This issue was, once again, inspired by our participants—we thank God for you! We had not yet started a November-December issue of the GNL and hadn’t planned a Thanksgiving card, but then we received the following letter:
“…It is the week before Thanksgiving, every day I read the words of a card you sent me some four years ago, “No one but You oh Lord can put together what has crumbled into dust. You can restore a conscience turned to ashes. You can restore a soul lost and without hope to its former beauty. With You there is nothing and no one that cannot be redeemed, You are love; You are the Creator and Redeemer. We praise You singing: Alleluia!” (Kontakion 10, Akathist of Thanksgiving)
The card has a rainbow over a lake. I keep it in my Bible. I read these words every day. Thank You. Every day I thank God for you and the people of St. Nicholas. In so many ways I am a better person for having you in my life. I don’t believe y’all completely understand the power of what you do. Dear God, for these people I thank You. O Lord, I thank You for enlightening the darkness of my heart. O God, I thank You for the chance You have given me to be a light unto Your Glory. O God, I thank You for the chance You have given me to know You, to walk in Your Way. O God, I thank You for the incredible depth of Your Love. That through Your Son we all may come to know Your Salvation. O God, You, who are sovereign of the universe, I thank You.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should parish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9)
You and the work you do are part of this promise from God…”
I read this in church and it brought tears to many eyes. The donation jar miraculously filled up making this issue possible! This is a joint effort; together we (you included) are part of the working-together-for-good; it’s God’s doing and His fulfilling of His promises. We are thankful for your participation and beg your prayers. The card described above and the Akathist from which the quote on the card came, were sent out before several of you were a part of the GNL family. Fortunately, the Orthodox have no trouble with repetition! In this mailing we will resend the Akathist of Thanksgiving and a new and special rainbow card with that same verse.
The rainbow is a sign of God’s mercy and love toward His creation, “us”. It is the visible sign that, after destroying almost all living creatures on Earth, He would not destroy life on earth by flood again. Did mankind learn its lesson? Maybe, but not for long! We humans, both on global and personal levels, repeat the same mistakes over and over again. As individuals we learn from our mistakes, but then the next generation steps up and does the exact same thing! Those of us who have children can especially empathize. Lord have mercy!
Noah and the Ark
Thinking about rainbows makes me think about Noah and the Ark and God’s promise to mankind. If you would, please take a few minutes and read about Noah and the Ark in Genesis chapter 6, verse 9 through 9:17. Noah and his family lived in a time of great evil on the earth, not at all unlike today. As a family, they had to make choices to go with the flow or be faithful to the Creator. Noah chose to follow God and faced opposition and ridicule from his neighbors. When God told Noah that He was going to flood the earth and directed him to build the Ark, He gave Noah the plan, a blueprint of sorts, but He didn’t do the work for him. God waited patiently for Noah and his family to build a giant boat as per the instructions. Imagine how it would have been if He had said “Hey y’all, I’m going to flood the earth, so you better build a big boat to hold everything you’ll need,” and left them to figure out the details!

Just as God did not leave Noah without a plan, God didn’t abandon us to our own imagination of what His Church should be like. Through Jesus Christ, God gave us the Ark of Salvation, the Orthodox Church, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide Her! In the story of the Great Flood, the storm raged and there was no end to the hard work Noah and his family faced, even when safely aboard the Ark. When the flood was over and the waters receded, the hard work was just beginning—beginning again and never ending! Likewise, the Church is our refuge from the storms of life. Life is hard! We have to be willing to work at our salvation! We must fight against temptations and the evil one’s attempts to drag us back into sin! Everything we need is in the Ark/Church and, as long as we are on board, we have the tools we need for a successful journey.
The Scriptures, Sacraments and Holy Tradition (services and historical records) are the main “tools” that come to mind. There is much repetition in the cycle of services. Every day we say the same prayers, every service repeats important scriptures and every year we celebrate the same feasts, all to the Glory of God! This repetition is not in vain; it is for our benefit and our salvation. The prayers and services are full of Holy Scripture and help us “hide the word of God in our hearts”. They teach every generation about the history of the Church, which is an ongoing history; there are new Saints and Martyrs even today. However, the teachings of the Church don’t change. Without this structure we tend to forget, wander in a wrong direction, come up with “new” ideas that are the same old ideas that failed 1,000 times before.
Although attempts to debunk all things Biblical have repeatedly failed over the years, many of us still hesitate to believe stories like Noah’s Arkdue to the fantastic claims for and the rhetoric against them. For example, the historical facts surrounding Christ, that He actually lived and died, performed miracles, and even that He rose form the dead, have been substantiated by investigations that were meant to discredit them. Even so, we are bombarded with so-called experts claiming it’s all a fantasy. The same has happened with the historical “story” of Noah and the Ark.
One argument against Noah and the Ark is that there are several versions of the Great Flood story in different cultures around the world. The detractors argue that because there are slight variations, for example: which bird was sent out first and which returned with the olive branch, that the story is just a myth. As they say, “the devil is in the details”! Can you think of any story surviving unchanged for more than 6 months, let alone thousands of years? Instead of exposing the story as untrue, this multicultural world-wide corroboration of the event affirms that a flood of Biblical proportions really happened!
The actual Ark itself is said to have been found on Mount Ararat. There have been various expeditions since the turn of the century- 1993 being one of the most official dates of hands-on discovery that I could find. Teams from several countries have returned to the area and, in 07 and 08, a Chinese team discovered that the partially buried structure had large rooms inside. The dimensions seemed, from what they could see of the ship, to coincide with the Biblical account. Carbon Testing put the age of the artifact at 4,800 years, which matches estimates according to Biblical dates.
Of course, skeptics have alternative explanations as to how this huge structure came to be 13,000 feet above the ground near the peak of one of the largest mountains the world (tallest in Turkey) and how it tested to be less than 5,000 of years old and dating the Flood as much more recent than the estimated millions of years. One theory I came across, which makes no sense at all, suggested that a group of early Christians built a replica of the Ark as a shrine. Bear in mind, this mountain is a huge snow-covered rock has no trees on it at all! This picture on the previous page is of an actual replica of the Ark built by a Dutch carpenter. Another life-size replica can be found at the Ark Museum in Grant County, Kentucky.
The Church is our Ark of Salvation. When storms rage in your life, and you are threatened by the evil forces that want to drown you, call on Christ (Matthew 8:24, 25)! When you start to sink into a sea of sin or doubt His love for you, take Christ’s hand and get back in the boat (Matthew 14:22-33)! Although life is one storm after another, in Christ there is nothing to fear, not even death. The Ark of Salvation, the Orthodox Church, was established under the direction of Jesus Christ. This Ark doesn’t stop the storms of life but shelters us and guides us to the safe harbor of the Kingdom of God, which is not of this world (John 18:36)!
The Brotherhood of Saint Moses the Black Conference
More than once, one of y’all has asked me if there are Black Orthodox Christians. This is a topic we need to revisit as well. We did an issue for Mother’s Day a few years back with icons from around the world depicting Christ and The Theotokos as every race. When people around the world embraced Christianity, they accepted that they were made in the image of God, and logically God would look like them. This is where the white Jesus idea comes from— it’s a cultural thing. Being from the Middle East, Jesus and all the Apostles were medium skin toned, not white or black. Christianity doesn’t have, isn’t supposed to have, racial divisions (Galatians 3:28).
How then, did we get this idea? Do you remember the movie the King and I? It was about the King of Siam and the English governess he hired to teach his children. Quite the romance! The people of Siam thought their little country was the center of the world, a lie propagated by altered maps that showed the kingdom as huge compared to the rest of the countries. This illusion of grandeur had been perpetuated for centuries, and part of the plot was about undoing this misconception so that the Kingdom could participate in world affairs.

People, especially here in the US think of Christianity in the terms of the past 500 years. Maybe it’s because our country, which is barely 250 years old, was founded by Protestant Christians–white people from Europe. Ideas of imperialism and superiority had infected the religious beliefs of Europe and the US was founded on a rebellion against those ideas and on religious freedom. However, there was a centuries-long lack of accurate information about the origins and history of Christianity. As a result, the USA is, metaphorically, the oversized country on the map, with unrealistic ideas of our own importance and knowledge of the historical roots of the Christianity.
