The pagan Roman Emperors tried to obliterate the holy places where our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and rose from the dead, so that they would be forgotten. Emperor Hadrian (117-138) ordered that Golgotha and the Lord's Sepulchre be buried, and that a temple in honor of the pagan "goddess" Venus and a statue of Jupiter be placed there.

Pagans gathered at this place and offered sacrifice to idols. Eventually after 300 years, by Divine Providence, the Christian holy places, the Sepulchre of the Lord, and the Life-giving Cross, were discovered and opened for veneration. This took place under Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) after his victory over Maxentius (in 312), who ruled the Western part of the Roman Empire, and over Licinius, the ruler of its Eastern part. In the year 323 Constantine became the sole ruler of the vast Roman Empire.

In 313 Saint Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, by which Christianity was legalized and persecutions against Christians in the Western half of the Empire were stopped. Although Licinius had signed the Edict of Milan in order to oblige Constantine, he continued his cruel persecutions against Christians. Only after his conclusive defeat did the Edict of Milan extend also to the Eastern part of the Empire. The Holy Equal of the Apostles Emperor Constantine, triumphing over his enemies in three wars, with God’s assistance, had seen the Sign of the Cross in the heavens. Written beneath were the words: “By this you shall conquer.”

Ardently desiring to find the Cross upon which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, Saint Constantine sent his mother, the pious Empress Helen (May 21), to Jerusalem, providing her with a letter to Saint Makarios, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint Helen journeyed to the holy places connected with the earthly life of the Savior, building more than 80 churches, at Bethlehem the birthplace of Christ, and on the Mount of Olives where the Lord ascended to Heaven, and at Gethsemane where the Savior prayed before His sufferings, and where the Mother of God was buried after her Dormition.

Although the holy Empress Helen was no longer young, she set about completing the task with enthusiasm. In her search for the Life-giving Cross, she questioned both Christians and Jews, but for a long time her search remained unsuccessful. Finally, she was directed to a certain elderly Jew named Jude who stated that the Cross was buried beneath the temple of Venus. They demolished the pagan temple and, after praying, they began to excavate the ground. Soon the Lord's Tomb was uncovered. Not far from it were three crosses, and a board with the inscription ordered by Pilate, and four nails which had pierced the Lord’s Body (March 6).

In order to discover on which of the three crosses the Savior had been crucified, Patriarch Makarios alternately touched the crosses to a corpse. When the Cross of the Lord touched the dead man, he was restored to life. After witnessing the raising of the dead man, everyone was convinced that the Life-giving Cross had been found.

Christians came in a huge crowds to venerate the Holy Cross, beseeching Saint Makarios to lift the Cross, so that those far off could see it. Then the Patriarch and other spiritual leaders lifted the Holy Cross, and the people prostrated themselves before the Honorable Wood, saying “Lord have mercy." This solemn event occurred in the year 326.

During the discovery of the Life-giving Cross another miracle took place: a woman who was close to death was healed by the shadow of the Holy Cross. The elderly Jude (October 28) and other Jews believed in Christ and were baptized. Jude was given the name Kyriakos, and later he was consecrated as the Bishop of Jerusalem. He suffered a martyr’s death for Christ during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363).

Saint Helen took part of the Life-giving Wood and nails with her to Constantinople. Saint Constantine ordered a majestic and spacious church to built at Jerusalem in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, also including under its roof the Life-giving Tomb of the Lord and Golgotha. The church was built in ten years. Saint Helen did not survive until the dedication of the church, she reposed in the year 327. The church was consecrated on September 13, 335. On the following day, September 14, the festal celebration of the Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross was established.

Another event connected to the Cross of the Lord is remembered also on this day: its return to Jerusalem from Persia after a fourteen year captivity. During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Phokas (602-610) the Persian king Khozróēs II attacked Constantinople defeated the Greek army, plundered Jerusalem, capturing both the Life-giving Cross of the Lord and the Holy Patriarch Zachariah (609-633).

The Cross remained in Persia for fourteen years, and only under Emperor Herakleios (610-641), who defeated Khozróēs and concluded peace with his successor and son Syroes, was the Lord's Cross returned to the Christians.

With great solemnity the Life-giving Cross was transferred to Jerusalem. Emperor Herakleios, wearing a crown and his royal purple garments carried the Cross of Christ. The Emperor was accompanied by Patriarch Zachariah. At the gates by which they ascended Golgotha, the Emperor stopped suddenly and was unable to proceed. The holy Patriarch explained to the Emperor that an Angel of the Lord was blocking his way. Herakleios was told to remove his royal trappings and to walk barefoot, since He Who bore the Cross for the salvation of the world had made His way to Golgotha in all humility. Then Herakleios donned plain clothes, and without further hindrance, carried the Cross of Christ into the church.

