PASTORAL REFLECTION ON THE END OF THE YEAR DECEMBER 31, 2020 It is fitting to sing a hymn to You in Zion, O God, and a vow shall be rendered to You in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; to You all flesh shall come. The words of lawless men overpowered us, and You will show mercy to our ungodliness. Blessed is he whom You choose and help; he shall dwell in Your courts. We shall be filled with the good things of Your house; holy is Your temple, wondrous in righteousness. Hear us,......

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A PASTORAL REFLECTION • JANUARY 27, 2021 Then the heads of the families, the princes of the sons of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king’s work, offered willingly. They gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents of gold and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand tal-ents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into......

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A PASTORAL REFLECTION ON THE ENTRANCE INTO GREAT LENT MARCH 12, 2021 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me to the end? How long will You turn Your face from me? How long will I take counsel in my soul, having grief in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, “I prevailed against him”; those who afflict me greatly rejoice, if I am shaken.......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  SEPTEMBER 30 Hieromartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Gregory, Bishop and Enlightener of Armenia REFLECTION Marvelous changes occur daily in the destiny of men-in the present, as in times past. Those humiliated for the sake of God’s righteousness are raised to great heights, and the blasphemers of the Faith are converted to servants of the Faith. King Tiridates threw St. Gregory into a deep pit. The saint spent fourteen years in that pit, forgotten by the entire world, but not by God. Who among men could have thought that the greatest light......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  OCTOBER 1  •  Protection of the Most-Holy Theotokos; St. Romanos the Melodist REFLECTION The Most-holy Theotokos has often appeared to holy men in need: sometimes to encourage them in asceticism, or to heal them from sickness, or to reveal a certain mystery to them. Two similar, wonderful events took place in the Great Lavra on the Holy Mountain. In Great Lent, during the chanting of the Great Akathist, St. John Koukouzelis was tired and sat down, facing the icon of the Theotokos. As he sat, he fell asleep. Just......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  OCTOBER 2  •  Saint Andrew, Fool for Christ, of Constantinople REFLECTION A vision of St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ: A monk in Constantinople was distinguished as an ascetic and spiritual father, and many people came to him for prayers. But this monk had the secret vice of avarice. He collected money and gave it to no one. St. Andrew met him on the street one day, and saw a terrible snake coiled around his neck. St. Andrew took pity on him, approached him, and began to counsel him: “Brother, why......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  OCTOBER 3  •  Hieromartyr Dionysius the Aeropagite REFLECTION A vision of St. Andrew: Walking one day along the streets of Constantinople, St. Andrew saw a large, splendid procession. A rich man had just died, and his funeral procession was majestic. However, when Andrew looked more closely, he saw many black figures capering around the corpse with joy: some laughing like prostitutes, others barking like dogs, others grunting like swine, and others pouring a foul liquid over the body of the deceased. They all mocked the processional chanters, saying: “You......

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PASTORAL REFLECTION • DECEMBER 1 • Holy Prophet Nahum Virtue is like a thirst. When a man begins to drink of it, he becomes more thirsty and seeks to drink of it all the more. He who begins to exercise the virtue of compassion knows no measure and acknowledges no limit. St. Philaret was no less generous when he was impoverished than when he was wealthy. When his granddaughter became empress, he became a rich man once again, but no less generous. One day, he told his wife and children to prepare......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  AUGUST 31  •  The Placing of the Cincture (Sash) of the Mother of God REFLECTION Christians do not believe in kismet, fate or destiny. Even if God determines the chief lines of our life, He, according to our prayers and merits, can change them. Thus, He prolonged King Hezekiah’s life for fifteen years: “Go and say to Hezekiah, thus said the Lord, the God of David Your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold I will add unto your days fifteen years” (Isaiah 38:5),......

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DAILY REFLECTION  •  AUGUST 28  •  Venerable Moses the Ethiopian of Scete REFLECTION A true Christian avoids the praise of men; not only avoids, but has a true fear of it. St. Sava of Pskov left the office of abbot, the monastery and the good brotherhood of the monastery and fled to a desolate place to escape the praise of men, for praise of men robs our heart. A devout prince, upon hearing of the mortification of St. Moses Murin , went with his retinue into the desert to see him.......

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