There are secular books, historical records, that were written in Greek and Hebrew that report on the life and miracles of Christ and the history of the Church. There are hundreds and thousands of texts from the Early Church that have been translated into many languages over the years—they just haven’t gotten around to translating them into English yet (John 21:25)! Christianity was well established in Africa in the first century after the resurrection. Martyrs have been dying for Christ in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East for centuries and are still being persecuted and martyred today. These Christians, like the millions that have gone before them over the past 2000 years, are prepared to suffer and die for Christ because they know the history of the Church and understand what the Scriptures say (Matt.10:16-25).
When the Apostles went out to all the countries of the known world, they established Churches with the local people. They didn’t force religion on them–they told them about Christ’s coming, His teachings and miracles, His victory over the evil one, and the hope of the life to come. People knew there was a Creator, they longed to know Him, and they welcomed the Good News! The Gospel was spread by the Church and was fueled by great enthusiasm for Christ in the Holy Spirit. Christians who were fleeing persecution spread the Gospel further and faster due to that very persecution. Every country’s Church was in their own language, filled with their own people, led by their own priests and Bishops.

The USA was on track to have its own church as well. The Russian Church sent missionaries to Alaska in the 1700s, establishing the first mission in 1791 among the native Alaskans. The Church spread into the continental US, starting on the West Coast. Long story short; the World Wars broke out and various ethnic groups immigrated to the US, bringing their own priests and bishops with them. The result is that we have strong ethnic churches in the US– Greek, Russian, Antiochian, etc., that kept their native language and culture. It seemed that there was no interest in allowing others in. For example, in the early 80s I went to a Greek church, where everything was in Greek and was asked why I was there. I said I was “a convert”. They looked confused and one asked another “Can someone convert to being Greek?” Orthodoxy is so tied to culture that it is often inseparable. This is where BSMB comes in!
The Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black Conference was about love and caring for all God’s people and bringing racial harmony and reconciliation. The Brotherhood attracts people of color, but it is not about race. It’s named after a great Black saint, but it is not trying to be a separate black thing—it is to unify us all. The evil one sows hatred and division- not Christ!
At the conference, I was able to share about what we are doing with this ministry and asked if anyone was interested in coming to a prison ministry workshop. When Fr. Turbo (center of this pic) a former Marine, once-upon-a-time a tattoo artist, and now a priest and father of 7, saw me at lunch, he switched places from the table where he was seated and came and sat across from Stephen and me. He took both my hands in his and shook his head and said “Mama-Jo, we have to do this prison ministry thing! You got to tell us what you’re doing.”
Later, I asked Fr. Moses (seated, right of center) if it were possible, as I had surmised in the last GNL, that St. Moses had come from a Christian family. “Absolutely!” he said and went on to say that some of the slaves who came to this country in chains were most assuredly Orthodox Christians! That makes so much sense! The ancestors of the priest standing to the left of Fr. Turbo, included an Orthodox priest who came here as a slave! Fr. Moses had relatives who were slaves in the USA as well. I put on his ancestor’s neck iron—LORD HAVE MERCY! As a young man, Fr. Moses, although born free in a free country, found himself a slave to sin and did time. As God wills, now he is a wonderful pastor to Christ’s flock and serves “all the flower’s in God’s garden”! As descendants of Slaves, they see that God’s hand was moving in the stormy events of their families for generations. Glory to God for all things!
The Akathist of Thanksgiving
This Akathist was composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940. It is a song of praise from amidst the most terrible sufferings.
This picture is of a rare lunar rainbow that, under the right conditions, occurs at night! This amazing sight brings to mind that God’s promises are for the best and worst of times.
Trisagion Prayer (the beginning prayers)
+Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
+Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3 times)
+Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
+Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion 1 Everlasting King, Thy will for our salvation is full of power. Thy right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give Thee thanks for all Thy mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Thy praise, both now and in the time to come.
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.
Ikos 1 I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Thy love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give Thee thanks, with all who have come to know Thee, who call upon Thy name.
