On the 135th anniversary of his birth (Nov 16, 1890), the memory of former Philippines President Elpidio Quirino is being honoured, not only by Filipinos, but by the surviving refugees of thousands of Russians he saved by his actions in 1948. The spiritual leader of these refugees is now a saint— St. John Maximovitch
Mao Tse-tung’s army was on the move across China. Russians fled to Shanghai, knowing that it was only a matter of time that it would be occupied. If they couldn’t relocate to another country, these “White Russians,” Russians who opposed communism, faced deportation to the Soviet Union and either execution or the deathly brutal conditions of a labour camp.
The U.S. and other countries refused to take them. Hope was quickly running out when the Philippines, under President Quirino, agreed to turn the small island of Tubabao into a refugee camp, where 5 thousand refugees lived for about 27 months before finally being allowed to emigrate to the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Mao Tse-tung’s army was on the move across China. Russians fled to Shanghai, knowing that it was only a matter of time that it would be occupied. If they couldn’t relocate to another country, these “White Russians,” Russians who opposed communism, faced deportation to the Soviet Union and either execution or the deathly brutal conditions of a labour camp.
The U.S. and other countries refused to take them. Hope was quickly running out when the Philippines, under President Quirino, agreed to turn the small island of Tubabao into a refugee camp, where 5 thousand refugees lived for about 27 months before finally being allowed to emigrate to the United States, Canada, and other countries.
At the moment of St. Hilda’s death in 680, St. Begu, in a different monastery from St. Hilda (Nov 27), was awakened by a vision of the soul of the saint being borne up to heaven by a company of angels.
Instrumental in converting Anglo Saxons to Christ, Hilda was a noble kinswoman of St Edwin, king of Northumbria. She was baptized at a young age through the preaching of St Paulinus, one of the first missionaries sent from Rome to British Isles. At the age of thirty-three she renounced the world and entered monastic life.
At first, the saint sought to enter a monastery in Gaul but she was called back to her homeland by St Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne who, discerning her spiritual gifts, set her as Abbess of a small monastery.
As her gifts of discernment and spiritual guidance became more widely-known, Hilda led larger monasteries, finally establishing the Monastery of Whitby. The Saint spent the next 33 years directing the Monastery, which became a beacon of Christian life throughout the British Isles.
Instrumental in converting Anglo Saxons to Christ, Hilda was a noble kinswoman of St Edwin, king of Northumbria. She was baptized at a young age through the preaching of St Paulinus, one of the first missionaries sent from Rome to British Isles. At the age of thirty-three she renounced the world and entered monastic life.
At first, the saint sought to enter a monastery in Gaul but she was called back to her homeland by St Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne who, discerning her spiritual gifts, set her as Abbess of a small monastery.
As her gifts of discernment and spiritual guidance became more widely-known, Hilda led larger monasteries, finally establishing the Monastery of Whitby. The Saint spent the next 33 years directing the Monastery, which became a beacon of Christian life throughout the British Isles.
“Devote your efforts ... to [simple] spiritual things and ignore all the other things.” ✝️St Porphyrios, Wounded by Love amzn.to/2rkpDlO
“When a person receives the Body and Blood of the Lord, he literally becomes of one body with Christ, with Christ's Blood literally flowing in his veins. The person's body becomes Christ's Flesh, which is why we are called members of the Body of Christ.” ☦️ Father Daniel Sysoyev, Hieromartyr, “Instructions to Immortals”
Hieromartyr Father Daniel Sysoyev (1974-2009) was a young, married priest of the Church of Russia who converted many Muslims and Protestants to Holy Orthodoxy. The beloved priest was shot and killed on Nov. 19, 2009, by a Muslim fanatic in his own Church.
Holy Hieromartyr Daniel, pray to God for the salvation of our souls ☦️
Hieromartyr Father Daniel Sysoyev (1974-2009) was a young, married priest of the Church of Russia who converted many Muslims and Protestants to Holy Orthodoxy. The beloved priest was shot and killed on Nov. 19, 2009, by a Muslim fanatic in his own Church.
Holy Hieromartyr Daniel, pray to God for the salvation of our souls ☦️
When the righteous Joachim and Anna bring their child Mary to the temple, the era of the temple comes to an end. With Mary’s entrance the "preview of the good will of God" is shown forth. On the Feast of the Presentation of the Theotokos (Nov 21) we also celebrate that we too are the house and tabernacle of the Lord.
“And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour, for He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-49
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.
At the Entrance (Presentation) of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Nov 21/Dec 4), the Virgin is clearly made manifest. The Feast foretells God’s blessing for the human race, the preaching of salvation, and the promise of the coming of Christ.
"How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves … Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: 'I will visit them and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.' (2 Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!"
☦️ St. Nektarios of Aegina (Nov 9/ Nov 22), “Path to Happiness”
☦️ St. Nektarios of Aegina (Nov 9/ Nov 22), “Path to Happiness”
Even after being subject to intense torture, St Clement (Nov 25) did not relent in preaching and writing in the Slavonic language.
St Clement of Ohrid, Equal to the Apostles and Bishop of Greater Macedonia was brought to trial under the authority of Roman Pope Stephen VI for defending Orthodoxy and the use of Slavonic in church.
Hymned as “planter of faith and pruner of heresies”, Clement continued the translation work begun by Sts Cyril and Methodius and left behind his own works, the first samples of Slavonic spiritual literature. For these activities, St Clement gained the noscript Enlightener of the Bulgarians.
St Clement of Ohrid, Equal to the Apostles and Bishop of Greater Macedonia was brought to trial under the authority of Roman Pope Stephen VI for defending Orthodoxy and the use of Slavonic in church.
Hymned as “planter of faith and pruner of heresies”, Clement continued the translation work begun by Sts Cyril and Methodius and left behind his own works, the first samples of Slavonic spiritual literature. For these activities, St Clement gained the noscript Enlightener of the Bulgarians.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, St. Andrew the Apostle Orthodox church is the world’s only church built on such a tiny island.
The "island" is a monolithic rock protruding from the waters of the Vuoksa, Russia, about 2 hours from St. Petersburg. The rock provides the foundation for the church -- accessible only by boat.
Photos: allrus.me/guinness-record-church-in-russia/ and Michael Vorobyev
The "island" is a monolithic rock protruding from the waters of the Vuoksa, Russia, about 2 hours from St. Petersburg. The rock provides the foundation for the church -- accessible only by boat.
Photos: allrus.me/guinness-record-church-in-russia/ and Michael Vorobyev
O Saviour, grant Your heavenly blessing to our children. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, that they may always love You and strive to fulfill Your holy will as devout members of Your Church.
Grant them so to please You in this age that they may finally inherit Your glorious Kingdom in the age to come. For Yours it is to save us, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Photo: Saint Archangel Michael Orthodox Church, Koliganek, Alaska
Grant them so to please You in this age that they may finally inherit Your glorious Kingdom in the age to come. For Yours it is to save us, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Photo: Saint Archangel Michael Orthodox Church, Koliganek, Alaska