He is always with you

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You can deny God, but you can not hide from him.  If you fail to see the glory of God, it is not because God refuses to reveal Himself to you, but because you are unwilling to receive His warmth and light.

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You fail to see because you fail to look.  But though you close your eyes to God, His light continues to shine on you.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra


the Lord’s teaching converts souls

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That the Lord’s teaching converts souls means that it has the power to transform life itself,

for the soul is the principal of life within us.

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Thus it was by his words alone Christ gave sight to the blind, raised paralytics up from their beds (Matthew 9:5 & John 5:8),

and commanded a dead man to rise from his tomb (Jn 11:39-44).

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In this way, the power of conversion ascribed to the law of God includes the power of raising fallen man from the dead,

restoring him to life, physically and spiritually, for it is the power of God Himself

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

Psalms and the Life of Faith



wondrous feast of the Nativity of Christ

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Christ is born! Glorify Him!

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Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,

And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!

Angels with shepherds glorify Him!

The wise men journey with a star!

Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!

Kontakion of the Nativity

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Merry Christmas!

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

Joyeux Noël!

Fröhliche Weihnachten

შობას გილოცავთ!

счастливого Рождества!

Crăciun fericit!

Merry Christmas!


the silent descent of God

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This is the silent descent of God, His descent from the heavens into our hearts.

+ Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

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Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  and behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Luke 2:8-14


it is not enough to celebrate Christmas

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“The Church prepares us for the Nativity by exhorting us to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8)

Repentance begins with humility, contrition, tears and Confession, but it does not end there.  The fruit of repentance is love and forgiveness, peace and unity.”

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“Holding fast to the law of love, let us embrace the intent of brotherly love, establishing peace with one another, and oneness of mind; for Christ the Giver of all peace is coming, bringing peace to all.”

Compline of the Forefeast-December 22

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Father Vassilios Papavassiliou

Meditations for Advent; Preparing for Christ’s Birth


be at rest and know that He is God

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“The same, true Son of God, Who was timelessly born before the Morning-star, now undergoes a second birth in time.  What is the Morning-star?

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It is the light that heralds the dawn.

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Before the appearance of the stars, before the creation of the world, before the beginning of time itself, the Son was begotten timelessly, eternally, everlastingly from the womb of God the Father.”

+ Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

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Just days before the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all things are in hushed preparation for the mystery of the Incarnation.  Are we?


holy ones

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The word saints means holy ones and reminds us not only of the saints but also of God’s holy angels.  Like the angels the saints reveal the divinity of God

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The power, holiness and love of God are manifested in the splendor of the saints.  Every Saint in his or her own way, reveals Christ.   Every saint increases and augments the glory of Christ

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It is not possible to understand the glory of Christ apart from the glory of His saints

+ elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra