^ Happy Holidays
I pray to God that the light of the Resurrection will always illuminate your path. So that the Sun of Truth - Christ will always warm you
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Shine, shine, new Jerusalem, MY DEARS! CHRIST IS RISEN! REJOICE!
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Let us hear with our hearts the first words of the Risen Savior to the myrrh-bearing women: “Rejoice!
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Bless the youths, sing to the priests, praise the Risen Christ forever, people.
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Easter greetings always end with the words “Truly He is Risen!”, also highlighted in red. The final words of Father John’s letters are solemn, significant and sincere:
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When writing congratulations for Angel Day, do not forget to wish the most important thing - the help of a heavenly intercessor.
Orthodox congratulations and solemn addresses
Orthodox people congratulating each other on Christian holidays, including written congratulations, is a long-standing tradition.
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The rules of conduct that developed over the course of centuries in the church environment have been lost and are now difficult to restore.
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- In the sea of Orthodox literature published now, there is practically nothing on this topic.
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During the period from Easter to the celebration of the holiday, that is, for forty days, they greet with the words “Christ is Risen!”, The priest blesses, answering: “Truly He is Risen!”
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The dean, the first assistant and deputy governor, is addressed with the position indicated: “Father Dean” or with the addition of the name “Father John.”
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In a convent, the abbess is addressed in this way: “Mother Abbess” or using the name “Mother Varvara”, “Mother Maria” or simply “Mother”.
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- In the right corner of the sheet there is a date and an indication of the saint whose memory the Church honors on this day or another church holiday that falls on this day. Eg:
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Let us cite as an example excerpts from a letter from St. Athanasius (Sakharov) to Archbishop Onesimus (Festinov):
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July 17, 1957 village. Petushki Vladimir region. Holy Blessed Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubsky
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The Patriarch is addressed: “Your Holiness, Most Holy Master.” Let us present part of a letter written to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy (Simansky) by Saint Athanasius (Sakharov).
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I pray to God that he will strengthen your strength, spiritual and physical, and may he help you for many, many years, until the end of your days.
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The entire period from Easter to the celebration of the holiday, that is, forty days, the first words of greeting among Christians are the words “Christ is Risen!”, and in response they say: “Truly He is Risen!”
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- I cordially greet you, Verochka, my dear, on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ.
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I pray to God that the light of the Resurrection will always illuminate your path. So that the Sun of Truth, Christ, always warms you.
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You can address a priest whom you know closely as “Dear Father!” or “Dear father, Father Joseph. »
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Congratulations must be sincere and breathe love. The beautiful congratulations of Father John (Krestyankin), full of spiritual joy, can serve as a high example.
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What wonderful words these are! How they change everything around us and in ourselves. These words contain a message of victory, a call to joy, a greeting of love, and a wish for peace.
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- Shine, shine, new Jerusalem. MY DEAR! CHRIST IS RISEN! REJOICE!
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Let us hear with our hearts the first words of the Risen Savior to the myrrh-bearing women: “Rejoice!”
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. Bless the youths, sing to the priests, praise the Risen Christ forever and ever.
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Easter greetings always end with the words “Truly He is Risen!”, also highlighted in red. The final words of Father John’s letters are solemn, significant and sincere:
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May the Risen Lord protect every worker in His field into eternal life, may he increase their strength and boldness in service and make their work fruitful.
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- The solemn glorification of the Nativity of Christ after the service in churches is transferred to the homes of believers.
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Here is one of the Merry Christmas greetings from St. Athanasius (Sakharov):
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On the great holiday of the Nativity of Christ, I congratulate you, mother, and all the sisters of the holy monastery entrusted to you.
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At the festive meal, moderation is observed in everything: drinking, eating, talking, joking, and the duration of the feast.
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Orthodox people visit the temple on their name days and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
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- But if the person invited on the path to faith longs for the spiritual, then such meetings at the table can be of benefit to him.
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Fun at a friendly meal is natural, but it should not go overboard.
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At the end of the feast, the birthday boy thanks those gathered for their congratulations, and the guests sing “Many Years” to him.
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When writing congratulations for Angel Day, do not forget to wish, most importantly, the help of the heavenly intercessor.
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I would like to quote the congratulations of St. Athanasius (M. Sakharov), addressed to the famous Moscow priest, “shepherd of godless times,” priest Nikolai Golubtsov:
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After the wedding, the newlyweds are greeted at the entrance to the house by the seated father and mother or parents with an icon and bread and salt. And then the guests continue the celebration at the table.
