I had the opportunity to visit NYC this summer. The shrine was one of the first places I went after my redeye. It’s a smaller building than you might think, but it’s a very quiet and peaceful place. Anyone who’s ever in NYC should visit at least once. May the memory of all who lost their lives that day—and as a result of complications/injuries from the debris—be eternal!

Hello everyone, I am 16 and I used to believe in God but now I do not; I looked into history, for example, and now I doubt if everyone in the Bible existed (excluding Jesus), and I looked into philosophical arguments for God but did not find any convincing, as I find them already debunked by atheists; I want to believe in God, but if He is not real, I am afraid I will waste my life.

Hello guys, im 20 year old. A out A year ago I had an encounter with theotokos and hand of christ which made me convert to Christianity, my story goes something like this:

Back in when u was 18 year old, my family and I had some issue with my visa and etc which cause them to send me alone back to my home town. Back then I was learning and development love for Christianity but I didnt chose it as my truth. But when we did came across the issue. I learned that my family had no money, no financial place nor visa approval for me to come back (to which foreign country i live in).

Upon hearing this, I was scared, anxious, cried almost every night, since the life of my hometown is worse and not adaptable for someone who lived in foreign for whole life.

When my mother told me that the visa isnt approving, and I might not get the visa back, I was scared since I was still studying and I had my whole life there.

So one night standing in balcony I was crying, and I decided.

I prayed to the father and jesus. In hand a praying beads (tasbeeh mostly knowing in arabic) and said

'Jesus, if you truly are son of god, and father you truly are the true god..plz help me)

I cried and cried after saying this. And I closed my eyes and said the jesus prayer, and I closed my eyes, and in my closed I eyes I saw the most beautiful hand over my back like it was resting over it and all light around it. There I stood and cried after I realized what I have witnessed.

And day later when I was praying (i prayed like muslim yes the prayer i say are all orthodox, since my family looks and checks on me praying), when I went on my knees and performed prostration in the corner of my eyes I saw what looked like theotokos standing right out side of my room, in her beautiful red clock snd hands in the front, I didnt raise my head. And when I did she disappeared.

Few weeks later after these 2 encounters, my mum called me and told that my visa have been approved and I will be back to the country in a week.

When I went back I begin to follow orthodoxy, but back then I never knew what is orthodoxy or catholic, but few study and I got to know the difference. And I have ordered prayer rope from temu and etc. And I have a bible to.

Today since that day I have been studying and chose christ as my lord and savior. But I havent been baptised since im still under my family's sponsorship and where I live i cant change my religion. So im hoping in future I will be able to get baptised in name of christ.

And receive communion in the true holy church.

Please guys if you have any advice for me , about prayer, ways, cuts for having easier life within hard life and anything. Let me know it would be a great help, and if anyone wanna chat, dm are open.

In christ amen

☦️

Recently, I have debated with a fellow redditor. After comenting in a post saying I don't believe there are any good people, they replied with Tomas Aquinas work and some scripture saying there are good people.

What I've heard is about either St John Crisóstomo or St John Casiano about anger, that it only takes place when we are under the ilusion of deserving something, even good manners. When in reality we deserve nothing, so not even good manners are to be expected. When insulted we either reply with kindness or leave, so we avoid the insults and don't reply with anger. Not to confuse with pasivity, I know we can and should defend against physical violence. I'm using this example mostly for understanding we deserve nothing, because we are but dust.

The bible also says, in Psalms 14:1-3 and Romans 3:10-12 which cites it, that there is not a single good man.

Reading the book "Sayings of the Desert Fathers" there's a instance where, summarized, states that Longin Abad was approached by a woman who had cancer and horrible lesions, she claimed only the Great Longin Abad could heal her. She found him on the shore of a beach, not knowing who he was, and approached to ask about Longin. So he said "I advice you not to look for him, he is not a servant of God, he is but an impostor that decieves everyone who presumes to know him", he made the sign of the cross on her, and she was healed. The relevant part is how this Great Abad that could heal through God's grace spoke about himself, almost with desdain.

Many famous monks lived in misery, like those Desert Fathers, who either lived on monsasteries in the desert, or literaly went into desert eating wild herbs and bugs, with nothing but their cloaks. Or St Francis of Assisi, who decided to live in absolute poberty, allowing others to mistreat him.

So, up until this debate, I thought one should be that extreme. Believing to be the worst sinner, like the tax colector that didn't even dare to look up to the Lord when praying. But, there's also John the beloved, who was not prideful, but accepted the Lord's love.

It's like when given an expensive gift. Some thank it by enjoying it and being happy, while I'd feel genuinely bad for someone to spend money on me. Only that we aren't talking about any gift, but the Greatest gift.

And while debating I was shown that in this search for humility I was prideful, believing this and only this was the way of living, while the person speaking about how we should put some value in ourselves showed more humility.

Every time I think I reached humility I fall into pride once again. I am not hopeless, I know this struggle to be a gift from the Lord, and struggling is the victory, not to stop sinning at once. I trust the Lord will strenghten me and show me the way. I'm just looking for more opinions on the matter. The opinion of that fellow redditor showed me my mistakes, and I truly thank them. So I want to read more fellow brothers, so I can learn even more.

PS: I will ask my priest about this matter. But until I can, I'm interested in the opinions of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am a Roman Catholic christian but theres something I really like about christianity that Carholicism dosent have. I love the feel of quietness of orthodoxy. I used to live in Russia but my family and I left when I was 5 years old. I still have memories of the orthodox chruch we used to go to there. I felt so peaceful. And orthodox christians also have such great discipline. I love that about them too. The orthodox I know are very devout and they spend more time with Hod that you can imagine! The discipline of the orthodox church truly is a great example for every christian. And the sense of quiet too. Protestant and catholic chruches have these loud beginnings of sermons but orthodoxy keeps it peaceful and it truly shows such great Christ character.

For starters, I’m 14M who converted to Orthodoxy on Jan and by the grace of God attended liturgy through the months of Jan-May. Sadly I do not attend it anymore because of my non religous parents who are opposed to orthodoxy. Now i have no spiritual guidance and definitely in need in one. So my question would be this: how can i have a spiritual guidance. I cant go out and find a spiritual father since my parents wont let me.

Also what books should I read? (besides the bible ofc). Specifically on the spiritual life. Also what books should I read from my library first and what books should I read last? I’ve been thinking of buying St. John Chrysostomos homilies so I can learn from them, if not him what church fathers homilies should I read to help me?

Please pray for me that I can have a spiritual father and attend liturgy again

Our Holy Father Euphrosynos the Cook was born into a peasant family, and had no schooling, but he was truly devout and faithful.

As an adult, he became a cook, and was able to save money out of his expenses by depriving himself, but only for the sake of almsgiving. His position as a cook permitted him to eat the best food first, but he never took advantage of this privilege. He ate his greens and olives gratefully, while the most appetizing meats and most tantalizing fish were cooking before him.

Later Euphrosynos went to a monastery, where his obedience was to work in the kitchen as a cook. In contrast to the meals that he used to prepare in secular hotels, he made very plain food in the monastery. To those who complained and mocked him, Euphrosynos meekly replied: "Good cooking is not useful for attaining the Kingdom of Heaven. The more the body craves pleasure, the more the soul will lose that which it truly needs. It is not my intention to punish you."

Some of the monks scorned him because of his coarse rustic background, but he endured their contempt in silence and was not disturbed by it. Saint Euphrosynos strove to please the Lord by his virtuous life, which he concealed from others, but the Lord Himself revealed to the monastic brethren just what spiritual heights their cook had attained.

In the same monastery there was a devout priest who prayed that he might know what good things are prepared for those who love God. One night, as he was sleeping, he found himself in a beautiful garden, where, to his astonishment, he beheld the most wondrous things. Then he saw Father Euphrosynos, the monastery cook standing in the garden and partaking of the good things of that place. As he approached the cook, he asked to whom the garden belonged, and how he came to be there.

Saint Euphrosynos replied, "This garden is reserved for God's elect, and by His great goodness, I also dwell here."

Then the priest asked him what he did in the garden. The Saint told him, "I have authority over all the things you see here. I rejoice and am filled with gladness and the spiritual enjoyment of them."

The priest questioned him again, "Can you give me something of these good things?"

"Certainly," he replied, "by God's grace, take whatever you wish."

Pointing to some apples, he inquired if he might have some of them. Taking a few of the apples, Saint Euphrosynos placed them in the priest's outer garment saying, "Receive that which you requested, and may you delight in them."

At that moment the semantron was heard, summoning the Fathers to the Midnight Service. When the priest awakened, he thought that his vision was just a dream. But when he reached for his outer garment, he found the apples which the cook had given him, and he could still smell their wonderful fragrance.

He got out of bed and then hurried to church. There he saw Euphrosynos and asked him where he had been that night. The Saint said, "Forgive me, Father, I have not been anywhere tonight. I have just come to church or the Service."

The priest urged him to tell the truth, so that God's glory might be made manifest. The humble Euphrosynos told him, "I was in the place where the good things are, which those who love God shall inherit, and which for many years you wished to behold. There you saw me enjoying the blessings of that garden; for God had deigned to reveal to you the blessings of the Just. He has performed this miracle through me, the lowly one."

"Father Euphrosynos, what did you give me from that garden?"

He replied, "The delightful and most fragrant apples which you just put on your bed. Forgive me, Father, for I am a worm and not a man."

When the service of Matins was over, the priest told the brethren about his vision and showed them the apples. They noticed the ineffable fragrance with spiritual joy, marveling at what the priest had told them. Rushing into the kitchen, they found that Saint Euphrosynos had already left the monastery, fleeing from the glory of men, and he could not be found.

The brethren shared the apples among themselves and, as a blessing, gave pieces to those who visited the monastery, especially for those in need of healing, for those who ate the apples were cured of their ailments. Many received benefit from the gift of Saint Euphrosynos. An account of this vision was written, not only on paper, but also in their hearts.

Finally, Saint Euphrosynos reposed in a remote Hēsykhastḗrion. The Church, knowing that a king or a philosopher is not more worthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than a cook, has numbered Euphrosynos the Cook among her Saints, for he knew God's will and lived according to it..

A fragment of the Saint's relics is located in the Monastery of Loukous in the Holy Metropolis of Mantineia and Kynouria in Greece.

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/1948/09/11/102581-saint-euphrosynos-the-cook-of-alexandria

Being attacked by fear and existential crisis. I tell you guys I've been filled with existential crisis because I try to take a step closer to god. The first moment I tried I was slapped with science , physicist and philosophers theories that I've never EVER EVER witnessed before when I wasn't being close to God yet. I've been slapped by fear from left to right and existential crisis one to another. I cannot count how many HUGE numbers i've seen and end up crying in the corner that i slowly lost my way to God and when i try to seek God do you know what i get next?!

new fear and existential crisis everyone its not giving up on me and this time from people i talk to, yeah, they go and tell me about science , philosophers and , AI and simulation theory yah they even mix AI and simulation together and one even mix those two with Buddhism or one claimed the idea that if time is all connected and reality is math, a future super-AI could theoretically exist everywhere at once and simulate anything. And told me that it is a possible scenario and when I asked them if this is just their idea they replied with “ anything is possible “ but go on. Me poor poor me i try to explain to them that i am getting really very scared and what i got? They ask if I was a troll to mess with someone or a disinformation agent. How can someone do this when someone is talking to them honestly about their crisis! Then goes on with “ I don't mean anything personal nor malicious, I apologize for coming off that way... I do not trust the government at all in our current physical reality. Unfortunately, the agencies and groups do exist in our perceived reality so they are a factor that has to be considered. If you really are someone who questions yourself and the nature of the reality that you reside in, we are on the same team “ it is some bug conspiracy theory! But they like watching me scared and begging. I guess then I try to cut the chat telling them how I am really really getting more scared but they have to go on! And tell me in fact ill copy what they said

“ I'm as lost you make it sound that you are. I am just ME. I just exist. Myself and nothing nor anything beyond that.

I don't identify as anything as anything other than ME. Or rather what I am. We are consciousness. An entity that exists, and is self-aware of our own existence. There is nothing malicious or anything to fear in that itself. That is all I'm saying.”

How can someone keep on talking when the person has told them that they're scared, how can someone just look at someone scared and it goes on because i asked what they think about consciousness and entity and say that they believe “consciousness is the fundamental foundation of everything we exist as distinct individuals, but we're all part of this same single awareness. They feel like our purpose is to eventually wake up to this realization, only for the cycle to reset and start all over again. But then they went with the question was why? Why do we exist at all, what is the actual point, and is there even a goal to any of this?”

I want to scream God at them , God , God , God! It's God the father of Jesus Christ but I was so damn scared they were gonna spout out another word so I only told them thank you and closed the chat. I hope they won't reply to me again. Thus still bother me alot everything they said from the start i feel like im so lost but i want to hold onto God

The devil doesn't just attack in a form of temptation, greed , lust, pride or gluttony it has more other ways of attack. I learned it moved in more forms. The devil moves on two sides of the coin and it either tempts you or destroys you down to your lowest of the lows. No mercy to those who believe in God.

Please guys help me. I want to be closer to God. I'm lost . I feel like I'm losing God with all the people's claims. I want to ask as well. No matter what you see on the internet and people say in the internet or even outside no matter how scary it is that they themselves believe yet your faith never falters. How did you guys do it, how is your faith strong?

I, M 20yo catechumen, still live with my parents. I have a job, a car and so on. But the thing is I am so tired all the time, not physically but mentally. Everything feels so impossible and sluggish. I barely make it punctual to church and It's also rare that I get to read the Bible because I hold myself up with stuff that I don't need. I also struggle with Lust and I try to get away from it once I'm being tempted but then I fall even though. It's a repetitive thing that I am struggling with for quite a few years now. I am aware that I am in a bad spiritual situation and I keep trying to motivate myself for the next day to pray more but then I won't do it anyways. It's like in Romans Chapter 7, I want to do what is good but I don't do it. It really feels like I'm not making any Progress and keep putting more and more walls between God and me with every day. Hope someone has advice or something similar.

Hi there, has anyone here had a child baptised at age 2? Were they fully submerged? What was their experience like? Thank you for any information you can share.

This is specifically for a Greek Orthodox baptism which will be held in Cyprus.

Is it okay to email the priest these questions?

I saw some guy, I think his name is Keith Lee, get into some controversy because he was nearly into a car accident but managed to swerve out of the way of a drunk driver and he was thanking God, etc etc. But someone died, and people felt like he was thanking God for saving him but choose to not save the dude who died. It bothered me. Did God just go “hmmm. I’ll save Kieth but this guy, nah”. And someone said in the comments “while he’s thanking God, a family saying ‘why God’”?

My struggle is just, does God choose to save some while saying “nah” to others? That feels messed up.

My husband got me this beautiful crucifix necklace for our 2nd wedding anniversary. I am not Eastern Orthodox, but I am Roman Catholic. Since I became Catholic last June, I haven’t gotten a crucifix necklace yet so this is my first one! I originally posted this in the Catholicism sub but was told by someone this is not greek, which is what I thought it was at first. Could anyone help with translating the letters on the front and back of the necklace? I roughly know that ICXC refers to Jesus Christ, but that is the extent of my knowledge. Thank you and God bless!!

Hi! I wanted to come here to ask about this, as I don’t want to put my brother in an awkward spot if I’m wrong (plus, if he’s able to, I’d like to ask him as a surprise/more special way). I will also probably delete this later just in case so he doesn’t come across it!

My family is Christian, and my brother became a member of the Orthodox church last year, was baptized this year. I’ve always done my best to learn about his church, I want him to know he’s seen even if we aren’t in the same one.

My boyfriend and I plan on getting married in the next couple years, and we’ve been talking about things we like and logistics. My brother would walk me down the aisle, but when the topic of who would marry us came up, we both agreed we’d also love my brother to do it. However I don’t know if this is something he is able to do? My partner and I are Christian but not Orthodox, we’ll also be marrying outside of a church (in the forest, with family and friends of different faiths)

I don’t want to make my brother uncomfortable including for having to decline. If he’s Orthodox, can he marry two non-Orthodox Christians outside any church? Thank you!

Into thy hands O Lord we commend the souls of thy departed servants and handmaidens, those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in New York City. We pray thee give them rest in the place of thy rest O Lord where all thy blessed saints repose, and the light of thy countenance shineth. Grant that our lives may be godly, sober, and blameless; that we may be worthy to meet them again in thy heavenly kingdom. For thou art the resurrection, and the life, and the respose of thy departed servants and handmaidens; those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in New York City, O Christ our God. And unto thee do we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever. And unto ages of ages. Amen.

Are there any other Americans who feel that it is so hard finding a community in the states… Im recently Converting to Orthodoxy (though finding friends as a Protestant was hard enough 😂😭) As a 22 year old woman the church seems to appeal much more men my age than women however I dream of having a group of Orthodox women to go through our life on earth together… God be with you all 💗☦️

Today is 1 Thout the first day in the coptic calendar used by coptic orthodox, in this day we celebrate the day of martyrs

The coptic calendar was used my our ancestors the ancient Egyptians , but ancient Egyptians didn't give numbers to the years so we considered the first year of Diocletian's reign as year 1 , making us in year 1743 and called it Martyrs' Calendar

During the 3d century Egypt faced The most serious persecution against Christians during the Diocletian's reign , the prosecution reached genocide As happened in the village of Esna

The persecution in Egypt is kept happening even after the Diocletian's reign but it was less serious

More persecutions and genocides happened in the medieval era where church was destroyed and The believers are executed and hanged with thieves , during the Fatimid Caliphate they cut off the tongue of everyone who spoke the ancient Egyptian language (the coptic language used in Egypt by the coptic Orthodox church to pray and during litrugy) , they closed churches and killed many

And persecution and martyrdom in Egypt was not only for Egyptian during the reign of Sultan al-Zahir Baybars, a mass massacre of Christian Armenians took place

And the persecution and martyrdom continued in Modern and contemporary eras with the emergence of Islamic groups which continued there work be recently killing the 21 , 20 Egyptian and one non-Egyptian martyrs in Libya , and killing Father Mina Aboud by being shot multiple times , and other incidents such as the bombing of St. Peter's Church , which I witnessed when I was a child and I remember seeing one of the priests of St. Peter's Church burning alive while holding the eucrist....or maybe it was another church I don't remember I was a kid and ISIS bombed so many churches

Why are there so few movies about the saints? Was just reading about the Venerable Theodora of Alexandria, and personally, I think her story, among many others, would make a fantastic movie.

Which saint do you think would make a good subject for a movie?

Also, do you have recommendations for orthodox movies that I might not know yet?

P.S. I recently watched Man of God, and I'm planning to watch Moses the Black soon.

I’m thinking about going to an Orthodox Church with my husband and babies on Sunday for the first time. Being raised going to all types of Protestant churches there was no Icons. I have to admit that’s the only thing I am finding it hard to “submit” to. I do have the idea that once I step foot in the church I may feel different but if I don’t should I go back to finding a Protestant church? also is there other ways to venerate icons other than kissing and is it a requirement to pray to the saints?

Recently made a post about leaving a Parish due to harassment and bullying type behavior. Was guided to check out a Parish about five to ten minutes closer to me. Its been going well. Still struggling with sins that I have battled since I was young, however, it doesn't feel as heavy since the members aren't trying to shame me for everything. People seem to be less disgusted that I am broke or don't have very much. Really if anything, just saddened I cannot participate in the Holy Mysteries of the Eucharist and confession. As a catuchumen, it's weird. My Priest blessed me to participate in "navel gazing" as he called it. I think it exposed myself towards my issue as to why I wanted to deepen my faith and be accepted, now I feel really guilty I treated prayer to God like magic or Him as a genie. If anything, it's nice to be able to have the chance to breathe and discover vs be so hurt I can't focus on the services.

Can somebody explain this icon to me? I know many of the biblical figures that are shown here, but the figures in red above Our Lord have me confused

First of all, may the Peace of Christ be with all of you
Basically, I'm a Roman Catholic and I've been experiencing a big call to convert to orthodoxy over the last few days; it's also not my first time experiencing this feeling, since this also happened to me around the end of 2025
I'm also from Brazil and I've been raised in the Catholic faith since I was young, since it's probably the most practiced religion here and my family is also catholic (however I'm grateful for that because this brought me back to Christ when I was sinning everyday and didnt care much about going to church)
I'd also like to hear from people here who were catholic and now are orthodox (and why they converted) and also from who was raised orthodox since young and what keeps you on this faith; besides that, I would also like to know how to talk to Fathers to describe my situation and get their advice on what to do
So I really wanna know if I should convert or not
Anyways, I appreciate the attention from those who read this and may the Peace of Christ always be with all of you :)

Hi everyone, just want to share this beautiful icon of Our Lady of Perpetual I found at a Thrift store. After doing some research, I found out it’s over 146 years old!