeded in the stillness of the night in this beautiful little chapel.

The stars were bright in the sky overhead, and the Milky Way was clearly visible, spanning from one horizon to the other.

As we made our descent, the first light of day shone on the horizon. We were back at the monastery before sunrise.

- This little chapel is especially beautiful, and it is a joy to return every year for the feast of Saint Anne.

Based on Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/8749

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Chapel of Saint Anne

There are several chapels to the west of the Basin of the Prophet Elias. The most remote of them all is the Chapel of Saint Anne, perched incongruously next to massive outcrops of solid granite. It is my favourite of all the little chapels in the Sinai mountains.

I first saw the Chapel of Saint Anne in January of 2005, when I joined Father Nilus as he took holy water from the Theophany services to bless all of the outlying chapels. The roof had cracked, allowing water to seep in. This was eroding the earth mortar between the stones, and much of the plaster inside had fallen off. No one had celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the chapel for many years, because it had become so dilapidated. But every detail of the chapel seemed to have been made with sensitivity and devotion, and it was beautiful, even in that state.

 I was able to clean the chapel, and Evangelos Zournatzis, an iconographer from Samos, sent me a photograph of an icon of Saint Anne he had painted, that I was able to print and frame. We returned on July 25, the feast day of Saint Anne, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. It was a great joy, and we have been back every year since then.

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/1774

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The Renovated Chapel of Saint Anne

In 2008, the Chapel of Saint Anne was renovated. Mortar on the roof and outside walls that had crumbled was replaced. The plaster inside was patched, and the walls and ceiling whitewashed. A wooden floor was installed over the earlier dirt floor, while retaining the flagstones at the eastern end of the chapel.

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/2005

When Saint Panteleimon Healed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi.

 

When Saint Panteleimon Healed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi

 By Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi

At that time, [Elder Joseph of Vatopedi] again suffered strongly with stomach issues. His only food was pasta. He did not forgive himself for using oil because of his illness, when the typikon called for no oil. He ate pasta with or without oil.

In spite of the bad state of his health, no longer being obliged to participate in the various common obligations of the Skete, he went willingly to help. This was despite the fact that the typikon stipulated that the fathers in the dry huts of the Skete beyond the Tower were not obliged to participate in the common obligations like the other fathers, because at that time they were not included in the huts of the Skete, but were directly dependent on the dominant Monastery.

The late Elder Konstantinos of the Hut of Saint Haralambos spoke with admiration about his great self-denial.

The Elder had gone, according to his custom, to do communal work in the mountain, to clean the springs from which the Skete was watered. Every year after bad weather, there usually falls soil from landslides, branches, leaves, etc. and they had to be cleaned.

This involved long hours of shoveling and other laborious work. As was done on such occasions, the fathers took with them some food and some wine for their special effort.

At meal time, the Elder apologized that for health reasons, he would not be able to eat their own food and drink some wine with them and brought out his own meal, which was pasta.

Then Father Konstantinos wept with emotion before his sacrificial spirit and said to him: "Elder, if anyone else was in the same state of health as yours, and indeed living in the dry huts which have no obligation to the common work, they would not even come down to ascertain the reason why the bell rang and called the fathers to do their common work, nor would they come with us, making so much effort and at the risk of tearing open your stomach as well!"

He was constantly patient with his stomach. There was no longer any possibility of treatment by human intervention other than surgery, which he decided in favor of at the urging of his spiritual brothers.

But, "at the end of exhausting patience, the Grace of God appears perceptibly," said Elder Joseph.

Then, Elder Theophylaktos, his co-ascetic, saw in a vision Saint Panteleimon, the exarch of the Holy Unmercenaries, who said to him: "Tell the monk to leave it to the Panagia and he will get well." Elder Theophylaktos saw Saint Panteleimon, as he is in the icon of the Skete of Saint Panteleimon.

The Elder believed in the word of Elder Theophylaktos and from that day began a spectacular improvement, and until he became completely well, he was not in pain at all. He only had a slowness of digestion left. From then until he reposed, the Elder was no longer bothered by his stomach.

Later, he himself wrote: "I had an advanced ulcer and neither diet nor medicine offered me anything. After the abstinence of all the affected for two years and more, there was no other solution than surgery. Then the glorious Great Martyr of Christ, the most charming Panteleimon, intervened and ordered Elder Theophylaktos to tell me peremptorily not to operate but to leave it to the care of our Panagia.

Immediately I was completely cured, and in order to verify this, I actually visited my treating doctors, who knew my disease in its full extent so that they could tell me now in what condition I am. They did an x-ray on me, and they found absolutely nothing, only a small scar, an old healed wound."

