St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Hamilton, ON, Canada
1401 Barton Street East L8H 2W6 Hamilton, ON, Canada

We are sad to inform you that +Teta Boja Uzelac fell asleep in the Lord. Teta Boja and her late husband +Cika Rade Uzelac were huge pillars of our Church on Barton St. Cika Rade was a long serving treasurer and Teta Boja was past president and long serving member of our Church Sisters. Thank you to both of you for what you have done for our parish. May both your memories be eternal, until we meet again in the heavenly kingdom. Click on below link for full details:... https://www.smithsfh.com/memoria/boja-uzelac//obituary.php

You should carry the prayer rope, so that you might not forget the prayer, which should work internally, within the heart. When of course you exit your cell, you should remember that the enemy is ready to fight you. Thus, imitate the good soldier, who exits the barracks always with his automatic weapon at hand. The prayer rope has a great power, and is the weapon of the monk, and its knots are bullets, which [when fired at the feet of the demons] make their sandals dance. +St. Paisios, On Prayer, Words VII

SAINT NICHOLAS OF JAPAN Saint Nicholas was a great Apostle to Japan and tireless laborer working for the people of Japan and for the Lord". The first Ort...hodox missionary to and Bishop of Japan, Saint Nicholas spent several years mastering the Japanese language, after which he translated the Old and New Testaments and numerous liturgical and related works. By the time of his repose in 1912, he had brought some 33,000 individuals into the Orthodox Faith, had trained and ordained a number of indigenous Japanese clergy, and had established parishes across the country. He also built Tokyo’s impressive stone Holy Resurrection Cathedral, popularly known as Nikolai-Do, or Nicholas’ House, which remains one of the city’s most prominent architectural sites. See more

Da li može ovek da se spasi bez Crkve? Ne, ne može, jer je Crkva riznica Božije blagodati, bez koje niko ne može da se spasi, kao što ne može da živi ruka, odseena od tela."

https://www.facebook.com/hellenicworld1/videos/711192119536312/

The Holy Mysteries The Holy Eucharist defies analysis precisely because it is a mystery Eternity is an everlasting banquet (the Divine Liturgy) that takes place... in the heavenly realm. Every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy we are transported into a place where there is neither time nor space, and participate in that very banquet. As we receive the Holy Mysteries (Christ's very Body and Blood), we receive the healing medicine for that which ails us. Our brokenness in both body and soul are given the healing medicine that we so very much need. The Eucharist is the very medicine that God designed for this transformation. Our response should be one of humble submission to this invitation to commune with the very God Who created us. Holy Communion is meant to be the very agent that changes us, making us whole. The Holy Mysteries give us life. Frequent confession and communion are the means we have for change. The Holy Eucharist defies analysis and explanation in purely rational and logical terms, precisely because it is a mystery. The Eucharist, as is Christ himself, is a mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven which, as Jesus has told us, is "not of this world." The Eucharist, because it belongs to God's Kingdom, is truly free from the earth-born "logic" of fallen humanity. Saint John of Damascus says, "If you enquire how this happens, it is enough for you to learn that it is through the Holy Spirit ... we know nothing more than this, that the word of God is true, active, and omnipotent, but in its manner of operation unsearchable". Love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon

People relate to a priest in the same way as they do to God - carelessly rejecting Him as superfluous, yet taking for granted that the moment they need Him, they will call on Him, and He will be back. Elder Sophrony (Sakharov) of Essex

Do not worry at all; everything will pass and the storm will die down. Do not despair; have hope in God and in our Panagia. God will never abandon pained souls... seeking salvation. The devil has become rabid because his plans were ruined-and what big plans! Glory to Thee, O God, for everything. Carry the cross, my children, and crucify yourselves with our Christ, and soon the bright Resurrection will come. The more afflicted you are now, the more you feel the joy of freedom. This is how the life of the Christian is mapped out; in afflictions and troubles. All who desire to live according to God will suffer. Take courage and do not fear; have firm faith in our Christ. He is omnipotent. No matter how wild Satan becomes, before our Christ, before His power, all his machinations are destroyed. Just say the prayer [the Jesus prayer] and be at peace. Trust in Divine Providence. All your afflictions will turn out to be for your own good. During great trials, my Elder experienced theoria. -Blessed Elder Ephraim of Arizona Counsels from the Holy Mountain

There’s no such thing as a Christian without a cross and struggle. There’s no such thing as a Christian who follows the easy path. Some people thought- and think- that to be a Christian is to observe certain commandments and to have an easy life, with comforts, with worldly prosperity and a safe life, in human terms. That’s not being a Christian. Christians are people who struggle every day. They struggle in order to love God. They struggle to love their brothers and sisters. Elder George Kapsanis

"Repeat the name of Jesus in your heart! Exercise your heart in innocence, and your body in purity and abstinence. If you are insulted, endure the insult, and t...hus the insulter will feel the injury. Weep for the sinner, even when he advances; he is on an eternal journey to meet justice. If you endure misfortunes, they will serve you; misfortunes are thorns on which roses grow. Whenever you pray to God, ask not for pleasant things, but for that which brings benefit to the soul! Fear not death, but await the death of the body. Feel shame before the angels, before you feel shame before men. Avoid temptation and do not seek it, but when it comes of its own accord, show yourself a hero. He who often partakes of Communion with the gracious Christ is a temple in which Christ abides. Speak little and rarely with men, but speak more and more often with God.'' (St. Nilus of Sinai)

Throughout the Christian churches, it is difficult to think of a Saint as well-loved as St Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, honoured on Dec 18/6 and every Thursday o...f the week. A fourth-century Bishop of Myra famous for defending Orthodoxy against heresy during the First Ecumenical Council, there are also numerous miracles associated with his life. However it is the miracles wrought after his repose, even up to the present day, that lead St Nicholas to be honoured as a Wonder-worker and for many a cherished heavenly pastor of an earthly flock. The oldest surviving icon of St Nicholas, was painted in Constantinople sometime during the 10th century. It is currently stored in the monastery of St Catherine in Sinai. Later icons of St Nicholas show him slightly older than here, with whiter hair and a receding hair-line. St Nicholas is dressed as a bishop, characterized by the white stole embroidered with crosses over his shoulders. Called an omophorion in Greek, omophor in Slavic, the bishop’s stole represents the lost sheep carried over the shoulders of the Good Shepherd (John10:1-21) and thus signifies the bishop’s pastoral role. In St Nicholas’ time, it would probably have been made from lamb’s wool. As a bishop, St Nicholas also holds a copy of the Gospels in his left hand. Another ministry of the Church’s bishops is to preserve and proclaim the Gospel. In later Russian icons, the Gospel book can be shown open, and when it is a variant of Luke 6:17 is usually written upon it, the prelude to Christ's Sermon on the Plain. His right hand is not shown in a blessing in the 10th-century icon, but is depicted this way in near-contemporary icons of the Saint (and other bishop-saints). In medallions around the border of the Icon are the busts of Christ and His Saints. Christ Himself is in the centre at the top, flanked by the Apostles Peter (left) and Paul (right). On either side of St Nicholas are four Warrior-Saints, dressed in the Roman Imperial armour and cloaks of their time, holding spears and swords. On the left are the martyrs Demetrius and Theodore Stratelates, whilst on the right are the martyrs George and Procopius of Scythopolis. At the bottom are three Holy Unmercenaries (healers): Cosmas, Panteleimon, and Damian. None of these Saints particularly relate to the life of St Nicholas, but taken together they can be regarded as comprising the different ranks of the Sainthood: the Apostles, the Martyrs, the Holy-Warriors, and the Healers are all represented here, overlooked by Jesus Christ. At the centre of all these famous Saints (and they were all incredibly well-revered in the 10th century) is St Nicholas. He is therefore shown not only as the archetypal Bishop, but the archetypal Saint. The icon represents what the faithful in the ancient Church thought of Nicholas of Myra, and such reverence is preserved in later icons too. Source: iconreader.wordpress.com

