Christ is Risen!
In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins, is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel. ~ St. Mark the Ascetic
Truly He is Risen!
Altar Mosaic – St. Sophia Orthodox Church, Canada
Greetings on Great and Holy Thursday!
Let no fear separate you from Me… Do this in remembrance of Me.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies; nor like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.
Thursday evening, the Twelve Passion Gospels are read aloud, and The Wise Thief is sung.
May we, wherever we are… particularly during pandemic isolation, blossom forth through the efforts of repentance, love, hope and faith in God’s Mercy.
Although these are trying times… This is just for now.
Greetings on Great and Holy Wednesday. Today, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated for the last time.
“When he came to himself… he came to his father …”
“The light of Christ shineth for all…”
On Tuesday night (for the Wednesday service), the beautiful Hymn of Kassiani is sung.
May we wherever we are… particularly during pandemic isolation, blossom forth through efforts of repentance, love, hope, and faith in God’s mercy.
Although these are trying times… This is just for now.
May your Holy Week be full of blessings.
Thank you Genevieve for sharing this photo.
Greetings on Great and Holy Tuesday.
Both watch and pray… Behold the Bridegroom Comes at Midnight!
Amongst other spiritual gems, today’s emphasis is on the gravity of God’s examination of our life and the account we will have to give of ourselves.
May we, wherever we are… particularly during pandemic isolation, blossom forth through efforts of repentance, love, hope and faith in God’s mercy.
Although these are trying times… This is just for now.
May your Holy Week be full of blessings.
Thank you Irena, for sharing this photo.
Greetings on Great and Holy Monday.
As we begin Holy Week, earthly life ceases for the faithful as we go up with the Lord to Jerusalem. ~Matins of Great and Holy Monday
During the Presanctified Liturgy Let My Prayer Arise is sung.
During the harsh weather at winter’s end, the crocus… also known as the penitent flower, springs up and blossoms forth in time for the spiritual lenten season of repentance, efforts, and hope.
May we, wherever we are… particularly during pandemic isolation, blossom forth with efforts of repentance, love, hope and faith in God’s mercy.
Although these are trying times… This is just for now.
May your Holy Week be full of blessings.
Prayer is food for the soul. Do not starve the soul, it is better to let the body go hungry… ~ St. Joseph of Optina
You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body. ~C. S. Lewis
Through greed we underwent the first stripping, overcome by the bitter tasting of the fruit, and we became exiles from God. But let us turn back to repentance and, fasting from the food that gives us pleasure, let us cleanse our senses on which the enemy makes war. Let us strengthen our hearts with the hope of grace, and not with foods which brought no benefit to those who trusted in them. Our food shall be the Lamb of God, on the holy and radiant night of His Awakening: the Victim offered for us, given in communion to the disciples on the evening of the Mystery, who disperses the darkness of ignorance by the Light of His Resurrection. ~ Aposticha, Vespers – evening of Sunday of the Last Judgement
Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: But they that sin are enemies to their own life. ~ Archangel Raphael, Tobit 12:7-10
One should not think about the doings of God when one’s stomach is full; on a full stomach there can be no vision of the Divine mysteries. ~St. Seraphim of Sarov
It is necessary for a Christian to fast, in order to clear his mind, to rouse and develop his feelings, and to stimulate his will to useful activity. These three human capabilities we darken and stifle above all by ‘surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life’ (Lk. 21:34). ~ St. John of Kronstadt
Many human activities, good in themselves, are not good because of the motive for which they are done. For example, fasting and vigils, prayer and psalmody, acts of charity and hospitality are by nature good, but when performed for the sake of self-esteem they are not good. ~ St. Maximos the Confessor
Devils take great delight in fullness, and drunkenness and bodily comfort. Fasting possesses great power and it works glorious things. To fast is to banquet with angels. ~ St. Athanasius the Great
Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters? The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbour. ~St. John Chrysostom
Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life. ~ Proverbs 4:23
… A Christian renews within himself the grace-filled springs which were opened to him through Holy Baptism, and which were later so many times obstructed by carelessness and falls, and so many times cleansed by repentance… Let us continue fasting and not give liberty to our feelings, not cease fervent prayers and tears, and not forget works of love; let us seek to hear the word of God and most of all, seek to converse with the Lord, Who is within us. Through this conversation we shall uphold the fear of God and zeal to please Him within ourselves, for in this lies the source of our spiritual life. ~ St. Theophan the Recluse
Our Self-Sown Wild-Garden’s Seating Area -2012
Happy Clean Monday – the first day of Great Lent!
The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to open. O brethren, let us cleanse ourselves from all impurity. And sing to the Giver of Light: Glory be to Thee, who alone lovest mankind. ~ Aposticha Vespers Cheesefare Week
What does Lent have to do with flowers?
The word ‘Lent’ comes from the Old English word ‘lechten’, which means ‘spring season’… and Lent is a Spiritual Spring; a time of hope, regeneration and new beginnings.
Through internal quietude, contemplation, and reviewing our heart’s desires, Lent helps us let God in again, to make our life lighter and brighter. It helps recharge our spiritual batteries.
May we cultivate buds of virtue – through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving… wending our way through the green pastures of the Holy Spirit.
The Lenten Spring has come! Flowers of repentance are opening!
Let us begin our Great Lenten journey together in spirit, singing praises to the Giver of Light!
Today’s 28 Layer Blini Crepe Cake contained… almost zero calories?
Tomorrow’s appeasement-chickpeas are placidly soaking.
Bon Voyage! Wishing you a blessed and fruitful Great Lent!
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the season of repentance. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, that having sailed across the great sea of the Fast, we may reach the third-day Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls. ~ Aposticha Sunday Night Forgiveness Vespers
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. ~ Romans 13: 11-14
Floral wedding confetti on church entrance floor mosaic – St. Sophia, Canada
Today is Forgiveness Sunday. Tomorrow Great Lent begins.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ~ St. Matthew 5:7
A pebble tossed into a pond radiates countless ripples.
Forgiveness does this too. It releases waves of empathy and compassion, affecting everyone it touches, including ourselves.
Mercy is a powerful gift, restoring peace of mind, and helping us to move forward, sloughing off anger or resentment. Giving or receiving forgiveness bestows healing to our spiritual and physical health.
Great Lent begins tomorrow. Today, on Forgiveness Sunday, we greet each other by asking mutual forgiveness. (Whether in person if possible, or by a phone call or email) What a delightfully liberating way to start the Fast… with clean slates; in the spirit of mercy and Christian love.
Forgive me. God Forgives!
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~St. Matthew 6:14 – 15
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:32
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:13
Sincere repentance is a gift of God such that, although we may not have committed any severe fall into sin or evil deed, we still see ourselves in our true light, see how weak we are, how much we sin in the mind, in our feelings, and especially in our imagination. Looking honestly at ourselves, we have nothing left to say except “Lord God have mercy on me, help me, and forgive, forgive, forgive me!” Then forgiveness will come into our souls like Pascha, and we are as it were born anew. And if the Lord should forgive, who will condemn us? ~ Metropolitan Vitaly, Paschal Encyclical, 2001
Sometimes we do not see any outlet, any escape from our sins, and they torment us: on account of them, the heart is oppressed with sorrow and weary. But Jesus looks upon us, and streams of tears flow from our eyes, and with the tears all the tissue of evil in our soul vanishes. We weep with joy that such mercy has suddenly and unexpectedly been sent to us. ~ St. John of Kronstadt
