The Lord, Who lives in the heavens, wishing to appear on earth and abide with men, first prepared a dwelling place of His glory: His Most Pure Mother. For it is the custom of kings that in whatsoever city they desire to live, a place of residence be prepared for them beforehand. And as the
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HOLY QUEEN TAMAR (†1213)
In 1166 a daughter, Tamar, was born to King Giorgi III (1155–1184) and Queen Burdukhan of Georgia. The king proclaimed that he would share the throne with his daughter from the day she turned twelve years of age. The royal court unanimously vowed its allegiance and service to Tamar, and father and daughter ruled the
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Mother of All the Living Ones
The man called his wife’s name Zoe (Life), because she was the mother of all the living. (Genesis 3:20) As we in America honor our mothers today, we remember that it is through women that we come into the world. Women have a unique role to play in the life of the world and are involved
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What Was Christ Writing On The Ground?
by St. Nikolai Velimirovich Bishop Nikolai, a gifted theologian combining a high level of erudition with the simplicity of a soul steeped in Christ-like love and humility, is often referred to as the “new Chrysostom” for his inspired preaching. As a spiritual father of the Serbian people, he constantly exhorted them to fulfill their calling
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Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, and Love, and Their Mother, Sophia
During the reign of the impious Roman Emperor Hadrian, a widow of Italian ancestry called Sophia, whose name means wisdom, lived in Rome. She was a Christian, and in accordance with her name, she lived wisely, showing that wisdom praised by the Apostle James, who says, The wisdom that is from above is first pure,
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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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Marcella, Virgin-Martyr of Chios
Saint Markella lived in the village of Volissos, Chios sometime after the middle of the fourteenth century. Her parents were Christians, and among the wealthiest citizens of Volissos. The saint’s mother died when she was young, and so her father, the mayor of the village, saw to her education. She had been trained by her
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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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Sacred Space, Sacred Art, and The Power of Women
We live in a confused time. Many of the basic foundations which hold the world together have been made fragile. Up/down, center/periphery, inside/outside have all been eroded in their power to frame existence as we watch floodwaters rise around us. One of the foundations systematically attacked through sophisticated rhetoric and political ideology is the complementary
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