Daily Orthodox - December


2024

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 1st, 2024

Today is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Prophet Nahum

Nahum was born of the tribe of Simeon in a place called Elkosh on the far side of the Jordan. He lived about seven hundred years before Christ and prophesied the destruction of Nineveh about two hundred years after the Prophet Jonah. Because of Jonah's preaching, the Ninevites had repented, and God had spared them and not destroyed them. In time, however, they forgot God's mercy and again became corrupt. The Prophet Nahum prophesied their destruction, and since there was no repentance, God did not spare them. The entire city was destroyed by earthquake, flood and fire, so that its location is no longer known. St. Nahum lived for forty-five years and entered into rest in the Lord, leaving us a small book of his true prophecies.

2. St. Philaret the Almsgiver, of Amnia in Asia Minor (797)

Philaret was from the village of Amnia in Paphlagonia. Early in life, Philaret was a very wealthy man, but by distributing abundant alms to the poor he himself became extremely poor. However, he was not afraid of poverty, and, not heeding the complaints of his wife and children, he continued his charitable works with hope in God, Who said: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7). Once, while he was plowing in the field, a man came to him and complained that one of his oxen had died in the harness and that he was unable to plow with only one ox. Philaret then unharnessed one of his oxen and gave it to him. He even gave his remaining horse to a man who was summoned to go to war. He gave away the calf of his last cow, and when he saw how the cow pined for her missing calf, and the calf for the cow, he called the man and gave him the cow too. And thus the aged Philaret was left without food in an empty house. But he prayed to God and placed his hope in Him. And God did not abandon the righteous one to be put to shame in his hope. At that time the Empress Irene reigned with her young son, Constantine. According to the custom of that time, the empress sent men throughout the whole empire to seek the best and most distinguished maiden to whom she could wed her son, the emperor. By God's providence, these men happened to stay overnight in Philaret's house, and they saw his most beautiful and modest granddaughter Maria, the daughter of his daughter Hypatia, and took her to Constantinople. The emperor was well pleased with her, married her, and moved Philaret and all his family to the capital, giving him great honors and riches. Philaret did not become proud as a result of this unexpected good fortune, but, thankful to God, he continued to perform good works even more than he had before, and thus he continued until his death. At the age of ninety he summoned his children, blessed them, and instructed them to cleave to God and to God's law, and with his clairvoyant spirit he prophesied to all of them how they would live out this life, as once had Jacob. After that he went to the Rodolfia Monastery and gave up his soul to God. At his death his face shone like the sun, and after his death an unusual, sweet fragrance came forth from his body and miracles took place at his relics. This righteous man entered into rest in the year 797. His wife, Theosevia, and all his children and grandchildren lived a God-pleasing life and reposed in the Lord.

3. Martyr Ananias of Persia

4. St. Eligius, bishop of Noyon (Neth.) (660)

5. St. Botolph, abbot and confessor, of Ikanhoe, England (680)

6. St. Anthony the New, monk, of Kios in Bithynia (865)

7. St. Theoclites, bishop of Sparta (870)

8. New Hieromartyr Innocent, archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyra (1937)

9. (Greek cal.: St. Onesimus, archbishop of Ephesus. Sts. Ananias and Solochonus, archbishops of Ephesus)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Virtue is like a thirst. When a man begins to drink of it, he becomes more thirsty and seeks to drink of it all the more. He who begins to exercise the virtue of compassion knows no measure and acknowledges no limit. St. Philaret was no less generous when he was impoverished than when he was wealthy. When his granddaughter became empress, he became a rich man once again, but no less generous. One day, he told his wife and children to prepare the best feast that they could and said: "Let us invite our King and Lord, with all His noblemen, to come to the feast." Everyone thought that the old man was thinking of inviting to dinner his son-in-law, the emperor, and they all worked as hard as they could and prepared the feast. Meanwhile, Philaret went around the streets and gathered all the needy, the beggars, the blind, the outcasts, the lame and the infirm, and brought them to the feast. Placing them at the table, he ordered his wife and sons to serve at the table. After the feast was completed, he put a gold coin in the hand of each guest and dismissed them. Then everyone understood that by "the King" he meant the Lord Christ Himself, and by "the noblemen" he meant beggars and those in need. He also said that one need not look at the money that one gives to beggars, but rather one should mix up the monkey in one's pocket and give only what the hand removes from the pocket. The hand will draw out whatever God's providence ordains.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<4> But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, <5> even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), <6> and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, <7> that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. <8> For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, <9> not of works, lest anyone should boast. <10> For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

<18> Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" <19> So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. <20> You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,' ‘Do not murder,' ‘Do not steal,' ‘Do not bear false witness,' ‘Honor your father and your mother.' " <21> And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." <22> So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." <23> But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. <24> And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! <25> For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." <26> And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" <27> But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Greek

<35> Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. <36> And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. <37> So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. <38> And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" <39> Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" <40> So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, <41> saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." <42> Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." <43> And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 2nd, 2024

Today is Monday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Prophet Habakkuk (Avvakum)

Habakkuk was the son of Asaphat from the tribe of Simeon. He prophesied six hundred years before Christ, during the time of King Manasseh, and foretold the destruction of Jerusalem. When Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, Habakkuk sought refuge in the land of the Ishmaelites. From there he returned to Judea, where he lived as a farmer. One day he was carrying lunch to the workers in the fields, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: Go carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lion's den (Daniel 14:34). But Habakkuk responded: Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is (Daniel 14:34-35). Then the angel took him by the hair and instantly brought him to Babylon, over an immense distance, to the lion's den, where Daniel had been cast by King Cyrus as a punishment for not worshiping the idols. O Daniel, Daniel, cried Habakkuk, take the dinner which God hath sent thee (Daniel 14:37), and Daniel took it and ate. Then the angel of God again took Habakkuk and carried him back to his field in Judea. Habakkuk also prophesied the liberation of Jerusalem and the time of the coming of Christ. He entered into rest in ripe old age and was buried at Kela. His relics were discovered during the reign of Theodosius the Great.

2. The Holy Martyr Myrope of Chios (251)

Myrope was born in Ephesus of Christian parents. After the death of her father, she moved with her mother to the island of Chios, where she suffered for Christ. The suffeirng of this holy virgin took place soon after the suffering and death of the glorious Martyr Isidore the soldier (May 14). When the torturers had beheaded Isidore, the courageous Myrope secretly took his body, censed it, and honorably buried it in a special place. The villainous prince Numerian heard that the martyr's body had been stolen and wanted to kill the guards. Learning that innocent men would suffer for her good deed, blessed Myrope appeared before the authorities and acknowledged that she had taken the martyr's body and buried it. By order of the prince, the entire body of Christ's holy virgin was severely whipped, and finally she was cast into prison covered with wounds. But the Lord did not leave His martyr comfortless. At midnight a heavenly light illumined the prison, and many angels, with St. Isidore in their midst, appeared to her. "Peace be to you, Myrope," St. Isidore said to her. "Your prayer has reached God, and soon you will be with us and will receive the wreath prepared for you." The holy martyr rejoiced and at that moment surrendered her soul to her God. A sweet fragrance issued from her body, filling the entire prison. One of the guards, seeing all this and sensing the fragrance, believed in Christ, was baptized, and soon received a martyr's death. St. Myrope took up her habitation in eternity in the year 251.

3. Saint Stephen-Uroš V, King of Serbia (1371), and his mother St. Helen (1376), of Serbia

Uroš was the son of Emperor Dušan. He reigned during the difficult time of the collapse of the Serbian kingdom. Meek, devout and gentle, he did not want to subjugate the unrestrained nobles by force, among whom the most violent was Vukašin, who ended the good king's life. The good Uroš suffered a martyr's death on December 2, 1367, at the age of thirty-one. Slain by men, he was glorified by God. His miracle-working relics rested in the Jazak Monastery in Fruška Gora, whence they were translated to Belgrade during the Second World War. They were placed in the Cathedral Church alongside the relics of Prince Lazar and the Despot Stephen Štiljanović. During the reign of this good king, the Monastery of St. Nahum beside Lake Ohrid was built by Grgur, one of Uroš' nobles.

4. The Venerable Athanasius, Recluse of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves

This holy man died after a long life of asceticism and was bathed, clothed and prepared for burial by his brethren. Athanasius lay dead for two days and suddenly came to life. When they came to bury him, they found him sitting up and crying. After that, he closed himself in his cell and lived for twelve more years on bread and water, not speaking a word to anyone. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 1176.

5. Saint Ise (Jesse), Bishop of Tsilkani in Georgia (6th c.)

Ise was one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers (May 7). He was a great miracle-worker. By his prayers, he re-routed a distant river to flow close to the city of Tsilkani. His relics rest in a church dedicated to him in Tsilkani in Georgia.

6. Sts. John, Andrew, Heraclemon, and Theophilus, hermits, of Egypt (4th c.)

7. St. Cyril of Philea (1110)

8. St. Athanasius, recluse of the Kiev Caves, whose relics are in the Far Caves (1264)

9. St. Solomon, archbishop of Ephesus

10. St. Ioannicius of Dević (Serbia) (1430)

11. New Hieromartyrs Danax, hieromonk, of Arkhangelskoye (Moscow) and Cosmas, hieromonk of Milyatino (Moscow) (1937)

12. St. Alexei, apostle of Carpatho-Russia (1947)

13. St. Porphyrios, wonderworker, of Kavsokalyvia (1991)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

"Who has ever returned from the other world to inform us of it?" Thus the unbelievers ask. One should reply to them: "Repent of your sins if you wish to find out; make yourselves worthy and you will see." St. Habakkuk traveled with an angel. St. Myrope saw a host of angels and among them the martyr, St. Isidore. St. Athanasius of the Kiev Caves was dead to this world for two days and alive only in the other world. Upon the return of his soul to his body, they gathered around him and asked him: "How did you return to life? What did you see? What did you hear?" He would say nothing about it, being totally in horror at that which he had seen in the other world, and would only say: "Save yourselves!" When they pressured him to tell a little more of what he had seen in the other world after death, he replied: "Even if I should tell you, you would not believe me or listen to me." When they urged him yet further, however, he said among other things: "Repent every moment and pray to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His Most-pure Mother." Even in our own time [ed. note: this was written by a 20th-century Serbian, not a modern-day American where kids getting a six-figure book deal for 'seeing heaven' happens], there are cases of those who have temporarily died, and the visions and accounts of those who have returned to life in the body do not contradict but rather complement one another. For example, every person who dies sees one part of that other world that is vast and incomparably larger than this world. Many people, at death, see their long-dead relatives and speak with them. This is almost a common occurrence. In 1926, in the village of Vevčani, Meletije P. was on his deathbed. He spoke with his children, who had died twenty years earlier. When his living relatives said to him, "You're rambling!" he replied, "I am not rambling, but rather I am speaking with them as I am speaking with you, and I see them as I see you."

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<20> For you are our glory and joy. <1> Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, <2> and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, <3> that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. <4> For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. <5> For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. <6> But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— <7> therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. <8> For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

<27> Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, <28> saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. <29> Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. <30> And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. <31> Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. <32> Last of all the woman died also. <33> Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." <34> Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. <35> But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; <36> nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. <37> But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' <38> For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." <39> Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well." <40> But after that they dared not question Him anymore. <41> And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? <42> Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, <43> Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' <44> Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord'; how is He then his Son?"

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 3rd, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias)

Zephaniah was a native of Mount Sarabatha, from the tribe of Simeon. He lived and prophesied in the seventh century before Christ, at the time of Josiah the pious king of Judah. Zephaniah was a contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah. Having great humility and a pure mind raised to God, he was found worthy of discerning the future. He prophesied the day of the wrath of God and the punishment of Gaza, Ashkalon, Ashdod, Ekron, Nineveh, Jerusalem, and Egypt. He saw Jerusalem as a filthy and polluted, ... oppressing city.... Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; ... her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the Law (Zephaniah 3:1-4).

Foreseeing the advent of the Messiah, he enthusiastically exclaimed: Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:14). This seer of mysteries entered into rest at his birthplace to await the General Resurrection and his reward from God.

2. Saint John the Silent, bishop of Colonia and monk of St. Sabbas Monastery (558)

John was a native of Nicopolis in Armenia and was the son of Encratius and Euphemia. He was tonsured a monk at the age of eighteen and lived a strict and resolute life of asceticism, cleansing his heart by his many tears, fasting and prayer. After ten years, he was appointed bishop of Colonia. By his example, he attracted his brother Pergamius and his uncle Theodore-both distinguished men at the imperial courts of Emperors Zeno and Justinian-to a God-pleasing life. Seeing the malice and intrigues of this world and his inability to put matters right, he abandoned his episcopal throne. He disguised himself as a simple monk and went to the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified near Jerusalem. There he remained unknown for many years, conscientiously and capably completing every task that the abbot ordered him to do. For this, St. Sava recommended to Patriarch Elias that he ordain him a presbyter. When the patriarch wanted to ordain John, he confessed that he had already possessed the rank of bishop. Then St. John closed himself in a cell and spent years and years in silence and prayer. Afterward he spent nine years in the wilderness feeding himself only on wild vegetables, and then he returned to the monastery. He turned the faithful away from the heresy of Origen and contributed greatly to the condemnation and elimination of this heresy. He clearly discerned the spiritual world and healed people from sickness. Having conquered himself, he easily conquered demons. Great in humility, might and divine wisdom, this servant of God entered peacefully into rest in the year 558 at the age of 104.

