This section of the site concerns the entire Mystery of Death and the life after death. These are arguably two of the most important subjects a person can grapple with. Yet they are also subjects about which most people are very ill-informed. As Dr. Constantine Cavarnos points out in his excellent summation of this topic:
"The Orthodox Church has a full and very precise teaching on the questions of the constitution of man, the nature of the soul, the relationship between the body and the soul, the nature of death, Paradise and Hell, and the general destiny of man. This teaching is contained in the writings of the God-bearing Fathers and Teachers of the Church—most notably in the writings of the ascetics and mystics—, in the lives of the Saints, and in the Church's Hymnography and Iconography" (The Future Life According to Orthodox Teaching).
The purpose of this section of the site is to present the Orthodox Church's profound and deep understanding of the greatest tragedy to befall mankind: his estrangement (spiritual death) from God due to his Fall in Paradise, and the physical death and corruption of the cosmos (Romans 8:19) which followed.
Death is without doubt the most perplexing subject known to man. The wisest of the secular sages throughout the centuries of human existence have not been able to unravel, or fully reveal the cause and ultimate meaning of, this dilemma. Even less have they been able to help man to deal with it properly. "Only the Christian Faith, which holds fast to the word of the resurrection, offers a certain, a secure and a sure hope for victory over death. And this hope is a gift of God" (The Mystery of Death, p. 114).
We live in a society that worships the body and material possessions (vanity, hedonism, and materialism) and cares next to nothing for the soul. Suicide is near its all time high—especially among teenagers—because of the tremendous despair that is generated when a soul made in the image of God is confronted with the meaninglessness and fragmentation of life without God in the modern world. The Orthodox Church has an answer to all of these problems, and offers sure hope for those who are at the end of their rope and may be ready to take their own life. As our Lord once said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (St. Matthew 16:26). If you, dear reader, are considering suicide, I encourage you to examine carefully the sure hope that our Lord Jesus Christ can give you in His Holy Church, His very Body!
Dedicated to Our Lord Christ Jesus
"Who trampled down Death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestoweth Life."
We also live in a society in which most people have very confused and false understandings of the future life. From the popularity of "near-death experiences" (NDEs), to the typical Hollywood portrayal of bliss beyond the grave regardless of how one lived their life, most people embrace a mish-mash of notions about what is in store for them when their soul parts from their body. These false views of the future life serve to encourage man in his pride, vanity, and carelessness. Ideas have consequences, and these ideas have led innumerable souls to eternal peril. The rise of interest in NDEs over the past decade has not mitigated this problem, as Fr. Seraphim of Platina notes: "Needless to say, [traditional Orthodox writings on death] constitute a reading material infinitely more profound and more profitable than the popular 'after-death' books of our day, which, even when they are not merely sensational, simply cannot go much below the spectacular surface of today's experiences for want of a coherent and true teaching on the whole subject of life after death" (Preface to The Soul After Death).
For the Orthodox Christian, however, a proper understanding of the future life is essential to living in a God-pleasing, joyous, and fulfilled manner on earth. Orthodox understand that Hell is a choice; that a person's view of the future determines how he or she lives in the present; and that, as St. Isaac of Syria once said: "This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits." Meditation upon one's own death and the Judgment that awaits him is not something that promotes morbid introspection, but rather the true repentance that leads to the fullness of life and joy in Christ. May this soon be your discovery as well
Δευτέρα 18 Ιουλίου 2011
Πέμπτη 23 Ιουνίου 2011
There Is No Death
...We proclaim Thy mercy, we conceal not Thy benefience...
[From the prayer of the Great Sanctification of Water]
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On the 26th of May, in Cleveland, Ohio, my mother, Parasceva Ivanovna Potapov, nee Golikov, reposed. Her physicians had predicted that she would live between two weeks and two months from the date on which her cancer was discovered. She lived exactly two weeks from the date of that oncological evaluation.
Mother accepted her sentence like a true Christian. I had the honor of administering to her the Mystery of Holy Unction; throughout the following 12 days she received Holy Communion. Every day she listened to the Paschal Canon and to other prayers. Filled with a spirit of love and reconciliation, she asked forgiveness of, and said goodbye to, friends and acquaintances, and expressed her readiness to joyously go to her eternal home. When death finally came to her on May 26th, both members of my family and the parishioners of the St. Sergius Cathedral, of which my mother had been an active member for forty years, felt a sense of joyous relief. All of her requeim saervices were marked by a sense of Paschal triumph. Mother was vested in the pure white baptismal robe which she wore when, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land several years ago, she was immersed in the waters of Jordan.
During the days I was honored to spend at her death-bed, I learned more about death, and about the passage from transient life to life eternal, that I had in all of my past reading and in all of my theological courses.
On Sunday, May 29th, on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, mother was committed to the earth at the cemetery of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. It is on this Sunday that the Church commemorates Christ's discussion during which Our Lord revealed His Divine identity to a simple women. During the Church service, as I listened to the Gospel narrative, I realized that through my mother, another simple women, the Lord had revealed to us, to her relatives and acquaintances, the mystery of death and life, and the profound meaning of faith in His Resurrection and in life eternal. Her experience of death revealed to us that, for the faithful, there truly was no death, but that rather, there was life in the bosom of Abraham.
This was especially apparant in a conversation with my mother which I recorded on tape on May 21th, just five days prior to her blessed repose. Here is a portion of this conversation which was translated from Russian and printed in our parish bulletin Parish Life.
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Victor Potapov:
Mother, what spiritual testament would you like to leave us?
Parasceva Potapov:
That you love one another...that you remember me, and that you have no fear. Over here is earthly life. But over there, beyond the grave...is the good life. I want you to love and cherish one another, and not to fear death. There is no death...I am not sure whether I am speaking so that you can understand...
Victor Potapov:
Your every word is precious to us...
Parasceva Potapov:
I go there joyously. With love. You will pray for me. That is what is most important to me. I have heard so much about how people go there, about what joy is there.
Victor Potapov:
To what do you attriubute your calm? You show absolutely no fear; you are so full of joy. From what does this stem? From the Lord?
Parasceva Potapov:
From the Lord. It is important to me that I am to be over there, and that you feel all right. What is there to fear? Nothing that you told me about my cancer saddens me... I only rejoice...It is my wish that you, my children, feel as I do. You do not comprehend how I feel, this feeling of great love...
Victor Potapov:
Do you consider it to be God's mercy, that He sent you a difficult trial?
Parasceva Potapov:
It is my wish that this mercy might come to you as it has come to me. I awaken feeling such joy! I look at you weeping, and I become so sad. I sense that you fear for me. However, it is quite the opposite...
Victor Potapov:
No, mother, I am weeping because I am selfish, because I simple want to be with you for as long as possible...
Parasceva Potapov:
But I am still sorry that you weep. You should not weep; you are a priest...I cannot explain it to you...I feel that warmth of prayers surrounding me. Besides, Vladyka Ivan [Archbishop John Maximovich] is next to me. I do not believe myself to be worthy of this...
People telephone me to say that perhaps I should go see another doctor. Why should I see another doctor? It is too late to go. Apparently, I have had this condition [cancer] for a long time. People tell me that perhaps they should perform a surgical procedure on me. What kind of procedure? They would fill me with chemicals...But now I feel all right...and if its all right, why be downcast? There is no reason to be discouraged, since it is good over there...According to God's will, I prepared myself as best I could, I feel very good; I always wake up joyous. I sense, especially in the mornings, some kind of sweet aroma. See, you gave me Communion. Fr. Peter has visited and prayed. My children are with me day and night. What more do I need? It is very good. I anticipate joy.
Victor Potapov:
Why does this joy come to you in the mornings?
Parasceva Potapov:
I arise, and see the light of God...
Victor Potapov:
Theophanes the Recluse says that the light which we see in our earthly life...the light of the sun, is but a candle in comparison to the light of God which you will later see...
Parasceva Potapov:
This one thing I know, that it is an extraordinary light, God's radiance...There is much I do not understand; I understand only that I feel very joyful.
