The Sunday before last the Holy Church offered for our attention the parable about the talents. A talent is that strength which God gives to us for the fulfillment of His commandments of love for God and neighbor. Last Sunday showed us the application of this talent to our life. A mother had a possessed
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When Do Miracles Occur ?
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
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MIRACLE ON ATHOS: INCORRUPT BODY OF ASCETIC FOUND
A miracle has occurred on Mt. Athos—the body of a deceased monk has been found to be without any signs of corruption and not emitting any foul smell, a month and a half after his repose. The deceased monk Fr. Stephen labored in the skete of Kavsokalyvia for forty years. Fr. Stephen led an
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WE PRAY BEFORE THE RELICS OF SAINTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POWER OF LIFE
The primate spoke about this on the day of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, August 9, reports the information-education department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry noted that the Lord endowed the Great Martyr Panteleimon with the gift of healing people’s diseases, and after death he helps all who call upon
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WAS THE PROPHET JONAH REALLY SWALLOWED BY A WHALE?
Many Christians are inclined to interpret the story of Jonah in the Old Testament as an allegory that was never meant to be understood as actual history. However, allegories or parables in the Bible are always either said to be so, or made evident in the context. The Book of Jonah, however, is written as a
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PUSHED TO THE BRINK OF DESPAIR
St. Luke 5:1-11 It seems at first glance that this gospel reading is about fishing. In truth it is about no such thing. It is a test of faith. It is about honestly assessing the obstacles and hindrances that are between us and a life that is dedicated to God. What are the obstacles in
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THE MOTHER OF GOD IS PARADISE
We see today the newly born girl-child and understand how great is the love of God. We hear the cries of a small child and learn of the unutterable wisdom of the Trinity. We look at the human child and through our tears we see how exalted man becomes through love—exalted to the radiant light
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THREE ICONS HAVE BEGUN TO STREAM MYRRH
A strong, sweet fragrance spreads throughout the whole church. Monk Mitrophan, inclining towards the icons, inhales the gentle aroma and expounds—the Life-giving Cross has a woody scent, reminiscent of sandalwood. From the icon of the Royal Martyrs a pure, clean fragrance—after all it is a genuine family of five children and their parents. Every year
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Miraculous healing performed by the Virgin Mary on Mount Athos
One of the disciples of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, Fr. Ephraim of Simonopetra, talks about a miraculous healing of his spiritual father performed by the Virgin Mary: “At some point in the life of Papa Efraim Katounakiotis, he suffered from eczema… it covered his entire body… Two doctors arrived from the Hospital in Thessaloniki
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Miracle of Holy Theotokos in a Christian Town of Syria
A miracle by the Holy Theotokos was reported at one of the monasteries of Saidnaya. This town is one of the most famous Christian inhabited and pilgrimage places in the war torn Syria. The incident was told by one of the Syrian Christian who visited her homeland recently. The ongoing civil war has destroyed several
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