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Virtual Parish
Pray for us here at Saint Philaret's House in Roslindale, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Unworthy,
Priestmonk Theodore & mga
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS
JOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
How and by what means was Zacchaeus saved? The Lord came in simplicity to him, to a great sinner, and Zacchaeus melted:
“He stood, and said: Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore it four fold” (cf. Lk. 19:18).
The very fact that the Lord visited him softened the heart of the sinner. The Lord did not have any need to speak of the purpose of His coming to save a sinner. There was no need for Him to argue, “Do this and do that if you wish to be saved.”
The Lord simply came, and His very coming caused Zacchaeus to come to himself and to be reborn as one saved instead dying as a perishing soul.
O compassionate Lord! I would wish to blame Thee for my misfortune of being hardened in sin, negligent, and careless. If only Thou wouldest visit my fallen soul, it would be thoroughly aroused by Thy visitation and would be impetuously changed with regard to its disposition and fate.
2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Holy Protection of the TheotokosOctober 2
HIEROMARTYR JOSEPH, METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRADIn the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of a Monk.
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
Whence came Zacchaeus' sudden love for the Lord, faith in Him, readiness to do good, so contrary to his entire former attitude? All this the Lord brought with Him to Zacchaeus. The Treasury of love and consolation came to Zacchaeus, and he, accustomed as he was to correctly valuing precious things and dealing with them, showed us that he was not mistaken and that the Lord was precisely the One Whom Zacchaeus confessed Him to be.
2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Saints Cyprian and Justina save us.
Saints Cyprian and JustinaOctober 3
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
“Thou art my foundation, O Saviour, my refuge and my strength: do Thou make steadfast my shaken heart…” *
A wonderful hymn.
Whose shaken heart will it not make steadfast by its compunctionate quality, its grace-given beauty, warmth and power?
2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts U.S.A.
* Heirmos, Eighth Tone, Ode Four
Saint Dionysius the Areopagite save us.
Saint Dionysius the AreopagiteOctober 6
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
All manner of gossip, quarrels, discord with our neighbors—all this is often the enemy attempting to disrupt our tranquility, our peaceful and saving work of serving God, to distract us from prayer and labor or struggle.
Understand that the enemy is behind all your annoyances, and do not yield to temptation. Stay calm.
Say to the Lord, “Lord Thou seest the truth: do Thou defend me. Help me to stay calm. Let everything turn out to the enemy's shame, and not result in my embitterment.”
2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts U.S.A.
October 8
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
We cause the enemy to rejoice greatly if we respond to his attacks by becoming annoyed, sorrowful, despondent, enfeebled. This is just what he wants to achieve by the mean tricks he plays on us through our neighbors.
(c) 2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Please see the poem The Change on Saint Pelagia's conversion by Prince Dimitry Mishetsky in The Wheat of Christ and Katina's recording of The Change in her selections entitled "In the Beginning."
Saint Pelagia the Former Courtesan
October 10
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOMARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE
A. D. 407
"For He knoweth," saith He, "what things ye have need of." And if He know, one may say, what we have need of, wherefore must we pray?
Not to instruct Him, but to prevail with Him; to be made intimate with Him by continuance in supplication; to be humbled; to be reminded of thy sins.
The Gospel of Saint Matthew NPNF Vol. 10. Homily 19, p.133B
Righteous and God-bearing Fathers of Optina save us.
Synaxis of the Rigteous and god-bearing Fathers of Optina
October 11-17
Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumencal Council
THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT
SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS
Step 15
On incorruptible purity and chastity, to which the corruptible attain by toil and sweat
The good Lord shows His great care for us in that the shamelessness of the feminine sex is checked by shyness as with a sort of bit. For if the woman were to run after the man, no flesh would be saved.
Holy 350 Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council save us.
Fathers of the Seventh Ecumencal Council
October 18/31
Pagan Festival of Samhaign, commonly called “Halloween”Samhaign (say "SAAH-win" according to the Milwaukee Journal), the demon, is up to his old tricks. Let us not open the door, even a crack in the door, to him. "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:9).
