CHRISTIANITY IS PAINFUL. NEAR THE RELICS OF ST NECTARIOS OF AEGINA. BARANOV

We are standing by the icon of Holy Theotokos which is near the shrine with the relics of St. Nectarios of Aegina. In the world of God nothing happens by coincidence. That is why it is not by chance that this icon of Theotokos of the Passion is placed near the relics of St. Nectarios. The story of Our Holy Theotokos start with Her blessed Conception. And now we are here on the day of the Meeting of the Lord, and we can remind ourselves of the words which Holy Theotokos heard from Simeon the God-Receiver: “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Lk.2:35). These were the first words Holy Theotokos heard coming into the mystery of the Incarnation, and not only incarnation, but exceptional union of God with humankind - “a sword will pierce through your own soul also”. She voluntary takes part in this Mystery, which even sounds cruel and to some extent horrible. And this can be made a condition to every Christian who follows Christ...