News | Russian Orthodox Church Protection of Mother of God

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

“Forty days before He was delivered to an ignominious death for our sins, our Lord revealed to three of His disciples the glory of His Divinity.

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart; and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:1-2). This was the event to which our Lord was referring when He said, “There be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom” (Matt. 16:28). By this means the faith of the disciples was strengthened and prepared for the trial of our Lord’s approaching passion and death; and they were able to see in it not mere human suffering, but the entirely voluntary passion of the Son of God.”

https://orthochristian.com/63466.html

THE KAZAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Казанская икона Пресвятой Богородицы

Troparion, tone 4

O fervent Intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High, thou dost pray to thy Son Christ our God and save all who seek thy protection. O Sovereign Lady and Queen, help and defend all of us who in trouble and trials, in pain and burdened with many sins, stand in thy presence before thine icon, and who pray with compunction, contrition and tears and with unfailing hope in thee. Grant what is good for us, deliverance from evil, and save us all, O Virgin Mother of God, for thou art a divine protection to thy servants.

Prayer

O Most Holy Sovereign Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love, falling down before thy holy image, we pray to thee: turn not thy face away from those who have recourse to thee. O merciful Mother, beseech thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He may preserve our land in peace, and keep His Holy Church unshaken by unbelief, heresy and schism. We have no other help, no other hope, but thee, O Most Pure Virgin. For thou art the all-powerful help and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver everyone who prays to thee with faith from sinful falls, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, troubles and sudden death. Grant us the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of mind, correction of sinful lives, and forgiveness of sins. May we all, gratefully singing of thy greatness, be found worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and there with all the saints glorify the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

https://orthochristian.com/147328.html

FEAST OF HOLY PENTECOST. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Pentecost. Byzantine Museum in Athens. XV century

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit … (Acts 2:1–4).

The Holy Spirit that Christ had promised to his disciples came on the day of Pentecost (cf. Jn 14:26, 15:26; Lk 24:49; Acts 1:5). The apostles received “the power from on high,” and they began to preach and bear witness to Jesus as the risen Christ, the King and the Lord. This moment has traditionally been called the birthday of the Church.”

https://orthochristian.com/47012.html