Kyrios Metasou @kyriosmetasou - Tumblr Blog

If you have a Duolingo account, please consider upvoting this request to add Coptic to their language courses.

Coptic is the final stage of the Egyptian language. It is currently endangered, with less than 300 Egyptians speaking it as their native tongue.

It would mean a great deal to indigenous Egyptians in the Coptic community to have our language preserved, and this would be a huge step forward.

If you don’t have a Duolingo account, considering sharing this with those who might. Thank you! <3

hieromonkcharbel-deactivated202

It was as if a physician had been given by God to Egypt. For who in grief met Antony and did not return rejoicing? Who came mourning for his dead and did not immediately put off his sorrow? Who came in anger and was not converted to friendship? What poor and low-spirited man met him who, hearing him and looking upon him, did not despise wealth and console himself in his poverty? What monk, having been neglectful, came to him and became not all the stronger? What young man having come to the mountain and seen Antony, did not immediately deny himself pleasure and love temperance? Who when tempted by a demon, came to him and did not find rest? And who came troubled with doubts and did not get quietness of mind?

Life of Saint Antony by Saint Antony by Saint Athanasius

by-grace-of-god

“Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling, ‘Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,’ or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies are as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally we shall insist on seeing everything – God and our friends and ourselves included – as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.”

- C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

cslewisthoughts

There are things, say in learning to swim or climb, which look dangerous and aren’t. Your instructor tells you it’s safe. You have good reason from past experience to trust him. Perhaps you can even see for yourself, by your own reason, that it is safe. But the crucial question is, will you be able to go on believing this when you actually see the cliff edge below you or actually feel yourself unsupported in the water? You will have no rational grounds for disbelieving. It is your senses and your imagination that are going to attack belief. Here, as in the New Testament, the conflict is not between faith and reason but between faith and sight. We can face things which we know to be dangerous if they don’t look or sound too dangerous; our real trouble is often with things we know to be safe but which look dreadful. Our faith in Christ wavers not so much when real arguments come against it as when it looks improbable—when the whole world takes on the desolate look which really tells us much more about the state of our passions and even our digestion than about reality.

from Religion: Reality or Substitute? Christian Reflections

gratitudechangesthings-deactiva

But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him—how can God’s love be within him? Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord. But if we have bad consciences and feel that we have done wrong, the Lord will surely feel it even more, for he knows everything we do.

1 John 3

kyriosmetasou

How can people hear the apostle say this and still believe that it’s justified to withhold giving to the homeless because they’ll “probably just use it on drugs”? How can we actively lobby against legislation that help the poor get back on their feet and the sick get treatment? What saddens me the most is that a lot of the time, Christians are at the forefront of promoting these ideas when we should be the first to oppose them. I don’t think I’ll ever understand it. May God bring wisdom and discernment to Christians and help us to live by His word and not worldly political partisanship. I pray we may be above political bias, not led by it.

gratitudechangesthings-deactiva

“When you read your bible, give up your right to understand. Don’t read for more bible knowledge; read to know Him. And we know Him not by sight, but by faith because the Lord is the Spirit. This is what I do and how I think when I read my bible. I just let go, surrendering all I am and listen to whatever He speaks to my heart. Because knowledge can puff you up and make you proud, but love edifies and encourages, it builds you up. He wants to reveal the love of God to me—Jesus. I want to love people.”

—

thesovereignword

dramoor

“God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.”

— St. Augustine (via heartbloodspirit)

orthodoxgladness

Reading about the lepers, the weak, the blind, the lame, the furious, whom the Lord has healed, think that your soul, bearing various wounds of sin, being held captive by demons, is like the sick. Learn from the gospel of the faith that the Lord who healed them will heal you, if you will diligently plead with Him for your healing. - St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov)

#orthodox #easternorthodox

abibleverseforeachday

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

— Romans 8:31

thesynaxarium

Today we celebrate the Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Illyria. Saint Eleutherius was raised in piety by eminent parents. His mother, Anthia, heard the Gospel from the Apostle Paul himself and was baptised by him. Being widowed at a young age, she entrusted her son into the care of the Bishop of Rome. Amazed at the spiritual gifts of the young Eleutherius, the Bishop ordained him a deacon at 15, a priest at 18, and Bishop of Illyria at only 20 years of age. Under the guidance of Bishop Eleutherius, the Christian flock multiplied daily. At this time, Emperor Hadrian decreed a persecution of Christians and sent the commander Felix with many soldiers to seize Bishop Eleutherius and to bring him to Rome. When the vicious Felix entered the Church where Eleutherius was serving, he heard the words of the holy hierarch and his heart was immediately softened and repented of his evil. Felix was baptised by Bishop Eleutherius and chose not to return him to the emperor. Eleutherius, however, wished to gain a martyr’s crown and urged Felix to obey the emperor’s decree and they both left for Rome with joy. Saint Eleutherius was subjected to unspeakable tortures, flogging, roasting on an iron bed, boiling in pitch, and burning in a fiery furnace. The unwavering bishop was preserved from these torments by the power of God. Seeing the miraculous feats of the Saint, Caribus, the Roman eparch, declared his faith in Christ for which he too was tortured and then beheaded, together with Felix. Finally, the Holy Bishop Eleutherius was beheaded by the imperial executioners. When his holy mother, Anthia, came to collect the body of her martyred son, she too was beheaded for her confession of Christ. Because of his countless miracles, Saint Eleutherius is given the eponym of wonderworker. May he intercede for us always + #saint #eleutherius #eleftherios #illyria #illyricum #albania #bishop #priest #deacon #heiromartyr #martyr #anthia #anthea #mother #pious #felix #rome #romanemperor #emperor #hadiran #emperorhadrian #martyrdom #eparch #crown #faith #orthodox #sophia https://www.instagram.com/p/BrZRe5nFQy1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xo2dpp0ryswa

