Damascene Press

05/22/2026

The wondrous Simon, the boast of the apostles, hath passed over the ends of the earth like a brilliant ray, driving away the darkness of polytheism with his saving, brilliant and divine teachings, and hath enlightened all to worship the one Godhead in three Hypostases, indivisible and undivided.

The Apostle Simon, going about the ends of the earth, whirling about like a wheel, hath burned away the madness of idolatry from all the land; and, shedding the light of piety, he hath kindled luminous rays of grace for the faithful, that they may worship the one Godhead in three Hypostases, indivisible and undivided.

The Apostle Simon, most radiant and all-wondrous, the teacher of the nations, the net of God drawing us up from the depths of perdition with exalted theology, the true preacher, hath now wisely led all to the knowledge of Christ and set forth his corrections as a beautiful banquet.

——
The Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot is commemorated May 10 (23).

05/22/2026

Standing in the highest before the Master Who glorified thee and splendidly showed thee forth as His disciple, O wondrous apostle, illumine my soul, that I may hymn thy divine memory.

Bestowing upon thee all the abundance of good things, O apostle, Christ, the Summit of divine gifts, Who alone is righteous, showed thee forth by His just judgment, O divinely revealed one.

Thou becamest fiery of spirit, O apostle, receiving the whole radiance of the Spirit Who descended upon thee from heaven; and thou burnest up all the falsehood of idolatry.

https://open.substack.com/pub/orthodoxprayers/p/apostle-simon-the-zealot

05/22/2026

Damascene Press’s work is inspired and influenced by the lives of both the saints glorified by the Church and the lives of more recently reposed fathers in Christ. Archpriest Christopher Stade, who passed to the next life on January 8th of this year, during the holy days of our Lord’s Nativity, was such a mentor and father.

Father Christopher was a model of gentleness, humility, and perseverance. He was a dedicated priest, father, translator, and publisher.

May his memory be eternal, and may he forever “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” together with the Holy Martyr Christopher, his patron in holy baptism!

—

In the last year of his life, on the feast of his heavenly patron (May 22, 2025), Father Christopher was presented with the following episcopal letter of recognition:

* To Archpriest Christopher Stade *

We have become aware of your noteworthy efforts on behalf of the diocese on several accounts. In honor of the thirty-fifth anniversary of your ordination to the priesthood, a feat worthy of laudation in and of itself, we also wish to thank you for your diligent labors as pastor of the St. John Chrysostom parish. It is noted and appreciated as well, that you regularly attended all diocesan gatherings — a rare feat to be sure.

In addition to these duties and your many good works known only to our Merciful Lord, you have provided a Christian model to all of dedicated and God-pleasing work for the benefit of the faithful. In recognition of your pious endeavors we therefore call down God’s Grace upon you and thank you for your virtuous example of service to the Holy Orthodox Church.

In witness thereof, we affix here our seal and signature on this day, May 4/17, 2025, the commemoration of the Virgin Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada
Locum Tenens, Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America

05/22/2026

When man alienates himself from God in his heart he usually trusts in men and in himself, for in who else can he otherwise trust when he untied his rowboat from God's boat? Since he has already untied his rowboat from God's boat, nothing else remains for him except to trust in his rowboat or in the rowboat of his neighbors. Weak trust, but there is no other for him! Weeping trust above the abyss of destruction, but there is no other!

But, O heaven and earth, why did man untie his rowboat from God's boat? What happened to man that he flees from his security? What kind of calculation did he calculate when he discovered it would be better for him alone on the tempestuous waves than in the household of God and near the hem of God! With whom did he make an alliance when he breached the alliance with God? Is it with someone stronger than God? Foolishness, foolishness, foolishness!

"Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings." This, God spoke once and men have repeated this thousands of times. Being disappointed in their trust in men, men have cursed thousands of times those who have trusted in man. God has said only that which men experienced only too well and confirmed by their experience, i.e., how, indeed, cursed is the man who trusts in man!

Brethren, that is why we should have trust in God Who is the stable boat on the tempest and Who does not betray. Let us have trust only in Him for all other trust is a devilish illusion. In You do we trust, O Lord, our fortress and refuge. Tie us along side You and do not allow us to untie ourselves, if we, by our foolishness and cursedness, attempt to untie ourselves from You.

To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.

——
A homily about the curse of man who trusts in man, from the Prologue of Ohrid for May 9 (22) by Saint Nikolai Velimirovich

05/22/2026

Damascene Press’s work is inspired and influenced by the lives of both the saints glorified by the Church and the lives of more recently reposed fathers in Christ. Archpriest Christopher Stade, who passed to the next life on January 8th of this year, during the holy days of our Lord’s Nativity, was such a mentor and father.

Father Christopher was a model of gentleness, humility, and perseverance. He was a dedicated priest, father, translator, and publisher.

May his memory be eternal, and may he forever “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” together with the Holy Martyr Christopher, his patron in holy baptism!