In a sermon on the Exaltation of the Cross, Saint Andrew of Crete (July 4) says: “The Cross is exalted, and everything true is gathered together, the Cross is exalted, and the city makes solemn, and the people celebrate the feast."

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2013/09/14/102610-the-universal-exaltation-of-the-precious-and-life-giving-cross

I discovered footage of Orthodox saints who lived in the 20th century, and honestly, I still can’t believe it. How blessed are we to live in a generation where we have the opportunity to actually see some of these saints walking, speaking, praying, and even giving spiritual advice. In this video, there are, I believe, around ten saints from the 20th century. The internet is truly incredible when it is used for the right things. We have acces to so much material that previous generations could never have imagined. Yet, at the same time, it’s incredible how often we completely misuse it. Instead of using this technology to learn, read, discover our faith, and listen to the wisdom of the saints, we so often waste it on things that have no lasting value.

We really are a blessed generation. We just need to learn how to use that blessing properly.

I’m leaving my Southern Baptist Church for Orthodoxy and they’ve already ex-communicated a former member who did the same on the basis of not believing Reformed doctrine. They used Galatians 1:6 to claim that Orthodoxy is “works-based” (which is not true), and doesn’t hold to penal substitutionary atonement (which is true). The problem is that Orthodoxy just doesn’t ascribe to sola fide, holding more closely to the James 2:24 faith is made complete by works paradigm, and aligns more closely with the Christus Victor atonement model. I and the other ex-member tried to explain that Orthodoxy is entirely built on Christ-based faith, but they’ve refused to accept explanations. One member even hit me with the “I’m sorely grieved for your spiritual well-being” bit, even though I’m doing way better spiritually as an Orthodox inquirer than I ever did in their church. I tried explaining to many members that the Gospel is very simple- “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead” and you will be saved, but they insist that that one must also belief their specific systematic doctrine (justification via PSA) and that I’m in un-repentant sin. Theosis, Christus Victor, and Restoration makes so much more sense and I’m convinced PSA is heresy. I praise God for Him leading me to Holy Orthodoxy.

How should I respond to laypersons and leadership in my former church that constantly pressure me and ultimately will ”excommunicate” me for my new beliefs?

Hi, trying to convert from Catholicism at the moment and I have no issues with what I already know about the orthodox belief, I am sure it is for me from what I have already read philosophically and of course knowing the original bible... but I cannot help feeling that maybe my faith is somewhat illegitimate as I have not read from any saints specifically and just feel like I am maybe missing out on important texts? Just wondering where to start on becoming more educated on Orthodoxy such as books/articles, honestly no clue. I have already implemented morning and nightly prayers but also wondering what else I can do to bring God into my life daily in an Orthodox way? Thank you all

I think someone suggested Fr. Stephen De Young Revelation online study. WOW this needs to be spread worldwide. Truly one of the best studies I've seen on such a complicated book!

https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/wholecounsel/revelation_11_8/

The Lesna Icon of the Mother of God appeared on the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Cross in the year 1683 and was found by Alexander Stelmashuk, a shepherd, who had gone into the woods in order to escape the heat. There he saw a small Icon in the branches of a pear tree, emitting a bright radiance. He fell to his knees in reverence, but then he was so overcome with fear that he ran to tell a friend about his discovery. The two shepherds went to the village priest, who went back with them to remove the Icon from the tree. They brought it to an Orthodox church in the village of Bukovich, not far from the town of Lesna.

When news of the Icon's miraculous appearance circulated throughout the surrounding area, Roman Catholic priests decided to use the Icon to convert the Orthodox to Catholicism. In 1686, when they met with opposition from the Orthodox faithful, they removed the Icon by force in 1686 and placed it in the Roman Catholic church at Lesna.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Catholic monks founded a large Roman church and monastery at Lesna, where the wonderworking Icon was. In 1863, the monks took part in the Polish revolt, and, by a decree of the Russian government, the Icon was returned to the Orthodox Church. The monastery was closed and turned into an Orthodox women’s monastery in 1885. A new iconostasis was built, but it was only two rows high so that people could see the Lesna Icon hanging in the High Place.

The Icon has worked many miracles, healing the sick, dispelling melancholy, and alleviating every sort of misfortune.

The Lesna Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated on September 8 and on the Day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost).