Victor Potapov:
Mother, here on earth, we are members of the Church on earth; you will be a member of the Church in Heaven. Do you understand? We remain members of the one Church of Christ. While we will no longer be able to kiss you or hold your hand, we will, through our prayers, be able to kiss you and be kissed in return.
Parasceva Potapov:
If I accomplish that, I will of course pray for you. That is, of course, if God finds me worthy. And you will pray for me. Since you are a priest, you will never leave me out of yours prayers at the Divine Liturgy. I count on that. I love people, and have now drawn especially closer to many.
Victor Potapov:
You will meet Archbishop John. On July 2nd, as we participate in his glorification on earth, you will participate in his glorification in heaven, the same glorification, Pascha in the midst of summer.
Parasceva Potapov:
What a wonderful coincidence!...After you administered Holy Unction to me, I began to free myself of everything earthly, and joy entered in...Later, when you gave me Holy Communion, I became even more liberated...
Victor Potapov:
Surely this is because your soul is beginning to free itself from the body, and is, as it were, between heaven and earth. Your soul senses heavenly joy, and so you experience such peace and joy.
Parasceva Potapov:
Certainly. My passage has begun...it is happening, and I am content...Do not weep; it is all right, even very good. In my soul [I sense] some kind of feeling of paradise. There is no need to cry or to be discouraged. I await the moment. It will come. I am ever closer to joy. Evidently, I have become free, and I easily endure everything.
Victor Potapov:
Christ is Risen!
Parasceva Potapov:
Truly...
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In your prayers, please remember the soul of the ever-memorable handmaiden of God Parasceva, who in her 66th year went over to a better world...
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Fr. Victor S. Potapov
[From the prayer of the Great Sanctification of Water]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the 26th of May, in Cleveland, Ohio, my mother, Parasceva Ivanovna Potapov, nee Golikov, reposed. Her physicians had predicted that she would live between two weeks and two months from the date on which her cancer was discovered. She lived exactly two weeks from the date of that oncological evaluation.
Mother accepted her sentence like a true Christian. I had the honor of administering to her the Mystery of Holy Unction; throughout the following 12 days she received Holy Communion. Every day she listened to the Paschal Canon and to other prayers. Filled with a spirit of love and reconciliation, she asked forgiveness of, and said goodbye to, friends and acquaintances, and expressed her readiness to joyously go to her eternal home. When death finally came to her on May 26th, both members of my family and the parishioners of the St. Sergius Cathedral, of which my mother had been an active member for forty years, felt a sense of joyous relief. All of her requeim saervices were marked by a sense of Paschal triumph. Mother was vested in the pure white baptismal robe which she wore when, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land several years ago, she was immersed in the waters of Jordan.
During the days I was honored to spend at her death-bed, I learned more about death, and about the passage from transient life to life eternal, that I had in all of my past reading and in all of my theological courses.
On Sunday, May 29th, on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, mother was committed to the earth at the cemetery of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. It is on this Sunday that the Church commemorates Christ's discussion during which Our Lord revealed His Divine identity to a simple women. During the Church service, as I listened to the Gospel narrative, I realized that through my mother, another simple women, the Lord had revealed to us, to her relatives and acquaintances, the mystery of death and life, and the profound meaning of faith in His Resurrection and in life eternal. Her experience of death revealed to us that, for the faithful, there truly was no death, but that rather, there was life in the bosom of Abraham.
This was especially apparant in a conversation with my mother which I recorded on tape on May 21th, just five days prior to her blessed repose. Here is a portion of this conversation which was translated from Russian and printed in our parish bulletin Parish Life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victor Potapov:
Mother, what spiritual testament would you like to leave us?
Parasceva Potapov:
That you love one another...that you remember me, and that you have no fear. Over here is earthly life. But over there, beyond the grave...is the good life. I want you to love and cherish one another, and not to fear death. There is no death...I am not sure whether I am speaking so that you can understand...
Victor Potapov:
Your every word is precious to us...
Parasceva Potapov:
I go there joyously. With love. You will pray for me. That is what is most important to me. I have heard so much about how people go there, about what joy is there.
Victor Potapov:
To what do you attriubute your calm? You show absolutely no fear; you are so full of joy. From what does this stem? From the Lord?
