Merry Christmas from Holy Archangel Michael Monastery
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As we approach Christmas and prepare for Heaven coming to earth in Christ, let’s stop for a moment and think about the angels! St. Luke’s Gospel account is full of them:
An angel prepared Zechariah for St. John the Baptist.
An angel announced the conception of the God-Man Jesus to the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
An angel declared the Good News to the shepherds of the birth of the Savior.
A host of angels confirmed his message while singing “Glory to God in the Highest”, the first Christmas Hymn!
Angels ministered to our Lord in the desert temptations.
An angel strengthened our Lord in the Agony of the Garden.
Angels appeared to the myrrh-bearing women revealing His Resurrection.
An angel told the other shepherds, the Apostles, that He will come again while they stood looking up on the Mount of Olives.
We are surrounded by angels. We have a guardian angel that helps us in our life of faith on earth. We are never alone. Matushka Michaila used to often say, “the devil can do no more than God allows.” And then, He turns it out for good. Because the ‘angel of the Lord sets up His camp around them that fear Him and delivers them.’ Ps. 33(34):7
From all of us, at Holy Archangel Michael and All Angels Skete, St. Xenia Sisterhood, and Protection Monastery, let us join with the angels and sing “Glory to God in the Highest!” Let us prepare to go to Bethlehem. May His renewing Grace carry us forward in the coming year.
Thank you for your continued support of the monastery. You are daily in our prayers and hearts.
Fr. Alexii, Abbess Brígid, Abbess Sergia and all of us here
*Note: The 'Taxiarchae’ icon , in the Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, is written by Christopher (Seraphim) Gosey)
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