The Life and Works of Saint Theophan the Recluse (Bishop Alexander Mileant)

 

One of the most influential spiritual writers of the 19th century was Saint Theophan the Recluse , who became a great teacher of the Christian life. His works are essential for all who thirst for salvation. One cannot read them without reverence, without spiritual awe... He speaks to you of God and your soul, opening avenues to another world—as "one in power"... And everyone feels this, for truth bears witness to itself... Bishop Theophan left us a priceless treasure in the form of more than 60 spiritual works, most of which he wrote during his 28-year seclusion in Vysha and which he bequeathed to the entire Russian people before his death . In the lines of his works, one can find an inexhaustible source of spiritual upliftment, introspection, and aspiration to the heavenly heights. The grace of God is felt in his every phrase.

Although a highly educated man who had achieved extraordinary career success at a relatively young age, he nevertheless made the firm decision to withdraw from the world and go into seclusion. He thus decided to dedicate his scholarship and knowledge to serving the Orthodox Church, for he was deeply convinced that the most important thing in the work of salvation is to constantly pray to God with the mind and heart, and to be undisturbed... "In matters of faith and salvation, it is not philosophy that is required, but a childlike acceptance of Divine truth. The mind must be trampled underfoot, just as in the painting, Archangel Michael tramples Satan. Archangel Michael represents the mind submissive to the truth of God, while Satan is the rebellious, vain mind, from which all revolutions arise, both in families and in the Church..."

Explanation of the feast of Theophany (Baptism of Christ) by Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas, Phd

1. Theophany (or Epiphany) and Christmas

Theophany is one of the great Feasts of the Lord of the ecclesiastical year. It is also called Epiphany and the Day of Lights and is celebrated on the 6th/19th of January. The names of this Feast indicate the understanding of the ancient Church concerning this Feast. This understanding is connected with the revelation of God, that is, the manifestation of the One God in Trinity through the Incarnation of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, Theophany comprises the birth of Christ and the related events (e.g. the visitation of the Magi) and also the beginning of the public manifestation of the incarnate economy of the Son of God which is connected with the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan by John the Baptizer.

The Life of St Michael Yershov (+1977)

Vladyka Michael Yershov (in the center)

 

Vladyka Michael (Yershov) was born on September 17 (or October 12), 1911... His father, whose name was Basil, had taken part in the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War and the Civil War. From 1920 he had become a cobbler and president of the committee of poverty in the village. There were five children in the family, four daughters and a son. Michael’s mother was called Daria.

Michael finished two classes at elementary school, and at the age of ten began to help his father, working as a cobbler. He went to church services and sang in the choir. When he was twelve years old, as he was receiving communion in a church in Chistopol, an elder saw him and said: "This lad will take upon himself the sins of the whole people."

From 1929 the church was closed and his father became president of the village soviet and began to persecute his son for reading service books and constantly praying at home. As a result of this he went blind. Afterwards, when he repented, he recovered his sight.

In November, 1930, Michael left his father’s home because he did not agree with the family’s joining the collective farm. At some time during that year. He arrived in Chistopol, where he fell seriously ill. On recovering, he got to know Elder Plato, who told him: “You will suffer very much for the name of God and for the people. Only don’t seek anything from anyone, rely only on Almighty God. By the mercy of God I knew about you before.”

On hope in God and patience (Hieromonk Arseny Minin)

Do not put your trust in princes or in the sons of men, for there is no salvation in them ( Ps. 145:3 ), cries the Holy Prophet King, do not put your trust in friends, or in wealth, or in your health, or in anything else, all this is vain, disappears like a dream, flutters away like smoke.

Trust in your Creator and Savior alone; He knows all your spiritual and physical needs better than you do, and He cares for you. Those who do not trust in God face God's terrible judgment: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and sets his arm of flesh upon him; and his heart will depart from the Lord. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord will be his hope. He will be like a tree planted by the waters, and will send out his root in the moisture; he will not be afraid when the heat comes, but his stem will be green; and when there is no rain he will not be afraid, nor will he cease to bear fruit ( Jer. 17:5, 7:8 ).

GOSPEL AND WAR (St Nikolai Velimirovich of Serbia)

Let us now close the book of the Old Testament and open the New Testament .

Did I hear your question correctly, General: “Was the Savior (Christ) for war or against it?”