3. The Hieromartyr Theodore I, Archbishop of Alexandria

After functioning as patriarch for two years, Theodore was ridiculed and tortured by the pagans. They placed a crown of thorns on his head and finally beheaded him for his Faith in the year 609.

4. The Venerable Theodulus, eparch of Constantinople (440)

Theodulus was an eminent patrician at the court of Theodosius the Great. After the death of his wife, he renounced the vanity of the world and withdrew from Constantinople to a pillar near Ephesus, where he lived a life of asceticism for thirty years.

5. The Venerable Sabbas of Zvenigorod

Sabbas was a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh and a great miracle-worker. Following his death, he appeared to many as though he were alive, at times teaching them, at times reproaching them and at times healing them. He passed from this life to a better life in the year 1406.

6. St. Birinus, bishop of Dorchester (ca. 649)

7. St. Sola, Anglo-Saxon missionary priest under St. Boniface (Germany) (790-794)

8. New Hieromartyr Gabriel, metropolitan of Ganos and Chora, at Prusa (1659)

9. St. Hilarion, bishop of Krutitsa (1759)

10. New Monk-martyr Cosmas of St. Anne's Skete, Mt. Athos (1760)

11. St. George of Cernica and Caldarusani (1806)

12. New Martyr Angelus of Chios (1813)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

God hears the prayers of the righteous and fulfills them, sometimes immediately and completely, and at other times only later, at the appropriate time and according to the needs of the Church. In other words, in fulfilling the prayers of the righteous man, God has in mind either man's salvation or the good of the whole Church. St. John the Silent prayed to God to reveal to him how the soul separates from the body at death. While still at prayer, he was taken outside himself and had the following vision: A good man died in front of a church in Bethlehem, and angels took his soul from his body and carried it to heaven with sweet singing. Coming to himself out of his ecstasy, John immediately set out on the road from the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified to Bethlehem. When he reached Bethlehem, he saw the dead body of the man exactly as he had seen it in his vision.

When the great St. Sava the Sanctified died, John grieved and wept. Sava appeared to him in a vision and said: "Do not grieve, Father John, for even though I am separated from you in the body, nevertheless I am with you in the spirit." Then John begged him: "Father, pray to the Lord to take me with you." To this Sava replied: "For now, this cannot be. A great trial has yet to befall the Lavra, and God wants you to remain in the body to comfort and strengthen the faithful against the heretics." At first, John did not know what kind of heretics the holy father had spoken of, but he found out later, when the heresy of Origen began to shake the Church of God.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

[<8> For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.] <9> For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, <10> night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? <11> Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. <12> And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, <13> so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

<12> But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. <13> But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. <14> Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; <15> for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. <16> You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. <17> And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. <18> But not a hair of your head shall be lost. <19> By your patience possess your souls.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 4th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Great-martyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana, at Heliopolis in Syria

This glorious follower of Christ was betrothed to Christ from early childhood. Her father Dioscorus was a pagan and was renowned for his position and wealth in the city of Heliopolis in Egypt. Dioscorus locked up his only daughter Barbara, brilliant in mind and of beautiful countenance, in a high tower. He surrounded her with every comfort, gave her female servants, erected idols for worship, and built her a bathing room with two windows. Looking through the window at the earth below and the starry heavens above, Barbara's mind was opened by the grace of God. She recognized the One True God, the Creator, despite the fact that she did not have a human teacher to bring her to this knowledge. Once, while her father was away from the city, she came down from the tower and, according to God's providence, met some Christian women who revealed the true Faith of Christ to her. Barbara's heart became inflamed with love for Christ the Lord. She ordered that a third window be cut open in the bath so that the three windows would represent the Holy Trinity. On one wall she traced a Cross with her finger, and the Cross etched itself deep into the stone as if cut by a chisel. A pool of water sprang forth from her footsteps on the floor of the bath, which later gave healing of diseases to many. Learning of his daughter's faith, Dioscorus beat her severely and drove her from the tower. He pursued her in order to kill her, but a cliff opened up and hid Barbara from her brutal father. When she appeared again, her father brought her to Martianus, the magistrate, who handed her over for torture. They stripped the innocent Barbara and flogged her until her entire body was covered with blood and wounds, but the Lord Himself appeared to her in prison with His angels and healed her. A certain woman, Juliana, upon seeing this, desired martyrdom for herself. Both women were severely tortured and with mockery were led through the city. Their breasts were cut off and much blood flowed from them. They were finally led to the place of execution, where Dioscorus himself slaughtered his daughter, and Juliana was slain by the soldiers. That same day, lightning struck the house of Dioscorus, killing him and Martianus. St. Barbara suffered in the year 306. Her miracle-working relics rest in Kiev. Glorified in the Kingdom of Christ, she has appeared many times even in our own day, sometimes alone and sometimes in the company of the Most-holy Theotokos.

2. Saint John Damascene, monk of St. Sabbas Monastery (776)

John was first the chief minister to Caliph Abdul-Malik and later a monk in the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified. Because of his ardent defense of the veneration of icons during the reign of the iconoclastic Emperor Leo the Isaurian, John was maligned by the emperor to the Caliph, who cut off his right hand. John fell down in prayer before the icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, and his hand was rejoiced and miraculously healed. Seeing this miracle the Caliph repented, but John no longer desired to remain with him as a nobleman. Instead, he withdrew to a monastery, where, from the beginning, he was a model to the monks in humility, obedience and all the prescribed rules of monastic asceticism. John composed the Funeral Hymns and compiled the Octoechos (The Book of Eight Tones), the Irmologion, the Menologion and the Paschal Canon, and he wrote many theological works of inspiration and profundity. A great monk, hymnographer, theologian and soldier for the truth of Christ, Damascene is numbered among the great Fathers of the Church. He entered peacefully into rest in about the year 776 at the age of 104.

3. Saint Gennadius, Archbishop of Novgorod

Gennadius was a distinguished writer, a champion of truth, and one who suffered for the truth of Christ. He gathered the various books of Sacred Scripture into one book and compiled the key for determining the date of Pascha (the Paschalion) for the next 532 years. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 1504. His miracle-working relics rest in the Chudov Monastery in Moscow.

4. St. John, bishop of Polybotum (716)

5. New Hieromartyr Seraphim, archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion (1601)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Obedience, coupled with humility, is the foundation of the spiritual life, the foundation of salvation and the foundation of the overall structure of the Church of God. The great John Damascene-great in every good thing-as a monk left a deep impression on the history of the Church by his exceptional example of obedience and humility. Testing him one day, his elder and spiritual father handed him woven baskets and ordered him to take them to Damascus and sell them there. The elder established a very high price for the baskets, thinking that John would not be able to sell them at that price but would have to return with them. John, therefore, firstly had to go on a long journey; secondly, he had to go as a poor monk to the city where he, at one time, had been the most powerful man after the Caliph; thirdly, he had to seek a ridiculously high price for the baskets; and fourthly, should he not sell the baskets, he would have made this enormous journey, there and back, for nothing. In this way, the elder wished to test the obedience, humility and patience of his famous disciple. John silently prostrated before the elder and, without a word, took the baskets and started on his journey. Arriving in Damascus, he stood in the market place and awaited a buyer. When he told the interested passers-by the price of his goods, they laughed at and mocked him as a lunatic. He stood there the whole day and the whole day he was exposed to derision and ridicule. But God, Who sees all things, did not abandoned His patient servant. A certain citizen passed by and looked at John. Even though John was clad in a poor monk's habit and his face was withered and pale from fating, this citizen recognized in him the one-time lord and first minister of the Caliph, in whose service he had also been. John also recognized him, but they both began to deal as strangers. Even though John named the all-too-high price of the baskets, the citizen purchased and paid for them without a word, recalling the good that John Damascene had once done for him. As a victor, holy John returned to the monastery rejoicing, and brought joy to his elder.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<7> Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. <8> Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. <9> Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. <10> We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. <11> For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. <12> Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. <13> Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. <14> For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. <15> Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. <16> But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

<1> Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; <2> for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. <3> For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; <4> that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, <5> not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; <6> that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. <7> For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. <8> Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. <9> But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; <10> and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; <11> that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, <12> that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

<32> "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. <33> Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. <34> For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. <35> "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; <36> and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. <37> Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. <38> And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. <39> But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. <40> Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

<5> Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, <6> "These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." <7> So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" <10> Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. <11> And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. <20> "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. <21> Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. <22> For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. <23> But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. <24> And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Greek

<23> But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. <24> Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. <25> But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. <26> For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. <27> For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. <28> There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. <29> And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. <1> Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, <2> but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. <3> Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. <4> But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, <5> to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

<24> So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. <25> Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, <26> and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. <27> When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. <28> For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." <29> Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. <30> And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" <31> But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?' " <32> And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. <33> But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. <34> And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 5th, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified (532)

The unknown village of Mutalaska, in the province of Cappadocia, became famous through this great luminary of the Orthodox Church. Sabbas was born there of his parents John and Sophia. At the age of eight, he left the home of his parents and was tonsured a monk in a nearby monastic community called Flavian's. After ten years, he moved to the monasteries of Palestine and remained longest in the Monastery of St. Euthymius the Great (January 20) and Theoctistus. The clairvoyant Euthymius prophesied of Sabbas that he would become a famous monk and a teacher of monks and that he would establish a lavra greater than all the lavras of that time. After the death of Euthymius, Sabbas withdrew to the desert, where he lived for five years as a hermit in a cave shown to him by an angel of God. Afterward, when he had been perfected in the monastic life, he began by divine providence to gather around him many who were desirous of the spiritual life. Soon, such a large number gathered that Sabbas had to build a church and many cells. Some Armenians also came to him, and for them he provided a cave where they would be able to celebrate services in the Armenian language. When his father died, his aged mother Sophia came to him, and he tonsured her a nun. He gave her a cell located at a distance from his monastery, where she lived a life of asceticism until her death. This holy father endured many assaults from all sides; from those who were close to him, from heretics, and from demons. But he triumphed over them all: those close to him, by kindness and indulgence; the heretics, by his unwavering confession of the Orthodox Faith; the demons, by the sign of the Cross and calling upon God for help. He had a particularly great struggle with demons on Mount Castellium, where he established his second monastery. In all, Sabbas established seven monasteries. He and Theodosius the Great, his neighbor, are considered to be the greatest lights and pillars of Orthodoxy in the East. They corrected emperors and patriarchs in matters of the Faith, and to everyone they served as an example of saintly humility and the miraculous power of God. After a toilsome and very fruitful life, St. Sabbas entered into rest in the year 532, at the age of ninety-four. Among his many wondrous and good works, let it at least be mentioned that he was the first to compile the Order of Services for use in monasteries, now known as the Jerusalem Typikon.

2. St. Cosmas of Vatopedi (1276) and the monks of Karyes, Mt. Athos, all martyred by the Latins (1283)

They suffered at the hands of the Papists at the time of the Union of Lyons [1274], which was the work of Emperor Michael Palaeologus (1260-1281) and the pope. The Protos of the Holy Mountain was hanged, and the others were beheaded. (For details about this, see October 10.)

3. The Venerable Nectarius of Bitola (1500)

Nectarius was born in Bitola and lived a life of asceticism in the Monastery of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, together with his father, Pachomius, who was also tonsured. After that he went to Karyes, where he continued his asceticism in the Cell of the Holy Archangels under the guidance of Elders Philotheus and Dionysius. After conquering human envy, demonic assaults and difficult illnesses, he entered into rest in the Kingdom of Christ on December 5, 1500. His incorrupt and fragrant relics rest in this same cell.

4. The Venerable Karion (Cyrion) and Zacharias, of Egypt (4th c.)

Karion and Zacharias were father and son, and both were great Egyptian ascetics. Karion left his wife and two children and set off to become a monk. As a child, the young Zacharias was taken into the monastery, and in his ascetic labors he surpassed both his father and many other notable ascetics. When they asked Zacharias, "Who is a true monk?" he replied: "He who constantly applies himself to the fulfilling of God's commandments."

