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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky

St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky

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July: Beyond Pentecost

With the glorious seasons of Pascha, Pentecost (Holy Trinity,) and the Apostles’ Fast behind us, we now enter July, which is one of the quietest months of the year, liturgically. Yet it is in these “normal days” of the post-Pentecost period that the real measure of our spiritual life unfolds. To that end, our parish family invites you to visit St. Athanasius this summer. We have parishioners from across 10 Kentucky counties, including Lexington-Fayette and beyond! You can learn more about making an in-person visit to St. Athanasius here. You can also take a peek inside our church by checking our our parish YouTube channel. Check out our “hard copy” July 2025 calendar below and remember that our google calendar is here (and you can import it into your own calendars if you wish.) As is typical in traditional Orthodox Christianity, there are many services each week beyond our Sunday Liturgy–even during this relatively quiet month.

For those in (or close to) Madison County or south of Richmond to consider a visit our St. Nina Mission (213 Pauline Drive #5, Berea, KY,) which helps extend the reach of the Orthodox Faith along the I-75 corridor & Wilderness Trail. We are drawing people from Somerset, London, Corbin, and beyond. We are now serving weekly Tuesday & Saturday night services at 630pm plus a monthly Sunday Liturgy. Again, see our mission website for details.

Below is a collection of photos from our annual May Parish Picnic, our annual Vacation Church School, from June in general, & from Pentecost 2025, showing the full range of liturgical, educational, missional, and social life in our parish. We hope these photos and the depth of our Faith inspire you to visit St. Athanasius Orthodox Church and/or our St. Nina Mission! If you have questions about our calendar or any aspect of our Faith or parish life, please reach out to our rector and senior pastor Fr. Justin at fr.justin@bluegrassorthodox.org or our associate priest Fr. Giorgi at fr.giorgi@bluegrassorthodox.org.

Bulletin July 6th

July 5, 2025 News

Bulletin June 29th

July 5, 2025 News

July: Beyond Pentecost

June 27, 2025 Featured

With the glorious seasons of Pascha, Pentecost (Holy Trinity,) and the Apostles’ Fast behind us, we now enter July, which is one of the quietest months of the year, liturgically. Yet it is in these “normal days” of the post-Pentecost period that the real measure of our spiritual life unfolds. …

Bulletin June 22nd

June 19, 2025 News

Bulletin June 15th

June 13, 2025 News

Bulletin June 8

June 6, 2025 News

June, Pentecost, Vacation Church School

May 31, 2025 Featured

In these recent days, the Orthodox Church throughout the world has pivoted from the Paschal season towards the holy days that follow Pentecost — which is observed this year on June 8. In the month of June, we also host the annual Pan-Orthodox Vacation Church School Program (June 9-13.) You can …

Bulletin June 1st

May 29, 2025 News

Bulletin May 25th

May 22, 2025 News

Bulletin May 18th

May 15, 2025 News
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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
6 hours ago
St. Athanasius Orthodox Church

+St. Paisios of Holy Mountain: July 12+

Venerable Father Paisios (Paϊsios) of the Holy Mountain was born to devout parents, Pródromos (Prodromos) and Eulampίa Enzepίde (Enzepίdē), at Pharasa (Phárasa) in Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. Shortly before the family left for Greece because of the exchange of populations,1 he was baptized by Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia (November 10). His godfather wanted to name the child Christos, after his grandfather, but Archimandrite Arsenios, the parish priest, refused saying, "Not so! He shall be called Arsenios. You shall have many other children, but I am a monk; I will have no children. I want him to be a reminder of me."

Archimandrite Arsenios, a man who lived a most holy life, also foretold that he was leaving a monk in his place. He gave the child a special blessing, and so, like Elijah and Elisha,2 grace passed from the Spiritual Father to his child. He also predicted that he himself would not live more than forty days after he arrived in Greece. Forty days after their arrival in Greece, Saint Arsenios went to the Lord and was buried on the island of Kephalonia (Kephaloniá).

In Greece, the family of little Arsenios settled in Konitsa in Epeiros, where he spent his childhood and youth. Nurtured with stories about the wondrous life of Saint Arsenios, the boy, at the age of five, declared that he would become a monk. When he learned to read, he was loved by those who had not been taught. He went into the forest to study and pray in silence. Delighting in the Lives of the Saints, he tried to imitate their ascetical contests with fervent zeal and astonishing exactness. At the same time, he cultivated the virtues of humility and love.

After completing his studies, Arsenios did not wish to continue with his education, preferring to imitate Christ, and so he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he practiced with diligence and skill.

At the age of fifteen, he was deemed worthy of seeing the Lord, because of one philotimo3 thought, by which he repelled a demonic assault and a temptation toward impiety. From that time, the fire of God's love increased in him even more, as well as a longing for the monastic life.

Times of turmoil and upheaval followed for Greece, because of foreign occupation and civil war (1945-1949). However, he was both a citizen and a soldier during his service, displaying unparalleled courage and self-sacrifice. Sometimes he volunteered to take the place of married men with families, who were about to be sent to the Front. He was willing to give every moment, and even his life, to save others. In fact, he was often in the line of fire. Not only did he protect many soldiers by his fervent prayers, but he also guarded himself in a miraculous way.

For most of his military service Arsenios served as a radio operator. He said that they all felt secure only when they communicated with their Division every hour. "When our communication was limited to every two hours," he revealed later, "we felt a bit insecure. Sometimes, when we could be in touch with them just twice a day, we felt uncomfortable, lonely, and lost. The same thing applies to our prayers. The more we pray, the more we feel secure, on a spiritual basis, of course."

After all these things, he wanted to embrace the angelic life of monasticism, which gives wings of divine love.4 Thus, he went to the Holy Mountain seeking a guide to a life of godly silence. However, he did not manage to fulfill his desire right away. At the same time, people found themselves in great economic difficulty when they called on him for help. Thus, he returned to Konitsa and worked as a carpenter. In 1953, at the age of 29, he forsook the world and went to the Holy Mountain.

After visiting various Sketes (Skḗtēs) and Kalyves,5 the Saint finally followed the advice of a venerable Elder and joined the brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Ἐsphigmenou, known at the time for its strictness. There he lived in the midst of everyone and engaged in severe asceticism, surpassing the others in his labors for the grace of Christ and his brethren. Then, on March 27, 1954, he was tonsured and received the name Averkios. But desiring a stricter life of asceticism, he received the Igoumen's blessing and went to live in the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, which was then idiorhythmic. Under the guidance of a hermit, they lived a very strict ascetical life. When his Elder reposed, he left and went to another hermit. This Elder would greet people he had never met by name, and that is what he did with Father Averkios. However, he did not permit Father to live with him. Instead, he told him to take care of another old and sick hermit, and then come back to him for Confession. In this way, Father Averkios prepared himself for the eremitic life, under the guidance of a wise monk, Elder Simeon.

On March 12, 1956 he was tonsured into the Small Schema and received the name Paisios (which means "child"), thanks to Metropolitan Paisios II of Caesarea, who was also his compatriot.

In August 1958, heeding divine counsel, he did not move to the desert, for which he was being prepared, but into the ruined Monastery of the Mother of God of Stomio, which is located near Konitsa. There he lived for four years, living an angelic life, struggling with temptation, working for the people of the region, saving many from the false teachings of Protestant sects who were active in their midst, and restored the Monastery with a great deal of labor.

In 1962, when the work of restoration and the danger from heterodox groups was ended, he left. The Saint pleaded fervently with God to remove the temptations which besieged him every day, and to show him the path he must follow. So, he accepted the invitation of a certain Hierodeacon to accompany him to the God-trodden Mount Sinai. In this waterless place, in the kelli6 of Saints Galaktion and Episteme (Epistḗmē) (November 5) near Saint Katherine's Monastery, living in solitude and in asceticism. One day, as he searched for matches to light his lamp in order to read, a light shone in his cell showing where the matches were. Father Paisios did not trust this, so he made the Sign of the Cross, and the light disappeared. At last he lived as he had wanted to live for years, alone and near God.

