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Please pray for us

I need your prayers... Please stop for a moment and pray for me and for my partner... Pray for us to go through this hard situation that is happening, united and not divorced... May God softens his heart and enlighten him.

Thank you :*

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My mom has cancer

Some hours ago, I found out that my mom has cancer. I don’t have any words, I am dumb. I can’t feel anything. She’s the last person in the world I expected to hear is sick. She is the world to me, as well as to her students. She has always a bright smile, no matter what. Kids love her.

I am 29 years old. Not a kid anymore. But I still need her. I still need her help and guidance. I can’t imagine a world without her. I still feel a kid, and I don’t know how to face the world without her.

Prayers please <3 Prayers for her survival <3

[simplyorthodox]

Blessed New Year!

In a few hours 2021 is about to start. Instead of thinking all the sad moments of 2021 let’s thank God that kept us safe during 2020 pandemic and let’s pray for all those that are in the hospital right now.

If you are able to spend the first hours of 2021 together with your beloved people, hold them a lottle tighter tighter than usual. They are a gift.

Glory to God for everything!

Ps. Keep listening to Christmas music to cheer you up during quarantine!

[simplyorthodox]

This He desires

Now we are on our way to venerate the Nativity of our Christ. What shall we tell Him? What will show our worth to Him? Now is truly the hour to gather a little care, a little painful work, a little self-denial, a little humility, a little self-reproach, so that we might say with fervor before the Infant: 'O All-Good One, have you come for me? Receive me the poor one! I don't have anything!" This He desires. He desires nothing else.

- Elder Joseph of Vatopedi (photo)

[simplyorthodox]

Tonight I pray that we see Christ being born within us

Tonight, I pray that we see Christ being born within us, that He might become our guide until our final breath. Good vigil, may the Grace of God give us strength. Angels and Archangels and Principalities will join chorus tonight. Noetically, may we be kneeling in Bethlehem, at the Manger, at the Star, where the vigil lasts the whole night with glory. Let us embrace Him, let us caress our little Christ like Panagia. Let Him skip like an infant within our souls. Let us show Him our love and may a spiritual and bodily rebirth occur for us. I wish you many years blessed by the Lord.

- Blessed Eldress Makrina of Portaria (+1995)

[simplyorthodox]

Prayer to the Lord Who was born

by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain

Jesus, Son of the Father without mother according to divinity, I glorify You the eternal Who is above every entreaty and word.

Jesus, Son of a Mother without father according to humanity, I glorify You Who became man for us.

Jesus, Emmanuel unchanged, for You are the Angel-bearer of the great message of salvation, I thank You for Your great love for man.

Jesus, spotless Lamb of God, I ever confess You, for I am the lost sheep.

Jesus, most-compassionate Comforter, make the grace of your Spirit to work within me.

Jesus, new Adam, take from me the old man, and establish in me the new.

Jesus, You Who descended to earth, make me worthy to have my habitation in the heavens.

Jesus, You Who took on the human nature make me a partaker in the grace of theosis.

Jesus, my breath, come to visit me.

[simplyorthodox]

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Christ is born! Glorify Him! Christ descends from the heavens, welcome Him! Christ is now on earth, O be jubilant! Sing to the Lord, the whole earth, And sing praises to Him with joy, O ye people, For He has been exalted!

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St. Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus

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fusion-of-horizons on Flickr

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Angelic Chant of Nuns from Camarzani Monastery in Romania. The Song is called "Din Cer Senin" (From the Clear Blue Sky). Truly amazing!

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A pretty Saint Nicholas Christmas stamp of Ukraine

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Find evil in yourself

Find evil in yourself and not in other people or things, were with you have not learned how to relate properly. This is how a child relates with fire or a knife: he burns himself, he cuts himself.

- St. Sebastian of Karaganda

[simplyorthodox]

Lord, hear my prayer

Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my petition in Thy truth. Hear me in Thy justice. And enter not into judgment with Thy slave, for in Thy sight no living soul will be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul, he has humbled my life to the earth; he has made me dwell in darkness, like the dead of old. And my spirit desponds within me, and my heart within me is troubled. I remember the days of old, I meditate on all Thy works, I meditate on the works of Thy hands. I stretch out my hands to Thee; my soul like parched earth thirsts for Thee. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit grows faint. Hide not Thy face from me lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

- From the Psalm 142

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[simplyorthodox]

4 things I have learned during the pandemic

1) We are a united Church. So many people keep praying. Churches are closed but every home is a small Church. Every Orthodox Christian is united to all the Orthodox worldwide through prayer, as we are praying for each other and for the world.

2) We must trust in Lord. On days where I don’t feel I have accomplished as much as I would like, I have put our trust in Lord in order to help me to be strong. He’s the one that can protect us and that He can bring us out of this situation.

2) Patience is important. I have accepted that I can’t do a lot in order to accomplish as much as I would like, so I am trying to be patient.

3) Life is precious. As Christmas is approaching, everyone keeps thinking about gifts. The real gift is our existance, that we will all celebrate Christmas together, without anyone missing.

4) Don’t take anyone for granted. The most important thing is how much we value certain things and people that we ordinarily take for granted. That includes spouses, family and friends. Let us not take them for granted.. This pandemic has taken away many beloved people of ours.

[simplyorthodox]

Prayer to find a spouse

All-Good and Merciful Lord, I know that any enduring happiness in my life dependeth upon my wholehearted love for Thee and upon mine actions according to Thy holy will in all things; wherefore, direct my soul, O God, and fill my heart. I seek to please Thee alone, for Thou art my Creator and my God. Preserve me from pride and self-love. Let reason, modesty and chastity adorn me. Idleness is hateful unto Thee and breedeth vice; grant unto me the inclination to be fruitful in labor, and bless Thou my work.

Thy law commandeth that man and wife live in chaste matrimonial union; wherefore lead me, Holy Father, to this blessed calling not for the satisfaction of passions but unto the fulfillment of Thy commandment; for Thou hast said that it is not good that man should live alone and, having created woman as his helper, Thou blessest them to be fruitful and multiply that they may fill the earth.

Hear my humble prayer, which ascendeth unto Thee from the depths of my heart: Grant unto me an honest and pious spouse that, through our love and harmony, together we may praise Thee, our Compassionate God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

[simplyorthodox]

There is no distance

For the people of God there is no such thing as distance, even if they be thousands of miles apart. However far away our fellow human beings may be, we must stand by them. 

- Saint Porphyrios, “Wounded by Love”