5. Monk-martyr Justinian of Ramsey Island, South Wales (560)

6. St. Nicetius, bishop of Trier (566)

7. St. Gurias, archbishop of Kazan (1563)

8. New Hieromartyrs Elias, archpriest, of Moscow (1932) and Gennadius, hieromonk of the Belogostitsky Monastery (Yaroslavl) (1941)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

A man may be great in some skill, as a statesman or a military leader, but no one among men is greater than a man who is great in faith, hope and love. How great St. Sabbas the Sanctified was in faith and hope in God is best shown by the following incident: One day, the steward of the monastery came to Sabbas and informed him that the following Saturday and Sunday he would be unable to strike the semantron [ed. note: the wood plank that gets hit by a small hammer], according to tradition, to summon the brethren to the communal service and meal because there was not a trace of flour in the monastery nor anything at all to eat or drink. For this same reason, even the Divine Liturgy was not possible. The saint replied without hesitation: "I shall not cancel the Divine Liturgy because of the lack of flour; faithful is He Who commanded us not to be concerned about bodily things, and mighty is He to feed us in time of hunger." And he placed all his hope in God. In this extremity, he was prepared to send some of the ecclesiastical vessels or vestments to be sold in the city so that neither the divine services nor the brother's customary meal would be omitted. However, before Saturday some men, moved by divine providence, brought thirty mules laden with wheat, wine and oil to the monastery. "What do you say now, Brother?" Sava asked the steward. "Shall we not strike the semantron and assemble the fathers?" The steward was ashamed because of his lack of faith and begged the abbot for forgiveness. Sava's biographer describes this saint as "severe with demons but mild toward men." Once, some monks rebelled against St. Sabbas, and for this they were driven from the monastery by order of Patriarch Elias. They built themselves huts by the river Thekoa, where they endured privation in all things. Hearing that they were starving, St. Sabbas loaded mules with flour and brought it to them personally. Seeing that they had no church, he built one for them. At first, the monks received him with hatred, but afterward they responded to his love with love and repented of their former misdeeds toward him.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<22> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <23> gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. <24> And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. <25> If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. <26> Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. <1> Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. <2> Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

<27> All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. <28> Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. <29> Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. <30> For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Slavic

<1> But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. <2> For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. <3> For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. <4> But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. <5> You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. <6> Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. <7> For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. <8> But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

<28> Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." <29> Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. <30> When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. <31> So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. <32> Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. <33> Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 6th, 2024

Today is Friday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

This glorious saint, celebrated even today throughout the entire world, was the only son of his eminent and wealthy parents. Theophanes and Nona, citizens of the city of Patara in Lycia. Since he was the only son bestowed on them by God, the parents returned the gift to God by dedicating their son to Him. St. Nicholas learned of the spiritual life from his uncle Nicholas, Bishop of Patara, and was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of New Zion founded by his uncle. Following the death of his parents, Nicholas distributed all his inherited goods to the poor, not keeping anything for himself. As a priest in Patara, he was known for his charity, even though he carefully concealed his charitable works, fulfilling the words of the Lord: Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth (Matthew 6:3). When he gave himself over to solitude and silence, thinking to live that way until his death, a voice from on high came to him: "Nicholas, for your ascetic labor, work among the people, if thou desirest to be crowned by Me." Immediately after that, by God's wondrous providence, he was chosen archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia. Merciful, wise and fearless, Nicholas was a true shepherd to his flock. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian and Maximian, he was cast into prison, but even there he instructed the people in the Law of God. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea [325] and, out of great zeal for the truth, struck the heretic Arius with his hand. For this act he was removed from the Council and from his archiepiscopal duties, until the Lord Christ Himself and the Most-holy Theotokos appeared to several of the chief hierarchs and revealed their approval of Nicholas. A defender of God's truth, this wonderful saint was ever bold as a defender of justice among the people.

On two occasions, he saved three men from an undeserved sentence of death. Merciful, truthful, and a lover of justice, he walked among the people as an angel of God. Even during his lifetime, the people considered him a saint and invoked his aid in difficulties and in distress. He appeared both in dreams and in person to those who called upon him, and he helped them easily and speedily, whether close at hand or far away. A light shone from his face as it did from the face of Moses, and he, by his presence alone, brought comfort, peace and good will among men. In old age he became ill for a short time and entered into the rest of the Lord, after a life full of labor and very fruitful toil, to rejoice eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven, continuing to help the faithful on earth by his miracles and to glorify his God. He entered into rest on December 6, 343.

2. Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Patara

Nicholas was the uncle of the great St. Nicholas, and it was he who guided him to the spiritual life and ordained him a priest.

3. The Holy Martyr Nicholas Karamos

Nicholas was cruelly tortured for the Christian Faith by the Turks and was hanged in Smyrna in the year 1657.

4. Saint Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch

A man well educated in Hellenic philosophy, Theophilus, after reading the Holy Scriptures, was baptized and became a great defender of the Christian Faith. His work "On the Faith" is preserved even today. He governed the Church of Antioch for thirteen years and entered into rest in the year 181.

5. St. Abramius, bishop of Cratea in Bithynia (6th c.)

6. Blessed Maximus, metropolitan of Kiev (1305)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

In icons of St. Nicholas, the Lord Savior is usually depicted on one side with a Gospel in His hands, and the Most-holy Virgin Theotokos is depicted on the other side with an episcopal omophorion in her hands. This has a twofold historical significance: first, it signifies the calling of Nicholas to the hierarchical office, and second, it signifies his exoneration from the condemnation that followed his confrontation with Arius. St. Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople, writes: "One night St. Nicholas saw our Savior in glory, standing by him and extending to him the Gospel, adorned with gold and pearls. On his other side, he saw the Theotokos, who was placing the episcopal pallium on his shoulders." Shortly after this vision, John the Archbishop of Myra died and St. Nicholas was appointed archbishop of that city. That was the first incident. The second incident occurred at the time of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. Unable to stop Arius through reason from espousing the irrational blasphemy against the Son of God and His Most-holy Mother, St. Nicholas struck Arius on the face with his hand. The Holy Fathers at the Council, protesting such an action, banned Nicholas from the Council and deprived him of all emblems of the episcopal rank.

That same night, several of the Holy Fathers saw an identical vision: how the Lord Savior and the Most-holy Theotokos were standing around St. Nicholas-on one side the Lord Savior with the Gospel, and on the other side the Most-holy Theotokos with a pallium, presenting the saint with the episcopal emblems that had been removed from him. Seeing this, the fathers were awestruck and quickly returned to Nicholas that which had been removed. They began to respect him as a great chosen one of God, and they interpreted his actions against Arius not as an act of unreasonable anger, but rather an expression of great zeal for God's truth.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<17> Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. <18> Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. <19> But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. <20> Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, <21> make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

<17> And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, <18> as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. <19> And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. <20> Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. <21> Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. <22> Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. <23> Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Slavic

<9> For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, <10> who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. <11> Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. <12> And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, <13> and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. <24> He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. <25> Brethren, pray for us. <26> Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. <27> I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. <28> The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

<37> And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. <38> Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. <1> Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. <2> And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. <3> Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. <4> So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. <5> And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. <6> So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. <7> Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. <8> And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 7th, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 24th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Mediolanum (Milan) (397)

This great holy father of the Orthodox Church was of eminent birth. His father was the imperial deputy of Gaul and Spain and was a pagan by faith, but his mother was a Christian. While he was still in the cradle, a swarm of bees settled on him, poured honey onto his lips, and flew away. And while still a child, he extended his hand and spoke prophetically: "Kiss it, for I will be a bishop." After his father's death, the emperor appointed him as his representative in the province of Liguria, of which Milan was the chief city. When the bishop of Milan died, a great dispute arose between the Orthodox Christians and the Arian heretics concerning the election of a new bishop. Ambrose entered the church to maintain order, this being his duty. At that moment, a child at its mother's bosom exclaimed: "Ambrose for bishop!" All the people took this as the voice of God, and unanimously elected Ambrose as their bishop, contrary to his will. Ambrose was baptized, passed through all the necessary ranks and was consecrated to the episcopacy, all within a week. As bishop, Ambrose strengthened the Orthodox Faith, suppressed the heretics, adorned churches, spread the Faith among the pagans, wrote many instructive books, and served as an example of a true Christian and a true Christian shepherd. He composed the famous hymn "We Praise Thee, O God." This glorious hierarch, whom men visited from distant lands for his wisdom and sweetness of words, was very restrained, diligent and vigilant. He slept very little, labored and prayed constantly, and fasted every day except Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, God allowed him to witness many of His miracles and to perform miracles himself. He discovered the relics of the Holy Martyrs Protasius, Gervasius, Nazarius and Celsus (October 14). Meek toward lesser men, he was fearless before the great. He reproached Empress Justina as a heretic, cursed Maximus the tyrant and murderer, and forbade Emperor Theodosius to enter a church until he had repented of his sin. He also refused to meet with Eugenius, the tyrannical and self-styled emperor. God granted this man, so pleasing to Him, such grace that he even raised the dead, drove out demons from men, healed the sick of every infirmity, and foresaw the future. Ambrose died peacefully on the morning of Pascha in the year 397.

  1. The Venerable Gregory the Hesychast of Serbia (1406)

Gregory was a Serb by birth. He was the founder of the Monastery of St. Nicholas on the Holy Mountain, known as "Gregoriou" after him. His cell, where he prayed in silence and repented, can be found about a quarter of an hour distance from the monastery. In the year 1761, there was a great fire in the monastery, and on this occasion some of the monks took his relics and translated them to Serbia. This man of God entered peacefully into rest in the year 1406.

  1. The Venerable Nilus of Stolobny (1554)

Nilus was a farmer and was born in Novgorod. Withdrawing into the wilderness, he fed on plants. At the instruction of a voice from on high, he settled on the island of Stolobny. Once, some robbers entered his cell in order to plunder it, and they were immediately blinded. He dug a grave for himself close to his cell and wept over it every day. Nilus entered into rest peacefully and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the year 1554. His miracle-working relics rest in the place where he fasted.

  1. Martyr Athenodorus of Mesopotamia (304)

  2. St. Bassa of Jerusalem, abbess (5th c.)

  3. St. Philothea of Turnovo (1060), whose relics are in Arges, Romania

  4. St. John the Faster, of the Kiev Caves (12th c.)

  5. St. Paul the Obedient, of Cyprus

  6. St. Anthony, founder of Siya Monastery (Novgorod) (1556)

  7. New Hieromartyrs Sergius, hieromonk, and Andronicus, hierodeacon, of the Nosov Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Tambov) (1917)

  8. New Hiero-confessor Ambrose, bishop of Kamenets-Podol (1932)

  9. New Hieromartyrs Gurias, hieromonk of Optina Monastery, and Galacteon, hieromonk of Valaam Monastery (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. <2> For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. <3> But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. <4> For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! <5> For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. <6> Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

<18> Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? <19> It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches." <20> And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? <21> It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." <22> And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. <23> Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, <24> "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. <25> When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,' <26> then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' <27> But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' <28> There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. <29> They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 8th, 2024

Today is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Venerable Patapius of Thebes (7th c.)

Patapius was born and brought up in the Faith and in the fear of God by pious parents in the Egyptian city of Thebes. At an early age he perceived and abhorred the vanity of this world and withdrew into the wilderness of Egypt. There he devoted himself to a life of asceticism, cleansing his heart of all earthly desires and thoughts, for the sake of God's love. However, when his virtues became known among the people, they began to come to him and to seek solace from him in their sufferings. Fearing the praise of men, which darkens the minds of men and separates them from God, Patapius fled this wilderness to Constantinople, for this wonderful saint thought that he could hide himself more easily from people in the city than in the wilderness. Patapius built a hut for himself in the proximity of the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople. There, immured and unknown, he continued his interrupted life of eremitic asceticism. However, a light cannot be hidden. A child, blind from birth, was led by God's providence to St. Patapius. He besought the saint to pray to God that he be given his sight and be able to look upon God's creation—thus allowing him to praise God all the more. Patapius having compassion on the suffering child, prayed to God, and the child's sight was restored. This miracle revealed God's chosen one throughout the entire city, and people rushed to him for healing, comfort and instruction. Patapius healed an eminent man of dropsy by tracing the sign of the Cross over him and anointing him with oil. By making the sign of the Cross in the air with his hand, he freed a youth from an unclean spirit that had cruelly tormented him. The evil spirit, with a loud shriek, came out from God's creature like smoke. He made the sign of the Cross over a woman who had a sore on her breast all filled with worms, and made her healthy. Many other miracles did St. Patapius perform, all through prayer in the name of Christ and by the sign of the Cross. He entered into rest peacefully in great old age and took up his habitation in the Heavenly Kingdom in the seventh century.

  1. The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus

All of them are commemorated on January 4 with the other lesser apostles. St. Apollos is also commemorated separately on September 10; St. Onesiphorus, September 7; Saints Cephas and Caesar, March 30. St. Sosthenes was bishop in Caesarea, and St. Tychicus was his successor in the same city. Epaphroditus was bishop in Andriopolis in Pamphylia; Cephas, in Iconium; and Caesar, in the Colophon Peloponnese. They all preached the Gospel of Christ with burning love, endured suffering for His holy name and entered into the Kingdom of Eternal Joy.

  1. The Holy Martyrs in Africa

They suffered for the truth of the Orthodox Faith at the hands of the Arian heretics during the reign of the Vandal King Gunerik or Genzerik (477-484). Two priests were burned and sixty more had their tongues cut out. In addition, three hundred laymen were beheaded. All of them suffered, but they defeated falsehood and confirmed Orthodoxy through their deaths, handing the Faith down to us pure and untarnished. The Lord crowned them with wreaths of glory in His Immortal Kingdom.

