Elder Sophrony of Essex on the Holy Fathers

St. Gregory Palamas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Thessaloniki (source)

  
In our age, we need, more than any time before, the teaching of three Fathers: St. Gregory Palamas, St. Maximos the Confessor, and St. Symeon the New Theologian.
-Elder Sophrony of Essex

(source)

 

Sts. Maximos the Confessor and Symeon the New Theologian (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. John Maximovitch on Struggle and Victory in Christ

Jesus Christ crucified (source)

  
God’s grace always assists those who struggle, but this does not mean that a struggler is always in the position of a victor. Sometimes in the arena the wild animals did not touch the righteous ones, but by no means were they all preserved untouched.
What is important is not victory or the position of a victor, but rather the labor of striving towards God and devotion to Him.
Though a man may be found in a weak state, that does not at all mean that he has been abandoned by God. On the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ was in trouble, as the world sees things. But when the sinful world considered Him to be completely destroyed, in fact He was victorious over death and hades. The Lord did not promise us positions as victors as a reward for righteousness, but told us, “In the world you will have tribulation — but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).
The power of God is effective when a person asks for the help from God, acknowledging his own weakness and sinfulness. This is why humility and the striving towards God are the fundamental virtues of a Christian.
+ St. John Maximovitch

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St. John Maximovitch the Wonderworker (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Symeon the New Theologian on Faith in Christ

St. Symeon the New Theologian (source)

  
“To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this life. It means we should bear all our daily trials that may bring us sorrow, distress, or unhappiness, and bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and until He comes to visit us. For it is said, ‘I waited on the Lord and He came to me.'”
— St. Symeon the New Theologian

(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Ambrose of Optina: "A continuously happy life produces extremely unhappy consequences..."

St. Ambrose of Optina (source)

  
“A continuously happy life produces extremely unhappy consequences. In nature we see that there are not always pleasant springs and fruitful summers, and sometimes autumn is rainy and winter cold and snowy, and there is flooding and wind and storms, and moreover the crops fail and there are famine, troubles, sicknesses and many other misfortunes. All of this is beneficial so that man might learn through prudence, patience and humility. For the most part, in times of plenty he forgets himself, but in times of various sorrows he becomes more attentive to his salvation.”
-St. Ambrose of Optina
 
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Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Paraklesis to St. Jacob of Hamatoura

This is a beautiful recording of the Paraklesis (in Arabic) to the Newly-revealed Hieromartyr St. Jacob of Hamatoura. May the Saint and his fellow Martyrs intercede with the Lord for all who are sick, afflicted and suffer throughout the world, but especially in the Middle East (Source)

  

St. Jacob of Hamatoura (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected hymns to St. Methodia of Kimolos

St. Methodia of Kimolos (source)

  

Apolytikion in the First Tone

Let us faithful honor with hymns the venerable Saint Methodia, the offspring of Kimolos, the jewel of virtue, and truly the peer of the holy Ascetics from the earliest times, imitating the deeds of her life beloved by God, crying out: glory to Him Who gave thee power, glory to Him Who crowned thee, glory to Him Who hath numbered thee, O holy Mother, in the choir of the Saints.

(source)

  

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone. You have shown forth today.

You lived a spotless life, mystically gladdening the whole island of Kimolos with the light of your virtues, O Methodia, and venerable one inspired by God.

 

Oikos

You were from a pious root, as a beautiful vine, and offered to Christ the fruit of righteousness, faith, hope and tenderness, and all the rest, O Venerable one, and a virtuous life, and holy perfection, and the study of the divine and illumined Scriptures. And the life of Christ you held above every other base thing, which you turned away from mindfully. Therefore, having been delivered from the yoke of your spouse, you were more perfectly yoked to Christ, and followed Him with your whole heart, Whom you ever entreat, on behalf of your island, and all those who honor you, O Methodia, and venerable one inspired by God.

 

On this day (October 5th), the memory of our Venerable Mother Methodia of Kimolos.

 

Verses

Having lived in asceticism as your method of life, O Venerable one,

You venerably offered yourself to Christ, O Methodia.

On the fifth of October, Methodia reached the end of this life.

 

Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Plagal of the Second Tone.

Today, the newly-shining memory of the Venerable Methodia has dawned, mystically illumining to the pious the method of salvation. Therefore, come, let us celebrate spiritually, and cry out to her with gladness of heart: Rejoice, you who imitated the former Venerable Saints by your way of life, and were shown equal to them as one who struggled as they did. Rejoice, you who through self-control withered the flesh, and made your soul beautiful with the grace of humility. Rejoice, the defender of Kimolos, and sacred boast, and ready intercessor to Christ, Whom you ceaselessly entreat, that He have mercy on our souls.

 

Megalynarion

Rejoice, O Methodia, divine in appearance, who imitated the way of the Venerable Saints. Rejoice the root and boast of Kimolos, which you keep unharmed from every danger.

(source)

  

St. Methodia of Kimolos (Source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"O glorious Virgin Martyr, Akylina the godly-minded one..."

The Holy Relics and Icon of St. Akylina the New Martyr of Zagliveri (source)

  
O glorious Virgin Martyr, Akylina the godly-minded one, who can rightly hymn your struggle? For you did not count the flower of youth, nor the pinnacle of your age, more than the love of Christ, but with simplicity of soul, and knowledge founded in God, you gave yourself up to death for Him. And you were steadfast through pains, and therefore proceeded to the life without pain, being made worthy of the trophies of martyrdom. But as one having boldness, intercede with your Bridegroom [Christ] on behalf of those who honor you.
-Doxastikon of the Praises from the feast of St. Akylina the New Martyr

(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!