Source: From the book Γέρων Ιωσήφ Βατοπαιδινός 1.7.1921-1.7.2009, published by Vatopaidi Monastery. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:

Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:

When a parent tells a bedtime story, it usually starts with, “Once upon a time...” When someone tells a joke, it is generally preface by a scenario, “A priest, a pastor, and a rabbi walk into a restaurant...” And when a priest gives a homily, he often introduces it by saying, “In today’s gospel lesson...” This is because the Scriptures are based on teachings, lessons for spiritual advancement.  

Contrary to what many believe, the Gospels are not about the life of Christ, the travels of Christ, the miracles of Christ, or even people’s interactions with Christ; they are a collection of Jesus Christ’s teachings; teachings by word and example, and meant to inspire, reinforce, and embolden our faith. Anything other which the evangelists include simply adds context and color to those teachings and displays God’s power and authority.

Thus, the lesson for today is about faith: “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29). Everything in one’s life is inextricably connected to their faith, and the blessings we receive are in direct proportion to our faith. Therefore, the depth or “measure” of our faith denotes the importance and degree of one’s confidence that our Lord has the ability and power to bestow grace and healing, as well as the forgiveness of sins. Our faith is not the power behind God’s grace, but the conduit by which it flows.

Fr. John

ENCOUNTER WITH GOD IN SINAI - "What doest thou here, Elijah?..."

For the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah (July 20th)

ENCOUNTER WITH GOD IN SINAI - "What doest thou here, Elijah?..."

“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. 

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:8-13)

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St. Gregory of Sinai* (+1346 AD), commentary on Prophet Elijah’s encounter with God in Sinai:

“Grace begins to operate in people during prayer in different ways, for, as the apostle says, the Spirit distributes Himself as He wills in a variety of modes, and is perceived and known correspondingly (cf. Heb. 2:4). Elijah the Tishbite serves here as an example for us (cf. 1 Kgs. 19:11-12). 

In some the Spirit appears as a whirlwind of awe, dissolving the mountains of the passions and shattering the rocks of our hardened hearts, so that our worldly self is transpierced and mortified.

 In others the Spirit appears as an earthquake, that is to say as a sense of inward jubilation or what the fathers more clearly define as a sense of exultation. In others He is manifested inwardly as a fire that is non-material yet real; for what is unreal and imaginary is also non-existent.

 Finally, in others – particularly in those well advanced in prayer – God produces a gentle and serene flow of light. This is when Christ comes to dwell in the heart, as St Paul says (cf. Eph. 3:17), mystically disclosing Himself through the Holy Spirit. That is why God said to Elijah on Mount Horeb that the Lord was not in this or in that – not in the particular actions He manifests Himself in to beginners – but in the gentle flow of light; for it is in this that He attests the perfection of our prayer.”

*From St. Gregory of Sinai, Philokalia

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From the Pilgrimage of Egeria, who visited Sinai in the year 383,

"Having then fulfilled all the desire with which we had hastened to ascend, we began our descent from the summit of the mount of God which we had ascended to another mountain joined to it, which is called Horeb, where there is a church. This is that Horeb where was holy Elijah the prophet, when he fled from the face of Ahab the king, and where God spake to him and said: What doest thou here Elijah? as it is written in the books of the Kings. 

The cave where holy Elijah lay hid is shown to this day before the door of the church which is there. A stone altar also is shown which holy Elijah raised to make an offering to God; thus the holy men deigned to show us each place. There, too, we made the oblation, with very earnest prayer, and also read the passage from the book of the Kings; for it was our special custom that, when we had arrived at those places which I had desired to visit, the appropriate passage from the book should always be read."

Based on Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/3027

The Dawn of the Eternal. On time and eternity: the time given to us on earth as ‘the accepted time’ of the Lord’s goodness, and liturgical time bathed in the light of eternity.

TWO NEW MIRACLES of Archbishop John Maximovitch.

TWO NEW MIRACLES

 of Archbishop John Maximovitch

 I.

I WILL TELL YOU how Vladika John healed me. I suffer from heart trouble, high blood pressure, and arthritis. It was all tolerable until, two and a half years ago, arthritis took hold of my whole chest. The pain was unbearable. I couldn't move my arms or bend down, and I did my housework in torment. The whole time I prayed to the Mother of God and begged Her to deliver me from these torments.

And it was not long before help came to me, sinful and unworthy one. I saw a dream. I was walking on a road and carrying before me a cross; it was an old one and had become quite yellow, but here I saw that it was shining like new (it was the size of the palm of a hand). Then I saw coming up to me a monk with a staff in his hands. When he reached me he said to me: "Here you are all the time praying to the Mother of God to help you, but you are not the only one who suffers; be patient and wait."

Here I woke up and thought for a long time as to what this dream might mean. I decided that evidently this is pleasing to God and I should be patient. In a few days I received a letter from a friend whom I had written about my pains. She told me that I should write to the Batiushka who serves in the cathedral where the Sepulchre of Vladika John is located. I wrote him a letter and sent money, asking him to serve a panikhida for Vladika John and to pray for me. Batiushka fulfilled my request and sent me a little icon of the Mother of God, a little cross from Jerusalem, some cotton dipped in oil from the lamp that burns in the Sepulchre of Vladika John, and most important — his portrait. As soon as I saw it, I immediately recognized the monk whom I had seen in the dream — and I had never seen him while he was alive, you know. I burst into tears and began to thank the Lord for His mercy to me. I began to pray and to ask Vladika to pray for me. I confessed my sins to him, begging him to entreat the Lord to forgive me and grant me remission of sins and healing of soul and body. With the cotton I annointed my chest and fervently prayed.

After this I became gradually better and better. The pain became weaker, my heart felt better, and my blood pressure began to fall. And so, after two and a half years of pain in my chest, it passed away entirely — and the whole time, because of my heart, I had been under a physician's care, and no matter what he gave me or advised, nothing helped. But by the prayers of Vladika John, the Lord healed me. I gave a promise to send money for candles or oil to his Sepulchre every year for the day of Vladika's repose, which I will do until the Lord calls me to Himself. My friend Olga Alexandrovna Makarova also was healed of arthritis, but that was during Vladika's lifetime. It was she who advised me to turn to him.

I have written you everything, as God is my witness! What good fortune that we have intercessors before God and His Most Pure Mother!

Sofia Zukulis

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

February 15, 1977

 II.

ONE SATURDAY I went to visit an old American lady-friend, now reposed, who lived in an old-age home and could move around only in a wheelchair. She was entirely alone and my visits always gave her great joy. I always brought her sweets. The day was very hot, and I had to travel for about an hour. Having sat with her, I began to get ready to go home, again in the intense heat. But I managed to ask a woman who was visiting her mother to take me, even though it wasn't at all on her way.

She drove me to my apartment, and so as not to detain her I quickly got out of the automobile, and in my haste I closed the door on three fingers of my right hand. The pain was very intense and the woman became frightened, but I immediately ran into the house. There was blood, extreme pain, and immediately the joints of the three fingers swelled up immensely and turned blue. I thought that the fingers were broken, since I couldn't bend them.

I should tell you that I work as a pianist in a ballet school and play many hours every day. I thought that I would be unable to work for a long time or even might lose the job, and I was terrified. And so, with tears I turned for help to Vladika John with these words: "You see, Vladika, what happened to my hand. During your lifetime you loved to visit the sick. I also love to visit the sick very much, and now I can lose my job." In tears I fell asleep, after placing the ailing hand on his portrait. I woke up in the morning — and I couldn't recognize my own hand. The swelling had gone down, the color was normal, and there was only a barely noticeable pain when I bent the fingers. The whole day Sunday I thanked Vladika and asked for complete healing. On Monday no trace at all remained, and I played without hindrance for many hours. From that time I thank Vladika every day and pray for the repose of his soul. I would like to live to see his canonization.

Nina Pashchenko

Birmingham, Alabama

May 27, 1977

NEW YORK TIMES-Μεγάλη τιμη στο Ράσο και στην ομορφιά της Βυζαντινής Μουσικής.From the Altar to the Alt-Scene: A Greek Priest’s Drone Metal Debut Father Dionysios Tabakis has never played a live concert, but after his first album became a word-of-mouth hit, he’ll be performing at a U.S. festival this summer.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/arts/music/father-dionysios-tabakis-paradise-metal.html?smid=url-share

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse” (Matthew 9:16).

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse” (Matthew 9:16).

During Christ’s time, garments were often made of natural fiber such as wool or linen and were well-worn as people did not have the vast array of clothing as we do today.  Thus, when a garment was damaged or torn and needed to be patched or repaired, no one would think to sew on a piece of “unshrunk” material, because when washed, the new cloth would now shrink and “pull” at the older material and cause another tear.

Jesus uses this analogy as a metaphor to express His radically new teaching cannot simply be incorporated into the Jewish mindset but must take precedence over the law and culture of the past.

Fr. John

China’s Holy New Martyrs, 11 June.Μητροπολίτου Προικοννήσου Ιωσήφ: ΣΙΝΙΚΟΝ ΚΛΕΟΣ. ΟΙ ΑΓΙΟΙ ΝΕΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΙΝΑΣ ~11 ΙΟΥΝΙΟΥ 1900. Κείμενο καί στα Αγγλικά και στα Ελληνικά. (Ε.Α.Ι. = Επίσκοπος Αριανζού Ιωσήφ, ο νυν Προικοννήσου).

China’s Holy New Martyrs, 11 June

[Πιο κάτω ακολουθεί κείμενο στα ελληνικά.]

