What’s new?

The Conception of the Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John September 23 For many years, the barren Elizabeth could not conceive a child and after much fervent prayer, their petitions were answered. Once, as the Prophet Zachariah was high priest of the Temple, he entered the Holy of Holies to find an angel standing at the east end of the altar. This was the Archangel Gabriel. The Angel announced that their prayers had been heard by the Lord and that Elizabeth would soon bear a son whose name would be John. Zachariah did not believe the words of the Angel, [...]

Xanthippe and Polyxene of Spain September 23 The Righteous Women Xanthippe and Polyxene were natives to Spain when the Apostle Paul came and preached to their land. Polyxene, still a pagan, was kidnapped and taken to Greece, but was kept unharmed by her kidnapper through the Grace of God. While in Greece, she was baptised by the Apostle Andrew himself and was present at his martyrdom. Having returned to Spain, both sisters fervently preached the gospel to their people for about forty years. They both reposed in peace at an old age. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος πλ. α´. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον. Ἀποστόλων [...]

Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses September 4 The Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses was born in a time where any male child was killed in fear of overtaking the Egyptian throne. Being saved by his mother, she floated him in a basket in the Nile River and he was rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter who raised him as his own. At 80 years of age, Moses fled to Mount Sinai where he received the 10 Commandments from God himself. He then led the nation of Israel out of Egypt by foot, crossing the Red Sea as if on dry land. [...]

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary September 8 For many years, the Righteous Joachim and Anna could not conceive as Anna was barren and for this, they were treated harshly by many around them. Childlessness in that time was considered a punishment from God for their sin. This did not stop the righteous ones from praying for a child, promising to dedicate it to God. When the couple were of an advanced age, the Archangel Gabriel announced to them that they would bear a child. Truly, the Righteous Anna bore the Most Holy Theotokos [...]

The Angelic Hosts   Angels were created as the most perfect reflections of God’s grandeur and glory. In Scripture they can be seen as heralds of God's will, guides, and ministers of our salvation. We also see that they are innumerable, whereby “a thousand thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him” (Daniel 7:10). According to St Dionysius the Areopagite in his work On the Heavenly Hierarchy, the angelic hosts are triadic in structure, like God, and are divided into three orders with three ranks of angels in each order. Each rank has a name [...]