What faith might this be to which the Scripture and the holy Fathers constantly make reference?
We, "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16) the Church, are summoned to a new life, a life of faith, for "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb. 11:6), and "we walk by faith, not by sight"(2 Cor. 6:7) knowing that "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19).
Again, what is this faith? Where can we, with certainty, find a true faith? Since we know that "faith without works is dead" (Jam. 2:20; 2:26), and St. Gregory Nyssa tells us that "works without faith is dead" (The Life of Moses), how do we live a life of faith that is pleasing to God? The holy Fathers, with one voice, tell us to turn to “the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), that is, to the holy Orthodox Church, sealed with the blood of countless martyrs, and with their incorrupt relics. This is the true Church, “the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15) (cf. especially this website).
So we, together with Abraham, look "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). We confess, with all the Saints, “that ...[we] are strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Heb. 11:13), "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt" (Heb. 11: 26).
The Real History of Halloween Why Halloween
October 19
A Note From
The Life of Saint Athanasius
Archbishop of Alexandria
Once, when the holy Athanasius was at a Church service at night, soldiers broke in and surrounded the people and the altar. Archbishop Athanasius remained seated and ordered the deacon to read a psalm. At first the soldiers did not dare to attack the faithful in church, but finally they did so, killing them, and then desecrating, and plundering the church itself. The clergy managed to get Saint Athanasius away and into the desert before the soldiers could seize him.
Saint Athanasius boarded a boat in the Nile River and set off for Upper Egypt. When, however, he saw that he was being pursued by government officers, and just after the boat had rounded a curve in the river, he directed the boat's captain to make a quick U-turn and to head back down the river. The captain was flabbergasted but he obeyed. Soon they approached the boat of his pursuers, who, suspecting nothing, called out, “Have you seen Athanasius the Bishop?” So, as the river boats passed one another, now going in opposite directions, the Saint himself called back, “He is not far…” And thus, he escaped his persecutors!
The holy Athanasius spent twenty years of his life in exile, away from his Archbishop's throne, but he never stopped writing and fighting to defend the Orthodox Christian faith against its enemies.
Saint John of Kronstadt Save us.
October 21
SAINT MARK THE ASCETIC
On Those who Think that they are made righteous by Works:
Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Texts.
66. Once you recognize that the Lord's judgments ‘are in all the earth’ then everything that happens to you will teach you the knowledge of God. — cf. I Paraleipomenon 15:14 (LXX)
Saint Hilarion the Great Save us.
October 22
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE
A.D. 407
"For learn", saith He, "of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Because long-suffering is the mother of all good things. — Homilies on St. Matthew's Gospel Vol. 10 Homily 38, p. 254.
Seven Youths of Ephesus save us.
SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADT
From My Life in Christ — p. 313
O Lord! ever give me a meek heart, a bright, straightforward, kind look. Grant it Lord! Glory to Thee for having taken away from me the burning thorns of my passions, my straitness, my shame, and mine infirmities, and for having bestowed upon me peace, tranquility, freedom, power, and boldness. Strengthen, then, in me that which Thou hast accomplished in me.
Glory to the power of faith, to the power of prayer; for everything that I ask of Thee believing in prayer I receive in accordance with Thy word. I thank Thee for raising me from the dead so many times, and for destroying the kingdom of sin and death in me.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
October 23
Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov
On the Prayer of Jesus
The power given by the Lord to His seventy Disciples is given to all Christians (Mk. 16:17). Use it, Christians!
With the name of Jesus cut off their heads, that is, the first appearances of sin in your thoughts, fancies and feelings. Destroy within you the devil's rule over you; destroy all his influence over you; acquire spiritual freedom. The foundation of your struggle is the grace of Holy Baptism; your weapon is in the name of Jesus.
Constantly say: “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.” [Virtual parish Editor]
Saint James Brother of the Lord save us.
Apostle James the Brother of God
October 26
SAINT JOHN OF DAMASCUS
Whom the Holy Church Commemorates December 4.