He was beloved by the Bedouins, giving them food and money which he earned by selling to the pilgrims wooden crosses that he made himself. The Arab children in the area often visited Father Paisios. He wished that he had something to give them, but when he brought his handiwork to the Monastery he asked for some cookies and was told that he had to bring more handiwork to obtain cookies. Father Paisios shortened his Prayer Rule and spent more time for his handiwork so that he might have cookies for the children. By this act of love, he discerned that he received even more grace from God.

Returning to Mount Athos in 1964, he did not cease his ascetical contests despite his bodily ailments, but maintained his former fervor in his soul. So, living as a stranger and a sojourner on the earth (Genesis 23:4, LXX), he became a citizen of the Heavens. He attained the heights and became a partaker of divine mysteries, with the blessing of the Mother of God. In addition, he conversed with the Saints who appeared before him, and he had a vision of his Guardian Angel. He also heard angelic hymns, and he shone with heavenly light.

In 1966 he became seriously ill and was admitted to the Center for Thoracic Diseases of Northern Greece (Papanikolaou Hospital). He had a major operation, which resulted in the partial removal of his lungs. Some young women who wished to become nuns donated their blood for his operation. When he recovered he helped them to establish their Convent at Sourote (Sourotḗ), and was able return to the Holy Mountain. He recuperated at the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Evangelist in Sourote in Thessaloniki, and returned to the Holy Mountain after his recovery.

In 1967, he moved to Katounákia, specifically to the Lavriote kelli of Hypatios (Vlachika), where he had a vision of the Uncreated Light. He also saw various Saints, the Mother of God, and even Christ Himself. On one occasion, he was visited by Saint Euphemίa, with whom he discussed certain Church matters.

On August 12, 1968, Saint Paisios came to the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita and lived alone in the kelli of the Holy Cross. There he was tonsured into the Great Schema by the Russian Elder Tikhon, who had the gift of tears. After the latter's repose, Father Paisios would visit the Elder's grave to ask him questions, and Father Tikhon would reply from the grave.

Saint Paisios became ill shortly afterward, and had to leave the Holy Mountain. Then he lived for a time in a monastery in northern Greece. As a consolation, he took with him the relics of Saint Arsenios, who had baptized him. Father Paisios did return to Mount Athos and settled in a cell.

In 1979 he left Holy Cross and, looking for a kelli, went to the Panagouda kelli of Koutloumousίou Monastery, near Karyes. He worked hard to create a kelli with a "Confessor", where he stayed until the end of his life. From the time he settled in Panagouda, a large number of people visited him. In fact, it got so crowded that there were special markers showing the way to his cell, so that the monks would not be disturbed by so many visitors. He also received too many letters. As the Saint said, he became very upset by reading the letters, because he learned only about divorces and mental or physical illnesses. Despite his busy schedule, he continued his intense ascetical life, pausing to rest only two or three hours a day. But he continued to receive and help visitors. He also used to make small printed icons which he gave to them as a blessing.

To the daily fatigue of Saint Paisios, some health problems were added, which tormented him. In the final years of his life, the pains of various diseases such as colitis, which left him permanently dyspeptic, an inguinal hernia, and especially from the cancer with which he had been diagnosed. There was more and more of this, nevertheless, he was calm and did not complain at all. On the contrary, he continued to pray for everyone.

In the early 1980s he moved near Karyes, to a kelli at Koutloumousίou.

After 1993 he began to hemorrhage, for which he was hospitalized, saying that "everything will be done, it is convenient for me." In November of the same year, he left the Holy Mountain for the last time, and went to Sourote, to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian for its Feast Day; and later for the Feast of Saint Arsenios (November 10). He stayed for a few days, but when he was preparing to leave, he fell ill and was taken to Theageneio, where he was diagnosed with a tumor in the large intestine.

He asked God to grant him bodily and spiritual health. On February 4, 1994, he underwent surgery. The disease was not halted, but it metastasized to the lungs and to the liver. The Saint announced his desire to return to the Holy Mountain on June 13, but a high fever and shortness of breath forced him to remain. At the end of June, his doctors announced that he had only two or three weeks to live at most. On Monday, July 11, 1994 (the Feast of Saint Euphemia), Father Paisios received Holy Communion for the last time, kneeling by his bed. In the last days of his life he decided not to take medicines or painkillers, despite the horrible pains of his sickness. He reposed on Tuesday, July 12, 1994 at 11:00 and was buried in the Holy Hesychasterion of Saint John the Theologian in Sourotei, Thessaloniki, next to Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, whose Life was written by Saint Paisios.