"WHOM CHRIST LOVES HIS ANGELS LOVE TOO." "One often says the youngest of children can see the angels in the Orthodox Church, chasing them through the p...ews. You may have even read of holy priests encountering angels in the altar. Most of us however, have lost our innocence and the ability to see such visions, unless God so chooses. Angels are mostly referred to as the "invisible" of God's created beings! However, they are not "unknown" as their actions stand alone as proof of their existence and service to our Lord." St. Nikolai of Zica ( 1880 - 1956)

Orthodox calendar today : Saint Martyr Tatiana of Rome, and Saint Eutasia. The Holy Virgin Martyr Tatiana was born into an illustrious Roman family, and her fat...her was elected consul three times. He was secretly a Christian and raised his daughter to be devoted to God and the Church. When she reached the age of maturity, Tatiana decided to remain a virgin, betrothing herself to Christ. Disdaining earthly riches, she sought instead the imperishable wealth of Heaven. She was made a deaconess in one of the Roman churches and served God in fasting and prayer, tending the sick and helping the needy. When Rome was ruled by the sixteen-year-old Alexander Severus (222-235), all power was concentrated in the hands of the regent Ulpian, an evil enemy and persecutor of Christians. Christian blood flowed like water. Tatiana was also arrested, and they brought her into the temple of Apollo to force her to offer sacrifice to the idol. The saint began praying, and suddenly there was an earthquake. The idol was smashed into pieces, and part of the temple collapsed and fell down on the pagan priests and many pagans. The demon inhabiting the idol fled screeching from that place. Those present saw its shadow flying through the air. Then they tore holy virgin’s eyes out with hooks, but she bravely endured everything, praying for her tormentors that the Lord would open their spiritual eyes. And the Lord heard the prayer of His servant. The executioners saw four angels encircle the saint and beat her tormentors. A voice was heard from the heavens speaking to the holy virgin. Eight men believed in Christ and fell on their knees before Saint Tatiana, begging them to forgive them their sin against her. For confessing themselves Christians they were tortured and executed, receiving Baptism by blood. The next day Saint Tatiana was brought before the wicked judge. Seeing her completely healed of all her wounds, they stripped her and beat her, and slashed her body with razors. A wondrous fragrance then filled the air. Then she was stretched out on the ground and beaten for so long that the servants had to be replaced several times. The torturers became exhausted and said that an invisible power was beating them with iron rods. Indeed, the angels warded off the blows directed at her and turned them upon the tormentors, causing nine of them to fall dead. They then threw the saint in prison, where she prayed all night and sang praises to the Lord with the angels. A new morning began, and they took Saint Tatiana to the tribunal once more. The torturers beheld with astonishment that after such terrible torments she appeared completely healthy and even more radiant and beautiful than before. They began to urge her to offer sacrifice to the goddess Diana. The saint seemed agreeable, and they took her to the heathen temple. Saint Tatiana made the Sign of the Cross and began to pray. Suddenly, there was a crash of deafening thunder, and lightning struck the idol, the sacrificial offerings and the pagan priests. Once again, the martyr was fiercely tortured. She was hung up and scraped with iron claws, and her breasts were cut off. That night, angels appeared to her in prison and healed her wounds as before. On the following day, they took Saint Tatiana to the circus and loosed a hungry lion on her. The beast did not harm the saint, but meekly licked her feet. As they were taking the lion back to its cage, it killed one of the torturers. They threw Tatiana into a fire, but the fire did not harm the martyr. The pagans, thinking that she was a sorceress, cut her hair to take away her magical powers, then locked her up in the temple of Zeus. On the third day, pagan priests came to the temple intending to offer sacrifice to Zeus. They beheld the idol on the floor, shattered to pieces, and the holy martyr Tatiana joyously praising the Lord Jesus Christ. The judge then condemned the valiant sufferer to be beheaded with a sword. Her father was also executed with her, because he had raised her to love Christ. Troparion, tone 4: Your lamb Tatiana, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You, I endure suffering. In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, and I died so that I might live with You. Accept me as a pure sacrifice, for I have offered myself in love. Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

