Commemoration of St. Tikhon of Moscow

Yesterday, March 24, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates of the great Saints of the Church, St. Tikhon of Moscow, Patriarch of Russia, and Enlightener of America.  

One of the first Orthodox bishops to do major work in North America, St. Tikhon went on to establish the "Diocese of the Aleutians and North America" after converting many people on the continent. Deemed an honorary citizen of the United States, he consecrated Orthodox Churches in America during the early 20th Century. The saint was also the primary founder of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania), naming it for his heavenly patron, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.

After returning to Russia in 1907, he continued to win the affection of thousands with his humble piety and loving affection. During World War I, he charitably aided displaced citizens, who flocked to him. He was also honored on November 5, 1917 by being elected Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. St. Tikhon had to overcome much disunity within the Church.

When the ungodly Bolshevik regime took control of the country, Church property was confiscated and the Russian Orthodox Church had to endure much repression. St. Tikhon openly condemned the killings of Czar's family in 1918 and protested against violent attacks by the Bolsheviks on the Church. At this time, he called Russian Orthodox Christians to unite and strengthen their practices. To avoid further persecution, he issued a message that clergy were not to make any political statements.

From 1922 to 1923, Patriarch Tikhon was imprisoned in Donskoy Monastery after he openly opposed the government's decree of being able to confiscate Church property. Thousands of Russian believers were shot. Upon being released, he assured the regime of his loyalty in an apparent attempt to relieve the harsh pressures on the Church. Despite his declaration of loyalty, he continued to enjoy the trust of the Orthodox community in Russia.

As persecution continued, he began to feel overwhelmed, and his strength and health declined. On SundayApril 5, 1925 he served his last Liturgy. He died giving the Sign of the Cross, saying, "Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee." He only crossed himself two times, dying before he could complete the third. After his death, he was considered a martyr for the faith.

In 1989, Patriarch Tikhon was glorified by the Church of Russia. This process is generally considered an example of the thaw in Church-Soviet relations in the Glasnost era.

Troparion:

Let us praise Tikhon, the patriarch of all Russia,

And enlightener of North America

An ardent follower of the Apostolic traditions,

And good pastor of the Church of Christ.

Who was elected by divine providence,

And laid down his life for his sheep.

Let us sing to him with faith and hope,

And ask for his hierarchical intercessions:

Keep the church in Russia in tranquility,

And the church in North America in peace.

Gather her scattered children into one flock,

Bring to repentance those who have renounced the True Faith,

Preserve our lands from civil strife,

And entreat God's peace for all people!

Kontakion:

Today the assembly of New Martyrs

Stands together with us in the Church

And together we raise a festive song

Celebrating the uncovering of the relics of our Hierarch Father Tikhon

Who defeated the enemy and preserved the Faith

While protecting the flock entrusted to him.

For he ever prays for us all

That we may never be deprived of the Love of God.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

Today, the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Orthodox Church commemorates one of the most amazing Saints of our times, Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

Saint Seraphim was born in the town of Kursk in 1759. From tender childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added labours to labours, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to greater labours.

In 1794, Saint Seraphim took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest. This period of extreme asceticism lasted some fifteen years, until 1810. It was at this time that he took upon himself one of the greatest feats of his life. Assailed with despondency and a storm of contrary thoughts raised by the enemy of our salvation, the Saint passed a thousand nights on a rock, continuing in prayer until God gave him complete victory over the enemy. On another occasion, he was assaulted by robbers, who broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving him almost dead. Here again, he began to recover after an appearance of the most holy Theotokos, who came to him with the Apostles Peter and John, and pointing to Saint Seraphim, uttered those awesome words, "This is one of my kind."

In 1810, at the age of fifty; weakened with his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim returned to the monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours, in which he lived as a recluse until 1825. For the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this period. After five years, he began receiving visitors little by little, giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the most holy Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his seclusion; from this time the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also at the command of the holy Virgin that he undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments, foretold things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him. Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled ascetical travails, and his angel-like love for God, he ascended to the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and became like Anthony for Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian land. In all, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him twelve times in his life. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him that he would soon, enter into his rest. She appeared to him accompanied by twelve virgins-martyrs and monastic saints-with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an unspotted soul shining with the light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. On the night of his repose, the righteous Philaret of the Glinsk Hermitage beheld his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the singular holiness of his life, and the seas of miracles that he performed both in life and after death, his veneration quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Russian Empire to every corner of the earth.






