Revival of Orthodoxy In Russia

Revival of Orthodoxy In Russia
Exhibition in Moscow

Elder Tadej of Vitovnitsa

Elder Tadej of Vitovnitsa
Father Tadej (Thaddeus, Фадей) was born in Serbia in 1914. Aged 15, he was told by doctors that he had only five years to live. The young man entered the monastery of Milkovo, where he became a monk, the disciple of Russian monks who had taken refuge there. They had come to Serbia as a result of the Bolshevik coup d'etat in Russia and the neo-calendarist persecution of Orthodoxy at Valaam Monastery, then in Finland. Among the Russian monks at Milkovo was the well-known Fr. Ambrose, a disciple of St Ambrose of Optina. It was from him that Fr. Thaddeus soon learned the Jesus Prayer.

After the repose of his revered elder, the saintly Fr. Ambrose, Fr. Thaddeus moved to the monastery of Gorniak, where he was tonsured by its Russian Abbot Fr. Seraphim. Two years later Fr. Thaddeus was ordained priest. After this he was given various obediences and until the outbreak of the Second World War served at the Patriarchate in Pec.

From here he returned to Belgrade where he was arrested by the Gestapo, who had already arrested Patriarch Gabriel and the future St Nicholas (Velimirovich). They considered Fr Thaddeus to be one of the leaders of the Serbian resistance to the Nazi occupation. However, these charges were dropped, Fr. Thaddeus was released and he set off for the monastery of Vintovitsa.

Fr. Thaddeus was to remain in Vintovitsa for most of the rest of his life. He became known as an elder and every day received all who came to him for advice, support and consolation. However, he was persecuted by those jealous of him and spent the final years of his life with spiritual children. He departed this life on 13 March 2003 and was buried in the monastery of Vitovnitsa. He is venerated by his many spiritual children, especially Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Bosnians, including former Muslims whom he converted to Christ.

Sayings of Elder Tadej in English
Sayings of Elder Tadej in Serbian

Valaam Monastery - Step to the Skies

Valaam Monastery - Step to the Skies
Mount Athos of the North, the worthy and great Lavra -- so was called this ancient monastic dwelling, which was founded by Saints Sergius and Herman, the Valaam Miracle Workers. More than once did the Valaam Monastery see destruction and devastation, more than once did its monks die by the edge of the sword more than once were its holy churches engulfed in flames. But every time, the monastery recovered from its wounds, rose and flourished again.

Official website of Valaam Monastery

The Last Anchorite

From Remigiusz Sowa Best Documentary Transmitter Award winner at the Crystal Palace International Film Festival; a truly remarkable story of Father Lazarus El Anthony, university lecturer, Marxist who abandoned his life in Australia and went in search of God and freedom. His pilgrimage eventually brought him to a life of a Christian Coptic monk and live in solitude on the Al-Qalzam Mountain (Egypt) in the pursuit of what the Desert Fathers called apatheia, holy stillness.

Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY

Holy Trinity Monastery is a male monastic community under the auspices of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. We are dedicated to a life of prayer and obedience according to the pre-revoluntionary monastic tradition. We draw our origins from the Pochaev Lavra of St. Job of Pochaev in Southern Ukraine when monks fled from Pochaev in the face of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. As descendants of the Lavra of Pochaev, we continue the mission established by St. Job in the 15th century to publish books for the edification and protection of the faithful. Within the monastery is located a studio and school of Russian iconography conducted by disciples of master iconographer Fr. Cyprian (Pijoff). Also situated within the monastic community is Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, with young men from around the world training for the holy priesthood and ministry within our Church. Consisting of impressive buildings and an other-worldly way of life, Holy Trinity Monastery is a source of spiritual nourishment and support for the Orthodox Church.

Official website of Holy Trinity Monastery

MOUNT ATHOS - 60 MINUTES

MOUNT ATHOS - 60 MINUTES
Bob Simon steps back in time when he gets rare access to monks in ancient monasteries on a remote Greek peninsula who have lived a Spartan life of prayer in a tradition virtually unchanged for a thousand years.

Related Videos
60 Minutes Extra: Mt. Athos' autonomy
60 Minutes Extra: Bastions of the Orthodox faith
60 Minutes Extra: Life on Mt. Athos
60 Minutes Overtime: Behind-the-scenes travelogue to holy Mt. Athos

Easter Song

Easter Song

People rejoice, all nations listen: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Dance all ye stars and sing all ye mountains: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Whisper ye woods and blow all ye winds: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! O seas proclaim and roar all ye beasts: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Buzz all ye bees and sing all ye birds: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! O little lambs rejoice and be merry: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Nightengales joyous, lending your song: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Ring, O ye bells, let everyone hear: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! All angels join us, singing this song: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Come down ye heavens, draw near the earth: Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Glory to Thee, God Almighty! Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! Glory to Thee, God Almighty! Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice! - St. Nikolai Velimirovic

The Angel Cried

Paschal Canon - Ode 9

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin. Again I say: Rejoice. Thy Son is risen from His three days in the tomb. With himself has he raised all the dead. Rejoice, all ye people. Shine! Shine! O new Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone on you. Exult now and be glad, O Zion. Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of thy Son.

The Angel Cried

Paschal Canon - Ode 9

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin. Again I say: Rejoice. Thy Son is risen from His three days in the tomb. With himself has he raised all the dead. Rejoice, all ye people. Shine! Shine! O new Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone on you. Exult now and be glad, O Zion. Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of thy Son.

Paschal Verses - Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Paschal Verses - Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen!

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Do not Lament Me, O Mother

Canon of Great and Holy Saturday - Ode 9

Do not lament me, O Mother,
Seeing me in the tomb,
The Son conceived in the womb without seed,
For I shall arise and be glorified with eternal glory as God.
I shall exalt all who magnify thee in faith and in love.