St Nicetas the Bishop of Chalcedon
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Risen Lord, God, Redeemer and the Only True Savior of the world Jesus Christ,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
Let us who have beheld the Resurrection of Christ, worship our Holy Lord Jesus, Who is alone without sin. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and praise and glorify Thy Holy Resurrection. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, and we call upon Thy Name. Come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ's Holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. We praise His Resurrection, and forever glorify the Lord. He endured the Cross for us, and by death destroyed Death.
Jesus, having risen from the grave, as He foretold, has given to us Eternal Life and Great Mercy.
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We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord.
This is the Holy and chosen Day, the first of Sabbaths, the Mistress and Queen, the Feast of feasts and the Festival of festivals, and on it Christ is glorified unto all Ages.
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O Christ our God, at all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, You are worshipped and glorified; You are long-suffering, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, You love the righteous and have mercy upon the sinners; You call everyone to salvation through the promise of future blessings; receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour and direct our life toward Your Commandments. Sanctify our souls; make our bodies chaste; correct our thoughts; purify our intentions; and deliver us from every grief and pain that comes from evil. Encompass us by Your holy Angels, so that guarded and guided by them we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of Your inapproachable glory, for You are Blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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TODAY'S SYNAXARION (THE COMMEMORATION OF THE TODAY'S SAINTS):
On May 28th our Holy Orthodox Christian Church commemorates, honors and entreats the holy intercessions of the following Saints, Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics, Teachers and of every righteous soul made perfect in our Holy Orthodox Christian faith: Holy Hieromartyr Eftychios, Bishop of Melitene; Saint Nicetas, Bishop of Chalcedon; Saints Crescens, Paul, and Dioscorus of Rome; Saint Helladius, Bishop in the East; Saint Germanos, Bishop of Paris; Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov; Saints Heliconis and Daphni of Thessaloniki; Saint Gerontius, Metropolitan of Moscow; New holy Martyr Demetios (Mitros) of Tripolitsa, Greece; New Holy Martyr Zacharias of Prusa (+1802); Saint Andree, fool-for-Christ of Constantinople; Saint Sophronius of Bulgaria; Saint William of Languedoc.
+By the holy intercessions of Your Saints, Holy Hieromartyrs, Holy Martyrs, Holy Bishops, Holy Metropolitans, Holy Mothers, Holy Fathers, Holy Ascetics, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
THE HOLY HIEROMARTYR EUTYCHIUS, BISHOP OF MELITENE. During Christian persecutions, St. Eutychius turned himself in and proclaimed Jesus Christ as the True God. He also belittled and spit at the pagan idols, and because of this, he endured many tortures. Finally, the pagans decided to drown St. Eutychius at sea. But even as they were binding his hands and securing him in a leather sack, holy Martyr Eutychius continued to teach the faith. Later, when his holy relics were recovered, they became a source of miraculous healings through the Saint's prayers.
TODAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURAL READINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING:
Holy Epistle Lesson: Acts 18:22-28
Holy Gospel Lesson: St. John 12:36-47
INSPIRING SAYINGS FROM THE WORKS OF THE HOLY ASCETICS, HOLY MOTHERS, HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH:
"At every hour we must weigh our daily affairs attentively, and as much as we are able, without fail lighten their burden through repentance, if we want to overcome the passions with the help of Jesus. It is also necessary to examine whether we carry out all our outward actions through God's will, before God and for God alone, so that the feelings (passionate) do not deceive us like foolish people" (Saint Hesychius of Jerusalem).
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THIS WAS FROM ME (A LETTER FROM GOD)
By Saint Seraphim of Viritsa
Have you ever thought that everything that concerns you, concerns Me, also? You are precious in My eyes and I love you; for this reason, it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent [the Evil One] come upon you like a river, I want you to know that this was from Me.
I want you to know that your weakness has need of My strength, and your safety lies in allowing Me to protect you. I want you to know that when you are in difficult conditions, among people who do not understand you, and cast you away, this was from Me.
I am your God, the circumstances of your life are in My hands; you did not end up in your position by chance; this is precisely the position I have appointed for you. Weren't you asking Me to teach you humility? And there, I placed you precisely in the "school" where they teach this lesson. Your environment, and those who are around you, are performing My will. Do you have financial difficulties and can just barely survive? Know that this was from Me.
I want you to know that I dispose of your money, so take refuge in Me and depend upon Me. I want you to know that My storehouses are inexhaustible, and I am faithful in My promises. Let it never happen that they tell you in your need, "Do not believe in your Lord and God." Have you ever spent the night in suffering? I allowed this that you would turn to Me, and in Me find consolation and comfort. Did your friend or someone to whom you opened your heart, deceive you? This was from Me.
I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you would learn that your friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and tell Me everything. Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me so that you can hide from the "contradiction of the nations." I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon. Your plans were destroyed? Your soul yielded and you are exhausted? This was from Me.
You made plans and have your own goals; you brought them to Me to bless them. But I want you to leave it all to Me, to direct and guide the circumstances of your life by My hand, because you are the orphan, not the protagonist. Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, but know That this was from Me.
With tiredness and anxiety I am testing how strong your faith is in My promises and your boldness in prayer for you relatives. Why is it not you who entrusted their cares to My Providential love? You must leave them to the protection of My All Pure Mother. Serious illness found you, which may be healed or may be incurable, and has nailed you to your bed. This was from Me.
Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical ailment, do not murmur against this trial I have sent you. And do not try to understand My plans for the salvation of people's souls, but unmurmuringly and humbly bow your head before My Goodness. You were dreaming about doing something special for Me and, instead of doing it, you fell into a bed of pain. This was from Me.
Because then you were sunk in your own works and plans and I wouldn't have been able to draw your thoughts to Me. But I want to teach you the most deep thoughts and My lessons, so that you may serve Me. I want to teach you that you are nothing without Me. Some of My best children are those who, cut off from an active life, learn to use the weapon of ceaseless prayer. You were called unexpectedly to undertake a difficult and responsible position, supported by Me. I have given you these difficulties and as the Lord God I will bless all your works, in all your paths. In everything I, your Lord, will be your Guide and Teacher. Remember always that every difficulty you come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment, this is from Me.
Know and remember always, no matter where you are, that whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn, in all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to your by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me.
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"We should not think it strange that Christians endure affliction and various forms of sorrow, patiently awaiting through many trials and temptations whatever their Master gives. For they have heard Him say: 'Truly I tell you, that your who are near Me shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. Yet after a little while I will visit you through the Paraclete and drive away your despondency; I will renew you with thoughts of heavenly life and peace with sweet tears, of which you were deprived for a short time when you were being tested. I will give you the breast of My grace, as a mother feeds her baby when it cries. When your strength fails in battle I will fortify you with power from on high, and I will sweeten you in your bitterness. I will look upon you, and your hearts will rejoice at My secret visitation; your affliction will be turned to joy, and no one shall take that joy from you." (cf. John 16:20-22)
[Source: Orthodox Heritage)
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
With sincere agape in our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George