Glory to Thee for calling me into being
Glory to Thee, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to Thee, spreading out before me heaven and earth like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to Thee through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to Thee for every step of my life’s journey, for every moment of glory
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 2 O Lord, how lovely it is to be Thy guest. Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun’s golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Thy love. Blessed art thou, mother earth, in thy fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia!
Ikos 2 Thou hast brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, where in the azure heights the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. We can live very well on Thine earth. It is a pleasure to be Thy guest.
Glory to Thee for the Feast Day of life
Glory to Thee for the perfume of lilies and roses
Glory to Thee for each different taste of berry and fruit
Glory to Thee for the sparkling silver of early morning dew
Glory to Thee for the joy of dawn’s awakening
Glory to Thee for the new life each day brings
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 3 It is the Holy Spirit who makes us find joy in each flower, the exquisite scent, the delicate color, the beauty of the Most High in the tiniest of things. Glory and honor to the Spirit, the Giver of Life, who covers the fields with their carpet of flowers, crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us the joy of gazing at it with our eyes. O be joyful and sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 3 How glorious art Thou in the springtime, when every creature awakes to new life and joyfully sings Thy praises with a thousand tongues. Thou art the Source of Life, the Destroyer of Death. By the light of the moon, nightingales sing, and the valleys and hills lie like wedding garments, white as snow. All the earth is Thy promised bride awaiting her spotless husband. If the grass of the field is like this, how gloriously shall we be transfigured in the Second Coming after the Resurrection! How splendid our bodies, how spotless our souls!
Glory to Thee, bringing from the depth of the earth an endless variety of colors, tastes and scents
Glory to Thee for the warmth and tenderness of the world of nature
Glory to Thee for the numberless creatures around us
Glory to Thee for the depths of Thy wisdom, the whole world a living sign of it
Glory to Thee; on my knees, I kiss the traces of Thine unseen hand
Glory to Thee, enlightening us with the clearness of eternal life
Glory to Thee for the hope of the unutterable, imperishable beauty of immortality
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 4 How filled with sweetness are those whose thoughts dwell on Thee; how life-giving Thy Holy Word. To speak with Thee is more soothing than anointing with oil; sweeter than the honeycomb. To pray to Thee lifts the spirit, refreshes the soul. Where Thou art not, there is only emptiness; hearts are smitten with sadness; nature, and life itself, become sorrowful; where Thou art, the soul is filled with abundance, and its song resounds like a torrent of life: Alleluia!
Ikos 4 When the sun is setting, when quietness falls like the peace of eternal sleep, and the silence of the spent day reigns, then in the splendor of its declining rays, filtering through the clouds, I see Thy dwelling-place: fiery and purple, gold and blue, they speak prophet-like of the ineffable beauty of Thy presence, and call to us in their majesty. We turn to the Father.
Glory to Thee at the hushed hour of nightfall
Glory to Thee, covering the earth with peace
Glory to Thee for the last ray of the sun as it sets
Glory to Thee for sleep’s repose that restores us
Glory to Thee for Thy goodness even in the time of darkness when all the world is hidden from our eyes
Glory to Thee for the prayers offered by a trembling soul
Glory to Thee for the pledge of our reawakening on that glorious last day, that day which has no evening
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 5 The dark storm clouds of life bring no terror to those in whose hearts Thy fire is burning brightly. Outside is the darkness of the whirlwind, the terror and howling of the storm, but in the heart, in the presence of Christ, there is light and peace, silence: Alleluia!
Ikos 5 I see Thine heavens resplendent with stars. How glorious art Thou radiant with light! Eternity watches me by the rays of the distant stars. I am small, insignificant, but the Lord is at my side. Thy right arm guides me wherever I go.
Glory to Thee, ceaselessly watching over me
Glory to Thee for the encounters Thou dost arrange for me
Glory to Thee for the love of parents, for the faithfulness of friends
Glory to Thee for the humbleness of the animals which serve me
Glory to Thee for the unforgettable moments of life
Glory to Thee for the heart’s innocent joy
Glory to Thee for the joy of living, moving and being able to return Thy love
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 6 How great and how close art Thou in the powerful track of the storm! How mighty Thy right arm in the blinding flash of the lightning! How awesome Thy majesty! The voice of the Lord fills the fields, it speaks in the rustling of the trees. The voice of the Lord is in the thunder and the downpour. The voice of the Lord is heard above the waters. Praise be to Thee in the roar of mountains ablaze. Thou dost shake the earth like a garment; Thou dost pile up to the sky the waves of the sea. Praise be to Thee, bringing low the pride of man. Thou dost bring from his heart a cry of Penitence: Alleluia!
