Honoring Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, 18 Jan 2015

Thursday, January 8, 2015 
Source:  http://byztex.blogspot.com/2015/01/christ-lover-of-innocent.html

NEW ICON:  Christ the Lover of the Innocent

Uncut Mountain Supply is introducing a special new icon, "Christ the Lover of the Innocent" to encourage prayer and action on behalf of the millions of innocent lives taken each year in our country.

For the release of this icon, we are offering a 20% discount for all orders of $75.00 or more with the hopes that it will encourage the purchasing of this icon with the result of increased prayer for the resolution this ongoing problem. USE THE CODE: 20FOR75

 

 

Pray for the release of Archbishop Jovan

It is possible that Archbishop Jovan could be released tomorrow, January 19, 2015—please offer a prayer for his release, by the mercy of God.  Thank you, Pres. Candace
 
12.12.2014

Archbishop Jovan – three years in prison

 

December 12, 2014, marked whole three years of imprisonment of Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje.

On December 12, 2011, he voluntarily enter his homeland, at the border-crossing near Bitola, where he was arrested. Since that day, the state apparatus executes torture incomprehensible for the contemporary democratic societies upon him.

In the course of these three years, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric were allowed to visit him only once, in August 2013.

At the same time, although Archbishop Jovan fulfills all conditions required by the law to be granted a two-day leave from prison, the prison authorities are violating all legal provisions and persistently deny him the leave that the law grants him.

Archbishop Jovan, who is currently imprisoned for the eighth time in the last twelve years, has diabetes. He is placed in a cell together with other thirty-three prisoners. The prison conditions are substandard, the cell has one toilet, and the overall conditions are altogether further deteriorating his health.

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights declared Archbishop Jovan a political prisoner.
 
Source:  http://www.poa-info.org/eng

More on newly glorified St. Paisios

Here is link to a short (about 51 minutes) Russian made film (in Greek) with English subtitles. It is based on the book of life of the saint. 

There is so much information available, but this film condenses quite a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htluet5iKvA

May we receive a greater measure of God’s grace and mercy through his intercessions.  Wondrous is God in His Saints!

 

 

Guidance from newly canonized St. Paisios

Thank God for this modern day Saint who has so much to offer us--listen to his voice and read along: 
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o08x3qDL0K8

Elder Paisios canonized as St. Paisios today!

From Full of Grace & Truth blogspot:  http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2015/01/elder-paisios-canonized-by-ecumenical.html

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Elder Paisios Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain (+1994) (source)

  
The Greek Religious News Site Romfea.gr posts that Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain (+1994) has been canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
  
The official announcement from the Patriarchate is available here.
  

God is wondrous among His Saints! May we have his blessing!

Selected hymns to St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain***
  

Apolytikion in the First Tone

The offspring of Farasa, and the adornment of Athos, and the imitator of the former righteous, equal in honor, O Paisios let us honor O faithful, the vessel full of graces, who hastens speedily to those who cry out: glory to Him Who gave you strength, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who grants through you healings for all.
  

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

The most-famed ascetic of the Holy Mountain, and the newly-enlightened light of the Church, let us praise him with hymns with all our heart, for he leads the faithful towards a perfect life, filling them with rivers of gifts, therefore we cry out: Hail, O Father Paisios.

  
Synaxarion

On the this day (July 12th), the memory of our venerable Father Paisios the New, of the Holy Mountain, who reposed in peace in the year 1994.
  

Verses

Paisios, the tree of Mount Athos,

You were shown to be full of fruit, O Most-venerable one.

On the twelfth, Paisios reposed.
  

Megalynarion

Rejoice the communicant with the Venerable, the pride of Athos, the adornment of Monastics, Rejoice the new teacher of the Church, O godly-minded Paisios, our boast.

(source)

  
***Note: I include amateur translations of a few hymns for those who wish to seek his intercessions at this time. There are several services written to St. Paisios in Greek, and I will refrain from additional translations, for several reasons, but especially until we know which service will get the final approval. These are taken from the Greek service written by Metropolitan Joel of Edessa.
  

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

On giving and receiving offense

 

Know, my brother, that is someone offends another either in deed or word, later he himself will be offended a hundredfold more. 





Approach the Scriptures prayerfully

Do not approach the mystery-filled words of the Scriptures without prayer and a request for assistance from God.  Say, Lord grant me to become aware of the power in the words.  Consider prayer to be the key to insights into Truth in the Scriptures.