Tag: Cross

All Good is in Me

Our Lord Jesus is on a cross adorned with twelve doves, symbolizing the apostles. There is an inscription (not seen in our photo) at the bottom of the mosaic saying, “We liken the Church of Christ to this vine that the law causes to wither and the Cross causes to bloom.”

Apse mosaic, Basilica of St. Clemente, Rome – 2006; the present 11th century basilica was built over the original 1st century church.

St. Clement was baptized by the holy Apostle Peter and became his fervent disciple and constant companion. Shortly before his own sufferings and death, St. Peter consecrated St. Clement as Bishop of Rome. After the death of the Apostle Peter, St. Linus [(67-79) 2 Timothy 4:21] was the next Bishop of Rome, succeeded by St. Anacletus [(Cletus)(79-91)], and then St. Clement (92-101).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ~ St. Matthew 11:28-30

By St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Christ calls us to Himself, promising sweet rest for our souls. He would say to us:

Do you desire good for yourself? All Good is in Me.

Do you desire blessings? All Blessings are in Me.

Do you desire beauty? What is lovelier that I?

Do you desire noble birth? What birth is more noble than that of the Son of God and the Virgin?

Do you desire rank? Who is of higher rank than the King of heaven?

Do you desire glory? Who is more glorious than I?

Riches? All riches are in Me.

Wisdom? I am the Wisdom of God.

Friendship? Who is a greater friend than I – I who laid down my life for all?

Help? Who can help but I?

Happiness? Who can be happy without Me?

Do you seek consolation in distress? Who will console you but I?

Do you seek peace? I am the Peace of the soul.

Do you seek life? In Me is the fount of life.

Do you seek light? I am the Light of the world.

Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest!

The Heavens Declare

Central Vault – Cross in Starry Sky, 5th century church; Mausoleo Galla Placidia – Ravenna, Italy in 2006

Whether we acknowledge that God exists or deny it, still He exists. He ceaselessly declares concerning Himself through the book written by His finger: nature…

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:1)…

“I asked the luminaries of heaven;” says one church writer: “Are you God? And they answered: No. I asked the air: Are you God? And it answered: No. I asked the forests and groves: Are you not God? And they answered: No. And then all things cried out together unanimously in a loud voice: No, we are not God, but we were created by Him!”

~ St. John Maximovitch, Shanghai – 1937

Endure a Bit

The pandemic continues… disrupting worldly life. We grow tired of constraints. Yet, no matter how dire circumstances may seem, there is joy, gratitude, and peace through His Grace. Patience! “This is just for now!”

Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ~ St. Mark 8:34

Rejoice as you feel the cross upon yourself, for it is a sign that you are following the Lord on the path of salvation which leads to heaven. Endure a bit. The end and the crowns are just around the corner! ~ St. Theophan the Recluse

Love is only found on the Cross. ~ Mother Gabrielia Papayannis

Remember that each of us has his own cross. The Golgotha of this cross is our heart: it is being lifted up or implanted through zealous determination to live according to the Spirit of God. Just as the salvation of the world is by the Cross of God, so our salvation is by our own cross. ~ St. Theophan the Recluse

Some want to go to the Resurrection without passing by way of Golgotha. ~Mother Gabrielia Papayannis

Patience is the Christian’s coat of arms. What is it to follow Christ? It is to endure all things, looking upon Christ Who suffered. Many wish to be glorified with Christ, but few seek to remain with the suffering Christ. Yet not merely by tribulation, but even in much tribulation does one enter the Kingdom of God.
~ St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Do not ever succumb to the insane thought that God has abandoned you. God knows exactly how much one can endure and according to that, measures the sufferings and pains of everyone. ~ St. Nikolai Velimirovic

The righteous have no sorrows that are not turned into joy, as sinners have no joy that is not turned into sorrow. ~ St. Dimitri of Rostov

If we always see God in our minds, and always remember Him, everything will appear tolerable to us. ~ St. John Chrysostom

Love

Sunrise on Golden Sand – Hawaii 2008

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ~ John 13:34-35

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ~ Romans 5:5

God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves. ~ St. John Chrysostom

What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers … For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ~ St. Augustine of Hippo

If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, even though you do them without love in the beginning. The Lord will see you desire and striving and will put love in your heart. ~ St. Ambrose of Optina

“Love covers a multitude of sins,” (I Pet. 4:8). That is, for love towards one’s neighbour, God forgives the sins of the one who loves. ~St. Theophan the Recluse

Do not ask for love from your neighbor, for if you ask and he does not respond, you will be troubled. Instead show your love for your neighbour and you will be at rest, and so will bring your neighbour to love. ~ St. Dorotheos of Gaza

You don’t become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love. ~ St. Porphyrios

Having Beheld

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We worship Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee. We call on Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection. For behold, through the cross joy hath come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection: for having endured crucifixion, he hath destroyed death by death.

~ Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ is sung in Tone 6 after the Gospel Reading of Sunday Matins

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