Ikos 6 When the lightning flash has lit up the camp dining hall, how feeble seems the light from the lamp. Thus dost Thou, like the lightning, unexpectedly light up my heart with flashes of intense joy. After Thy blinding light, how drab, how colorless, how illusory all else seems. My soul clings to Thee.
Glory to Thee, the highest peak of men’s dreaming
Glory to Thee for our unquenchable thirst for communion with God
Glory to Thee, making us dissatisfied with earthly things
Glory to Thee, turning on us Thine healing rays
Glory to Thee, subduing the power of the spirits of darkness and dooming
to death every evil
Glory to Thee for the signs of Thy presence for the joy of hearing Thy voice and living in Thy love
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 7 In the wondrous blending of sounds it is Thy call we hear; in the harmony of many voices, in the sublime beauty of music, in the glory of the works of great composers: Thou leadest us to the threshold of paradise to come, and to the choirs of angels. All true beauty has the power to draw the soul towards Thee, and to make it sing in ecstasy: Alleluia!
Ikos 7 The breath of Thine Holy Spirit inspires artists, poets and scientists. The power of Thy supreme knowledge makes them prophets and interpreters of Thy laws, who reveal the depths of Thy creative wisdom. Their works speak unwittingly of Thee. How great art Thou in Thy creation! How great art Thou in man!
Glory to Thee, showing Thine unsurpassable power in the laws of the universe
Glory to Thee, for all nature is filled with Thy laws
Glory to Thee for what Thou hast revealed to us in Thy mercy
Glory to Thee for what Thou hast hidden from us in Thy wisdom
Glory to Thee for the inventiveness of the human mind
Glory to Thee for the dignity of man’s labour
Glory to Thee for the tongues of fire that bring inspiration
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 8 How near Thou art in the day of sickness. Thou Thyself visitest the sick; Thou Thyself bendest over the sufferer’s bed. His heart speaks to Thee. In the throes of sorrow and suffering Thou bringest peace and unexpected consolation. Thou art the comforter. Thou art the love which watches over and heals us. To Thee we sing the song: Alleluia!
Ikos 8 When in childhood I called upon Thee consciously for the first time, Thou didst hear my prayer, and Thou didst fill my heart with the blessing of peace. At that moment I knew Thy goodness and knew how blessed are those who turn to Thee. I started to call upon Thee night and day; and now even now I call upon Thy name.
Glory to Thee, satisfying my desires with good things
Glory to Thee, watching over me day and night
Glory to Thee, curing affliction and emptiness with the healing flow of time
Glory to Thee, no loss is irreparable in Thee, Giver of eternal life to all
Glory to Thee, making immortal all that is lofty and good
Glory to Thee, promising us the longed-for meeting with our loved ones who have died
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 9 Why is it that on a Feast Day the whole of nature mysteriously smiles? Why is it that then a heavenly gladness fills our hearts; a gladness far beyond that of earth and the very air in church and in the altar becomes luminous? It is the breath of Thy gracious love. It is the reflection of the glory of Mount Tabor. Then do heaven and earth sing Thy praise: Alleluia!
Ikos 9 When Thou didst call me to serve my brothers and filled my soul with humility, one of Thy deep, piercing rays shone into my heart; it became luminous, full of light like iron glowing in the furnace. I have seen Thy face, face of mystery and of unapproachable glory.