St. Philaret of Moscow, Catechism of the Orthodox Church 214. What is hades or hell? Hades is a Greek word, and means a place void of light. In divinity, by t...his name is understood a spiritual prison, that is, the state of those spirits which are separated by sin from the sight of God's countenance, and from the light and blessedness which it confers. Jude i. 6; Octoich. tom. v.; sticher. ii. 4. 215. Wherefore did Jesus Christ descend into hell? To the end that he might there also preach his victory over death, and deliver the souls which with faith awaited his coming. 372. In what state are the souls of the dead till the general resurrection? The souls of the righteous are in light and rest, with a foretaste of eternal happiness; but the souls of the wicked are in a state the reverse of this. 378. What is the life of the world to come? The life that shall be after the resurrection of the dead and the general judgment of Christ. 383. But what will be the lot of unbelievers and transgressors? They will be given over to everlasting death--that is, to everlasting fire, to everlasting torment, with the devils. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. xx. 15. And, That is the second death. Rev. xx. 14. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt. xxv. 41. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. Matt. xxv 46. It is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark ix. 47, 48. 384. Why will such severity be used with sinners? Not because God willed them to perish; but they of their own will perish, because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 Thess. ii. 10. 385. Of what benefit will it be to us to meditate on death, on the resurrection, on the last judgment, on everlasting happiness, and on everlasting torment? These meditations will assist us to abstain from sin, and to wean our affections from earthly things; they will console us for the absence or loss of worldly goods, incite us to keep our souls and bodies pure, to live to God and to eternity, and so to attain everlasting salvation. But those who freely accept the grace given them, who make good use of the means of grace granted unto them, and who walk in the appointed path of salvation, God has properly foreordained for salvation.'

PRAYER TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL O Holy Angel, who stand by my wretched soul and my passionate life: do not abandon me, a sinner, neither depart from me because... of my lack of self-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain control of me through the violence of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and instruct me in the path of salvation. O holy Angel of God, the guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body: forgive all the sorrows I have caused you, every day of my life. If I have sinned in this past night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every adverse temptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of His goodness. Amen. See more

ARE ANGELS SUPERIOR TO HUMANS? Angels are spirits that act and move, have intellect and will, but should not be understood as supernatural because only God i...s supernatural (above nature) since He alone is not created. Yes in Him, all created things took their being, heavenly and earthly, visible and invisible [Col. 1:16]. The sole purpose of the angels is to serve God as instruments of His will. Angels surpass us in their spiritual powers but have their limitations because just like humans, angels are created beings. Even though angels can travel through vast spaces, they can not be everywhere at once. Only God is everywhere at once. Also, angels are not omniscient. Angels are the messengers and deliver only that which God reveals. They do not know, for example, when Christ will return. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is [Mark 13:32-33].

The name of Jesus Christ contains restorative power... Be careful, because if you are lazy and inattentive in prayer, you shall not make any progress either in ...your pursuit of devotion towards the Lord, or in the acquisition of salvation and peace of thoughts. The name of Jesus Christ, which we invoke in prayer, contains within it self-existing and self-acting restorative power. So do not worry about the imperfection and dryness of your prayer, but with perseverance await the fruit of the repeated invocation of the Divine Name. When guided by prayer, the moral powers within us become stronger than all our temptations and conquer them. Frequency in prayer creates a habit of prayer, which quickly becomes second nature and which frequently brings the nous and the heart to a higher spiritual state. It is the only way to reach the height of true and pure prayer. Elder Ephraim of Arizona, From his book ‘Counsels from the Holy Mountain’

Yes he forgave, his brothers murderer, why ? because the murderer repented with tears. And St Dionysios forgave him. Again a true saint, some might say I couldn...’t do that. Christ on the cross forgave all them , the ones that mocked him, laughed at Him, put the nails in His hands, He forgave the thief on the cross next to Him ( for truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise) and again the first person to enter paradise was not a saint or a prophet, but a repented thief. Repentance is a mystery, Again St Dionysios pray for us all Amen See more

Отац Таде - О маци и о зависти >>> https://youtu.be/X2R_KjH64OQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVaWPWSQxQ&noapp=1

