"In the Holy Spirit is universal dominion, which the armies in heaven worship, as does every breathing being on earth" (Antiphon 3. Matins 26 Jan 25). An Icon of Pentecost.

"In the Holy Spirit is the cause of the salvation of all. When He blows on anyone as befits His nature, He quickly uplifts them from anything mundane, He gives them wings, He gives them growth, He gives them high position"  (Antiphon 1. Mode pl. 2. Matins 26 Jan 25). An icon of Pentecost.

"In the Holy Spirit, as in the Father and the Son, every gift of goodness intrinsically shines forth. And in Him all things both live and move" (Antiphon 1. Matins 11 May 25).

Prepare, celebrate, and rejoice! The Feast of Pentecost is coming! Jesus told the Apostles, disciples, and all of us to watch for the descent of the Holy Spirit. This is what He said in John 14:15-31: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. “I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you... Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?' Jesus answered him, 'If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you..." An icon of Pentecost.

There is a tyranny of Increasingly Low expectations. We rely Wantonly On the prophecies of our own fear And it reminds me Disturbingly Of the rituals of pagans. We rely almost Exclusively On the language of the self And it reminds me Loudly Of clanging cymbals. We rely Greedily On mere human supposition And it reminds me Gloomily Of darker paths Filled with nothing Leading nowhere Bereft of clarity Angry Corrupt Murderous Sick beyond disease. But sacrificial love overcomes. It protects Builds trust and Creates hope It enlightens the mind Enlivens the heart and Deepens strength Holiness is available too... Not of the prim and proper sort ... But the kind that molds courage from clay. Towering, majestic vistas Vast, flowing waters Exquisite beauty and Undying love... Isn't it time to live up to expectations? Barren Mountains at Sunset · Free Stock Photo

Dark is the way and cold is the night Down the desolate path of Denial These desperate people Take drastic steps to Dig deep graves Where they bury Their faith Their hopes and most especially Their loves Whose faces dot the landscape of Their memories. With bitterness and Learned forgetfulness Their rage Gives way to an empty space A privation Where an absence seethes With a vile inhumanity Breathing in and spitting out All manner of lies Slithering in corruption Smelling of debauchery and Slaughtering innocence. Whose side are you really on? Greyscale Photography of Person Walking Between Trees · Free Stock Photo

My Dearest Paul, I have loved, respected, and admired you for many years. But ever since I visited your desert home, I have felt such a closeness with you that I feel like I need to apologize for being so presumptuous. But the truth is that I sense such a sincere brotherly affection emanating from you that I experience a real warmth which brings out of me a simple joy. In other words, you make me smile. Today, I just wanted you to know that I am so deeply grateful to God that He brought me to you, and that you are willing to look after me almost 1,600 years after your earthly death. Please keep praying for me and showing me the path. Your loving brother, Fr. Thomas "By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Paul, pray to Christ our God to save our souls" (Troparion Tone 8). An icon of St. Paul the Simple who is commemorated on March 7 and October 4.

I like places with long, deep Christian histories Where the faithful dead Guard and guide pilgrims of every generation. I like places with ancient Christian tombs Where the voices of the saints Call us to our Triune God. I like places with ancient Christian ruins Where the stories of faith Inspire and comfort me. I like places with ancient Christian roads Where the paths of the righteous Beckon us to continue the journey. Gird my loins and Place a staff in my hands O Lord. Give me strength Light the path Sustain my love. For You, for them For the time to come For Your Heavenly Kingdom. An icon of the burial and resurrection of St. John the Apostle, who is also known as the Theologian, the Beloved, the Evangelist, the Divine, and St. John of Revelation. While his feast day is September 26, on May 8 we celebrate the "Day of the Roses." This commemorates the annual pilgrimage to St. John's grave where a red dust appears and heals the sick. People call this dust "manna from the earth."

Pray for me St. Symeon and lead me along the paths of prayer in solitude and the building up of a community of faithful who desire to serve. St. Symeon was a recluse of the late tenth and early eleventh centuries and is considered one of the last great figures who linked the Christian East and West. He was born in Syracuse, Sicily, to a Greek father and Calabrian mother, and was educated in Constantinople. When Symeon became an adult, he went on a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where he stayed for seven years. He became a monk at the Monastery of St. Mary in Bethlehem, then moved to St. Catherine's where he restored a ruined monastery on top of Mt. Sinai. After being asked by the Abbot to raise funds, Symeon left and spent the last seven years of his life as a recluse in the Roman gate of the Porta Nigra in Trier. He died in 1035. An icon of St. Symeon of Trier

"Blessed is the life of those who dwell in the desert, as they mount up with wings of the intense love of God." - Anavathmoi: Antiphon 1. Mode pl. 1., Matins, (18 Mar 25) Photo of Sand Dunes · Free Stock Photo

"Saint Thomas pretends to be deranged For the sake of Christ, his Savior, And God, he glorifies in his heart, The only One, the Creator of the world, God's name is in his heart, Have mercy upon me O Good God! By this, he nourishes his soul: Have mercy upon me O Good God! Holy Thomas is not concerned What the world about him will say, Let the world rant, let it threaten, The true judgment, God will pronounce. Whoever pleased the world Before God was found to be false, And Thomas smiled at the world which pretends to be important. O you shadow, above the water, Why do you pretend to be so important? All reality is in the Lord When yourself, you consider as nothing, With that, you will glorify Him." "Hymn of Praise: St. Thomas the Discerner" By St. Nikolai Velimirovich St. Thomas the Fool-for-Christ (6th c.), whose feast is April 24, was a monk in one of the monasteries in Caesarea of Cappadocia. His obedience was to collect alms for the monastery. When Thomas went to Syria, he began to act in strange and foolish ways for the sake of Christ. The steward of one of the churches, Anastasius, became annoyed and struck him on the cheek. Both men died the next day. St. Thomas was known to perform many miracles, especially after his death. Some material for this post, including the artist rendition of St. Thomas (above left), has been sourced from Saint Thomas the Fool for Christ of Syria (+ 6th cent.)

Damaged Dismissed Abused and Alone Love was the last to arrive and the First to go Beaten Broken Crushed and Chaotic Life as lying Deceit as desire When the glass within you shatters Why am I the one left bleeding? Water Drops on a Metal Surface · Free Stock Photo