To pray somehow, says Mark the Ascetic, lies within our power, but to pray purely is a gift of God's grace. So, whatever we can, let us offer to God, however small (for us), and God's power will flow into your feeble strength, and prayer, dry and scattered, but frequent—everlasting—when acquired and transformed into nature, will become pure, bright, ardent, and worthy prayer. - St. Alexis Mechev of Moscow

Miracles and revelations from the Divine Liturgy

In the holy church of the Holy Cross of the Lavra of Saint Alexander Nevsky, in Petersburg, Russia, the following shocking incident once occurred:

During a divine service, the officiating archpriest Stefanos, after reciting the prayer "I believe, Lord, and I confess...", lifted the lid of the holy chalice and was left as if speechless.

He saw human flesh and blood inside! He then turned to the deacon, the later elder Samson (1979), and said to him: "Do you see, father?"

What should they do?

The bishop, after placing the holy chalice on the altar, knelt and begged the Lord to have mercy.

How would he impart human flesh to the believers? Who would receive it?

After praying for a quarter with raised hands, he looked again at the holy cup.

The flesh and blood had become bread and wine. So he came out and communed with the believers.

Those clergy who were informed of the miracle said that God allowed it to strengthen their faith.

In fact, the deacon Samson, who was holding the holy cup, confessed that he received special strength and comfort from this event.

Believe absolutely and without a doubt that the divine Eucharist is this precious Body and Blood of the Savior.

He was convinced himself, but he also spread it to others, so that all who would learn about it would gain strength and joy.

This point was also, as he said, an occasion for the clergy to acquire more humility and to realize their unworthiness.

Miracles and revelations from the Divine Liturgy

There is no greater obedience than obedience to the Church! And if we merely wipe the floor of the Lord's house with a rag, it will be held in high esteem by God above all other deeds. - St. Seraphim of Sarov

 

"Whose breath is it that has come forth from you?" (Job 26:4)

People are mistaken when they think that the life they have belongs to them and that they can do with it whatever they want.
Life is a gift from God.
The Lord takes it when He wills. And we see this at almost every step.
"Whose breath is it that has come forth from you?" (Job 26:4)
St. John of Kronstadt

The Lord will make wise the one who humbles and belittles himself. He who considers himself wise falls away from the wisdom of God. - Saint Isaac the Syrian

 

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. The word “Hosanna” means “Save, I pray” or “Save now.”

 

You will eat vegetable soups, tahini soups and God will bless you and you will be satisfied with nothing else in your life.

Once when I went up to the monastery, Father Simonas asked me. It was Great Lent!!

-Are you fasting, my child?

-I tell him, yes, Father Simon.

-What are you eating?

-I tell him, oil all through Great Lent .

He turns and says to me: -My child, then what kind of fasting are you doing?

-Why, Father Simon?

He tells me, you will not eat oil, my child, you will fast five days a week and eat oil on the weekend, but you will not leave your stomach hungry.

You will eat vegetable soups, tahini soups and God will bless you and you will be satisfied with nothing else in your life.

And that's exactly what happened.

To this day I continue my fasting.

In fact, he told me something that I really liked!!!

He tells me: my child, during this season the human blood rotates 400 times more than at other times, and during these 49 days of fasting, when the human body does this, it throws off all diseases.