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The wedding of church people should take place in a pious atmosphere, observing decency and moderation.
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Written congratulations on marriage contain those spiritual wishes that were written about above.
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Please accept our sincere congratulations on entering into a legal marriage; we sincerely wish you all the best and mercies from the Lord, the Queen of Heaven.
TO HIS EMPLOYMENT, THE MOST REPRESENTATIVE NIKON, METROPOLITAN OF UFA AND STERLITAMAK
I cordially congratulate you, dear Vladyka, on your namesake day. May the Lord, through the prayers of your Heavenly Patron, bestow upon your Shrine good health, sacrificial patience and bright hopes for God’s mercy in this century and in the century to come.
Many years to you! With love in Christ, ONUPHRY, METROPOLITAN OF KIEV AND ALL UKRAINE, PRIMATER OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Your Eminence, Most Reverend and dear Master!
I cordially congratulate you on your namesake day!
Through the intercession of the holy Venerable Nikon of Radonezh, may the Lord help you in your archpastoral labors, so that you may serve God, the Church and lead the verbal flock of Christ to salvation for many more years to come.
I pray that the all-merciful Lord will keep you in good health and prosperity for many years to come!
With brotherly love in Christ, PAUL, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch
Your Eminence, dear Lord!
On your namesake day, please accept my heartfelt congratulations and well wishes. I prayerfully wish you God's help in your archpastoral service for the good of our Church, good health and many years of life.
With love in the Lord, BARSONOPHIUS Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Administrator of the Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate
His Eminence, Most Reverend NIKON, Metropolitan of Ufa and Sterlitamak
Your Eminence, dear Lord!
Please accept my warm congratulations on the occasion of honoring your heavenly patron - St. Nikon, abbot of Radonezh, disciple of St. Sergius.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd, who placed you on the high priesthood of the bishopric in order to set an example for the flock in achieving love and zeal for spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1), may he assist you in bearing the cross of archpastoral service at the prayerful intercession of your heavenly patron.
Rejoicing with you on this solemn day, I prayerfully wish that the All-Merciful Giver of all things will strengthen you in your apostolic labors, preserving you in physical health and spiritual joy for many years to come for the good of the Holy Church and the souls entrusted to your care.
With love in Christ, HILARION, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
His Eminence the Most Reverend NIKON, Metropolitan of Ufa and Sterlitamak, Head of the Bashkortostan Metropolis
Your Eminence, dear Vladyka Metropolitan, God-wise Father and Master, angel of the Bashkortostan Metropolis!
On behalf of the clergy, monastics, believers, heads of administrations that are part of the Salavat diocese and me personally, please accept sincere, heartfelt words of congratulations on your Name Day!
You have been working for many years in the field of Christ, teaching by word and personal example the clergy and believers of the Bashkortostan Metropolis entrusted to you to live according to the Gospel commandments. You make a lot of effort and effort to strengthen and develop good interfaith and interethnic relations, and take care of the moral and spiritual education of young people. Make a huge contribution to the restoration of churches and monasteries on the territory of the republic.
Through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and your heavenly patron - the holy Venerable Nikon Abbot of Radonezh - may the All-Merciful Lord strengthen you and send down His abundant gifts, assisting you in your archpastoral labors for the good of the Holy Church.
IS POLLA THESE DESPOTS!!! With filial love in the Lord - NICHOLAY, Bishop of Salavat and Kumertau
Your Eminence! Dear Lord!
On this bright and significant day, I address you with words of congratulations on the occasion of your namesake day!
Rejoicing at this solemn day, I prayerfully wish you strength, God’s help and success in your difficult archpastoral service.
Through the prayers of your heavenly patron - the holy Venerable Nikon of Radonezh - may our All-merciful Lord abundantly bestow His gifts, strengthening you in the field of apostolic service.
With filial love in the Lord,
AMBROSIY Bishop of Neftekamsk and Birsk
Metropolitan Nikon of Ufa and Sterlitamak
Your Eminence!
Please accept sincere and heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day!
I wish you good health, strength of spirit, further success in your creative activities in the name of a world of goodness and prosperity!
Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation A.V. Konovalov
Your Eminence!
