| Saints Cyril and Methodius |
Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius
are brothers, Slavic first teachers, natives of the city of Thessaloniki in Macedonia, Greeks, creators of the Slavic alphabet and the first translators of liturgical books into the Slavic language. Memory of St. Kirill - February 14, St. Methodius - April 6, both - May 11, among the Seventh, in the Councils of Galician and Carpatho-Russian saints
Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius were canonized in ancient times. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the memory of the Equal-to-the-Apostles enlighteners of the Slavs has been honored since centuries. The oldest services to saints that have survived to our time date back to the 13th century.
The solemn celebration of the memory of the holy high priests Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius was established in the Russian Church in 1863.
For Orthodox Russia, the celebration of Sts. to the first teachers has a special meaning: “By them, the Divine Liturgy and all church services began in our native Slovenian language, and thus an inexhaustible well of water flowing into eternal life was given to us.”
The Iconographic Original for May 11 says: “Our Reverend Fathers Methodius and Constantine, named Cyril, Moravian bishops, Slovenian teachers. Methodius is in the likeness of an old man, with gray hair, wearing the cord of duty like Vlasiev, with the saint’s vestments and omophorion, holding the Gospel in his hands. Constantine - monastic vestments and in the schema, in his hands there is a book, and in it is written the Russian alphabet A, B, C, D, D and other words (letters) all in a row ... "
By decree of the Holy Synod (1885), the celebration of the memory of Slavic teachers was classified as a middle church holiday. The same decree determined: in prayers at litia, according to the Gospel at matins before the canon, at dismissals, as well as in all prayers in which the ecumenical hierarchs of the Russian Church are remembered, to remember after the name of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra the Wonderworker, the names: like our holy father Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers.
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...
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Cyril and Methodius were born in Macedonia. Kirill was named Konstantin at birth. Methodius, according to some sources, bore the name Michael, but there are historians who question this statement. Their father was a military leader, and their grandfather was an influential and wealthy nobleman who had fallen out of favor. Both brothers spoke Slavic from early childhood, because it was their mother’s native language.
Methodius successfully built a military career, but 10 years later he became a monk. Konstantin, who graduated from a prestigious educational institution in Byzantium, also took this path. By this time he had become famous as a linguist and philosopher, and also became a librarian under the Patriarch. He wanted to live in a monastery, but the Patriarch's envoys convinced him to take a teaching position at the university.
The brothers headed an important embassy to the Khazars, who then lived in what is now southern Russia. The missionaries used their eloquence to encourage Muslims and Jews to accept Christianity.
Thanks to the brothers’ work, the Slavic alphabet and translations of the sacred scriptures appeared. It was the brothers who first translated the Gospel. Thanks to them, Divine services can be conducted not only in Latin and Greek, but also in the native language of believers. Their efforts were rewarded. Methodius was elevated to the rank of bishop, and his brother accepted the schema. After death, they were both canonized as saints equal to the apostles.
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
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).
What do the holy brothers pray for?
People most often pray to Saints Cyril and Methodius when they want to get help in their studies. Missionary brothers also help the Slavic peoples to adhere to the true faith and live in piety. They pray to the saints for protection from heresy and other faiths.
People who are associated with gaining knowledge often turn to them with appeals. For example, teachers, students and parents. Saints also help to remove fears that hinder one's studies or performances. But the brothers are asking for more than just academic and career success. For example, fathers and mothers who have sons with these names may ask for the well-being of the child. Prayers for children on their birthday are considered especially effective.
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.
Prayers to Cyril and Methodius
Even those who know the subject or understand the information are very worried before knowledge tests, as well as other important situations. Some conscientious people have difficulty remembering information. There are those who lose control of themselves due to extreme stress. And there are also people who cannot concentrate due to anxiety.
Prayer to Saints Cyril and Methodius will help in such and other situations.
First
Oh, glorified enlightener of the Slovenian languages, saints Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril, your writings and teachings have been enlightened by the light and have been taught in the faith of Christ, like a child to his father. Now we earnestly come running and with contrition of heart we pray: even if we fail to keep your covenants, to please God we neglect and from the brotherly unanimity in the faith of those who have fallen away, even as in ancient times in your earthly life, you will not turn away the sinners and the unworthy even today, but, as those who have great things, boldly come to the Lord Know, pray diligently to Him, that He may turn us to the path of salvation, that He may pacify the discord of those of the same faith May he lead those who have fallen away to unanimity and unite us all with the spirit of love into the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church! We know how much the prayer of the righteous can do through the mercy of the Lord. Do not forsake us, sad and unworthy, your children, and for the sake of sins your flock, divided by enmity and seduced by the temptations of the heterodox, have diminished, but the sheep of words, torn to pieces, are admired wolves are destructive. Give us through your prayers the zeal of Orthodoxy, so that we will preserve the fatherly tradition well, we will faithfully observe the canons of the church, we will run away from all strange false teachings and, thus, in the life of God In the future, we will prosper in the life of paradise in Heaven, where together with you we will glorify the One God in the Trinity forever and ever . Amen.
