Today we celebrate possibly the greatest example of repentance the church has ever seen. Saint Mary of Egypt gave herself over to fornication and debauchery from the age of 12 and lived this depraved life for 17 years. Having followed a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem with the intent of seducing the young men, she tried to enter into the church of the Holy Sepulchre to see the Venerable Cross but was stopped by an invisible force. She then realised her depravity and repented by crossing the Jordan and living in the desert for 47 years. A holy monk, Saint Zosimas, found her while travelling the desert and related her story to us. May we have her blessing and may she intercede always for our souls + #saint #mary #egypt #maryofegypt #sinner #repent #repentance #penitent #convert #cross #lent #greatlent #jordan #venerable #holy #desert #mother #father #zosimas #palestine #jerusalem #sepulchre #holysepulchre #holy #orthodox #saintoftheday (at الاردن Jordan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqeGI3djhOo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The great Lent A journey homeward… It is time to seek God's face not His Hand. To ask Him to search our hearts and examine our ways. To take off our old self, be renewed into His glorious image through the power of the Holy Spirit.. May we put aside all worldly distractions, walk back home and rest safely in the arms of our loving Father... #coptorthodox #coptic #orthodox @coptorthodox #greatlent #ajourneytogod #seekgodface #berenewed https://www.instagram.com/p/CMJe7ioDFf2/?igshid=drppyez72st3

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by the virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation

What St. Elisabeth Convent has to say about Great Lent

#stephraimthesyrian #greatlent #GenuineOrthodoxy #selfknowledge #Hesychasm #empiricaldogmatics #MonasteryofStJohntheWonderworker #cobleskillny (at Cobleskill, New York)

Today, on the fourth Sunday of Lent we celebrate the Venerable John, Abbot of Sinai and author of the Ladder of Divine Ascent (or the Climacus). This indispensable book stands as a witness to the great effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom (Mt.10: 12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one, “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the present darkness the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts for, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt.24:13). The troparion of Saint John is chanted by St. Kassiani Antiochian Archdiocese Choir of Australia. May he intercede for us always + #saint #john #ladder #ladderofdivineascent #johnclimacus #climacus #book #lent #greatlent #kingdomofheaven #God #easter #pascha #journeytotheresurrection #resurrection #sinai #abbot #egypt #orthodox (at Sinai, Egypt) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqOiHccjGm9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Today we celebrate the Venerable John, Abbot of Sinai and author of the Ladder of Divine Ascent (or the Climacus). This indispensable book stands as a witness to the great effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom (Mt.10: 12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one, “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the present darkness the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts for, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt.24:13). May he intercede for us always + #saint #john #ladder #ladderofdivineascent #johnclimacus #climacus #book #lent #greatlent #kingdomofheaven #God #sinai #abbot #egypt #orthodox #saintoftheday (at Sinai, Egypt) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYt1RJLW5A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=