On behalf of the leadership and personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bashkortostan and on my own behalf, I cordially congratulate you on Angel Day!
Through your works and prayers the Orthodox Church in the republic continues to develop. New churches are being built, shrines are being restored, work is underway to educate the younger generation spiritually, strengthen moral principles in the family, and social activities are intensifying.
Your bishopric is an example of tireless service to people. You, according to the word of Scripture, have become a good shepherd, a model for the faithful, uniting everyone with your cordiality and philanthropy. Many generations of clergy and laity are grateful to you for your attention, sensitivity and wise mentoring.
On the occasion of your name day, please accept sincere wishes for good health, inexhaustible spiritual and physical strength, and God's help in matters for the benefit of Orthodoxy and the people!
Sincerely, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bashkortostan M.I. Zakomaldin
Head of the Bashkortostan Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Administrator of the Ufa Diocese, Metropolitan Nikon
Dear Lord!
On behalf of the Council for State-Religious Relations under the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan and from me personally, please accept heartfelt congratulations on your namesake day!
Your many years of worthy pastoral and educational activities have repeatedly helped resolve the most complex issues of state-confessional policy, serves to develop constructive dialogue with state and public organizations, representatives of other faiths in strengthening public morality, family values and educating the younger generation, preserving the traditions of centuries-old Christian culture and interfaith harmony .
On this bright day, I sincerely wish you good health for many years to come, strength and patience, God’s help in all your difficult labors.
Sincerely, Chairman of the Council for State-Confessional Relations under the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan V.P. Pyatkov
His Eminence, His Eminence NIKON, Metropolitan of Ufa and Sterlitamak
Your Eminence!
Dear Vladyka NIKON!
Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day!
I sincerely wish you good health, mental peace, tranquility, spiritual joy, love, multiplication of the fruits of your ascetic labors for the glory of the Mother Church of Christ and for the benefit of your native Fatherland.
I bow to you deeply for the spiritual and moral upbringing and education of God’s people, your sensitive understanding of social tasks, tireless service to their implementation, the development of Orthodox traditions of peace, helping others, charity and mercy.
Through your hard work and care, the number of churches, chapels, and theological schools is increasing. This is an invaluable contribution to the creation of a spiritually strong and morally healthy society.
May the Lord keep you in peace and joy through the prayers of your Heavenly patron!
Many, many happy summers!
Sincerely, Governor of the Kemerovo Region A. Tuleev
Your Eminence, dear Vladyka NIKON!
On behalf of the workers of the Artistic and Production Enterprise “SOFRINO” of the Russian Orthodox Church and on my own behalf, I cordially congratulate you on your namesake day!
May God's all-powerful help accompany you and inspire you in your labors in the apostolic field! Through the prayers of your heavenly patron, the Lord will grant you the strength to carry out such a high service worthy, will multiply your many different talents for the glory of the Mother Church, and will bestow health, peace and spiritual joy.
We wish you, dear Master, to always have good and faithful companions next to you!
We express our deep gratitude to you for your attention to our needs, support and cooperation. We hope that it will continue and develop successfully and bring many good fruits. We are always glad to see you at the enterprise and are ready to fulfill any of your orders!
May the Lord protect you for many years and grant you success in all good endeavors and works!
With deep respect, Assistant to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, General Director of the SOFRINO Artistic and Production Enterprise LLC of the Russian Orthodox Church E.A. Parkhaev
Happy birthday greetings to the priest, father
On this day we congratulate you, And we wish from the bottom of our hearts that you continue to tirelessly carry out your righteous work!
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People come to you with grief, or with great joy, meeting everyone with a pure heart, you lead them.
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To faith, to God, and to forgiveness, For the salvation of the soul. With God's blessing, you bring light to people!
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At this turn of life, we wish you happiness, father, Always with harmony in your soul, Move forward without losing heart.
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And bring good things to people, so that faith is strengthened in their hearts, so that no one goes astray, and peace and joy live in everyone.
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And let all the warmth given come back to you many times over, Sorrows break like glass, And everything that is in your plans succeeds!
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May God always protect you from all sorrows and anxieties, May He send you Health, peace, and blessings on this birthday!
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Always be very wise and kind to all people, like God, let your soul be pure, because beauty is hidden in it!
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May God be with you, May He hear every breath, May He help in holy work, May He protect you from trouble.
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And let your parish grow from year to year. You will perform baptism and grant forgiveness.
