Surp Badarak, the Hierarchial Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church

One of the Video Clips featuring the Sacred Liturgy of our Eastern Rite brethrens from the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which the Armenian Apostolic Church belongs. It is also the same Divine Liturgy that the Armenian Catholic Church has been using, though unfortunately we cannot search for documentation so here is the "Surp Badarak", the Armenian named of the Divine Liturgy, with the Video footage been Blessed by His Holiness Vazgen I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, one of the longest Eastern Rite hierarch who reigned this Church from 1955 to 1994.

N.B: This Blog promotes the Eastern whether it is Catholic in Communion with the Pope and also with our Brethren from other Eastern Christian Churches, namely the Assyrians, the Oriental Orthodox and the Eastern Orthodox. Our aim is to promote, in accordance to the to the Apostolic Letter of Blessed Pope John Paul II urging Latin Rite Catholics to be familiar with the traditions of the East. Let us pray that all maybe ONE!!! +

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AKATHIST Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

Hymn

Kontakion 1, Eighth Tone

To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride! (Thrice)

Ekos 1: An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we worship the Creator!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 2: Seeing herself to be chaste, the holy one said boldly to Gabriel: The marvel of thy speech is difficult for my soul to accept. How canst thou speak of a birth from a seedless conception? And She cried: Alleluia!


Ekos 2: Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud thus:
Rejoice, initiate of God's ineffable will:
Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in silence!
Rejoice, beginning of Christ's miracles:
Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down:
Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us from earth to Heaven!
Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded abroad:
Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed afar!
Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest birth to the Light:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy secret to none!
Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the knowledge of the wise:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to the minds of the faithful!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 3: The power of the Most High then overshadowed the Virgin for conception, and showed Her fruitful womb as a sweet meadow to all who wish to reap salvation, as they sing: Alleluia!

Ekos 3: Having received God into Her womb, the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth whose unborn babe at once recognized Her embrace, rejoiced, and with leaps of joy as songs, cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, branch of an Unfading Sprout:
Rejoice, acquisition of Immortal Fruit!
Rejoice, labourer that labourest for the Lover of mankind:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest birth to the Planter of our life!
Rejoice, cornland yielding a rich crop of mercies:
Rejoice, table bearing a wealth of forgiveness!
Rejoice, Thou Who makest to bloom the garden of delight:
Rejoice, Thou Who preparest a haven for souls!
Rejoice, acceptable incense of intercession:
Rejoice, propitiation of all the world!
Rejoice, good will of God to mortals:
Rejoice, boldness of mortals before God!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 4: Having within a tempest of doubting thoughts, the chaste Joseph was troubled. For knowing Thee to have no husband, he suspected a secret union, O blameless one. But having learned that Thy conception was of the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia!

Ekos 4: While the angels were chanting, the shepherds heard of Christ's coming in the flesh, and having run to the Shepherd, they beheld Him as a blameless Lamb that had been pastured in Mary's womb, and singing to Her, they cried:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd:
Rejoice, fold of rational sheep!
Rejoice, torment of invisible enemies:
Rejoice, opening of the gates of Paradise!
Rejoice, for the things of Heaven rejoice with the earth:
Rejoice, for the things of earth join chorus with the heavens!
Rejoice, never-silent mouth of the Apostles:
Rejoice, invincible courage of the passion-bearers!
Rejoice, firm support of faith:
Rejoice, radiant token of Grace!
Rejoice, Thou through whom hades was stripped bare:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we are clothed with glory!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 5: Having sighted the divinely-moving star, the Magi followed its radiance; and holding it as a lamp, by it they sought a powerful King; and having reached the Unreachable One, they rejoiced, shouting to Him: Alleluia!

Ekos 5: The sons of the Chaldees saw in the hands of the Virgin Him Who with His hand made man. And knowing Him to be the Master, even though He had taken the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him with gifts, and to cry to Her Who is blessed:
Rejoice, Mother of the Unsetting Star:
Rejoice, dawn of the mystic day!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst extinguish the furnace of error:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst enlighten the initiates of the Trinity!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst banish from power the inhuman tyrant:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst show us Christ the Lord, the Lover of mankind!
Rejoice, Thou Who redeemest from pagan worship:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost drag us from the works of mire!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst quench the worship of fire:
Rejoice, Thou Who rescues from the flame of the passions!
Rejoice, guide of the faithful to chastity:
Rejoice, gladness of all generations!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 6: Having become God-bearing heralds, the Magi returned to Babylon, having fulfilled Thy prophecy; and having preached Thee to all as the Christ, they left Herod as a babbler who knew not how to sing: Alleluia!