  1. St. Valerius, bishop of Trier (3rd c.)
  2. Martyr Anthusa, at Rome (5th c.)
  3. St. Cyril, founder of Chelmogorsk Monastery (Karelia) (1367)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<14> For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, <15> having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, <16> and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. <17> And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. <18> For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. <19> Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, <20> having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, <21> in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, <22> in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Slavic

<12> Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. <13> And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" <14> So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. <15> And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, <16> and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. <17> So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? <18> Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" <19> And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

Greek

<10> Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. <11> And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. <12> But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." <13> And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. <14> But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." <15> The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? <16> So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" <17> And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 9th, 2024

Today is Monday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Conception by Saint Anna of the Most-holy Theotokos

The righteous Joachim and Anna were childless for fifty years of their married life. In their old age Archangel Gabriel appeared to each one of them separately, telling them that God had heard their prayers and that they would give birth to a daughter, Mary. Then St. Anna conceived by her husband and after nine months bore a daughter blessed by God and by all generations of men: the Most-holy Virgin Mary, the Theotokos. (For more details, see September 9.)

  1. Saint Hannah (Anna), Mother of the Prophet Samuel

Hannah was the wife of Elkanah from Ramathaim Zophim or Arimathea (1 Samuel 1:1-2). Hannah had not given birth to any children because she was barren, and this caused her to weep and grieve bitterly. But the Merciful God showed pity on her and removed her barrenness because of her ceaseless sighs and prayers. Hannah bore a son, Samuel, and dedicated him to God from his childhood. Samuel was a great leader of the nation of Israel and a prophet, who anointed two kings, Saul and David. St. Hannah sang a hymn of thanksgiving to God, a hymn wonderful both in its wisdom and its beauty, which is used even to this day in the services of the Church (1 Samuel 2:1).

  1. The Venerable Stephen "the New Light," of Constantinople (829)

This God-pleaser was born and brought up in Constantinople in the home of his parents, Zacharias and Theophano. His father was a priest of the Great Church at the time of Patriarch Methodius. While carrying him in her womb, his mother fed only on bread and water, and when the child was born a cross of light shone on his chest. Because of this and because of his pure and God-pleasing life, he is called the "New Light." At the age of eighteen Stephen enclosed himself in a cell near the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, and there he gave himself up to the ascetic labor of fasting and prayer. Once St. Peter appeared to him and said: "Peace be to you, my child. You have made a good beginning. May the Lord strengthen you." Following this, he lived for many years in a cell by the Church of the Holy Martyr Antipas. This saint also appeared to him and encouraged him with the words: "Know that I will not abandon you." Stephen imposed even greater and greater hardships upon himself. He ate only twice a week and then only unsalted vegetables. This holy man lived a life of asceticism for fifty-five years for the sake of Christ's Kingdom and entered into rest in the Lord in the year 829, at the age of seventy-three.

  1. Saint Sophronius I, Archbishop of Cyprus (6th c.)

Sophronius was born and brought up in Cyprus. Because of his great spiritual learning and his many virtues, especially compassion, he was appointed archbishop following St. Damian. Having faithfully served the Church and pleased God, Sophronius died peacefully in the sixth century.

  1. St. Valeria of Aquitaine (2nd c.)
  2. Virgin-martyr Leocadia, at Toledo, Spain (303)
  3. Martyr Sositheus of Persia (553)
  4. (Greek cal.: Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection at Jerusalem [335]. Martyr Narses of Persia)
  5. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy"

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<22> For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. <23> But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, <24> which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— <25> for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— <26> but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. <27> For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." [<28> Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. <29> But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. <30> Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." <31> So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.]

<16> "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. <17> For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. <18> Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." <19> Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. <20> And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." <21> But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Slavic

<1> Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: <2> Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. <3> We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, <4> so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, <5> which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; <6> since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, <7> and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, <8> in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. <9> These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, <10> when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

<11> Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. <12> But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." <13> And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. <14> Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. <15> Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." <16> And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread." <17> But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? <18> Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? <19> When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." <20> "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." <21> So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 10th, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyrs Menas the Most Eloquent, Hermogenes and Eugraphus, of Alexandria (ca. 313)

Both Menas and Hermogenes were born in Athens. They both lived in Byzantium, being held in great honor by the emperor and the people. Menas was known for his great learning and eloquence of speech and, although he acted outwardly as a pagan, he was a convinced Christian in his heart. Hermogenes was Eparch of Byzantium and acted as a pagan both inwardly and outwardly, but he was compassionate and performed many good deeds. When a dispute flared up between the Christians and the pagans in Alexandria, Emperor Maximin dispatched Menas to calm the disturbance and to root out the Christians from the city. Menas went and restored peace, but he declared himself a Christian and converted many pagans to the true Faith by his eloquence and many miracles. Hearing of this, the emperor sent Hermogenes to punish Menas and to smother Christianity. Hermogenes brought Menas to trial, cut off his feet and tongue, gouged out his eyes, and then cast him into prison. In prison, the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to Menas, healing and comforting His suffering servant. Seeing Menas miraculously healed, Hermogenes was baptized. He began to preach the powerful Christian Faith and was consecrated as Bishop of Alexandria. Then the enraged Maximin went to Alexandria himself and subjected Menas and Hermogenes to cruel tortures, which they courageously endured, helped by God's grace. Beholding the bravery of these soldiers of Christ and the miracles of God upon them, Eugraphus, secretary and friend of St. Menas, appeared before the tribunal and cried out to the emperor's face: "I too am a Christian!" The emperor became enraged, drew his sword and beheaded St. Eugraphus. Following this, the evil emperor ordered the executioner to behead St. Menas and St. Hermogenes. Their holy relics, thrown into the sea, miraculously floated to Constantinople, where the bishop, to whom this was revealed in a dream, solemnly met them and honorably buried them.

  1. The Venerable Angelina and St. Jovan the Despot of Serbia
    [ed. note: According to other synaxarion listings, the commemoration is more properly styled "St. Jovan the Despot, and his parents..."]

Angelina was the daughter of the Albania prince, George Skenderbeg, and the wife of Stefan, Despot of Serbia, who was the son of Despot George. She endured exile with her husband and shared with him all the biterness of life in Serbia as well as in Albania and Italy. She raised her sons Maxim and Jovan in a truly Christian spirit. Following the death of her husband, she was tonsured a nun, devoting herself entirely to prayer, acts of charity and the building and restoring of holy churches. A faithful wife, an excellent mother and a perfect Christian, she in truth merited the title "Mother Angelina," as the people call her even now. Her miracle-working relics, together with those of her righteous husband Stefan and her devoted sons Maxim and Jovan, rest in the Monastery of Krušedol (although some of the relics were destroyed by the Turks). She entered into rest and took up her habitation in the Immortal Kingdom at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

  1. The Holy Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia (361)

Gemellus was an honorable citizen of Ancyra. When Emperor Julian the Apostate came to this city, Gemellus came before him and openly denounced him for his apostasy. For this, he was tortured and crucified in the year 361. While in pain on the Cross, he heard a voice from heaven saying: "Blessed are you, Gemellus!"

  1. The Venerable Thomas Defourkinos of Mt. Kyminas of Bithynia (9th c.)

Thomas was a great ascetic, a conqueror of demons, and a seer. Emperor Leo the Wise wrote him a letter, and he replied without even opening it. He entered into rest in the Lord in great old age in the ninth century.

  1. St. Ioasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754)
  2. New Hieromartyr Sergius, hieromonk, of Sreznevo (Ryazan) (1937)
  3. New Nun-confessor Anna, schemanun, of Sreznevo (Ryazan) (1958)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

In innumerable ways the Living Lord knows when to show mercy and when to chastise, when to deliver the faithful from temptation, when to turn unbelievers into believers, and when to punish incorrigible persecutors of the Faith. When the evil Maximin slew the wonderful martyrs of Christ, Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus, he boarded a boat with his retinue and set sail from Alexandria to Byzantium. But suddenly he was blinded, being blind beforehand in soul and mind, and began to complain to those among his retinue of invisible hands that were harshly striking him. Shortly after that he died wickedly, just as he had lived. At the time of St. Ambrose the following incident occurred: The heretical Empress Justina had persuaded Euthymius, a landowner from Milan, to somehow seize the bishop, whom she hated, and to take him somewhere far away into exile. Euthymius prepared a cart and settled in a house near the church so that he could more easily catch sight of Ambrose alone and carry him off in the cart. And precisely on the day when he had arranged and prepared everything to seize Ambrose, an imperial order arrived that Euthymius immediately be exiled because of some crime. That day, the soldiers came, bound the malicious one, and took him off into exile in the very cart that he had prepared for Ambrose's banishment. On another occasion, an Arian entered the church where St. Ambrose was celebrating, with the intention of hearing from his mouth something for which Ambrose could be denounced. Looking around, this heretic saw God's saint instructing the people and beheld a shining angel alongside him, whispering words into his ear. Being greatly frightened by this, he became ashamed of himself, rejected the heresy and returned to Orthodoxy.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<10> when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. <11> Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, <12> that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. <1> Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, <2> not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

<22> Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. <23> So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. <24> And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." <25> Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. <26> Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 11th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Venerable Daniel the Stylite, of Constantinople (489)

Daniel was born in the village of Bethara near the city of Samosata in Mesopotamia of Christian parents, Elias and Martha. Through her tearful prayers, his barren mother received him from God, and as an only son he was dedicated to God from early childhood. Daniel embraced the monastic rank at the age of twelve, visited Simeon the Stylite, and was blessed by him. Desirous of solitude, Daniel left the monastery and withdrew to an abandoned pagan temple on the shore of the Black Sea. There he endured countless assaults from demons, but he conquered them all by perseverance, prayer and the sign of the Cross. Afterward he climbed up on a pillar. There he remained until his death, enduring both heat and cold, and attacks from both men and demons. Many disciples gathered around his pillar, and he directed them to eternal life by his example and his words. God rewarded His faithful servant with abundant grace while in this life, and he performed many miracles beneficial to men and prophesied future events. People from all parts crowded beneath his pillar, seeking help and counsel from the saint of God. Emperors and patriarchs as well as ordinary people came to him. Emperor Leo the Great brought his foreign guests, princes and nobles, and showed them St. Daniel on the pillar, saying to them: "Behold, the wonder in my kingdom!" Daniel foretold the day of his own death, instructed his disciples as a father to his sons, and took leave of them. At the time of his death, his disciples beheld angels, prophets, apostles and martyrs above his pillar. Having lived for eighty years, this holy angelic man entered into rest and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the year 489.

  1. The Venerable Luke the New Stylite, of Chalcedon (ca. 970)

Luke lived in Constantinople at the time of Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus. As a soldier, he participated in the war against the Bulgarians, in which he witnessed the death of many thousands of people, and from that war he emerged alive and unharmed. Seeing the finger of God in his deliverance, Luke scorned the vanity of the world and withdrew to a pillar near Chalcedon. There he lived a life of asceticism for forty-five years, cleansing his soul of all sinful desires and thoughts. Pleasing God, he entered into rest sometime between the years 970 and 980 and took up his habitation in a better life.

  1. The Venerable Nicon "the Dry," of the Kiev Caves (1101)

As a monk in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves, he was enslaved by the Tartars. He lived for three years in captivity: shackled, tortured, and mocked. When his kinsmen brought the money to ransom him from his master, he refused, saying: "If the Lord had wanted me to be free, He would not have delivered me into the hands of these lawless men." Once he told his master that Christ would free him in three days. The Tartar thought that this meant that his slave was going to escape, so he severed his tendons below the knees. However, on the third day, Nicon was indeed instantly carried to Kiev by an invisible hand. After a period of time, the Tartar came to Kiev and recognized Nicon, his former slave. He repented and was baptized. The former master became the servant and disciple of his former slave. Nicon was called "the Dry" because of the great austerity of his bodily fasting, and he was a great clairvoyant and miracle-worker. He entered peacefully into rest in the Lord on December 11, 1101.

  1. The Holy Martyr Mirax of Egypt (ca. 640)

Mirax was an Egyptian. Deceived by a Moslem Emir, he embraced Islam. He later repented and entered a mosque with a cross. There he declared himself a Christian, calling upon the Moslems to forsake their falsehood and to accept the truth. He was tortured and beheaded in about the year 640.

  1. Monk-martyr Barsabas, abbot, of Ishtar, and ten companions, in Persia (342)
  2. Martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas, at Arbela in Assyria (354)
  3. St. Leontius, monk, of Monemvasia (ca. 1450)
  4. New Hieromartyr Theophan, bishop of Perm and Solikamsk, and with him two priests and five laymen (1918)
  5. St. Kuksha, hieroschemamonk, of Odessa (1964)
  6. Synaxis of the Saints of Georgia

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

The Lord preserveth all them that love Him (Psalm 145:20). The lives of the saints confirm this as clearly as the sun. Certain envious priests complained to Patriarch Anatolius about St. Daniel, slandering him and saying that he was a magician. In essence, they were envious of the exceedingly young ascetic, who surpassed them in all the virtues and attracted many people to himself by his way of life. The patriarch summoned Daniel and examined him regarding his faith and his way of life. When Daniel told him everything, the patriarch rose from his seat, embraced him, praised him, and dismissed him in peace. Several days later, Patriarch Anatolius became ill, summoned Daniel and asked him to pray to God for his recovery. Daniel prayed to God, and the patriarch was immediately restored to health. Since the patriarch wanted to reward Daniel somehow, the young saint begged him to forgive his slanderers as his reward. To this the patriarch replied: "How can I not forgive them when they are authors of so much good, namely, that I now know you and have received healing through you?" Truly, the Lord preserves all who love Him, and He turns to their good the evil that men conceive against them.

