Myrrh began streaming from the miracle-working icon of the Holy and Righteous Anna, Mother of the Theotokos (Conception Dec 9 /Dec 22), at the Church of Our Lady (Joy of All Who Sorrow) in Philadelphia in 2004. The icon, later brought to St Tikhon's Seminary by Fr Athanasy Mastalski, continues to exude a sweet fragrance. It has brought many healings.
"Today the universe rejoices, for Anna has conceived the Theotokos through God's dispensation, for she has brought forth the one who is to bear the ineffable Word!”
"Today the universe rejoices, for Anna has conceived the Theotokos through God's dispensation, for she has brought forth the one who is to bear the ineffable Word!”
"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it .” Luke 18:17
☦️St. Cyril of Alexandria: “A babe then, as knowing either very little or nothing at all, is justly acquitted of the charge of depravity and wickedness; and so it is also our duty to endeavor to be like them in the very same way, by putting habits of wickedness entirely away from us, so we too may be regarded as men who do not even know the pathway leading to guile, but who, unconscious of malice and fraud, live in a simple and innocent manner, practicing gentleness and a priceless humility, and readily forbearing from wrath and spitefulness. For such we affirm are the qualities found in those who are still babes.”
☦️Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily121. B#42, p. 484.
☦️St. Cyril of Alexandria: “A babe then, as knowing either very little or nothing at all, is justly acquitted of the charge of depravity and wickedness; and so it is also our duty to endeavor to be like them in the very same way, by putting habits of wickedness entirely away from us, so we too may be regarded as men who do not even know the pathway leading to guile, but who, unconscious of malice and fraud, live in a simple and innocent manner, practicing gentleness and a priceless humility, and readily forbearing from wrath and spitefulness. For such we affirm are the qualities found in those who are still babes.”
☦️Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily121. B#42, p. 484.
All the saints wrote many praises to our Panagia. But I, the poor one, have found no words more elegant or sweet to describe her, than to cry out to her at every moment:
“My dear Mother! My dear, sweet Mother! When my soul departs may it come into thy hands, and through them may it be given to its Creator, thine Only-begotten Son. We desire nothing else, our dear, sweet Mother, except to give up our soul amidst that flaming love, at a time when the divine eros is afire.”
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
“My dear Mother! My dear, sweet Mother! When my soul departs may it come into thy hands, and through them may it be given to its Creator, thine Only-begotten Son. We desire nothing else, our dear, sweet Mother, except to give up our soul amidst that flaming love, at a time when the divine eros is afire.”
☦️ St Joseph the Hesychast
The foretelling of Christ's death, burial and resurrection is written into the Nativity Icon of Christ.
His birth
"And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger..." Luke 2:7
His death
"And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb..." Mark 15:46
His birth
"And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger..." Luke 2:7
His death
"And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb..." Mark 15:46
At First Ecumenical Council in 325, Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker (Dec 12) disputed with a Greek philosopher who was defending Arianism. “Listen, philosopher, to what I tell you. There is one God Who created man from dust. He has ordered all things, both visible and invisible, by His Word and His Spirit. The Word is the Son of God, Who came down upon the earth on account of our sins. […] We believe that He is one in essence (consubstantial) with the Father, and equal to Him in authority and honor. We believe this without any sly rationalizations, for it is impossible to grasp this mystery by human reason.”
After his conversation with St. Spyridon, the philosopher turned to his companions and said, “Until now my rivals have presented their arguments, and I was able to refute their proofs with other proofs. But instead of proofs from reason, the words of this Elder are filled with some sort of special power, and no one can refute them…”
After his conversation with St. Spyridon, the philosopher turned to his companions and said, “Until now my rivals have presented their arguments, and I was able to refute their proofs with other proofs. But instead of proofs from reason, the words of this Elder are filled with some sort of special power, and no one can refute them…”
The Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, was the first canonized American Saint.
Fr. Herman was a simple unordained monk of Russia's Valaam Monastery. He established the Orthodox Church in Kodiak, defended the natives against exploitation and maltreatment by Russian officials, and cared for orphaned children on Spruce Island, where he lived the final 30 years of his life as a hermit.
St. Herman worked countless miracles of healing and protection. Icon Bay, next to Monks Lagoon is so-named because it was on its beach St. Herman placed an Icon of the Mother of God and declared that God would not allow an inbound tidal wave to go past it. His prayers were answered, and the island was saved from a catastrophic flood.
At the moment of his repose on December13, 1836, the face of Saint Herman of was radiant with light. That same night an unusual pillar of light was seen above Spruce Island.
Rejoice, O Father Herman of Alaska, joyful defender of your Church in North America!
Fr. Herman was a simple unordained monk of Russia's Valaam Monastery. He established the Orthodox Church in Kodiak, defended the natives against exploitation and maltreatment by Russian officials, and cared for orphaned children on Spruce Island, where he lived the final 30 years of his life as a hermit.
St. Herman worked countless miracles of healing and protection. Icon Bay, next to Monks Lagoon is so-named because it was on its beach St. Herman placed an Icon of the Mother of God and declared that God would not allow an inbound tidal wave to go past it. His prayers were answered, and the island was saved from a catastrophic flood.
