After the Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (August 29), his body was buried by disciples in the Samarian city of Sebaste, and his venerable head was hidden by Herodias in an unclean place. Saint Joanna (June 27), the wife of King Herod’s steward Chuza (Luke 8:3), secretly took the holy head and placed it into a vessel and buried it on the Mount of Olives in one of Herod’s properties.
After many years, this property passed into the possession of a government official who became a monk with the name of Innocent. He built a church and a cell there. When they started to dig the foundation, the vessel with the venerable head of John the Baptist was uncovered. Innocent recognized its great holiness from the signs of grace emanating from it. Thus occurred the First Finding of the Head. Innocent preserved it with great piety, but fearful that the holy relic might be abused by unbelievers, before his own death he again hid it in that same place, where it was found. Upon his death the church fell into ruin and was destroyed.
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received His Excellency Ioseb Nanobashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Athens and Belgrade at the Serbian Patriarchate on 6 March 2018.
The Eucharistic celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy in San Francisco was elevated by Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by His Grace Bishop Maxim with parish priest Fr. Djurica Gordic. Divine Liturgy was well attended, and many parishioners received Holy Eucharist.
His Grace Bishop Maxim delivered a sermon on the topic of Sunday of Orthodoxy, underlining the importance of icons and iconography in the spiritual life of every Christian. Fr. Djurica Gordic used this opportunity to thank His Grace Bishop Maxim for spiritual guidance and visit to St. John’s parish.
On Sunday February 25, the faithful of St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Elkins Park (Philadelphia) PA., celebrated the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy beginning with Divine Liturgy, at which many of the faithful received Holy Communion.
Following Divine Liturgy, all the faithful present were lead by Fr. Milorad, and the church school children, in procession with everyone carrying icons in celebration of the end of iconoclasim and the restoration of icons in the Holy Orthodox Church.
The Sunday of the Paralytic
By practicing Christian virtues we are trying to have a Christ-like life and to direct ourselves to God. Above anything else, lent is an exercise in overcoming all the obstacles in order to come before the Physician of our souls and bodies – Jesus Christ. Today’s Gospel teaches directly to this important point. This Bible story is about people’s faith and their effort to cross all the barriers to be in front of Christ.
Mother Euphrosyne the Abbess of Gračanica Monastery reposed in the Lord this morning in her 90th year.
As a great ascetic laborer of Christ’s love she devoted her life from her early youth as a nun. Now her blessed soul rushes to embrace the Lord whom she so ardently served. Memory eternal!
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