Archbishop Tikhon of South Sakhalin and the Kurils, Nun Hilariona (Funtova)
I saw in her, first and foremost, a person who strove for salvation, for solitude, for a monastic life, for a different life. And for this reason I suggested that she become a nun. Actually, according to the apt expression of one of the podvizhniki of our time, “monasticism is not a reward, but a way of repentance.”
Nun Cornelia (Rees)
Rating: 10|Votes: 7
As Orthodox Christians not only in Russia but around the globe attended services and sang the praises of these righteous ones of the comparatively recent past, little did they suspect that two more Russians Orthodox Christians in the Russian far east would die that day, in a way that can only be called martyric. Who were these two martyrs, and what motivated the young man who everyone described as an ordinary Russian guy, indistinguishable from anyone else in the church until he opened fire on the worshippers assembled there?
Archbishop Kyrill (Dmitrieff), Zoya Gradov
Rating: 8,4|Votes: 5
The icon had been subject to a safety inspection, photographed and registered with customs. But the customs officers were making the sign of the cross and venerating the icon - we were amazed by this. Those who grew up in the West couldn’t possibly imagine such a thing!
Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko)
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
Right now, as we approach and kiss the Cross, let us say with the wise thief, "Lord, remember me in Thy kingdom!" We may not have another minute. So let us use this minute which the Lord gives us: "Thy Cross, O Lord, we venerate and Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify."
Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid
See that Christ does not compel a man to die on a cross against his own will. Instead He said, Whosoever desireth. The Lord is saying: "I compel no one. I invite him to something good, not to something bad to which he must be forced. Whoever does not want these things is not worthy of them."