CATECHESIS & DAILY INSPIRATION |
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Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia |
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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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...Even if you have only bread or water, with these you can still meet the dues of hospitality. Even if you do not have these, but simply make the stranger welcome and offer him a word of encouragement, you will not be failing in hospitality. Think of the widow mentioned in the Gospel by our Lord: with two mites she surpassed the generous gifts of the wealthy.
St. Theodoros, the Great Ascetic
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David Bentley Hart:
"Orthodoxy in America and America's Orthodoxies"
16,981 views
The 2017 Orthodoxy in America Lecture, Fordham University
Source:
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The Silent Song We Need To Hear
Music has its own “music.” There are the notes written on a page, and the notes played by an instrument. It is a particular quality of instruments, however, that they not only play a certain note, but that “note” itself plays other “notes.” In general, these other notes are called, “overtones.” When ‘Middle C’ is played on a piano, every other ‘C’ on the keyboard will vibrate gently in harmonic sympathy. Indeed, other related notes will sound, yet more faintly. Thus ‘Middle C’ is rarely just itself. It is a cascade, a mix of sounds. That mix will be one thing if it is a piano that is being heard. Other instruments have their own harmonic logic. An entire orchestra is something else beyond.
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The carols performed by Tronos
are in the preferences of Romanians
The pandemic does not stop us from exposing the beautiful song and giving it more diligently. - Arhid. Mihail Bucă
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Greening the Parish Webinar Series
The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations is pleased to announce a four-part webinar series on Greening the Parish launching in January 2021. The series will feature conversations between expert panelists on what it means to be a steward of creation through the lens of our Orthodox Christian theology, best practices, and daily action.
Participants are asked to register once for all webinars here. Webinars will begin at 6:00 PM ET and finish at 7:00 PM ET. Learn more about each panelist here.
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SAINT OF THE DAY
DECEMBER 19 / DECEMBER 6
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Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
This glorious saint, celebrated even today throughout the entire world, was the only son of his eminent and wealthy parents, Theophanes and Nona, citizens of the city of Patara in Lycia. Since he was the only son bestowed on them by God, the parents returned the gift to God by dedicating their son to Him. St. Nicholas learned of the spiritual life from his uncle Nicholas, Bishop of Patara, and was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of New Zion founded by his uncle. Following the death of his parents, Nicholas distributed all his inherited goods to the poor, not keeping anything for himself. As a priest in Patara, he was known for his charity, even though he carefully concealed his charitable works, fulfilling the words of the Lord: Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth (Matthew 6:3). When he gave himself over to solitude and silence, thinking to live that way until his death, a voice from on high came to him: “Nicholas, for your ascetic labor, work among the people, if thou desirest to be crowned by Me.” Immediately after that, by God’s wondrous providence, he was chosen archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia. Merciful, wise, and fearless, Nicholas was a true shepherd to his flock. During the persecution of Chris- tians under Diocletian and Maximian, he was cast into prison, but even there he instructed the people in the Law of God. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea [325] and, out of great zeal for the truth, struck the heretic, Arius, with his hand. For this act, he was removed from the Council and from his archiepiscopal duties until the Lord Christ Himself and the Most-holy Theotokos appeared to several of the chief hierarchs and revealed their approval of Nicholas. A defender of God’s truth, this wonderful saint was ever bold as a defender of justice among the people.
On two occasions, he saved three men from an undeserved sentence of death. Merciful, truthful, and a lover of justice, he walked among the people as an angel of God. Even during his lifetime, the people considered him a saint and invoked his aid in difficulties and in distress. He appeared both in dreams and in-person to those who called upon him, and he helped them easily and speedily, whether close at hand or far away. A light shone from his face as it did from the face of Moses, and he, by his presence alone, brought comfort, peace and goodwill among men. In old age he became ill for a short time and entered into the rest of the Lord, after a life full of labor and very fruitful toil, to rejoice eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven, continuing to help the faithful on earth by his miracles and to glorify his God. He entered into rest on December 6, 343.
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