11 June 1900: a day of Diocletian-like persecution against the numerous Christians of the vast land of China. A day of anger and fire and upheaval. The Boxer rebels vented their fury in particular against the Orthodox, who all together numbered no more than seven hundred, and struck at Christ’s “little flock” in a mad rage…

It may be that they held many grievances against the foreigners and their various “missionaries”, who were not always innocent of worldly ambitions and self-serving considerations. But the small Orthodox Church of China, the holy offspring of the Russian missionary zeal of older times, had shown and proved from early on that its concern and task was exclusively preaching and spreading the Kingdom of God, and not the “religious” support of political and other vain and reprehensible expediencies. So, even if others had given cause for suspicion and complaint, the Orthodox merely preached Christ crucified and nothing else.

Compared to the “ant-hills” of Buddhists, Confucians and Taoists, the other presence was a drop in the ocean. Despite that, this “drop” was unbearably irritating for the Boxers and they could not stand that it worked on the eyes of their souls like ointment, sharpening their spiritual activity so that they could make out the light of true knowledge of God. So they determined to dry it up: with the fire of persecution; with the horrible tempest of violence; in any and every way.

Almost all the churches were torched. The missionary centre in Beijing, its valuable library, its printing-press, everything, was consigned to the flames. Whatever the humble missionary effort had managed to achieve turned to rubble and ash.

Of the seven hundred believers, a handful were Russian, who formed only the basic personnel of the mission under Archimandrite Innokenty. All the rest were native Chinese and the manic fury of the Boxers was aimed precisely at these fellow-countrymen of theirs. There are no words to describe the murderous rage against the lambs of the Church.

Among the first victims was the venerable priest Mitrofan Chi: “I shall strike down the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will scatter” (Matth. 26, 31). Together with the priest his unsullied child, John, an eight-year-old child. They mutilated him ruthlessly. “Do you reject faith in Christ?”. “No”. “Will you bow down to Buddha?”. “Never”. They cut him up into pieces. As he gave up his soul, some slightly more charitable people went and tried to show him some humanity. When they asked him if he was in great pain, the holy child martyr of Christ, with an angelic smile on his face, whispered: It’s no great thing to suffer for Christ”. He closed his eyes on the barbarity of the earth and opened them in the Kingdom of Heaven, where Kirykos, Tarsizios, Claudius, Ypatios, Dionysios, Paul and the other “little children” of Christ were waiting to welcome him as a brother and have him join in their “game”, together with the cherubim and seraphim.

For Paul Van, a catechist, the time came for him to seal, with his confession and martyrdom, what he had taught for years to the nestlings of the Church. He bore unheard of tortures without complaint, with a prayer on his lips, and gave up his blessed soul into the hands of his Maker. Iyia Ven, a teacher at the Mission School, was repeatedly tortured inhumanely. She was beaten, mutilated and finally gave up her soul, also confessing the name of the Lord as boldly as any man. There were others with them: young and old; folk in low and high positions; educated and private individuals; rustic and urban types; men of letters and manual labourers. Their names are known by God, Who wrote them in the book of life. About four hundred friends of Christ proved themselves as martyrs and confessors. They irrigated the soil of China with their blood and sanctified it with their ultimate sacrifice. The land of China, which had previously been barren and infertile, supported its first fragrant blossoms, which, with the sweet yellow of their colour enhanced the beauty of the celestial Garden of Eden and with their dew refreshed the Christianity of the early 20th century, which was reeling under the burden of rationalism and indolence. The historic Chinese people rendered its first-fruits to the Lord of Hosts.

11 June, 1900. Fitting was the sacrifice of the Chinese New Martyrs…Fitting the bloodstained stole of Father Mitrofan… Fitting the blameless sacrificial victim, the young lad John… Fitting the blood of Iya, Paul and all the other martyrs and confessors unknown to us but known to God by name, the first-fruits of their race.

11. June 1995. Poring over the pages of “Ecclesiastical Truth” of the Church of Constantinople for the year of Our Lord 1901, I made my first acquaintance with the Holy New Martyrs of China. Their holy icon, pained in a Byzantino-Chinese style already adorns my humble office. By their holy prayers, Christ our God, raise up the fallen tabernacle of Your Church in China and save the souls of us, Your servants, who love the martyrs.

† E. A. I.

Dismissal Hymn

The Chinese martyrs destroyed their ancestors’ delusion, elevated the faith of the Orthodox and fought mightily. For they censured the Buddhist religion and confessed Christ with boldness as perfect God. They pray to Him ceaselessly on behalf of our souls.

