When we speak about the Apostle Peter, our mind usually goes to the plethoric and dynamic Apostle, who stood out among the Twelve as 'the head Apostle'. For we remember how often we see him from within the sacred texts, being the leader in various activities, acting also on behalf of the rest of the Apostles, yet without separating himself from them.
The same challenges face us to day. We have to be faithful to the Tradition of the Church, which is what we have received, and to sell that for a farthing (few cents) is to surrender the whole purpose and meaning of the Church. However, without a creative engagement with modern culture; without listening to the word of God as it is spoken today; without being attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in that same world, we risk Christianity becoming once again a limited sectarian enclave.
Fr. Sergius Chetverikov
"The love that animated Fr. Ambrose was of the kind that Christ commanded his disciples to have. It differs greatly from the feeling that the world knows as love. It is no less poetic, but it is broader, purer and knows no bounds. Its main difference is that it gives everything and asks nothing in return."
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In 2003, over a decade after the fall of communism and the resurrection of the Russian Orthodox Church, the decision was made to return the precious icon to its original home. The icon began its year-long journey to Russia at the 99th annual Pilgrimage to St Tikhon Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, May 23–26, 2003.
St. John of Shanghai
Saints retain all that is characteristic of the human condition; they know everything that is ours. They are near to God, but they are also near to us; they walked and dwelt among us. The people of Holy Russia venerated them, kissed their icons and holy relics, wanted to be as close as possible to the saints, touched holiness, and the Russian land was filled with it.