While St. Nicon the Dry was a slave among the Tartars, his master became sick and was at the point of death. Seeing that he would soon die, he ordered his sons to crucify Nicon at the head of his grave after his death. St. Nicon, discerning the future, saw that his cruel master would be baptized and prayed to God for his restoration to health. Contrary to all expectations, the Tartar recovered. Thus, by prayer, Nicon saved himself from physical death and his master from spiritual death.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, <2> not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. <3> Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, <4> who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. <5> Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? <6> And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. <7> For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. <8> And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. <9> The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, <10> and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. <11> And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, <12> that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

<30> Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. <31> And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. <32> He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. <33> But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." <34> When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 12th, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus (348)

The island of Cyprus was both the birthplace and the place where this glorious saint served the Church. Spyridon was born of simple parents, farmers, and he remained simple and humble until his death. He married in his youth and had children, but when his wife died he devoted himself completely to the service of God. Because of his exceptional piety, he was chosen as bishop of the city of Tremithus. Yet even as a bishop he did not change his simple way of living, handling his livestock and cultivating his land himself. He used very little of the fruits of his labor for himself; instead, he distributed a greater share to the needy. He manifested great miracles by God's power: he brought down rain in time of drought, stopped the flow of a river, raised several people from the dead, healed Emperor Constantius of a grave illness, saw and heard angels of God, foresaw future events, discerned the secrets of men's hearts, converted many to the true Faith, and did much else. He took part in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea [325], and he brought many heretics back to Orthodoxy by his simple and clear expositions of the Faith as well as by his mighty miracles. He was so simply dressed that once, when he wanted to enter the imperial court at the invitation of the emperor, a soldier, thinking that he was a beggar, struck him on the face. Meek and guileless, Spyridon turned the other cheek to him. He glorified God through many miracles, and was of benefit, not only to many individuals but also to the whole Church of God. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 348. His miracle-working relics rest on the island of Corfu, and even today they glorify God with many miracles.

  1. The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem (251)

At first Alexander was the Bishop of Cappadocia, but during the persecution under Severus in the year 203 he was cast into prison and then exiled. Afterward he accepted the patriarchal throne of Jerusalem. He founded the famous Jerusalem Library, which Eusebius used when he wrote his Ecclesiastical History. He was tortured in various ways during the reign of Decius and thrown to wild beasts. Remaining alive and untouched by the beasts, he was cast into prison, where he ended his earthly life and went to the Lord in the year 251.

  1. The Holy Martyr Synesius of Rome (270-275)

As a young reader in Rome, he boldly preached the truth of Christ and denounced idolaters. For this, he was tortured and beheaded during the reign of Emperor Aurelian.

  1. St. Finian of Clonard and Skellig Michael, teacher of Ireland (549)

  2. St. Colman of Glendalough (Ireland) (659)

  3. Monk-martyr John, abbot, of Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia (9th c.)

  4. St. John, metropolitan of Zichon, founder of the Monastery of the Forerunner on Mt. Menikion (1333)

  5. St. Therapontus, monk of Monza Monastery (Galich) (1597)

  6. St. Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836) [ed. note: This is not true for the OCA, where his commemoration is on Friday. Interestingly, the OCA commemorates St. Mardarije of Libertyville today.]

  7. Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American land: Hieromartyr Juvenaly (1796), Peter the Aleut (1815), and Hieromartyrs Seraphim, archbishop of Uglich (1937), John, priest, of Chicago (1917), and Alexander, priest, of New York (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Absolutely nothing will help us if we are not lenient toward the weaknesses of men and forgive them. For how can we hope that God will forgive us if we do not forgive others? St. Spyridon once sold a hundred goats to a merchant at an agreed price, and the saint told the buyer to lay down the money. The buyer, knowing that Spyridon himself never counted money, handed over enough money for ninety-nine goats and hid the money for once.

Spyridon then counted out a hundred goats for him. But when the merchant and his servants drove off the goats, one of them returned bleating. He drove it off, but it returned again. And so the goat continually returned to the enclosure, not wanting to go with the other goats. The saint then whispered into the merchant's ear: "Observe, my son: this animal is not doing this in vain. Did you perhaps withhold her price?" The merchant became ashamed and acknowledged his sin. As soon as he paid the amount he had concealed, the goat immediately joined the other goats.

On another occasion, some thieves entered Spyridon's sheepfold. When they had seized as many sheep as they wanted, they tried to leave the sheepfold, but an invisible force nailed them to the ground, and they were unable to move. At dawn, the bishop came to his sheepfold. Seeing the thieves, he reproached them mildly and instructed them to strive in the future to live by their own labors and not by thievery. He then took a sheep and gave it to them, saying, "Take this for your trouble, so that your all-night vigil not be in vain," and he dismissed them in peace.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<13> But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, <14> to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. <15> Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. <16> Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, <17> comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. <1> Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, <2> and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. <3> But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. <4> And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. <5> Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

<10> So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. <11> And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" <12> Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? <13> But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him." <14> And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. <15> Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. <16> And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"

Greek

<8> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light <9> (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), <10> finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. <11> And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. <12> For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. <13> But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. <14> Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." <15> See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, <16> redeeming the time, because the days are evil. <17> Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. <18> And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, <19> speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

<9> I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. <10> The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. <11> "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. <12> But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. <13> The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. <14> I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. <15> As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. <16> And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 13th, 2024

Today is Friday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes

These five courageous men shone like five shining stars in the dark days of the Christ-persecuting Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. St. Eustratius was a Roman commander in the city of Satalonius; Eugene was his companion in the army; Orestes was likewise a distinguished soldier; Auxentius was a priest; and Mardarius was an ordinary citizen who came, like Eustratius, from the town of Arabrak. The imperial deputies Lysias and Agricolus tortured Auxentius first since he was a priest. Seeing the innocent suffering of Christians, Eustratius appeared in front of Lysias and declared that he was also a Christian. While Eustratius was being tortured, Eugene appeared before the judge and cried out: "Lysias, I too am a Christian." When Eustratius was led through the town of Arabrak with the other martyrs, Mardarius saw them from the roof of his house. He took leave of his wife and two young children and rushed after the martyrs, shouting into the faces of the tormentors: "I too am a Christian, like my lord Eustratius." When St. Orestes was target-practicing in the presence of Lysias, the cross he was wearing fell from his chest and Lysias realized that he was a Christian, after which Orestes openly confessed his faith. Orestes was a young and handsome soldier and towered above all the other soldiers in stature. Auxentius was beheaded, Eugene and Mardarius died while being tortured, Orestes expired on a red-hot iron grid, and Eustratius died in a fiery furnace. St. Blaise (February 11) administered Holy Communion to St. Eustratius in prison before his death. Their relics were later taken to Constantinople and buried in the church dedicated to them: The Holy Five Companions. They were seen alive in that church, and St. Orestes appeared to St. Dimitri of Rostov (October 28). A beautiful prayer by St. Eustratius is extant, which is read at the Midnight Service on Saturday: "Most highly do I magnify Thee, O Lord."

  1. The Virgin Martyr Lucy (Lucia) of Syracuse

With her mother, Lucy visited the grave of St. Agatha in Catania, where St. Agatha appeared to her. Her mother, who had dropsy, was then miraculously healed in the church. Lucy distributed all her goods to the poor, and this embittered her betrothed, who accused her of being a Christian before Paschasius the judge. The wicked judge ordered that she be taken to a brothel in order to defile her. However, by the power of God she remained immovable, as if rooted to the earth, and not even a multitude of people was able to move her from that spot. Then an enraged pagan pierced her throat with a sword and she gave up her soul to God and took up her habitation in the Kingdom of Eternity. Lucy suffered in the year 304.

  1. The Hieromartyr Gavril, Patriarch of Serbia (1659)

During the terrible period of Turkish rule over Serbia, this great hierarch traveled to Russia, where he participated in the Moscow Synod of 1655. Upon returning, he was accused of high treason. Certain evil Jews also accused him of having converted several Jews to the Christian Faith. In their accusation, the Jews cited that he was attempting to convert the Turks. The Jews did this to enrage the Turkish authorities even more. Brought before the tribunal, he was condemned and sentenced to embrace Islam. Since Gavril would not even hear of this, he was, after a period of imprisonment, sentenced to death and hanged in Brusa in the year 1659. Thus, he departed for his beloved Christ to receive from Him a double crown, that of a hierarch and that of a martyr.

  1. St. Columba of Terryglass and Holy Island on Lough Derg (Ireland) (549)

  2. St. Aubertus, bishop (Neth.) (668)

  3. St. Odilia, virgin and abbess, of Alsace (Gaul) (720)

  4. St. Arsenius of Mt. Latros (11th c.)

  5. St. Arcadius, monk, of Novotorzhok (1077)

  6. St. Mardarius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (13th c.)

  7. St. Dositheus, metropolitan of Moldavia (1693)

  8. St. Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836) (his service may be sung on December 12)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

To give alms out of that which one needs: this is true almsgiving. Not to sin when one is most exposed to sinning: this has value before God. When St. Lucy saw her sick mother miraculously healed, she suggested to her that she use her possessions as alms for the needy. To this her mother replied that she did not want to part from her possessions until her death, but she agreed that after her death her possessions could be used for the good that Lucy wished. "First, cover my eyes with earth," her mother said, "and then do what you wish with my possessions." Lucy said: "It is not very pleasing to God for a person to give to Him that which he cannot take with him to the grave or which he himself does not need. But if you want to do a God-pleasing deed, give to Him that which you yourself need. Otherwise, after death, when you need nothing, you will be offering Him that which you could not take with you. But while you are still alive and healthy, give to Christ what you possess, and all of that which you intended for me begin even now to give to Him." The good mother of the wise daughter agreed to this. When the torturer Paschasius was attempting to force this holy virgin to carnal sin, Lucy did not, even in thought, assent to this. And when the torturer threatened that his men would defile her by force, saying with a smirk, "When you become defiled, the Holy Spirit will flee from you," Lucy, full of grace, replied: "The body cannot be defiled without the consent of the mind." Thus St. Lucy went to her death, having distributed all her goods beforehand and guarded her young and pure body from defilement.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<6> But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. <7> For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; <8> nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, <9> not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. <10> For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. <11> For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. <12> Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. <13> But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. <14> And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. <15> Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. <16> Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. <17> The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. <18> The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

<33> Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" <34> But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. <35> And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." <36> Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, <37> "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." <38> Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." <39> But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. <40> For he who is not against us is on our side. <41> For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Slavic

<22> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <23> gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. <24> And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. <25> If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. <26> Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. <1> Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. <2> Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

<17> And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, <18> as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. <19> And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. <20> Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. <21> Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. <22> Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. <23> Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 14th, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus (Coronatus), with others

Saints Thyrsus and Leucius were honorable citizens of Caesarea of Bithynia, the former being baptized and the latter being a Christian catechumen. Callinicus, however, was a pagan priest. When Emperor Decius' heir, Cumbricius, began to mercilessly torture and murder Christians, the fearless Leucius appeared before him and, reproaching him, said: "Why have you waged war against your own soul, O Cumbricius?" The enraged judge ordered that he be flogged, tortured and finally beheaded. The tortured Leucius went to his beheading as joyfully as if he were going to a wedding. Witnessing the death of the courageous Leucius, blessed Thyrsus, inflamed with divine zeal like that of Leucius, also appeared before the judge and reproached him for his evil crimes and for his unbelief in the One True God. He also was flogged and cast into prison. The invisible hand of God healed him of his wounds, opened the prison door and led him out. Thyrsus immediately went to Phileas, the Bishop of Caesarea, to be baptized by him. After his baptism, he was again seized and tortured, but he endured the tortures, bearing them as though in a dream and not in reality. By the power of his prayer, many idols fell down. The pagan priest Callinicus, upon seeing this, converted to the Christian Faith, and both he and Thyrsus were condemned to death. Callinicus was beheaded, and they placed Thyrsus in a wooden coffin to be sawn in half. However, the power of God would not permit this, and the saw was unable to cut into the wood. Then St. Thyrsus arose from the coffin and prayed to God, rendering Him thanks for the tortures, and he peacefully gave up his soul to his Lord. At the end of the fourth century, the Emperor Flaviian built a church to St. Thyrsus near Constantinople and placed his holy relics in it. The saint appeared in a vision to Empress Pulcheria and counseled her to bury the relics of the Forty Martyrs alongside his.

  1. The Holy Martyrs Apollonius, Philemon, Arianus, Theoctychus, and four guards converted by St. Arianus, at Alexandria (ca. 305)

During the reign of Diocletian, a certain judge Arianus cruelly persecuted the Christians of Egypt. He seized Apollonius and threatened him with tortures. Apollonius, afraid of the tortures, bribed a certain well-known pagan musician, Philemon, to offer sacrifices to the idols in his place, disguised in his clothes. When Philemon appeared before the idols, the light of the Christian Faith suddenly shone in his heart, and he made the sign of the Cross. After he came out of the temple, he began to shout "I am a Christian! A servant of Christ the Living God!" Hearing this, the judge laughed, thinking that Philemon was mocking the Christians. Later, Philemon endured horrible tortures. Rain fell from heaven and baptized him. Finally, Philemon and Apollonius were beheaded by Arianus the judge. Then, because his blind eye was healed in a miraculous manner at Philemon's grave, Arianus himself became a Christian. Arianus was condemned to death by Emperor Diocletian and was slain with four soldiers who likewise declared themselves Christians.