(source: pemptousia.com)

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Νεομάρτυρες της Κίνας, 11 Ιουνίου

Ημέρα διοκλητιάνειου διωγμού των ευάριθμων Χριστιανών της αχανούς Κίνας. Ημέρα οργής και φωτιάς και συσ-σεισμού. Οι επαναστάτες Πυγμάχοι («Μπόξερς») έστρεψαν το μένος τους ιδιαίτερα εναντίον των εφτακοσίων όλων κι όλων Ορθοδόξων, και χτύπησαν με λύσσα το «μικρόν ποίμνιον» του Χριστού…

΄Ισως να είχαν πολλά παράπονα με τους ξένους και με τις διάφορες «ιεραποστολές» τους, που δεν ήταν πάντοτε άμοιρες εγκόσμιων επιδιώξεων και σκοπιμοτήτων. ΄Ομως η μικρή Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία της Κίνας, άγιο τέκνο της ρωσικής ιεραποστολικής φλόγας παλαιοτέρων εποχών, από νωρίς ειχε δείξει και αποδείξει ότι έγνοιά της και έργο της ήταν αποκλειστικά ο ευαγγελισμός και η εξάπλωση της Βασιλείας του Θεού, και όχι η «θρησκευτική» υποστήριξη πολιτικών και άλλων μάταιων και εφάμαρτων σκοπιμοτήτων. ΄Ετσι, αν άλλοι είχαν δόσει λαβή για υποψίες και παράπονα, οι Ορθόδοξοι εκήρυτταν Χριστόν εσταυρωμένον και τίποτε άλλο!

Μέσα στις «μυρμηγκιές» των Βουδδιστών, των Κομφουκιανών και των Ταοϊστών, η Ορθόδοξη παρουσία ήταν «σταγών εν τω ωκεανώ». Παρά ταύτα, η σταγόνα αυτή ήταν ανυπόφορα ενοχλητική για τους «Μπόξερς» και δεν την ανέχθηκαν να λειτουργήσει στα μάτια της ψυχής τους σαν κολλύριο, να ξαστερώσει η πνευματική τους δράση, για να μπορέσουν να διακρίνουν το φως της αληθινής θεογνωσίας. Γι’ αυτό και βάλθηκαν να τη στεγνώσουν. Με τη φωτιά του διωγμού. Με τον απαίσιο άνεμο της βίας. Με κάθε τρόπο!…

΄Ολες σχεδόν οι εκκλησίες πυρπολήθηκαν. Το ιεραποστολικό κέντρο του Πεκίνου, η πολύτιμη βιβλιοθήκη του, το τυπογραφείο του, τα πάντα παραδόθηκαν στις φλόγες. ‘Ο,τι είχε καταφέρει να δημιουργήσει η ταπεινή ιεραποστολική προσπάθεια μεταβλήθηκε σε ερείπια και στάχτες.

Από τους εφτακόσιους πιστούς, μετρημένοι στα δάχτυλα ήσαν οι Ρώσοι, το βασικό δηλαδή προσωπικό μονάχα της υπό τον Αρχιμανδρίτη Ιννοκέντιο Ιεραποστολής. ΄Ολοι οι υπόλοιποι ήταν αυτόχθονες Κινέζοι. Η λύσσα των «Μπόξερς» ξέσπασε ακριβώς εναντίον αυτών των ομοεθνών τους… Δεν υπάρχουν λόγια για να περιγράψει κανείς το φονικό τους μένος εναντίον των αρνίων της Εκκλησίας!…

Από τα πρώτα θύματά τους υπήρξε ο σεβάσμιος Ιερέας Μητροφάνης Τσή. «Πατάξω τον ποιμένα και διασκορπισθήσονται τα πρόβατα της ποίμνης» (Ματθ. κστ’, 31)… Μαζί με τον Ιερέα και ο απειρόκακος βλαστός του Ιωάννης, οχτάχρονο παιδί! Το ακρωτηρίασαν ανηλεώς… -Αρνείσαι την πίστη του Χριστού;… -Όχι!… -Προσκυνάς τον Βούδδα;… -Μή γένοιτο!.. Τον έκοψαν κομμάτια. Στο ξεψύχισμά του κάποιοι πονετικοί πλησίασαν και προσπάθησαν να του δείξουν λίγη ανθρωπιά. Στην ερώτηση τους αν υποφέρει πολύ, ο άγιος Παιδομάρτυρας του Χριστού, με αγγελικό μειδίαμα στα χείλη εψιθύρισε. -Το να πάσχει κανείς για τον Χριστό δέν είναι βαρύ πράγμα… κι έκλεισε τ’ αθώα του μάτια στη βαρβαρότητα της γης για να τ’ ανοίξει στη Βασιλεία του Θεού, όπου οι Κήρυκοι και οι Ταρσίζιοι κι οι Κλαύδιοι και οι Υπάτιοι και οι Διονύσιοι κι οι Παύλοι και οι άλλοι «Παιδαρίσκοι» του Χριστού τον περίμεναν αδελφικά να τον βάλουν στο «παιχνίδι» τους, μαζί με τα Χερουβίμ και τα Σεραφίμ…

