| In conclusion, I want to tell you the main thing: if your child, a boy or girl, says to you, “Mama, papa, I want to devote myself to God and leave for a monastery,” do not hinder him and don’t go against this desire that was placed in him by God. You commit the greatest sin if you prevent him—an even greater sin than if you destroyed a church. And I’ll tell you why. If you destroy a church, we will gather money and build it anew. But if you thwart your child in his sacred calling, this evil cannot be mended. It is a great honor and great blessing for a family to give its child to God to become a monk or nun. Metropolitan Jeremiah of Gortynos and Megalopolis Translated by Jesse Dominick St. Elizabeth Convent 6 марта 2017 г. This prayer comes from the Order of Preparation for Communion. Strictly theologically speaking, virginity is indeed man’s natural condition, as the condition of Adam and Eve before the Fall is considered man’s natural condition, with his fallen nature being below or against nature, and with the possibility of rising above nature in Christ. The Fathers unanimously teach that virginity reigned in Eden before sin. Note that Met. Jeremiah is speaking of what is “natural” for man in his sub-natural state. Ladder of Divine Ascent 15:7 This is referencing the priest’s exclamation in the Anaphora, “Let us lift up our hearts,” to which the people reply, “We lift them unto the Lord.” Met. Jeremiah is a Greek bishop. In the Russian tradition nuns sometimes also wear a klobuk. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Royal Lady, Pious Nun—Princess Ileana–Mother Alexandra Royal Lady, Pious Nun—Princess Ileana–Mother Alexandra Today is the repose day of Romania’s beloved Princess, and America’s beloved abbess, Mother Alexandra (Hapsburg). Tonsure performed at the Lugansk convent during artillery shelling Tonsure performed at the Lugansk convent during artillery shelling By the mercy of God, after the tonsure ceremony was over, the cannonade calmed down and did not disturb the silence in the city for the rest of the day and for the following night. The Christian Life is Monastic Life Nathan Duffy The Christian Life is Monastic Life Nathan Duffy To a culture whose core values are self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and self-sovereignty, Orthodox monastic life appears as an affront and a scandal. What could be more contrary to our individualistic society which prizes comfort, ease, and “freedom” above all other concerns than a life of utter self-abasement, strict obedience, and striving after Holy suffering for Christ’s sake? Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru |
| Patriarch Kirill: the Lord visited Fr. Kirill with illness, which he bore with humility and meekness Moscow, February 22, 2017 Photo: Pravmir.ru “In the last years of his life the Lord visited Fr. Kirill with an illness, which he bore with humility and meekness, showing an example of fortitude of spirit, patience, and wholehearted hope in God,” in the words of Patriarch Kirill. His Holiness expressed his condolences to the deputy abbot of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, the monastery brotherhood, and all the family and friends of the newly-departed Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov), who served many years as the confessor of the monastery. The letter has been published on the site of the Moscow Patriarchate. Fr. Kirill died on Monday evening, February 20, at ninety-eight years of age. His funeral will be celebrated tomorrow, February 23, in the Dormition Cathedral at the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra by Patriarch Kirill. The primate offered his sincere condolences in the letter for the repose of the “well-known and revered elder in the Orthodox world.” He recounted Fr. Kirill’s life, growing up in the Ryazan region, and coming to faith after finding a Gospel book after the brutal WW2 Battle of Stalingrad, which opened his eyes to the reality of God. Fr. Kirill studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary and then the Theological Academy, and became a monk in 1954 at the lavra, where the remainder of his life was centered. “Goodwill, and the ability to empathize and rejoice with others attracted many to Archimandrite Kirill, and he, justifying their trust, attended to their sorrows, aspirations, and hopes with unwavering attention,” the letter reads. Patriarch Kirill recounts how he gained the respect of his contemporaries through his years of service to God and the Church, diligently celebrating the Divine services, and lovingly and modestly always attending to his spiritual children. “In the last years of his life the Lord visited Fr. Kirill with an illness, which he bore with humility and meekness, showing an example of fortitude of spirit, patience, and wholehearted hope in God. I pray to the Lord of life and death our Lord Jesus Christ for the repose in the mansions of Heaven of His faithful servant, the newly-departed Archimandrite Kirill,” writes His Holiness. “His soul shall dwell with the blessed, and his memory shall be from generation to generation,” he penned in conclusion. 