MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS
SAVE US
MONDAY
September 9/22 ns 2025
Sts. Joachim & Anna, the Ancestors of God;
Holy Martyr Severianós
Joachim and Anna had lived together in marriage for fifty years, and yet had remained barren. They lived devoutly and quietly, and of all their income they spent one third on themselves, distributed one third to the poor and gave the other third to the Temple, and they were well provided for.
Once when in their old age they came to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice to God, the high priest Issachar reprimanded Joachim, saying: "You are not worthy that a gift be accepted from your hands, for you are childless.'' Others, who had children, pushed Joachim behind them as one unworthy. This greatly grieved these two aged souls and they returned home in great sorrow. Then the two of them fell down before God in prayer, that He work a miracle with them as He once had with Abraham and Sarah, and give them a child as a comfort in their old age. Then God sent His angel, who announced to them the birth of "a daughter most-blessed, by whom all nations on earth will be blessed and through whom the salvation of the world will come.'' Anna straightway conceived, and in nine months gave birth to the Holy Virgin Mary. St. Joachim lived for eighty years and Anna lived for seventy-nine, at which time they reposed in the Lord.
QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS (scroll down):
DEPICTION OF A CHRISTIAN LIFESaint Barsanuphrius of Optina 1845-1913
HOW THE TRUE FAITHHAS COME DOWN TO USand alsoKNOWING GODSt. Silouan of theHoly Mountain Athos
and also
KNOWING GOD
St. Silouan of the
Holy Mountain Athos
Galatians 4:22-27 KJV
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Saint Luke 8:16-21 KJV
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Depiction of a Christian Life
Saint Barsanuphrius of Optina 1845-1913
The life of any Christian person
can be depicted graphically in the form of an uninterruptedly ascending line. But the Lord does not allow a man to see this ascent; He conceals it, knowing human weakness, knowing that by observing his own improvement it would not take a man long to become prideful, and where there is pride, there too is a fall into the abyss.
[Benjamin] Franklin thought up a horrible thing, proposing that people, on special little boards, make note of their successes of the day, of the week, and so on. In this way, however, one can reach a state of terrible prelest (spiritual illness), and tumble down into the abyss of destruction.No,
ours is a different path. We must all strive towards God, towards heaven, towards the East; but we must see our sins and weaknesses, confessing ourselves to be the first among sinners, seeing ourselves as beneath all, and all others as above us. However, this is a difficult thing; we all try to take notice of others—he’s weak in this, but I’m not; I’m a good boy, better than him. One must struggle against this trait. This is a tough struggle, but without it it’s impossible to see God.
HOW THE TRUE FAITH HASCOME DOWN TO USandKNOWING GODSt. Silouan of theHoly Mountain Athos
The soul of all peoples always feltthat God exists, even though theydidn't know enough to worship thetrue God. The Holy Spirit, however,taught the Prophets first, then theApostles, after them the Holy Fathersand our bishops and so the true faithhas come down to us. We knew the Lordthrough the Holy Spirit. And oncewe knew him, our soul became fixed in him.
Know, you peoples, that we were madein order to glorify God in heaven, anddon't attach yourselves to the earth.Because God is our Father and He lovesus, His greatly desired children. Peoplewho don't know grace, don't seek it.
People have become attached to the earthand this is why most of them don't knowthat there's nothing earthly which cancompare with the sweetness of theHoly Spirit.
TO BELIEVE OR TO KNOWSt. Silouan of theHoly Mountain Athos
To believe that God exists is one thing;To know God is another. The soul thatcomes to know God fully, not longerdesires anything else. Nor does itattach itself to anything on the earth;and if you put before it a Kingdom,it would not desire it. For the loveof God gives such sweetness and joyto the soul that even the life of a kingcan no longer give it any sweetness.
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