Ο Παύλος Βαν, Κατηχητής, ήρθε η ώρα να επισφραγίσει με την ομολογία του και το μαρτύριο υπέρ Χριστού όσα για χρόνια εδίδασκε στους νεοσσούς της Εκκλησίας. Υπέμεινε αγόγγυστα ανήκουστα μαρτύρια με την προσευχή στα χείλη και παρέδωσε τη μακαρία του ψυχή στα χέρια του Πλαστού του… Η ΄Ιγια Βεν, δασκάλα της Ιεραποστολικής Σχολής, βασανίστηκε απάνθρωπα κατ’ επανάληψη. Χτυπήθηκε, ακρωτηριάσθηκε, ξεψύχισε επιτέλους ομολογώντας και αυτή με ανδρικό φρόνημα και παρρησία το όνομα του Χριστού. Μαζί τους κι άλλοι. Μικροί και μεγάλοι. Απλοί και επίσημοι. Μορφωμένοι και ιδιώτες. ΄Ανθρωποι της υπαίθρου και αστοί. Εργάτες των γραμμάτων και χειρώνακτες…

Τα ονόματα τους τα ξέρει ο Θεός που τα κατέγραψε εν βίβλω ζωής… Τετρακόσιοι περίπου φιλόχριστοι αναδείχθηκαν Μάρτυρες και Ομολογητές κι επότισαν με τα καθαρά τους αίματα τα χώματα της Κίνας και τα αγίασαν με την υπέρτατη θυσία τους. Η πρώην άγονη και στείρα Κινεζική γη αναβλάστησε τα πρώτα της μυρίπνοα άνθη, που με το γλυκύ κίτρινο χρώμα τους επλούτισαν την ωραιότητα του Κήπου της επουράνιας Εδέμ, και με τη δροσιά τους εδρόσισαν τη λιγοθυμισμένη από το καύμα του ορθολογισμού και της ακηδίας Χριστιανωσύνη των αρχών του αιώνος μας. Ο ιστορικός λαός των Σινών έδωσε τις απαρχές του στον Θεό Σαββαώθ…

11 Ιουνίου 1900… ΄Αξιόν εστι η θυσία των Σινών Νεομαρτύρων… ΄Αξιόν εστι το αιμοβαφές επιτραχήλιο του Πρεσβυτέρου Μητροφάνους… ΄Αξιόν εστι το άμωμο σφάγιο, ο μειρακίσκος Ιωάννης… ΄Αξιόν εστι το αίμα ΄Ιγιας, Παύλου και όλων των αγνώστων και τω Θεώ γνωστών κατ όνομα Ομολογητών και Μαρτύρων, των απαρχών της Κίτρινης Φυλής…

11 Ιουνίου 1995. Σκυμμένος στις σελίδες της «Εκκλησιαστικής Αληθείας» της Εκκλησίας Κωνσταντινουπόλεως του σωτηρίου έτους 1901, κάνω την πρώτη γνωριμία μου με τους Αγίους Νεομάρτυρες της Κίνας… Η ιερή τους εικόνα, σινο-βυζαντινότροπη, αγιάζει ήδη το ταπεινό μου γραφείο… Ταις αυτών αγίαις πρεσβείαις Χριστέ ο Θεός, την πεπτωκυΐαν σκηνήν της εν Κίνα Εκκλησίας Σου ανάστησον και σώσον τας ψυχάς ημών, των φιλομαρτύρων δούλων Σου…

† Ε.Α.Ι.

Απολυτίκιον

Ήχος γ΄. Θείας πίστεως

Σίναι Μάρτυρες πατρώαν πλάνην, καταστρέψαντες, ύψωσαν πίστιν, των Ορθοδόξων και στερρώς ηγωνίσθησαν, την βουδδικήν γάρ θρησκείαν ελέγξαντες, εν παρρησία Χριστόν ωμολόγησαν, Θεόν τέλειον˙ Αυτώ δ’ εκτενώς πρεσβεύουσιν, υπέρ των ψυχών ημών.

Πηγή: Σινικόν Κλέος (Οι Νεομάρτυρες της Κίνας), Έκδοσις «Ορθόδοξος Κυψέλη», Θεσσαλονίκη 1999

(πηγή: pemptousia.gr)

LITURGY at the PEAK of MOUNT SINAI (2023)From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog:

LITURGY at the PEAK of MOUNT SINAI (2023)

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog:

Every year, we celebrate Pentecost all together at the monastery. The following day, Monday of the Holy Spirit, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the peak of Mount Sinai. This year we left at four o’clock in the morning. There were thirteen of us — members of the community, and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Canada, and Austria.

