COVID-19 CATECHESIS
Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council
An Ongoing ALMSGIVING   Opportunity
to help those impacted by Covid-19 in Serbia and the USA

Reflections and Daily Inspiration
“The candles lit before icons of saints reflect their ardent love for God for Whose sake they gave up everything that man prizes in life, including their very lives, as did the holy apostles, martyrs and others. These candles also mean that these saints are lamps burning for us and providing light for us by their own saintly living, their virtues and their ardent intercession for us before God through their constant prayers by day and night. The burning candles also stand for our ardent zeal and the sincere sacrifice we make out of reverence and gratitude to them for their solicitude on our behalf before God.”

- St. John of Kronstadt
TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION
Staying Healthy During Coronavirus
Be the Bee #144

Feeling scared to go back to school or work? What about Church? This has been a crazy time for us all. So Steve and Christian are back to share four keys to staying healthy during the coronavirus pandemic (and as public place begin to reopen). They even made a companion journal to the episode. The journal offers guided questions to help you stay healthy: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
FROM THE NEWS
Metropolitan Amfilohije: The demolition of the monastery of St. Basil on Briska Gora is an unprecedented crime

His Eminence Amfilohije, Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, celebrated the Divine Liturgy with clerics in the monastery of Ostrog, next to the relics of Saint Basil the Wonderworker of Ostrog, on June 10, 2020.
SAINT OF THE DAY

 JUNE 11 / MAY 29
Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council (325)

The commemoration and praise of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecu- menical Council is held on the Sunday before Pentecost, the Seventh Sun- day after Pascha. This Council was held in Nicaea in the year 325 during the reign of the saintly Emperor Constantine the Great. The Council was convened to eliminate the confusion which Arius, a priest of Alexandria, had created by his false teaching. He taught that Christ was created in time by God and that He is not the pre-eternal Son of God, equal in being with God the Father. Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers participated in this Council. The Council condemned the Arian teaching, and Arius was anathematized since he refused to re- pent. The Council finally confirmed the Symbol of Faith [the Creed], which was later augmented at the Second Ecu- menical Council. Many distinguished saints were present at the First Ecumenical Council, among whom the following stood out: St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, St. Spyridon, St. Athanasius, St. Achilles, St. Paphnutius, St. James of Nisibis, Macarius of Jerusalem, Alexander of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch, Eusebius of Caesarea, Metrophanes of Constantinople, John of Persia, Aristarchus of Armenia, and many others from the East. From the West, the following were present: Hosius of Cordova, Theophilus the Goth, Cecilianus of Carthage and others. The most important work of this Council was the confirmation of the Symbol of Faith. The Council also established the time of the celebration of Pascha and issued twenty various canons.