by Elder Efraim
Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi
According to Abba Cassian the monk seeks to obtain the kingdom of heaven and aims to purify his heart through repentance. By extension this applies to all believers and laity who wish to struggle and are already struggling for their salvation. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
Το απόγευμα του Σαββάτου, 16 Οκτωβρίου 2010 έφτασε στις 4μ.μ. στην Ιερά Μονή ο Σεβασμιώτατος Μητροπολίτης Μύρων κ. Χρυσόστομος προσκεκλημένος της Μονής για να προεξάρχει των εορτασμών.
Το απόγευμα της Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
9. The deadly plague is stopped
22 August 1827. Father Savvas writes: “At Enos, the deadly plague has stopped on the 15th of June with the grace of the Holy Belt”. From Enos, the Holy Belt was transported to Didimotichon. In another letter, dated 12th September, the same priest writes: “Here, the deadly plague has stopped as it did at Enos, with the grace of the Holy Belt”.
10. We have been freed from the onslaught of lucusts. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
5. Fr Daniel Katounakiotis is cured of an inflammation of the kidneys.
In his book, “Contemporary Figures of the Holy Mountain”, Vol. 4, the late Archimandrite Cherubim describes how Father Daniel Katounakiotis had been miraculously cured of an acute inflammation of the kidneys. We quote the account: “No sooner did he reach Vatopedi than he suffered an acute inflammation of the kidneys. This “thorn in the flesh” afflicted him very seriously this time and he had to stay in bed for weeks.
The fathers at the monastery have been nursing him with a lot of affection. But even more affection was shown by the great Doctor of the Mountain, the Mother of God. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
The Holy Belt has performed innumerable miracles over the years. We will only refer to some of them, here.
1. The ship stays montionless
Once, the inhabitants of Ainos invited the Holy Belt. The monks who were accompanying it were being offered hospitality at the house of a priest, whose wife secretly cut off a small piece. When the monks boarded the vessel, the ship stayed motionless, even though the sea was calm. When the woman saw this extraordinary event she realized her mistake and handed back the missing piece. The ship sailed off only after the piece was handed over. Since then a second casket was crafted to accommodate this piece to this day. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
The history of the Holy Belt chapter
The Holy Belt of the Mother of God, divided these days in three parts, is the only relic or remains, which endures from her life on earth and is being safeguarded at the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi. According to the tradition, the belt was woven from camel hair from the Mother of God herself, and after her Repose, while she was ascending to heaven, she handed it over to Thomas the Apostle. The apolytikio of the feast for the deposition of the Holy Belt of the Mother of God says: “While you were ascending to the forthcoming glory, you have given your most venerable belt to Thomas the Apostle”. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
The Holy Apostles became the vessels of the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Miracles are events beyond nature, which use and are being energized by material things (handkerchiefs and aprons), which are full of Grace. Our Orthodox Church celebrates the worship of the “chains” of Saint Peter in January. When he had been imprisoned by Herod in Jerusalem, his hands were chained. An angel sent by the Lord, freed him. The Christians have preserved the chains and they have been honoring and worshiping them for the benefit of their souls. The chains have received “eternal grace” and became “the cure of ailments, the consolation of those afflicted, the harbor for those distressed”. In a troparion of the Canon of the feast it is written: “Peter, drive away demonic disturbances, pacify the tempest of sin and eradicate all sicknesses, dangers and afflictions as well as the assaults by barbarians from all those who revere your chains”. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
Our Church honors the holy and sacred relics, whether they are derived from the bodies of Saints, or are items belonging to them. One such relic, the only one which has been found to this day and belongs to the Most Holy Mother of God, is her Holy Belt. It constitutes a precious treasure and the most sacred relic which the Great, Holy Monastery of Vatopedi possesses. The Grace of the Holy Spirit continues to act through the holy relics. As Saint Chrysostomos says: “Jesus Christ, honoring the struggles, the blood they have shed and the martyrdom of the saints, has safeguarded their souls in heaven. But He left on earth their body and their holy relics to assist in our salvation”. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
Prologue
The works of God and His Saints, which cannot be rationally explained, are called miracles. God performs miracles ad infinitum. This is revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ who says: “My father is working until now” ( John 5, 17). By His uncreated energies, God provides, preserves and controls the whole universe, the whole creation. That is, God preserves the creation in the mint condition He had created it. He conserves and protects it by His divine consideration. Therefore, God’s uncreated energies are constantly and incessantly being revealed in the physical world and cause natural and physical results.Therefore, we are living a constant miracle. All of our abilities are being set in motion by God’s will. If God withdraws His energy from one of our abilities, we are going to lose it. Now I am able to see. I can see because God allows it. If God withdraws his energy I will become blind. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
An issue of national importance which has been capturing the attention of the whole country for decades as well as the various Greek ministries and the Greek national security authorities, has become a matter of internal political squabbling, of investigative committees and of unrestrained chit-chat because of ‘additional external factors’. The consequences of such furor will possibly be felt by the entire nation for years to come. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
Source: Romfea
Byzantium may have perished and did not survive as a state. Nevertheless, it survives spiritually as a genuine way of life and as a culture. I would dare say that Byzantium lives on spiritually within the Holy Mount Athos! Our Lady’s garden exhibits resilience beyond time, as well as a unique way of life and a reviving vigor. read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
This is a true account of events as described by a passenger aboard a plane, returning from the Holy Land on the 29th August 2003
We had a magnificent time. The previous day we had celebrated the Assumption of our Lady, at her Church were her resting place is, since this feast is celebrated in Jerusalem on the 28th August, that is, 13 days later than the date celebrated in Greece. We lived through a unique experience. Late in the afternoon we packed our bags and took part in the all night vigil at the Holy Sepulcher. Soon afterwards we boarded the bus which was waiting for us just outside the old city. The weather was good and the sky clear and starlit … read more… Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙ
Απόψεις για τη Μονή Βατοπαιδίου (και όχι μόνο) 