Parasceva Potapov:
From the Lord. It is important to me that I am to be over there, and that you feel all right. What is there to fear? Nothing that you told me about my cancer saddens me... I only rejoice...It is my wish that you, my children, feel as I do. You do not comprehend how I feel, this feeling of great love...
Victor Potapov:
Do you consider it to be God's mercy, that He sent you a difficult trial?
Parasceva Potapov:
It is my wish that this mercy might come to you as it has come to me. I awaken feeling such joy! I look at you weeping, and I become so sad. I sense that you fear for me. However, it is quite the opposite...
Victor Potapov:
No, mother, I am weeping because I am selfish, because I simple want to be with you for as long as possible...
Parasceva Potapov:
But I am still sorry that you weep. You should not weep; you are a priest...I cannot explain it to you...I feel that warmth of prayers surrounding me. Besides, Vladyka Ivan [Archbishop John Maximovich] is next to me. I do not believe myself to be worthy of this...
People telephone me to say that perhaps I should go see another doctor. Why should I see another doctor? It is too late to go. Apparently, I have had this condition [cancer] for a long time. People tell me that perhaps they should perform a surgical procedure on me. What kind of procedure? They would fill me with chemicals...But now I feel all right...and if its all right, why be downcast? There is no reason to be discouraged, since it is good over there...According to God's will, I prepared myself as best I could, I feel very good; I always wake up joyous. I sense, especially in the mornings, some kind of sweet aroma. See, you gave me Communion. Fr. Peter has visited and prayed. My children are with me day and night. What more do I need? It is very good. I anticipate joy.
Victor Potapov:
Why does this joy come to you in the mornings?
Parasceva Potapov:
I arise, and see the light of God...
Victor Potapov:
Theophanes the Recluse says that the light which we see in our earthly life...the light of the sun, is but a candle in comparison to the light of God which you will later see...
Parasceva Potapov:
This one thing I know, that it is an extraordinary light, God's radiance...There is much I do not understand; I understand only that I feel very joyful.
Victor Potapov:
Mother, here on earth, we are members of the Church on earth; you will be a member of the Church in Heaven. Do you understand? We remain members of the one Church of Christ. While we will no longer be able to kiss you or hold your hand, we will, through our prayers, be able to kiss you and be kissed in return.
Parasceva Potapov:
If I accomplish that, I will of course pray for you. That is, of course, if God finds me worthy. And you will pray for me. Since you are a priest, you will never leave me out of yours prayers at the Divine Liturgy. I count on that. I love people, and have now drawn especially closer to many.
Victor Potapov:
You will meet Archbishop John. On July 2nd, as we participate in his glorification on earth, you will participate in his glorification in heaven, the same glorification, Pascha in the midst of summer.
Parasceva Potapov:
What a wonderful coincidence!...After you administered Holy Unction to me, I began to free myself of everything earthly, and joy entered in...Later, when you gave me Holy Communion, I became even more liberated...
Victor Potapov:
Surely this is because your soul is beginning to free itself from the body, and is, as it were, between heaven and earth. Your soul senses heavenly joy, and so you experience such peace and joy.
Parasceva Potapov:
Certainly. My passage has begun...it is happening, and I am content...Do not weep; it is all right, even very good. In my soul [I sense] some kind of feeling of paradise. There is no need to cry or to be discouraged. I await the moment. It will come. I am ever closer to joy. Evidently, I have become free, and I easily endure everything.
Victor Potapov:
Christ is Risen!