We should refer all our problems, whatever they are, to God, just as we say in the Divine Liturgy that we ‘commend our whole life to Christ our God.’ We leave... everything to You, O Lord. Whatever You will. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The person who belongs to Christ turns everything into prayer. He makes both difficulties and tribulations into prayer. Whatever happens to him, he begins, ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ Prayer is beneficial for everything, even for the simplest of things St Porphyrios

HEALING SAINTS ICON It is not the first time that the world has had to deal with viruses and diseases, epidemics and pandemic infecting and killing on a large s...cale. Our Church knows and honours saints who lived through awful times of epidemics and offered both medical aid and spiritual help to those suffering. In the photo is the icon by iconographer Tamar Gochiashvili and silversmith Giorgi (gegi) Kurdiani depicting fifteen saints who lived during infectious disease outbreaks and acted as patrons for people in times of need. The central image in the icon is of St Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome, with the Salvation of the People of Rome Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in his hands. When a great plague struck Rome, St Gregory the Dialogist led a cross procession with the Icon of the Mother of God in his hands, and through his prayers, a miracle occured: Archangel Michael appeared, beheaded the evil spirit of the plague, and sheathed his sword, indicating the end of the plague. The icon also features the enamel medallion of Emperor Justinian. During his reign, one of the worst outbreaks of the plague took place, claiming the lives of millions of people. It is known as Justinian’s plague. The emperor caught the disease too, but recovered. His efforts in managing the epidemic were tremendous. The second medallion features the Archangel Raphael who is considered Patron of physicians. According to the Old Testament, he helped Tobias during the epidemic in his city. The saints in the icon are considered intercessors and protectors against all types of contagious diseases and epidemics. From right to left, they are: Saint Spyridon of Tremithus, Righteous Saint Lazarus, Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Hieromartyr Reginus, Bishop of the Isle of Skopelos, Hieromartyr Zoticus, Holy Martyr Sebastian of Rome, Saint Edwin, King and Martyr, Saint Alexi (Shushania), Saint Anthony the Great, Saint Alexis the Man of God, Saint Nikephoros the Leper, Saint Quirinus of Rome, Saint Boniface, Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki. Through the holy prayers of these saints, may God save us from the disastrous epidemic coming onto us. May He grant health and recovery to those suffering, and guide the hands of the doctors, nurses, and all those seeking to heal and help the affected by the disease. Amen. #StElisabethConvent #minsk #obitelminsk #belarus #slavonic #orthodox #god #faith #spirituality #saints #church #praying #godbless #health #jesus #jesuschrist #christian

Кирие Элеисон византийский напев / "Kyrie Eleison" Byzantine melody

Манастир Светог Антониа - Аризона

It is best to live simply. Do not wrack your brain. Pray to God. The Lord will arrange everything, just live more simply. Do not agonize over how and what to do; let things take their course. That is what it means to live simply. +St. Ambose of Optina

No confession and correction exists in Hades for those who have departed. For God has limited conduct and action to this life; while in the next life, the examination of the actions. St John Chrysostomos

Srecna Slava Mala Gospojina to our Church Sisters. Thanks to Milka Culic and to all the Sisters for the love of their church.

During the filming of The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel (playing Jesus) lost 45 pounds, was struck by lightning, accidentally scourged with a whip twice, ...leaving a 14-inch scar, had his shoulder dislocated, and suffered from pneumonia and hypothermia from hanging mostly naked on a cross for several hours outside. His body was so stressed and exhausted from playing the role that he had to have 2 open heart surgeries after the production! The crucifixion scene alone took 5 weeks of the 2-month filming time. The Passion of the Christ is the highest-grossing rated-R movie in the US, of all time, at $370.8M! Worldwide it grossed $611M. Most importantly, it reached many souls around the world. Mel Gibson paid $30M out of his own pocket for the production because no studio would take on the project, and Jim Caviezel was warned not to take the role of Jesus because it would ruin his career. September 26th is Jim Caviezels birthday, and he will be 52 years old. He proudly proclaims his faith in Christ amidst the godlessness of Hollywood. Thank God for people like him who will step out to do what might not sound fun, but it gets out the Word of God and the story of His salvation of mankind. Happy birthday, Jim Caviezel!

