CATECHESIS & DAILY INSPIRATION |
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The Holy Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, at Rome (288) |
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The NATIVITY FAST
A time for preparation!
May our spiritual efforts bring us renewal in Christ!
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Reflections and Daily Inspiration |
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St. Justin Popovich on Being Orthodox
"To be Orthodox means to have the God-man Christ constantly in your soul, to live in Him, think in Him, feel in Him, act in Him. In other words, to be Orthodox means to be a Christ-bearer and a Spirit-bearer."
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Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 2020
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His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, Locum Tenens of the Serbian Church Patriarchal Throne, due to a positive result of testing for COVID-19, was admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center "Dr Dragisa Misovic" in Belgrade in the evening on December 4, 2020.
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ELDER EPHRAIM: ST. ANTHONY’S MONASTERY CELEBRATING ONE-YEAR MEMORIAL
Florence, Arizona, December 3, 2020
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Our most beloved Priest,
Fr. James Barfield
reposed in our Lord on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.
Memory Eternal to our beloved Fr. James!
His parishioners and the entire Western American Diocese have been so blessed to have known him.
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SAINT OF THE DAY
DECEMBER 5 / NOVEMBER 22
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The Holy Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, at Rome (288)
Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and eminent parents. She had great faith in Christ the Lord and a great zeal for the Faith. Vowing life- long virginity to God, St. Cecilia wore a coarse hair shirt beneath the cost- ly raiment that her parents gave her. When her parents coerced her into marriage with Valerian, a pagan, Cecilia counseled her bridegroom on their wedding night to go to Bishop Urban to be baptized, and then live in chastity. Accepting the Christian Faith, Valerian also converted his brother Tiburtius. Soon after, both brothers were condemned to death for their faith. But their faithfulness did not falter, even in the face of death. Led to the place of execution, these wonderful brothers also succeeded in converting the captain of the guard, Maximus, to the Faith. Then all three suffered together for Christ the Lord. St. Cecilia buried their bodies together. Cecilia was then brought to trial, for she tirelessly won pagans over to the Christian Faith. In only one evening, she won over four hundred souls. When the judge asked her from whence such boldness came, she answered: “From a pure conscience and undoubting faith.” After cruel torture, Cecilia was condemned to beheading. The executioner struck her three times on the neck with the sword, but he was unable to kill her. She was only wounded, and blood flowed from her wounds, which the faithful collected in handkerchiefs, sponges and bowls for the sake of healing. Three days after this, the martyr and virgin of Christ gave her soul to her Lord, with Whom she eternally rejoices. St. Cecilia suffered with the others in about the year 230. Her relics lie in Rome, in the church dedicated to her. In the Western Church, St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of church singing and music.
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