Parasceva Potapov:
Truly...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In your prayers, please remember the soul of the ever-memorable handmaiden of God Parasceva, who in her 66th year went over to a better world...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fr. Victor S. Potapov
Prayers of Thanksgiving
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O Lord my Savior and my Master, I, Thine unprofitable servant, with fear and trembling give thanks unto Thy loving goodness for all Thy benefits which Thou hast poured so abundantly upon me, Thy servant. I fall down in adoration before Thee and offer Thee, O god, my praises; with fervor I cry to Thee: O God, deliver me henceforth from all adversities and mercifully fulfill in me such of my desires as may be expedient for me. Hear me, I entreat Thee, and have mercy, for Thou art the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and unto Thee, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, I hymn Thee, I bless Thee, I give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy. To Thee I flee, O merciful and mighty God. Shine into my heart with the True Sun of Thy righteousness. Enlighten my mind and keep all my senses, that henceforth I may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thy inaccessible Light. For Thou art my God, and unto Thee, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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O Lord my Savior and my Master, I, Thine unprofitable servant, with fear and trembling give thanks unto Thy loving goodness for all Thy benefits which Thou hast poured so abundantly upon me, Thy servant. I fall down in adoration before Thee and offer Thee, O god, my praises; with fervor I cry to Thee: O God, deliver me henceforth from all adversities and mercifully fulfill in me such of my desires as may be expedient for me. Hear me, I entreat Thee, and have mercy, for Thou art the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and unto Thee, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, I hymn Thee, I bless Thee, I give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy. To Thee I flee, O merciful and mighty God. Shine into my heart with the True Sun of Thy righteousness. Enlighten my mind and keep all my senses, that henceforth I may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thy inaccessible Light. For Thou art my God, and unto Thee, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Prayer for Enemies
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Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies, and those who defame and injure us, and to pray for them and forgive them; Who Thyself didst pray for Thine enemies, who crucified thee: grant us, we pray, the spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, that we may heartily forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us to overcome the malevolence and offences of people with Christian meekness and true love of our neighbor. We further beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. And help us repay evil with goodness, and to remain safe from the temptations of the devil and from all the perils which threaten us, in the form of visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies, and those who defame and injure us, and to pray for them and forgive them; Who Thyself didst pray for Thine enemies, who crucified thee: grant us, we pray, the spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, that we may heartily forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us to overcome the malevolence and offences of people with Christian meekness and true love of our neighbor. We further beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. And help us repay evil with goodness, and to remain safe from the temptations of the devil and from all the perils which threaten us, in the form of visible and invisible enemies. Amen.
Κυριακή 3 Απριλίου 2011
Prayer for Parents
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O merciful Lord God, Thou hast commanded and enjoined me to honor my father and mother, and Thou Thyself hast shown even until death humble obedience to Thy Father. From the depth of my soul I fervently beseech Thee, O gracious Jesus Christ, my God, hear my prayer and have mercy upon my parents, who have given birth to me and are bringing me up in Thy grace and love. Protect them from all evil, harm and sickness; grant them health, and mercifully pour forth Thy bountiful blessings upon them. Bless their efforts and deeds; have mercy on them according to Thy great mercy, that faithfully serving Thee, through them I also may be worthy to praise and serve Thee. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, bless my father and mother, my guardians, and those who are in authority over me, for their love and tender care for me, and the benefits I receive at their hands. Help me, I pray Thee, to be respectful and obedient to them in all matters according to Thy will; and give me Thy grace to perform all my duties carefully and faithfully, to avoid undesirable company and influence, and resist all temptation that may come my way; that I may live a sober, righteous and godly life, ever praising Thee and glorifying Thy Holy Name. Amen.
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O merciful Lord God, Thou hast commanded and enjoined me to honor my father and mother, and Thou Thyself hast shown even until death humble obedience to Thy Father. From the depth of my soul I fervently beseech Thee, O gracious Jesus Christ, my God, hear my prayer and have mercy upon my parents, who have given birth to me and are bringing me up in Thy grace and love. Protect them from all evil, harm and sickness; grant them health, and mercifully pour forth Thy bountiful blessings upon them. Bless their efforts and deeds; have mercy on them according to Thy great mercy, that faithfully serving Thee, through them I also may be worthy to praise and serve Thee. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, bless my father and mother, my guardians, and those who are in authority over me, for their love and tender care for me, and the benefits I receive at their hands. Help me, I pray Thee, to be respectful and obedient to them in all matters according to Thy will; and give me Thy grace to perform all my duties carefully and faithfully, to avoid undesirable company and influence, and resist all temptation that may come my way; that I may live a sober, righteous and godly life, ever praising Thee and glorifying Thy Holy Name. Amen.
