Charity, Prayer and Humility
Bellesheures’ Weblog
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But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. - Watch therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. - And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. Mt. 25:4,13,40 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit, and in the same watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Eph. 6:18
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Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
St. Sylvester Bishop of Rome
During periods of relative calm, even then, the Church was opposed by her foes; but only due to the staunch defense of the faith she was able to make converts. See the Orthodox Christian Information Center:
Jan. 2, 2006 St. Sylvester Bishop of Rome
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100007
this brief excerpt tells what happened when Jews opposed the Church with sorcery.
...During the reign of the emperor St. Constantine the Great the Jews arranged a public debate to determine which faith was true.... St. Sylvester spoke for the Christians, and the Jews had one hundred and twenty learned rabbis led by Zambres, a magician and sorcerer.... St. Sylvester convincingly demonstrated that all the prophets foretold the birth of Jesus Christ from the all-pure Virgin, and also His voluntary suffering and death for the redemption of the fallen race of mankind, and His glorious Resurrection.
The saint was declared the victor in the debate. Then Zambres tried to resort to sorcery, but the saint obstructed the evil by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Zambres and the other Jews came to believe in Jesus Christ, and they asked to be baptized.
.... End of Excerpt.
We need to be careful. Several years ago in the 1990's in New York City, someone who claimed to be using Orthodox iconography to show the Blessed Virgin Mary properly, did just the opposite. She was shown incorrectly with a black background and worst yet in the Pantocrator position reserved for Jesus Christ and then to make matters worst, it was entitled cosmocrator. Cosmocrator is a gnostic term for the devil as an immanent god of the universe. This, like everything else of the devil is a position full of lies. This isn't Apostolic, Catholic or Orthodox.
Jan. 2, 2006 St. Sylvester Bishop of Rome
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100007
this brief excerpt tells what happened when Jews opposed the Church with sorcery.
...During the reign of the emperor St. Constantine the Great the Jews arranged a public debate to determine which faith was true.... St. Sylvester spoke for the Christians, and the Jews had one hundred and twenty learned rabbis led by Zambres, a magician and sorcerer.... St. Sylvester convincingly demonstrated that all the prophets foretold the birth of Jesus Christ from the all-pure Virgin, and also His voluntary suffering and death for the redemption of the fallen race of mankind, and His glorious Resurrection.
The saint was declared the victor in the debate. Then Zambres tried to resort to sorcery, but the saint obstructed the evil by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Zambres and the other Jews came to believe in Jesus Christ, and they asked to be baptized.
.... End of Excerpt.
We need to be careful. Several years ago in the 1990's in New York City, someone who claimed to be using Orthodox iconography to show the Blessed Virgin Mary properly, did just the opposite. She was shown incorrectly with a black background and worst yet in the Pantocrator position reserved for Jesus Christ and then to make matters worst, it was entitled cosmocrator. Cosmocrator is a gnostic term for the devil as an immanent god of the universe. This, like everything else of the devil is a position full of lies. This isn't Apostolic, Catholic or Orthodox.
Monday, May 19, 2008
To the eternal creator of the world
To the eternal creator of the world
Eternal maker of the world, who rules over night and day dividing up our daily round to ease the body's weariness.
O night light for wayfarers
Which distinguishes night from night, the dawn bird now sings aloud calling up the light of the sun.
Holy day star unveiled by him, drives darkness from the face of heaven and malefactors in their troops abandon now their brigandage.
Sailors gain strength as he appears, and the sea's waves grow calm again; hearing him, the Rock of the Church Christ Jesus our only Lord and Saviour, [Peter] weeping, mourns his sin.
Let us arise then speedily.
The cock awakens those who sleep and rouses up the drowsy ones; the perjurors are accused by him.
At cock crow hope is born again, and health returns to those who ail; the brigand hides his dagger now, and faith revives in apostate soul.
Jesus, look on those who waver; and, looking, help us to be firm; under your care shame fades away and tears wipe out the stain of sin.
O light, shine now within our souls and torpor fly from every mind; and at the dawn our voices rise
in songs of prayer and praise to you.
AMBROSE AND AUGUSTINE
Eternal maker of the world, who rules over night and day dividing up our daily round to ease the body's weariness.
O night light for wayfarers
Which distinguishes night from night, the dawn bird now sings aloud calling up the light of the sun.
Holy day star unveiled by him, drives darkness from the face of heaven and malefactors in their troops abandon now their brigandage.
Sailors gain strength as he appears, and the sea's waves grow calm again; hearing him, the Rock of the Church Christ Jesus our only Lord and Saviour, [Peter] weeping, mourns his sin.
Let us arise then speedily.
The cock awakens those who sleep and rouses up the drowsy ones; the perjurors are accused by him.
At cock crow hope is born again, and health returns to those who ail; the brigand hides his dagger now, and faith revives in apostate soul.
Jesus, look on those who waver; and, looking, help us to be firm; under your care shame fades away and tears wipe out the stain of sin.
O light, shine now within our souls and torpor fly from every mind; and at the dawn our voices rise
in songs of prayer and praise to you.
AMBROSE AND AUGUSTINE
Prayer
Holy Holy Holy Lord God Pantocrator
Who is and was and is to come
Prayer of the Cross
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Christ Jesus Our Only Lord and Saviour by Your Most Holy Cross and Holy Blood and Holy Spirit of the Father and You the Son Jesus Christ Our Only Lord and Saviour covering the whole world and cleansing the whole universe, Christ Jesus the only first born from the dead in the flesh, the only one Resurrected Ascended Assumed Bodily in the flesh and sitteth on the right hand of God Our Father in the third heaven in the unity and power and bond of love of the Holy Spirit our Paraclete Holy Holy Holy Lord God Pantocrator,
with and by the prayer and company of the same all Your elect angels and saints for and with us unceasingly,
especially St. Michael and St. Gabriel, St. Enoch in the flesh and St. Elijah in the flesh Your holy prophets yet to return,
the Holy Family blessed St. Joseph, the blessed virgin Mary mother of You Christ Jesus Our Only Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ Our Only Lord and Saviour the Only Mediator between God and man in the flesh in the unity and power and bond of love of the Holy Spirit our Paraclete, Most Holy Angel of Almighty Counsel All Holy Almighty All Powerful Captain of the hosts of the Lord going before us unto all salvation and sanctification and deliverance and victory in everything at all times with all Your elect Doxas especially St. Michael and St. Gabriel,
Your brothers and sisters Christ Jesus Our Only Lord and Saviour,
all Your elect angels and saints for and with us unceasingly,
with all thanksgiving we love You for You first loved us with all thanksgiving unceasingly and now and always and unto the endless ages of ages to come, we beseech You hear us
deliver us from all tribulation