Who for us and for our salvation…     Who for us and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human.   “Beholding Herself in purity, the Holy One courageously said to Gabriel: ‘Your strange voice seems unbelievable to my soul; for how do you speak of birth-giving without seed?’ (1st Stanza, Salutations to the Theotokos).” This expression of great wonder directed by the Virgin Mary towards the Archangel Gabriel upon receiving the “Ευαγγελισμός” (Good news), that she was chosen to conceive within her womb and bring [...]

The Refuge    The Refuge is a modern English translation of some of the writings of St Ignatius Brianchaninov. St Ignatius, who lived between 1807 and 1867, was a bishop and theologian of the Russian Orthodox Church. He was one of the most prolific and influential writers of the modern Church, and wrote extensively on the spiritual life, on prayer, and on how to progress in the spiritual world. Many readers would be familiar with another of his books, The Arena, which sets out a series of guidelines for the spiritual life. The Refuge contains 21 chapters, each seeking to [...]

Argyro (the Leper)   A German firing squad is about to execute a group of soldiers in WWII. A young woman marches across placing herself between the rifles and the soldiers, pleading for the life of her fiancé. This was Argyro. When the executioner granted her request he was surely caught off guard when she demanded that all should be released or else she would not step aside. After the war she and her fiancé were married but the joy was short lived for after her first child she was diagnosed with the then incurable Hansen’s disease. Forced to go [...]

St Kyriake the Great Martyr (Commemorated on the 7th of July) St Kyriake was born in Nicomedia, the only daughter of Dorotheos and Eusebia. Her pious parents were Christian and rich, but childless. Following their prayers a daughter was bestowed to them, who was named after the day she was born, being a Sunday. Kyriake was beautiful both in body and soul, and was raised with Christian principles. Many asked for her hand in marriage, but she did not want anyone, saying that she was engaged to Christ, and she wanted to die a virgin. A judge wanted Kyriake for [...]