Father Sergiy Baranov

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Yet few understand where this righteousness lies, how to attain it, or how to draw near to it. One can only enter into this truth through one’s own “death”—the death of disillusion with oneself, the death of despair, when you finally yield your place to God. ​While you are praying, struggling, fasting, and solving spiritual matters on your own, God stands by and observes your "theater" very delicately and politely. Occasionally, He approaches and offers Himself to you, but you still rely on yourself and respond, “I’ll try a bit more, because I’m actually making some progress.” He stands there with a bitter smile, knowing that the "success" you are achieving now will later result in a deep wound. ​It is even worse when you don't just say “I’m making progress,” but declare, “Lord, I’m actually succeeding in everything!” This is already a spiritual pathology, a very serious illness. All the Holy Fathers followed the path of repentance. There is no other way. ​How does one walk the path of repentance? It is not merely saying “forgive me” or “I’m sorry.” True spiritual repentance erupts from the depths of the soul with such a groan, with such pain, “Forgive me! Lord, forgive me!” #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: https://sergiybaranov.taplink.ws/

​Do you remember the example of Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia I gave you? A young man once came to him on Mount Athos and kept asking many questions about the antichrist; he was deeply intrigued by the subject. However, Elder Porphyrios kept speaking only about prayer and the saints. ​The young man tried to wedge the topic back in again, "Father, I would really like to talk with you about the Antichrist." Elder Porphyrios was sitting on a small, low, and narrow bench used for the Jesus Prayer. He said to the young man, "Well, come sit here beside me, and I will tell you." ​The young man approached from one side, then tried the other, and finally said, "Father, there is no room here." "Exactly, there isn't," the Elder replied. "That is why you cannot sit. So, here is what I will tell you about the antichrist: your entire being should be filled with Christ, leaving no room for the antichrist. This subject should not trouble you." ​The essence of this lesson is that there should be no place for the antichrist. If there is too much space in your mind and heart—enough to spend half a day talking about him, thinking about him, and carrying him within you—it means that this space is not occupied by Christ. #archpriestSergiyBaranov

Kontakion My soul by the sisters of the Tabyn Hermitage #theTabynHermitage #archpriestSergiyBaranov

​Holy Things for the Holy ​At the end of the Liturgy, before the breaking of the Lamb in the altar, the priest elevates Him and proclaims, "Holy things for the holy!" If we take these words literally, meaning that only the sinless may approach the sanctuary, then no one would ever receive Communion, for there are certainly no saints among us. ​So, what does this cry truly mean? Each of us is holy in part. Not by our own merit but by our belonging to the Church. Through baptism, we mystically enter the Body of Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church, and we are its members. We become holy not because of our personal qualities but because we belong to the Church of Christ. ​Therefore, when the priest says, "Holy things for the holy," this call refers to all of us, even if we are not holy by our own nature. The Lord allows us to touch the Mystery—the Body and Blood of Christ—and during Communion, He literally enters us. Christ Himself is within us! ​Can you imagine? No matter how vile or dirty we may be, Christ is inside us. We are like a small box containing Him. In this sense, at that moment, we are holy. ​However, one can place Christ in a precious, velvet-lined box, or one can drop Him into a trash bucket. This happens during every Communion. We lower Christ into our foul, dark, and murky depths. And He, in His humility and great love for us, consents to descend into this stench. Yet, this does not defile Him. ​Holiness is the nature of the Divine, not our own nature. This might lead to a misunderstanding: does this mean no effort is required from us? Can we simply partake in the Mysteries, remain members of the Church, and automatically be holy? Is it that simple when "Holy things for the holy" is proclaimed? ​The truth is, to this holiness—which makes us "saints" through the Mystery of Baptism and allows us to approach Communion—we must add our personal labor and sincere effort. ​It is like restoring an old, dark, and dirty icon. The image underneath might be completely obscured, yet the icon remains an icon. But the dirt remains dirt. ​Our asceticism and spiritual life are like the restoration of that old icon. Layer by layer, we must remove the soot, the darkness, and the grime. This is necessary so that the holiness lying beneath those layers can finally emerge and shine forth. #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links

#буднимонастырскойсобаки@rachelvskitu Six of them! A true miracle in our monastery 🤍 Our beloved Rachel is now a mother. Six tiny, sleepy, cozy fluffballs are snuggling by her belly. She licks them, counts them, tucks them in—looking at them with endless tenderness 🥹 We spent a whole month counting the puppies on the ultrasound, but God gifted us one more. An unexpected little present ✨ Welcome to the world, little ones! You have been waited for so long ❤️🐾

A SIN THAT DRAGS YOU TO HELL #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

Blessed Feast of Theophany is coming!

A sketch of sakura at a friend's place #archpriestSergiyBaranov

BLESSED FEAST OF NATIVITY! 🎄 START AND DON'T GIVE UP. #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

Happy New Year!

CAN CREATIVE PEOPLE LEAD SPIRITUAL LIFE? #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

The sisters of the Tabyn Hermitage are singing the Jesus Prayer #TabynHermitage #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

YOU KNOW WHAT THE END IS #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

Fr. Sergiy is singing "The Body of Christ" during the Eucharist #archpriestSergiyBaranov All links: sergiybaranov.taplink.ws

Please help us to enable the heating at the Tsar’s House in time before winter comes! Here are the recent news about the Tsar’s House: - The heating is being fixed, the radiators have been installed everywhere. - Both stories of the collapsed part of the House have been rebuilt! - The kitchen has almost been installed. - The House is supervised by the not indifferent members of the Russian Community and video surveillance has also been installed. The Church misses the services and parishioners too. People love this place and often ask us when they may come again to attend a night Liturgy that is served overnight Friday into Saturday. We are waiting with patience when the repairs will be done and the House becomes warm and comfortable again. Not only services, but also cultural events will take place in the chamber atmosphere of the old mansion. All the work at the Tsar’s House are going on only thanks to your donations! Please help us to enable the heating at the Tsar’s House before winter comes! Help the Tsar’s House 👈 Watch the film about the Tsar's House