—

In the last year of his life, on the feast of his heavenly patron (May 22, 2025), Father Christopher was presented with the following episcopal letter of recognition:

* To Archpriest Christopher Stade *

We have become aware of your noteworthy efforts on behalf of the diocese on several accounts. In honor of the thirty-fifth anniversary of your ordination to the priesthood, a feat worthy of laudation in and of itself, we also wish to thank you for your diligent labors as pastor of the St. John Chrysostom parish. It is noted and appreciated as well, that you regularly attended all diocesan gatherings — a rare feat to be sure.

In addition to these duties and your many good works known only to our Merciful Lord, you have provided a Christian model to all of dedicated and God-pleasing work for the benefit of the faithful. In recognition of your pious endeavors we therefore call down God's Grace upon you and thank you for your virtuous example of service to the Holy Orthodox Church.

In witness thereof, we affix here our seal and signature on this day, May 4/17, 2025, the commemoration of the Virgin Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada
Locum Tenens, Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America

05/22/2026

NEW RELEASE - The Holy Martyr Christopher: Life & Canon

https://damascenepress.org/products/the-holy-martyr-christopher-life-canon

Concerning the all-glorious martyr Christopher, much that is strange and unusual has been said, ranging from his having the head of a dog to his origins in a country of cannibals. When a guardsman took him captive in battle, he lacked the ability to speak. He prayed to God, and God sent him an angel...

05/22/2026

Holy Martyr Christopher, pray unto God for us!

Come, all ye Christ-bearers, and let us piously hymn today the memory of Christopher, the divinely wise witness to the Truth.

Having manfully struggled against falsehood, O martyred athlete, strengthened by the might of Christ thou didst trample the threats of the tyrants underfoot.

May 22, 2026 (Morning Edition): Selections from Holy Scripture and Prayers for Prophet Isaiah, Martyr Christopher, and Afterfeast of Ascension

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

"Orthodox Christian Prayers" is a twice-daily publication, offering prayers selected from the liturgical books of the Russian Orthodox Church without alteration.

***

Having attained unto the heaven of exalted virtues, thou wast shown to be a wonder-worker in Myra, O glorious one. And though thy body lieth in Bari, thou dost visit the faithful everywhere in spirit, and dost rescue all from misfortunes. Receiving honor as is meet, thou art glorious among hierarchs, O blessed favorite of Christ. And crying out to thee now in supplication, we say: O holy hierarch Nicholas, entreat the Savior of all, that He bring peace to the world and to save our souls!

Assembling, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, with hymns of supplication let us joyously praise the honored translation of our defender, who enlighteneth all the ends of the earth with miracles, bringeth comfort to the sorrowful in manner divine, delivereth the oppressed; who borrowed through the mercy of God, and, therefore, hath received recompense an hundredfold. To him let us all cry aloud: O holy hierarch Nicholas, entreat the Savior of all, that He bring peace to the world and to save our souls!

By thy virtues thou hast reached the abode of the angels, and dost stand before Christ, thy Master, Whose obedient servant thou wast. And from thy shrine thou dost gush forth myrrh, helping the faithful with thy miracles, and leading the pious to God. Not from Bari do we now invoke thee, but from the Jerusalem on high, where thou rejoicest with the apostles, prophets and hierarchs in gladness. O divinely wise Nicholas, entreat the Savior of all, that He bring peace to the world and to save our souls!
---
Vespers Stichera of Saint Nicholas from the Evening Edition of "Orthodox Christian Prayers" for May 21, 2026.

05/21/2026

Announcement: With God’s help, Damascene Press has undertaken two new initiatives to aid the faithful in incorporating the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church into their daily prayers. As Orthodox Christians, our prayers at home are an extension of the corporate worship of the Church.

1. A selection of the scriptures and liturgical prayers of the Church is being published in electronic format, twice daily, at orthodoxprayers.substack.com. “Orthodox Christian Prayers” is a free service (accessible online, delivered to your inbox, and available in the Substack app). Note that this initiative follows the liturgical cycle of the Russian Orthodox Church.

2. We are publishing a series of booklets with lives of various saints, along with their canons and/or akathist hymns (damascenepress.org/collections/saints-of-the-church). We anticipate adding 2-3 new titles monthly to this “Saints of the Church” series.

It is our hope that these lives of the saints and accompanying prayers will increase your love for the saints and enrich your prayer life – both at home and at the divine services – and assist you in participating more fully in the life of the Church. Questions regarding how or whether specific prayers should be included in your personal prayer rule should be addressed to your parish priest or spiritual father.

The liturgical texts published online and in the “Saints of the Church” series are primarily the translations of Monk Joseph (Isaac) Lambertsen. We are grateful to Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood for their permission to include lives of the saints from Chrysostom Press’s “Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints.”

Damascene Press is operated by the Lambertsen Foundation, a non-profit organization founded with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion (+2022). The Foundation, which continues its work with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas of New York (ROCOR), is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Our work is supported by the sale of our printed publications and contributions from the faithful.