Our present gathering in honour of the Most Holy Virgin inspires me, brethren, to say of Her a word of praise, of benefit also for those come unto this churchly solemnity. It comprises a praise of women, a glorying of their gender, which (glory) is brought it by Her, She Who is at one same time both Mother, and Virgin. O desired and wondrous gathering! Celebrate, O nature, that wherein honour be rendered to Woman; rejoice, O human race, that wherein the Virgin be glorified. "For when sin did abound, grace did superabound" (Rom. 5: 20). The Holy Mother of God and Virgin Mary hath gathered us here, She the pure treasure of virginity, the intended paradise of Second Adam, – the locus, wherein was accomplished the co-uniting of natures, wherein was affirmed the Counsel of salvific reconciliation.
Whoever is it that ever saw, whoever heard, that within a womb the Limitless God would make habitation, Whom the Heavens cannot circumscribe, Whom the womb of a Virgin limiteth not!?
He born of woman is not only God and He is not only Man: This One born made woman, being the ancient gateway of sin, into the gateway of salvation: where evil poured forth its poison, bringing on disobedience, there the Word made for Himself a living temple, bringing in thither obedience; from whence the arch-sinner Cain sprang forth, there without seed was born Christ the Redeemer of the human race. The Lover-of-Mankind did not disdain to be born of woman, since this bestowed His life. He was not subject to impurity, being settled within the womb, which He Himself arrayed free from all harm. If perchance this Mother did not remain a Virgin, then that born of Her might be a mere man, and the birth would be no wise miraculous; but since She after birth remained a Virgin, then how is He Who is born indeed – not God? It is an inexplicable mystery, since in an inexplicable manner was born He Who without hindrance went through doors when they were locked. When confessing in Him the co-uniting of two natures, Thomas cried out: "My Lord, and my God!" (Jn. 20: 28).

"The sins of the entire world get drowned in the sea of God's love like a stone thrown into water. So there can't be any space for despondency, hopelessness, and despair."

☦️📖The Scripture Readings for today: Saturday, April 19th, in the year of our Lord, 2025. + It is Great Saturday, The Descent of The Lord into Hades.

“It's actually later than we think. The apocalypse is happening now. And how sad it is to see Christians, and even more so - young people, Orthodox youth, over their heads [in] this unimaginable tragedy and who think they can, in these terrible times, continue what is called ‘normal life,’ completely participating in the ghosts of an insane, self-inflicted generation, totally unsuspecting that ‘fools' paradise,’ in which we live in is about to collapse, completely unprepared for the desperate times that lie ahead of us. Now the question is not to be a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Orthodox Christian, but the question now is: will our faith survive at all? It will not last for many; the coming Antichrist will be too attractive, too in line with that spirit of the time, that worldly spirit to which we seek, so that most people will not even realize that they have lost their Christianity by worshiping him.”

"Trust in God Who is good, strong, and living, and He will lead you to a place of rest. Remember, that after temptations come spiritual joy, and that the Lord watches after those who endure temptations and suffering for the sake of His love."

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