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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
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«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

In a historic reversal of decades-long trends, younger Americans are now more likely to attend church than their parents, according to new data from the Barna Group. The research, part of Barna’s ongoing “State of the Church” project with Gloo, shows that Millennials and Gen Z have overtaken Boomers and Elders as the most frequent churchgoers — signaling renewed spiritual interest among younger adults.

“The fact that young people are showing up more frequently than before is not a typical trend,” said Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research. “It’s typically older adults who are the most loyal churchgoers. This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today.”

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

JYOUTH SUNDAY, on 11/2/25, when in the Divine Liturgy at 10AM, we’ll hear the wonderful story of two healing saints,
Cosmas & Damian,
doctors who not only gave medicines, but also prayed for their patients, and never took money for their medical skills and services.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Through teaching,
through understanding,
through compassion,
through example.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
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«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

"I always tell people that if they want to avoid calamities in their life, they should stop working on Sundays and feast days.

Work schedules could be arranged to keep these days free. Where there is spiritual sensitivity, everything is possible; solutions can be found. That’s really the issue here.
Even if a particular solution is to our disadvantage, and we suffer a loss, in the end we’ll be twice blessed. But so many people fail to understand this. They do not even attend Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy sanctifies. If a Christian will not go to Church on Sunday, how will he be sanctified?"

St Paisios the Athonite +1994

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Amen

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod
Jonah was born in Novgorod and was orphaned early. A certain God-fearing widow took him and educated him. Seeing him as a child, Michael, the fool-for-Christ of Klops said to him prophetically: ``Ivanushka, study diligently, for you will become archbishop in Novgorod the Great.'' And indeed, following the death of Archbishop Euthymius, Jonah was chosen and consecrated in his place.

Jonah was devout and merciful to a rare degree for a mortal man. He built churches and monasteries and cared for his flock as a true good shepherd. He was offered the throne of Moscow as Metropolitan but declined, excusing himself because of his age. He entered into rest peacefully on November 5, 1570, and settled in the joyful heavenly habitations.

One hundred years following his death there was a great fire in Novgorod. The relics of this saint did not burn in the furious flames, but on the contrary, from then on manifested healing power and emitted a wonderful fragrance.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

“The century of the ‘Church of Immigrants’ has ended; the century of evangelization has begun. Orthodoxy’s mission is no longer primarily geographical but existential.”
Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Americans

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

I remember once I told Saint Porphyrios (Dec 2):
"I'm afraid of what is to come, the ugly times."

He looked at me puzzled and giving me a swift slap on the hand he said:
"Who can do you harm, my child, if you have Christ inside your heart. Turn your eyes towards Christ. You don't become saints by chasing away the evil. Forget about the evil. You should actually turn your eyes towards Christ and He will save you. Instead of standing at the door and shooing away the enemy, despise him. When you see evil approaching from one direction, you softly give your attention to something else. So, when the evil is coming to offend you, give your interior strength to good, to Christ.
Plead: "Our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."
He knows how to give you His mercy and in whatever way that is best for you. And after you are full of good, then you no longer turn your attention towards the evil. With the grace of God, you become good. And then the evil is unable to find a place to stand and disappears."

His Grace Bishop George of Canberra

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

St John Chrysostom,
born around 347 AD in Antioch, Syria, was the son of a Roman military officer and a devout Christian mother who raised him after his father's early death. Initially trained in rhetoric and law under the pagan teacher, Libanius the Sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. He converted fully to Christianity in his early twenties, undergoing baptism around 368 and embracing a life of asceticism and study in the nearby mountains. Ordained as a deacon in 381 and a priest in 386, he gained fame for his eloquent sermons in Antioch, earning the nickname "Chrysostom" (meaning "golden-mouthed") for his powerful preaching style. In 397, he was appointed Archbishop of Constantinople against his will, where he reformed the clergy, advocated for the poor, and criticized the excesses of the wealthy elite, including Empress Eudoxia. His boldness in speaking God’s truth to power led to conflicts, resulting in him being exiled twice, finally resulting in his premature death. Recognized as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (one of the Cappadocians), his legacy includes powerful writings, homilies, and the Divine Liturgy attributed to him. He passed from this life to the next on September 14th, but because that is the Feast of the Cross, his Feast-Day was moved to November 13th.

St John Chrysostom's life offers a timeless blueprint for Christian discipleship, emphasizing bold witness, compassion for the marginalized, and a commitment to God’s truth amid worldly pressures that lead in other directions—qualities that resonate deeply in our modern era of digital distractions towards a distorted life. In a time when consumerism and materialism dominate, St John’s ascetic lifestyle and fierce advocacy for the poor remind us to prioritize lives of simplicity and generosity, urging each of us today to offer tangible love to the marginalized, and to creatively become involved in larger solutions, much as he redistributed church wealth to build Christian hospitals and to feed the hungry in Constantinople.

His "golden-mouthed" preaching, which fearlessly called out corruption among the powerful—even at the cost of exile—encourages us to use today's platforms, like social media or public discourse, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ unapologetically, speaking truth to power. Moreover, his journey from a privileged education to ascetic humility illustrates the transformative power of faith, inspiring contemporary Christians to integrate prayer, study, and action in daily life, fostering resilience against secular distractions. Ultimately, Chrysostom's unwavering love for God and neighbor shows that true followership of Christ isn't about comfort or popularity but about sacrificial service, empowering us to live as beacons of hope in a fragmented world.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

We remember and honor the life of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker.