Remembrance of God, according to the Holy Fathers, is a short prayer [like the Jesus Prayer], or even a short spiritual thought, to which they have accustomed themselves, and to which they try to train their minds, so that it constantly remembers it, instead of random thoughts... Remembrance of God is a divine institution. It was commanded by the very incarnate God the Word, [and] confirmed by the Holy Spirit through His messengers (the Apostles). ‘Watch, therefore, and pray always,’ the Lord said to His disciples (Luke 21:36). He commands this to us as well, who now stand before Him and beg Him to make us worthy of doing His will and being His disciples not only in name, but in life. + Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov

The Good Saying

The Mother of God is the great prayer book and the spiritual Mother of every believer! September 21 (old calendar) is the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy... Blessed Virgin Mary! On this joyful Feast, we pray to the Mother of God for family well-being, the gift of children, health, for deliverance from suffering and troubles, for the healing of the sick. See more

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14

Молитвеник Светог устина Поповиа - Молитва друга Светог ована Златоустог >>> https://youtu.be/HceVld62y30

The Church is like a tender mother who invites all to come to her to receive spiritual strength for the great pilgrimage necessary for salvation. The Church itself is not like a museum, in which we wander around looking at the exhibits. Instead, it is a great heavenly hospital open to all in need of healing, with specialist departments for every condition, under the person direction of the greatest Healer of all! The sacrifice of our Savior opened up to us the eternal Kingdom... of God. We may freely enter! Within the Kingdom, all creation, in all its infinite diversity, becomes one in Him. Here on earth, His Kingdom is found in the ECCLESIA (the Church). All that has ever happened, every crisis that has ever been faced, is part of the accumulated experience of God's Church - past, present and future. The Church is the abundant storehouse of wisdom, love and compassion for every situation, every need, available to everyone. Within the Church are the ears that will listen and understand, those who have the words to meet your needs, the shoulders of compassion to cry on, the arms of love to uphold you. Seek the Church and you will find it! Peace to your soul! Archimandrite Nektarios (Serfes) Who prays for you! See more

A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars. (St. Nektarios of Aegina, The Path to Happiness)

Update: Joshuas surgery is complete. He will be back on the neuro floor soon. Dr. Alden said he was able to remove everything that he could see of the tumor. T...here may be a thin layer of the tumor from the cavity where it was seated on the brain stem. The tumor tissue has been sent off to patho with a report pending until Tuesday. He still feels it has the appearance of the Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. The patho results will be able to confirm. Another MRI is scheduled for the morning. Joshua did not need the ventricular drain placed, Praise God! His brain did not increase in swelling like it did for the initial resection attempt last week. Instead, he will have a small superficial drain that Dr. Alden likes to place for this type of craniotomy. Dr. Alden meets with his tumor board next week to continue to discuss Joshuas case. We want to thank EVERYONE for the many prayers over the past few weeks! God is so good! Keep those prayers coming! Glory to God! See more

Family is a Small Church, and home prayer is the foundation of spiritual life.

Gods love for the biggest sinner is greater than the love of the holiest man for God Father Arsenie Boca

Illumine our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine Knowledge.Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teach...ing. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are weal-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies,O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all - holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. See more

How was man formed? God took earth, the most humble material, so that he would always be humble; there is nothing more humble than earth. He designed a little c...lay house, breathed into it, and created man’s soulthat is, God placed the divine breathing as if within four walls of clay; He placed His breath inside. O glory and honour of man! He is humble clay, but he is also divine breath! A time will come when we will change. For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. The words of our Creator shall be fulfilled. But what will happen to the divine inbreathing, the divine breath? Just as the dust will return to the dust, likewise the soul, which is the inbreathing of God, will return to God. Yes, but how? When it came forth from God, it was fragrant divine breath, but is it so now? No, it is not. Purification is necessary tears, mourning, pain. For you have saddened God, your Benefactor and Father, Who is so good, Who glorified you the clay so much, Who gave you His divine breath. These deeds of repentance will purify you, by His grace. So then, weep and mourn so that He may restore you to your original state. And when you weep with bitter pain of soul for having sinned against God and having saddened Him, then comfort and consolation overshadow you, and then the door of prayer opens. -- St. Joseph the Hesychast

Believe me, if you knew Who is with you, you would not fear anything the world has to offer St Macarius the Great https://throughthegraceofgodorthodoxchristianity.wordpress.

