St Michaels Orthodox Church is a parish of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania under the Omophorion
“Without humility one cannot be a disciple of Christ. Without humility the heart of man does not receive, does not assimilate the teachings of Christ. Humility inspires the heart of a man to be submissive to the will of God, to humbly accept everything that the Lord is pleased to send on his path of life, to submit his mind, his understanding, and his desires in obedience to Christ.”
- St Nikon, p. 177, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina.
“Humble yourself before God. Humble yourself as much as you can also before people. Do not scorn anyone. When you are at fault—immediately repent: Lord forgive! Lord have mercy! Lord help me!”
-St Anatoly, p. 177, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina.
"At that time, Jesus, passing along by the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boats mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes."
-MARK 1:16-22
“We seem to love to fight, and that, in itself, should be a sign of deep brokenness in us. Our impulse to fight, to demand our rights, to “get even” and “settle the score” all reveal a wound in humanity that must be addressed and healed.”
(Fr Barnabas Powell, Faith Encouraged Blog)
I miss our coffee hour. We will be home soon!
It’s 4:29 in Greece! See you all soon!
It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify you!
"But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
-Isaiah 40:31
"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
-Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Who will heal me then? Jesus Christ alone. When He sees my sincere and firm desire to be healed of my spiritual infirmity, when He hears my fervent prayer, then He will say to me: “Take up thy bed and walk,” and I shall rise from the bed of spiritual infirmity and walk; that is, by His grace I shall easily vanquish all my passions and fulfil every virtue."
-Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt. My Life in Christ p.165
![THE DORMITION [THE FALLING ASLEEP - THE ASSUMPTION] OF THE MOST-HOLY BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS) The Lord Who, on Mt....](https://img3.prayers1.com/867/241/274373768672414.jpg)
THE DORMITION [THE FALLING ASLEEP - THE ASSUMPTION] OF THE MOST-HOLY BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD (THEOTOKOS)
The Lord Who, on Mt. Sinai, gave the Fifth Commandment, Honor your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12), showed by His own example how one should respect one's parents. Hanging on the Cross in agony, He remembered His Mother, and indicating to the Apostle John, He said to her: Woman behold your son (John 19:26). After that, He said to John: Behold your mother (John 19:27). And so, providing for His Mother, He breathed His last. John had a home on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, in which the Theotokos then lived. She dwelt there to the end of her days on earth. By her prayers, kind guidance, meekness and patience, she greatly assisted Her Son's apostles. She spent most of her remaining time on earth in Jerusalem, often visiting those places that reminded her of the great events and of the great works of her Son. She especially visited Golgotha, Bethlehem and the Mount of Olives. Of her few distant journeys, her visit to St. Ignatius the God-bearer [Theophorus] in Antioch is recorded; as is her visit to Lazarus (whom our Lord resurrected on the fourth day), the Bishop of Cyprus. She also visited the Holy Mountain [Athos], which she blessed; and she stayed in Ephesus with St. John the Evangelist [The Theologian] during the time of the great persecution of Christians in Jerusalem. In her old age, she often prayed to her Lord and God on the Mount of Olives, the site of His Ascension, that He take her from this world as soon as possible. On one of these occasions, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and revealed to her that she would find repose within three days. The angel gave her a palm-branch, which was to be carried in her funeral procession. She returned home with great joy, hoping in her heart to see her Son's apostles just once more in this life. The Lord fulfilled her wish, and the apostles, borne by angels in the clouds, gathered together at the house on Mount Zion. With great rejoicing she saw them, encouraged them, counseled them, and comforted them. Then she peacefully gave up her soul to God without pain or physical illness. The apostles took up her coffin, from which a heavenly fragrance arose--and, in the company of many Christians, bore it to the Garden of Gethsemane, to the sepulchre of her parents, Saints Joachim and Anna. By God's providence, the procession was concealed by a cloud from the evil Jews. Even so, Aphthonius [Anthony], a Jewish priest, grabbed the coffin with the intention of overturning it, but an angel of God severed both his hands. He then cried out to the apostles for help, and was healed upon declaring his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Thomas was absent--again, according to God's providence--in order that a new and all-glorious mystery of the Holy Theotokos would be revealed. On the third day, Thomas arrived and desired to venerate [kiss] the body of the Holy Most-pure One. But when the apostles opened the sepulchre, they found only the winding sheet: the body was not in the tomb! That evening, the Theotokos, surrounded by a host of angels, appeared to the apostles and said to them: "Rejoice, I will be with you always." It is not exactly known how old the Theotokos was at the time of her Falling Asleep, but the overwhelming opinion is that she was over sixty years of age.
