God, be mercy to me, sinful
Publican and Pharisee Sunday will be remembered this year with a lot of snow which covered up the old monastery of St Constantine and Helena. The only people who had dearing to be early in the morning at the resort covered with snow-drifts were the worshippers in the church. As every other Sunday it gave shelter to the small flock on Sunday when the memory about the sinful publican from the Gospel, thumping his breast and crying to Lord in search and hope of His mercy recalled coming of Lent.
In spite of cold which is not common for this region, in spite of knee deep snow worshippers thanked God and prayed for peace in the world, prosperity of the Bulgarian people, for Orthodox clergy and the devout host. Those present witnessed the serial miracle, a miracle that unfortunately remains “unrevealed”or uncomprehended by today’s world. A miracle called Holy Liturgy where Our Lord Himself appears in His fles and blood. It is the participation at the Lord’s Table that fills our life as christians with sense and content.
Sunday Holy Gospel revealed one more criteria of the way to the Iternal life: sincere penance which comes from the bottom of the soul and urge people without considering what the others would say to yell to the Heaven and cry for their sins, to ask men’s forgiveness and also to forgive themselves. It’s the penance without which gates of Kingdom of Heaven will remain closed.
After the Holy Eucharist water from the Holy spring was taken so that every visitor to the monastery can take from it home for blessing.
By the Praers of Saints Constantine and Helena, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the God, Be Mersy To Us!
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