  1. St. Venantius Fortunatus, bishop of Poitiers (ca. 605)

  2. St. Hygbald, abbot, in Lincolnshire (7th c.)

  3. St. Folciunus, bishop of Tervas (Neth.) (855)

  4. St. Hilarion, metropolitan of Suzdal and Yuriev (1707)

  5. New Hiero-confessor Bassian, archbishop of Tambov (1940)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<3> Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, <4> who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, <5> to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. <6> I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, <7> which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. <8> But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. <9> As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. <10> For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

<1> Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. <2> And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. <3> And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" <4> But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. <5> Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" <6> And they could not answer Him regarding these things. <7> So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: <8> "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; <9> and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. <10> But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. <11> For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 15th, 2024

Today is the 25th Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius, bishop of Illyria, and Martyrs Anthia (his mother), Coremonus the Eparch, and two executioners who suffered with them (ca. 120)

From a good tree comes good fruit. This wonderful saint had noble and greatly eminent parents. Eleutherius was born in Rome, where his father was an imperial proconsul. His mother Anthia heard the Gospel from the great Apostle Paul and was baptized by him. Having been left a widow early, she entrusted her only son for study and service to Anicetus the Bishop of Rome. Seeing how Eleutherius was gifted by God and illumined by the grace of God, the bishop ordained him a deacon at the age of fifteen, a priest at the age of eighteen, and a bishop at the age of twenty. Eleutherius' God-given wisdom made up for what he lacked in years, and this chosen one of God was appointed Bishop of Illyria with his seat in Valona (Avlona), Albania. The good shepherd guarded his flock well and increased their number day by day. Emperor Hadrian, a persecutor of Christians, sent the commander Felix with soldiers to seize Eleutherius and bring him to Rome. When the raging Felix arrived in Valona and entered the church, he saw and heard the holy hierarch of God; suddenly his heart changed, and he became a Christian. Eleutherius baptized Felix and departed for Rome with him, returning joyfully as if he were going to a feast and not to trial and torture. The emperor subjected the noble Eleutherius to harsh torture: flogging, roasting on an iron bed, boiling in pitch, and burning in a fiery furnace. But Eleutherius was delivered from all these deadly tortures by God's power. Seeing all this, Caribus the Roman eparch declared that he also was a Christian. Caribus was tortured and then beheaded, and so was Blessed Felix. Finallly, the imperial executioners cut off the honorable head of St. Eleutherius. When his mother, the holy Anthia, came and stood over the dead body of her son, she also was beheaded. Their bodies were translated to Valona, where even today St. Eleutherius glorifies the name of Christ by his many miracles. He suffered during the reign of Hadrian in the year 120.

  1. Saint Stephen the Confessor, of Surozh in Crimea (ca. 790)

Stephen was born in Cappadocia and educated in Constantinople under the Patriarch, St. Germanus. He withdrew into solitude and lived hidden from the world. An angel appeared to St. Germanus and ordered him to appoint Stephen bishop of the town of Surozh (now Sudak in the Crimea), and the patriarch did so. The zealous Stephen converted many to Christianity. He suffered bitterly under Emperor Leo the Isaurian for the sake of icons. He prophesied to the emperor his impending death. Following this wicked emperor's evil death, Stephen was returned to his diocese, where he fed his God-pleasing flock and died peacefully at the end of the eighth century.

  1. The Venerable Paul of Mt. Latros

Paul was born in Pergamum. He lived a life of asceticism on a mountain called Latros in Asia Minor. Glorified because of his asceticism and many miracles, he entered peacefully into rest in old age and took up his habitation with the Lord in the year 956.

  1. The Venerable Pardus the Hermit of Palestine

In his youth Pardus was a cart-driver, but because of an unintentional sin, he left the world and withdrew to the desert to live in asceticism. He lived in Palestine in the sixth century.

  1. Martyr Eleutherius of Byzantium (beg. of 4th c.)

  2. Martyr Susanna the Deaconess, of Palestine (4th c.)

  3. Monk-martyr Bacchus of St. Sabbas Monastery, at Misr al-Fustat (Egypt) (787)

  4. Synaxis of the Saints of Crimea

  5. Sts. Tryphon of Pechenga, or Kola (1583), and his martyred disciple Jonah (16th c.)

  6. Synaxis of the Saints of Kola

  7. New Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky), archbishop of Verey (1929)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

For unintentional murder, the earthly court frees the murderer. The Church, however, imposes a penance on someone who commits murder unintentionally: a penance much lighter than that for a voluntary murder, but does not leave him without a penance. If a priest kills unintentionally, the Church places him under a lifelong suspension of priestly functions. Christians with sensitive souls and keen consciences impose upon themselves a more difficult penance than the Church would impose. St. Pardus once came to Jericho as a cart-driver. Leaving his mules in front of an inn, he entered it. At that moment, a child fell under the mule, and the mule trampled the child with its hooves and killed it. When Pardus saw the bloody and dead child killed by his mule, he was so crushed in heart that he felt himself intentionally responsible for the child's death. And this man of conscience imposed the harshest penance upon himself. He abandoned his trade, left the world and, even though he was relatively young, withdrew to the harsh wilderness, where he undertook a life of difficult asceticism consisting of physical and spiritual labor and repentance. With many tears, he offered repentance to God for the murder of the child. He desired to pay for the life of the child with his own life, and he prayed to God that He would somehow make this possible. He teased a lion so that the lion would tear him apart, but the lion fled from him. he lay on the narrow path on which the lion walked so that he would be killed by the beast, but the lion leapt over him and would not touch him. Seeing, therefore, that it was God's will for him to live and not perish, he was at peace with himself but remained a contrite penitent until his death. Is not this a sensitive, man-loving and God-fearing soul? Is not this the refined and sharpened conscience of a true Christian?

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<4> When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. <5> Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. <6> Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, <7> in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. <8> But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. <9> Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, <10> and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, <11> where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Greek

<8> Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, <9> who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, <10> but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, <11> to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. <12> For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. <13> Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. <14> That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. <15> This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. <16> The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; <17> but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. <18> The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Slavic and Greek

<16> Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, <17> and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.' <18> But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' <19> And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' <20> Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' <21> So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' <22> And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' <23> Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. <24> For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' "

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 16th, 2024

Today is Monday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Prophet Haggai (Aggaeus)

Haggai was born in Babylon during the time of the captivity of Israel. He was of the tribe of Levi and prophesied about 470 years before Christ. As a youth, he visited Jerusalem. He urged Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest to restore the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, prophesying for this Temple greater glory than the former Temple of Solomon, The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts (Haggai 2:9), for the Lord and Savior was to appear in this new temple. He lived long enough to see one part of the temple built by Zerubbabel. He died in old age and joined his ancestors.

  1. Saint Nicholas Chrysoverges, Patriarch of Constantinople

Nicholas governed the Church from 980 until 995. He ordained the great Simeon the New Theologian a presbyter when this spiritual giant was elected abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Martyr Mamas in Constantinople. During his time, a miraculous appearance of the Archangel Gabriel took place at Karyes [Mount Athos]. On this occasion, the archangel taught the monks to praise the Most-holy Theotokos with the hymn "It Is Truly Meet," writing this hymn on a stone in a chapel of one of the kellia, which from that time has been called "It Is Truly Meet" (June 13). As an eminent and great hierarch, he entered peacefully into rest and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of God.

  1. Saint Theophano the Empress (893)

Theophano was born of eminent parents, Constantine and Anna, who were kin to several emperors. Her parents were childless for a long time and prayed to the Most-holy Theotokos to give them an offspring. And God gave them this daughter, Theophano. Imbued with the Christian spirit from her childhood, Theophano surpassed all her companions in all the Christian virtues. When she grew up, she entered into marriage with Leo, the son of Emperor Basil the Macedonian. She endured great hardships alongside her husband. Responding to slander—that Leo carried a knife in his boot and planned to kill his father at an opportune time—the gullible father, Basil, locked his son and daughter-in-law in prison. Thus, two innocent souls languished in prison for three years. Once, during the Feast of the Prophet Elias, the emperor summoned all his noblemen to his court for a banquet. Suddenly the emperor's parrot unexpectedly spoke these words, "Alas, alas, my Lord Leo!" and repeated these words a number of times. This brought great anxiety to all of the imperial noblemen, and they all begged the emperor to release his son and daughter-in-law. The grieved emperor did so. After his father's death, Leo became emperor and was called "the Wise." Theophano did not consider her imperial dignity as anything, but, completely devoted to God, she cared only about the salvation of her soul, fasting and praying, distributing many alms, and restoring many monasteries and churches. Neither an untrue word nor an excessive word nor, least of all, slander proceeded from her lips. Before her death she called all her closest friends, took leave of them and gave up her soul to her God in the year 892. The Emperor Leo wanted to build a church over her grave in her name, but since the patriarch objected to this, he built a church to All Saints, saying that if Theophano became a saint, she would be glorified together with the other saints. The Feast of All Saints was then instituted to be celebrated on the Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

  1. Martyr Marinus of Rome (283)

  2. St. Memnon, archbishop of Ephesus (ca. 440)

  3. St. Modestus II, patriarch of Jerusalem (634)

  4. St. Sophia, nun (in the world Solomonia), wife of Grand Duke Basil III of Moscow (1542)

  5. St. John the Barefoot, fool-for-Christ, of Kiev (1849)

  6. New Hieromartyr Vladimir, priest, of Okhansk (1918)

  7. St. Parasceva, abbess of Toplovsky Convent (Simferopol) (1928)

  8. New Hieromartyr Arcadius, bishop of Bezhetsk (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, <2> To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. <3> As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, <4> nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. <5> Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, <6> from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, <7> desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

<42> "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. <43> If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— <44> where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' <45> And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— <46> where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' <47> And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— <48> where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' <49> "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. <50> Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." <1> Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 17th, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael

All four were of the royal tribe of Judah. When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed and plundered Jerusalem, Daniel, as a boy, was carried away into slavery together with the Jewish King Jehoiachim and countless other Israelites. An account of his life, sufferings and prophecies can be found in detail in his book. Completely devoted to God, St. Daniel from his early youth received from God the gift of great discernment. His fame among the Jews in Babylon began when he denounced two lecherous and unrighteous elders, Jewish judges, and saved the chaste Susanna from an unjust death. But his fame among the Babylonians began from the day he deciphered and interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. For this, the king made him a prince at his court. When the king made a golden idol on the Plain of Dura, the Three Children refused to worship it, and for this they were cast into a fiery furnace. But an angel of God appeared in the furnace and cooled the fire so that the children walked around the furnace unharmed by the fire, singing: Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our fathers (Daniel 3:26). The king saw this miracle and was amazed. He then brought the children out of the furnace and bestowed upon them great honors.

In the time of King Belshazzar, when the king was eating and drinking with his guests at a banquet from consecrated vessels taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, an invisible hand wrote three words on the wall: Mene, Tekel, Upharsin (Daniel 5:25-28). No one was able to interpret these words except Daniel. That night, King Belshazzar was killed. Daniel was twice thrown into the lions' den because of his faith in the One, Living God, and both times the Lord saved him and he remained alive. Daniel beheld God on a throne with the heavenly hosts; saw angels; discerned the future of certain people, of kingdoms, and of the whole human race; and prophesied the time of the coming of the Savior on earth. According to St. Cyril of Alexandria, Daniel and the three children lived to old age in Babylon and were beheaded for the true Faith. When they beheaded Ananias, Azarias stretched out his cloak and caught his head; following this, Misael caught Azarias' head and Daniel caught Misael's head. An angel of God translated their bodies to Judea, to Mount Gebal, and placed them under a rock. According to tradition, these four God-pleasers arose at the time of the death of the Lord Christ, appeared to many and again fell asleep. Daniel is numbered among the four great prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel). He lived and prophesied five hundred years before Christ.

  1. The Venerable Daniel (Dunale) the Confessor, of Spain and Egypt (10th c.)

Daniel was a nobleman and governor of the island of Nivertum near Cadiz in Spain. Realizing the vanity of this world, he renounced both honors and riches and went to Rome, where he was tonsured a monk. After this, he went to Constantinople, where he spoke with the Emperors Constantine and Romanus Porphyrogenitus, and then he set off for Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he received the great schema at the hands of Patriarch Christodoulus, who gave him the name Stephen. Mistreated by the Saracens, who forced him to save off his beard, he withdrew to Egypt, where he endured much suffering and finally died for the name of Christ. He took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ toward the end of the tenth century.

  1. The Venerable New Martyrs Paisius (1814) and Habakkuk, at Belgrade (1815)

Paisius was abbot of the Travna Monastery near Čačak in Serbia, and Habakkuk was his companion and deacon. As Christians, both were impaled on stakes by the Turks on Kalemegdan in Belgrade on December 17, 1814. Carrying his stake through the streets of Belgrade, the courageous Habakkuk sang. When his mother begged him with tears to embrace Islam in order to save his life, this wonderful soldier of Christ replied to her: My mother, thank you for your milk, / But for your counsel I thank you not: / A Serb is Christ's; he rejoices in death.