Ekos 6: By shining in Egypt the light of truth, Thou didst dispel the darkness of falsehood; for its idols fell, O Saviour, unable to endure Thy strength; and those who were delivered from them cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, uplifting of men:
Rejoice, downfall of demons!
Rejoice, Thou who didst trample down the dominion of delusion:
Rejoice, Thou who didst unmask the fraud of idols!
Rejoice, sea that didst drown the Pharaoh of the mind:
Rejoice, rock that doth refresh those thirsting for life!
Rejoice, pillar of fire that guideth those in darkness:
Rejoice, shelter of the world broader than a cloud!
Rejoice, sustenance replacing manna:
Rejoice, minister of holy delight!
Rejoice, land of promise:
Rejoice, Thou from whom floweth milk and honey!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 7: When Symeon was about to depart this age of delusion, Thou wast brought as a Babe to him, but Thou was recognized by him as perfect God also; wherefore, marveling at Thine ineffable wisdom, he cried: Alleluia!

Ekos 7: The Creator showed us a new creation when He appeared to us who came from Him. For He sprang from a seedless womb, and kept it incorrupt as it was, that seeing the miracle we might sing to Her, crying out:
Rejoice, flower of incorruptibility:
Rejoice, crown of continence!
Rejoice, Thou from whom shineth the Archetype of the Resurrection:
Rejoice, Thou Who revealest the life of the angels!
Rejoice, tree of shining fruit, whereby the faithful are nourished:
Rejoice, tree of goodly shade by which many are sheltered!
Rejoice, Thou that has carried in Thy womb the Redeemer of captives:
Rejoice, Thou that gavest birth to the Guide of those astray!
Rejoice, supplication before the Righteous Judge:
Rejoice, forgiveness of many sins!
Rejoice, robe of boldness for the naked:
Rejoice, love that doth vanquish all desire!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 8: Having beheld a strange nativity, let us estrange ourselves from the world and transport our minds to Heaven; for the Most High God appeared on earth as a lowly man, because He wished to draw to the heights them that cry to Him: Alleluia!

Ekos 8: Wholly present was the Inexpressible Word among those here below, yet in no way absent from those on high; for this was a divine condescension and not a change of place, and His birth was from a God-receiving Virgin Who heard these things:
Rejoice, container of the Uncontainable God:
Rejoice, door of solemn mystery!
Rejoice, report doubtful to unbelievers:
Rejoice, undoubted boast of the faithful!
Rejoice, all-holy chariot of Him Who sitteth upon the Cherubim:
Rejoice, all-glorious temple of Him Who is above the Seraphim!
Rejoice, Thou Who hast united opposites:
Rejoice, Thou Who hast joined virginity and motherhood!
Rejoice, Thou through whom transgression hath been absolved:
Rejoice, Thou through whom Paradise is opened!
Rejoice, key to the kingdom of Christ:
Rejoice, hope of eternal good things!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 9: All the angels were amazed at the great act of Thine incarnation; for they saw the Unapproachable God as a man approachable to all, abiding with us, and hearing from all: Alleluia!

Ekos 9: We see most eloquent orators mute as fish before Thee, O Theotokos; for they are at a loss to tell how Thou remainest a Virgin and could bear a child. But we, marveling at this mystery, cry out faithfully:
Rejoice, receptacle of the Wisdom of God:
Rejoice, treasury of His Providence!
Rejoice, Thou Who showest philosophers to be fools:
Rejoice, Thou Who exposest the learned as irrational!
Rejoice, for the clever critics have become foolish:
Rejoice, for the writers of myths have faded away!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst rend the webs of the Athenians:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst fill the nets of the fishermen!
Rejoice, Thou Who drawest us from the depths of ignorance:
Rejoice, Thou Who enlightenest many with knowledge!
Rejoice, ship for those who wish to be saved:
Rejoice, harbor for sailors on the sea of life!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 10: Desiring to save the world, He that is the Creator of all came to it according to His Own promise, and He that, as God, is the Shepherd, for our sake appeared unto us as a man; for like calling unto like, as God He heareth: Alleluia!

