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It’s no surprise, Orthodox Christians are keen on the Rite of Forgiveness and the service that surrounds it… here’s a little more about this observance. It’s the last Sunday before the start of Lent, so the Rite of Forgiveness occurs during Vespers before the cross and the icons of the Saviour and the Most-Holy Birthgiver. By the way, the rite is very evocative. Firstly, the priest asks for forgiveness. He makes a reverence before the holy things and kisses them; then, he asks forgiveness from the clergy and believers. After that, all present ask forgiveness from one another. On this day, we can bring to those near us our sincere repentance for all our voluntary and involuntary sins so that we can remove the heavy stone of guilt from ourselves. Of course, we heartily forgive everybody else. Because of this, God forgives us and this puts us right with Him. The clergy are in dark vestments to remind us that the Great Lent is beginning… the Holy 40 Days of the Fast. Brothers and sisters, may God help you to carry out this podvig*, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of love to our family, and for the sake of the Holy Image which is hidden in us, but which can shine a light to illuminate the souls of others!
- Podvig: Should NEVER be “Englished”… one of the most powerful words in the Russian language. There are literally no English equivalents strong enough. Podvig has overtones of “epic”, “heroic”, “bravery”, “self-sacrifice”, “victory”, “effort”, and “triumph”. It’s best to leave it as is, and admit that English lacks the necessary material to give meaning to this word.
Marfa-Mariinskoe House of Mercy
18 February 2018
Youth Department of the Diocese of the City of Moscow
Facebook
Voices from Russia 
18 February 2018. A Word to the Wise About the DemExit FB Group
Tags: Censorship, Facebook, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, internet censorship, internet troll, Neoliberal, Neoliberalism, political commentary, politics, United States, USA
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Dear comrades! I’m afraid it’s time to exit the #DemExit group. DemEnter/DNC trolls have seriously infiltrated them! They’re even kicking people out for defending themselves from those trolls, bots, or whoever! That group is TOAST!
17 February 2018
John Phillip
Facebook
Editor:
Have a care with all “anti-Trump” FB groups… many are Hillarybot entities in disguise. I was in one… they got miffed because I had an admin blocked and they demanded IN PUBLIC that I unblock them. I got the message, so I got out… be careful with all pro-Hillary sheeple. They’ve all drank the neoliberal Kool-Aid and love Hilly’s fellatio of the rich. You can’t talk with them… they’re worse than “conservatives” are. Why, to them, we’re just wayward children without a clue how to proceed without “guidance” from our Upper-Middle “betters”. I’m not the only person to believe that bat-shit crazy…
BMD