Saint Basil The Great Orthodox Church

09/08/2025

We celebrate today not the birth of a saint, but the birth of Her Who is holier than all the saints. It is not a gathering of angels that is honored today, but the Nativity of the Queen of the angels—not the birth of the mother of an earthly king, but the very Mother of the Lord and God of glory.

Today the Queen of all and Mistress of the world has from a barren and withered womb shone forth. And who will be able to worthily sing Her Nativity? The Church of Christ itself shows that it is impossible, saying: “Verily, all tongues are at a loss to praise thee properly; and every mind, even though transcending the world, is distracted in thy praise, O Theotokos.

Truly today the All-Good and Most-Generous God has visited in His mercy His creation and called to rejoicing with a great joy not only the king and prophet David, but also the ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, with so many tears and lamentations having prayed to God to grant them fruit of the womb. All of human creation rejoiced, for the entire human race awaited the coming into the world of the Holy Virgin Who in time would bear Emmanuel, which is translated as “God with us” (Is. 7:14).

Today we celebrate the Nativity of the Queen of heaven and earth—the fruit of prayer, mercy and good deeds, received from God by the holy parents Joachim and Anna. How ought we today to celebrate; with what honor and reverence; with what holiness and purity?

Today may the barren and childless be comforted by the hope that through their alms and good deeds, fasting and prayers they too will be found worthy of children from God.

Today may the young remain in abstinence and may they celebrate in purity and honor the Nativity of the Mother of God.

Today may virgins and children exult in joy, for into the world for us has come the Mother of virginity.

Today may the old and the sick rejoice, for the staff of old age and comfort of the ailing has appeared to the world
Today may those fallen into grievous sins and despairing of their salvation be comforted by hope, for the restoration of the fallen and the hope of the hopeless has been born on earth.

Each of you present, think about how many podvigs and acts of mercy were performed and how many tears the ancestors of God Joachim and Anna shed that God might grant them a Child. Then, for such zeal and such prayers from the depths of their souls they received a Daughter—the All-Pure Virgin Mary, of Whose birth the heavens and earth rejoiced!

—from “Open Unto Us the Doors of Mercy: A Homily on the Nativity of the Theotokos” (Sept 8)✝️ St. Cleopa (Ilie)

04/20/2025

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

07/28/2024

05/11/2024

MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER

Lord our God, Jesus Christ on this day we are gathered to honor our mothers and first among them is your own holy mother, Mary the Virgin, the all holy and pure. We supplicate you to accept our supplications on behalf of all the mothers throughout the world. Give rest to those who are gone to your resting place. Grant those who are still with us joy in the remembrance of their accomplishments. Forgive us if we failed at any time in our life to offer them the honor & the respect as we ought to.

Help and support all mothers in their mission to always be a good role model to new mothers and to all people. Strengthen those who are single mothers, help those who have children of special needs, comfort the hearts and souls of those mothers who have lost their children. Be an aid to those who are unable to become mothers whatever the reason might be, be everything to everyone as they need you. Teach us that every day should be a special day to remember and honor our mothers and women who treat us with motherly like love. Accept our praises and thanksgivings offered to you as our true God, along with your eternal and unoriginate Father and your all holy and life giving Spirit. Amen

04/27/2024

03/31/2024

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Matthew 28:6

07/06/2023

“Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,"

Jesus Prayer - Prayer of the Heart

The Jesus Prayer according to numerous Church Fathers is "essential" to our spiritual growth. The Jesus Prayer proclaims our faith and humbles us by asking mercy for our sinfulness. The Jesus Prayer is thought to be as old as the Church itself.

The Jesus Prayer, says Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, “more than any other,” helps us to be able to “stand in God’s presence.” This means that the Jesus Prayer helps us to focus our mind exclusively on God with “no other thought” occupying our mind but the thought of God. At this moment when our mind is totally concentrated on God, we discover a very personal and direct relationship with Him.

