Sunday July 28, 2019 / July 15, 2019
Sunday July 21, 2019 / July 8, 2019
The Appearance of the Icon of the MostHoly Mother of God in the City of Kazan (1579): On 1 October 1552, on the feastday of the Pokrov-Protection of the MostHoly Mother of God, at night, tsar Ivan IV in heading the Russian forces made ready for a decisive assault against the Tatar city of Kazan, and suddenly he heard the peeling of the Moscow bells. The tsar realised that this was a sign of the mercy of God: that through the prayers of the mighty commander-in-chief, the Lord deigned that the Kazan people should be converted to Him.
The surrender of Kazan on the feast of the Pokrov-Protection of the MostHoly Mother of God completed a course of events, initiated way back centuries earlier in the year 1164 by holy Prince Andrei Bogoliubsky (+ 1174, Comm. 4 July), against the Moslem Volga Bulgars. With the taking of Kazan, the Volga – the chief waterway route of the land, became finally a Russian river. And from Tatar servitude were liberated 60,000 Russian people. The enlightenment of the Tatars with the light of the Gospel truth was started. There were the first martyrs – Saints Peter and Stephen (Comm. 24 March). The newly established Kazan diocese entered into the complexion of the Russian Church and was soon illustrious in its own archbishops: Sainted Gurii (+ 1563, Comm. 5 December) and Sainted German (+ 1567, Comm. 6 November).
Thursday July 18, 2019 / July 5, 2019
Wednesday July 17, 2019 / July 4, 2019
The Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia: Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarit-sa Alexandra, Crown Prince Alexis, and Grand-duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, and those martyred with them (1918) were commemorated at Lahore parish.
Sunday July 14, 2019 / July 1, 2019
Friday July 12, 2019 / June 29, 2019
The patronal feast day of The Holy, Glorious and All-praised Leaders of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul was celebrated in Lahore, Pakistan. The Divine services were led by Fr. Paul Sushil.
Fr. Paul told about the lives of these two Saints. He told that Holy Apostles Peter and Paul are traditionally regarded as the leaders of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Both St. Peter and St. Paul received their new names, indicating a new relationship with God.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, St. Peter addressed the crowd and performed many miracles in Christ’s name. St. Peter also traveled to many places in order to proclaim the Gospel message. He wrote two Epistles, which are part of the New Testament. St. Peter was put to death in Rome during the reign of Nero. According to Tradition, he asked to be crucified upside down, since he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
St. Paul at first was called Saul and had persecuted the Church. He was present at the stoning of St. Stephen (Acts 7: 58). Then, on the road to Damascus, he was converted when Christ appeared to him. Blinded by the vision, he was healed when Ananias laid his hands on him. After his cure, he was baptized (Acts 9:18). St. Paul is the greatest of the missionaries. He preached the Gospel in Greece, Asia Minor, and in Rome, and wrote fourteen Epistles. Tradition says that he was martyred in Rome about the year 68.
Fr. Paul concluded that these two great Saints had the faith of hard rock and were the greatest example of humility.
Orthodox faithful from Islamabad joined the great celebration. After the Liturgy parishioners congratulated Fr. Paul on his angel’s day. The celebration ended after the festive lunch.
Peace, Prosperity and Long Life to the Newly-Chrismated family of Mr. Rehmat! May God Grant them every good thing as befitting for salvation! God grant them many years!
Please remember Peter and Fevrona in your prayers.
Sunday July 7, 2019 / June 24, 2019
Saturday July 6, 2019 / June 23, 2019