Educational resources from Orthodox Journeys are now available: The Mother of Life: The Feast of the Dormition
Discover more about this summer feast dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and how her life is an example for us and our relationship with God. See the attached samples or to purchase, visit: https://www.orthodoxjourneys.com/product-page/dormition-of-the-theotokos-aug-15
The unit includes:
· 6-page Lesson: exploring the feast of the Dormition with scriptural readings, festal hymns, a summary of the festal icon, and educational activities for all ages.
· Study Guides: in 4 grade levels: (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12), each includes discussion topics, Q&A, and additional resources.
· Parents Overview Guide: a one-page summary of the feast for parents to engage with their children through starter questions and topics to explore together.
This year, celebrate the feast of the Dormition with your parish and at home!
Visit www.orthodoxjourneys.com today for more educational resources and information.
Orthodox Christian affordable sunday school lessons and resources for churches, families, and homeschool parents.
“God is everywhere. There is no place God is not…You cry out to Him, ‘Where art Thou, my God?’ And He answers, “I am present, my child! I am always beside you.’ Both inside and outside, above and below, wherever you turn, everything shouts, ‘God!’ In Him we live and move. We breathe God, we eat God, we clothe ourselves with God. Everything praises and blesses God. All of creation shouts His praise. Everything animate and inanimate speaks wondrously and glorifies the Creator. Let every breath praise the Lord!”
– Elder Joseph the Hesychast, 78th Letter
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
-Isaiah 41:10
..love God above everything and your neighbour as yourself. If you have not sufficient strength to preserve in your heart these inestimable treasures, fall down oftener at the feet of the God of Love. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it I shall be opened unto you”—for He Who has promised is true.
-Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ p.47
How to Keep the Church Typicon According to St.John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
The Church typicon is a guidebook for training and schooling in prayer and the more it is adhered to the more benefit is derived from it.
Read full article: http://catalogueofstelisabethconvent.blogspot.com.by/2017/08/how-to-keep-church-typicon-according-to.html
Introduction to Liturgics How to Keep the Church Typicon According to St.John of Shanghai and San Francisco The Catalog of Good Deeds 8/10/2017 Read (Words) Edit The divine services and rites of the Orthodox Church, having as their foundation one typicon and preserving commonality in all that is sub...
“Do not do anything without signing yourself with the sign of the Cross! When you depart on a journey, when you begin your work, when you go to study, when you are alone, and when you are with other people, seal yourself with the Holy Cross on your forehead, your body, your chest, your heart, your lips, your eyes, your ears. All of you should be sealed with the sign of Christ’s victory over hell. Then you will no longer be afraid of charms, evil spirits, or sorcery, because these are dissolved by the power of the Cross like wax before fire and like dust before the wind.”
— Elder Cleopas of Romania
“In the words of the psalmist, ‘As you lie in bed, repent of what you say in your heart’ (Ps. 4:4 LXX), that is, repent in the stillness of the night, remembering the lapses that occurred in the confusion of the day and disciplining yourself in hymns and spiritual songs (cf. Col. 3:16) – in other words, teaching yourself to persist in prayer and psalmody through attentive meditation on what you read. For the practice of the moral virtues is effectuated by meditating on what has happened during the day, so that during the stillness of the night we can become aware of the sins we have committed and can grieve over them.”
+ St. Peter of Damascus, “Twenty-Four Discourses”, XXII Joy, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 3)
THE HOLY APOSTLE MATTHIAS
Matthias was born in Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah. He studied with St. Simeon the God-receiver in Jerusalem. When the Lord went out to preach about the Kingdom of God, Matthias joined the others who loved the Lord--for he himself loved Him with all his heart, and heard His words and witnessed His works with delight. Initially Matthias was numbered among the Seventy Lesser Disciples of Christ. However, following the Resurrection of the Lord, the place of Judas being empty, the apostles drew lots and thus chose Matthias as one of the Twelve Great Apostles: And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias. And they prayed and said: "You Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which of these two You have chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place" (Acts 1:23-26). Receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Matthias set out to preach the Gospel--first in Judea, and then in Ethiopia, where he endured great tortures for the sake of Christ. It is held that he preached throughout Macedonia, where they wanted to blind him; but he became invisible to his torturers, and thus escaped danger. The Lord appeared to him in prison, encouraged him, and freed him. Finally, he returned again to his work in Judea. There he was accused and brought to court before the high priest Ananias, before whom he fearlessly witnessed Christ. Ananias (the same who had slain the Apostle James) condemned Matthias to death. They led Matthias out, stoned him, and then decapitated him with an axe. (This was the Roman manner of killing a person who was sentenced to death, and the hypocritical Jews applied this method to Matthias, to show the Romans that he had been an enemy of Rome.) Thus this great apostle of Christ died, and took up his habitation in the eternal joy of his Lord.