"Believe steadfastly and always remember that you have a dual nature, that there are two men in you, the one carnal, diseased by passions, old, of the Devil, se...eking carnal things and setting his life upon them ; you must mortify the old man within you and not satisfy him in anything, not bend to his sinful, persistent, sickly lamentations ; whilst the other man in you is spiritual, new, healthy, of Christ, everywhere seeking Christ, living by Christ (instead of by worldly desires), and finding peace and life in Christ, wishing for nothing in this world but Christ, and counting earthly blessings but dung, in order to win Christ. As we must despise in every way the requirements of the former man because their fulfillment destroys the soul, so we must fulfil in every way the requirements of the latter because they lead to true and eternal life. Let every Christian learn this, and labour to actually fulfil what he thus learns." My Life in Christ: The Spiritual Journals of St John of Kronstadt (Archpriest Ivan Ilyich Sergiev). Fourth printing: Holy Trinity Monastery, 2000 ed., The Printshop of St Job of Pochaev, 200045

Достойно есть

- 18/19. ! ! ... ! . 18. 19. ( ) 20. 21. , , . ( ) . , , . 11.8.1906. , , : , , , , . (, , ...) , . . , , , , a (), , . , (). , , , . , , , ! , , : , , , , . , , , (), , . , ! , , , , , , , , , , . . , , (), , , , , , , , , . . , ! :::::::::::::::::::: - 19. (06. ) , , , . , (6. ), , . , . , , , , . , . , . , . : . , . , . : " ?" , , , , -. " , , , . , , , ." . " , , , ." " , . . " , , , . . , . , , . , . . . , . , , : : " , , , , ." . : " , , , 6. (19.) , ." , , , . , , -, , . , . 6. , . . . 6. . , 6. , , , . . , , . " , , , , , , , , ." " , , , , . , , , ; , , ; , , . . , . !" . , , , . M. , . , , , , , , , , . , , , , , . . , , : , , , , , . , , , , , . , , , , , , , , . , , ; , , , , , , . , . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , : , , , ; , , , . , , , , , . , , ; : ac , , , , , rpexo . , , , . , ; , , . , e , , , , . , , ; , , , , , . ( , 1956)

A story worth 1 million bucks

The wife of the priest is the unsung hero of the Church. She toils and labors behind the scenes to sustain her husbands ministry. The priests wife is the onl...y witness to her husbands suffering, and is often alone in her hardships. She does not receive vestments or recognition for her work, yet what she does is an indispensable service to the Church." His Eminence, Metropoltian JOSEPH See more

Our 100th anniversary Banner on Main St across from Hamilton City Hall.

When the garden of your soul is full of thistles (i.e. passions), do not try to uproot them, for as long as you concern yourself with them you will always end ...up being injured and infected by germs. Concentrate all your energy on the flowers of your soul, water them and then the thistles will wither themselves. And the best flower of all is your love for Christ. If you water this and it grows, all the thistles will die off. St Porphyrios

A word from Katarina Savatic, 2020 recipient of the $10,000 Radovan & Teresa Bratic Scholarship! Congratulations, Katarina!

, The Church Loves Our Beloved And Blessed Children, Amen.

Teach Your Child to Pray

The Cross of Caraiman mountain in Romania its 39,3 mt and its World Guinness Record -the most highest cross of the world raised in the mountain at 2291mt .amen

Learn to endure temptations valiantly whatever the Lord allows. Without excuses say Forgive me"! Without delay or error have repentance and admit that you were wrong. "You are wrong and you must criticize yourself. Do not ask people in your sorrows to pray to God so that you may receive consolation directly from Him. +St Joseph the Hesychast

BLACK LIFE MATTERS ~During the Ferguson disturbances, near St. Louis, MO, a young Black Orthodox man told me that he would like to be involved in the Black Liv...es Matter movement, to which I replied, "By all means, do it right away, but you must take my direction in this matter. I want you and your friends to carry banners with Jesus Pantocrator and the Mother of God of Kazan and one of St. Moses the Black. You must also carry beeswax candles and burn frankincense as you march, while singing, "The Cross is the Guardian of the whole world. The Cross is the might of kings, the Cross angels glory, and wound to demons." To which he replied - that would be out of character with the energy of the movement, and I said - we dont take our cues from this world. Instead, we inform them as to what is proper. Black lives have always mattered to me. I remember suffering as a young man under the yoke of the godless authority (police) in Jefferson City, MO, who bound me in handcuffs and threw me in the back of the squad car and told me, "were going to take you over to Cedar City and let the wolves eat you." If it wasnt for a fair minded officer, Don Klein, who intervened, Heaven knows what would have become of me. My crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time, nothing more. And also disobeying my grandma Dorothy, who said, "if you keep running around with these white folks, youre going to end up with your ass in a sling." Its about time that we, as men and women of good will, address the ills of our society and not on its terms, but on the terms of otherworldly Christianity, which will always be in opposition to the wisdom of this world. See more

Many think that the Saints are far from us. But they are far from those who distance themselves from them, and very close to those keep the commandments of Chri...st and have the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the heavens, all things are moved by the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is on earth too. He lives in our Church. He lives in the Mysteries. He is in the Holy Scriptures. He is in the souls of the faithful. The Holy Spirit unites all things, and therefore the saints are close to us. And when we pray to them, then the Holy Spirit hears our prayers, and our souls feel that they are praying for us. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XII.3)

What A Message!!! Rough translation: Do not allow the evil around you to wake up the evil within you

It often happens that the struggler cannot win over his former-self despite hating and detesting his passions. According to the tradition of our Church, this st...ate is regarded as repentance. It stops being repentance as soon as the person gives up struggling and says: I cannot go on anymore. There is nothing for me. This is regarded as despair. The Church condemns it as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and severs and rejects this member as rotten and blasphemous, because it turns against the Lords kindness. Under no circumstances must we let our faith diminish. Let no one ever think that it is impossible for him to reach comprehensive repentance which is the state that our Jesus has called him to follow. We will accomplish this with the grace of Jesus. It is not possible to attain to it through human exertion and effort alone. This is selfish and the holy Fathers have condemned itIf we remain faithful and do not go back in our intention, we will certainly succeed. This is the truth. Our Fathers accept no other way. Any other way of thinking is regarded as despair. There is no such thing as I cannot go on anymore. Why cant you go on? We derive strength through our Jesus. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi, of blessed memory. See more

" . . . , . , . , . , , ."... .

Today is the Feast Day of the Holy Martyrs of Jasenovac. May we have their blessing. May we follow their example of putting Christ first and enduring to the end Feast Day honoring all Serbian Saints. This frescoe icon is located at the St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Hamilton Ontario on Barton St. which was painted by Fr. Theodore who was schooled at Jordanville Seminary. ! !... e !!! - - . , : , , ! , , : , !

Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, Are there any flowers in thi...s area? it will say, I dont know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want. And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to. Now, if you ask a honeybee, Have you seen any unclean things in this area? it will reply, Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers. And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow. You see, the fly only knows where the unclean things are, while the honeybee knows where the beautiful iris or hyacinth is. As I have come to understand, some people resemble the honeybee and some resemble the fly. Those who resemble the fly seek to find evil in every circumstance and are preoccupied with it; they see no good anywhere. But those who resemble the honeybee only see the good in everything they see. The stupid person thinks stupidly and takes everything in the wrong way, whereas the person who has good thoughts, no matter what he sees, no matter what you tell him, maintains a positive and good thought. + St. Paisios the Athonite Photo: Jonathan Davis

. . ... , , , . , . , ! See more

Wow!!! Winter youth retreat 2019 of the Midwest Diocese! Wow!!!... Special thanks to popadija Biljanja Bojovic - our music teacher- and to SOCA for sponsoring her coming from California to teach our youth.