An excerpt from his Life.
When Saint John's father reposed, the Caliph appointed the son to an even higher position than his father had attained. Everyone admired his wisdom and his sense of justice and mercy.
Meanwhile in Constantinople, which was the capital of the Christian world in those times, a terrible fight was raging. Some people, including the Emperor of Constantinople, wanted to destroy all the holy icons. The Emperor's soldiers would break into churches and people's homes, would seize the icons, burn them or break them into pieces. Everyone was afraid to oppose the Emperor.
Saint John dared to challenge the Emperor for destroying the icons, and he wrote many articles defending them. He also prayed devoutly before the icon of the Virgin and begged her to show him how he should live. He was troubled by the terrible violence against the icons, for he loved religion, truth, and beauty and he believed that a man should dedicate his best gifts to God and to the worship of God.
The Emperor was so irritated by Saint John's defense of the icons that he had a letter sent to the Caliph of Damascus in which John's handwriting was forged. This letter said that Saint John was willing to betray the Caliph to his enemies. The Caliph believed that Saint John had written the letter and he was so angry that he ordered John's hand to be cut off. John prayed before the icon of the holy Virgin and his hand was miraculously healed with only a thin red scar indicating the place where it had been cut off.
When the Caliph heard of this miracle, he was convinced that John was not guilty, and called John back to the palace, wanting to give him a higher position than he had held before.
“No,” said Saint John. “God has called me. I will go away from the big city; I will give up my riches and my power. I will spend the rest of my life praying to God and praising Him.”
It took Saint John a long time to persuade the Caliph to let him go, but at last he was free. He left his riches to his relatives, freed his slaves, and, wearing his simplest clothes, left home for good, taking with him only a few dried wheat cakes.
Taken from: They Walked With God; The Lives of Saints for Children by Lydia Kesich
© 1960 Metropolitan Publications Committee
1520 East Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Saint Demetrius save us
Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer
October 28
SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA
(An excerpt from Father Herman Alaska’s Saint
by F.A. Golder
St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood 2004)
On Board a Russian Man of War.
One day the Captain and officers of a Russian Man of War invited Father Herman on board to dine with them. In the course of the conversation he put this question to them: “What do you, gentlemen, regard as most worthy of love and what do you wish most for your happiness?” One man said he desired riches, a second glory, the third a beautiful wife, a fourth the command of a fine ship. The others expressed themselves in a similar manner. “Is it not true,” said Father Herman, “that all your wishes can be summarized in this short sentence: each of you desires that which he thinks is most worthy of love?” To this statement they all agreed.
“If this is true,” he continued, “what can there be better, higher, nobler, and more worthy of love than the Lord Jesus Christ, the creator of heaven and earth, the Author of all living beings, Who provides for all, Who loves all, and Who is the incarnation of love? Should we not above all love God, seek Him and desire Him?” The officers were quite confused and replied that what he said was true, was self-evident. He then asked them if they loved God. “To be sure,” they said, “we love God. How could anyone not love Him?”
Hearing these words, the old man bowed his head and said:
“I, a poor sinner, for forty years have tried to love God and I cannot say that I love Him as I should. To love God is to serve Him day and night, and to do His will. Do you, gentlemen, love God in this manner, do you often pray to Him, do you always do His will?” With shame they acknowledged their shortcomings. “Then let me beseech you, my friends, that from this day forth, from this hour, from this minute, you will love God above all.”
The officers marveled at his words and long remembered them.
Note: In 1842 the ship on which Bishop Innocent was sailing from Kamchatka to Alaska ran into a severe storm which threatened to wreck it. The good bishop prayed for help to the saints, and remembering the pious Fr. Herman he said to himself, “If you have pleased God, Fr. Herman, make the wind change.” Immediately a fair wind sprung up and in good time the boat was safe in the harbor of St. Paul. In gratitude for the deliverance, the bishop held a service over the grave of Fr. Herman.
Saint Philaret save us.
Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of New York Website from Monastery Press
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