On January 13, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople met and decided to include Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain in the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church. May his blessing be upon us.

1 Under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne, Greeks living in Asia Minor were forced to move to Greece, and Turks living in Greece had to return to Turkey.
2 4 Kings 2:15 (Septuagint).
3 According to Saint Paisios, philotimo is a reverent distribution of goodness, the love shown by humble persons, from which every trace of self (ego) has been rooted out. Their hearts are filled with gratitude toward God and to their fellow man; and out of spiritual sensitivity, they try to repay the slightest good which others do to them.
4 "Life is blessed for those in the wilderness, as they fly upon the wings of divine love" (Sunday Matins: Hymn of Degrees, Tone 5, First Antiphon).
5 Skete: Typically a settlement of hermits near a common church, known as the kyriakon. Kalyva: cells gathered around a church.
6 A monk's cell, or a monastic establishment consisting of a building with a chapel in it, and some land. Usually, a kelli was inhabited by three monks.

Source: www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/12/100401-venerable-paisios-of-the-holy-mountain
... See MoreSee Less

+St. Paisios of Holy Mountain: July 12+

Venerable Father Paisios (Paϊsios) of the Holy Mountain was born to devout parents, Pródromos (Prodromos) and Eulampίa Enzepίde (Enzepίdē), at Pharasa (Phárasa) in Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. Shortly before the family left for Greece because of the exchange of populations,1 he was baptized by Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia (November 10). His godfather wanted to name the child Christos, after his grandfather, but Archimandrite Arsenios, the parish priest, refused saying, Not so! He shall be called Arsenios. You shall have many other children, but I am a monk; I will have no children. I want him to be a reminder of me.

Archimandrite Arsenios, a man who lived a most holy life, also foretold that he was leaving a monk in his place. He gave the child a special blessing, and so, like Elijah and Elisha,2 grace passed from the Spiritual Father to his child. He also predicted that he himself would not live more than forty days after he arrived in Greece. Forty days after their arrival in Greece, Saint Arsenios went to the Lord and was buried on the island of Kephalonia (Kephaloniá).

In Greece, the family of little Arsenios settled in Konitsa in Epeiros, where he spent his childhood and youth. Nurtured with stories about the wondrous life of Saint Arsenios, the boy, at the age of five, declared that he would become a monk. When he learned to read, he was loved by those who had not been taught. He went into the forest to study and pray in silence. Delighting in the Lives of the Saints, he tried to imitate their ascetical contests with fervent zeal and astonishing exactness. At the same time, he cultivated the virtues of humility and love.

After completing his studies, Arsenios did not wish to continue with his education, preferring to imitate Christ, and so he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he practiced with diligence and skill.

At the age of fifteen, he was deemed worthy of seeing the Lord, because of one philotimo3 thought, by which he repelled a demonic assault and a temptation toward impiety. From that time, the fire of Gods love increased in him even more, as well as a longing for the monastic life.

Times of turmoil and upheaval followed for Greece, because of foreign occupation and civil war (1945-1949). However, he was both a citizen and a soldier during his service, displaying unparalleled courage and self-sacrifice. Sometimes he volunteered to take the place of married men with families, who were about to be sent to the Front. He was willing to give every moment, and even his life, to save others. In fact, he was often in the line of fire. Not only did he protect many soldiers by his fervent prayers, but he also guarded himself in a miraculous way.

For most of his military service Arsenios served as a radio operator. He said that they all felt secure only when they communicated with their Division every hour. When our communication was limited to every two hours, he revealed later, we felt a bit insecure. Sometimes, when we could be in touch with them just twice a day, we felt uncomfortable, lonely, and lost. The same thing applies to our prayers. The more we pray, the more we feel secure, on a spiritual basis, of course.