Ekos 10: A bulwark art Thou to virgins, and to all that flee unto Thee, O Virgin Theotokos; for the Maker of Heaven and earth prepared Thee, O Most-pure one, dwelt in Thy womb, and taught all to call to Thee:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity:
Rejoice, gate of salvation!
Rejoice, leader of mental formation:
Rejoice, bestower of divine good!
Rejoice, for Thou didst renew those conceived in shame:
Rejoice, for Thou gavest wisdom to those robbed of their minds!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst foil the corrupter of minds:
Rejoice, Thou Who gavest birth to the Sower of purity!
Rejoice, bridechamber of a seedless marriage:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost wed the faithful to the Lord!
Rejoice, good nourisher of virgins:
Rejoice, adorner of holy souls as for marriage!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 11: Every hymn is defeated that trieth to encompass the multitude of Thy many compassions; for if we offer to Thee, O Holy King, songs equal in number to the sand, nothing have we done worthy of that which Thou hast given us who shout to Thee: Alleluia!

Ekos 11: We behold the holy Virgin, a shining lamp appearing to those in darkness; for, kindling the Immaterial Light, She guideth all to divine knowledge, She illumineth minds with radiance, and is honoured by our shouting these things:
Rejoice, ray of the noetic Sun:
Rejoice, radiance of the Unsetting Light!
Rejoice, lightning that enlightenest our souls:
Rejoice, thunder that terrifiest our enemies!
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the refulgent Light to dawn:
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the river of many streams to gush forth!
Rejoice, Thou Who paintest the image of the font:
Rejoice, Thou Who blottest out the stain of sin!
Rejoice, laver that washest the conscience clean:
Rejoice, cup that drawest up joy!
Rejoice, aroma of the sweet fragrance of Christ:
Rejoice, life of mystical gladness!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 12: When the Absolver of all mankind desired to blot out ancient debts, of His Own will He came to dwell among those who had fallen from His Grace; and having torn up the handwriting of their sins, He heareth this from all: Alleluia!

Ekos 12: While singing to Thine Offspring, we all praise Thee as a living temple, O Theotokos; for the Lord Who holdeth all things in His hand dwelt in Thy womb, and He sanctified and glorified Thee, and taught all to cry to Thee:
Rejoice, tabernacle of God the Word:
Rejoice, saint greater than the saints!
Rejoice, ark gilded by the Spirit:
Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of life!
Rejoice, precious diadem of pious kings:
Rejoice, venerable boast of reverent priests!
Rejoice, unshakable fortress of the Church:
Rejoice, inviolable wall of the kingdom!
Rejoice, Thou through whom victories are obtained:
Rejoice, Thou through whom foes fall prostrate!
Rejoice, healing of my flesh:
Rejoice, salvation of my soul!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!


Kontakion 13: O all-praised Mother Who didst bear the Word, holiest of all the saints, accept now our offering, and deliver us from all misfortune, and rescue from the torment to come those that cry to Thee: Alleluia!

This Kontakion is sung thrice. And again:

Ekos 1: An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we worship the Creator!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Kontakion 1, Eighth Tone: To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride!

Prayer to the Most Holy Lady Theotokos
O most holy Sovereign Lady Theotokos! Higher art thou than all the angels and archangels, and more honourable than all creation, a helper of the wronged art thou, the hope of the hopeless, an intercessor for the poor, the consolation of the sorrowful, a nourisher of the hungry, a robe for the naked, healing for the sick, the salvation of sinners, the help and protection of all Christians. O all-merciful Sovereign Lady Virgin Theotokos! Through thy mercy save and have mercy on the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, the most holy metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all the priestly and monastic orders, the military leaders, civic leaders, and Christ-loving armed forces, and well-wishers, and all Orthodox Christians do thou defend by thy precious omophorion, and entreat, O Lady, Christ our God Who was incarnate of thee without seed, that He gird us with His power from on high against our ene­mies, visible and invisible, O all-merciful Sovereign Lady Theotokos! Raise us up out of the depths of sin, and deliver us from famine, destruction, from earthquake and flood, from fire and the sword, from invasion of aliens and civil war, and from sudden death, and from noxious winds, and from death-bearing plagues, and from all evil. Grant, O Lady, peace and health to thy servants, all Orthodox Chris­tians, and enlighten their minds, and the eyes of their hearts unto salvation; and vouchsafe unto us, thy sinful servants, the kingdom of thy Son, Christ our God; for blessed and most-glorified is His dominion, together with His unoriginate Father, and His Most-Holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen

At this very first day of 2012 in the Latin Rite  we commemorate the Feast of the Most Holy Virgin and Blessed Theotokos, though in the earlier times it was originally celebrated by the Eastern Rite Churches. For more, here is the Information regarding this Solemnity of the Latin Rite Roman Catholics, and the Eastern View regarding the Theotokos.

