St. Elisabeth Convent

"BEHEADED FOR CHRIST ON HIS 19th BIRTHDAY: REMEMBERING WARRIOR YEVGENY RODIONOV (1996)" Dear Friends, Today, May 23, marks both the birth and the untimely death of Yevgeny Rodionov. His name, derived from the Greek "noble," aptly describes his character — marked by gentleness, nobility of soul, and true courage. Yevgeny Rodionov, a young Russian soldier during the First Chechen War (1994-1996), endured extended captivity and brutal torture. His steadfast faith was tested when he refused to remove his baptismal cross in exchange for freedom, a decision that led to his martyrdom. Interestingly, Yevgeny never actively fought in Chechnya; he served only a month on guard duty at the Chechen-Ingush border. On his 19th birthday, the day the Orthodox Church celebrated the Ascension of the Lord, he was tragically killed by captors who boasted of their righteousness. 👉 Read more

Two Parables and One Short Story about the Intricacies of Family Life Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev An old woman came to a priest and asked him, “What should I do with my old man who has become totally unbearable? He keeps arguing, never admits his wrongs and swears all the time! Things have clearly gotten completely out of hand.” The priest gave her a bottle of water and said, “This is holy water. As soon as your husband comes home after work, or the minute he raises his voice, immediately take it into your mouth and hold it as long as you can. The longer you hold it, the more it will help! When you run out of holy water, come back for more. A week later, the old woman came for more water, “Thank you, father! The holy water worked! My old man is now meek and calm. All our neighbours envy the life we have now — peace and harmony! Pour me some more of that holy water!” 🌼 A fifty-year-old man wanted to divorce his wife. Once he came to see an ascetic. The elder asked the man why he was doing that. The man answered, “I want to leave my wife because I cannot stand her.” The elder asked, “How do you address her?” “By name,” the man replied. “Wrong,” said the elder, “you should call her beloved or my dear.” The man replied that after 50 years he had forgotten what love was. The elder said, “Do as I say and see what happens.” The man did as he had been told. When he came to see the elder after two months, he fell at his feet and said that the elder saved him and his family. “My wife has changed! She has become a better person.” The elder replied, “It is not your wife, it is you who have changed.” 🌼 A few days ago, I was consecrating an apartment. I noticed that the owners were well prepared: they had icons, stickers with crosses, candles, incense and oil… ‘Wait, what is that red sediment in the oil bottle?’ At first, I even thought that it was oil from the Holy Unction. I asked the house owners what it was about. They explained to me that in due order they had added Tabasco sauce there. I was shocked. “Well,” they said, “we did everything as you instructed Peter and Svetlana”. Peter and Svetlana are our mutual friends, whose house I had also consecrated about six months ago. ‘Now that explains it,’ I thought. Six months ago, Svetlana and Peter asked me to come and consecrate their house, because “things have gotten out of hand; we keep fighting, and it looks like a divorce is near at hand”. I came to them, asked them all sorts of questions and listened to them complaining about each other like little children. “Okay,” I said, “now let’s pray, and then we’ll talk” We prayed, consecrated the house and sprinkled it with holy water. “What should we do with the oil that is left?” they asked me. I jokingly answered, “You need to take some Tabasco sauce (you can also use Chili, but it is more customary for the Orthodox people to adhere to Tabasco), add it to the oil and smear your tongues with it as soon as you begin fighting” (It should be noted here that both of them had ready tongues.) As it turned out, Peter and Svetlana did just as I said! “Well, how did it work out for them?” I asked. “Oh, it was like they were having a honeymoon again! They walk hand in hand everywhere and they even became interested in religion. Besides, she seems to be pregnant. I am shy to ask, but it looks that way.” Of course, Peter and Sveta knew exactly how to prepare for the consecration of the apartment.

KIEV-BRATSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD The rich history of the wonderworking Kiev-Bratsk (i.e. "Brotherhood") Icon of the Mother of God revealed in 1654 tells us about the arduous spiritual life of Christians of that time, filled with asceticism and prayerful devotion. The icon was originally kept in the church of Saints Boris and Gleb in the city of Vyshgorod (Kiev). 💬 Read full

Patience begins with love. For you to tolerate a person, you must feel pain for him. Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain

Modern Miracles of St Nicholas 🌿She decided to walk along the coast hoping to eventually come across someone’s dwelling. Suddenly she saw an old man who asked her where she was going... Continue reading: https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2021/05/modern-miracles-of-st-nicholas

SAINT NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER, A HEART ON FIRE Saint Nicholas is well-known and revered around the world. He is one of the most beloved Orthodox saints in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, where multiple cathedrals, monasteries, and churches have been dedicated to him. People have named their children after this saint and prayed to him for protection from evil and disaster. For millennia, he has assisted countless people in their most difficult situations. We honour him for his unending love and countless miracles. 💬 Read full

The Place of the Theotokos in Icons of the Resurrection 🩵There are three general representations of the Resurrection in Orthodoxy: the Harrowing of Hades, Christ triumphantly rising from the tomb, and the angel appearing to the myrrh-bearing women beside the empty tomb (example at the top of this post). The first composition, which is technically an icon for Holy Saturday, would not contain the Mother of God as she was still alive when Christ descended into Hades, and the second composition is not particularly common in the Orthodox Church; it is in the third type of icon – of the myrrh-bearing women attending the empty tomb, where the Theotokos is present… though it is not always immediately obvious. Continue reading: https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2021/05/the-place-of-the-theotokos-in-icons-of-the-resurrection

THE APOSTLE OF DIVINE LOVE, SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN On May 21, the church hymns honour Saint John the Theologian as a virgin disciple, a miracle worker, and a teacher of the faithful. He is shown in icons as an aged, knowledgeable, and thoughtful man. Standing on profound prayer, he has his right hand in his mouth and a Gospel in the other, as a theologian might. But underneath all of these virtues was his undying love for God. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God," he exhorts every Christian, and his entire life reflects this message. 💬 Read full

WHAT IS THE WORLD’S SMALLEST ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD? Dear Friends, The feast of the Zhirovichi Icon of the Mother of God celebrated on May 20 is a special day for all Belarusians. Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov has called the Zhirovichi image "a national icon". In his words, “...the Zhirovichi icon of the Mother of God is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest among others, yet the grace emanating from this image has influenced thousands of minds and hearts.” Indeed, many pilgrims come to the Holy Dormition Zhirovichi Monastery where the icon is located. They pray to the Mother of God and plunge in the miraculous spring. People receive consolation and healings from severe illnesses. The Mother of God Herself reigns here, accepting under Her Protection all who come with faith and love. 👉 Read more