Christ is risen!

  “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.  But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! (St. Luke 24:1-6a)

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  . . . . then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 54b)

“But for you who fear my name the Sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in [His] wings, You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6a)

The Orthodox Church has now entered into the Paschal Season, in which we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, as well as our own, for Christ’s resurrection brings for us our resurrection. Our Lord has defeated death by death. As He arose with a transformed body with which He could both eat fish and enter through closed doors, we will one day rise with new bodies, with capabilities beyond our present ability to conceive. Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee!

“It is the day of the Resurrection! Let us adorn ourselves with the splendor of the festival and embrace one another! And let us say, O brethren, even unto those who hate us: ‘Let us forgive all things at the Resurrection, and thus let us cry out: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!’”

from http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristictexts/157-ephrem-paschal-hymn

Paschal Hymn, by St. Ephrem the Syrian

I fall in adoration at your feet, Lord!
I thank you, God of goodness;
God of holiness, I invoke you,
on my knees, in your sight.

For me, an unworthy sinner,
you have willed to undergo the death of the cross,
setting me free from the bonds of evil.

What shall I offer in return for your generosity?

Glory to you, friend of men!
Glory to you, most merciful!
Glory to you, most patient!
Glory to you who forgive sin!
Glory to you who have come to save us!
Glory to you who have been made man in the womb of a Virgin!
Glory to you who have been bound!
Glory to you who have been scourged!
Glory to you who have been derided!
Glory to you who have been nailed to the cross!
Glory to you, laid in a sepulchre, but risen again!
Glory to you who have preached the Gospel to men and have been believed!
Glory to you who have ascended to heaven!
Glory to you, seated at the right hand of the Father and who will return with him, in majesty, among the angels, to judge those who have disregarded your passion!

The powers of heaven will be shaken;
all the angels and archangels, the cherubim and seraphim
will appear in fear and trembling before Your glory;

the foundations of the earth will quake
and all that has life will cry out before Your majesty.

In that hour let your hand draw me beneath Your wings,
and save me from the terrible fire, from the gnashing of teeth,
from the outer darkness and from despair without end.
That I may sing to Your glory:

Glory to Him who through His merciful goodness has designed to redeem this sinner.

“Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.comused with permission”

Behold, the Bridegroom

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find awake. But he whom he shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Behold, therefore, my soul, beware, lest thou fallest into deep slumber, and the door of the kingdom be closed against thee, and thou be delivered to death. But be thou wakeful, crying Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God. . . .

I behold Thy bridal chamber richly adorned, O my Saviour; but I have no wedding garment to worthily enter. Make radiant the garment of my soul, O Giver of Light, and save me. . . .

Come, ye believers, let us work diligently for the Master; for he distributes wealth unto his servants. Let each of us according to our ability, increase the gifts of grace twofold. (Tuesday) . . .

Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good things (Psalms 33 from Septuagint)

(from the Bridegroom Matins & the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies of Holy Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday)

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. (James 1:9-10)

O Bridegroom, brilliant in Thy beauty above all mankind, who didst call us to the spiritual banquet of Thy chamber, cast away from me the likeness of the rags of iniquity, by participation in Thy Passion and adorn me with the robe of Thy beauty, and distinguish me as a brilliant guest in Thy kingdom, for Thou only art compassionate. (Tuesday Matins, from the Aposticha)

From the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese website:

 Begin Holy Week with a holy act http://www.antiochian.org/node/17595

Also see, Passion Week: An Explanation (note the Bridegroom Orthros Services Mon.-Wed.) http://www.antiochian.org/1175027131

Bishop Basil blesses the Sheltering Tree

The Sheltering Tree I will be a home for ten persons with intellectual disabilities; each person will have their own apartment, and there will be a common area for community life. The process toward the completion of the home has been very involved; it is a work in process. But the Church in the person of His Grace Bishop Basil has blessed the home-to-be. We are a people of faith, seeing ahead to the day of fulfillment, to the completion of the Sheltering Tree I, the home, and also to a planned educational and vocational center, the ABLE Center. 

The ministry is located in the Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area.

http://www.antiochian.org/content/bishop-basil-blesses-residence-disabled 

Their website:  http://www.shelteringtreecommunity.org/ 

The planned ABLE Center:  http://www.shelteringtreecommunity.org/#/able-center/ 

Also: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrates the house for disabled children at the Ascension Monastery in Bancheny, Ukraine (Pictures) 

Alana’s personal reflection on Church services and her special needs family

Paschal Pysanky egg by Alana

An Orthodox Christian mother, Alana, shares her feelings and experiences in regard to participation in Church services and her relationships with fellow parishioners in a November 3, 2010 Post, “Sitting on the Front Pew,” in her weblog Morning Coffee. 

While expressing her feelings and fears, she also concludes with what her experiences are helping her learn and practice in regard to some very crucial inner resolves that are basic to Orthodox Christian life. 

As Jesus said, “Cleanse the inside of the cup.” 

To access: http://morningcoffee.blogspot.com/2010/11/sitting-on-front-pew.html

Picture from http://morningcoffee.blogspot.com/2010/03/today-cleaning-house-then-there-was.html#links 

Sermon on the Paralytic -Archimandrite Tikhon

“for all of us paralytics . . .”

To access: http://www.orthodox.net/audio/pascha-sunday-04_+the-paralytic+today-is-a-feast-day-for-all-of-us-paralytics-archimandrite-tikhon-shevkunov-sretensky-monastery-moscow_john5-1-15.html

the healing of the paralytic

“In the lives of each one of us there will still be moments of weakness and failures, of what we call paralysis. They can last for many years, just as with the paralytic at the Sheep pool, of which the Gospel speaks. This paralytic lay for many years awaiting healing. But he believed that a messenger of God would come and heal him.”

Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) is from the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, Russia.

Icon from http://ishmaelite.blogspot.com/2010/04/fr-tikhon-on-sunday-of-paralytic.html  

Concerning the Sretensky Monastery: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/sretmon.htm & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sretensky_Monastery_%28Moscow%29 

St. Guy of Anderlecht †1012

St. Guy of Anderlecht

  St. Guy of Anderlecht is counted as an intercessor for persons with epilepsy and also for hydrophobia (the fear of water) and rabies. He was a simple, poor farmer who became a sacristan (caretaker of the room where ecclesiastical vestments and sacred vessels are kept). He made an investment, but the cargo went down with the ship in the harbor; he blamed himself for being greedy, repented, and went on a pilgrimage to Rome, and later to Jerusalem, where he eventually served as a guide to other pilgrims. While returning home, he died. Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_of_Anderlecht 

http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-guy-of-anderlecht/

Source of image: http://asinnersguidetothesaints.blogspot.com/2010/12/st-guy-of-anderlecht-c950-to-1012.html 

Valea Plopului (Valley of the Poplars)

To Translate from Romanian websites:   http://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wT (copy and paste titles, text, or whole websites)

Pro-Vita Association - A Romanian Orthodox Christian Ministry for single mothers and their children, street children and orphans. Father Nicholas also writes on behalf of the pro-life cause in Romania.        http://www.valeaplopului.com/   (Romanian Language)

A Post (also in Romanian), by the weblog BISERICA „SECRETĂ“ Despre păstrarea şi mărturisirea Adevăratei Credinţe, entitled (In English) “Valley Poplar: the establishment of Orthodox Christian Love” about the Pro-Vita Association: http://bisericasecreta.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/valea-plopului-asezamant-al-iubirii-crestin-ortodoxe/  

Romanian to English translation: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ro&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbisericasecreta.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F06%2Fvalea-plopului-asezamant-al-iubirii-crestin-ortodoxe%2F&act=url  

Preoteasa should be translated Priest’s wife, not priestess. But generally the title remains as it is in Orthodox Christian practice. So one would address her as “Preoteasa Maria.” For more on this:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbytera o

You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0g3LCtRpN0 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valea-Plopului-Orphans/278680380606?sk=wall#!/pages/Valea-Plopului-Orphans/278680380606?sk=info  

Photo from http://isabellelorelai.wordpress.com/tag/copii/page/38/ 

St. Fillan †777

 St. Fillan is counted as an intercessor for persons with mental illness. Born in Ireland, he and a number of members of his family moved to Scotland. In Strathfillin, he built a church. Later he became a hermit, devoting himself to prayer, living in a cave at Pittenween near Fife.

Sources: http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst1011.html 

http://www.simegen.com/writers/nessie/stones.htm (a very interesting site, with pictures, entitled Nessie’s Grotto (referring to the Loch Ness monster); there is some elaboration on stories that are probably legendary.

http://saints.sqpn.com/saintf49.htm 

Source of Picture: http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/EnglishReading/ccbjan.html 

Twelve Steps of Transformation, by Fr. Meletios Webber

Fr. Meletios Webber explains how the twelve steps, which are used in Alcoholics Anonymous, and are in harmony with the Orthodox Christian Way, can be applicable to our growth in Christ and in the overcoming of sin. 

The book is especially recommended for those struggling with anger, compulsive gambling, substance abuse, and any other behavioral or psychological disabilities.

 http://www.conciliarpress.com/just-arrived/steps-of-transformation-an-orthodox-priest-explores-the-twelve-steps.html   

In winter when all the world is gloomy, forth came the Fair One Who cheered all in the world!

from Hymns of the Nativity No. 3 by St. Ephrem the Syrian

“  . . . In December when the nights are long, rose unto us the Day, of Whom there is no bound! In winter when all the world is gloomy, forth came the Fair One Who cheered all in the world! In winter that makes the earth barren, virginity learned to bring forth. In December, that causes the travails of the earth to cease, in it were the travails of virginity. . . .

Glory to that Voice Which became Body, and to the Word of the High One Which became Flesh! Hear Him also, O ears, and see Him, O eyes, and feel Him, O hands, and eat Him, O mouth! . . .

It was by Power from Him that Mary was able to bear in Her bosom Him that bears up all things! It was from the great storehouse of all creatures, Mary gave Him all which she did give Him! She gave Him milk from Himself that prepared it, she gave Him food from Himself that made it! He gave milk unto Mary as God: again He sucked it from her, as the Son of Man. Her hands bare Him in that He had emptied His strength; and her arm embraced Him, in that He had made Himself small. The measure of His Majesty who has measured? He caused His measures to shrink into a Raiment. She wove for Him and clothed Him because He had put off His glory. She measured Him and wove for Him, since He had made Himself little . . . .

The sea when it bore Him was still and calmed, and how came the lap of Joseph to bear Him? The womb of hell conceived Him and was burst open, and how did the womb of Mary contain Him? The stone that was over the grave He broke open by His might, and how could Mary’s arm contain Him? Thou camest to a low estate, that Thou mightest raise all to life! Glory be unto Thee from all that are quickened by Thee! . . .  “(Hymn 3)

St. Ephrem the Syrian’s Hymns of Nativity, Hymn 3, from http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf213.iii.v.iv.html

Nativity Icon from Rockland    http://davidjure.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/orthodox-nativity-icons/ 

Nativity Icon Explained http://www.antiochian.org/icons-explained-nativity