From the Great Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church:

"We celebrate this feast of Holy Pentecost today in commemoration of the coming into the world of the All-holy Spirit, which happened fifty days after the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, which fulfilled His promise to His disciples and obtained the completion of their hope and sanctification. 

We celebrate Holy Pentecost furthermore in honour of the weekly number, that is, as the Jews counting seven weeks from Passover celebrated their own Pentecost, since fifty days were fulfilled from Passover to the receiving of the Law, in this manner we celebrate the Fiftieth from Pascha as instead of the Law we have received the All-holy Spirit on this day of Pentecost, legislating and guiding us into all truth and the commandments appointed by God."

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/8039

--------------------------------

From the Article "From Ascension to Pentecost" by Sr. Joanna:

... It is at the Ascension, at His last appearance as God on Earth, that the Lord reminds His Apostles for the last time, indeed with His parting words, to expect the gift of the Holy Spirit. With this grace, they will receive power to act as His witnesses “to the very ends of the earth” – the same grace of the Holy Spirit that was lost from Adam at the fall of mankind, and reclaimed by Christ on our behalf in the Jordan.

The same grace, bequeathed to all generations, of the Mysteries of the Holy Orthodox faith, instituted by Christ in fulfillment of the promise of His Ascension: Baptism and Holy Chrism, Confession and Holy Communion, Marriage, Ordination, and Holy Unction – in short, the restoration to health not only of human free will, but of every blessing bestowed on humankind for its perfection in that most evasive of all successes - incorruptible happiness, whether in this life, or the next ...   

Monasteries are cauldrons of humanity, like any other institution, and have their ups and downs. But there is a beauty to the life not met with on the outside, against which the greatest civilization pales. The elegance of holiness cannot be described, except perhaps through its effect on those nearby. One is bemused to see people normally alienated by their passions gather around a holy elder, drawn like bees to honey, antipathies brushed away like so many unwanted flies. Or moved beyond words, on another occasion, to see the tear-filled eyes of a lost soul suddenly opened wide to the Truth at the mere sight of a God-bearing father, freed of the mockeries succumbed to in the name of ‘religion’. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the sanctified is palpable, even tactile to the soul – αἰσθητή!

Christos, of course, means “anointed.” Therefore, upon ascent from the waters of Orthodox baptism the newly illumined is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is through the mystical chrism of anointment that “you are properly called christs,” and therefore Christians, says Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, for “through this Holy Chrism and by means of it, God Himself is present and energizes within us.”

A single message is central not only to the Ascension, not only to the great mystery of Christ’s ministry on earth, but to the entire biblical tradition founded in the revelation to Moses on Sinai: the soul’s union with God through the divine energies of the Holy Spirit – for the Son of God becomes man for no other reason.

From the Article "From Ascension to Pentecost" by Sr. Joanna in the FMSM News Blog: https://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/news-blog/2017/5/25/from-ascension-to-pentecost8

FOR THOSE IN A BAD MOOD.

✨FOR THOSE IN A BAD MOOD, ✨

Priest Anthony Skrynnikov gave some very good advice: "The other day I was in a bad mood: I was sitting and thinking about how hard it is to live in this world. Then I gave communion to a woman in the hospital before surgery. The doctors weren't promising anything good, and she had three children... Then a young woman came to church who was due to give birth in a few days. The doctors said she might die...

After that, it's somehow shameful to think about having problems—I have none at all, compared to other people's troubles." BUT don't forget: each person's pain is unique, and it must be treated with respect.☦

ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T BE BAPTIZED CARELESSLY.

ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T BE BAPTIZED CARELESSLY

“Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with negligence…” ( Jer 48:10 )

Venerable Ephraim the Syrian:

"Instead of a shield, protect yourself with the precious cross, imprinting it on your limbs and heart. And don't just make the sign of the cross with your hand, but also imprint it on your limbs and heart, on every activity, in your thoughts... For this weapon is very powerful, and no one can ever harm you if you are protected by this weapon. If no one can harm the one who bears the seal of an earthly king, then even more so, no one can compete with us, who bear the seal of the great heavenly King."

Venerable Nilus of Sinai:

"If you often seal your forehead and your heart with the sign of the Lord's cross, then the demons will flee from you, because they are very afraid of this holy seal."

Venerable Anthony the Great:

"Sign yourselves with the sign of the cross... and let the demons make a mockery of you."

St. John Chrysostom:

"Many ignorant people, waving their hands across their faces, cross themselves, and doing so, labor in vain, because they do not faithfully make the sign of the cross on their faces, for the demons rejoice at this waving. But those who cross themselves faithfully, placing their hands on their foreheads and stomachs, and on their right side, and then on their left, the angels, seeing the true cross imaginary on their faces, rejoice."

A DIVISION AMONG THE PEOPLE.

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

In Greek, the words translated as “be of good cheer” (or sometimes rendered as “take heart”) can also be understood as an encouragement to “be bold, confident, or courageous.” 

