“The Standing of Mary of Egypt” on last Thursday is the culmination of Lent. In the Church for two months now, we have been taught examples of piety: the repentance of publicans and fornicators, icon worship and hesychasm. Like the Tree of life in the middle of Paradise, the Cross of the Lord is brought to us for worship in the middle of the Lent. As a guide to heaven, “The Ladder” of St John is recommended. And as the highest example of repentance (not for imitation, but for admiration) – the life of St. Mary. The fragile female nature was capable of impossible feats, surpassing the greatest men of desert. Her story fits into a few paragraphs, but can you imagine 47 years in the desert without food and clothing? What willpower and desire to please God helped her endure the external and internal fire? On the day of her memory – on the 5th Sunday of Lent – the Canon at Matins commemorates the righteous Job and the poor Lazarus: “As Job in leprosy, eaten by worms, so Lazarus before the gates of the rich prayed: blessed is the God of our fathers. And no one gave him even a crumb from the rich man’s table, but he received instead the bosom of Abraham.” Because none of our sacrifices, nothing earthly, can compare with what God has prepared for those who love Him. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who, had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13: 45-46). This pearl is Christ. To be with Him, true Christians are willing to bare with suffering, privation, and even premature death. The main thing is that both life be Christ and death be gain (Epistle to the Philippians, 1: 21).
Parish News
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On July 16, the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev), visited the church under construction in honor of the Apostle Thomas in the city of Kinabalan. The Secretary checked the quality of the work performed, and also gave instructions on the implementation of complex structural elements that are […]
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An infant Joakim was baptised in Sarangani bay. He is a child of the members of the parish of Resurrection of the Lord in General Santos. The Sacrament was performed by priest Roman Buniel.
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The feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the parish in their honor in the village of Salasan. The divine service was led by the Secretary of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, Hieromonk Korniliy (Molev)
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2nd Sunday after Pentecost, and the feast of Nativity of Saint John the Baptist celebrated at the parish of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Arakan, Cotabato
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Divine liturgy in Makalangot, church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, on the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, of All Saints of Russia, of St. John the Baptist
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On the day of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the glorification of St. John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, the Wonderworker, believers in the Philippines prayerfully honored the memory of the saint. A Divine Liturgy was held at the parish of St. John of Shanghai in the […]
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Every Wednesday a moleben with the Akafist to the Most Holy Theotokos is served in the parish of Kazan icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau, Vietnam. This is already a tradition for many years
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“And we glorify together the All Holy Spirit!” Celebrating Pentecost in Manila, Iveron parish