There are a couple of books about his life and works.


The newest book out about him is An Extraordinary Peace: St. Seraphim Flame of Sarov


However, my favorite book about him is the:
Little Russian Philokalia: Saint Seraphim of Sarov  This book is no longer being published so you have to search for a copy.  I found one and was amazed by it!  So naturally, as I always do, will quote from the book, underneath the Kontakion.

Troparion:

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one,

and longing to work for Him alone thou didst struggle in the wilderness with constant prayer and labor.

With penitent heart and great love for Christ thou wast favored by the Mother of God.

Wherefore we cry to thee:

Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim our righteous Father.

Kontakion:

Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt in it, O saint,

thou didst settle in Sarov Monastery.

And having lived there an angelic life,

thou wast for many the way to salvation.

Wherefore Christ has glorified thee, O Father Seraphim,

and has enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles.

And so we cry to thee:

Rejoice, O Seraphim, our righteous Father.

“Where God is, there is no evil.  Everything that comes from God brings peace and profit and leads a man to humility and self-condemnation.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“How pateintly He endures our transgressions; and when He chastises, how mercifully He chastises.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“If you do not know God, it is impossible for love of Him to be awakened in you; and you cannot love God if you do not see Him.  The vision of God comes from knowledge of Him...”  Little Russian Philokalia

“‘Faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26), and the works of faith are: love, peace, long-suffering, mercy, humility, rest from all works...bearing of the Cross and life in the Spirit.  Only such faith cannot be without works; one who truly believes will unfailingly have works as well.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“If a man has no core whatever for himself because of love for God and virtuous deeds, knowing that God will take care of him - such hope is true and wise.  But if a man takes care of his own affairs and turns with prayer to god only when unavoidable misfortunes overtake him and he sees no way of averting them by his own power, only then beginning to hope in God’s aid - such hope is vain and false.  True hope seeks the Kingdom of God alone...”  Little Russian Philokalia

“He who loves himself cannot love God.  But he who, for love of God, does not love himself, loves God.  He who truly loves God considers himself a pilgrim and a stranger on this earth; for in his yearning toward God with soul and mind, he contemplates him alone.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord God should practice the remembrance of God and uninterrupted prayer to Jesus Christ, mentally saying Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“The heart of one who weeps tears of tender feeling is illumined by rays of the Sun of righteousness - Christ our God.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“One should always endure any trial for the sake of God with gratitude”  Little Russian Philokalia

“For this reason let us love humility and we shall see the glory of God; for where humility issues forth, there the glory of God abounds.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“One must be in obedience to a superior: for though this he who is obedient prospers mightily in the formation of his soul; and in addition he obtains by this means an understanding of things and comes to heartfelt contrition.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“We must not judge anyone, even if with our own eyes we have seen someone sinning, or walking in transgression of God’s commandments.  For according to the word of God: ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ (Matt. 7:1)”  Little Russian Philokalia

“One should likewise nourish the soul with knowledge of the Church: how she has been preserved from the beginning up to the present, what she has endured in one or another time...”  Little Russian Philokalia

“One must by every means strive to preserve peace of soul and not to be disturbed by offenses from others; for this one must in every way strive to restrain anger and by mean of attentiveness to keep the mind and heart from improper feelings.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“In order to free oneself from judging -, one must take heed of oneself, not to accept outside thoughts from anyone and to be dead to everything.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“A man should turn his attention to the beginning and end of his life; however, toward the middle part, where occur fortunes or misfortunes, he should be indifferent.” Little Russian Philokalia

“One should not undertake ascetic labors beyond one’s measure, but should strive to make our friend - the flesh - faithful and capable of performing virtues.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“The Christian heart, when it has received something Divine, does not demand anything else in order to convince it that this is precisely from the Lord; but by that very effect it is convinced that this is heavenly, for it senses within itself spiritual fruits: love, joy, peace and the rest (Gal 5:22)”  Little Russian Philokalia

“Fear of God is acquired when a man, renouncing the world and everything that is in the world, concentrates all his thoughts and feelings on the single thought of God’s law, and immerses himself entirely in contemplation of God and in a feeling of the blessedness promised to the saints.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“He who would be saved should ever have his heart disposed to repentance and broken, according to the Psalmist: A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise (Ps. 50:17).”  Little Russian Philokalia

“On Fridays and Wednesdays, and especially during the four fasts, partake of food once in the day, and an angel of the Lord will join himself to you.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“Absolute silence is a cross upon which a man must crucify himself with all the passions and desires.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“The path of the active life consists of fasting, continence, vigils, prostrations, prayer and other bodily ascetic labors, which comprise the narrow and grievous path, which according to God’s word leads to eternal life (Matt. 7:14).”  Little Russian Philokalia

“One should approach the contemplative life with fear and trembling, with contrition of heart and humility, with much experience of the Holy Scriptures, and if one can find him, under direction of some experienced elder; and not with audacity and self-esteem.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“Likewise one must endeavor to read through the writings of the FAthers, and strive as much as possible, according to one’s strength, to fulfill what they teach, and in this fasion, little by little ascend from the active life to the perfection of the contemplative.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“Living then in this monastery, observe this: standing in church, be attentive to everything without neglect, learn the whole order of the Church services.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“An abbot should be well versed i the Holy Scripture; he should be studying day and night in the Lord’s law...The distinguishing characteristics of an abbot should be his love for those subject to him...” Little Russian Philokalia

“Of course, every good deed done for Christ’s sake gives us the grace of the Holy Spirit, but prayer gives it to us most of all, for it is always at hand, so to speak, as an instrument for acquiring the grace of the Spirit.”  Little Russian Philokalia

“For example, if prayer and watching gives you more of God’s grace, watch and pray; if fasting gives you much of the Spirit of God, fast; if almsgiving gives you more, give alms.  Weigh every virtue done for Christ’s sake in this manner.”  Little Russian Philokalia

St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea

On January the 1st, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates St. Basil.

Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents' names were Basil and Emily. His mother Emily (commemorated July 19) and his grandmother Macrina (Jan. 14) are Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (Jan. to), Peter of Sebastia (Jan. 9), and Naucratius. Basil studied in Constantnople under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called "the Theologian." Through the good influence of his sister Macrina (see July 19), he chose to embrace the ascetical life, abandoning his worldly career. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies.

About the year 370, when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ, which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict asceticism, having no other care than to defend holy Orthodoxy as a worthy successor of the Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the Arians, tried with threats of exile and of torments to bend the Saint to their own confession, because he was the bastion of Orthodoxy in all Cappadocia, and preserved it from heresy when Arianism was at its strongest. But he set all their malice at nought, and in his willingness to give himself up to every suffering for the sake of the Faith, showed himself to be a martyr by volition. Modestus, amazed at Basil's fearlessness in his presence, said that no one had ever so spoken to him. "Perhaps," answered the Saint, "you have never met a bishop before." The Emperor Valens himself was almost won over by Basil's dignity and wisdom. When Valens' son fell gravely sick, he asked Saint Basil to pray for him. The Saint promised that his son would be restated if Valens agreed to have him baptized by the Orthodox; Valens agreed, Basil prayed, and the son was restored. But afterwards the Emperor had him baptized by Arians, and the child died soon after. Later, Valens, persuaded by his counsellors, decided to send the Saint into exile because he would not accept the Arians into communion; but his pen broke when he was signing the edict of banishment. He tried a second time and a third, but the same thing happened, so that the Emperor was filled with dread, and tore up the document, and Basil was not banished. The truly great Basil, spent with extreme ascetical practices and continual labours, at the helm of the church, departed to the Lord on the 1st of January, in 379. at the age of forty-nine.

His writings are replete with wisdom and erudition, and rich are these gifts he set forth the doctrines concerning the mysteries both of the creation (see his Hexaemeron) and of the Holy Trinity (see On the Holy Spirit). Because of the majesty and keenness of his eloquence, he is honoured as "the revealer of heavenly things" and "the Great."

Saint Basil is also celebrated on January 30th with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom.

