White Orthodox Cross | By Thy Cross, O Christ Master, set me firmly on the rock of the faith | Orthodox Christian Backpackafter the Saviours sufferings, the cross became the sign of the Son of man, that is, the cross signifies the Lord Himself, incarnate and suffering for our salvation. + St. John of Kronstadt +++ When Thou wast crucified, O Christ, tyranny perished and the power of the enemy was trampled down; for it was neither an angel nor a man, but Thou Thyself, O Lord, Who saved us. Glory be to Thee! Tone 1, Matins, First Sessional Hymn after the First Reading of

- Matthew 6:9 (most English translations do not preserve the plural)

even though thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels stand around You

Theodore the Studite

The field is the world

he is a new creation

help me with our holy Lady

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth

were four beasts full of eyes before and behind

Just as we are about to accomplish something good

let us also set up a trophy

but Christ is my life

to prayer instead: how much more time would I spend in prayer