After all these things, he wanted to embrace the angelic life of monasticism, which gives wings of divine love.4 Thus, he went to the Holy Mountain seeking a guide to a life of godly silence. However, he did not manage to fulfill his desire right away. At the same time, people found themselves in great economic difficulty when they called on him for help. Thus, he returned to Konitsa and worked as a carpenter. In 1953, at the age of 29, he forsook the world and went to the Holy Mountain.

After visiting various Sketes (Skḗtēs) and Kalyves,5 the Saint finally followed the advice of a venerable Elder and joined the brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Ἐsphigmenou, known at the time for its strictness. There he lived in the midst of everyone and engaged in severe asceticism, surpassing the others in his labors for the grace of Christ and his brethren. Then, on March 27, 1954, he was tonsured and received the name Averkios. But desiring a stricter life of asceticism, he received the Igoumens blessing and went to live in the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, which was then idiorhythmic. Under the guidance of a hermit, they lived a very strict ascetical life. When his Elder reposed, he left and went to another hermit. This Elder would greet people he had never met by name, and that is what he did with Father Averkios. However, he did not permit Father to live with him. Instead, he told him to take care of another old and sick hermit, and then come back to him for Confession. In this way, Father Averkios prepared himself for the eremitic life, under the guidance of a wise monk, Elder Simeon.

On March 12, 1956 he was tonsured into the Small Schema and received the name Paisios (which means child), thanks to Metropolitan Paisios II of Caesarea, who was also his compatriot.

In August 1958, heeding divine counsel, he did not move to the desert, for which he was being prepared, but into the ruined Monastery of the Mother of God of Stomio, which is located near Konitsa. There he lived for four years, living an angelic life, struggling with temptation, working for the people of the region, saving many from the false teachings of Protestant sects who were active in their midst, and restored the Monastery with a great deal of labor.

In 1962, when the work of restoration and the danger from heterodox groups was ended, he left. The Saint pleaded fervently with God to remove the temptations which besieged him every day, and to show him the path he must follow. So, he accepted the invitation of a certain Hierodeacon to accompany him to the God-trodden Mount Sinai. In this waterless place, in the kelli6 of Saints Galaktion and Episteme (Epistḗmē) (November 5) near Saint Katherines Monastery, living in solitude and in asceticism. One day, as he searched for matches to light his lamp in order to read, a light shone in his cell showing where the matches were. Father Paisios did not trust this, so he made the Sign of the Cross, and the light disappeared. At last he lived as he had wanted to live for years, alone and near God.

He was beloved by the Bedouins, giving them food and money which he earned by selling to the pilgrims wooden crosses that he made himself. The Arab children in the area often visited Father Paisios. He wished that he had something to give them, but when he brought his handiwork to the Monastery he asked for some cookies and was told that he had to bring more handiwork to obtain cookies. Father Paisios shortened his Prayer Rule and spent more time for his handiwork so that he might have cookies for the children. By this act of love, he discerned that he received even more grace from God.

Returning to Mount Athos in 1964, he did not cease his ascetical contests despite his bodily ailments, but maintained his former fervor in his soul. So, living as a stranger and a sojourner on the earth (Genesis 23:4, LXX), he became a citizen of the Heavens. He attained the heights and became a partaker of divine mysteries, with the blessing of the Mother of God. In addition, he conversed with the Saints who appeared before him, and he had a vision of his Guardian Angel. He also heard angelic hymns, and he shone with heavenly light.

In 1966 he became seriously ill and was admitted to the Center for Thoracic Diseases of Northern Greece (Papanikolaou Hospital). He had a major operation, which resulted in the partial removal of his lungs. Some young women who wished to become nuns donated their blood for his operation. When he recovered he helped them to establish their Convent at Sourote (Sourotḗ), and was able return to the Holy Mountain. He recuperated at the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Evangelist in Sourote in Thessaloniki, and returned to the Holy Mountain after his recovery.

In 1967, he moved to Katounákia, specifically to the Lavriote kelli of Hypatios (Vlachika), where he had a vision of the Uncreated Light. He also saw various Saints, the Mother of God, and even Christ Himself. On one occasion, he was visited by Saint Euphemίa, with whom he discussed certain Church matters.