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Please tell me if i am committing a Calumny??!!!

I have been silent for so many days, doing nothing at those heavy load of tirades and smear attacks against the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and other so called "Uniate" Church. But now that i am still grasping to regained the Christian Charity here, i am going to make a full Statement, just Paragraphs so that Readers could ever read it and i will not post any Links, Pictures or Videos pertaining such so that i can make myself clear to all as i give my thoughts on some violent and if i may said it, uncharitable, attitude of our Orthodox Brethren on their Sister Counterparts in the Eastern Catholic Churches.

First, i was disturbed on some post in Facebook which contain some Anti Eastern Catholic polemical attacks, namely directed to the Largest Sui Iuris Church by the name of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Though knowing that all of this are just Political in nature (I hope it is, i really need help from the most learned ones, namely the Historian of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) i am still disturbed honestly and that, if such Atrocities are being made after the 1595 Union of Brest, then we should ask forgiveness among our part. Unfortunately the Historical facts that our Eastern Rite Orthodox brethren has given us is somewhat exaggerated in feature. Well, even if i say that what do i expect from a Orthodox who use it to sound that Greek Catholics of Eastern Europe are the most violent and demonized them because of this "Unia" claim. Even if i say it might be compared to the Sack of Constantinople, i do not see any reason why this have to end up in a Conflict because of Historical misunderstanding, Centuries in the making

Not that i am also trying to make a bad impression to or brethrens in the Eastern Orthodoxy, because some of them have a good relationship with their Sister Eastern Catholic Churches, unlike this one. Let us be reminded that by Accusing the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches politically, it can also have a backlash to them?!! Why such?? First, what is your concern on a Autonomous Church that you does not seem to belong to, remember the Orthodoxy has 14 Autocephalous Churches and most of them don't mind each other, so what is the reason of defending a dis united Church?? And second, this Religious problem is only concentrated in Ukraine, and please do not extend it even here in the Philippines. It is not our problem to meddle to them, and we do not have any knowledge of the Situation here. Yes, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches is the most persecuted one, though it is also not just the fault of the Orthodox, namely the Russian Orthodox Church, to be blamed but also the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Polish who also shared this kind of Atrocities to them (Though as i write here, i am only confronting few hostile Orthodox here and not Roman Catholics, cause i have a separate article into it)

I am not also forgetting here that i write here for the sake of defending those others who have no idea what kind of slanderous they are facing, which is the so called "Uniates" of Eastern Europe. Here i show the problem of One sided exposition of arguments. Thus i better suggest that our Eastern Catholic brethren answer such accusation against them. Before this Year ends, i just have longing to write this one, because i cannot bear anymore the Slanderous and Malicious barrage against our Byzantine Catholics in Europe, with evidence demonizing them as Proselytisers as such, though it seems this proof is not that sufficient in substance. Here is my full statement not just in defense of Eastern Catholicism, but also defending the Byzantine Catholicism in Eastern Europe as well.

Before this Year end, i want to make things as it were, to put the record straight. I am not singling out one Orthodox or a entire Church, though i say that not all of them have the same Attitude and instill a Historical grudge to the so called "Uniates" i write this for their sake, that they may defend themselves on this one side accusation of murders and violence that these "Uniates" wage against the Orthodox in the late 16th century.

And by the way, my Statements here are my Personal opinions and i do not include the Integrity of this Whole Blog nor its Contributor and my Second Head Moderator. I am ready to face everything as i write here, but i also stated above that each of this side must give their Arguments here as fair square. And again, i do not forget this Apology i made many Months ago, though i never forget this is a reality that is happening.. If what i am saying here is Calumny or Malicious lies, then it is your Problem anymore, not mine!!!! Have to set the records straight cause i no longer can hold my Silence. Please read little by little this very First Article in this Year of our Lord 2012, and the Great Feast of the Most Holy Virgin and Blessed Theotokos in the Latin rite

PRESVJATA BOGORODICE, SPASI NAS 
(MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, PROTECT US)
GOSPODE ISUSE KRISTI, SINE BOZJI, POMILUJ GRJESNOGA
(LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER)

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AKATHIST Hymn to The Holy Innocents

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 1)

We beseech You, O Lord of mankind

To accept in supplication

The suffering which Your saints endured for Your sake, O Lord,

And heal all our infirmities.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

When the King was born in Bethlehem, the Magi came from the East.

Having been led by a star from on High, they brought Him gifts.

But in exceeding wrath, Herod harvested the infants as sorrowing wheat;

The rule of his kingdom has come to an end.     