Second
Oh, all-validated Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, falling before your venerable icon, we earnestly pray to you: look mercifully upon us, who through your labors have enlightened nature, and protect us from our ignorance By your great intercession from the evil machinations of the enemy! Look now at this vineyard, which you planted naturally, and do not give it up to the wild boar. Preserve, holy saints of God, our Orthodox Church, from afar you have been given nature on the Cornerstone, Christ, for let it be immovable, but let the waves of every little thing be scattered on this Stone Maria. Strengthen our shepherds in all virtues and in the struggle of preaching, and instruct the flock to listen to their voices. Save the entire Slovenian country from all poverty, from fire and sword, from deadly plagues and from all evil. Hear every person who comes to you with faith and demands your gracious help. In the terrible hour of death, present to all of us the blazing intercessors and the dark eyes of the demons, driving away, so that in peace and repentance we will end our earthly career, we will achieve the eternal blessings of pleasure and, together with you, We glorify the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Third
Oh, glorify the language of the Slovenian teachers and enlightenment, and saints Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril! To you, as children of our father, with the light of your teachings and writings of enlightenment and instruction in the faith of Christ, we now diligently resort to you and in the contrition of our hearts we pray. For if your covenant, as disobedient children, was not kept, and to please God, as you taught carelessly, and from like-mindedness and love, even in Slovenia, as to brothers in faith and in the flesh, You bequeathed, fallen away: both, as in ancient times in your lives you did not turn away the ungrateful and unworthy, but rewarded evil with good ones, so even now you will not turn away your sinful and unworthy children from prayer, but as those who have greatness have boldness in God Lord, pray diligently to Him that He may guide and turn us to the path of salvation; and the discord that arises among brothers of the same faith, may he pacify the fallen ones into unanimity and unite us all with unity of spirit and love in the Unity, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church . We know, we know, how much the prayer of a righteous person can do for the mercy of the Lord, even if it is offered for sinful people. Do not forsake us, your sad and unworthy children, for whose sin your flock, gathered by you, is divided by enmity and seduced by temptations from the Gentiles, has diminished, and its sheep are wise I, scattered from the mental wolves, admire: give us zeal for Orthodoxy through your prayers Let us be warmed by it, we will preserve the fatherly tradition well, we will faithfully observe the statutes and customs of the church, we will run away from all strange false teachings, and so we will prosper in a life pleasing to God on earth Indeed, we will be worthy of heavenly life in Heaven and there with you, together with the Lord of all, in the Trinity of the One God, Let us glorify it forever and ever. Amen.
Fourth
Oh, saints Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril! Now we earnestly resort to you and in the contrition of our hearts we pray: pray to the Lord to guide and turn us onto the path of salvation. Do not forsake us, your unworthy children (names), give us, through your prayers, zeal for Orthodoxy, and with it, kindled, we will preserve the fatherly tradition well, faithfully observe the charters and customs of the church. Let us strive to run away from all strange false teachings, and so live a life pleasing to God on earth prosperingly, we will become worthy of the life of paradise in heaven, and there together with you we will glorify the Lord of all, in the Trinity of the One God, forever and ever.
Troparion
As the apostle of unity/ and the Slovenian countries, teachers,/ Cyril and Methodius the God of God,/ pray to the Lord of all,/ to establish all Slovenian languages in Orthodoxy and unanimity,/ to pacify peace // and save our souls.
Translation: To the like-minded apostles and teachers of the Slavic countries, Cyril and Methodius, God-wise, pray to the Lord of all, all Slavic peoples to establish Orthodoxy and unanimity, to protect the world with peace and to save our souls.
Kontakion
We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, / the Divine Scriptures, by translating the source of knowledge of God, who poured out for us, / from which we even draw endlessly to this day, / we please you, Cyril and Methodius, / Presto To those who are to come // and warmly praying for our souls.
Translation: We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, who through the translation of the Divine Scriptures have poured forth the source of knowledge of God for us, from which even to this day we draw abundantly, we glorify you, Cyril and Methodius, who stand before the Throne of the Most High and earnestly pray for our souls.
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) ...
