Saint Nektarios and Saint Porphyrios: A Spiritual Relationship That Began Before Porphyrios Was Born

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

“When Saint Nektarios was serving as a preacher in Euboea, he met there, at Saint John’s, the father of Elder Porphyrios as well: Leonidas Bairaktaris. Bairaktaris means ‘standard-bearer’... And the Saint gave him some advice. How beautifully he spoke to him! For a couple to conceive a child, preparation is also necessary. Besides, the Saint had proposed and established Schools for Parents. Many priests and many Metropolises have them even now for prospective spouses. Men and women preparing for marriage. You are getting married. Why are you getting married? All these things. You need to know many things. And so, through the guidance of Saint Nektarios, Elder Porphyrios was born. He followed closely in the footsteps of Saint Nektarios. And Elder Porphyrios loved Saint Nektarios absolutely, absolutely. He loved Saint Nektarios absolutely!”

— Elder Ananias Koustenis, Discourses on Saint Nektarios, Volume IV.

The Robinson Crusoe of Orthodoxy: Venerable Theoktiste of Lesvos (Photios Kontoglou)

 

The Robinson Crusoe of Orthodoxy: Venerable Theoktiste of Lesvos

By Photios Kontoglou

“Great indeed is the achievement of your life, Mother. You astonish all the faithful with your outstanding deeds. For you lived like an angel upon earth, O Venerable one, and became like the angels.”

“The righteous is as bold as a lion,” says the wise Solomon. And truly, all the saints stood like lions in their faith — not only the brave young men, but also the harmless old men and women, who by nature are timid.

The Christian religion is heroic. Whoever has faith fears nothing except God. The bravery shown by those who struggle for the things of this world is nothing compared with the fearlessness and endurance displayed by the saints — not only the martyrs, but also the venerable ascetics and the hierarchs. Which of the brave men of this world can endure contempt? Who has the strength to bear unjust accusations? Who turns the other cheek to be struck, without resisting? Who has the strength to love his enemies and pray for them?

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: November 9

The Month of November

Day 9

71. People of Bad Character Who Live with Us Can Benefit Us by Teaching Us Humility and Patience

(Commemoration of the Venerable Nuns Eustolia and Sopatra. This instruction is composed on the basis of the accounts of the lives of ascetic women of the Eastern Church.)

When the people who live with us turn out to be people of bad character, what do you think, brethren? Do they bring us nothing but harm, or not? No; know that they bring us not only harm, but also benefit. What benefit? These people can teach us two of the greatest Christian virtues—humility and patience. How is this evident? It is evident from the following account.

Homily One for the Day of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers (St. Innocent of Kherson)

Homily One for the Day of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers

By St. Innocent of Kherson

Those who celebrate in honor of eminent and beneficent persons find it most natural and pleasant, during the celebration, to speak among themselves about those persons. Therefore, brethren, I also intend to converse with you today about the Holy Archangels. Their sacred images are always before our eyes in this church, which is dedicated to their name; but they are placed at such a height that many can scarcely raise their eyes toward them and are unable to distinguish all that sets the image of each Archangel apart. Therefore, this sermon may serve as a useful addition and explanation, for your hearing, of what your eyes always behold here. Only, brethren, do not expect from me on this occasion any personal speculations about the angelic world. From this holy place, only that which the word of God and the accounts of those divinely wise men reveal to us concerning the Angels should be heard—those men whom the Church itself rightly calls "conversers with Angels."

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Luke (St. Cleopa of Sihastria)

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Luke, 
or Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

(On Those Who Have Fallen Asleep in Christ)

"And He said: Do not weep; she has not died, but is sleeping" (Luke 8:52).

By St. Cleopa of Sihastria

Beloved faithful,

In today's Holy Gospel, you heard about two great and glorious miracles performed by our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. One was the healing of the woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years, and the other was the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum. In today's sermon, we shall speak about those who have fallen asleep in the Lord.

Homily Two on the Seventh Sunday of Luke (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)

Homily Two on the Seventh Sunday of Luke 
(24th Sunday After Pentecost)

By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

In today's Gospel, among other things, the healing of a sick woman is described. She had been treated by physicians for twelve years, had spent all her possessions on medicines, and had received no benefit from them: she had been treated for twelve years, yet had not been cured (Luke 8:43). Why did this happen? Is it perhaps sinful to use medicines? Is it displeasing to God to seek treatment from physicians?

Homily Three on the Seventh Sunday of Luke (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Homily Three on the Seventh Sunday of Luke
(24th Sunday After Pentecost)

By St. John of Kronstadt

In the Gospel read today, two miraculous benefits bestowed by our Savior were spoken of: upon the woman with an issue of blood and upon Jairus, the ruler of the Jewish synagogue. The Lord healed the first in an instant, through her touching His garment; in the case of the other, He raised from the dead his only daughter, who was twelve years old.

November: Day 8: Teaching 3: Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers

 

November: Day 8: Teaching 3:
Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers
 
(Everything can and should be done for the glory of God.)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On the day of the Holy Archangel Michael, who is distinguished by his extraordinary zeal for the glory of God, and who is therefore depicted in a militant form, as a warrior fighting for the glory of the Creator and Almighty, as the conqueror of Satan, who, because of his opposition to the will of the Lord, was cast down from heaven by the Holy Archangel Michael and the other Holy Angels, it will be appropriate, brethren, to offer you the instruction of Saint John Chrysostom concerning the fact that everything can and should be done for the glory of God.

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: November 8

The Month of November
 

Day 8

70. The Good Angels Bestow Benefits upon People

(The Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers)

The Holy Orthodox Church teaches us to believe that the Holy Angels are our invisible friends, defenders, and protectors; that they guard us from every evil, both visible and invisible, and are always ready to bestow one benefit or another upon us. Is all this true, brethren? And is it true, even in a particular instance, for example, that the Angels are always ready to bestow one benefit or another upon us? Yes, brethren, everything that has been told us about the Angels, both in general and in particular, is indeed the very truth, and there should be no doubt about it whatsoever, for everything we have said is confirmed by an example. What example is this, you may ask. Listen, for we now present it for your consideration.