  1. Monk-martyrs Patermuthius and Coprius and Martyr Alexander the Soldier, of Egypt (361-363)

  2. The 47 Martyrs of Gaza, at Heraclion (638)

  3. St. Sturm, abbot and founder of Fulda Monastery (Germany) (779)

  4. Sts. Athanasius, Nicholas, and Anthony, founders of Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos (10th c.)

  5. New Martyr Nicetas of Nyssa (ca. 1300)

  6. St. Dionysius of Zakynthos, archbishop of Aegina (1622)

  7. St. Misael, hieromonk of Abalak Monastery (Irkutsk) (1852)

  8. New Hieromartyr Sergius, priest, of Rakvere, Estonia (1918)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Bodily purity is primarily attained by fasting, and, through bodily purity, spiritual purity is also attained. Abstinence from food, according to the words of that son of grace, St. Ephraim the Syrian, means: "Not to desire or ask for various foods, either sweet or costly; not to eat anything outside the designated time; not to succumb to the spirit of gluttony; not to excite hunger in oneself by looking at good food; and not to desire at one moment one kind of food and at another moment another kind of food." Great is the fallacy that fasting and Lenten food harm the health of the body. It is a known fact that the ascetics lived the longest and were the least prone to illness. St. Daniel and the Three Children in Babylon offer us an example of this. When the king ordered his eunuch to feed these young men food from the royal table and to give them good wine to drink, Daniel told the eunuch that they did not want to accept the royal food and wine but wanted only vegetables for food (for Daniel did not want to eat the food sprinkled with the blood of the idolatrous sacrifices). The eunuch, fearing that the youths would be weakened by the fasting foods, related his fear to Daniel. Then the prophet suggested that he make a test and convince himself that the fasting food would not weaken them: to nourish the other youths at the royal court with food from the king's table, and to feed the four of them only on pulse for the course of ten days, and then make a comparison. The eunuch heeded Daniel and did what he suggested. After ten days, the faces of the four ascetic youths were more radiant and their bodies were stronger than the bodies of the Babylonian youths who ate and drank from the king's table.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<8> But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, <9> knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, <10> for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, <11> according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. <12> And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, <13> although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. <14> And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Greek

<33> who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, <34> quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. <35> Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. <36> Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. <37> They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— <38> of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. <39> And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, <40> God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. <1> Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, <2> looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Slavic and Greek

<2> The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him. <3> And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" <4> They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." <5> And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. <6> But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.' <7> ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, <8> and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. <9> Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." <10> In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. <11> So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. <12> And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 18th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyr Sebastian, at Rome, and those with him (287)

This glorious saint was born in Italy and brought up in the city of Milan. While still young, he dedicated himself to military service. Being educated, handsome and courageous, he received the favor of Emperor Diocletian, who appointed him captain of his imperial guard. Secretly he confessed the Christian Faith and prayed to the Living God. As an honorable, just and merciful man, Sebastian was greatly beloved by his soldiers. Whenever he could, he saved Christians from torture and death, and, when he was unable to do so, he exhorted them to die for Christ the Living God without turning back. Two brothers, Marcus and Marcellinus, who had been imprisoned for Christ and were already on the verge of denouncing Him and worshiping idols, were confirmed in the Faith by Sebastian, who strengthened them for martyrdom. As he spoke with them, encouraging them not to fear death for Christ, his face was illumined. Everyone saw his shining face, like that of an angel of God. Sebastian also confirmed his words by miracles: he healed Zoe, the jailer Nicostratus' wife, who had been mute for six years; he brought her, Nicostratus and his entire household to baptism; he healed the two ailing sons of Claudius the commander and brought him and his household to baptism; he healed Tranquillinus, the father of Marcus and Marcellinus, of gout and pains in his legs which had troubled him for eleven years, and brought him to baptism together with his entire household; he healed the Roman eparch Chromatius of the same illness and brought him and his son Tiburtius to baptism. The first of them to suffer was St. Zoe, whom they seized at the tomb of the Apostle Peter, where she was praying to God. After torturing her, they threw her into the Tiber River. They then seized Tiburtius, and the judge placed live coals before him, telling him to choose between life and death, that is, either to cast incense on the coals and to cense the idols or to stand barefoot on the hot coals. St. Tiburtius made the sign of the Cross, stood barefoot on the hot coals, and remained unharmed. After this, he was beheaded. Nicostratus was killed with a stake, Tranquillinus was drowned, and Marcus and Marcellinus were tortured and pierced with spears. Then Sebastian was brought before Emperor Diocletian. The emperor rebuked him for his betrayal, but Sebastian said: "I have always prayed to my Christ for your health and for the peace of the Roman Empire." The emperor ordered that he be stripped naked and shot through with arrows. The soldiers shot him through with arrows until the martyr was so completely covered with arrows that his body was not seen because of them. When all thought that he was dead, he appeared alive and completely healthy. Then the pagans killed him with staves. He suffered gloriously for Christ his Lord and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the year 287 at the time of Diocletian the Emperor and Gaius the Bishop of Rome.

  1. Saint Florus, Bishop of Amisus

Florus lived at the time of the Emperors Justin II and Maurice (565-602). He was the son of nobles. He renounced the commotion and vanity of the world and withdrew to a monastery in order to live a life of asceticism for the salvation of his soul. Later he was chosen bishop of the town of Amisus in the province of Cappadocia. And as an ascetic and a hierarch, Florus pleased God, and he peacefully took up his habitation in the Kingdom of God.

  1. Saint Modestus I, Patriarch of Jerusalem (633)

Modestus was only five months old when his parents died, but by God's providence he was brought up in the spirit of Christianity. When he became an adult, he was sold as a slave to a pagan in Egypt. However, he succeeded in converting his master to the Christian Faith, and his master granted him freedom. Modestus withdrew to Mount Sinai, where he lived a life of asceticism until the age of fifty-nine. He was then chosen as Patriarch of Jerusalem and fed the flock of Christ as a true shepherd. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 633, at the age of ninety-seven.

  1. St. Gatianus, first bishop of Tours (3rd c.)

  2. Martyr Eubotius, at Cyzicus (318)

  3. St. Winebald, abbot of Heidenheim and bishop of Eichstatt (Germany) (761)

  4. St. Michael the Confessor, at Constantinople (845)

  5. St. Daniel the Hesychast, of Voronet (Romania) (ca. 1482)

  6. St. Sebastian, founder of Sokhotsk Monastery (Yaroslavl) (1500)

  7. Glorification (1694) of Righteous Symeon, wonderworker of Verkhoturye (1642)

  8. New Hieromartyrs Thaddeus, archbishop of Tver, and Nicholas, archbishop of Great Ustiug (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

In this life, man is given a choice: either the earthly kingdom or the Kingdom of Heaven. God imposes no pressure on this choice, but each one freely decides. When the brothers Marcus and Marcellinus were condemned to death, the pagan judge allowed them a month to contemplate either renouncing Christ and His Kingdom or being put to death. Then their kinsmen came to the prison with one kind of advice, and St. Sebastian with another. The kinsmen wept and implored them to do as the judge willed and to spare their youth. Their tearful father showed them his gray hairs and his infirmity; their mother swore by the food of her breasts by which she nourished them; their children wept around them. In essence, all of them proposed that they should renounce the Heavenly Kingdom for the sake of the earthly kingdom, but St. Sebastian counseled them to the contrary, saying: "O courageous soldiers of Christ, do you want to lose the eternal wreath for the sake of the flattery of your kinsmen? Do you want to relinquish the victorious banner for the sake of women's tears? This life is transient; it is so unstable and unfaithful that it can never save even those who love it. What is this life worth even if one lives for a hundred years? When the last day arrives, do not all our past years and all earthly delights seem as though they had never existed? It is indeed unreasonable to fear to lose this quickly passing life, when one will receive that eternal life in which delights, riches and rejoicing begin and never end, remaining eternal ot the ages of ages. Remember the Lord's words: A man's foes shall be they of his own household." With these and many other words, St. Sebastian prevailed. The holy martyrs loved the Kingdom of Heaven more than the earthly kingdom, and they joyfully went to their deaths for Christ.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<18> This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, <19> having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, <20> of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. <8> I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; <9> in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, <10> but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. <11> Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. <12> And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. <13> For Adam was formed first, then Eve. <14> And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. <15> Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

<11> So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. <12> And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." <13> Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. <14> But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. <15> Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." <16> And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 19th, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyr Boniface, at Tarsus in Cilicia (290) and Righteous Aglae (Aglaida), of Rome (ca. 303)

Martyrdom for Christ makes a saint out of a sinner. The example of St. Boniface shows this. At first, he was a servant in Rome to a wealthy and immoral woman, Aglaida, and had impure and unlawful relations with her. They were both pagans. Once, Aglaida desired to have the relics of a martyr in her house as an amulet to protect against evil, so she sent her servant to Asia to find and purchase what she desired. Boniface took several slaves with him and a large amount of money. Before parting with Aglaida, he said to her: "If I cannot find a martyr, but instead they bring you back my body martyred for Christ, will you receive it with honor, my lady?" Aglaida laughed and called him a drunkard and a sinner, and then they parted. Coming to the city of Tarsus, Boniface saw many Christians undergoing torture: some with their legs cut off, others with their hands severed, others with their eyes plucked out, still others on the gallows, and so forth. Boniface's heart was changed, and he repented of his sinful life and wept. He cried out among the Christian martyrs: "I too am a Christian!" The judge took him for interrogation and ordered that he be harshly flogged, then that boiling lead be poured into his mouth, and--since this did him no harm--that he be beheaded. The slaves then took his body and carried it to Rome. An angel of God appeared to Aglaida and said: "Receive the one who was once your slave but now is our brother and fellow servant; he is the guardian of your soul and the protector of your life." The awestruck Aglaida came out to meet them, received the body of Boniface, built a church for him, and placed the relics of the martyr in it. She then repented, gave away her goods to the poor, withdrew from the world, and lived for fifteen more years in bitter repentance. St. Boniface suffered in the year 290.

  1. Saint Gregory (Grigentius), Archbishop of Omir (552)

At first, Gregory was a deacon in a church in Mediolanum [Milan] and had many visions. By God's providence he was taken to Alexandria. There Patriarch Proterius, according to a heavenly revelation, consecrated him bishop of the land of Omir in southern Arabia, which St. Elesbaan the King (October 24) had just freed from the tyranny of Dunaan the Jew. He was a good shepherd and great miracle-worker. He organized the Church in Omir with the help of the Christ-loving King Abramius, built many churches, and baptized many Jews. By his prayers he performed great and awesome miracles, even bringing about a revelation of Christ the Lord before the unbelieving Jews, which led to their baptism. He governed the Church for thirty years and entered peacefully into life eternal in the year 552.

  1. Saint Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Ferentino

From his childhood, Boniface was unusually kind, so much so that his mother scolded him for this. However, aided by prayer, Boniface received a hundredfold from the Lord. He died peacefully in Italy in the sixth century.

  1. The Venerable Elias of Murom, wonderworker, of the Kiev Caves (1188)

Elias was a monk of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves. He died in the year 1188, and his incorrupt relics are miracle-working. Even until now, three fingers on his right hand remain placed together for prayer, showing that he died at prayer. This is a reproach to those who do not make the sign of the Cross with three fingers.

  1. Martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares, Egyptians, in Cilicia (308)

  2. Martyrs Polyeuctus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia, and the deacon Timothy, in Mauretania (309)

  3. Hieromartyr Capito, bishop of Chersonese (4th c.)

  4. Sts. George the Scribe and Sabbas, monks of Khakhuli Monastery (11th c.)

  5. St. Amphilochius, wonderworker, of Pochaev (1970)

  6. St. Seraphim, schema-archimandrite, of Sukhumi (Abkhazia), elder, of Glinsk Monastery (1975)

  7. (Greek cal.: Martyrs Eutyches and Thessalonica, and with them 200 men and 70 women)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Can faith move mountains? (Matthew 17:20). Without a doubt it can, and it can do even more than that: by faith, God Himself can be moved to mercy toward us sinners. In the Omirian town of Safar, the majority of the inhabitants were Jews. St. Gregory endeavored to convert them to Christianity. Then the Jews suggested to St. Gregory and King Abramius that they should have a debate about faith with the assurance that if they [the Jews] were defeated then all of them would enter the Christian Faith. This debate lasted several days in the presence of several thousand people, both Jews and Christians. The Jews, seeing that they would be defeated by Gregory's irrefutable reasons and proofs, sought from Gregory that, in some way, he show them Christ alive so that they might see Him with their own eyes and then they would believe. Having great boldness before the Lord because of the purity of his heart, St. Gregory knelt facing east and, before everyone, began to pray to God. When he had finished his prayer, the earth quaked, thunder clapped, and the heavens opened in the east. A cloud, glowing with a flaming fire and shining rays, moved from the east and then slowly descended to the earth toward that place where the assembly of people had gathered. In the midst of the cloud there stood a man of inexpressible beauty, with a face of extraordinary brightness and in a vesutre that appeared to be woven of lightning. He moved upon the cloud until He came over to Bishop Gregory himself. Everyone saw Him in unsurpassable glory and beauty, and in fear fell to the ground on their faces. Gregory cried out: "One is Holy, One is the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen." [ed. note: this is sung in the liturgy just before the communion hymn] At this, there came a voice to the Jews from the Lord's glory: "For the sake of the bishop's prayers, He Who was crucified by your fathers heals you." And the shining cloud moved away as slowly as it came. After that, the Jews were baptized.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. <2> A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; <3> not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; <4> one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence <5> (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); <6> not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. <7> Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. <8> Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, <9> holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. <10> But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. <11> Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. <12> Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. <13> For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

<17> Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" <18> So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. <19> You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " <20> And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." <21> Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." <22> But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. <23> Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" <24> And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! <25> It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." <26> And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" <27> But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 20th, 2024

Today is Friday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (106)

This holy man is called "the God-bearer" because he constantly bore the name of the Living God in his heart and on his lips. According to tradition, he was thus named because he was held in the arms of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ. On a day when the Lord was teaching His disciples humility, He took a child and placed him among them, saying: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:4). This child was Ignatius. Later, Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Theologian, together with Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. As Bishop of Antioch, Ignatius governed the Church of God as a good shepherd and was the first to introduce antiphonal chanting in the Church, in which two choirs alternate the chanting. This manner of chanting was revealed to St. Ignatius by the angels in heaven. When Emperor Trajan was passing through Antioch on his way to do battle with the Persians, he heard of Ignatius, summoned him and counseled him to offer sacrifice to the idols. If Ignatius would do so, Trajan would bestow upon him the rank of senator. As the counsels and threats of the emperor were in vain, St. Ignatius was shackled in irons and sent to Rome in the company of ten merciless soldiers, to be thrown to the wild beasts. Ignatius rejoiced in suffering for his Lord, only praying to God that the wild beasts would become the tomb for his body and that no one would prevent him from this death. After a long and difficult journey from Asia through Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus, Ignatius arrived in Rome, where he was thrown to the lions in the circus. The lions tore him to pieces and devoured him, leaving only several of the larger bones and his heart. This glorious lover of the Lord Christ suffered in the year 106 in Rome at the time of the Christ-hating Emperor Trajan. Ignatius has appeared many times from the other world and worked miracles, even to this day helping all who call upon him for help.

  1. Saint Daniel, Archbishop of Serbia (1338)

Daniel was the son of wealthy and God-loving parents. In his youth he was given a good upbringing. King Milutin took him to his court, but out of great love for God he fled and was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of Končul near the Ibar. Later, he was the abbot of the Monastery of Hilandar [Mount Athos] and suffered much from the plundering Latin Crusaders. He was the Bishop of Banja, then of Hum, and finally the Archbishop of Serbia. From beginning to end, he was a strict ascetic and had the special gift of tears. He made peace between Kings Dragutin and Milutin, and later between Milutin and Stefan of Dečani. He fought fervently against the Latins as well as the Bogomils. Under his supervision, the Monasteries of Banja and Dečani were built, and he restored and built many other churches. He wrote the genealogy of the Serbian kings and saints. Untiring in his service to God to the end of his life, he entered peacefully into rest on the night between the nineteenth and twentieth of December, 1338, during the reign of Tsar Dušan. Daniel was a great hierarch, a great ascetic, a great laborer and a great patriot.

  1. St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch (323)

  2. St. Ignatius, archimandrite, of the Kiev Caves (1435)

  3. New Martyr John of the island of Thasos, at Constantinople (1652)

  4. St. Anthony, archbishop of Voronezh (1846)

  5. St. John of Kronstadt (1908)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

The holy martyrs, seized with the love of Christ, were like unquenchable flames. This love eased their sufferings and made their deaths sweet. St. Chrysostom says of St. Ignatius: "He put off his body with as much ease as one takes off his clothes." Traveling to Rome to his death, Ignatius feared only one thing: that Christians would somehow prevent his martyrdom for Christ, by their prayers to God or in some outward manner. Therefore he continually implored them, in writing and in speech, not to do this. "Forgive me," he said. "I know what is for my benefit. I but begin to be a disciple of Christ when I desire nothing, either visible or invisible, save to attain Christ. May every diabolical torture come upon me: fire, crucifixion, wild beasts, the sword, tearing asunder, the crushing of my bones, and the dismemberment of my whole body--only that I may receive Jesus Christ. It is better for me to die for Christ than to reign to the ends of the earth.... My love is nailed to the cross, and there is no fire of love in me for any earthly thing." When he was brought to the circus, he turned to the people with these words: "Citizens of Rome, know that I am not being punished for any crime, neither have I been condemned to death for any transgression, but rather for the sake of my God, by Whose love I am overcome and Whom I insatiably desire. I am His wheat, and the teeth of the wild beasts will grind me to be His pure bread." When he had been devoured by the wild beasts, by God's providence his heart remained among the bones. When the unbelievers cut open the saint's heart, they saw inside, inscribed in golden letters, the name Jesus Christ.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<4> For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; <5> for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. <6> If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. <7> But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. <8> For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. <16> Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

<23> Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" <24> And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! <25> It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." <26> And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" <27> But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." <28> Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." <29> So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, <30> who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. <31> But many who are first will be last, and the last first." <32> Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:

Greek

<32> But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: <33> partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; <34> for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. <35> Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. <36> For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: <37> "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. <38> Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

<33> Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" <34> But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. <35> And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." <36> Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, <37> "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." <38> Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." <39> But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. <40> For he who is not against us is on our side. <41> For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 21st, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 26th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Martyr Juliana and 630 Martyrs with her

This glorious virgin and martyr was born in Nicomedia of pagan parents. Hearing the Gospel preached, she turned to Christ with all her heart and began to live in exact obedience of the Lord's commandments. Eleusius, a senator, was her betrothed. In order to turn him away, Juliana told him that she would marry him only if he became the eparch of that city. She suggested this to him, thinking that this young man would never attain such a high position. Nevertheless, Eleusius tried and, by flattery and bribery, attained the post of Eparch of Nicomedia. Juliana then revealed to him that she was a Christian and could not enter into marriage with him until he embraced her Faith, saying: "What does it benefit us to be united physically but divided spiritually?" Embittered by this, Eleusius denounced her to her father. The enraged father scorned her, beat her, and then handed her over to the eparch for torture. The eparch ordered that they severely beat her, then she was cast into prison, all wounded and bloody. However, the Lord healed her in prison, and she appeared before the eparch completely well. He then threw her into a glowing furnace but the fire did not burn her. Seeing this miracle, many believe in Christ God. Five hundred men and one hundred and thirty women were converted. The eparch condemned them all to death and ordered them all to be beheaded. Thus their souls entered Paradise. Then the wicked judged condemned holy Juliana to be beheaded. With a joyful spirit, Juliana went out to the place of execution, prayed to God on her knees, and placed her head on the block. Her head was severed and her soul went to the Kingdom of Christ's eternal light in the year 304. God's punishment quickly befell Eleusius: as he was sailing on the sea, his ship broke up and he fell into the water. He did not find death in the water, but swam to an island, where dogs tore him to pieces and devoured him.

  1. Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev and Moscow (1326)

Peter was born in the province of Volhynia and embraced the monastic life at the age of twelve. He was a wonderful ascetic and iconographer. He founded a monastery on the river Rata and became its abbot. Against his will, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kiev and consecrated in Constantinople by Patriarch Athanasius. As metropolitan, he endured much at the hands of the envious and the heretics. He governed the Church for eighteen years as a good and zealous shepherd. During his lifetime he built a crypt for himself in the Church of the Dormition, where his holy and miracle-working relics repose even today. He entered into rest in the year 1326 and went to his true homeland.

  1. The Holy Martyr Themistocles of Myra in Lycia (251)

As a shepherd, the young Themistocles tended sheep in a field near the city of Myra in Lycia. At that time the persecutors of Christians were pursuing St. Dioscorides, and they came upon Themistocles in the field. They asked him if he saw the one being pursued and if he knew where he was hiding. Themistocles, although he knew, refused to say, but instead declared himself a Christian. He was tortured and beheaded at the time of Decius in the year 251.

  1. St. Macarius the Faster, abbot of Khakhuli Monastery (11th c.)

  2. St. Juliana, princess of Vyazma (Novotorzhok) (1406)

  3. Blessed Procopius of Vyantka, fool-for-Christ (1627)

  4. St. Philaret (Theodosius in schema), metropolitan of Kiev (1857)

  5. New Hieromartyr Nicetas, bishop of Belev (1937)

  6. Finding of the relics (1950) of New Monk-martyr Ephraim of Nea Makri (1426)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Whoever climbs to the Kingdom of Christ must encounter obstacles, and these obstacles are numerous and varied. Especially dangerous are the evils of the demons. Therefore, every man zealous for the spiritual life must be especially cautious and not accept every shining vision from the other world as a divine revelation. That even the devil is able to appear as an angel of light is shown in the life of the Holy Martyr Juliana. When this holy virgin lay in prison, the devil appeared to her in angelic light, and he counseled her to offer sacrifice to the idols so as to end her tortures. The frightened Juliana asked: "Who are you?" The devil replied: "I am an angel of God! God is greatly concerned about you. Therefore, He sent me with the message that you should submit to the eparch, so that your body will not be destroyed by pain; the Lord is gracious and will forgive you because of the weakness of your wounded body." The martyr was horrified at these words. Confused, she fell down in tears in prayer to God, asking Him to reveal who had spoken with her. Then a voice from heaven came to her: "Be brave, Juliana, I am with you; I give you authority and power over him who came to you, and from him alone will you discover who he is." And the devil was bound and forced to acknowledge that he was the same one who had deceived Eve in Paradise, who had told Cain to murder Abel, Herod to slaughter the children of Bethlehem, the Jews to stone Stephen, Nero to crucify Peter upside down and to behead Paul, and so forth. Thus, this holy virgin, girded with the power of God, did not allow herself to be deluded by the evil spirit, but she defeated him by her vigilant and ardent prayers to God.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<8> And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." <9> So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. <10> For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." <11> But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." <12> Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."

<18> Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? <19> It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches." <20> And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? <21> It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." <22> And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. <23> Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, <24> "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. <25> When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' <26> then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' <27> But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' <28> There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. <29> They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

Slavic

<10> He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. <11> Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? <12> And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? <13> "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." <14> Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. <15> And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 22nd, 2024

Today is the 26th Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Great-martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds, and others with her

This glorious heroine of the Christian Faith was born in Rome into a wealthy senatorial family of a pagan father and a Christian mother. From her early youth, she clung in love to the Lord Jesus, guided in the teaching of Christ by a devout teacher, Chrysogonus. Anastasia was forced by her father to enter into marriage with a pagan landowner, Publius. Excusing herself on the basis of a female illness, she in no way wished to enter into physical relations with him. For this, her husband tortured her harshly by confinement and starvation. He inflicted even more tortures upon her when he learned of her secret visits to the prisons of the Christian martyrs: bringing them provisions, ministering to them, bathing their wounds and loosening their bonds. But by God's providence she was freed from her wicked husband. Publius was sent to Persia by the emperor, and while sailing on the sea he was drowned. At one time the Emperor Diocletian was in the town of Aquileia and ordered that Chrysogonus, the confessor of Christ, be brought to him. St. Anastasia accompanied him on the way. Holy Chrysogonus was beheaded by order of the emperor, and then three sisters—Agape, Chionia and Irene—also suffered (April 16); the first two were cast into fire and the third was shot through with arrows. St. Anastasia took their bodies, wrapped them in white linen, anointed them with many aromatic spices, and honorably buried them. Following this, Anastasia went to Macedonia, where she helped the sufferers for Christ. There she became well known as a Christian, for which she was seized and brought before various judges for interrogation and torture. Desiring to die for her beloved Christ, Anastasia constantly longed for Him in her heart. A certain chief of the pagan prisons, Ulpianus, lustfully tried to touch St. Anastasia's body, but he was suddenly blinded and breathed his last. Condemned to death by starvation, St. Anastasia lingered in prison for thirty days without food, nourishing herself only on tears and prayer. Then she was placed in a boat with several other Christians to be drowned, but God delivered her even from this death. She was finally tied by the feet and hands to four wheels over a fire, and she gave up her holy soul to God. She suffered and took up her habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the year 304.

  1. The Holy Martyr Theodota with her three children

Being left a young widow with three children, Theodota gave herself completely to the service of God and the rearing of her children in devout faith. St. Anastasia lived with her when she was in Macedonia, and together they visited the Christian prisoners in the jails. Brought to trial, Theodota boldly confessed Christ the Lord. Then she was sent to Nicetas, the proconsul of Bithynia. When a shameless pagan tried to touch her body, he immediately saw an angel of God beside her and was struck by the angel. Condemned to death and cast into a fiery furnace together with her three children, St. Theodota honorably ended her earthly life and entered into the Kingdom of Eternal Glory.

  1. St. Boris of Kostroma

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

The merciful God often sends comfort to those pleasing to Him on earth from the other world through his saints. St. