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The Entry of the of the Mother of God into the Temple

Entry of the Virgin Mary the Theotokos into the Temple. Panselinos, XIII century. Carey, Mount Athos

The Entry of the Holy Theotokos into the Temple is one of the twelve major church feasts and is numbered among those that affect our salvation. What takes place on this day? The three-year-old Child, the Most-holy Virgin Mary, is brought by Her parents to the temple of Jerusalem. She is placed on the temple steps and, moved by Divine revelation, the high priest Zacharias comes out to Her and leads Her into the Holy of Holies – the place where God Himself was mysteriously present, the place which no man could ever enter except the high priest, who, moreover, went in only once a year and not without sacrificial blood. And it is precisely this place, the Holy of Holies, which the Virgin Mary enters, invisibly carrying within Herself a new, living sacrifice – the forthcoming Christ, Saviour of the world, Who will sacrifice Himself in order to deliver all men from sin and death.

This holiday is “wondrous,” as sings the Church, not finding words to express the inexpressible joy, hope and expectation which commence with today’s event.

From a mysterious and grace-filled seed there will grow up a new covenant between God and man. The Saviour’s most-pure, animate temple – the Most-holy Maiden, precious bridal chamber, sacred treasure of God’s glory – is led into the Lord’s temple. And She brings with Her the foreshadowing of God’s goodwill to all of mankind, the beginning of a new covenant between God and man, the end of the many centuries of man’s alienation from God, and the end of our bondage to sin. Only a brief time remains, only several more years, for the fulfillment of that which the entire humanity awaits – the appearance of God Himself in the flesh, by way of the Most-holy Virgin.

Source: https://orthochristian.com/66136.html

 


Congratulations on Namesday to His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada

Your Grace, dear Vladyka and loving father!

We heartily congratulate you on your namesday, the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew!

From a young age, you loved Christ, with all your heart you were imbued with the beauty of Orthodox worship and the splendor of the temple of God. Under the wise and fatherly spiritual guidance of the ever-memorable Archbishop Evgeny (Zhdan), you grew from strength to strength as a faithful servant of the altar of Christ. For more than a quarter of a century, you have stood before the Holy Table, offering a bloodless sacrifice of thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all blessings, and you have been a vivid example of faithfulness to the Holy Church and to your calling.

Fifteen years ago, a new page in your biography was opened – you were sent by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to responsible ministry in the Diocese of Sourozh. Over the next seven years, you carried out missionary pastoral labours in parishes in the British Isles, becoming the founder of many Orthodox communities in various cities of Great Britain.

Seeing your zealous labours in the field of preaching the Holy Gospel, the Lord called you to apostolic service to God and people. Like the chosen disciple of Christ, having heard His call: “Follow me,” you “followed Him” (Matt. 9:9).

After a short time, endowed with the grace of a hierarch, you returned to the British land, glorified by the feats of countless ascetics and saints of the undivided Church. And now, like your heavenly patron saint, “the eloquent preacher of the Gospel to the world” (troparion to the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew), you carry out your archpastoral ministry in the far abroad, in the Old and New Worlds, heading the famous Sourozh cathedra and the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada.

On this memorable and solemn day for you, we wish you, dear Vladyka, spiritual and physical strength, patience and God’s all-strengthening help in your archpastoral labours and hierarchal ministry!

Through the prayers of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, may the All-Merciful Lord grant you strength and wisdom “rightly to divide the word of Christ’s truth” and may He bless your archpastoral labours for the glory of the Church of Christ and her faithful children!

Many and good years to you!

Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα!

Clergy, monastics and laity of the Diocese of Sourozh and Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada

Source: http://www.sourozh.org/maineng/2024/11/29/congratulations-on-namesday-to-his-grace-bishop-matthew-of-s.html


Pentecost—Trinity Sunday. Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples

“The economy of our salvation is accomplished! The operation of all the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity have now come into effect to accomplish it. What God the Father has willed, the Son of God fulfilled in Himself, and the Holy Spirit has now descended in order to impart it to the faithful. For our salvation is according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:2). For this sake we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, obliged, to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt. 28:19–20). Those who do not confess the Most Holy Trinity cannot participate in the saving action of Its Persons and thus receive salvation. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in essence and undivided, granting us confession of Itself! “O Father Almighty, and Word, and Spirit, one nature united in three Persons, transcendent and extremely divine! Into Thee have we been baptized, and Thee shall we bless throughout all ages.” (Thoughts for Each Day of the Year According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God By St. Theophan the Recluse).

https://orthochristian.com/calendar/20240610.html


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