Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Parents are like a tree ( St. Kosmas Aitolos )

When you cut down a tree, all its branches immediately whither. Conversely, when a tree is watered at the roots, its branches stand strong and healthy.

Parents resemble a tree. The father and mother comprise the roots of the children. When a father and mother are watered with fasting, prayers, almsgiving, and other virtuous deeds, then God protects the children...

When an apple tree produces sour apples, what is to blame? Will we lay blame on the apple tree or the apples? Obviously, the problem lies in the tree.
Therefore, you the parents, who constitute the appletree, must live correctly and virtuously so that the applesthat are produced also become sweet.

St. Kosmas Aitolos

Matins of the Ecclesiastical New Year: Bless the crown of the year with Thy goodness . . .

O Word of the Father from before the ages, Who, being in the form of God, broughtest creation into being out of nothing; Thou Who hast put the times and seasons in Thine own power: Bless the crown of the year with Thy goodness; give peace unto Thy churches, victory unto Thy faithful hierarchs, fruitfulness unto the earth, and Great Mercy unto us.

Matins of the Ecclesiastical New Year, Tone 3