Rating: 10|Votes: 1

Prayer by Agreement

A story

Maria Saradzhishvili

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (Mt. 18:19)

Rating: 7|Votes: 3

On the feast of the Procession of Honorable Wood of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord

Evgeny Poselyanin

The two feasts of the "Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord" and the celebration of the "All-Merciful Savior Christ God and His Mother the Most Holy Theotokos, Mary" are combined in some menaions, but not all. The two feasts are given equal honor. This gives cause to suppose that these two feasts are not distinct and are essentially one and the same feast, known by two different names. This, however, is a totally wrong assumption. That becomes clear and undoubted if we take a look at the essence and reason for instituting these two different feasts.

Rating: 1|Votes: 3

Appearance of the Icon of the Mother of God "the Smolensk Directress" from Constantinople

The Smolensk "Hodigitria" Icon of the Theotokos, or "She who leads the way," was, according to Church Tradition, painted by the holy Evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos. Holy Hierarch Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this icon was written at the request of Theophilus, the prefect of Antioch.

Rating: 10|Votes: 3

St. Herman’s Guardian – Archimandrite Gerasim Schmaltz

St. Herman's years of solitude on Spruce Island caused no little wonder among those unfamiliar with the mysteries of spiritual life. A man once asked, "Fr, Herman, do you live alone in the forest? Do you never become lonely? .... No, I am not alone ," he replied, "God is there as He is everywhere. His angels are there. Is it possible to be lonely in their company? Is it not better to be in their company than in that of people?"

Rating: 9,8|Votes: 12

The Life of Our Holy Father Saint Herman of Alaska

Commemorated November 15, December 13/25, and July 27/August 8

“I clearly remember,” he says, “all the features of the Elder’s face, which shone with grace: his pleasant smile, meek and attractive gaze, his humble, quiet manner, and his amiable words. He was not tall, he had a pale face, covered with wrinkles, his eyes were gray-blue and full of brightness, and on his head he had a few gray hairs. His speech was not loud, but very pleasant.”