A few months ago, I finally completed reading St John of Kronstadt by IK Sursky. It didn't take me long. It was very well written, and better written than the previous Orthodox book I had purchased. To purchase it I used some birthday money that a friend kindly gifted me. If you've been closely following my instagram posts and stories, you'd know I have no lack of reverence for St John. He's my absolute favourite Russian saint. I believe everyone should read his extraordinary life. His life story was one of the first few saint stories I read in comprehensive detail when I first began to become a more avid and serious spiritual reader a decade ago.
Category: Love
The most incredible description of St Kyrillos’ love
Fr Raphael Ava Mina, the personal deacon of Pope Kyrillos writes: His heart was full of love for his children. A divine fire of love pulled him towards his sons and daughters. He could not help but to love them and open his heart before he opened his door to them. For them, he suffered, grieved, wept, became depressed and exhausted.
Fervently love all, even red-handedly caught sinners!
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)One of the nuns of the convent of St Abu Seifein relate: Mother Erene, together with her dear friend, the great Martyr Abu Seifein, protects the convent. I will tell you an incident that happened at the end of one day, as I heard… Continue reading Fervently love all, even red-handedly caught sinners!
How to Comfort Others by H.H. Pope Shenouda III
The Lord Christ, during the period of His incarnation on earth, wandered about doing good, giving relief to the weary, curing sick people and driving out devils from the paralytic. He was a loving heart, compassionate to all. Let us learn from His example.
Our fervent and heartfelt prayers, and deep love for each other, attracts the angels to us
In 1995, I was in Jerusalem during the holy fifty days* that follow Lent. I saw your convent, the convent of the Martyr Abi Seifein, in a vision. I saw the Martyr standing by the entrance and next to him was Pope Kyrillos VI. I also found children and many saints, thousands and thousands of them entering the convent while dressed in white. Their faces were white and in light, and they looked like foreign children.
How St Kyrillos saved the life of Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas I
Fr Kyrillos Massoudi, parish priest of St Mary’s Syriac Orthodox Church in Egypt, relates:Let me tell you a story. I have been extremely blessed and honoured to have witnessed a giant pillar of faith, wisdom and joy for three years as a personal disciple to the great saint and hero among the fathers Patriarch Ignatius Zakka… Continue reading How St Kyrillos saved the life of Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas I
The kingdom of heaven is within you
Many times at night, when chanting the Psalmody and particularly when commemorating the saints, Tamav would find the cell expanding and filled with light. Then there would appear all the martyrs and saints headed by the Mother of God. They would continue chanting the Psalmody with her until the very end of it. We used… Continue reading The kingdom of heaven is within you
Bishop Makarios’ endless love for his congregation
His Grace Bishop Makarios' diocese was one of the largest; in fact, after his departure it was divided into 4 dioceses. But despite how large the diocese was, HG still managed to visit each member of his congregation, house by house, once a year for the 25 years that he was a bishop. He never… Continue reading Bishop Makarios’ endless love for his congregation
The Art of Orthodoxy 