In the Byzantine Rite, the Liturgy states that there are 14,000 Holy Innocents being slain while the Syrian Rite list that there is a Estimated number of 64,000. The Coptic Rite raised that number to 144,000. The Holy Innocents are group of Infants being slaughtered upon the Orders by King Herod of Bethlehem to ensured that the Child, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, been foretold by the Magi will be also be Killed being his "rival" and assumed he is among the dead Children. The incident, like others in Matthew, is described as the fulfillment of a passage in the Old Testament read as prophecy, in this case a reading of Jeremiah: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children."

In the name of this Blog, on behalf of the Contributors and me, as the Head Moderator, will be heeding the call of  100% KATOLIKONG PINOY, The Largest Facebook Fan Page here in the Philippines, in their statement written below, citations taken, as Intention also before this Year ends:

"Pray for the poor children who were never given the chance of living in this world, whether they were due to miscarriage, calamity, cruelty, sickness, or abortion."

By the Intercession and the Guidance by the Most Holy and Blessed Theotokos, and by the Grace and Mercy of God, this Blog also stand for the cause of Life. The Eastern Catholic Churches too is aligned with the Teachings of the Sacred Magisterium in matters of Life and Morality, and the Papal teachings on the concept of Life,  as what been defined the Encyclical "Humanae Vitae" of His Holiness Pope Paul VI and the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae of His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul II on regards of matter of life, and thus this Feast of the Holy Innocents fits this declaration of our Blog supporting the Cause of Life here in our beloved Nation, the Republic of the Philippines.

For more about the Holy Innocent, click here on this link about their Hagiography for more Information. May the Memory of this Infants being Massacred be Eternal!!! +

 

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AKATHIST Hymn to The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen the Protomartyr

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4) [Holy Tradition]

O First Martyr and Apostle Of Christ,

Thou hadst fought the good fight.

And didst expose the perversion of the persecutors,

For when thou wast killed by stoning at the hands of wicked men,

Thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high,

And didst cry out to God saying,

"O Lord do not charge this sin against them!"

Kontakion (Tone 3) [Holy Tradition]

Yesterday the Master came to us as a man,

And today his servant departs from life.

Yesterday the King was born as a man,

And today His servant is stoned to death.

For the sake of Christ Holy Stephen became the first martyr. 

 

 

 

Below is a written prayer for the First Martyr of the Christian Faith:

"Dear Saint Stephen first deacon and martyr, you are the patron saint and model for all deacons. You gave your life unafraid, valiantly speaking the truth you forgave those who were you persecutors. With love we mold our lives after yours. May we gain courage and strength from the wisdom and faith that you possessed as gifted by the Holy Spirit. Intercede for us, oh powerful Saint Stephen, that we may quietly reach out to the poor and the lonely, not seeking recognition for ourselves, but to honor the name of our Lord Jesus, the Savior. You who had the face of an angel guide our path - we ask all of this through the prayer of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. Amen."

 

Just click here about the Hagiography of St. Stephen the Protomartyr about his Life and Works.

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ERCF Statement this New Year's Eve

I have been silent for almost a Month, totally Silent. Now this is the proper time before the Year change from another New one to give a Statement, which as of now i am writing regarding some Polemical Attacks from some of our Brothers from the side of the Orthodoxy to our Brethrens in the Eastern Catholicism, namely our Byzantine Catholics brethren in Eastern Europe.

This is not a some short of a "Roller coaster ride" Message that will infuriate our Brothers in the Orthodox side, but rather defending our so called "Uniate" brothers and sisters from the snear of their attack and to persuade our brothers and sisters too in the Orthodoxy to be charitables as far as possible, no matter how true are their arguments being thrown at their Greek Catholic Counterparts

Cutting this one short, wait for my Statement here as the Head Moderator of this Blog at New Year's Eve

PRESVJATA BOGORODICE, SPASI NAS 
(MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, PROTECT US)
GOSPODE ISUSE KRISTI, SINE BOZJI, POMILUJ GRJESNOGA
(LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER)

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Eastern Christian Nativity Chants.

From our brothers from the Eastern Rite, from our brothers in the Greek Rite, this beautiful chants being sung at the Great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Hymn is titled "Xristos Gennatai". Again i kindly ask for those who knew this Chant to give us the Lyrics both in English and the two in Greek; the one written in the Greek alphabet and other to the Latin alphabet. Thank you very much for the People who followed our Blog. CHRIST IS TRULY BORN, LET US GLORIFY HIM!!!!!

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