Route and Stations of the "Holy Family" During Their Flight into Egypt

 

 

By Ioannis Fourtounas

When King Herod learned from the Magi that Christ had been born, he asked them, once they had found Him, to inform him so that he might supposedly go and worship Him.

In reality, however, he wished to destroy Him.

For this reason an angel warned Joseph to take the Child and His Mother and depart for Egypt, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matt. 2:15).

The choice of Egypt was made because it lay outside Herod’s jurisdiction, because it was accessible through established trade routes, and also because of the large Jewish community living there.

After various stops along the way, according to local tradition, they found hospitality in the ancient city of Babylon, where even today there exists the cave of their dwelling in the land of the Nile.

According to early Christian traditions, the Divine Child, His Mother, Joseph, and James the brother of the Lord traveled to twenty-six locations in Egypt and remained in the land of the Nile for three years, six months, and ten days.

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, first of all, should be recalled as belonging to the tradition of the Church: after the great event of God’s coming into the world for the salvation of humanity, the person who played the central role in that event is celebrated. Thus, after the Nativity of the Lord we have the Synaxis of the Theotokos — she who became the “bridge by which God descended” — just as after His Baptism we have the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist. It is, of course, unnecessary to say that the event itself, the feast proper, is in direct relationship with the central person; in other words, each Synaxis constitutes an extension of the feast, emphasizing and repeating its very meaning, and to a great extent even its hymns.

Chapel of Panagia Theoskepasti in Santorini

Perched high, very high, on the Western edge of the Skaros rock in Imerovigli of Santorini, Panagia Theoskepasti (She Who Is Covered by God) blesses the Aegean!

This is a beautiful chapel on one of the most difficult heights of Santorini, standing alone, amidst winds and storms and dominating with her Grace the vast blue that lies before it. Its unique beauty inspired our great writer Elias Venezis to write a beautiful short story dedicated to this chapel!

From its small courtyard, which is located at a height of 400 meters in a vertical position above the sea, the pilgrim can enjoy the sun, while it sinks into the Aegean, setting the sky on fire with red colors.

The truth is that it is not an easy task to get there. There are many steps. Over 300. And the path is difficult and in some parts windy and dangerous.

Venerable Hieromartyr Gerasimus of Tismana (+ 1951)

After being born on January 21, 1912, at Holy Baptism, the Saint received the name Gregory Iscu, after his father. His mother was named Elena and ended her life as a nun. He inherited from his righteous parents the love of God and the love of prayer.

At the age of 12, he was accepted into the Holy Monastery of Bogdana, not far from his birthplace. He attended the Monastic Seminary at Neamț Monastery, then at Cernica Monastery. During this period, he entered as a brother into the Holy Monastery of Tismana, where he was tonsured into monasticism and given the name Gerasimus.

The Venerable Father showed great diligence in church services, obedience, and his cell rule, gaining the gift of tears and unceasing prayer. Being a fellow sufferer in his heart with all people, he was soon deemed worthy of the priestly rank, which he loved and honoured throughout his life, for he said: “I desired and still desire to be only a servant of the Altar, a service which, with God’s help, I have never defiled.”

Synaxis of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Three Joys

Icon of the Mother of God "The Three Joys" (Feast Day - December 26)

 

It is customary to contrast the West and the East — and not without reason: specialists point out significant differences in the artistic aspirations of thinkers, writers, and musicians, giving rise to two completely dissimilar, even in some respects opposite, types of culture. Yet history does not always fit within the framework of commonly accepted opinion. True spirituality not only works miracles, but also unites different worlds.

These thoughts arise when one reads about the destiny of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Three Joys.” How strange and unusual it is: an image of Western origin, traditionally attributed to the brush of Raphael, became a Russian wonderworking icon. Is this possible? Yes. With God all things are possible.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a certain pious painter brought from Italy a copy of an icon depicting the Holy Family. He left this image in Moscow with his relative, a priest of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gryazi. Later, the priest donated the icon that had been brought to him to his own parish church of the Holy Trinity. There the icon was placed on the church porch, above the entrance to the church.

The Nativity of Christ: Homily 3: On the Meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko)

 

1. The Feasts of the Lord

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko 

I. The Nativity of Christ

Homily No. 3: On the Meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).

I. Thus proclaimed the Angel of the Lord to the shepherds of Bethlehem on that blessed night when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. “I bring you good tidings of great joy,” said the heavenly messenger, “which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

II. Great is the joy proclaimed by the Angel of the Lord; great is the joy to which the Church of Christ now calls all her children.

December: Day 26: Teaching 4: Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos

December: Day 26: Teaching 4:
Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
 
(The Inner Image of the Mother of God)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On the day of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, that is, the gathering of believers for the glorification of the Mother of God, it would be appropriate, brethren, to make at least the weakest attempt to depict before you the inner image of the Mother of God.

II. Truly, my brethren, what astonishes us in the Most Pure Virgin is not so much the immaculate and pure beauty of her external body, but the inward perfection of her soul: "for all the glory of the King's daughter is within." The virtues of the Most Holy Theotokos and the grace of the Holy Spirit, which purified her for the great work of being the Mother of God, placed her above all, not only righteous and holy people, but even the heavenly powers. Her zeal for prayer and pious pursuits, Her ever-virginal purity and chastity, Her faith in the promises of God, Her constant attentiveness to the ways of God's Providence, Her boundless devotion to the will of God, Her good-natured endurance of difficult life circumstances, Her unwavering courage amidst the greatest temptations and sorrows, Her maternal care and warmth of heart towards her relatives, and most importantly Her unconditional humility in everything: these are the highly moral perfections that were constantly manifested in Her - from infancy to Her dormition!

December: Day 26: Teaching 2: The Second Day of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

December: Day 26: Teaching 2:
The Second Day of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
 
(Instructive Lessons From the Gospel Account of the Magi Who Came to Worship the Newborn Savior of the World)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was unknown and humble: His cradle was a manger, His dwelling a cave in the field, and then a simple house. Nevertheless, the glory of the wondrous Infant God was not hidden from a select few; thus, after the shepherds of Bethlehem, the Magi, or wise men of the East, guided by a star, hasten to venerate the newborn King of the Jews. Many centuries have passed since then, and the glory of Christ the Savior has embraced the entire world: He is worshiped by both wise men and simple men, both East and West, and all lands and peoples of the earth. But in the presence of countless worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ, among whom we, brethren, are counted, let us not overlook the first — the few — of whom the Gospel itself tells us: the Magi. The Eastern sages truly set an example for all of us of how proper worship can be offered to Christ God, born of the Virgin.

Prologue in Sermons: December 26

The Lord Is Especially Merciful To Sinners Who Sincerely Repent and Atone For Their Sins Through Good Deeds

December 26
 
(It Is Not Proper to Lend Credence to Slander)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Saint John the Theologian teaches: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). What do these words mean? They mean that if we sincerely repent of our sins, the Lord will forgive us and cleanse our hearts from the filth of sin. Is this true?