Saint Spyridon, often called the Wonderworker and Bishop of Trimythous, stands as one of the most beloved figures in Christian hagiography. Born around 270 AD on the island of Cyprus, in the humble village of Assia or Axia, he embodied the virtues of simplicity, humility, and unwavering faith. A shepherd by trade, Spyridon lived a life rooted in the earth, tending flocks while practicing profound charity. His epithet "Wonderworker" stems from the numerous miracles attributed to him, which demonstrated God's power through an unassuming vessel. Yet, what makes him particularly endearing is his rustic demeanor: even as a bishop, he continued farming and wore a simple shepherd's hat woven from palm leaves or willow twigs, resembling an inverted basket. This "basket for a hat" symbolized his rejection of worldly pomp, a trait that resonates deeply in today's materialistic age. Spyridon's story inspires modern followers of Christ by showing that true holiness arises not from status or intellect but from childlike faith, generosity, and obedience to God. In an era of complexity and distraction, he reminds us that simplicity can channel divine wonders, making him a timeless model for authentic Christian living.
Spyridon's early life was marked by pastoral simplicity and familial devotion. Raised in a poor family on Cyprus, he worked as a shepherd from childhood, emulating biblical figures like David in gentleness and Jacob in heartfelt purity. Despite his modest means, he was known for his piety and generosity, sharing his resources with the needy and strangers. He married a virtuous woman and had at least one child, a daughter named Irene, who later lived in chastity and served the Church. Tragedy struck when his wife died young, leaving Spyridon a widower. Rather than remarry, he dedicated himself fully to God, entrusting Irene to a convent while he pursued a monastic path. His reputation for holiness grew, as God bestowed upon him the gift of miracles even before his ordination. For instance, he healed the incurably ill and expelled demons, drawing comparisons to the apostles. During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 AD), the people of Trimythous elected him bishop by unanimous consent, recognizing his spiritual wisdom despite his lack of formal education. As bishop, Spyridon did not abandon his roots; he continued tending sheep alongside his episcopal duties, blending pastoral care for souls with literal shepherding. This duality underscored his humility: he never exchanged his shepherd's reed cap—a woven basket-like hat—for the ornate mitre of a bishop, symbolizing his grounded faith.

The miracles of Saint Spyridon form the heart of his legacy, earning him the title "Wonderworker." These acts were not mere spectacles but manifestations of divine mercy through a simple man. One famous episode occurred during a drought on Cyprus: through prayer, he brought rain to parched fields, and later calmed incessant storms. He resurrected the dead multiple times, including a nursing infant and its mother who died from overwhelming joy upon seeing her child revived. In another instance, to save a falsely accused friend from execution, Spyridon commanded a raging torrent to part, allowing him to cross and intervene; the judge, awed by the miracle, released the innocent man. His hospitality mirrored Abraham's: during Great Lent, he served a weary traveler salted ham, quoting Scripture that "unto the pure all things are pure" (Titus 1:15). Even thieves were met with kindness—robbers who tried stealing his sheep found themselves bound by an invisible force; Spyridon freed them, advised repentance, and gifted them a ram. In Alexandria, at a council to destroy pagan idols, all fell except one; a vision revealed Spyridon would shatter it. Upon his arrival by ship, as he stepped ashore, the idol crumbled to dust. These wonders extended to nature and the supernatural: he once heard an angelic choir respond during a solitary Liturgy, drawing crowds who heard the heavenly voices from afar. Even in death, his intercessions continued; his incorrupt relics, now in Corfu, are said to maintain body temperature and change slippers annually due to "walking" to aid the faithful.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Spyridon's role in Church history peaked at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where he defended Orthodox Trinitarian doctrine against Arian heresy. Amidst learned theologians and philosophers, this illiterate farmer-bishop shone through divine inspiration. Confronting a Greek philosopher advocating Arianism—which denied the Son's consubstantiality with the Father—Spyridon used simple words to proclaim God's wisdom over human logic. To illustrate the Holy Trinity, he took a terracotta potsherd, squeezed it, and invoked the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: fire burst upward, water flowed down, and clay remained in his hand. "These three elements form one brick," he explained, "so too are the three Persons one God." The philosopher, stunned, converted to Christianity and was baptized, admitting no human argument could refute such power. This miracle not only silenced heretics but affirmed that faith, not erudition, accesses divine truth. Spyridon's presence at Nicaea, alongside figures like Saint Nicholas, helped formulate the Nicene Creed, safeguarding Christianity's core teachings. His humble attire—a basket hat amid imperial splendor—highlighted that God's champions often come from the margins.

Spyridon's later years and legacy further cemented his saintly status. He lived to about 78, dying peacefully around 348 AD after a life of righteousness. His body was exhumed incorrupt. During Arab invasions, his relics were moved to Constantinople, then to Corfu in 1453, where they reside in a church bearing his name. Venerated on December 12th, he is patron of farmers, healers, potters, and islands like Corfu, credited with miracles such as repelling plagues and Ottoman sieges. Processions with his relics draw thousands, accompanied by philharmonic music, blending faith and culture. In Russia and beyond, icons depict him in bishop's robes but with his signature basket hat, holding a potsherd.
Today, Saint Spyridon inspires followers of Christ in a world dominated by complexity, consumerism, and skepticism. His life as a simple farmer-turned-bishop challenges modern Christians to embrace humility and spiritual faithfulness amid ambition. In an age of social media facades, his basket hat reminds us to shun ostentation for authenticity—true leadership stems from service, not status. His miracles encourage faith in God's intervention, urging prayer over self-reliance. For the marginalized, he proves that humble origins amplify divine power; for the affluent, he warns against attachment to wealth. As a defender of orthodoxy, he inspires standing firm in truth without intellectual elitism. Ultimately, Spyridon teaches that a life of simplicity, laced with love and faith, invites wonders—making him a beacon for Christians seeking to live counterculturally, as salt and light in today's world. (c)

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин