12
May 2020
MAY 12 Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! St. Clement of Alexandria tells of a horrible custom among the barbarians. He says that when they capture their enemy, they tie him alive to the corpse of a dead man and leave them bound together so that the living and dead rot together. If only it could be said: “Thank God that this barbarian custom is past!” In essence it has not passed, but reigns today in full force. Everyone who ties their living spirit to flesh......
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11
May 2020
MAY 11 Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, Evangelizers of the Slavs CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! In the Saracen encampment they asked St. Cyril: “How can Christians wage war and at the same time keep Christ’s commandment to pray to God for their enemies?” To this, St. Cyril replied: “If two commandments were written in one law and given to men for fulfilling, which man will be a better follower of the law: the one who fulfilled one commandment or the one who fulfilled both?” The Saracens replied: “Undoubtedly, he......
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09
May 2020
MAY 9 Holy Prophet Isaiah CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! Fr John’s Reflection If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful......
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08
May 2020
MAY 8 Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! A monk complained to St. Arsenius that while reading Holy Scripture he felt neither the power of the words he read nor gentleness in his heart. The great saint replied to him: “My child, just read! I heard that when snake-charmers cast a spell upon serpents, these sorcerers utter words which they themselves do not understand, but the serpents, hearing the words spoken, sense their power and are tamed. An so it is with us, when......
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07
May 2020
MAY 7 St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, Defender of Orthodoxy in America CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! I will tell you and not hide the mysteries of God from you. For He is the Guide of wisdom, the Corrector of the wise and the Artisan of all thoughts and deeds. Wisdom will teach with all understanding: For in her is a Spirit, intelligent and holy, the Radiance of the Everlasting Light and the Image of the Grace of God. She fashions friends of God and prophets. For she is more beautiful......
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06
May 2020
MAY 6 Righteous Job the Long-suffering CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! Abba Isaiah said of himself: “I see myself resembling a horse wandering around without a rider. Whoever finds him, sits on him and rides him to his content. When one rider dismounts the horse, another saddles him and does the same, likewise the third and so on.” This great ascetic, about whom everyone said with amazement that he had attained perfection, spoke this of himself either out of humility or from remembrance of his time of imperfection. The main......
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05
May 2020
MAY 5 Holy Greatmartyr Irene CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! Prayer consisting of words alone does not help if the heart does not participate in prayer. God hears only a fervent prayer. Once Abba Zoilus of the Thebaid was returning from Mount Sinai and met a monk who complained to him that they were suffering greatly from drought in the monastery. Zoilus said to him: “Why don’t you pray and implore God?” The monk replied: “We have prayed and have implored, but there is no rain.” To this Zoilus replied:......
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04
May 2020
MAY 4 Holy Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! A young man inexperienced in spiritual combat underlines his every good work with self-praise. But the experienced soldier in the midst of struggles with the passions and demons disparages his every deed and intensifies his prayer for God’s help. Abba Matoes used to say: “The closer a man is to God, the more sinful he sees himself to be.” He also was known to say: “When I was young, I thought perhaps that I was doing some good;......
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03
May 2020
MAY 2 St Athanasius the Great CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! Blessed Maximus the Fool-for-Christ walked naked through the streets of Moscow in winter. In response to the advice of men that he dress and protect himself from the cold, Maximus responded: “Yes, winter is cruel, but Paradise is sweet!” He also said: “For patience, God grants salvation!” When Christ the Lord did not regret giving Himself over to suffering and death, why should we feel sorry for ourselves for our own sakes? Christ prescribed a recipe for us: a......
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01
May 2020
MAY 1 Holy Prophet Jeremiah CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! The Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk said to his disciples that a man’s soul and his hidden works can be known by the look in his eyes. This seemed unbelievable to his disciples until this man of God actually confirmed it on more than one occasion. Foreseeing the fate of others, Paphnutius also foresaw his own fate. A week before, while still in good health, he prophesied that he would depart this world on the following Thursday. When Thursday dawned, he......
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