Five of her children are commemorated as Saints. The loving zeal for Christ displayed in the life of the holy and righteous Emilia (also Emily or Emmelia) produced Sts. Macrina, Basil the Great, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Theosebia the deaconess.
In addition to giving birth to saints, St. Emilia, was the daughter of a martyr, the wife of St. Basil the Elder, and daughter-in-law of saint Macrina the Elder.
She is commemorated with her son, St. Basil the Great on Jan. 1, as well as on various other days of the year, depending on the Orthodox jurisdiction.
In addition to giving birth to saints, St. Emilia, was the daughter of a martyr, the wife of St. Basil the Elder, and daughter-in-law of saint Macrina the Elder.
She is commemorated with her son, St. Basil the Great on Jan. 1, as well as on various other days of the year, depending on the Orthodox jurisdiction.
The Lord was circumcised so that later no one would doubt that He had truly assumed human flesh, and that his Incarnation was not merely an illusion, as certain heretics taught. Our Lord also received the name Jesus (Saviour) on this day. In the Lord's Circumcision and Naming (Jan 1/Jan 14), we are reminded that we have entered into a New Covenant with God.
"For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ." Col. 2:9-11.
"For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ." Col. 2:9-11.
"You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other " + St Seraphim of Sarov (Jan 2)
St Seraphim, a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
St Seraphim, a great 18th-century ascetic of the Russian Church, was raised in piety by his parents, Isidore and Agathia Moshnin, inhabitants of Kursk. St Seraphim loved Christ from his youth and led a notably virtuous life. He was enriched with abundant visions and miracles, including three healings by the Mother of God.
Saint Seraphim has promised to intercede for those who remember his parents, Isidore and Agathia.
The earliest known prayer to the Theotokos (Greek, Θεοτοκος, meaning “Bearer of God”) is found on a fragment of papyrus dating back to approximately AD 250.
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."
"Beneath thy compassion, We take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one."
O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world, glory to You! #Theophany #Epiphany
"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"
Mk 1:9-11 Eve of Theophany/Ephiphany, Great Blessing of the Waters
The holy hand that baptized our Lord has traveled far and wide. A colossal pilgrimage through many centuries would be required in order to follow the relics of the hand of St John the Forerunner and Baptist, given the number and diversity of locations in which they have been-- kept. Even the most recent centuries contain a rich history of this most holy relic.
Since 1917, the hand of St. John has been preserved in Germany, then Yugoslavia and now at the Monastery Church of St. Peter of Cetinje (Serbia) in Montenegro.
A portion of St. John's right hand is also kept and venerated at Dionysiou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
Mk 1:9-11 Eve of Theophany/Ephiphany, Great Blessing of the Waters
The holy hand that baptized our Lord has traveled far and wide. A colossal pilgrimage through many centuries would be required in order to follow the relics of the hand of St John the Forerunner and Baptist, given the number and diversity of locations in which they have been-- kept. Even the most recent centuries contain a rich history of this most holy relic.
Since 1917, the hand of St. John has been preserved in Germany, then Yugoslavia and now at the Monastery Church of St. Peter of Cetinje (Serbia) in Montenegro.
A portion of St. John's right hand is also kept and venerated at Dionysiou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
The 14-pointed silver star in the Grotto of the Nativity marks the precise spot of the birth, inscribed with "Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est" ("Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary"), symbolizing the three sets of 14 generations in Christ's genealogy from Matthew. Orthodox veneration emphasizes the cave's humility, prefiguring Christ's death and resurrection, as depicted in Nativity icons.
“Prepare thyself, O Bethlehem! Adorn thyself well, O manger! The Truth hath come! Receive Him, O cave! The shadow hath passed away, and God hath appeared to mankind through the Virgin, assuming our form and deifying our flesh.”
The Feast of the Nativity, Julian Calendar
“Prepare thyself, O Bethlehem! Adorn thyself well, O manger! The Truth hath come! Receive Him, O cave! The shadow hath passed away, and God hath appeared to mankind through the Virgin, assuming our form and deifying our flesh.”
The Feast of the Nativity, Julian Calendar