Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Egorievsk
Today we recall how when, as Jesus walked with His disciples, He warned them of one of the most difficult temptations of Christian life: fruitlessness. And along their path was a beautiful, green, blossoming fig tree. The tree was adorned with many leaves.
Rating: 5,4|Votes: 11
On Holy and Great Monday we commemorate chaste Joseph the Patriarch, who was sold into captivity by his own brothers in their jealousy.
Oleg Glagolev, Igumen Arseny (Sokolov)
he Christian East embraces 2000 years of history, and here we have a much longer history, since Lebanon and Syria are the Biblical lands. It was in Sarepta (or Zarephath)—modern Sarafand—between Tyre and Sidon (also known as Sour and Saida), that the Holy Prophet Elijah (Elias) raised the widow’s son to life; and it was in the region of Tyre and Sidon that our Lord Jesus Christ travelled and healed the daughter of a Canaanite (Syrophoenician) woman, according to the Gospels.
Therefore, no matter what we experience, or no matter how little we experience, let us attend these services, let us immerse ourselves in what they have to say to us. We will not try to forcibly squeeze some feelings out of ourselves: it is enough to watch; it is enough to hear. Let the events themselves—for these are events and not just memories—break us in body and soul.