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And loving hearts need you, holy father. Happy birthday and we wish you all the best.
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Happy birthday, We wish you from the bottom of our hearts: So that with great inspiration you can perform your Service!
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So that you have enough strength for everything, To marry and baptize, To be revered by parishioners, We wish you to live long!
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May all your prayers come true, may they flow from your lips with faith, may a lot of happiness and discoveries be with you forever!
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You, the mediator, between God and people on earth, the executor of God's will, and our helper in prayer!
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You are a priest and protector, you forgive sins, and remove the shackles that are always so heavy.
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On your birthday, I will light a candle for your health, So that the Creator does not leave you, I will pray and ask.
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May the Creator be with you, And give you a crown of Grace and hope, You, the protector of all hearts.
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Please accept congratulations on your birthday, father. Your faith is strength, the crown of all efforts.
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I wish you strength of spirit In a difficult life, do not lose, guide your flock along the bright path of Faith.
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May the Lord support you in everything, may love live in your heart, and may great hope give you strength to move.
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You sincerely serve the Lord God, you will show the lost the way to the light. You bring warmth and goodness into our world, And you don’t let evil into people’s souls.
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Please accept our wishes of love and luck on your birthday. May your business live, prosper, and may your spiritual strength never dry up!
Should we celebrate the New Year?
Should we celebrate New Year? Many Orthodox people, especially the new ones, ardently reject this holiday, especially since it falls on the Nativity Fast. They believe that the Orthodox have a different time and that the true New Year can begin according to the “old style” only on January 14. In fact, the civil new year, or New Year, is not rejected by the Church. On the eve of the civil New Year, a thanksgiving prayer is held. Once upon a time, the New Year in Russia was celebrated on September 1 and coincided with the church New Year. Until now, it is on this day that the liturgical circle begins. Only under Peter I was the civil New Year moved to January 1, as in Europe.
Answering the question whether it is necessary to celebrate the New Year, Father Alexander (Shergunov) says: “In general, this number is completely arbitrary and, in the end, one could choose any day at random, starting the countdown of the New Year from it.
Participating in New Year's celebrations is our natural human communication, and we should participate in it like everyone else. This is as normal as if we call a city exactly by the name it is now called, and not by the name we want.
New Year is a particularly warm holiday for all people. It’s like the breath of spring, it’s like spring in the middle of winter. Everyone feels solemn, and evil seems to go away. No matter how bad a person feels, he, out of nowhere, gets the hope that a miracle can happen, that good will prevail. On New Year's Eve, a person seems to flutter a little - as if he is no longer walking, but flying. But what does this poetry mean, where does this renewal come from, as if each of us does not grow older by a year, but becomes younger by a year - more than a year? Our life has been shortened by another year, and perhaps the coming new year will be the last year of life for some of us. Our life has been shortened by another year, and we have moved closer to eternity by another year. This is where the key to this holiday lies. Perhaps youth is still waiting for the dazzling novelty of earthly gifts, but maturity knows that everything will happen again. What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and “there is nothing new under the sun.” On earth there is tedious repetition, but every year we get closer to that eternally new, endless novelty that is from God, from eternity. Therefore, even in a war under bombing, in mortal danger, people cannot help but celebrate the New Year. “I want to live at least until the New Year,” says the hopelessly ill man. Not to live another year on earth, but to feel this New Year's lightness and joy. The immortal soul of every person is Christian by nature and unconsciously feels the mystery, but only Christians understand what this means. New Year is a holiday for all people. He is like the Nativity of Christ for those who do not know God. And we, Christians, are given the opportunity to see how Eternity enters time, the significance of our stay on earth and the value of human life in Christ God are revealed.
There is so much grief and evil on our land, and we know that in the new year we will not be able to avoid new troubles. I would like to forget about this at least for the duration of the holiday, but this is a world in which we are standing on the threshold of a new year. But no matter what, on New Year’s Day everyone is offered gifts, everyone is given a new opportunity. There is a certain sparkle in the New Year; every person, as one child said, feels a little like a Christmas tree toy, as if illuminated by an invisible sun. Happy New Year with a new happiness!" There are many church holidays during the Nativity Fast, when fish and wine are permitted according to the charter. And on New Year’s Day, there is nothing reprehensible for an Orthodox person to sit at the festive table with his loved ones and drink a glass of wine with them.