22 февраля 2017 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| St. Arsenius of Iqalto in Georgia Commemorated on February 6 Saint Arsen of Iqalto was a translator, researcher, compiler of manuscripts, hymnographer, philosopher, and a great defender of the Georgian Christian Faith. His father was Ibadi Vachnadze, a wise, learned man and a fluent speaker of the Greek language. He directed the academy at Iqalto Monastery and was an instructor of Holy King Davit the Restorer. Few details about the life of Saint Arsen have been preserved, but we know that he lived in the 11th and 12th centuries and was a younger contemporary of Saint Eprem the Lesser. He received both his primary and higher education in Byzantium, at Mangana Monastery, which had been founded by the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-1055). At the academy he completed one of his most important projects: a translation of the Byzantine historian George Hamartolus’ Chronicle. Hamartolus’ work is a nine-volume account of history from Adam to the year A.D. 842. Also at Mangana, Arsen translated a volume of dogmatic-polemical writings into Georgian and called his work Dogmatikon . In the years that followed, works translated by other authors were added to the book. After completing his studies at Mangana Monastery, Arsen moved to the Black Mountains near Antioch to continue his labors under the guidance of Saint Eprem the Lesser. Following Saint Eprem’s repose, he returned to Mangana Monastery to continue his translations. In 1114 King Davit the Restorer summoned Arsen back to Georgia, to the Gelati Academy in the west. It was there that he translated The Nomocanon (a Byzantine collection of ecclesiastical law.) from the original Greek into Georgian. Arsen later returned to Kakheti in eastern Georgia, where he founded an academy at Iqalto Monastery. He also participated in the Council of Ruisi-Urbnisi, which had been convened by King Davit the Restorer. One of King Davit’s biographers writes that he invited “Arsen of Iqalto, translator and interpreter of the Greek and Georgian languages and enlightener of many churches.” Arsen was present at the repose of King Davit the Restorer, and it is believed that he composed the king’s epitaph: I fed seven kings with my wealth, Drove the Turks, Persians, and Arabs from our borders, Moved the fish from one river to another, And, having accomplished all these things, Lay my hands upon my heart to die. The “theologian, philosopher, physicist, anatomist, writer of allegories and verses, epic poet, and compiler of Church typika” Arsen was buried in Iqalto next to Saint Zenon, the founder of Iqalto Monastery. The Orthodox Church in America 10 февраля 2017 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Jordanville, NY: Metropolitan Jonah leads Divine Services for Pentecost in Holy Trinity Monastery Jordanville, NY, May 31, 2015 On Saturday the 30th and Sunday the 31st of May, the clergy and brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY celebrated the great feast of Holy Pentecost – the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Leading the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening and the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers on Sunday morning was His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah (former Primate of Orthodox Church in America). Co-serving with His Eminence were Archimandrites Luke (Murianka; monastery abbot) and Nektarios (Harding), Archpriest Michael Taratuchin (rector of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY), Hieromonks Theophylact (Clapper-DeWell), Cyprian (Alexandrou), Moses (Borges), and Gabriel (Astrahankine), Priest Andrei Rudenko (cleric of Holy Virgin Nativity Church in Albany, NY), Protodeacons Joseph Jarostchuk (cleric of St. John Memorial Church) and Alexander Jarostchuk (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston, MA), Hierodeacon Seraphim (Nikoloski), and monastery Deacons Andrei Psarev, Andrew Doubleday, and Peter Markevich. The monastic and seminary choir (including Priest Ephraim Willmarth) sang under the direction of Reader Nicholas Kotar. The three Kneeling Prayers were read by Metropolitan Jonah, Fr. Luke, and Fr. Theophylact. Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Jonah addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he said, in part: " We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit… so that we might be united to Him, and He to us; so that He might dwell in us, and we in Him; so that our union with God might be fulfilled and completed. So often in our culture, we think of God as somewhere out there, somewhere distant, and the more secular our culture, the further God is from this reality. They have no concept that God permeates reality, that God permeates this existence, that God permeates the creation. The sending of the Holy Spirit is a type and a sign, as well as the reality, of God’s sending down the Holy Spirit upon all flesh: first of all upon us, who are believers, so that our faith might be ignited, our knowledge of God might be kindled, and our awareness of the presence of God throughout this creation might be enabled, and strengthened, and energized, so that our whole life might become an act of awareness of God. " Click here to view Metropolitan Jonah’s sermon. Tomorrow, the feast day of the Holy Spirit, Metropolitan Hilarion will arrive at Holy Trinity Monastery to lead the patronal feast day. 2 июня 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Women suffering domestic violence to be received at a dependency of Novospassky Monastery Moscow, March 3, 2015 A center for assistance to women in difficult life situations opened on March 4 at the dependency of the Novospassky Stavropegic Monastery with the Church of Holy Archangel Michael in the Milyukovo village, reports Miloserdie.ru . The center will mostly give aid to women who became victims of domestic violence. Such shelters are not yet common in Russia, though a need exists. The first two women with their children are already living in the new center – it has been working in a “test mode” for one month and a half. The two-storied building is complete and can accommodate up to eight adults with children (in extreme cases two more women can use folding beds). “Basically our center is intended for women with residence permits in Moscow or the Moscow region, but each case will be considered individually,” related Alena Sadikova, head of the “Kitezh” independent nonprofit organization and of the new center, to Miloserdie.ru . “On the recommendation of other public organizations we work with the woman’s employer; we can temporarily admit someone with another residence permit, provided the recommending organization will participate in the charge’s future. But we do not take anybody “from the street.” Religion cannot be an obstacle – we admit everyone who needs help. We also admit women to the consulting room at the Novospassky Monastery.” Women do their own cooking and cleaning and take care of themselves; they are aided with food, medicines and transit fare – all provided by donors. An individual rehabilitation plan is worked out for each woman with the participation of a psychologist and a social worker; adherence to the plan is kept under control. The center cooperates with the city psychological aid service. Over the time spent in the center a woman is expected to recover and return to independent life. Only in an exceptional case can a woman prolong her stay in Milyukovo up to half a year. On the day of the solemn opening of the center Father-Superior of the Novospassky Monastery Bishop Savva (Sabbas) of Voskresensk was to serve the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts at the dependency. The Liturgy was to be followed by a tour round the center, a presentation of plans for development of social activities and tea. Improvements to the grounds are expected soon; this will include asphalting and paving of paths, building of a children’s playground, planting of trees and shrubs. 6 марта 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Tweet Нравится Saint Ilarion of Tvali (†1041) Memory 24 July (6 August) Saint Ilarion of Tvali (Tulashvili) served as abbot of Khakhuli Monastery in southwestern Georgia at the beginning of the 11th century. In his work The Life of Giorgi of the Holy Mountain, Giorgi the Lesser writes that Venerable Ilarion was outstanding in virtue and celebrated for his sermons and ascetic labors. St. Ilarion raised the young Giorgi of the Holy Mountain to be a brilliant writer, translator, theologian and patriot. From him Giorgi also received a blessing to enter the monastic life. According to the chronicle Life of Kartli, St. Ilarion was a famous translator and writer and an eminent theologian. Eventually St. Ilarion moved from Khakhuli to Tvali Monastery, not far from Antioch, where he remained for the rest of his life. According to the 19th-century historian-iconographer Mikhail Sabinin, St. Ilarion reposed in the year 1041. Outstanding in virtue and celebrated for thy great spiritual feats, O Holy Ilarion, pray for us unceasingly to Christ our God! Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press : St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076 13 августа 2007 г. Saint Ilia the Righteous (†1907) Commemorated July 20/August 2 Saint Ilia the Righteous (†1907) Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Saint Ilia, called the “Uncrowned King of Georgia,” the “Father of the Nation” and “the Righteous,” belonged to the noble family Chavchavadze. He was born on October 27, 1837, in the village of Qvareli in Kakheti. He received his primary education at home: his mother instructed him in reading and writing, prayer and the law of God. When he was eight years old, Ilia was sent to study with Archdeacon Nikoloz Sepashvili of Qvareli. The years he spent there left an indelible impression on this holy man’s life. The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze The Lives of the Georgian Saints Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze Since the time of the ancient Greek historians, Georgia has been viewed as an enigma hidden behind impenetrable mountains and a complex language. |