Jesus Christ - the Power In the Name
The Jesus Prayer's power comes from the use of our Lord's Name, Jesus Christ, Son of God. It is a confession of our faith.

Jesus Prayer requires Humility
The Jesus Prayer in its practice assumes you are a regular participant in the worship services of the Church, in her Sacraments and aware of your sinfulness. Be sure to consult with and follow the advice of your spiritual Father. Humility is a prerequisite for all prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer.

Jesus Prayer Has Two Functions
The Jesus Prayer has two important purposes. The first is worship as with all prayer. The second is a discipline to help our soul gain control our overactive brains and create stillness so the Holy Spirit can work through us and help us live the virtues in union with God.

Jesus Prayer Has Three Stages in Practice
The Jesus Prayer involves three stages of progress in its practice. You begin praying the Jesus Prayer by repeating the words of the prayer out loud or at least moving the lips. This is called verbal prayer. After some time saying of the Jesus Prayer becomes silent or mental and is repeated only in the mind. This is mental prayer. Finally, the Jesus Prayer becomes a continuous prayer in the heart, the inner core of our being. We begin with vocal prayer and do not force the move to mental prayer. This will happen naturally when you are ready.

Jesus Prayer in Practice
In praying the Jesus Prayer, our holy Fathers tell us, we say it over and over hundreds of times as part of our daily prayer rule. It is best to add the Jesus Prayer to your morning prayers as this is when the mind is the quietest. Begin by saying the Jesus Prayer verbally focusing on each word. Repeat the Jesus Prayer continually for 15 minutes at first and then expand to 30 minutes. You will experience the challenge of dealing with your thoughts, the tendency for you mind to wander. Attention when praying the Jesus Prayer is important. Be sincere in your prayer and repeat it with contrition. Praying the Jesus Prayer is that simple!

Jesus Prayer is A Long and Difficult Path
Do not be fooled by its simplicity. The Jesus Prayer practice is a difficult task and like all ascetic practices it requires commitment of time, patience and perseverance. Remember the Jesus Prayer's aim is not to obtain a calmness or any kind of spiritual experience, but to become in communion with God and participate in His grace.

Jesus Prayer - When To Pray
The Jesus Prayer will eventually be prayed throughout the day and when this happens, you will find that your life changes.

Jesus Prayer is Not a Form of Eastern Meditation
The praying of the Jesus Prayer should not be confused with methods used in Eastern Yoga or meditation. In praying the Jesus Prayer as in all Orthodox Prayer we are seeking a relationship with a personal God based on faith and love.

06/21/2023

Let us practice peace throughout our daily lives.

A Healthy Soul
Don't React, Be At Peace

Each day brings on new challenges regarding the health of your soul. Those moments when a family member or coworker makes a remark that are meant to anger you, are those times you need to guard your heart. When those around you are gossiping about someone, that is an opportunity for you to keep silent. The driver who's just cut you off on the freeway; the woman who pushes her way in front of you in the check out line; the rude neighbor; all are moments in time when you can take control and grow stronger spiritually.

Trials and temptations, when confronted with a peaceful heart, bring forth healing and make the soul that much stronger and healthier. Reacting does nothing but bring forth paralysis of the soul, binding us to our fallen nature. Receiving all these temptations with a peaceful heart and not reacting to outside negative stimuli, helps strengthen you for the next round of trial and temptation. Little by little, you will find that the Peace of Christ fills your every waking moment, bringing on a joyful spirit and a peaceful heart.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

05/18/2023

ATTENTION! ANNUAL YARD SALE!

We are having our annual yard sale on May 26th and 27th from 8 AM until 2 PM. We hope you will take the time to stop by!

We have kitchen ware, linens, small appliances, tools, clothing, jewelry, miscellaneous hardware, shoes, small furniture, lamps, pictures and more.

5200 NE 29th St, Silver Springs, FL 34488

04/03/2023

Join us during Holy Week as we honor and worship our Lord and Savior. You can review our Holy Week schedule on our website under the events section: