St. Irene of Chrysovalantou

St. Irene of Chrysovalantou

Story of her life here.

Prayer for blessing of her apples here.

Story of a miracle here.

She is my first patron saint and the one I was

chrismated with!

When I found her story in the church bulletin,

just days before I was chrismated,

I knew she was the one I wanted to take 

as my patron Saint.

While St. Elizabeth the Mother of John the Baptist is my name's Saint

my first Patron and Mother is 

St. Irene of Chrysovalantou!

Her day on the new calendar is today!

May her prayers protect us all 

and grant us Christ's peace! 

Tuesday Findings

Another day of God's mercy.

Wanted to show you my other icon of St. Nicholas;

this one was a chrismation gift as it was at one of St. Nicholas'

churches where I was chrismated;

I remember looking at the icons of the Theotokos and St. Nicholas

during the ceremony...

Today (o.c.) is St. Katherine's Day.

I always figure the two calendar days for each Saint

can loosely be taken to mean their feast is for almost two weeks :)

I was able to be in church for noon prayer today on her day;

a beautiful thing.

And this morning I found an English translation to

an Akathist to St. Menas

which was a great way to start the day!

Dear friends of mine have received mercy through St. Menas' prayers

and I know also of monastics who look for his help.

*

Speaking of Akathists,

I've noticed that my post on

the collecting of Akathists has come up in Google searches...

the librarian in me loves to share -

if there is an Akathist that you can't find online

that I have listed that I do have,

feel free to email me

( roosjeblog @ yahoo . ca )

and I will do what I can.

*

That said,

it is best to remember Fr. Thomas Hopko's advice

to pray as we can and not as we wish we can.

Yes, I may have collected lots of Akathists

but this is not indicative of any spiritual level on my part;

thankfully my spiritual father will not let me fall into such delusions.

:)

*

The job search research and interview preperation continues.

I feel a bit daunted but am trying to press forward.

I am so aware that we all have such huge battles to fight

in our lives.

Whether it is illness, children, pregancy, unemployment, work or family pressures,

we all have real struggles;

if I have learned anything lately it is just how each one

is in a great battle.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.

Philo of Alexandria