The liturgical brilliance of the Annunciation celebration crowned at dawn the all-night prayer vigil before the Mother of Life. The festive ringing of the bells once again gathered the faithful in the heavenly realm of the Most Pure Monastery. Soon, the church became too small to hold the multitude of people flowing into it like…
The Holy Annunciation! The most beautiful tidings ever received by humanity! The greatest joy brought to us by the Angel, due to the humility of the Virgin, Who with Her “be it unto me” brought God down to Earth, initiating our salvation. What words can the soul find today to sing of this great gift…
Address by His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania, Abbot of the Holy Bigorski Monastery, at the beginning of the prayer vigil for the Feast of the Annunciation at the Monastery of the Most Pure in Kichevo, on March 24 / April 6, 2024, Year of our Savior Your Eminences, Your Grace, Very Reverend Archimandrites, Venerable…
There is no human tongue that can express the gratitude the human soul feels towards the Mother of God. She is the Mother of Light, through Whom the Sun of Righteousness came down to Earth and shone forth; the Mother of the Fountain of Life, for from Her well the thirsty humanity has drunk; the…
Filled with grace and jubilation from yesterday's radiant welcome of the venerable and miraculous icon of Saint George the Great Martyr, our hearts today continued with spiritual celebration and exaltation at the Monastery of the Victorious One in Rajčica, commemorating our Father among the Saints Gregory Palamas, beacon of the Orthodox Church, tireless defender of…
Response of Abbess Kassiana of the Monastery of Saint George the Victorious in Rajčica, during the solemn reception of the venerable and miraculous Icon of the Great Martyr, on March 17/30, 2024, Year of Our Savior Your Grace, Holy Bishop Antanisios, our beloved spiritual Father, Mr. Partenie, Honored guards and musicians from the Army, Our…
Address by His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania, Abbot of the Holy Bigorski Monastery, at the solemn reception of the venerable and miraculous Icon of Saint George the Great Martyr at the Rajčica Monastery, on March 17/30, 2024, Year of our Savior In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the…
There is no greater blessing or more grace-filled spiritual visit than when the patron saint visits his Abbey through a miraculous image. It is even more joyful that such a visit comes at the very heart of the Honorable and Great Lent, on the eve of the Sunday when we celebrate the great monastic teacher…
At the desire and with the blessing of our beloved saint-loving Elder and Abbot, Bishop of Antanis, Mr. Partenij, these days a newly crafted icon of the Holy Great Martyr and Miracle-worker George the Victorious was taken to the Holy Mount Athos, to the two monasteries dedicated to the Saint, the Holy Monasteries of Xenophontos…
The news of the horrendous, inhumane, and outright execution-style act at the "Crocus City Hall" in Moscow, Russian Federation, moved every peace-loving heart around the world to tears and pain. This event once again confirmed the unwritten rule that in every war, in every act of hatred, upon every misunderstanding, which are the fruits of…
"This is the faith of the Apostles, this is the faith of the Fathers, this is the faith of the Orthodox, this faith has established the universe." (Excerpt from the Synodikon of Orthodoxy) Orthodoxy, or true faith, is essential for the life of a Christian, for without it, there is a great danger of falling…
Rejoice, for thou art the throne of the King. Rejoice, for thou bearest the Bearer of all. Rejoice, thou star, announcing the sun. Rejoice, womb, of the divine incarnation. Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded! The time of the Great Lenten prayer, which these days like penitential sighs was torn from the soul, we crown with the…
Like a vine hanging on the cross, O Savior, You have watered the ends of the universe with the wine of immortality, Christ. Therefore, I cry out to You: Me, who am heavily darkened by the drunkenness of sins, after You have filled me with the sweetness of true humility, strengthen me to abstain from…
Lord, wishing to save me, an unworthy one, with Your immeasurable mercy, I, a sinner, have taken up repentance. Therefore, I come to You, praying: with fasting, bend my soul towards You, for I have fled to You, the only one who is most merciful. (Verse from the hymn of the Matins service) With the…
We have already deeply embarked on a forty-day journey towards the Great and Passionate Week and towards the Glorious Resurrection. Mystically, we travel as the Israelite people, delivered from Babylonian captivity, journeyed through the desert towards the promised land; we ascend in spirit as the Old Testament righteous, the great Moses, climbed Mount Sinai to…
As pilgrims on earth, like all our fathers, let us guard the fleeting time of our blameless life, O our Savior, and have mercy on us, as the Lover of mankind. Here we are already taking the second step into the life-giving wilderness of Lent, and as we delve deeper into its elevated spaces, we…
Today is the day for repentance, a day of salvation and the beginning of a fast. Be awake, my soul, and close the doors of the passions, and turn to the Lord. These tender verses open before us the door through which we enter into that space where our inner self, free from the passions, resides.…
The Beginning of the Great and Holy Lent "Let Thy grace shine forth, O Lord, let the illumination of our souls be kindled. This is the acceptable time, this is the time for repentance; let us cast aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of Light; and after crossing the great sea…
Sermon by His Grace, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, delivered during the Forgiveness Vespers on March 5/18, in the year of Our Savior 2024 Beloved, By God’s grace and blessing, here we stand in the eve of the Holy and Great Lent. The Holy Church, through this specific service known as the Forgiveness Vespers, with its…
The Expulsion of Adam from Paradise "When Adam saw the angel driving him out, and the door of divine Paradise closing, he sighed deeply and said: O Merciful One, have mercy on me who have fallen." (Contakion from the Matins Canon) The intemperance and disobedience of our first-created ancestors towards God were the reasons for…