kyriosmetasou

I’ve been listening to the History of Rome podcast and I happen to be currently in the middle of learning about the emperor Hadrian. One of the things I love about learning about the history of Rome is getting a better understanding of the environment and culture that surrounded the early church and what lead to its persecution and to see from the perspective of those outside the church how it ultimately grew to change the world.

It’s really cool to stumble on posts like this that correspond to what I’m learning about in the history. Thank God for the early Christians saints who were the major driving force in spreading Christianity by enduring brutal tortures for their faith. I need to make sure to spread my faith with actions and by practicing what I preach rather than by mere words.

thesynaxarium

Today we celebrate the Venerable Moses of Ethiopia. Saint Moses, from a young age, was involved in murder, theft, violence, and all sorts of evil. Being physically strong and tall, he was the ring leader of his gang and people trembled at the mere mention of his name. One day his conscience began to bother him and he left his former ways and turned to repentance. Having come to a monastery, he begged the abbot to allow him to stay, but the monks knowing his former life did not wish this. After much imploring they finally let him stay and here started his deep and fervent repentance. With tears and prayer he spent many years, even converting his former associates who had by chance come to rob him. The monastery he was staying at was soon under attack and the monks were forced to flee. Saint Moses was adamant that he would remain there as “he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword”, in other words, he wished to die a violent death due to the violence he previously caused others. A group of monks remained with him and they were all slaughtered. Saint Moses is called upon for those wishing to turn to repentance and those who fall into despondency of sin. May he intercede for us always + #saint #moses #saintmoses #ethiopia #ethiopian #mosestheblack #mosesofethiopia #repentance #prayer #tears #gang #monastery #bandits #despondency #monk #holy #venerable #orthodox #sophia

thesynaxarium

Today we celebrate the Venerable Stylianos of Paphlagonia. Saint Stylianos was born in Paphlagonia into a very wealthy family. At a young age, his parents reposed and he distributed his inheritance to the poor and needy. He then joined some hermits of the desert while still very young, desiring to cleanse the soul through prayer and virtue. Unlike most hermits, however, still kept contact with society in order that he might be able to do whatever good that he was able to, and then return to his cave for prayer. One night during prayer, Stylianos was consumed by a divine presence with a sense of serenity he had never felt before. Counselling and comforting his people as was customary, he encountered a sick child to whom he felt compelled to place his hand on it – something which he had never dared to do before. He felt the power of the Holy Spirit being transferred to the young child and the child recovered immediately. From this time, many flocked to the saint from all over, seeking healing and prayers, becoming a magnet for the sick and suffering. During this time, Saint Stylianos concerned himself primarily with children, setting up possibly the first recorded day-care centre where mothers could safely leave their children while tending to other urgent matters. He was also known for miraculously allowing previously barren women to be able to conceive. The most noticeable characteristic of the saint was his cheerful countenance. He was always reported to be smiling, and was thus nicknamed “the smiling saint”. He lived to an old age, reposing peacefully in the Lord with a smile on his face. May he intercede for us always + #saint #stylianos #stylianus #paphlagonia #asiaminor #venerable #hermit #monk #monastic #child #children #patron #patronsaint #smile #wonderworker #miracle #birth #orthodox #sophia https://www.instagram.com/p/BqoQ4DuFBRx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vslugji0piyp

alexander-james-ink

Why are you distant, beloved? The veil is torn.

wholeheartedsuggestions

we could talk about literally anything and i’d just be happy i got to talk to you

andreagrace18

This is probably how God feels when we pray.

leekleek

Love Him.. thank you Lord for always being there to listen to how my day was.. you are refreshing water to my soul

orthodoxgladness

Know that as soon as a married couple joined a wedding, the devil aims to dissolve them. Therefore, sooner or later between spouses, most of whom, unfortunately, do not know this reality, the abuse begins. And, although in the beginning everything went smoothly, like clockwork, and love united two people, disagreements and quarrels begin over time, “I stopped loving you,” “we don’t fit each other,” “we have different characters” … Everything is a spiritual war, an invisible spiritual war. - Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi

hymnsofheresy

have y’all ever had communion bread that was just so….nasty? like i know we have to suffer as christians, but do we really need to have whole wheat bread as the body of christ?

hymnsofheresy

my old church used hawaiian bread. my standards are high

missweber

Some old housemates of mine were Syrian Orthodox. At their church different members of the church took turns baking the bread that would be consecrated for the Eucharist. This was all well and good until one woman baked raisin bread. This led to the memorable occasion of a rather flustered priest, who had not seen the bread until that moment, declaring, “This - except for the raisins - is the Body of Christ.”