Рожество Христово

It is now December 25th! Christ is born!


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The Solovetsky Martyrs

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Many are unaware of the story of some of the greatest Martyrs that the Church has seen: the holy Saints of Solovetsky Monastery. Above: Family tree of Denisov brothers I here tell the story of the Solovetsky Martyrs with illustrations from the "Sufferings of the Solovetsky Fathers" by Simeon Denisov (Симeон Денисов ), a famous writer who, along with his brother Andrei Denisov ( Андрей Денисов ) wrote the Pomorian Answers, which was an apologetic for Old Believers. They also founded Vygotsky Monastery, which was based on Solovetsky's charter. This monastery remained priestless, a sect that maintained that there was no more earthly liturgy, and split into multiple more branches, many of which practiced self-immolation. Luckily, Simeon and Andrei refrain from defending that tragic and sinful practice. They are often considered Saints by priestless. The book was handwritten, due to the ban on giving printing presses to Old Believers, and due to simple tradition
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The Whole Story

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Source: The website of the Church of the Holy Ascension, Oregon, USA. Light editing. The Orthodox Church Until The Middle of the 17th Century: The baptism of Russia in 988 by the Equal-to-the-Apostle saint Price Vladimir was the single most important event in our nation’s history. The quest for the True Faith of Christ had already been present in the soul of the Russian people. Princess Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir, had already received the Holy Baptism and, according to the chronicles, “had lead many to the Faith”. Ever since the times of Saint Vladimir, the Russian Orthodox Church had grown and prospered during more than 600 years, while remaining united and in peace.The efforts of the enemies of the Church, who on numerous occasions attempted to subjugate the Russian Church or to break it up, did never succeed: the harrowing yoke of the Tatar invaders which lasted over 200 years never succeeded in destroying or even corrupting Russian Orthodoxy. On many occasions Roman P
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Is the icon of the Father canonical?

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Is this icon canonical? And are others like it? The Ancient of Days icon of the Father is perhaps one of the more controversial in existence. It seems everyone has an opinion on this, so I thought I'd clear up misconceptions and explain the canonicity (and history) of the Ancient of Days. Brief Liturgical Evidence Saint Hippolytus of Rome The prophet Daniel here sees no other than the Lord himself, the Lord and God of all, and the Father of Christ Himself. (“Interpretation on the book of Daniel the Prophet”). Liturgy The  Octoechos, Tone 5, Midnight Office Canon to the Holy and Life Creating Trinity, Ode 4, first troparion Daniel was initiated into the mystery of the threefold  splendour  of the one Dominion when he beheld Christ the Judge going unto the Father while the Spirit revealed the vision." Nicodemos of Athos Note - I do not take this as Patristic proof. But it may be convincing to those in the Nikonian church, and Nicodemos makes a fine argume
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