Rating: 9|Votes: 10

Wherein Lies the Moral Power of Holy Prince Vladimir?

St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco

Why is Prince Vladimir called holy and given the title Equal-to-the-Apostles? He converted from the darkness of paganism to the light of Christ, receiving baptism, baptizing the Kievans and sending emissaries to baptize the people of the other cities and regions of his duchy. He was among the first of the All-Russian rulers to become a Christian, and originated the Christian form of government for Russia. From his time, the Russian sovereignty becomes Orthodox, and Christianity makes its way into all the spheres of social and civil life.

Rating: 10|Votes: 1

On St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite and the Kollyvades Fathers

Archimandrite Nikodemos Skrettas

Against the supposedly very knowledgeable western man who lives intensely in his “enlightenment,” his vast storage of knowledge, the Kollyvades came and placed the struggling ascetic man seeking for holiness, and the new martyrs. In this context of sanctification and holiness the Kollyvades Fathers of the Philokalia stood and lived.

Rating: 7|Votes: 3

Monasticism and the Church

Address of Abbot Schema-Archimandrite Sergius of St. Tikhon's Monastery to the 18th OCA All-American Council

Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer)

We, as members of Christ’s body, can and must support the building and growth of monasteries and monastic vocations. By so doing, we invest in the well-being and preservation of the Church as well as in the “churching” of America. Through the monasteries, organic Orthodox life will grow and flourish, and acting like a catalyst, it will empower and inspire local parishioners to give more of their own hearts and lives to God and to prayer. The power that emanates from a monastery is not only real and tangible, it is intensely powerful, life-creating and life-changing.

Rating: 9,8|Votes: 4

Message by Patriarch Kirill on the Occasion of the Millennium of the Repose of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a message to archpastors, pastors, deacons, monks and nuns, and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostle

Venerable Mothers Ermenburgh, Mildred, Edburgh, and their Minster-in-Thanet Monastery

Dmitry Lapa

So we see three examples of holy women who were abbesses of Minster successively. All these nuns and those living after them were witnesses in quite difficult and unstable times, full of dangers and challenges, but in spite of everything they unceasingly glorified Christ, loved their neighbors and practiced hospitality and prayer.