Orthodox and church holidays and fasts
Today is an Orthodox church holiday: * Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised (memory of the miracle by which Orthodoxy was established, 451). * Equal to the Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, in holy baptism Helena (969) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... Tomorrow:
* Martyrs Proclus and Hilary (c. 98-117).
* St. Michael Malein (962) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... Holidays are expected: 07/26/2021
- * Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel.
* St. Stephen Savvait (794) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... 07.27.2021
- * Apostle Aquila of the 70 (I) and other saints whose names we remember on this day...
07.28.2021
- * Martyrs of Kirik and Julitta, his mother (c. 305). *** Equal to the Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, in holy baptism Vasily, Baptist of Rus' (1015) and other saints whose names we remember on this day...
All Orthodox and church holidays and fasts...
Orthodox Saints of God
The holy saints of God show special love and mercy to those who honor their holy memory.
It seems to many that the saints are far from us. But they are far from those who have withdrawn themselves, and very close to those who keep the commandments of Christ and have the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The holy saints in their earthly life turned to God for help in healing their ailments, sorrows and deliverance from temptations, asking God that even after death He would honor them with the gift of helping people in various cases of life.
The saints have reached the Heavenly Kingdom and there they see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; but by the Holy Spirit they also see the suffering of people on earth. Many holy saints of God received special grace from God, and He deigned them to be intercessors before Him for deliverance from our sorrows and bodily ailments, in which they themselves were tempted.
The saints rejoice at our repentance and mourn when people leave God and become like foolish cattle. They feel sorry that people live on earth, not knowing that if they loved each other, then there would be freedom from sin on earth: and where there is no sin, there is joy and gladness from the Holy Spirit, so that, wherever you look, everything sweet, and the soul wonders why it feels so good, and praises God. The saints hear our prayers and have the power from God to help us. The entire Christian race knows about this. We must remember: in order for a prayer to be heard, one should pray to the holy saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, in words coming from the heart.
In our prayers we turn to the Lord God, to His Most Pure Mother - our Intercessor and Helper, to the holy Angels and holy people - the saints of God, because for their sake the Lord God is more likely to hear us sinners, our prayers. The Saints have different names: prophets, apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, unmercenaries, blessed, righteous, confessors. more>>
The Lord says: “When you light a candle, you do not put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to everyone in the house. So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:15-16). Saints are bright stars that show us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us treasure the closeness of the holy saints of God to God and turn to them for help, remembering that they love us and care about our salvation. It is good to pray to the holy saints of God on those days when the Church celebrates their memory.
«Holy Saints of God, pray to God for us!»
Saints: life, memory, suffering...
Venerable Pimen the Great, Egyptian
Kontakion 1
Chosen servant of Christ and wonderful miracle-worker, Reverend Father Pimen, the angels rejoiced in your exploits and many people were brought up from the depths of sin, glorifying the Lord who glorified you, we offer this song of praise to you who are unworthy. But you, standing in the host of the righteous before the Throne of the Almighty, look with your merciful eye on us, calling to you with love:
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Ikos 1
Having loved an angelic life, O venerable one, you left your mother, and your house, and all your possessions, and together with your two brothers, fleeing the world, you lived alone from the abodes of the great desert of Egypt; In the same way, seeing the burning of your spirit and the diligence of your young brothers towards Christ, we cry out to you with joy:
Rejoice, having betrayed your childish mind and soul to the Lord; Rejoice, having kept your flesh pure since youth.
Rejoice, you who loved the Lord with all your heart; Rejoice, inflaming your young brothers with love for Him.
Rejoice, for the sake of love for the Lord you left your father’s house; Rejoice, having delivered your brethren from the temptations of the world.
Rejoice, adorned with faith and love from childhood; Rejoice, purified by many tears and sighs.
Rejoice, you who have manifested great spiritual strength in a weak body; Rejoice, having placed all your joy in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice, reasoning is free, venerable one; Rejoice in humility, exalted to the heights.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 2
Seeing your mother naturally strive for love for her children and come to your place of abode, you did not want to receive her, for you understood that with the thought of your mother the desires of the soon-to-be-perishing worldly life would enter your soul. Moreover, you shut yourself up in a wretched cell with your brethren, instructing us to love the One Lord and for His sake to despise all earthly things and sweets, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having a mind enlightened by God, you healed the sorrow of your mother, our father, when you cried at the door of your cell and said: I want to see you, my beloved child; You asked: Do you want to see us here or in some future time? Having been taught by your sweet words, I accepted the undoubted faith and hope of eternal life in my heart and joyfully departed to my home, praising you:
Rejoice, conqueror of earthly love and multiplying heavenly love; Rejoice, you rejected temporary things and gained eternal things.
Rejoice, you have revealed to your young brothers the image of perfect renunciation; Rejoice, and rejoice your mother in the hope of eternal blessings.