Sorry, but this question is similar to another: “Is the mother for or against the rod for her child?”

MEMOIRS BY ARCHIMANDRITE NEKTARY OF ELEON (1905 - 2000)

 

As a young boy, still before the Revolution, I had a terrible dream: the south-west part of the sky was illumined by a bloody, glowing sunset, like a fire, and on this bloody sky was written in huge, shining letters the word, "the end."

At that time I did not attribute any particular meaning to this dream. But I never forgot it. It was so vivid and stunning that my entire life afterwards was colored by the presentiment that this dream would definitely be fulfilled.

And so it did. It began in 1917, and with each passing year it became increasingly evident that the world was coming to an end. In the beginning old Russia was destroyed, the Tsar was overthrown, the antitheistic regime came to power, and then began the annihilation of thousands of innocent people and the persecution of Christians on an unprecedented scale. Churches were blown up, monasteries were closed and blasphemously turned into the most disreputable places. All this was seen as the coming to power of the beast of the apocalypse.

In recent years we see that the power of this beast is beginning to spread over the whole world. The process of apostasy, begun several centuries ago, is today approaching its final stage. We are entering the age of the apocalypse.

And now the meaning of the dream I had so many years ago has finally become clear to me.

Defending and Speaking the Truth in a Time of Falsehood: The Patristic Teaching

St. Basil the Great:

“Anyone who is capable of speaking the truth but remains silent, will be
heavily judged by God, especially in this case, where the faith and the very foundation of the
entire church of the Orthodox is in danger. To remain silent under these circumstances is to
betray these, and the appropriate witness belongs to those that reproach (stand up for the faith).

St. Paisios of Mount Athos:

“You see people abusing and reviling holy and sacred things and
others not saying anything. Being meek on such an occasion is demonic.”

On perfection (St Macarius the Great)

 

A brother asked Abba Macarius the Great: What is perfection?

The elder replied:

A person cannot be perfect unless he acquires humility in soul and body, so great that he does not praise himself for any action, but humbly considers himself below every creature; never judge anyone but himself; endure insults and dishonor, and remove all impurity from your heart; strive to be patient, good, brotherly, chaste, and temperate, as Scripture says: "Until now the kingdom of heaven is needy, and the needy are pleased with it" (Mt. 11:12); look straight with your eyes, hold your tongue, avoid every empty and mentally harmful hearing, observe uprightness of hands, purity of heart before God, and purity of body; constantly have a thought and a remembrance of death; To put aside all anger and malice, to renounce all material and carnal pleasures, that is, the devil and all his works; to submit completely to the All-King God and all His commandments, and to have Him constantly before you at all times, in all things, and in all your actions.

Source: Ancient Patericon

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MIRACLE OF SAINT SPYRIDON (1716)

After Corfu was liberated from the Turkish siege—thanks to the protection of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker—on August 11, 1716, Andrea Pisani, governor and captain general of Corfu, wanted to do something to thank the saint for his great benevolence in the aforementioned liberation. He consulted a papist theologian, Francisco Frangipani, on what he should do, what would be best and what would be pleasing to the saint.

The theologian said it would be a very good and holy act to build a precious marble altar inside the Church of Saint Spyridon, so that a Latin Mass could be celebrated there. And "Your Excellency may hear the Mass in your own language when you are present," he said. The theologian's advice pleased the governor, who ordered the materials to be prepared immediately. However, before the materials were prepared, he thought it appropriate to call the priests of that church (where the relics of the divine Spyridon were kept) and inquire how they could be of assistance. As soon as they received the unexpected news, they told him bluntly that it was a dangerous innovation and they had no desire to assist him in his plan. The governor angrily responded that even if they were unwilling to help, as the supreme authority, he would do as he wished and order the materials to be collected outside the saint's church without fail. Asbestos, plaster, marble, and a slab of select marbles, superbly crafted for an altar, were thus collected.

Orthodoxy in America: Its Historical Past and Present (St Seraphim Rose)

Orthodoxy in America

We have gathered here today to venerate St. Herman, first saint of the American land, first Orthodox missionary to America, bringer of Orthodox Christianity to the New World. This feast gives us an opportunity to look at the Orthodoxy he brought: what has happened to it since his time, where it stands in this country today, what are the hopes for it -- and for us, who are today's Orthodox Christians -- in the years ahead, nearly two hundred years after the seeds of the true faith were planted here.