Glory to Thee, transfiguring our lives with deeds of love
Glory to Thee, making wonderfully sweet the keeping of Thy commandments
Glory to Thee, making Thyself known where man shows mercy on his neighbor
Glory to Thee, sending us failure and misfortune that we may understand the sorrows of others
Glory to Thee, rewarding us so well for the good we do
Glory to Thee, welcoming the impulse of our heart’s love
Glory to Thee, raising to the heights of heaven every act of love in earth and sky
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 10 No one can put together what has crumbled into dust, but Thou canst restore a conscience turned to ashes. Thou canst restore to its former beauty a soul lost and without hope. With Thee, there is nothing that cannot be redeemed. Thou art love; Thou art Creator and Redeemer. We praise Thee, singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 10 Remember, my God, the fall of Lucifer full of pride, keep me safe with the power of Thy Grace; save me from falling away from Thee. Save me from doubt. Incline my heart to hear Thy mysterious voice every moment of my life. Incline my heart to call upon Thee, present in everything.
Glory to Thee for every happening, every condition Thy providence has put me in
Glory to Thee for what Thou speakest to me in my heart
Glory to Thee for what Thou revealest to me, asleep or awake
Glory to Thee for scattering our vain imaginations
Glory to Thee for raising us from the slough of our passions through suffering
Glory to Thee for curing our pride of heart by humiliation
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 11 Across the cold chains of the centuries, I feel the warmth of Thy breath, I feel Thy blood pulsing in my veins. Part of time has already gone, but now Thou art the present. I stand by Thy Cross; I was the cause of it. I cast myself down in the dust before it. Here is the triumph of love, the victory of salvation. Here the centuries themselves cannot remain silent, singing Thy praises: Alleluia!
Ikos 11 Blessed are they that will share in the King’s Banquet: but already on earth Thou givest me a foretaste of this blessedness. How many times with Thine own hand hast Thou held out to me Thy Body and Thy Blood, and I, though a miserable sinner, have received this Mystery, and have tasted Thy love, so ineffable, so heavenly.
Glory to Thee for the unquenchable fire of Thy Grace
Glory to Thee, building Thy Church, a haven of peace in a tortured world
Glory to Thee for the life-giving water of Baptism in which we find new birth
Glory to Thee, restoring to the penitent purity white as the lily
Glory to Thee for the cup of salvation and the bread of eternal joy
Glory to Thee for exalting us to the highest heaven
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 12 How often have I seen the reflection of Thy glory in the faces of the dead. How resplendent they were, with beauty and heavenly joy. How ethereal, how translucent their faces. How triumphant over suffering and death, their felicity and peace. Even in the silence they were calling upon Thee. In the hour of my death, enlighten my soul, too, that it may cry out to Thee: Alleluia!
Ikos 12 What sort of praise can I give Thee? I have never heard the song of the Cherubim, a joy reserved for the spirits above. But I know the praises that nature sings to Thee. In winter, I have beheld how silently in the moonlight the whole earth offers Thee prayer, clad in its white mantle of snow, sparkling like diamonds. I have seen how the rising sun rejoices in Thee, how the song of the birds is a chorus of praise to Thee. I have heard the mysterious mutterings of the forests about Thee, and the winds singing Thy praise as they stir the waters. I have understood how the choirs of stars proclaim Thy glory as they move forever in the depths of infinite space. What is my poor worship! All nature obeys Thee, I do not. Yet while I live, I see Thy love, I long to thank Thee, and call upon Thy name.
Glory to Thee, giving us light
Glory to Thee, loving us with love so deep, divine and infinite
Glory to Thee, blessing us with light, and with the host of angels and saints
Glory to Thee, Father all-holy, promising us a share in Thy Kingdom
Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit, life-giving Sun of the world to come
Glory to Thee for all things, Holy and most merciful Trinity
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 13 Life-giving and merciful Trinity, receive my thanksgiving for all Thy goodness. Make us worthy of Thy blessings, so that, when we have brought to fruit the talents Thou hast entrusted to us, we may enter into the joy of our Lord, forever exulting in the shout of victory: Alleluia! (repeat Kontakion 13 Three times)
Ikos 1 I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Thy love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give Thee thanks, with all who have come to know Thee, who call upon Thy name.
Glory to Thee for calling me into being
Glory to Thee, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to Thee, spreading out before me heaven and earth
Like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to Thee through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to Thee for every step of my life’s journey
For every moment of glory
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age
Kontakion 1 Everlasting King, Thy will for our salvation is full of power. Thy right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give Thee thanks for all Thy mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Thy praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.