Rejoice, for the sake of the beads of Christ, you despise all the red of this world; Rejoice, you have loved no one more than Christ.
Rejoice, for you have loved Christ, and you have loved your mother with holy love; Rejoice, for having torn away carnal desire from your heart, you laid down your soul for your brethren.
Rejoice, servant of your Lord, who rejoices; Rejoice, teach us to love Him too.
Rejoice, fragrant crene of the desert; Rejoice, son of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 3
By the power of God we preserve and strengthen, you have risen from strength to strength, O Reverend, and you have been vouchsafed the gifts of grace from the Lord, just as with one word you have terrified demons and with the touch of your sick hand you have raised up from the bed of illness, even as all people have seen glorify God, who is wondrous in the saints. , crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having an irrevocable aspiration towards Heaven, reverend, you loved silence above all else, and you did not want to accept a certain prince coming to you, fearing to fall into the snare of pride. We marvel at the depth of your reasoning and glorify the height of your humility, we zealously magnify you:
Rejoice, teaching monks humility; Rejoice, for us, the weak, have this path laid down by law.
Rejoice, for you have acquired true humility in your soul; Rejoice, for you have desired to preserve this virtue, like the apple of your eye.
Rejoice, having repelled the temptation of pride from your feet; Rejoice, fear the One God and serve the One.
Rejoice, thou who conquered the devil by thy humility; Rejoice, your spirit has been strengthened on high by humility.
Rejoice, you who never abandoned this virtue; Rejoice, having glorified God in all your life.
Rejoice, our God-wise teacher; Rejoice, decoration of the whole world.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 4
Avoiding the storm of everyday temptations, you were afraid, reverend, of the honor bestowed upon you by monks and worldly people, and for this reason you secretly left your monastery. In the desert, passing from monastery to monastery and enjoying the sight of the great saints of God, like a bee enjoying honey, you collected virtues from them, rejoicing and singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing your godly life near and far, O Reverend, and flowing in abundance to the sweet stream of your God-inspired words, I call to you with joy:
Rejoice, our glorious father; Rejoice, our good shepherd.
Rejoice, our mentor, taught by God; Rejoice in virtue of every rule.
Rejoice, for you have trampled underfoot all the snares of the devil; Rejoice, for you have despised that temptation.
Rejoice, for you have acquired great boldness towards the Lord; Rejoice, for through your prayer you have created great strength and healing.
Rejoice, having led many to salvation through your pious life; Rejoice, for with your godly words you have shown the surest path of ascent to Heaven.
Rejoice, Thou who fearest the devil; Rejoice, as the flute of the Holy Spirit, delight the ears of the faithful.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 5
Constantly considering God's mercy for sinners, reverend, to a certain monk who asked you what I would do when I saw my brother's sin, whether I would reprove him, you answered meekly: If you cover your brother's sin, Christ will cover your sins on the Day of Judgment, so that you may sing to Him forever. : Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the pious Theodosius, in the clothes of a simple warrior, coming to you, reverend, and asking for food, you gave him dry bread with water and salt, and it seemed sweeter to him than the royal dishes. I marvel at this to the Tsar, as if he were a wise teacher who said: Your servants prepare your food without prayer and with idle talk, but we do everything with the blessing of God. Knowing the power of your prayer, we dare to cry out to you:
Rejoice, servant of God, work miracles with your bold prayer; Rejoice, glorifying the faith of Christ with your miracles.
Rejoice, by your blessing you have made dry bread with water sweeter than royal delicacies; Rejoice, commanded to do everything with the blessing of God.
Rejoice, you who teach us to sweeten the sorrows of life through prayer; Rejoice, placing all the sweetness of life in the One God.
Rejoice, calling upon the rich one to abstinence; Rejoice, strengthen those who are hungry and needy and cast sorrow on the Lord.
Rejoice, you who make merry and enlighten; Rejoice, comforter of those who weep.
Rejoice in the rebellion of the discouraged and desperate; Rejoice in good hope for all of us.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 6
You were a preacher of humility and non-judgment of sinners, Father, because a monk was tempted by someone about his brother and for this reason wanted to take him away from the monastery, first of all you asked if you saw him sinning with your own eyes, then, picking up a small knot from the earth, you said: Thoughts, For your brother’s sins are like thorns, but yours are like thorns, and let not you at all be foolish, but in humility sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone in the desert, Our Father, like a many-bright light, driving away the darkness of ignorance and despondency from those who came to you, and exhorting all the flesh to subdue the spirit and work with an irrevocable thought for Christ. For this reason, accept this praise from us:
Rejoice, thou who hast curbed the rebellion of the flesh through the fear of God; Rejoice, having made your spirit ruler over the passions.
Rejoice, having driven away demonic temptations and temptations far from yourself; Rejoice, thou who has kept thy soul immaculate to Christ.
Rejoice, having cleansed your mind from bad and blasphemous thoughts; Rejoice, you who have ascended to the height of dispassion.
Rejoice, cover everything with your love; Rejoice, do not judge your neighbor and teach us.
Rejoice, by your mercy strive for repentance; Rejoice, cast out anyone who comes to you.
Rejoice, mirror of purity of heart; Rejoice, endless treasure of forgiveness.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 7
Although you showed the right path of repentance, you taught, reverend, that salvation is not in the number of days, nor in the multitude of deeds, but in true turning away from sin. In the same way, to a certain brother who asked if it would take me three years to repent, you answered that if you repent with all your heart and do not sin according to your will, and in three days God will accept your repentance, in the same way we, glorifying His mercy, sing To him: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Your life has been marvelous, reverend, for you have not allowed your soul to fall into a slumber of despondency, but all your days you have stretched yourself to greater deeds, remembering this parable: A boiling vessel cannot be touched by a fly; When the vessel cools down, all kinds of vipers will enter it. The enemy conveniently deposes even a careless monk, but he can never get close to one who is burning in spirit and working. For this reason we earnestly call to you:
Rejoice, unquenchable lamp of prayer; Rejoice, source of ever-flowing tears.
Rejoice, for you did not know it out of childhood laziness; Rejoice, for you have chosen vigil and prayer as your desired part.
Rejoice, having shown yourself to everyone in your common life; Rejoice, in solitude and seclusion, like a star, shining upon the world.
Rejoice, having subdued your flesh through fasting and abstinence; Rejoice, you covered your knees with unhealed sores from standing and bowing.
Rejoice, for the hearts of those saddened by your life are excited to exploits; Rejoice, the hands of those who are careless rush to work.
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord; Rejoice, unhypocritical servant of Togo.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 8
It’s strange to see how a great ascetic, having spared no one for himself, appears weakened to the weak and newbies. Having been asked how one should fast, the commandment to eat little every day, the middle path, the royal one, indicating that it is the most convenient, in which self-gratification is cut off and the mind is not exalted, singing to God without stumbling: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You were all in God, reverend, with a tender heart and a contrite soul. He always stands before Him and teaches your spiritual children to withdraw from worldly cares, worldly vanity and glory, but to keep humility and self-reproach in yourself and thus acquire the gift of tenderness. Having heard this and learned from your life, we praise you:
Rejoice, having left everything and gained Christ; Rejoice, you who have nothing, may you possess everything.
Rejoice, thou who walkest in rags, that thou mayest be clothed with the robe of the Kingdom; Rejoice, you who despise every kind of food, may you be satisfied with the sweets of heaven.
Rejoice, thou who hast acquired heavenly things through the renunciation of earthly things; Rejoice, instead of temporary blessings, eternal gains.
Rejoice, for while still alive on earth, with your thoughts you were constantly in Heaven; Rejoice, for you, the most exalted one, contemplating and communicating with the Angels, have preserved self-reproach within yourself.
Rejoice, for we glorify God and men, for you have imputed nothing to yourself; Rejoice, for having humbled yourself, you have inherited eternal glory.
Rejoice, peace to the inhabitant of the Mountain; Rejoice, joint heir with Christ.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 9
You taught to raise all your thoughts to God, reverend, for this reason you were asked what is most necessary for salvation: to speak or to remain silent, you answered, as both are equally worthy of praise, if they are done for the sake of God; speak for the sake of God, the word of God proclaims, glorifies God or instructs your neighbor to salvation, but remain silent for the sake of God in the silence of your lips and thoughts with your mind and heart crying out: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Let us also sweat and speak and be silent for the sake of God, so that we may be worthy to sing like the Angels: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Thou art wise by God, reverend, teaching all the temples of spiritual life to build on the basis of humility, to establish with faith, hope and love, to raise to heights through feats of prayer, tears and sighs and, like a shelter, to cover oneself with the will of God. Likewise, pray to us for strength and wisdom to acquire this building from the Lord, our Father, that we may bring this praise to Thee:
Rejoice, having prepared your heart for the abode of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, thou who adorned thee with all-perfect love for the Lord.
Rejoice, having been washed with never-ending tears of repentance; Rejoice, thou who art fragrant with sighs from the depths.
Rejoice, having enriched your soul with many virtues; Rejoice, you who have completely eradicated all the tares of passions.
Rejoice, for with a pure heart you have been vouchsafed to see God; Rejoice, for with a dispassionate mind you soared to heights.
Rejoice, angel, alive on earth with men; Rejoice, man of God, who served Him angelically.
Rejoice, thou crowned with the crown of glory from the Lord; Rejoice, God-given representative to us.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 10
Seek salvation for everyone, reverend, you brought some wrathful presbyter to his senses. Seeing the negligence of the monks, he was inflamed with anger and in the cathedral the monastic image was removed from them. But you, as a father to a child, have commanded with patience and love to correct those who sinned, all your efforts to sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Imitating the Heavenly King Lord Jesus with meekness, You conquered evil with good, Our Father. A certain old man, whose spiritual children he left behind, followed you, we wound you with envy, we reproach you. You came to him with gifts, and for a long time you stood before his doors, enduring the heat of the day, meekly, until that old man, touched in his heart, gave you the kiss of peace, and from that hour you became your sincere friend. Celebrating your victory against the devil, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, imitating the meek Jesus; Rejoice, having acquired kindness through His grace.
Rejoice, for you have inherited the land of the meek; Rejoice, for you have attracted the hearts of many to yourself through meekness.
Rejoice, for thou hast conquered the devil with malice; Rejoice, for through your simplicity you have abolished that deceit.
Rejoice, having turned your enemy into a brother through your kindness; Rejoice, who rejoiced at Christ's repentance.
Rejoice, as a peacemaker, named son of God; Rejoice, exalted by the Lord Himself for the sake of humility.
Rejoice, for you have loved your enemy; Rejoice, for you have taught us kindness and love.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 11
You enjoy the songs of angels in Heaven, O Reverend One, for on earth you did not blow a trumpet before you, and you hid many revelations in your soul, humbly saying to everyone that I am from below and will confess my passions and infirmities. And now, with the angels and saints, sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
You have been vouchsafed to see the heavenly light while still alive on earth, O Reverend, for your flesh has been refined by fasting and your mind is light in prayerful work, sometimes being in heavenly villages with Angels and saints, sometimes on Golgotha, at the Cross of the Lord weeping and His most pure wounds kissingly matured you in the vision. Therefore, be illuminated by the light and ask us, servant of Christ, so that we may bring you this praise:
Rejoice, viewer of the mysteries of God; Rejoice, merchant of His saints.
Rejoice, having acquired in your heart through the heartfelt prayer of the Lord; Rejoice, thou who mentally stood before Him on holy Golgotha.
Rejoice, falling spiritually to His life-giving Cross; Rejoice, tenderly kissing His most pure wounds.
Rejoice, for the love of God has poured out into your heart; Rejoice, for earthly sorrow has been driven far from you.
Rejoice, for with Joseph and Nicodemus you thought Your Lord in the tomb; Rejoice, for you joyfully met the Risen One with the myrrh-bearers.
Rejoice, mind, in vain of God; Rejoice, seraphim in the flesh.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 12
With the grace from God, the venerable one, to heal the sick and drive away demons, you have kept your heart contritely and humbly, Our Father. You have considered yourself worthy of being cast into eternal fire with Satan. Likewise, we, who have been deprived of virtue and have not acquired prayer, even more than the Pharisee who ascended, heal us with your prayer, so that having lived in contrition, together with you we will sing to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your angelic life, we praise You, Reverend Father Pimen; in your youth you were the way of life as a youth, in courage you were the rule of faith as a man, in old age you were a teacher of the elders, and for us you were always a prayer book and intercessor. For this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, having loved Christ with all your heart from childhood; Rejoice, you who have served Him from your youth.
Rejoice, for His love you inhabited the desert; Rejoice, for this sake you have withdrawn from the world.
Rejoice, lover of silence, may you forever converse with the Lord; Rejoice, thou who have nailed thy flesh to the fear of God, lest thou serve the devil.
Rejoice, you who have imposed great fasting on yourself, so that you may enjoy the One Christ; Rejoice, you who have endured all kinds of hardships, so that you may not lose Christ.
Rejoice, you who created your heart as a vessel of grace; Rejoice, and adorning your body with dispassion.
Rejoice, shame on the devil! Rejoice, praise to the Church of the Saints.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Pimen, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 13
O reverend and God-bearing Father Pimen, look upon us, the weak, who fall into many sins all day long, and through your God-pleasing intercession, deliver us from every temptation of the enemy and instill the fear of God in our hearts, so that we may live forever in virtue and humility. Let us be worthy of this blessed life and sing with everyone in endless joy: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Angel-like life...” and the 1st kontakion “The chosen saint...”.
Prayer
Oh, wondrous saint, our reverend father Pimen, we sinners are perplexed, out of duty to praise you. For you were the image of monks, the giver of healings, the inhabitant of the desert, the healer of silence, the eradicator of passions and the teacher of all virtues. For this reason, we fall tenderly to you and humbly ask: give from your treasury to our poverty. By your humility put down our pride; by dispassion our passions have fallen; by being awake, drive away the spirit of laziness from us; Awaken our insensibility with tear currents; Revive us with vigil from negligence; With your prayers, kindle the flame of prayer in us; Make us brotherly with love; Give us the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of purity and piety; Free us from passions and lead us to true repentance. You constantly had in your mind the Son of God crucified for us on the Cross. May we, the damned, constantly have that sweetest Name in our minds and hearts, so that with His love, burning and thinking about our sins, we will prepare to meet that terrible Day of Judgment and be worthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven with you and all the saints, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Troparion, tone 8
With the flows of your tears you cultivated the barren, and you brought forth fruit from the depths with sighs of a hundred labors, and you were a lamp of the universe, shining miracles, Pimen, our Father, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Your luminous deeds, reverend father, today is your holy memory, gladdening the souls of the pious, Pimen the Wise God, our reverend father.
Orthodox prayers and icons of the Mother of God and saints
The word “icon” comes from the Greek language and means “image”, “image”. The image of the icon is consecrated with holy water and special prayers, through this consecration the grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to the icon, and the icon is already revered by us as holy. According to the Orthodox dogma of icon veneration, approved by the VII Ecumenical Council, “the honor given to an icon relates to its prototype, and the one who worships the icon worships the hypostasis of the person depicted on it.” The Council especially emphasizes that we give veneration to icons, and not the worship that is due to God alone. “The icon mysteriously contains within itself the presence of the one whom it depicts, and this presence is the closer, more grace-filled and stronger, the more the icon corresponds to the church canon.”
All Icons of the Mother of God and Saints
By this time, a parish Trusteeship had already been opened at the church to help the poor, which “in addition to temporary benefits for the poor, a considerable number of orphaned families issued monthly benefits of three, five, eight, and in case of special need more than rubles...”, as reported in the Moscow Church Gazette (1883, no. 38). Ten years later, the next stage of construction work began. According to a new project approved in 1892, the author of which was the architect A.V. Krasilnikov, the temple spread significantly to the west. All work was carried out at the expense of donors and the parish. So, by the summer of 1893, the temple was increased in length due to the expansion of the refectory to the west, for which it was necessary to fill in the pond. The first tier of the bell tower was rebuilt and a porch with small tents on the sides was added. As a result, the chapels became even more spacious, and both eastern pillars of the bell tower were inside the temple space.
The temple acquired the appearance and dimensions that have survived to this day. Its maximum length was 45 meters, width about 27 meters, total area (without solea and altar) about 600 square meters, which can accommodate up to 4,000 pilgrims for holidays.
Layout of the temple (2008)
After the completion of the expansion of the temple, renovation of its interior decoration began in 1897. The parish council, headed by the rector, Fr. Vasily Slavsky (1842-1911) and the headman, merchant S.S. Krasheninnikov, decided to use as a model the sketches of the paintings of the St. Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv, completed by 1896 by the best masters of their time - V.M. Vasnetsov, M.V. Nesterov, M.A. Vrubel, P.A. Svedomsky, V.A. Kotarbinsky and others. The main role in the creation of the temple painting of the Vladimir Cathedral belonged to V.M. Vasnetsov, the founder of a special “Russian-Byzantine style” "in painting.
The idea of the continuity of Russian Orthodoxy from Byzantium, the inclusion of the Russian Church in the history of Ecumenical Orthodoxy formed the basis of the program for creating a new interior decoration of the Pimenovsky Church. The recognized master of “Russian Art Nouveau”, the outstanding architect F.O. Shekhtel (1859-1926), was appointed the author of the project and the supervisor of the work.
Turning to the possibilities of the Byzantine style, F.O. Shekhtel created a project according to which a group of talented craftsmen (P.A. Bazhenov, painting; I.A. Orlov, carving; A. Kuzmichev, vestments on icons; etc.) for ten years of work, one of the best temple interiors created in Moscow at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries was completed, distinguished by its extraordinary grandeur, harmony and beauty. This is how it has been preserved, thank God, to this day.
Interior of the Pimenovsky Church, early 20th century. (Photo from the archive of Protod. Sergius Golubtsov, Synodal Library).
The iconostases of all three adjacent altars were combined into a single two-tier ensemble, made in the Byzantine style from white Italian marble. For all its vastness and elegance of decoration, the iconostasis amazes with its strict elegance and purity of its lines. Its magnificent carving (the work of I.A. Orlov) reproduces early Christian, Byzantine spiritual symbolism. The marble decor includes floral patterns, palm branches - a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven, the “Cup of Salvation”, various forms of the cross, chrism, “alpha and omega”, bunches of grapes and vine shoots. The arch of the central iconostasis is crowned with a cross in a vine - a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ and eternal life. The bronze and gilded lattice Royal Doors, perfectly in harmony with the white marble, open up a view of the altarpieces painted on the altar.
A huge, majestic Vasnetsov image of the Queen of Heaven seems to hover above the iconostasis, as if walking through the clouds with the Infant God in her arms towards those praying.
