Following Christ Conscientiously Vs. Merely Adhering To Christianity

Following Christ conscientiously and merely adhering to Christianity are two entirely different phenomena. 

-By Ioan (John) Calineac.

You Cannot Be Partly Christian And Partly Worldly

 You cannot be partly Christian and partly worldly.

-By Ioan (John) Calineac.

The Overindulgent Lifestyle (Saint John Jacob, The Romanian)

"The overindulgent lifestyle chases away the faith from man's heart and cools the pure love."

-From The Venerable John James/Jacob, The Romanian, of Hozeva Monastery/The Chozebite, 1913-1960; Feast day: August 5th.

-Selection and translation by Ioan (John) Calineac.

The Human Wisdom Of Today Seeks To Fly Higher Than God (Saint John James, The Romanian)

"The human wisdom of today seeks to fly higher than God like Lucifer of old. That is why God gets angry and removes His blessing from the earth."

-From The Venerable John James/Jacob, The Romanian, of Hozeva Monastery/The Chozebite, 1913-1960; Feast day: August 5th.

-Selection and translation by Ioan (John) Calineac.

Wonders Represent A Great Power Of Orthodoxy

 Wonders represent a great power of Orthodoxy. 

-By Ioan (John) Calineac.

Saints Epictetus and Astion (The First Known Christian Martyrs In Romania)

Holy Martyrs, priest Epictet, and (monk) Astion, are celebrated on July 8th. They are the oldest martyrs in Romania. They suffered in the year 290 during the persecution of Diocletian (284-305). The saints received their martyrish death in the fortress of Halmyris, the old Christian fortress on the banks of the Danube river that was named "Almyra", in antiquity.

Saint Epictet was originally from the parts of the Orient. He received the gift of priesthood and became worthy of the gift of healing the blind, the crippled and the demonised.

Saint Astion was the nephew of senator Julian. He converted to Christianity during his meeting with priest Epictet and together they reached the fortress of Halmyris. Later, the young Astion as well, received the gift of wonder-working, healing a demonised person and someone who fell from a height and remained nearly dead.

At that time, the commander Latroianus comes to Halmyris. He finds out that two strangers arrived into the city and convinced many to renounce serving the gods through their speeches. Latroianus orders their arrest and imprisonment of Epictet and Astion.

They did not make known their relatives and birthplaces, but revealed only the fact that they were Christians. They were submitted to various tortures, but they remained unscathed. Following these wonders, the commander orders that they don't receive any food and water for 30 days. They emerged victorious also.

Seeing he could not defeat them in any way, Latroianus orders that the saints are beheaded. Therefore, on July 8th, Astion was beheaded, firstly, and then the priest Epictet was beheaded. After the martyrdom, the bodies of the saints were white as snow and those who touched them were healed from any illness. The bodies of the saints were buried by Christians.

After the Edict of Milan, in the year 313, the bodies of Saints Epictet and Astion were buried in the crypt of the Episcopal baslica of Halmyris. They remained unknown until August 15th, 2001, when they were discovered and brought to the Cathedral of the Archbishopric, in Constanta.

Presently, the relics of Saints Epictet and Astion are found at the monastery of Halmyris. In Constanta, only a small part of the relics remains.

-Selection and translation by Ioan (John) Calineac.

-Source of translation: Romanian website.

THE MOTHER OF GOD OF GHIGHIU MONASTERY WONDERWORKING ICON

Also known as 'The Mother Of God --The Syrian'. This 16th century wonderworking icon was brought to Romania from Syria, in 1958, by the bishop Vasilios Samaha after being instructed so, in a dream. Today, the icon can be found at #Ghighiu #Monastery, #Prahova #County, Romania.

Icon Painter, Irenaeus Protcenco

Ecce Homo

Transfiguration

The Lament Of The Theotokos

Archangel Gabriel

Archangel Michael

Irineu Protcenco was born in 1888, in Nova Pavlenko village, modern-day Ukraine, and fell asleep in The Lord in 1953, at Sihastria Monastery, Romania. He is the painter of Saints Joachim and Anna chapel (in the yard of Sihastria Monastery). He was a perfected icon painter, his icons being unique up to this day. It is an extraordinary thing, if we take into account that he only had one healthy eye, having lost the other one during The First World War, in an accident that, we, humans, would be tempted to consider stupid, but let us not forget that God allowed it to happen: as another soldier was dusting his clothes off, a piece of glass flew away and sectioned his iris.

Before he would paint a saint, he studied his/her life thoroughly. He would paint during the first half of the day, and fast totally and not speak with anybody during that period. Even when Saint Paisius Olaru went up the scaffolding to admire his paintings, he was told: "If you come, I go", causing Fr. Paisie to leave quickly and ask forgiveness. After he ate, he would not paint at all, but would do something else (such as mix his colors). He was made a monk not long before his death, at Sihastria Monastery, where he lived during 1947-1953. In the album, "Paraclisul Sfintilor Ioanchim si Ana" (from "editura Sihastria"), you can find out more details about his life, as well as see the wonderful painting with which he adorned the chapel.        

-Selection and translation by Ioan (John) Calineac.

Spirituality Goes Beyond The Physical Laws

Spirituality includes going beyond strictly physical capacities of the human being. This is available through God who is above the world. 

-By Ioan (John) Calineac.

Orthodoxy Is Holy

Orthodoxy is holy.

-By Ioan (John) Calineac.