On August 12, 1968, Saint Paisios came to the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita and lived alone in the kelli of the Holy Cross. There he was tonsured into the Great Schema by the Russian Elder Tikhon, who had the gift of tears. After the latters repose, Father Paisios would visit the Elders grave to ask him questions, and Father Tikhon would reply from the grave.

Saint Paisios became ill shortly afterward, and had to leave the Holy Mountain. Then he lived for a time in a monastery in northern Greece. As a consolation, he took with him the relics of Saint Arsenios, who had baptized him. Father Paisios did return to Mount Athos and settled in a cell.

In 1979 he left Holy Cross and, looking for a kelli, went to the Panagouda kelli of Koutloumousίou Monastery, near Karyes. He worked hard to create a kelli with a Confessor, where he stayed until the end of his life. From the time he settled in Panagouda, a large number of people visited him. In fact, it got so crowded that there were special markers showing the way to his cell, so that the monks would not be disturbed by so many visitors. He also received too many letters. As the Saint said, he became very upset by reading the letters, because he learned only about divorces and mental or physical illnesses. Despite his busy schedule, he continued his intense ascetical life, pausing to rest only two or three hours a day. But he continued to receive and help visitors. He also used to make small printed icons which he gave to them as a blessing.

To the daily fatigue of Saint Paisios, some health problems were added, which tormented him. In the final years of his life, the pains of various diseases such as colitis, which left him permanently dyspeptic, an inguinal hernia, and especially from the cancer with which he had been diagnosed. There was more and more of this, nevertheless, he was calm and did not complain at all. On the contrary, he continued to pray for everyone.

In the early 1980s he moved near Karyes, to a kelli at Koutloumousίou.

After 1993 he began to hemorrhage, for which he was hospitalized, saying that everything will be done, it is convenient for me. In November of the same year, he left the Holy Mountain for the last time, and went to Sourote, to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian for its Feast Day; and later for the Feast of Saint Arsenios (November 10). He stayed for a few days, but when he was preparing to leave, he fell ill and was taken to Theageneio, where he was diagnosed with a tumor in the large intestine.

He asked God to grant him bodily and spiritual health. On February 4, 1994, he underwent surgery. The disease was not halted, but it metastasized to the lungs and to the liver. The Saint announced his desire to return to the Holy Mountain on June 13, but a high fever and shortness of breath forced him to remain. At the end of June, his doctors announced that he had only two or three weeks to live at most. On Monday, July 11, 1994 (the Feast of Saint Euphemia), Father Paisios received Holy Communion for the last time, kneeling by his bed. In the last days of his life he decided not to take medicines or painkillers, despite the horrible pains of his sickness. He reposed on Tuesday, July 12, 1994 at 11:00 and was buried in the Holy Hesychasterion of Saint John the Theologian in Sourotei, Thessaloniki, next to Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, whose Life was written by Saint Paisios.

On January 13, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople met and decided to include Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain in the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church. May his blessing be upon us.

1 Under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne, Greeks living in Asia Minor were forced to move to Greece, and Turks living in Greece had to return to Turkey.
2 4 Kings 2:15 (Septuagint).
3 According to Saint Paisios, philotimo is a reverent distribution of goodness, the love shown by humble persons, from which every trace of self (ego) has been rooted out. Their hearts are filled with gratitude toward God and to their fellow man; and out of spiritual sensitivity, they try to repay the slightest good which others do to them.
4 Life is blessed for those in the wilderness, as they fly upon the wings of divine love (Sunday Matins: Hymn of Degrees, Tone 5, First Antiphon).
5 Skete: Typically a settlement of hermits near a common church, known as the kyriakon. Kalyva: cells gathered around a church.
6 A monks cell, or a monastic establishment consisting of a building with a chapel in it, and some land. Usually, a kelli was inhabited by three monks.

 Source: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/07/12/100401-venerable-paisios-of-the-holy-mountain
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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
21 hours ago
St. Athanasius Orthodox Church

On this Friday, we remember the 20th-century saint, Elder Sophrony of Essex. We chant his Akathist (linked below) at 11am:

docs.google.com/document/d/14zleuTTleYv1-CsJgBH_ymVtyt-Uvl2GtURKUhPfrKU/edit?usp=drivesdk
... See MoreSee Less

On this Friday, we remember the 20th-century saint, Elder Sophrony of Essex. We chant his Akathist (linked below) at 11am: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14zleuTTleYv1-CsJgBH_ymVtyt-Uvl2GtURKUhPfrKU/edit?usp=drivesdk
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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
1 day ago
St. Athanasius Orthodox Church

July 11 is the Feast of St. Olga of Rus -- and she remains revered both by the Orthodox Church generally and by her Slavic Orthodox descendants in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. St. Olga has been called (alternately) "Equal-to-the-Apostles,” “Viking-Russian Princess," “Missionary to Ukraine,” and “Scourge of the Drevlians,” all of which describe some aspect of her life. To say that St. Olga of Kiev lived a colorful life would be quite the understatement.

Born as a Viking noble in the great northern city of Pskov around the year 900, she became ruler of one of the most powerful countries of its time, Kievan Rus (which in her day covered territory now part of the countries Ukraine and Russia--from which all the Eastern Slavs trace their heritage.)

As the consort of Prince Igor she may have faded into obscurity if not for the revolt of the Drevlian tribe a few years after the birth of their first child. Igor was brutally murdered by the Drevlians, leaving his infant son as heir and Olga to become the new ruler until her son came of age. She was the first female ruler of Rus.

Enraged by her husband’s death, the pagan Olga avenged him in an extremely harsh manner, slaughtering Drevlian ambassadors and nobility, burning their capital of Iskorosten to the ground and leveling other towns. Having decimated the Drevlians, Olga took all their land to further expand the principality of Kiev and sent a bloody message to the other vassals of her realm that she was not to be toyed with.

Of course, if St. Olga's story ended here, we would not know her as "St. Olga." And she certainly would not bear the august title “Equal-to-the-Apostles!” So what, exactly, happened so that her main legacy today is her sanctity? The "change" begins around ten years after the bloody events that inaugurated her rule.

On a visit to Constantinople, she was incredibly inspired by the Christians she met there and soon after received Holy Baptism. This was groundbreaking for many reasons, but not least was because Christianity had traditionally encountered much hostility among the people of Rus. By converting to Christianity, St. Olga was embracing a completely different code of ethics, as well as a cultural heritage markedly different from that of her own pagan people.

In embracing the Orthodox Christian Faith, St. Olga did not stop at her own personal conversion, but rather she used all her influence and power as part of the royal house of Rus to begin missionary efforts in what is now Ukraine and Russia. She invited Orthodox clergy to come to her lands from Byzantium and set up hospitals and welfare for the poor. She used her public announcements to teach people about the Christian faith. During her time as regent, and even after her pagan son had ascended to the throne, St Olga’s efforts to heal the violence in her realm and spread Christianity were unmatched. By the time of her death, Kievan Rus had progressed along the path of becoming a more Christian place, with more churches, more Baptisms, and more care for the poor than had ever existed there before.

Perhaps St. Olga is so beloved today not just because she died a dedicated and holy Christian, but also because her story shows the depths and heights of human potential. Every person is capable of both great evil and great love and Olga shows both of these at their most extreme. She also shows marked impact faith ought to have on someone’s life. What is beautiful is that her story shows there is always a road to redemption for everybody as long as we are willing to die to our own pride and make amends for the wrongs we have done. In her life, her strength of will--so vicious in her earlier pagan life--became completely transfigured after her Baptism in her rugged commitment to spread her faith and share the Gospel among her people.

While Kievan Rus remained a pagan kingdom for a generation after her death, it was in part due to her remarkable example and commitment that her grandson, St. Vladimir (Volodymyr) was himself drawn to Christianity and was able to continue the task of bringing the richness of Orthodox Christianity to the peoples he ruled in the lands now known as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. By the prayers of St. Olga, her grandson St. Vladimir, and all the saints of Rus, Lord Jesus Christ preserve all her spiritual descendants in these lands and bring them lasting peace from above!