Interior of the main temple (2008)
The walls and vaults of the temple are decorated with paintings in the Russian-Byzantine style. Under the arches there are 18 subject compositions (including altarpieces and iconostasis) on gospel themes; on the walls and pillars there are 120 life-size iconographic images of saints, “men of God” who served the Lord in earthly life in the name of Heavenly life. The paintings of all three altars are dedicated mainly to the saints of the first centuries of Christianity - Egyptian ascetics, saints, saints, teachers of the Church and confessors of the faith of Christ. In the main dome there is an image of the Almighty Savior (the Blesser) surrounded by a choir of angels. In the Savior’s left hand is the Gospel, where the words “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” burn in gold.
The Lord Pantocrator and the choir of Angels (painting of the main dome)
Painting of the vaults of the quadrangle of the main volume. Chandelier.
"The Crucified God the Son." Painting of the western wall of the main altar (composition by V.M. Vasnetsov).
Altar of the main temple. Easter, 2008
The painting of the temple also contains decorative elements of the Russian-Byzantine style - floral patterns and ribbon patterns that “support” the painting and bring all its details together. The ornamental ribbons contain lines from Gospel texts and prayers.
The “work of our salvation” is also narrated by pictorial compositions on Gospel themes and images of the holy apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, noble princes and holy women, who by the feat of faith passed through the door of the earthly temple into the Sanctuary of the Eternal Glory of God. These images contain the entire history of Orthodoxy, all the impulses of the spirit seeking achievement and truth. The painting of the temple as a whole - both in Byzantine style, and in the subjects, and in the composition of the images of saints - gives its interior decoration a majestic, universal character and fills it with extraordinary harmony and beauty.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The consecration of the renovated and decorated temple was carried out in stages, as the work was completed. The Pimenovsky chapel was consecrated on January 22, 1900. Seven years later, on December 27, 1907, the main Trinity Church and chapel in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God were consecrated. The consecration and liturgy were performed by the local clergy in front of a large crowd of worshipers.
Prayer in the Christian life. What is prayer? About prayer
Prayer is the most important part of the spiritual life of every believer. Through prayer, a person turns to God, asks him and asks for forgiveness from him. In other words, prayer is nothing more than a person’s way of talking with God. About prayer...
The basis of the life of an Orthodox Christian is fasting and prayer. Prayer, said Saint Philaret of Moscow, “is a conversation between the soul and God.” And just as in a conversation it is impossible to listen to one side all the time, so in prayer it is useful to sometimes stop and listen to the Lord’s answer to our prayer.
Prayer does not require a specific time, place, circumstance or form. It can be verbose - long, and laconic - short. The prayer can be said at any time of the day or night, and anywhere. A person can pray under all circumstances of his life: when he is sick or healthy, when he is happy or sad, when he succeeds or fails, when he is in the company of his enemies or in the circle of his friends, when he is abandoned by everyone, or when he in the midst of your beloved family. But God’s temple serves as a special place of prayer. On Sundays, as well as on weekdays, if time permits, we should go to church to pray, where our brothers and sisters in Christ - Christians - gather to pray together, all together. This kind of prayer is called church prayer.
Every Orthodox Christian must pray daily, morning and evening, before and after eating food, before starting and at the end of any task (for example: before teaching and after teaching, etc.).
In the morning we pray to thank God for preserving us last night, to ask for His Fatherly blessing and help for the day that has begun.
In the evening, before going to bed, we also thank the Lord for a successful day and ask him to keep us during the night.
Before and after meals we pray to thank God for His gifts and ask Him to bless and sanctify the food.
In order for the work to be done successfully and safely, we must also, first of all, ask God for blessings and help for the upcoming work, and upon completion, thank God.
Unfortunately, many people forget about the necessity and importance of prayer, and resort to it only in cases of feeling hopeless. However, even in these cases, as practice shows, God does not forget about the person and gives him his love and support. But not a single prayer will bring anything good to a person if he simply reads it without thinking about what is said. Therefore, it is extremely important, when turning to the Creator in prayer, to truly feel every word.
God is the best of interlocutors; he will always hear a person and help him. You should not be embarrassed to talk to God even about the most secret things that are in your soul. The main thing is to do it with true faith in God.
“True prayer does not consist in words and saying them, but true prayer consists “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). When we pray to God, we must stand before Him not only in body, but also in spirit; and say prayer not only with your lips, but also with your mind and heart; and not only bow our heads and knees, but also our hearts before Him; and raise our intelligent eyes to Him with humility. For all prayer must come from the heart; and what the tongue says, the mind and heart must say.” Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.
And no matter what happens during the day, everything happens according to the will of God; all, without exception, are circumstances in which the Lord wished to place you, so that you could be His presence, His love, His compassion. His creative mind, His courage... And, besides, whenever you encounter this or that situation, you are the one whom God put there to carry out the ministry of a Christian, to be a part of the Body of Christ and the action of God. If you do this, you will easily see that sometimes you will have to turn to God and say: “Lord, enlighten my mind, strengthen and direct my will, give me a fiery heart, help me!” At other times you will be able to say, “Oh my God, thank you!”
In the Christian catechism, that is, in the instruction on the Christian faith, it is said about prayer this way: “Prayer is the offering of the mind and heart to God and is a person’s reverent word to God.” Prayer has extraordinary power. “Prayer not only defeats the laws of nature, not only is it an insurmountable shield against visible and invisible enemies, but it even holds back the hand of the Almighty God Himself, raised to defeat sinners,” writes Saint Demetrius of Rostov.
In the New Testament, prayer is a living connection between the children of God and their infinitely good Father, with His Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is “the unity of the entire Holy Trinity with the entire spirit.” Thus, prayer life is a constant and natural presence in the presence of the Trisagion of God and in communion with Him. Such vital communion is always possible because through baptism our being has become one with Christ. Prayer is Christian because it is communion with Christ and grows in the Church, which is His Body. Its dimensions are the dimensions of Christ's love.
“Prayer is not telling God our needs. Prayer is the condition under which Divine power can contact our spirit and act in us. God is omniscient and knows us better than we know ourselves.” Archimandrite Rafail (Karelin) (XX century).
Pimen the Great
Share
In the fourth century, Egypt experienced a new cultural upsurge. This time, the inhabitants of the Nile Valley no longer built giant pyramids and did not practice the art of embalming. However, the legacy left by the descendants of the pharaohs over several centuries of the Christian era had an even greater impact on humanity than the architectural wonders lost in the desert. Egypt is the birthplace of Christian monasticism. And the indigenous inhabitants of Egypt - the Copts - are the founders of this amazing phenomenon.
On both sides of the great Nile, thousands of ascetics lived in deserts and oases. Their spiritual authority was recognized throughout the Roman Empire. And the experience of spiritual life; subtle knowledge of human psychology and answers to the main questions of human existence became the property of the entire Christian world.
The Monk Pimen the Great is one of the most significant Egyptian ascetics of that time. He was born around 340 into a Coptic family. Together with six brothers, he became a monk and lived in the desert called Skete, west of Alexandria. One day, when nomadic Libyan tribes made a big raid on the hermitage monks, Pimen and his brothers barely managed to escape. After this, they settled on the ruins of a pagan temple in the ancient city of Terenutis on the banks of the Nile.
The Monk Pimen spent many years in silence, cutting off from himself everything that distracted and weakened a person. Family ties and everyday worries; praise and honor; The reverend perceived the annoying noise and bustle of those around him - the entire stream of emotions that make up our everyday life - as if he had already died. All his attention was occupied by crying about his spiritual weaknesses and thoughts of God saving man.
This difficult path, accessible only to a few, did not break him. He did not become a callous or overly harsh person, but the grace of the Holy Spirit opened in him abyss of love for his neighbors. Knowing about someone’s weakness, Pimen the Great always took the sinner’s side, protecting him from the condemnation of others, and gradually showing him a way out of his sinful state.
Brothers: Father Pimen, give us advice. If we see a brother dozing in church, do you order us to wake him up so that he does not sleep during prayer?
Pimen: If I see my brother dozing in prayer, I will lay his head on my lap and calm him down.
Brothers: And if we see that our neighbor has sinned, will it be useful to hide his sin?
Pimen: When we cover up the sins of other people, God covers our sins. If we discover another person’s sin before everyone, then God will also reveal our sins.
Pimen: If a person sins and renounces, saying: I am not a sinner, do not rebuke him; otherwise you will take away his disposition for good. If you tell him: don’t be discouraged, brother, don’t despair, but be careful, through this you will awaken his soul to repentance.
In those days, the monks performed feats of self-denial and abstinence that amaze us with their difficulty. Endure the heat and thirst. Limit yourself in food and sleep. Stand at night in prayer. The Egyptian fathers could do all this, and Pimen the Great went through all this. But the more he succeeded in the monastic art, the more clearly it was revealed to him that the secret of Christian life is not in the number of bows and days spent without food, but in the heart that gives itself to God. This is what he taught to his spiritual children.
Brother: Father Pimen, I committed a great sin, and I want to repent within three years.
Pimen: That’s a lot, brother.
Brother: Then within one year.
Pimen: What are you doing? And that's a lot!
Brother: Then forty days, as established by the holy fathers.
Pimen: I am convinced that if a sinner repents with all his heart and no longer falls into sin, then God will accept his repentance in three days.
Having lived 110 years, the monk departed to the Lord around the year 450. He left behind short teachings and aphorisms, where there are words for both the monk and the layman. The teachings of the monk are distinguished by exceptional spiritual realism.
