Christian Message From Moscow: "St. John of Kronstadt" 2006-12-02

St. John of Kronstadt was a person if unbreakable will, courage and energy. On his chest there is a cross with the crucified Saviour of the World, Jesus Christ, somebody St.John lived for, prayed to and stood in front of so many times to see Him with the eyes of his mind and heart. In one hand he holds a holy cup filled with the body and blood of our Lord. He seems to be inviting all Russia to take the Eucharist, for the one who takes it unites himself with God and takes from the hands of the Saviour eternal life.

Read the full text "St. John of Kronstadt" at the Voice of Russia website.

You are also welcome at the Mansfield & United Lutheran podcasts to hear this week's sermon from an ELCA Lutheran perspective.

Spiritual Flowerbed #5 Reverend Amvrosy of the Optina Monastery 2006-11-30 (Christian Message From Moscow)

Voice of Russia World Service presents another edition of its program the "Spiritual Flowerbed" an addition to its regular feature, The Christian Message From Moscow.

By Tatyana Shvetsova

Approximately 300 kilometres to the south of Moscow, in the Kaluga region, beside the virgin pine woods and the river Zhyzdra, there stands the ancient Russian Orthodox monastery - Optina Pustyn. It went down in the history of Russian Orthodox Church as one of the centres of spiritual renaissance that emerged in Russia in late 18th early 19th century. That spiritual renaissance was intertwined with the lives of the elders of Optina Pustyn who gave spiritual advice to Orthodox believers coming to them from all over Russia.

Read the full text "Spiritual Flowerbed. Reverend Amvrosy of the Optina Monastery" at the Voice of Russia website.

You are also welcome at the Mansfield & United Lutheran podcasts to hear this week's sermon from an ELCA Lutheran perspective.

Spiritual Flowerbed #4 Dimitry, Metropolitan of Rostov "Reflections of Sorrow and Grief 2006-11-23 (Christian Message From Moscow)

Voice of Russia World Service presents another edition of its program the "Spiritual Flowerbed" an addition to its regular feature, The Christian Message From Moscow.
Continuation of excerpts from "Spiritual Alphabet" by Orthodox Saint - Dimitry, Metropolitan of Rostov.

By Tatyana Shvetsova

REFLECTIONS ON SORROW AND GRIEF

"Do not you grieve of things transitory, for there is not one thing that you need to grieve inconsolably for. One need not grieve not only for transitory things, but over the greatest of sins before God. For even if your sin is greater than any other sin, still you need not despair and sink into inconsolable grief, for there is no sin that conquers the all-victorious mercy of our Lord. Our sins cannot compare with the vastness of the Lord's generosity. God will save us with His merciful gift of forgiveness.

Read the full text "Spiritual Flowerbed. ST. DIMITRY OF ROSTOV" at the Voice of Russia website.

You are also welcome at the Mansfield & United Lutheran podcasts to hear this week's sermon from an ELCA Lutheran perspective.