It is vital to continue in prayer

It is vital to continue in prayer for as long as we can, so that his invincible strength may penetrate and enable us to resist every destructive influence. And with the increase of this strength in us comes the joy of hope in final victory.

- Archimandrite Sophrony

All those who work for the Church are Myrrhbearers

… And myrrhbearing is not only participating in the sacraments, preaching the Gospel and confessing the Faith, it is also doing that myriad of things which are so difficult because they require our sacrifice. For:

Those who sing in church are myrrhbearers.

Those who clean the church are myrrhbearers.

Those who prepare the flowers for the services are myrrhbearers.

Those who look after the garden are myrrhbearers.

Those who sew vestments and altar-coverings are myrrhbearers.

Those who bake prosphora are myrrhbearers.

Those who prepare tea or donate food or wash up are myrrhbearers.

Those who donate icons or make offerings of money are myrrhbearers.

Even those who simply come and pray for the salvation of all are myrrhbearers.

All those who work for the Body of Christ, the Church, in this world, but are not of this world, are myrrhbearers, because they show that they too selflessly love Christ.

And what is the reward of myrrhbearers?

It is to be the first to see and know the Crucified Body of Christ Risen, the first to hear the words of the Angel resplendent and whiter than snow: Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is Risen!

This is our joy, not only to feel, but also to know that the Body of Christ, the Church, is Risen, for She is the place of the Resurrection, and we are witnesses of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection. Moreover, when we care for the Church, the Church cares for us, for we are risen with Her.

May we all always have and cherish this inner knowledge of the Truth of Christ, being myrrhbearing witnesses to His Crucifixion and His Resurrection.

- Excerpt from Archimandrite Panteleimon’s sermon on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers

Please pray for me!

Christ is Risen! <3

If you could please keep me in your prayers tonight (or this morning/midday/afternoon - it depends on your country!) it could be really amazing. I know you all have your personal life and problems, but if you could spend some seconds to pray for me it could be so great!

In the past have witnessed how many miracles our prayers can do if we pray united, as one, so even a “Lord help and support this girl behind this blog” could be enough for me, not to mention how big help would be if you could pray a prayer rope/rosary for me. I need enlightment and support in order to face a difficult situation. If you could also ask the intercessions and support of Virgin Mary, St. Archangel Michael, St. Elizabeth the New Martyr, St. Phanourios, St. Xenia, St. Nektarios, Ss Constantine and Helen, Saint Raphael of Lesvos and all the Holy Apostles could be awesome.

Thank you in advance and God bless you!

This is the alpha and the omega

This is the alpha and the omega. This is the beginning and the end–an indescribable beginning and an incomprehensible end. This is the Christ. This is the king. This is Jesus. This is the general. This is the Lord. This is the one who rose up from the dead. This is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father, to whom be the glory and the power forever. Amen.

- St. Melito of Sardis, On Pascha

Have mercy on me!

When bad thoughts are planted in you, then cry to God: “Lord, my Maker and Creator. You see that my soul is in agony from bad thoughts. Have mercy on me.” Teach yourself to root out thoughts immediately. But when you forget and don’t root them out immediately, then offer repentance. Work on this, so that you get a habit.

- St. Silouan

Whoever has known the love of God…

Whoever has known the love of God loves the whole world and never murmurs against his fate, for the burden of sorrow for the sake of God gains eternal joy.

- St. Silouan the Athonite

No earthly pleasures…

No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.

-Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Memory Eternal!

My dear friend rpeeze informed me that Fr. Michael Rosco passed into eternal life this morning. Please continue to keep Pani Susan, Vlad, and the rest of the family in your prayers to give them strength during this trying time.

Thank you all for praying for Fr. Michael Rosco. Please continue keep him in your prayers, that God will rest his soul where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.

Memory Eternal Father Michael!

The only thing that I have is my Savior

Will I be saved or not? Am I living in a way that is pleasing to God, or not? Am I acting according to God’s righteousness? I do not know. God alone knows whether He forgives my sins, or not; whether He will call me to be with Him and will write my name in the Book of Life, or not. What can I say, a wretched sinner who has nothing? The only thing that I have is my Savior, my God, my Joy; I have nothing else in this life. God the Angels, the soul - this is the only reality unto the ages of ages. Amen.

- From the book “Reflections of a Humble Heart”

Correct your own sins

Do not lose your temper with those who sin. Do not have a passion for noticing every sin in your neighbor and judging it, as we usually do. Everyone will give an answer for himself before God. Especially, do not look with evil intention on the sins of those older than you, with whom you have no business. But correct your own sins, your own heart.

- St. John of Kronstadt, “My Life in Christ”

Please pray for Fr. Michael!

A prayer request send by my friend rpeeze:

On Friday evening, my family was informed that another priest in our diocese, Fr. Michael Rosco was involved in a terrible car accident while he was leaving Johnstown, PA after a diocesan trustee meeting to return home to New Jersey. After swerving and bumping into another car while he was on the southbound side of Rt. 219, Fr. Michael’s car struck the barrier and flipped over. His car landed upside down on the northbound side of Rt. 219.

Fr. Michael is in stable condition, but has been in the ICU since being admitted to a hospital in the Johnstown area.

Some of the more specific details are still hazy, but at the very least Fr. Michael has a concussion (there’s a possibility that he had bleeding in his brain), a punctured lung, and multiple broken vertebrae. This morning he underwent a (successful) surgery to insert rods and screws into his back to stabilize his vertebrae. He is still in a lot of pain. Thankfully he is coherent, though he does not remember much about the accident, and is sometimes too overwhelmed with pain to speak.

His wife (my Godmother) has not left the hospital since driving out there right after hearing of the accident.

I would appreciate if your followers would keep Fr. Michael, Pani Susan, and their son Vlad Rosco in their prayers. Fr. Michael is 63, and is a loving and nurturing priest. 

When we do not experience warfare…

When we do not experience warfare, we ought so much the more to humiliate ourselves. For God seeing our weakness, protects us; when we glorify ourselves, He withdraws His protection and we are lost.

- From the Desert Fathers