I’m having a very bad nerve pain flareup. It’s not so severe that I need to go to hospital, but the wait for the painkillers to hopefully kick in and grant relief always feels kind of endless when this happens. I have managed to get a dentist appointment for Monday, it’s just an examination as I’m registering with a new dentist but it’s possible that this examination might be able to spot why I am so prone to having nerve pain and muscle spasms in the area and set up a treatment plan. I know I have TMJ issues which often cause nerve pain / muscle spasms, but this feels very different from my typical TMJ episodes and doctors in the past have never gotten to the bottom of it.

Could you please pray for me to be granted relief from this pain soon and for the dentist appointment to go well? Honestly I’m so nervous about it

St Nino, enlightener of Georgia (January 14)

Saint Nino was born in Cappadocia towards the end of the 3rd century. Raised in a devout family, she had a special calling from a young age from the Mother of God, who entrusted her with Christening Iberia, present-day Georgia.

As a sign of her protection, the Mother of God gave her a grapevine cross.

Saint Nino later used this cross to heal the queen of Iberia, Nana, of an incurable disease. The saint refused compensation, saying that this miracle was not her merit but the work of Christ.

The sick were fully healed through her prayers, and a wonderful spring was formed from her tears, giving milk to mothers who lacked it.

Thus, her many miracles and healings convinced the pagans to receive Christian baptism and contributed to the achievement of her mission.

Saint Nino was the only daughter of General Zebulon, the godfather of the Great Martyr George.

An Icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, made in the Iconography Studio of St Elisabeth Convent

An Icon of Saint Paisios the Athonite, made in St Elisabeth Convent’s Iconography Studio

TWO KINDS OF JOY

St Paisios the Athonite taught that there are two kinds of joy in life. The first is the joy of receiving something from someone. The second—and greater—joy is that of giving.

He once shared this story:

“I remember during the war, during heavy shelling, I had dug a small trench for myself. Suddenly, I saw a soldier crawling toward me, begging to take shelter. Then another came. I let them both into the trench, and I stayed outside.

As night fell, the shelling grew even worse. Suddenly, I felt something scrape across my head. I yelled, ‘Boys! A piece of shrapnel got me!’

I felt my head—there was no blood. It turned out the shrapnel had only shaved off a strip of my hair, leaving a clean line.

You see, If a person always thinks of others, God is always thinking of them.

Those who do good receive joy—the Lord rewards them with divine comfort.

But those who choose evil bring torment upon themselves.”

St Paisios the Athonite is commemorated on January 13 and July 12.

Photo: a hand-painted icon of St Paisios the Athonite, created in the icon-painting studio of St Elisabeth Convent.

Winter at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

Winter at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

Winter at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

My Priest told me that he really likes my way with words and that he wants me to look into doing something with writing. And I’ve spoken to a couple of people from Church about my interest in learning a particular language and they’re very supportive of me. With this particular language, Scotland has a number of refugees and immigrants who speak it or are from that country so there are cultural museums and events (some of which I’ve already been invited to attend). I also have the opportunity for free language lessons. While it’ll be a long way off before I can get involved in using the language for actual work purposes, I can still immerse myself in the culture and engage with people socially. I really like the idea of being able to work alongside museums and artists and be able to translate things into English for them or translate things from English into their language.

Could you please pray for me in this regard? That I’ll get the guidance I need? That I’ll be able to be disciplined in my language studies and benefit from the classes available to me? Also for my future in general. I guess while I do have this vague idea, I do still feel very lost and lonely in life. And it feels silly to throw this on at the end, but I have a crush on this guy from Church and I just don’t really know what to do about it. I’m hopeless socially, and I have had abusive relationships in the past which make me very wary. Even if I’m not meant to end up with him, some prayers for me to end up in a loving and healthy relationship would also be appreciated.

Winter at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

Winter at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

My flatmate shared with me that she has broken up with her boyfriend. It was her first ever relationship, and she’s really struggling at the moment. Could you please pray for her? Her name is Charlotte

Divine Liturgy at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza

Divine Liturgy at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza

Divine Liturgy at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza

Children of Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church's Christmas Eve celebrations, Gaza