Saint Paul says, "Love is not irritable or resentful....Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things (I Corinthians 13)." If we are always complaining, weeping, or worrying we are not living according to the directive of the Apostle Paul. Worry is based on a sentimentality of our Christian faith, creating a degenerate version of Orthodoxy that inspires no one, and ultimately leads to the death of our own soul.
-Abbot Tryphon https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044595542112
“Two virtues—love and humility—depend so much on each other, just like warmth and light.”
-St Barsanuphius, p. 175, Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina.
Sprazdnikom! This morning, Fr Michael blessed fruit in honor of the Feast. Joyous Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ!
"Thou wast transfigured on the mount. O Christ God, revealing Thy glory to Thy disciples as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light shine upon us sinners. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Giver of Light, glory to Thee." —Troparion for the Feast
". . . and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as snow and behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish I will make three booths here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead” "
(Mt 17.1–92, see also Mk 9.1–9; Lk 9.28–36; 2 Pet 1.16–18).
We must not avoid communion because we deem ourselves to be sinful. On the contrary, we must approach it more often for the healing of the soul and the purification of the spirit, to show our humility and faith, by considering ourselves unworthy and in need ... that we desire even more the medicine for our wounds. Otherwise it is impossible to receive communion once a year, as certain people do ... considering the sanctification of heavenly Mysteries as available only to saints. It is better to think that by giving us grace, the sacrament makes us pure and holy.
Such people who receive less often manifest more pride than humility ... for when they receive, they think of themselves as worthy. It is much better if, in humility of heart, knowing that we are never worthy of the Holy Mysteries we would receive them every Sunday for the healing of our diseases, rather than, blinded by pride, think that after one year, receiving once or twice yearly, we become worthy of receiving them.
St. John Cassian
Blaise, the son of FrMichael and Matushka Emilia, was one of the lead actors in CaPAA's Summer Camp 2023 Presents HARMONY HIGH & FOOTLOOSE: YOUTH EDITION. He played Reverend Moore. Great Job Blaise!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
-Proverbs 3:5-6
"We think we know a lot, but what we know is very little. Even all those who have striven all their life to bring progress to mankind — learned scientists and highly educated people — all realize in the end that all their knowledge is but a grain of sand on the seashore. All our achievements are insufficient."
+ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives
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Fable: DON'T ARGUE WITH DONKEYS
The donkey said to the tiger:
- "The grass is blue".
The tiger replied:
- "No, the grass is green."
The discussion heated up, and the two decided to submit him to arbitration, and for this they went before the lion, the King of the Jungle.
Already before reaching the forest clearing, where the lion was sitting on his throne, the donkey began to shout:
- "His Highness, is it true that the grass is blue?".
The lion replied:
- "True, the grass is blue."
The donkey hurried and continued:
- "The tiger disagrees with me and contradicts and annoys me, please punish him."
The king then declared:
- "The tiger will be punished with 5 years of silence."
The donkey jumped cheerfully and went on his way, content and repeating:
- "The Grass Is Blue"...
The tiger accepted his punishment, but before he asked the lion:
- "Your Majesty, why have you punished me?, after all, the grass is green."
The lion replied:
- "In fact, the grass is green."
The tiger asked:
- "So why are you punishing me?".
The lion replied:
- "That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green.
The punishment is because it is not possible for a brave and intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that come and bother me with that question."
The worst waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who does not care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions. Never waste time on arguments that don't make sense...
There are people who, no matter how much evidence and evidence we present to them, are not in the capacity to understand, and others are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and all they want is to be right even if they are not.
When ignorance screams, intelligence is silent. Your peace and quietness are worth more.
Fr. Thomas Hopko gave us this wonderful list of 55 spiritual maxims to live 'how God wants us to live.' We hope you enjoy this narrated and illustrated vers...
Our bread brigade is at it again. Our monthly batch of prosphora. Thank you team!
"What I see around me would drive me insane if I did not know that no matter what happens, God will have the last word."
-St. Paisios of Mount Athos
Donate by Aug. 31
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
+ Jesus, John 13:34-35 (KJV)
512 Winter Street
Old Forge, PA
18518
| Wednesday | 11am - 1:30pm |
| 5pm - 6pm | |
| Saturday | 5pm - 6pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 12pm |
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Blaise, Fr Michael’s eldest, reading the epistle back Feb ‘22.
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