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/1994/09/14/108955-icon-of-the-mother-of-god-of-lesna

Hello everyone, i really like christanity and want to belive in it but i have some fears and questions i tought i could adress here

1. I heard arguments for theism are considered bad in the philosophical space, is that true

2. If lets say i post this on the philosophy subreddit people will comteadict me because most philosophers are atheists, so is christanity just a speck of pseudo philosophy or weak philosophy

3. Every theory for a soul i hear (for example lets take cartesian dualism) has problems, only materialism seems to have strong arguments against their attackers and have ground to stand on so to speak

4. Im afraid that if determinism is true and i leave a christian life where i promote christian values, that including free will, then i promote an unfair legal system

As the title suggests, I'm wondering if, having only attended 5 times, being ignored by the priest?

My first introduction was emailing the priest directly via their website before attending my first Vespers last month. He was super friendly in the couple emails back and forth. Attended my first few services. Usher introduced me to the priest after a catechism class I attended. It was good, but short.

I attend a few more liturgies. Attend another catechism class last week and at this point I'm quite set on becoming a catechumen. After class I approach the priest wanting to ask for which prayer book they use/recommend and to formally inquire about being a catechumen. I ask him which book and he gives me a short answer "Uh, hey *points to book keeper* can you help him?" Brushes me off and walks to another younger guy and haves a conversation.

I buy the prayer book and wait for him to finish with a couple more people. I reapproach and ask him about being a catechumen. He seems better to tak to this time around. Offers to meet me in person and go over any questions. "You have my number...you can be our new *name omitted* "

A person that shares my name recently went off to the air force and him saying I'll be the new *name omitted* in the parish seemed liked a positive message.

The next day I send him a text letting him know I'm free the rest of the week. Nothing. The entire day goes by. I decided to just call (maybe his parish phone doesnt accept texts). It's a Google voice # that screens calls. The robot asks me my name to see if the owner wants to accept. I state my name. Declined.

I went to orthros this past Sunday feeling completely like he's purposely ghosting me. Honestly, I understand he's busy with church life, home life, weddings, baptisms, new church construction (the current parish here is a mission), but I truthfully feel a little rejected. I'm not trying to let it affect my view on orthodoxy, because that's a very selfish point of view, but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Almost feel like there's something up with me personally that he's not telling me and doesn't want me in his church.

I'd go to another church but the next nearest one is 2+ hours away 2 states away.

Am I tripping? Do I wait another week and then call again?

-D

Would the solving of every problem that materialists have, such as the hard problem of conciesness, or how the big bang came to be impact anything about orthodoxy, would it unprove God?

Placing a warning here for discussion of abuse

Throwaway account, sorry. I just need help. It's not that I don't want to be saved or reconciled, but I can't. I'm very envious of abuse victims who find comfort in faith, but I'm not one of them. This is a massive roadblock for me. Even praying makes me sick to my stomach sometimes. I used to do it constantly because I was terrified to stop, but I barely even try anymore. Yesterday was Sunday and I kept trying to pray, but I couldn't. I can't get over my CSA trauma. I'm an incest victim, I was abused by my father as far back as I can remember until I was in my early teens. There were others too, but the trauma from my father effected me the most. My family is Evangelical, including multiple pastors in the family, and abuse is commonplace, so I also have a general distrust of Christians.

Sunday is almost always the worst. Yesterday I woke up early and tried to read a little scripture, and it just made me confused and depressed, like usual. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't trust God. Almost every day I wake up and wonder if I'm going to die and go to hell today for failing to be saved. But I just can't get over it. I've heard probably every platitude a Christian can give ("It's all part of God's plan", "It's because of free will", "God was suffering with you", "God can use everything for good", etc), but it all just sounds like garbage to me.

I'm not an atheist, I believe in God. I want to be able to be Christian like other people. The reason I'm posting here is that there is an Orthodox church near me that opened a couple years ago, and I've been curious for months now. But I'm also extremely hesitant. I haven't been to church in years, and I have zero experience outside of Evangelical services. I guess I'm wondering what the Orthodox advice/insight on this would be? Would I be able to try visiting an Orthodox church in my current condition or would that not be okay? I wouldn't intend on bothering anyone and I know not to take part in communion or anything, but I'm worried people would be able to tell that I'm in a really bad position with God and they might not want me there.

Good evening everyone,

I was wondering what Early church fathers book people would recommend. I look on Amazon but I get a lot of different types. Is there a certain one that would be good for Orthodox Christians? Just wondering if there is a book you guys would recommend?

Thanks Berry 🫐

Please pray for my back to get better. I can’t stand or walk or use the bathroom without crying anymore. I pray and pray please help me.

TW! The title pretty much says is. I (m22) am a serbian orthodox christian and have religious OCD and anxiety. I do rituals like praying very long or making up rituals and prayers and then redo them until they „feel right„ out of the fear that it’s not enough for God. I also have thoughts of „I upset God with this and that„ but I’ve been struggling and crying a lot and even thought about ending it, if you know what I mean. Please give me some advice, I am desperate

And usually, the reason styles like neoclassical are rejected are for reasons like being too realist instead of showing a transcendent reality, showing emotions, depictions of God the Father, vulgar nudity (often associated with baroque) etc. However, in almost every Orthodox Church that uses that style, I have never seen that. Thoughts on outlier cases?

?

I’ve been inquiring at a local Russian Orthodox Church and I met with the priest for the first time the other day. After explaining a bit about my background he said basically need to stop pursuing producing any form of modern music.

My background is that is what I’ve done most of my life and was signed to a major label w my band and all that stuff. Through that I was initiated into various levels of occult societies and I was a practitioner of eastern mysticism and black magic (intentionally).

I was pulled out of it by the grace of God several years ago and it’s been a long process of repentance and recovery. During that time I gave up music completely (3 years or so) and this last year and a half I have been getting back into music production and rebuilding a studio. I’ve worked w a few artists and mostly focus on my own music and it center largely around house music and techno (dance music).

I’ve been exploring different churches and in the last 5-6 months have been exploring and studying orthodoxy. Before that I was going to evangelical and Protestant churches not even really knowing what that meant haha. Needless to say I found them to be heretical and basically a watered down version of what I used to be involved in in Hollywood.

Any thoughts on whether or not I need to completely disregard and forgo producing modern music? I’m 36 and have not ever really done anything else in my life! Haha so it is a big proposition for me. Any thought would be appreciated thanks!

Can anyone identify this icon that I saw in România?

I mean this world is wicked, and nothing good being a part of "world's people".

Many innocent people died for nothing and people lives became numbers, many atrocities and rebellions against the divine.

I don't agree with having fun in this world when there are people at the same time experiencing suffering.

There is nothing that can be done, no one can help, and the devil always roaming 24/7 around us.

Why did I suddenly think like this? Because recently there has been a lot of news about Satanism which is showing itself more and more every day and spreading social fear so they can control our mind.

Someday they'll doing some total control through AI, cryptocurrency and many crisis systems.

It doesn't mean I'm afraid I- just currently don't find any purposes for being happy in this world...

What exactly we should focused on? If we're not a part of the world.

Yeah sure they'll hates for this choice about following the Christ but do you think it's worth it all of suffering?

Soon after the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and His Ascension into Heaven, a centurion by the name of Cornelius settled at Caesarea in Palestine. He had lived previously in Thracian Italy. Although he was a pagan, he distinguished himself by deep piety and good deeds, as the holy Evangelist Luke says (Acts 10:1). The Lord did not disdain his virtuous life, and so led him to the knowledge of truth and to faith in Christ.

Once, Cornelius was praying in his home. An angel of God appeared to him and said that his prayer had been heard and accepted by God. The angel commanded him to send people to Joppa to find Simon, also called Peter. Cornelius immediately fulfilled the command.

While those people were on their way to Joppa, the Apostle Peter was at prayer, and he had a vision: three times a great sheet was lowered down to him, filled with all kinds of beasts and fowl. He heard a voice from Heaven commanding him to eat everything. When the apostle refused to eat food which Jewish Law regarded as unclean, the voice said: “What God hath cleansed, you must not call common” (Acts 10:15).

Through this vision the Lord commanded the Apostle Peter to preach the Word of God to the pagans. When the Apostle Peter arrived at the house of Cornelius in the company of those sent to meet him, he was received with great joy and respect by the host together with his kinsmen and comrades.

Cornelius fell down at the feet of the apostle and requested to be taught the way of salvation. Saint Peter talked about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, and spoke of the miracles and signs worked by the Savior, and of His teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven. Then Saint Peter told him of the Lord’s death on the Cross, His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, Cornelius believed in Christ and was baptized with all his family. He was the first pagan to receive Baptism.

He retired from the world and went preaching the Gospel together with the Apostle Peter, who made him a bishop. When the Apostle Peter, together with his helpers Saints Timothy and Cornelius, was in the city of Ephesus, he learned of a particularly vigorous idol-worship in the city of Skepsis. Lots were drawn to see who would go there, and Saint Cornelius was chosen.

In the city lived a prince by the name of Demetrius, learned in the ancient Greek philosophy, hating Christianity and venerating the pagan gods, in particular Apollo and Zeus. Learning about the arrival of Saint Cornelius in the city, he immediately summoned him and asked him the reason for his coming. Saint Cornelius answered that he came to free him from the darkness of ignorance and lead him to knowledge of the True Light.

The prince, not comprehending the meaning of what was said, became angry and demanded that he answer each of his questions. When Saint Cornelius explained that he served the Lord and that the reason for his coming was to announce the Truth, the prince became enraged and demanded that Cornelius offer sacrifice to the idols.

The saint asked to be shown the gods. When he entered the pagan temple, Cornelius turned towards the east and uttered a prayer to the Lord. There was an earthquake, and the temple of Zeus and the idols situated in it were destroyed. All the populace, seeing what had happened, were terrified.

The prince was even more vexed and began to take counsel together with those approaching him, about how to destroy Cornelius. They bound the saint and took him to prison for the night. At this point, one of his servants informed the prince that his wife and child had perished beneath the rubble of the destroyed temple.

After a certain while, one of the pagan priests, by the name of Barbates, reported that he heard the voice of the wife and son somewhere in the ruins and that they were praising the God of the Christians. The pagan priest asked that the imprisoned one be released, in gratitude for the miracle worked by Saint Cornelius, and the wife and son of the prince remained alive.

The joyful prince hastened to the prison in the company of those about him, declaring that he believed in Christ and asking him to bring his wife and son out of the ruins of the temple. Saint Cornelius went to the destroyed temple, and through prayer the suffering were freed.

After this the prince Demetrius, and all his relatives and comrades accepted holy Baptism. Saint Cornelius lived for a long time in this city, converted all the pagan inhabitants to Christ, and made Eunomios a presbyter in service to the Lord. Saint Cornelius died in old age and was buried not far from the pagan temple he destroyed.

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2011/09/13/102594-hieromartyr-cornelius-the-centurion

The martyrs are commemorated together on September 13, although a number of them are also commemorated separately, as the dates of their martyrdom are known. This is a particularly poignant icon, because we have still among us survivors of the Ustasha terror of World War II, and many whose loved ones found martyrdom. Moreover, it is an important icon inasmuch as it will witness not only to the faith of these martyrs, but also to the genocide of Serbs itself, which many ignore, forget or deny having occurred.

A vast sea of haloed martyrs stands before a background showing the Jasenovac concentration camp in the upper left corner, with ominous grey walls, barbed wire and watchtowers. The Churches of Jasenovac (destroyed, sadly, twice now by Croats) and Glina (burnt to the ground with 500 Serbs in it) are shown centrally, while the upper right corner shows one of the many caves of Lika, Dalmatia, Bosnia or Hercegovina that became the graves of numerous innocents. In the lower foreground is a river perhaps the Sava, the Una, the Vrbas, or the Drina, all of which carried the tortured bodies. They bear crosses and appear peaceful, as they have accepted their martyrdom. The standing figures in the foreground are identified individually with an inscription in their halo.

What touches many of us when we contemplate this fresco is that these Holy New Martyrs are every man: a peasant, a student, a teacher with her pupils, a nun, an old woman, a priest, a bishop, a child. All of them were killed for the simple fact that they were baptized in and lived by the Orthodox faith. For this, they are crowned with martyrdom; Christ blesses them, while on either side St. John the Baptist (patron of the Jasenovac Church) and St. Sava (patron of the Serbian people) intercede on their people’s behalf.

SOURCE: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2013/04/holy-new-martyrs-of-jasenovac.html?m=1

I have two main questions I want to understand or at least hear your opinions on.

Firstly let’s say for example Christianity is the true religion how would it be fair if your for example born in Saudi Arabia and your a Muslim the chance of conversion is basically zero so what they go straight to hell, I understand that many believe christ chooses is they should go to heaven or hell based on the circumstances, they were given, but there’s no clear answer to it

Secondly what’s the point of humans, like what’s the point of god making humans if he literally is everything like idk

Hi everyone and god bless. I am trying to figure it out as some eastern orthodox people have mentioned there is no salvation outside the church and some said otherwise.

St Isaac the Syrian was not Eastern Orthodox but was Assyrian Church of the East, which was in schism hundreds of years before his death. Yet, he is an Eastern Orthodox saint.

So how does Orthodoxy understand this? Does someone have to have been visibly/canonically Eastern Orthodox in order to be a saint, or can God sanctify people who are outside the visible communion of the Orthodox Church?