| And what in return? In return, the Lord performs miracles, as He performed the miracle of Moscow’s deliverance, as He performed the miracle of the salvation of our country and of all Europe. A sign of this miracle was the end of hostilities on the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George according to our Julian ecclesiastical calendar. This is also a sign of the special role played by our country and people in that great and sacred Victory. Today we pray that the Lord would send down His mercy and love on our people, on the whole of historical Rus’, and on our country of Russia; that the Lord would strengthen faith in people’s hearts; and that the Lord would give us the strength to live according to His commandments, to keep our moral sense intact, and to construct a way of life not according to the false and dangerous logic of sin, which the devil often offers to man in very attractive packaging, but according to the logic of Divine laws. The heart rejoices that today, over the expanses of historical Rus’, a revival of faith is underway. And no matter how much those who find this revival unpleasant may vituperate, it is taking place not because anyone ordered people to revive their faith, nor because someone from above pointed out where to go, but because our people, having lived through all this pain and suffering, understood – as perhaps no other people – the great truth that one must live with God and according to God’s law. This is just what we pray for today: that our people’s faith may be strong, so that we can cope with our difficulties in life as well as our ancestors coped with mortal danger; that the Lord would grant us a portion of the fidelity and faith possessed by the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer and the holy martyrs, who became symbols of Victory – the Victory that was accomplished by God’s will. Only thus should we regard our Victory. If we forget the spiritual and religious dimension of Victory, this will be blasphemy against God. In return for our incredible effort, in return for the supreme heroism of our people, in return for our all-out efforts, the Lord granted Victory and we received deliverance from His saving right hand. Therefore we offer up prayers of thanksgiving, especially today, for our country, our people, and the first-throned city of Moscow. |
| Of the many miracles worked by the holy Great Martyr George, the most famous are depicted in iconography. In the saint’s native city of Beirut were many idol-worshippers. Outside the city, near Mount Lebanon, was a large lake, inhabited by an enormous dragon-like serpent. Coming out of the lake, it devoured people, and there was nothing anyone could do, since the breath from its nostrils poisoned the very air. On the advice of the demons inhabiting the idols, the local ruler came to a decision. Each day the people would draw lots to feed their own children to the serpent, and he promised to sacrifice his only daughter when his turn came. That time did come, and the ruler dressed her in her finest attire, then sent her off to the lake. The girl wept bitterly, awaiting her death. Unexpectedly for her, Saint George rode up on his horse with spear in hand. The girl implored him not to leave her, lest she perish. The saint signed himself with the Sign of the Cross. He rushed at the serpent saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Saint George pierced the throat of the serpent with his spear and trampled it with his horse. Then he told the girl to bind the serpent with her sash, and lead it into the city like a dog on a leash. The people fled in terror, but the saint halted them with the words: “Don’t be afraid, but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him, since it is He Who sent me to save you.” Then the saint killed the serpent with a sword, and the people burned it outside the city. Twenty-five thousand men, not counting women and children, were then baptized. Later, a church was built and dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos and the Great Martyr George. Saint George went on to become a talented officer and to amaze the world by his military exploits. He died before he was thirty years old. He is known as Victory Bearer, not only for his military achievements, but for successfully enduring martyrdom. As we know, the martyrs are commemorated in the dismissal at the end of Church services as “the holy, right victorious martyr....” |
| When they led Saint George down to the graveyard, he cried out, “O Lord! Show to those here present, that You are the only God in all the world. Let them know You as the Almighty Lord.” Then the earth quaked, a grave opened, the dead one emerged from it alive. Having seen with their own eyes the Power of Christ, the people wept and glorified the true God. The sorcerer Athanasius, falling down at the feet of Saint George, confessed Christ as the All-Powerful God and asked forgiveness for his sins, committed in ignorance. The obdurate emperor in his impiety thought otherwise. In a rage, he commanded both Athanasius and the man raised from the dead to be beheaded, and he had Saint George again locked up in prison. The people, weighed down with their infirmities, began to visit the prison and they there received healing and help from the saint. A certain farmer named Glycerius, whose ox had collapsed, also visited him. The saint consoled him and assured him that God would restore his ox to life. When he saw the ox alive, the farmer began to glorify the God of the Christians throughout all the city. By order of the emperor, Saint Glycerius was arrested and beheaded. The exploits and the miracles of the Great Martyr George had increased the number of the Christians, therefore Diocletian made a final attempt to compel the saint to offer sacrifice to the idols. They set up a court at the pagan temple of Apollo. On the final night the holy martyr prayed fervently, and as he slept, he saw the Lord, Who raised him up with His hand, and embraced him. The Savior placed a crown on Saint George’s head and said, “Fear not, but have courage, and you will soon come to Me and receive what has been prepared for you.” In the morning, the emperor offered to make Saint George his co-administrator, second only to himself. The holy martyr with a feigned willingness answered, “Caesar, you should have shown me this mercy from the very beginning, instead of torturing me. Let us go now to the temple and see the gods you worship.” |
| Then by order of the enraged emperor the armed guards began to push Saint George out of the assembly hall with their spears, and they then led him off to prison. But the deadly steel became soft and it bent, just as the spears touched the saint’s body, and it caused him no harm. In prison they put the martyr’s feet in stocks and placed a heavy stone on his chest. The next day at the interrogation, powerless but firm of spirit, Saint George again answered the emperor, “You will grow tired of tormenting me sooner than I will tire of being tormented by you.” Then Diocletian gave orders to subject Saint George to some very intense tortures. They tied the Great Martyr to a wheel, beneath which were boards pierced with sharp pieces of iron. As the wheel turned, the sharp edges slashed the saint’s naked body. At first the sufferer loudly cried out to the Lord, but soon he quieted down, and did not utter even a single groan. Diocletian decided that the tortured one was already dead, and he gave orders to remove the battered body from the wheel, and then went to a pagan temple to offer thanks. At this very moment it got dark, thunder boomed, and a voice was heard: “Fear not, George, for I am with you.” Then a wondrous light shone, and at the wheel an angel of the Lord appeared in the form of a radiant youth. He placed his hand upon the martyr, saying to him, “Rejoice!” Saint George stood up healed. When the soldiers led him to the pagan temple where the emperor was, the emperor could not believe his own eyes and he thought that he saw before him some other man or even a ghost. In confusion and in terror the pagans looked Saint George over carefully, and they became convinced that a miracle had occurred. Many then came to believe in the Life-Creating God of the Christians. Two illustrious officials, Saints Anatolius and Protoleon, who were secretly Christians, openly confessed Christ. Immediately, without a trial, they were beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor. Also present in the pagan temple was Empress Alexandra, the wife of Diocletian, and she also knew the truth. She was on the point of glorifying Christ, but one of the servants of the emperor took her and led her off to the palace. |
| Celebrating Victory on the day of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer, when the way ended, was a response to those who wondered why the enemy attacked us on Sunday, June 22. It was not just the government, which was then the Soviet Union, that the enemy was challenging. For when the lives of millions of people are concerned, it is about much more than the government. It concerns something of colossal value in God’s eyes: the life of the people, faith, holiness, purity, and how we stand before the face of God. A terrible challenge was mounted to all this, and we know how dear our victory cost us. I gave my blessing, beginning this year, for a moleben [supplicatory service] to be solemnly celebrated in all Russian Orthodox churches on Victory Day in memory of our country’s deliverance from its terrible, mortal enemy and from a danger the likes of which our Fatherland had never known in all its history. While working on the text of the prayer that will be read in our churches, I used a prayer of St. Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow as its basis. The saint composed this prayer in connection with the victory over Napoleon, but deemed it could profitably be read every time our country celebrated victory in war. Of course, St. Philaret’s prayer did not literally correspond to our Victory and our times throughout, so parts had to be edited. But, working on this text, I entered into the meaning of the saint’s prayer. Orthodox Russia and Napoleon’s invasion: How should all this have been reflected in people’s minds back then? As a kind of attack? As a demonic temptation? As enemy intrigues? As the intricacies of politics? But in the mind of St. Philaret and of the entire Church, which later prayed in his words, this attack was perceived as a punishment for sin. A year ago I said in this church that the Great Patriotic War was a punishment for our sin. I was later surprised by the reaction of the secular press, which was surprised and even offended. No need to take offence – no need to sin. No single sin passes God by. Everything that we perform in our personal, social, and governmental life is recorded in the Divine book of life. The Lord, in His mercy, not desiring our eternal torment, leads us through these times of tribulation, which we should regard as a gift of Divine justice and love – not murmuring, but calling upon God’s name, bowing our heads before God in repentance and faith. |
| May 8, 2006, 15:08 Lives of Saints Holy Gloriuos Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George The Greatmartyr George, for his manliness and for his spiritual victory over the torturers, who could not force him to renounce Christianity, and likewise for his wonderworking assistance to people in danger is additionally called the " Victory-bearer " . Neither the Great Horologion nor the Prologue, nor the Church " s services to St George, mention the most popular story of St George, his slaying of a dragon. May 6, 2006, 00:09 Lives of Saints ST. John the Baptist St. John the Baptist is the man who recognizes in Jesus of Nazareth the Lamb of God, God Incarnate, the Man of sorrows. He is the one who in God’s own name declares to those who surround him who He is, and who prepares His way. The greatness of St John the Baptist lies, perhaps more than in anything, in the fact that he so loved, so believed, so completely wanted to serve God, who had come into His world to save it, that his whole service can be put in the words he uses himself: “ I must diminish, I must decrease, that He may increase.” Sep 11, 2005, 00:26 Lives of Saints The Ancient Fathers of the Desert: (Section 1) Abba Antonios said: “The time is coming when people will be seized by manias and will behave like madmen. And if they see anyone acting reasonably, they will rise up against him saying: ‘You are insane.’ And they will have accurately said this to him, for he will not be like them.” May 16, 2005, 01:46 Lives of Saints Sts. Cyril and Methodius In the middle of the 9th Century, Patriarch Photius initiated large scale missionary labors in these regions by sending out the two brothers Constantine (in monasticism Cyril - 869) and Methodius (885 - both are commemorated May 11), first to the Khazar State north of the Caucasus (this was largely unsuccessful) and then to Moravia (Czechoslovakia) in 863. May 10, 2005, 02:38 Our Faith Lifes of Saints New Russian Martyrs Analytical articles Sermons My Way to Orthodoxy Parish Library Family life Children " s page History of Christianity Spiritual music Service Orthodoxy in the World |
| Citywide cross procession marks Family Day in Varna Varna, November 24, 2014 Residents of the Bulgarian port city of Varna have celebrated Christian Family Day with a procession of the cross, carrying copies of two wonder-working icons: “The Queen of All” (“Pantanassa”) Icon of the Mother of God from the Vatopedi Monastery on Holy Mount Athos and the Moldovan Icon of Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer from the Bulgarian Athonite Zograf Monastery, 1 reports Pravoslavie.bg . The procession of the cross proceeded through Maria Luiza Avenue and Slivnitsa Avenue and stopped at the entrance to the famous Sea Garden (Morska Gradina) public park, where Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav performed a prayer service for health and prosperity. “It makes us happy that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the city council of Varna once again managed to combine their efforts for the better future of our young people, Bulgarian families, upon whom our nation depends,” said His Eminence Metropolitan John in his address. 25 ноября 2014 г. There are three icons of St. George in Zograf Monastery. The history of the second one is as follows: early in the 16th century, after plundering by pirates and the Roman Catholics’ invasion, the monastery was renovated by Stefan IV, Prince of Moldavia, who fought much against Turks. Huge hordes of Mohammedans gathered together for one of the battles against Stefan, and the Christian commander became frightened. But Holy Great Martyr George himself miraculously appeared to him: the saint promised his help and asked him to renovate his monastery on Holy Mount Athos. The Turks suffered a crushing defeat, and Stefan, as a token of his gratitude, not only restored Zograf Monastery but also sent there the icon that is venerated to this day; it can be seen on the north-west column of the church. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| —Your second trip to Mt Athos took place in 1981, after you graduated seminary. Monk George on Mt. Athos. —I asked for the blessing of Vladyka Laurus and went to the Holy Mountain. At first I lived at St Elias Russian Skete, which was then in the jurisdiction of the Russian Church Abroad. This was a very strict monastery. I spent several months there, and then Elder Nicodemos, who lived in Karoulia, suggested I live in a cell where four monks from the Russian Church Abroad lived. We had a daily cycle of services. One of our monks, Fr. Theodore, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Mark (Arndt). Everyone in the cell spoke English. The Greeks often sent American pilgrims to meet with us. So even there, in the woods, on an isolated peninsula, we heard about Orthodoxy throughout the world. There was a series of monastic cells around us, and on big holidays we would attend each other’s divine services. Before then, I had almost no contact with Orthodox Christians of other jurisdictions, especially monks, and I was very interested in learning about the Greek style of services and monastic life. On Mt Athos I was tonsured to the great schema by Hieromonk Chrysostom of Koutloumousiou Monastery, and given the name of George in memory of Great Martyr George the Victory Bearer. The Holy Mountain is a land of monastics, of ascetics. There was no electricity there at the time. A generator was used in some monasteries, which allowed electric light to be used for a few hours. There was no electricity at all where we lived, so we used candles, kerosene lamps, and wood stoves. But for the first few months I was there, they didn’t even have stoves, so we slept in our clothes and shoes. We would go to Karyes for groceries—that’s the capital of Mt Athos. —Was life on Mt Athos more strict than in Platina? —It was different. Each monastery on the Holy Mountain has its own customs. This includes divine services and other facets of monastic life. —Was your cell connected in any way to St Panteleimon Monastery? |
| Venerable Paphnutius the Abbot of Borov Commemorated on May 1 Saint Paphnutius of Borov was born in 1394 in the village of Kudinovo, not far from Borov, and at Baptism he was named Parthenius. His father John was the son of a baptized Tatar, a “baskak” (“tax-collector”) named Martin, and his mother was named Photina. At the age of twenty, Parthenius left his home and received monastic tonsure in 1414 with the name Paphnutius at the Vyosky-Protection Monastery near Borov under its abbot, Marcellus. Saint Paphnutius struggled for many years at the monastery, and when Igumen Marcellus died, the brethren chose him as his successor. Saint Photius, Metropolitan of Kiev (July 2), ordained him to the priesthood around the year 1426. The monk spent thirty years at the Protection Monastery, where he was igumen, Elder, and Father-confessor. At fifty-one years of age he fell grievously ill, gave up his position as igumen and was tonsured into the Great Schema. After recovering his health on April 23, 1444 (the Feast of the holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer), he left the monastery and settled with one monk on the left bank of the River Protva, where it meets the River Isterma. Soon brethren began to gather to him at this new place, and the number of the monks quickly grew. A new stone church was built in place of the former wooden one, in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. The finest iconographers of those times, Dionysius, Metrophanes, and their assistants were invited to adorn the church with icons and frescoes. Saint Paphnutius was an example to the brethren, leading a strict life. His cell was the poorest of all, and he chose the worst morsels of food. On Mondays and Fridays he ate nothing at all, and on Wednesdays he only ate dry food. He did the most difficult tasks himself. He chopped and carried fire wood, dug and cultivated the garden, yet he was always the first to arrive for church services. Saint Paphnutius earned the deep respect and love not only of the brethren of his own monastery, but also of other monasteries. Through the providence of God a twenty-year-old youth, John Sanin was guided to the monastery. After testing him for a time, Paphnutius tonsured him into monasticism with the name Joseph. Later on Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk (Sept. 9) defended the purity of the Orthodox Faith and entered into struggle against the heresy of the Judaizers, condemned at the Council of 1504. Saint Paphnutius blessed the young man in his endeavors. A week before his death, the saint foretold his end. After he had prayed and blessed the brethren, he fell asleep in the Lord on May 1, 1477. Saint Paphnutius was a disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh (Sept. 25). скрыть способы оплаты скрыть способы оплаты Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Patriarch Kirill Meets with a Group of Orphaned Children from Syria Moscow, August 1, 2014 On August 1, 2014, after a Divine Liturgy at the Memorial Church of the Great-martyr George the Victory-Bearer on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with a group of children from Syria who were staying in a recreation camp in Russia, reports Patriarchia.ru . Before the meeting a tour of the Victory Park memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill was arranged for the young visitors. Patriarch Kirill addressed the children with his speech and gave them keepsakes: “Dear children! I am very pleased to see all of you in Moscow. We know what is happening in your motherland – Syria. We are aware of the unjust sufferings of your people, but at the same time we admire the ability of your nation to stand up for your freedom and independence. Your parents, your elder brothers with guns in their hands are defending their motherland, and we admire their courage. However, we realize that very many civilians are suffering – women, the elderly, and especially children. We are helping as far as possible; and we are very glad to receive you in Russia. You are the future of Syria. You must build a strong and free state so that nobody else should ever wish to destroy it by force. And we do believe that you will succeed in this. Keep faith in your hearts, pray to God, study well in order to really become spiritually and physically strong people. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have arranged the Syrian children’s trip and to welcome the nuns and all the laity who are accompanying you. May the blessing of the Lord be with Syria, with all your people and with you, my dear children.” His Holiness was greeted by the children’s escorts: Archimandrite Michael (Yakub, Abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos in Latakia (Antiochian Patriarchate) and a member of the Syrian branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, and Angela Ganem, headmistress of a boarding school for the children of servicemen killed in Damascus. The First Vice-President of the St. Andrew the First-Called Fund, Michael Yakushev, took part in the meeting as well. 4 августа 2014 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
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