Beauty of Orthodoxy

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

,,God doesn't want religious people, but deified ones."

Lainici Monastery, Gorj Country, Romania

,,The monastery is dedicated to the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. The images were taken in June 2021."

The icon of the Mother of God is a detailed copy of the Icon "Quick to Hear" from Mount Athos - which is one of the most beloved miracle-working icons, known for the rapid help it offers to those who pray with faith. Tradition says that the icon was discovered on Mount Athos, at the Dochiariou Monastery, in the 10th century. Its name comes from a miracle through which the Mother of God promised that she would quickly hear the prayers of the faithful. Over time, many testimonies speak of miraculous healings, deliverance from dangers, and the soothing of sufferings through the intercession of the Mother of God.

Lainici Monastery received it on July 23, 2006. Since then, the monks pray the Paraklesis to the Mother of God before this icon every day.

The Saint in the monastery's reliquary is Saint Venerable Irodion, who had become a miracle-worker during his lifetime. He had the power to cast out unclean spirits from people, and he radiographed them at first sight, telling them their sins and those of their ancestors. (doxologia. ro)

Before his repose on May 3, 1900, he prophesied that Lainici Monastery would soon be temporarily abandoned and desolated. This was fulfilled during World War I (1916) when German troops occupied the hermitage and turned the church into a stable.

Because pilgrims frequently visited his grave and some tried to secretly take pieces of his remains, the monks eventually buried his body much deeper to protect it.

,,Every man is the house of God and is meant to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit"

When He sees that we are unworthy of His benefits, He no longer does good to us, so that we may not become slothful. If, however, we change just a little, enough to recognize that we have sinned, He pours out His benefits upon us with greater richness than springs pour out their waters, and bathes us with His gifts more generously than the sea bathes its shores. The more we receive, the more He rejoices.

This moves Him to give us even more. For God considers our salvation His own wealth and gives it abundantly to those who ask for it. Paul also showed this through the words: "is rich unto all that call upon him". He becomes angry when we do not ask Him; He turns His back on us when we do not pray to Him. For this He became poor, to enrich us; for this He suffered the passions, to urge us to ask Him.

Let us not, therefore, lose hope, but, because we have so many opportunities and such good hopes, even if we should sin every day, let us draw near to Him, praying to Him, imploring Him, asking Him for the forgiveness of sins. Thus we will put an end to sins, we will put the devil to flight, we will draw upon ourselves the love for mankind of God, and we will obtain the good things to come, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom belong glory and power, forever and ever. Amen."