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Πέμπτη 31 Μαρτίου 2011
Prayers to the Mother of God
Rejoice Mary, Mother of God, Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Meet it is in truth, to glorify thee, O Birth-giver of God, ever blessed, and all undefiled, the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without stain didst bear God the word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.
O gracious Mother of the gracious God, O most pure and blessed Mary, the Mother of God, pour the mercy of thy Son and our God upon my impassionate soul, and with thine intercessions set me unto good deeds, that I may pass the rest of my life without blemish and, with thine aid, attain heaven. O Virgin mother of God, the only one who art pure and blessed. O Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls: being delivered from evil, as thy servants, O Mother of God, we offer unto thee the hymns of thanks and victory; but as thou hast power invincible, deliver us from all calamity, that we may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O ever-Virgin Bride!
O virgin, spotless, undefiled, unstained, all-chaste and Pure Lady, Bride of God, who by the glorious birth-giving hast united God the Word with Man and linked our fallen nature with Heavenly Things; who art the hope of the hopeless, the helper of the oppressed, the ready protection of those who haste unto thee, and the refuge of Christians; despise me not, who am defiled and sinful, who by my wicked thoughts, words and deeds, have become an unworthy servant, and by my slothfulness have turned into a slave to evil affections. O Mother of the God of Love, have mercy and compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal. Accept this prayer which is offered to thee from my impure lips; and putting forward thy maternal influence with thy Son, my Lord and Master, beseech Him to open unto me the lovingkindness of His grace; beseech Him to overlook my countless transgressions, to give me true repentance and to make me to be a zealous doer of His commandments. And thou, being gracious and compassionate and tender-hearted, be thou ever present with me in this life as my defender and helper, so that I may turn aside the assault of my enemies, and guide me into salvation; help my poor soul at the hour of my death, and drive far from it all the dark forms of the evil ones. And in the dreadful Judgement Day, deliver me from everlasting punishment, and present me as an inheritor of the ineffable glory of the son, our God.
O may I obtain this, most-holy Lady and Birth-giver of God, through thine intercessions and mediations, by the grace and exceeding great love of thine Only-Begotten son, my Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due, with the eternal Father and the All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, all honor and glory and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, accept our prayers and present them to thy son and our God, that He may, for thy sake, enlighten and save our souls.
Prayer of Parents for their Children
O God, our heavenly Father, Who lovest mankind, and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon our children, Thy servants, (their names), for whom I humbly pray Thee, and commend them to Thy gracious protection. Be Thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavors; lead them in the path of Thy truth, and draw them near to Thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Thy love and fear; doing Thy will in all matters. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, for the merits of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Holy Mother, and Thy blessed saints. Amen.
Prayers to the Guardian Angel
O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten me this day, and save me from all evil. Instruct me in doing good deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen.
O angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything wherein I have offended you every day of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One. May I never again anger God by my sins. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-Holy Trinity, and of the blessed Mother of God, and of all the saints. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Σάββατο 5 Μαρτίου 2011
The Holy Monastery of Saint Euthymios.
Saint Euthymios came from Melitene of Armenia Minor, was born in 377AD and in 406 at the age of 29 came to the Holy Lands where he remained at the cave of the town of Faran for five years. In 411 seeking greater quietness he departed with his ascetic companion Theoktiston to another desert location at the cave of the torrent Wadi Mukellik. The fame of Saint Euthymios spread, and many monks, inhabitants of the surrounding areas and nomadic Arabs were coming to meet him. The Saint would take care and heal their sick. Among the healed ones was the son of Saracen chieftain Aspeveto, who suffered from paralysis. After this event, Aspeveto and all his tribe were baptized and became Christians. Aspeveto through the instigation of the Saint, was anointed bishop by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the name Peter, bishop of Interventions and was the first Arab bishop who represented the Arab nomads of the area at the Ecumenical Synod of Ephesus in 431AD. Moved by gratitude Aspeveto-Peter, built in the area Khan-el-Ahmar the most basic buildings of the Lavra of Saint Euthymios which reached its pinnacle with the synod of Chalcedon in 451AD when with the illumined presence of Saint Euthymios it became the fortress of Orthodoxy in Palestine.
Saint Euthymios reposed in 473AD at an age of 97, having ordered that the Lavra be transformed to a Coenobium. After a period of 7 years from his death, the area of the Lavra became a contemporary coenobium, enclosed within walls and included a spacious Church, cemetery, common trapeza, kitchen, many cells, stables, a tower, large reservoirs of water and other auxiliary places. These works were performed under the direction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and under the supervision of the deacon of Jerusalem, Phidios. The Monastery in its long life of some eight centuries, was destroyed many times from the invasions of the barbarians and by earthquakes. In 616 by the Persians, in 637 by the Arabs, in 659 and 747 by earthquakes, in 1009 by the Caliph Hakim and finally in 1260-1270 by Circasian Mameluk Sultan Baibars-al-Malek-az-Zahir. During the centuries that followed the monastery was inhabited at times by monks and other times by Arabic tribes which during various periods ruled the region.
The identity of the place Khan-el-Ahmar with the monastery, coincides with the description that the biographer Saint Kyrill the Scythian provided and the archeological excavations that were done in the region. Excavations at the ruins of the monastery were done in 1928-1930 under the direction of Derwas J. Chitty for the British Archeological School of Jerusalem. Then the main Church and cemetery was cleaned. During 1976-79 new excavations were performed under the direction of Dr. John Meimari for the Department of Antiquities of Israel when further to previous mentioned areas of the Central Church and Cemetery, six more tombs within the central chamber were excavated and studied as well as another funeral chamber, west of the central one, a smaller subdivided Chamber north of the addition of the central Church, a later period Trapeza of the monastery and the areas within the north wall close to the present central entrance to the monastery.
A small tower of the central Church were superficially cleaned, as well as above the line of the west wall, the courtyards north and south of the cemetery and an area at the southeast side outside of the central Church. Furthermore, quite a few walls of the basic buildings were reinforced and preserved, having first uncovered the mosaic floors and the marble tiled floors of the central Church which at the end were again covered with sand to protect them. Quite a few architectural pieces were found such as pieces of frescoes from different eras, plaster frames of glass panes, a complete glass pane and numerous glass shards. Also conches from cooking utensils, oil lamps etc were found.
From the 1928-1930 and 1976-1979 excavations we believe the following were located from the building of Lavra: the place where the cell of the Saint was, the bethel building, a font and a storage of wheat east of the place of the excavations and perhaps even the original tomb of the Saint. From the buildings of the Coenobium which was built over the areas of the Lavra, the following were located: the cemetery, the basic walls of the Church, two beautiful tombs, and under the addition and to the north of the addition, the tower of the Monastery, the guardhouse, a number of rooms and the bottom part of the external wall at almost all its sides. From later periods the following were found: relics of the chapel above the cemetery, sections of the central Church, large reservoirs of water within and outside of the Monastery complex, a trapeza, a great part of the northwest wall with the exterior gate, many dividing and structural walls, stairs, corridors and room of a labyrinthic complex, which however if it was not cleaned completely, it could not be architecturally read or make a determination of the chronological phases of its operation.
Yiannis E. Meimaris
From: The Monastery of Saint Euthymios at the Great at Khan-Ahmer in the wilderness of Judea. Rescue excavations and basic protection Measures 1976-1979 Athens 1989
The Holy Monastery of Martha and Maria in Bethany.
The country town of Bethany is well known to all the Christians from the resurrection of Lazarus, and lies east of the Mount of Olives. It is inhabited by Fellahin Muslims who call it Azarie. Here lies the tomb of Lazarus. Approximately forty meters south of the tomb of Lazarus there are other ruins which are said to be the house of Martha and Mary over which earlier there was a church. At the southeast areas (approx. 200 meters) of Bethany by the road that leadas to the Jordan River, there is a rock that has the shape of the back (spine) of a donkey. On this rock it is said that our Saviour sat before entering the town and there having been met by the sister of Lazarus Martha who then fell to His feet saying: “If You were here, my brother would not have died”. This rock the Arabs call “Hmer-Azar” (donkey of Lazarus).
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