Holy St. Olga, equal-to-the-apostles, pray to God for us!
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July 11 is the Feast of St. Olga of Rus -- and she remains revered both by the Orthodox Church generally and by her Slavic Orthodox descendants in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. St. Olga has been called (alternately) Equal-to-the-Apostles,” “Viking-Russian Princess, “Missionary to Ukraine,” and “Scourge of the Drevlians,” all of which describe some aspect of her life. To say that St. Olga of Kiev lived a colorful life would be quite the understatement. 

Born as a Viking noble in the great northern city of Pskov around the year 900, she became ruler of one of the most powerful countries of its time, Kievan Rus (which in her day covered territory now part of the countries Ukraine and Russia--from which all the Eastern Slavs trace their heritage.)

As the consort of Prince Igor she may have faded into obscurity if not for the revolt of the Drevlian tribe a few years after the birth of their first child. Igor was brutally murdered by the Drevlians, leaving his infant son as heir and Olga to become the new ruler until her son came of age. She was the first female ruler of Rus.

Enraged by her husband’s death, the pagan Olga avenged him in an extremely harsh manner, slaughtering Drevlian ambassadors and nobility, burning their capital of Iskorosten to the ground and leveling other towns. Having decimated the Drevlians, Olga took all their land to further expand the principality of Kiev and sent a bloody message to the other vassals of her realm that she was not to be toyed with.

Of course, if St. Olgas story ended here, we would not know her as St. Olga. And she certainly  would not bear the august title “Equal-to-the-Apostles!” So what, exactly, happened so that her main legacy today is her sanctity? The change begins around ten years after the bloody events that inaugurated her rule. 

On a visit to Constantinople, she was incredibly inspired by the Christians she met there and soon after received Holy Baptism.  This was groundbreaking for many reasons, but not least was because Christianity had traditionally encountered much hostility among the people of Rus. By converting to Christianity, St. Olga was embracing a completely different code of ethics, as well as a cultural heritage markedly different from that of her own pagan people.

In embracing the Orthodox Christian Faith, St. Olga did not stop at her own personal conversion, but rather she used all her influence and power as part of the royal house of Rus to begin missionary efforts in what is now Ukraine and Russia. She invited Orthodox clergy to come to her lands from Byzantium and set up hospitals and welfare for the poor. She used her public announcements to teach people about the Christian faith. During her time as regent, and even after her pagan son had ascended to the throne, St Olga’s efforts to heal the violence in her realm and spread Christianity were unmatched. By the time of her death, Kievan Rus had progressed along the path of becoming a more Christian place, with more churches, more Baptisms, and more care for the poor than had ever existed there before. 

Perhaps St. Olga is so beloved today not just because she died a dedicated and holy Christian, but also because her story shows the depths and heights of human potential. Every person is capable of both great evil and great love and Olga shows both of these at their most extreme. She also shows marked impact faith ought to have on someone’s life. What is beautiful is that her story shows there is always a road to redemption for everybody as long as we are willing to die to our own pride and make amends for the wrongs we have done. In her life, her strength of will--so vicious in her earlier pagan life--became completely transfigured after her Baptism in her rugged commitment to spread her faith and share the Gospel among her people. 

While Kievan Rus remained a pagan kingdom for a generation after her death, it was in part due to her remarkable example and commitment that her grandson, St. Vladimir (Volodymyr) was himself drawn to Christianity and was able to continue the task of bringing the richness of Orthodox Christianity to the peoples he ruled in the lands now known as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. By the prayers of St. Olga, her grandson St. Vladimir, and all the saints of Rus, Lord Jesus Christ preserve all her spiritual descendants in these lands and bring them lasting peace from above!

Holy St. Olga, equal-to-the-apostles, pray to God for us!
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Saint Athanasius Orthodox Church
100 Lime Lane
Nicholasville, KY 40356
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Priest Justin Patterson
Church: (859) 881-8144
Cell: (859) 361-2823
E-mail Fr. Justin

We are a parish of the Diocese of the South of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), under the archpastoral care of his grace, the right reverend ALEXANDER, Bishop of Dallas and the South. We are the first OCA parish in Kentucky. We are located in the heart of the bluegrass region just outside Lexington.

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