While the world offers only trials, trouble, and tribulations, 

Christians need not be anxious or afraid because Jesus has overcome (conquered) our sinful, fallen world and provides hope and peace to those who abide in Him. Christ is our "victory."

Fr. John

Prayer as Infinite Creation.

 

ειλικρινά,

Ο Θεός μας είναι ο Θεός των Πατέρων μας. Στο σώμα του Χριστού, την Εκκλησία, ο Θεός δεν δημιούργησε αφέντες και δούλους αλλά πατέρες και γιους. Οι γιοι μέσω της υπακοής, της εμπιστοσύνης, της αγάπης και της πιστότητάς τους γίνονται με τη σειρά τους πατέρες. Μέσω της χάρης της υπακοής, ένας αληθινός γιος κληρονομεί τη ζωή του Γέροντά του και αποκτά το κλειδί του Δαβίδ, δηλαδή τη σοφία να ξεκλειδώσει τις επτά σφραγίδες της Αγίας Γραφής. Για έναν υπάκουο γιο, ο λόγος του Γέροντά του είναι επίσης Αγία Γραφή, επομένως του δίνεται και το κλειδί για να κατανοήσει, να ερμηνεύσει και να σχολιάσει τον λόγο του ιερού πατέρα του.

Ο λόγος του Θεού είναι δημιουργικός και δυναμικός και δεν επιστρέφει στον Θεό κενός. Ομοίως, ο λόγος των Αγίων αναπτύσσεται, ανθίζει και φέρνει πολύ καρπό στην καρδιά ενός γιου που λατρεύει τα βήματα του Γέροντά του. Αυτό το βιβλίο, «Η Προσευχή ως Άπειρη Δημιουργία», είναι ο καρπός ενός υπάκουου γιου, του Αρχιμανδρίτη Ζαχαρία, που σχολιάζει τα ιερά γραπτά των Αγίων Πατέρων του εν Θεώ, Σιλουανού και Σωφρονίου των Αθωνιτών.

Με μεγάλη μας χαρά ανακοινώνουμε ότι αυτό το ηχητικό βιβλίο είναι πλέον ευρύτερα διαθέσιμο σε μια σειρά από διαφορετικές πλατφόρμες, όπως το Amazon, το Apple Books, το Google Play Books και το Spotify, ώστε η φωνή των Αγίων Πατέρων μας να φτάσει σε όλη τη γη και τα λόγια τους μέχρι το τέλος του κόσμου.

Αγοράστε το Ηχητικό βιβλίο

Τα ηχητικά βιβλία που αγοράζονται από τον ιστότοπό μας παραδίδονται μέσω της εφαρμογής BookFunnel, η οποία είναι διαθέσιμη σε iOS, Android και υπολογιστές.

Apple Books Spotify Google Play Books Audible

Σταυροπηγιακή Μονή Αγίου Ιωάννη του Βαπτιστή, Έσσεξ, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο

The Old Rectory, Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, CM9 8EZ, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο.

 

Dearest ,      Our God is the God of our Fathers. In the body of Christ, the Church, God did not make masters and slaves but fathers and sons. The sons through their obedience, trust, love, and fidelity become in their turn fathers. Through the grace of obedience, a true son inherits the life of his Elder, and obtains the key of David, that is to say, the wisdom to unlock the seven seals of Holy Scripture. For an obedient son, the word of his Elder is also Holy Scripture, so the key is also given to him to understand, interpret, and comment on the word of his sacred father.      The word of God is creative and dynamic, and it does not return unto God void. Likewise, the word of the Saints grows, blossoms and brings forth much fruit in the heart of a son who venerates the footsteps of his Elder. This book, Prayer as Infinite Creation, is the fruit of an obedient son, Archimandrite Zacharias, commenting on the sacred writings of his Holy Fathers in God, Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites.      It is our great joy to announce that this audiobook is now more widely available on a number of different platforms, including Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play Books and Spotify, so the voice of our Holy Fathers may go out into all the earth and their words to the end of the world.

Buy the Audiobook

Priest Alexander Elchaninov📖

🌸You can be angelically kind to those who treat you with trust and love. But encounter malice, condemnation, or hostility, and kindness turns into its opposite. This clearly demonstrates our complete powerlessness in the face of evil, and above all, in the face of the evil within ourselves that rises up in response to others' criticism. Reproaches and criticism are a bitter medicine for our vanity, our complacency.💥

Priest Alexander Elchaninov📖

“And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (John 10:23)

Christ is Risen!

“And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (John 10:23)

Solomon’s Porch was a covered walkway, a colonnade within the Great Temple in Jerusalem. Ironically, this same area in which Jesus walked became a routine gathering place for the early Christians where they met, preached the gospel, and celebrated the Eucharist.  

Fr. John