Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene

The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene.

On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. A woman whose name has entered forever into the Gospel account was born and grew up in Magdala. The Gospel tells us nothing of Mary’s younger years, but Tradition informs us that Mary of Magdala was young and pretty, and led a sinful life. It says in the Gospels that the Lord expelled seven devils from Mary (Luke. 8:2). From the moment of her healing Mary led a new life, and became a true disciple of the Savior.

The Gospel relates that Mary followed after the Lord, when He went with the Apostles through the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee preaching about the Kingdom of God. Together with the pious women Joanna, wife of Choza (steward of Herod), Susanna and others, she served Him from her own possessions (Luke 8:1-3) and undoubtedly shared with the Apostles the evangelic tasks in common with the other women. The Evangelist Luke, evidently, has her in view together with the other women, stating that at the moment of the Procession of Christ onto Golgotha, when after the Scourging He took on Himself the heavy Cross, collapsing under its weight, the women followed after Him weeping and wailing, but He consoled them. The Gospel relates that Mary Magdalene was present on Golgotha at the moment of the Lord’s Crucifixion. While all the disciples of the Savior ran away, she remained fearlessly at the Cross together with the Mother of God and the Apostle John.

Live broadcast of 1,030th anniversary of Baptism of Rus’ celebrations in Kiev online (VIDEO)

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is celebrating the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ today and tomorrow in Kiev, with the participation of delegations from 12 Local Orthodox Churches.

The festivities began at 1:00 PM on Vladimir Hill in Kiev with the beginning of a moleben at the monument to St. Vladimir. The thousands gathered then processed through the streets of Kiev to the Kiev Caves Lavra where the festal All-Night Vigil will be served, followed by the Divine Liturgy tomorrow. A broadcast of the day’s events is online now, courtesy of the Union of Orthodox Journalists. Watch below:

Imitate Their Faith

Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan): A Homily on the Commemoration of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir

This homily was delivered by the ever-memorable Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan), the predecessor to the current primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, on the day of his own patron saint. He served as a bishop in Christ’s Church from 1966, and as the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from 1992 until his repose on July 5, 2014 at the age of 78.

Patriarchal and Synodal Epistle of the Russian Orthodox Church for the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’

Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to the archpastors, clergy, monastics, and laity on the occasion of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’

This document was adopted at the July 14, 2018 session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ,
who loved his new people, the land of Rus’,
and illumined them with holy Baptism.
(The Russian Primary Chronicle)

Beloved of the Lord Right Reverend archpastors, venerable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

All the fullness of our Church now honors the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir and remembers with gratitude how 1,030 years ago a turning point in the history of the Slavic peoples occurred by the labors of this man, chosen of God and strong of spirit. By the blessed action of the Holy Spirit, the prince turned from pagan delusions, and believed in the one Son of God Jesus Christ, and receiving holy Baptism along with his entourage, brought the saving light of the Gospel to Rus’.

Bishop Irinej Delivers Opening Prayer at the U.S. House of Representatives

Bishop Irinej Delivers Opening Prayer at the U.S. House of Representatives

On Wednesday, July 25^th, 2018 as the inaugural event for the Commemoration of the Centennial of “The Day the Serbian Flag flew at the White House”, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, Episcopal Patron of the Centennial Commemoration, was invited by Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX), co-chairman of the Serbian Congressional Caucus, as Guest Chaplain, to read the Opening Prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The Prayer, which Bishop Irinej composed for the occasion, is as follows:

Sympathy of the Serbian Patriarch to the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej sent a telegram of the following content to His Beatitude Hieronymus, Archbishop of Athens:

Yours Beatitude, Beloved Brother in Christ,

Deep in our souls We, with all the pleroma of our Church, share the sadness and pain of You personally, of the Church of Greece and the brotherly Greek people, caused by terrible fire and destruction of homes and property, but above all because of the loss of human lives. We pray to the Lord for the repose of souls of the victims. We assure You that we shall aid as much as we can.