Here are just some of his statements:
“Everything that is beyond measure is from demons.”
“If we chase peace, it runs away from us; if we run from it, then it itself chases after us.”
“Even if a person makes a new heaven and a new earth, even then he cannot remain carefree.”
The outstanding Russian teacher of monasticism, Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, wrote about the ancient ascetic:
“Saint Pimen had some kind of special natural solidity of mind, alien to frivolity; he had some kind of natural prudence, alien to arrogance. The correctness and fidelity of the feat, which the Monk Pimen unswervingly adhered to, is attested by God, who poured out the greatest gifts of grace on Pimen.”
Holy Fathers on Prayer
“Prayer is a great weapon, an unfailing treasure, wealth that never runs out, a serene haven, a foundation of peace; prayer is the root, source and mother of countless blessings and is more powerful than royal power.” St. John Chrysostom.
“Prayer in its rank is higher than alms.” St. Isaac the Syrian.
“Prayer is the emergence in our hearts of one after another reverent feelings towards God.” St. Feofan, the Recluse of Vyshensky.
“During prayer, let our speech and supplication be combined with decorum, calmness and modesty. Let us think about the fact that we stand before the face of God and that we must please the eyes of God both by the position of the body and the sound of the voice.” Sschmch. Cyprian of Carthage.
“You must abstain from marital affairs in order to engage in prayer; to abstain from worries about wealth, from the desire for earthly glory, from the enjoyment of pleasures, from envy and every evil deed against our neighbor, so that when our soul is in silence and not disturbed by any passion, in it, as in a mirror, God’s purity and uncloudedness will be insight." St. Basil the Great.
“When starting a prayer, leave yourself, your wife, your children, part with the earth, pass through heaven, leave every creature visible and invisible, and begin by praising Him who created everything, and when you praise Him, do not wander your mind here and there, do not talk about fabulous things. pagan, but choose words from the Holy Scriptures.” St. Basil the Great.
“Every place and every time is convenient for us to pray.” St. John Chrysostom.
Orthodox prayers to the holy saints. Holy saints of God.
Orthodox prayers for those in need for various needs and infirmities.
What a Christian Should Remember
There are words of Holy Scripture and prayers that it is advisable to know by heart.
1. The Lord's Prayer “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). 2. The main commandments of the Old Testament (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). 3. The main gospel commandments (Matt. 5, 3-12; Matt. 5, 21-48; Matt. 6, 1; Matt. 6, 3; Matt. 6, 6; Matt. 6, 14-21; Matt. 6, 24-25; Matthew 7, 1-5; Matthew 23, 8-12; John 13, 34). 4.Symbol of Faith. 5. Morning prayers and evening prayers according to a short prayer book. 6. The number and meaning of the sacraments.
The sacraments must not be mixed with rituals. A ritual is any outward sign of reverence that expresses our faith. A sacrament is a sacred act during which the Church calls on the Holy Spirit, and His grace descends on the believers. There are seven such sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion (Eucharist), Repentance (Confession), Marriage (Wedding), Blessing of Anointing (Unction), Priesthood (Ordination) ...
Life of Saint Pimen
Pimen the Great was born in Egypt around 340.
In his youth, he and his brothers went to the famous monastic community in the Skete desert. In 407, a Berber raid forced the monks to leave the Skete and settle in the ruins of a pagan temple at Terenufis.
The small community was led in turn by Pimen and his elder brother Anubis . During the day they worked until noon, in the very heat they read for three hours, then collected brushwood, and out of 12 hours at night, four worked, four sang psalms, four slept.
Despite the fact that Pimen himself sometimes did not eat anything for a whole week, he advised his students not to exhaust themselves excessively: “We fast not to kill our bodies, but to dominate them.”
Pimen always advised the monks to remember the sayings of other famous elders: “And you will find help in them and be saved.” Thanks to him, the collection “Apothegmata” (“Aphorisms”) appeared, which included sayings of various Egyptian preachers.
Article on the topic
The mouthpiece of God. Where do the elders get the gift of foresight?
Pimen always acted according to the situation, which disappointed some students who demanded that the ascetic provide them with some kind of universal guide to behavior. But Pimen did not agree with this approach. He said: “You speak for God - well done, for God you are silent - again well done.”
Pimen’s sayings may seem contradictory at first glance, since they were said to different people in different situations. One monk, who was besieged by sinful thoughts, was advised by the ascetic to turn to the devil with the words: “Let blasphemy fall on you, because it is not mine, I don’t like it.” And to another monk, who too often blamed all the blame on the machinations of Satan, Pimen said: “Devil! It's always the devil's fault. But in my opinion, this is all from self-will.”
Having lived a long life, the Monk Pimen the Great died at the age of about 110 years.
Article on the topic
Great sages and miracle workers. History of the capital's holy fools