At the moment of his repose on December13, 1836, the face of Saint Herman of was radiant with light. That same night an unusual pillar of light was seen above Spruce Island.
Rejoice, O Father Herman of Alaska, joyful defender of your Church in North America!
She holds the Holy Chalice! The Holy Martyr Barbara of Helilopolis (Dec 4/ Dec 17) is the only female saint to honoured in such a manner in icons.
It is a pious belief that whoever comes to her will be spared from sudden death without the opportunity to repent, make confession and receive communion of the holy mysteries before leaving this life. This was St. Barbara’s prayer at her martyrdom at the hands of her own father.
St. Dimitri of Rostov wrote of many instances in more recent times when, by her intercessions, many were indeed spared sudden death without receiving the holy mysteries.
It is a pious belief that whoever comes to her will be spared from sudden death without the opportunity to repent, make confession and receive communion of the holy mysteries before leaving this life. This was St. Barbara’s prayer at her martyrdom at the hands of her own father.
St. Dimitri of Rostov wrote of many instances in more recent times when, by her intercessions, many were indeed spared sudden death without receiving the holy mysteries.
Saint Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions (Dec 22) is also known as Anastasia the Pharmacologist. For centuries after her martyrdom during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian (284–305), churches throughout the Roman Empire were dedicated to her. In each church were icons showing her holding a medicine bottle.
Anastasia, born into wealth, dedicated her life and wealth to serving poor, imprisoned Christians, and those suffering from illness — physical and mental — or torture.
In the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ, who feigned madness in order to imitate the saints he admired. His slave master thought that his favourite slave Andrew had gone insane, so he brought to the Church of Saint Anastasia. He chained him there along with others who were believed insane. St. Anastasia appeared to Andrew, but instead of "curing" him, she encouraged him to preserve in the ascetic life. Thus, Andrew continued in his “madness”, resulting in scorn, even from his fellow street beggars.
Anastasia, born into wealth, dedicated her life and wealth to serving poor, imprisoned Christians, and those suffering from illness — physical and mental — or torture.
In the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ, who feigned madness in order to imitate the saints he admired. His slave master thought that his favourite slave Andrew had gone insane, so he brought to the Church of Saint Anastasia. He chained him there along with others who were believed insane. St. Anastasia appeared to Andrew, but instead of "curing" him, she encouraged him to preserve in the ascetic life. Thus, Andrew continued in his “madness”, resulting in scorn, even from his fellow street beggars.
The grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem, birthplace of our Lord
After many types and prefigurings, messengers and heralds, prophets and righteous men, wise men and kings, finally He appeared, the Lord of the world and King of kings, to perform the work of the salvation of mankind that could not be performed by His servants. May His be eternal glory and praise! Amen.
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star!
Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
Kontakion for the Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ
After many types and prefigurings, messengers and heralds, prophets and righteous men, wise men and kings, finally He appeared, the Lord of the world and King of kings, to perform the work of the salvation of mankind that could not be performed by His servants. May His be eternal glory and praise! Amen.
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star!
Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
Kontakion for the Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ
What the Magi saw was no ordinary star. St John Chrysostom and St Theophylactus, commenting on St Matthew’s Gospel, say that it was “a divine and angelic power that appeared in the form of a star.” St Demetrius of Rostov says it was a “manifestation of divine energy'"(Narrative of the Adoration of the Magi).
When the Magi — Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25) — entered the house where the Holy Infant lay, they “fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).
When the Magi — Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25) — entered the house where the Holy Infant lay, they “fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).
“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
Joseph, the Betrothed (Dec 26/ Jan 8 ) was chosen by God to be the guardian of Jesus Christ and His holy Mother, a task which he performed with great humility and diligence.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
Joseph, the Betrothed (Dec 26/ Jan 8 ) was chosen by God to be the guardian of Jesus Christ and His holy Mother, a task which he performed with great humility and diligence.
Anysia the Righteous Virgin-martyr of Thessaloniki (Dec 30/ Jan 12) knew that to be a Christian is to live in a world hostile to Christ. Yet, Christ remained her first Love until her last breath.
The Co-Emperor Maximian (286-305) issued an edict stating that anyone had the right to kill Christians with no fear of punishment. Once, when Saint Anysia was on her way to church, a pagan soldier stopped her and demanded that she come to the festival of the sun and offer a sacrifice. At first, St. Anysia gently pulled herself away from him, but when the soldier forcefully grabbed her and attempted to tear the veil from her head, she shoved him, spit in his face and declared, “My Lord Jesus Christ forbids you!” Enraged, the soldier ran her through with his sword. She was buried near the city gates. A chapel was built over her grave.
The relics of St. Anysia are contained in the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki.
The Co-Emperor Maximian (286-305) issued an edict stating that anyone had the right to kill Christians with no fear of punishment. Once, when Saint Anysia was on her way to church, a pagan soldier stopped her and demanded that she come to the festival of the sun and offer a sacrifice. At first, St. Anysia gently pulled herself away from him, but when the soldier forcefully grabbed her and attempted to tear the veil from her head, she shoved him, spit in his face and declared, “My Lord Jesus Christ forbids you!” Enraged, the soldier ran her through with his sword. She was buried near the city gates. A chapel was built over her grave.
The relics of St. Anysia are contained in the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki.