A poetic prayer of thanksgiving to St. Ephraim of Nea Makri

St. Ephraim of Nea Makri, the Newly-revealed Hieromartyr Wonderworker (source)

 
A poetic prayer of thanksgiving to St. Ephraim of Nea Makri
O Saint Ephraim, I wanted
To cry out to all
Of your many wondrous deeds
And to cry with joy.
 
You have become a consolation
And a hope of the faithful.
You heal them medically
Which benefits everyone.
 
Day and night you walk,
Run, and hasten
To help young and old,
Without ceasing.
 
Because of this everyone honors you
And hastens to your Monastery,
And lights candles in your honor
Within their soul.
 
Thus, when I learned
Of your holy name,
I hastened immediately to be saved
From my tortures.
 
I entreat you, O Saint,
Give me the joy
To speedily escape
And I will become well.
(source)
  

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

" Let all the trees of the forest rejoice..."

Christ planting the trees in the Creation of the world (source)

   

Let all the trees of the forest rejoice, for Christ, Who planted them in the beginning, has sanctified their nature by being stretched out upon the tree, which we now see exalted, we worship Him and you we magnify.

-From the 9th Ode of the Canon for the Exaltation of the Precious Cross

   

(source)

   

Christ the Tree of Life (source)

  

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

The Church of St. Luke the Surgeon, Nafplion, Argolidos, Greece

The pilgrimage Church of St. Luke the Surgeon, Levkakia, Argolidos (outside Nafplion), Greece (source)

 
With religious formality and grandeur, the consecration of the Holy Church dedicated to St. Luke the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopol in Nafplion on Saturday April 29th, 2017.

The celebrations began the afternoon of Friday April 28th, with the reception of the Holy Relics, and the celebration of the hierarchical vespers. Immediately afterwards was the opening of the museum in honor of St. Luke the Surgeon.

The day of the consecration on Saturday April 29th, Ieronymos Archbishop of Greece and a multitude of hierarchs celebrated the consecration of the church and the Divine Liturgy.
 

Archbishop of Greece Ieronymos (right), and Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolidos (left), celebrating the consecration of the church of St. Luke on April 29th, 2017 (source)

 
On April 27th 2014 was the laying of the cornerstone. The Church was finished the spring of 2017 on the occasion of the 140th birthday of St. Luke (April 27th 1877).

This holy pilgrimage of St. Luke was in large part due to the inspiration of Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolidos, who was the one responsible for first translating the life of St. Luke into Greek, helping to spread his veneration throughout Greece. Many churches have been built in St. Luke's honor, many churches and monasteries treasure portions of his holy relics, many icons of the saint adorn churches in Greece, and many thousands have benefitted from the Saint's speedy help.

Not even two weeks passed since Metropolitan Nektarios' enthronement in Argolidos, when completely unexpectedly appeared Ioannis Saoulides (of Greco-Russian descent), and his children George and Demetrios, who live and work in St. Petersburg, but who also have ties with Argolida, and who are discerned for their piety and deep faith.

They took it upon themselves totally to build the Church of St. Luke.

The Holy Church of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple Levkakion offered the space in the area called "Kritharaki", and on April 27th, 2014, the cornerstone was laid.
 

The beautiful Byzantine and Russian hybrid design of the church and its iconography (source)

 
The church architecture, iconostasis with its icons, and bells are all Russian in design, creating a beautiful and unique hybrid of Russian and Byzantine design to the church. Below the church is a museum dedicated to St. Luke, with many articles and pictures from his life.

According to the Metropolis website, the pilgrimage church is open daily from 7:30AM to 8PM to those who wish to venerate the Saint, with daily Divine Liturgies beginning at 7:30AM. Also, every Tuesday and Thursday, Vespers and Paraklesis to St. Luke are served beginning at 6PM, and the first Wednesday of every month the Mystery of Holy Unction is celebrated at 6PM.
(source)
 

The beautiful icon of St. Luke the Surgeon, adorning his church in Nafplion, painted in Russia (Source)

 

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

"He Who seals the abyss, and opens it again..."

The Nativity of the Theotokos (source)

  
He Who seals the abyss, and opens it again, Who takes up water into the clouds, and makes it rain, You are He, O Lord, Who made the root blossom from the fruitless Anna the holy one, bringing forth as spotless fruit the rod that is the Theotokos.
-from the Canon of Nativity of the Theotokos
  
(source)
  

Most-Holy Theotokos, save us!

"Being true to your name, O Phanourios..."

St. Phanourios the Great Martyr and Newly-revealed (source)

 
Being true to your name, O Phanourios, you radiantly shine with light upon all the Church of Christ, and you dissolve the night of temptations and dangers and trials, through the rays of your all-radiant protection, as our intercessor to the Lord.
-Prosomoion of the Praises from the feast of St. Phanourios the Great Martyr
 
(source)
 

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

St. Kosmas Aitolos: A Thief named John, saved by the Theotokos

The Most-holy Theotokos and Christ (source)

  

A Thief Named John

A MAN NAMED JOHN was defeated and he became a thief. He became the captain of a band of one hundred thieves, but he had great reverence for the Theotokos. Each morning and evening he read the service of Supplication to the Theotokos***.

Wishing to save him because of the great reverence he had for the Theotokos, the gracious God sent a holy monk who was immediately captured by the thieves.

The monk said to them: "I beg you to take me to your captain because I have something to tell you for your own good."

They took him to the captain and he said: "Ask all the men to come so that I can tell you something."

The captain called them and they came. The monk said: "Aren't there any more?"

"I have a cook," the captain replied.

"Ask him to come." But when he came, the cook was unable to look at the monk and turned his face aside.

The monk then said to the cook: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command you to tell me who you are, who sent you, and what you are doing here."

The cook replied and said: "I'm a liar and I always speak falsely. But since you have bound me with the name of Christ, I can't but tell you the truth. I'm the devil and I was sent by my superior to work for the captain and to wait for the day when he wouldn't read the service of Supplication to the Theotokos to put him into hell. I have been watching him now for fourteen years and I have never found a day when he hasn't read the service."

The monk said: "I command you in the name of the Holy Trinity to disappear and no longer tempt Christians." And immediately the devil disappeared like smoke.

The monk then taught the thieves. Some became monks, others married and did good works and were saved. This is why I advise you all, men and women, to learn the service of Supplication and to use it in your prayers. And if you wish, take the book, The Salvation of Sinners, which contains the seventy miracles of the Theotokos, of which I told you one so that you might understand.

(source)
  
***Some other versions mention that he would read the Akathist (Salutations) to the Theotokos daily.
     

The icon depicting the hymn: "In Thee, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices..." (source)

 

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!

"O the wonders of the Ever-virgin..."

The Dormition of the Most-holy Theotokos (source)

 
O the wonders of the Ever-virgin and Mother of God, surpassing mind! For she dwelt in a tomb, and showed it to be Paradise, which we stand beside today, rejoicing as we chant: praise the Lord, O you works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely unto all the ages.
-Excerpt from the Canon for the Dormition of the Theotokos

(source)
 

Most-holy Theotokos, save us!