| Kallistos (Ware), bish. The Spiritual Father in Orthodox Christianity//Idem. The Inner Kingdom. Kiev: Dukh i Litera, 2003. Pp. 161–188. Kirill (Zinkovskiy), hieromonk. Eldership in the Teaching and Life of the Church. SPbDA, 2002. Kontsevich I. M. Acquisition of the Holy Spirit in Ancient Russia. Ed. department of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1993. Leonid (Polyakov), archim, Athos in the History of Russian Monasticism, (spiritual relations), X–XVIII c. MDA, 1969. Life and Writings of the Moldovian Elder Paisius Velichkovsky with enclosed introductions to the books St. Gregory of Sinai, Philotei of Sinai, Hesychius the Presbyter and Nilus of Sora, composed by his friend and co-faster, the Elder Basil Polyanomerylsky, on sensible abstinence and prayer. Moscow: Ed. Kozelsk Vedensky Optina Pustyn, 1892. Life of Elder Arkhip the Glinsky Ascetic. Odessa, 1902. Life of Hieromonk Nikon. Moscow: Ed. Vedensky Optina Pustyn, 1996. Life of Hieroschemamonk Lev. Moscow: Ed. Vedenskaya Optina Pustyn, 1994. Life of Hieroschemamonk Nikon. Moscow: Ed.the Vedensky Optina Pustyn, 1996. Lossky V. N. Essay of Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church. Kiev, 1991. Lossky N. O. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov//Put’, 1926. 2 (January). Pp. 122–124. S. Macarius Aegyptus. Homiliae//J.-P. Migne (ed.). Patrologiae cursus completus (series Graeca). In 161 t. Paris, 1857–1866. Vol. 34: 449–822. Marchenkov A., deacon. Kozelsky Vedensky Optina Pustyn in the History of Russian Eldership. MDA, 1988. Muraviev A. N. Journey to the Holy Places of Russia. Pt . IV. St. Petersburg, 1863. Nahum, metr. Strumichsky. Школа за исихазам, основна. Манастир Воведение на Пресвета Богородица Елеуса, Струмица, 2011. Nicholas (Sakharov), hierodeacon. The Teaching of archim. Sophrony about the Eldership. Eldership and Obedience in the Theology of Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov)/Transl. by А. А. Melnikov//Nachalo (journal IBiF). SPb, 2001. 10. Pp. 84–112. Our Reverend father Abba Dorotheus Edifying Instructions and Epistles with Enclosed Questions and Answers of Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet. Moscow: Ed. Moscow Monastery TSL, 2005. |
| Tweet Нравится Moscow Kremlin launches tours to sites of lost monasteries Moscow, December 12, 2016 A new guided tour has appeared at the Moscow Kremlin for tourists from different countries. According to its organizers, it will be interesting for both students and adults. The new tour’s itinerary passes through the New Kremlin Public Garden where in the fourteenth century centers of religious life were established in Muscovite Rus’: the Chudov Monastery and the Ascension Convent. Then the residence of the Russian emperors appeared on that spot—the Small Nikolaevsky Palace, the press service of the Moscow Kremlin Museums reported. The architectural ensembles were destroyed in the Soviet era. However, the monasteries were immortalized in engravings, and the ancient designs. Their images are also present in paintings of that time. Archaeological excavations have helped to recreate the look of the ruined buildings. In particular, visitors will be able to see segments of the ruined buildings’ foundations. The guides’ narrative will be supplemented with video materials which recreate the architectural appearance of the Moscow Kremlin of past centuries. In October 2016 Press Secretary of the Russian Federation’s President Dmitry Peskov said that reconstruction of these monasteries on the site of the dismantled administrative building is still not on the agenda. Translated by Dmitry Lapa Pravoslavie.ru 13 декабря 2016 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Secrets of the Moscow Kremlin: What Was Hidden Centuries Ago? Secrets of the Moscow Kremlin: What Was Hidden Centuries Ago? After restoration work on the Moscow Kremlin’s historical appearance began, archeologists discovered long-hidden secrets in the Kremlin " s walls. Archeologists find parts of destroyed monasteries in Moscow Kremlin Archeologists find parts of destroyed monasteries in Moscow Kremlin The archeologists managed to find the Yekaterinskaya Church of the Voznesensky Monastery (1817), the monastery canteen joined to the Annunciation Church and the Alexeyevskaya Church of the Chudov Monastery (late 17th century). Online tours of the Kremlin cathedrals available Online tours of the Kremlin cathedrals available Online tours of the Kremlin cathedrals, the Church of Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Mother of God, and the " Ivan the Great " bell tower in Moscow have been launched on the internet. Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru При перепечатке ссылка на Православие.Ru обязательна Контактная информация Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| And there was the very talented and practical Edburgh, who encouraged missions overseas. All these nuns and those living after them were witnesses in quite difficult and unstable times, full of dangers and challenges, but in spite of everything they unceasingly glorified Christ, loved their neighbors and practiced hospitality and prayer. Holy Mothers Ermenburgh, Mildred and Edburgh, pray to God for us! Dmitry Lapa 26 июля 2015 г. Ethelbert and Ethelred were slain at a royal residence in Eastry, not far from Sandwich in Kent. At first the site of their martyrdom was not known, but a column of light was seen by many above their grave, and their relics were soon uncovered. It was decided to translate their relics to Canterbury, but it was impossible to move them. Then by Divine Providence they were translated to Wakering in Essex (now the large village of Great Wakering) where a monastery already existed. Many miracles occurred from the brothers’ relics and at the time of the holy Bishop Oswald of Worcester in the 10 th century the relics were translated to Ramsey in Cambridgeshire. The holy brother-martyrs Ethelbert and Ethelred are commemorated on October 17/30. They were venerated in Great Wakering, Ramsey and Canterbury. Nothing remains of the monastery of Wakering, but there stands the Norman church of St. Nicholas, approximately on the site of the early monastery. Interestingly, the Minster’s founding abbey was that of St. Walburga in Germany. As we know, Walburga (Walburgh) was an English nun from Wimborne in Dorset, who in the eighth century followed St. Boniface and other evangelizers and as a missionary to Germany to enlighten its peoples. In the second half of her life, Walburga was an abbess known for her wisdom, gentleness, quietness and care—qualities so similar to St. Mildred’s. So this story seems providential to us, as if Mildred herself called on Walburga to return to her native land and to bring back monastic life there—by her prayers she helped organize the new monastery in Minster, though in the Catholic, and not the Orthodox tradition. |
| Patristic conference on ‘St. John Cassian and the Monastic Tradition of Christian East and West’ opens at Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies Source: DECR Communication Service November 20, 2015 On November 19, 2015, the 3d International Patristic Theological Conference was opened at the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies (CMI) under the theme ‘St. John Cassian and the Monastic Tradition of Christian East and West’. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR) and CMI rector, welcomed those present and reminded the audience that earlier the CMI held two patristic conferences devoted to the legacy of St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Simeon the New Theologian. In his paper on ‘The Teaching of St. John Cassian on the Eucharist and Communion’, Metropolitan Hilarion spoke about the life of the saint and his basic treatises. The first section of the conference on ‘The Biography and Works of St. John Cassian’ was chaired by the Revd Prof. Edward Farrugia, Pontifical Oriental Institute. The meeting was opened with a paper read by Prof. Jonut-Alexandru Tudorie, University of Bucharest, who spoke about St. John Cassian’s childhood in Schythia Minor and shared various points of view concerning the saint’s birthplace. D. Zaitsev of the Orthodox Encyclopedia church research center dealt with the theme ‘Chronology of St. John Cassian’s Last Days of Life and the Dating of His Works’. Archimandrite Irenaeus (Steenberg), dean of the Ss Cyril and Athanasius of Alexandria Institute of Orthodox Studies (USA), presented a paper on ‘A Monk and a Friend: Friendship and Monastic Ideal in St. John Cassian’s Works and in Orthodoxy’, which provoked a lively discussion. In conclusion of the first section of the conference, His Eminence Hilarion thanked all those present, saying, ‘I hope that the papers presented here will enrich the academic knowledge and help researchers discover new things in the works of St. John Cassian the Roman’. The conference on St. John the Cassin will last till November 21. The forum is attended by theologians from Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, USA and Russia. Смотри также Комментарии Fr Michael 23 ноября 2015, 21:00 I have serious problems about academic conferences or research into monasticism. This does not enhance the Church. Monasticism is LIVED not studied. If you want to know about it - go and live the life. Institutionalising, academicising (!) the Church is increasingly intellectualising the " religion " . We don " t need a " religion " we should never have allowed Christianity to be turned into a religion. It is The Way - that is what Christ taught - not a religion. And monasticism is a further part of that Way. Hieromonk Michael Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
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