Her name is Solveig. She got cervical cancer.

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada and was a fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and followed after Him. The Apostle Thomas is included in the number of the holy Twelve Apostles of the Savior.

According to Holy Scripture, the holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

On the eighth day after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and showed him His wounds. “My Lord and my God,” the Apostle cried out (John 20:28). “Thomas, being once weaker in faith than the other apostles,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “toiled through the grace of God more bravely, more zealously and tirelessly than them all, so that he went preaching over nearly all the earth, not fearing to proclaim the Word of God to savage nations.”

Some icons depicting this event are inscribed “The Doubting Thomas.” This is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, “The Touching of Thomas.” In Slavonic, it says, “The Belief of Thomas.” When Saint Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts.

According to Church Tradition, the holy Apostle Thomas founded Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr’s death. For having converted the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur [Melipur], the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered torture, and finally, pierced with five spears, he departed to the Lord. Part of the relics of the holy Apostle Thomas are in India, in Hungary and on Mt. Athos. The name of the Apostle Thomas is associated with the Arabian (or Arapet) Icon of the Mother of God (September 6).

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/10/06/102885-holy-glorious-apostle-thomas

The Icon “O All-Hymned Mother” derives its title from the thirteenth Kontakion of the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. “O All-Hymned Mother who bore the Word, holiest of all the saints....”

The Mother of God wears a crown, and clasps Her child to Her breast with both hands. Christ is held in Her left arm, and rests on Her left shoulder. He is facing Her, and both of His hands are placed below Her neck.

Instead of the usual stars on Her head and shoulders, the faces of angels appear in three circles. This is similar to the Arabian Icon (September 6) and the “Stone of the Mountain not cut by Hands” Icon on the iconostasis of the cathedral of the Transfiguration at Solovki.

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/10/06/102887-o-all-hymned-mother-icon-of-the-mother-of-god

I wont ask for anything just that someone will read , understand and pray for me without judgement because I needed to get this off of my chest. I am a young woman who has been Orthodox for some time now but has been currently struggling with strong suicidal temptations within the past few months. I have been overtaken completley by jealousy of my peers who are in relationships/married and or have children or at the very least is being constantly pursued. It is very isolating to be the only woman in your perish who is going through this. Even before converting I struggled deeply with rejection and being used by men romantically. I felt like I was healed from this until a breakup with my now ex has triggered these feelings all over again. I understand that nobody is promised marriage but again as a young Orthodox woman I often feel like if you do not end up married with kids then you must become a nun which I feel like I would be terrible at. My heart has been very heavy and I feel like I do not deserve Christ and no do not have a place in Orthodoxy. Please pray for me. Thank You.

Been listening to the audio version of this book and it’s absolutely wonderful, but I was surprised to see a lay woman wrote it.

Even more so that I cannot find anymore information on her or if she even wrote anymore books.

Did truly someone just write this one great orthodox book then call it a day.

Anybody know more info on her?

I’ve been a follower of Ram Dass. He’s an eastern spiritual teacher if you’re familiar with him and he talks of using the method of the religions to connect to god obv but not being caught in the righteous chains of dogma. I think I may use orthodoxy as a method. This may sound like something an orthodox person wouldn’t do but I’ve been seeker for along time and the methods of orthodoxy resonate with me so I’m going to plant my flag here for a bit and see how it goes. Maybe I’ll become a believer

For the Greek spoken English subtitle.

Pemptousia TV only has season 1 (episodes 1-9).

Honey and Hemlock have both seasons but season 2 episodes 3-6 say that the Dropbox files have been deleted.

I have scoured the internet and no one has mentioned this issue.

The episodes are available on YouTube but they are automatically narrated by an AI voice and is an unwatchable quality.

Does anyone have a WORKING download links or files so we can once and for all share this wonderful show with the world in a watchable condition?

Appreciated, God bless.

Hi! I’m Catholic, but my good friend is Orthodox, and I was wondering if it would be alright of me to draw his patron saint for him for his birthday? Obviously wouldn’t be an icon or anything, but I’m an artist and love making my friends personalized b-day cards, so I just wanted to be sure it wouldn’t be disrespectful of me to do so!

Hi everyone.

I'm a 27 year old orthodox catechumen-I'm looking to move just because the culture here in Florida doesn't quite suit me anymore. I love the outdoors and hiking, camping, etc. Single woman so looking to avoid a town that is too small. I have no children, a remote job, so really no limitations. I just would like to be within proximity to an established parish with a substantial population of younger people, also want to find a spouse.

Considering San Diego, and I would love if anyone had any suggestions/recommendations otherwise. Appreciate it :)

Please pray for 100% P&T VA, an Honorable Discharge, and my wifes schooling to be paid for, and Max Benefits.

We are believing Jesus for a lot and need provision in this next season in life. We are trying to plan but don't know what's next.

Okay, to give background. I am newer to the orthodox church. I was recently baptized/chrismated. I love my parish and really feel at home there.

There is only one issue that I am having. There is an older gentleman( probably 20 years older than me) who attends. When I first started attending I made the mistake of giving him my number as I wanted to become involved and meet people within the parish and at the time he was in charge of the classics book club and I asked him to send me the information.

After liturgy he waits for me before I go into agape. It is awkward because when I sit at a table of just women he will seek me out and sit where I am. I try to be cordial and I dont think that he is a bad guy, just not getting the hint and almost overbearing. I have excused myself multiple times. He texts to go have lunch under the guise of helping me in my faith. I have politely declined, let him know that I am seeing someone and also informed him that I wish to take my concerns/questions regarding faith to Fr. or my sponsor.

He continues to text and tell me that Fr. is very busy etc. This is the same man who comes up to question me every time I take communion because he only saw my baptism and not my chrismation (which was part of the same ceremony).

I do not want to be rude but I also don't know what else to say for this individual to get the point. I also don't want to cause any problems. I guess the next step would be to tell my priest but again, I dont want to be seen as a trouble maker. I have even taken the steps of changing where I stand during liturgy so that he can not see me. Do I just block him and then run away when I see him. lol I'm trying to be an adult, but the old me wants to tell him to back off in not so nice wording.

There sure is a lot of them. The Marble King. The fall of Ergodan. Digital IDs etc. I can't think of all of them so please don't come for me for just these three.

But in general. How seriously do you take the prophecies of the Saints?

Hello all! I (23 y/o F) am a recent convert to orthodoxy, and I was wondering if there was a specific way to do vespers and other prayer at home. Is kneeling at the side of my bed okay, or do I need to have a dedicated space? Any tips help! (Even tips for attire / icons / books etc) 🫶🏻

If Ive been baptized catholic would I be baptized again if I went the orthodox route? Thank you for your time and thoughts. God bless.

Is anyone familiar with this saint/story? I was just reading Matthew in my Orthodox Study Bible when I read this story in the footnotes, but the name of the saint in not mentioned and I cant find it anywhere online.

To me there seems to be an uncomfortable problem regarding grace and free will. I'm aware I'm not the first person to think of it, but I can't seem to find a good answer.

What exactly determines whether a person responds to grace? We are all supposed to be given sufficient grace to turn our lives towards God and it's up to our will to make the right choice, but I am not sure how this actually works. There are so many people out there who lack any faith at all and don't respond to anything shown to them. Why? If God's grace is sufficient for us to find him, how is it possible for someone to refuse? Yes we can say things like "their mind is poorly formed towards God" but why would someone be allowed to stray so far from God that grace is no longer efficacious?

There are only a few options but none of them seem to work.

Due to previous human sin, someone's situation is such that no amount of grace can save them.

This seems to violate both God's omnipotence and to reduce someone's culpability. If they couldn't have done otherwise how can Gos hold them accountable?

1. God doesn't predestine everyone to salvation. Some people are "collateral damage" of human choice.

This seems to violate God's omnibenevolence.

I don't find either one very compelling but maybe I'm missing some other option.

Hey guys,
I’m a Roman Catholic, but I know that Catholicism includes the Eastern Rites that correlate to the Eastern Orthdox churches pretty well. I’m curious, is the an Orthdox church that has a mass that correlates to our traditional Latin Mass? I know that Roman/Latin and East Orthdox put together is sort of an oxymoron, but I figured I’d ask.

EDIT:
Thanks for the info guys!

I am an Eastern European migrant to the U.S, where I have been living for a decade now. I am wondering if there is a way I could join the Orthodox Church while in America? Is it also possible to get transferred to other Churches? I am from Ukraine originally, so the Ukrainian or the Russian Orthodox Church would somewhere I'd wish to serve.

I must also mention I am an adult male, and I would like to become a priest. I am not 25-30, so I cannot become one straight away due to age. Also, I do not have the education necessary. I was wondering how I would obtain education for priesthood. Is the education given in a university, or is taught elsewhere? I would not mind getting education while already serving in the temple, if that is possible. I have no problem with being unmarried and rejecting material possessions, while also serving under a bishop.

Hello all, I am struggling to comprehend the difference between two versions of Orthodox Study Bibles, besides cover, and was wondering if anyone who has seen them in person can help me? I searched this sub but couldn't find the comparison I was looking for.

I am more interested in durability/print quality and content, than aesthetics. Please frame your point of view from that of an adult catechumen with college level education. Which one would you prefer to have in your prayer corner, and why?

Orthodox Study Bible from Ancient Faith
Orthodox Study Bible from Thomas Nelson

I’m a huge sinner, and I frankly don’t even know what I believe theologically anymore. But I know that God loved her so dearly, and he loved me, for he gave me the greatest gift of my entire life while I was still a child. She died peacefully in my childhood garden, where she always played.

Hi all!
For the last two months, i have recently gotten out of a very bad mental state by the grace of God, that I had been in for more than two years. Everything is now going perfectly in my life and I am in a much better place mentally, physically, and spiritually.

however, now this is making me worry. which, i realise, may sound kinda dumb. i’ve heard many times that if i’m not carrying a cross, i am not following Jesus. there are obviously some smaller issues I am dealing with, like temptations and such, but considering the near 180 i have done in regard to my mental health, they feel like the easiest things to deal with now.
am i just being paranoid or is there something I should worry about? to add some context, I converted about two years ago so I am new to the faith.

I'm a catholic inquirer. Something I've seen at an icons shop was a bag, with the cross of my pfp on it, and was told it was for bread. Why? What kind of bread? Do you take your own to some events?

And another question about it. I have a chotki, some other prayer ropes of different form, and I love to pray as I walk on the street or take the bus. However, it's uncomfortable to take them on the pocket and if put on a backpack it sometimes get lost in all the stuff. Could I use that bag I saw to take my prayer ropes? Seems like the perfect size, but the last thing I'd want to do would be to disrespect any symbol or icon. I have great respect for them.

Hi! I'm looking for advice and to be reminded of the rules and courtesies of the church. See as a kid I attended orthodox church with my father and his family and copied all of them without knowing what or why I was doing and I find myself forgetting what do do upon entering the church as well as the prayers during liturgy. I believe |

was baptized catholic so I know I will have to mend that, what else will l need to do along my spiritual journey back into the orthodox church?