Some of his noted works that are books which you can buy are:

On the Holy Spirit

On Social Justice

On the Human Condition

Apolytikion:

Your voice resounded throughout the world that received your word by which, in godly manner, you taught dogma, clarified the nature of beings, and set in order the character of people. Venerable father, Royal Priesthood, intercede to Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Kontakion:

For the Church art thou in truth a firm foundation, granting an inviolate lordship unto all mortal men and sealing it with what thou hast taught, O righteous Basil, revealer of heavenly things.

St. Peter of Moscow

Today, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Peter of Moscow.

Our holy and wonderworking Father Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, was born in Volhynia, tonsured a monk at twelve years of age, and later ordained a priest. He lived in solitude for a time in a desert place north of Lvov and founded the Holy Transfiguration Monastery; afterwards he was sent to Constantinople, where the holy Patriarch Athanasius consecrated him Metropolitan of Kiev in 1308, and he returned to Vladimir, where the Metropolitans of Kiev had their residence at that time (see Saint Jonas on June 15). In 1325, he moved to Moscow, where he founded the Dormition Cathedral, and after his repose in December 21, 1326, was buried there. He was also an iconographer, and two of his icons, the Dormition and the Petrovskaya, are found in the Dormition Cathedral (see also Oct. 5 and Aug. 24).  After Peter's move to Moscow, the Cathedral of the Dormition and several other stone churches were built by Ivan Kalita in the Moscow Kremlin. The foundation of the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery in Moscow is ascribed to Peter. He also authored a few sermons and epistles. He is credited with painting a wonderworking icon of the Theotokos known as the Icon of the Mother of God of St Peter of Moscow

 

Troparion:

O Russian Hierarchs,

Guardians of the Apostolic tradition,

Firm pillars, guides of Orthodoxy,

Peter, Alexis, Jonah, and Philip,

Pray to the Lord of all,

To grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls. 

Kontakion:

You were holy as hierarchs;

You taught the people and you were well-pleasing to God.

He has glorified you with incorruption and miracles

As disciples of the grace of God.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Bishop of Myra

Today on December 6th, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of St. Nicholas.  


This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.

Troparion:

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,

an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;

your humility exalted you;

your poverty enriched you.

Hierarch Father Nicholas,

entreat Christ our God

that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion:

You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,

For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ

By giving up your soul for your people,

And saving the innocent from death.

Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.

Description of St. Raphael's funeral service- from OHS

This is an amazing look into the funeral of the first Bishop consecrated in America, and later a Saint. 

St. Raphael

St. Andrew the First called

Today, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates St. Andrew, the first called of the Apostles.

This Saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; he was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, on hearing the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, when he pointed Him out with his finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1.29,36), he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a Cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew.


Andrew was a fisherman by trade, born in Bethsaida. A disciple of John the Forerunner, he left St. John to follow Jesus Christ following his baptism and brought along his brother, the Apostle Peter. Both are numbered among the Twelve Great Apostles. After Pentecost, the lot fell to St. Andrew to preach in:

• Byzantium: he appointed St. Stachys as its first bishop
• Thrace, Peloponnese, Greece, and Epirus: he converted many to the Faith and ordained bishops and priests for them
• Georgia: he entered Georgia from Ajara, preached Christianity in Atsquri, built small church there and left miracle-working icon of Theotokos.
• Russian lands: in Kiev he planted a cross on one of the high hills of Kiev, and he prophesied a city that would have many golden-domed churches, and a bright Christian future for the Russian people.

St. Andrew was martyred in Peloponnese, in the city of Patras. The Proconsul Aegeates' family believed in the miracles and preaching of St. Andrew, and the enraged Proconsul tortured and crucified St. Andrew. The new converts wanted to remove him from his cross, but the saint would not allow them. Instead, he comforted them from the cross and as he prayed an extraordinary light encompassed him for about a half hour. When it left, he gave up his soul. It was the year 62 AD.
St. Andrew's relics were taken to Constantinople, his head to Rome and a hand to Moscow.

Apolytikion:

As first of the Apostles to be called, O Andrew, brother of him (Peter) who was foremost, beseech the Master of all to grant the world peace and our souls great mercy.

Kontakion:
Let us praise the namesake of bravery, the divinely eloquent and first to be called of the Disciples of Christ, the kinsman of Peter. As he called out to him in days of old, so now he calls to us, "Come, we have found Him for whom we yearned."

Also, this is where the Russian Orthodox Cross comes from, St. Andrew's preaching.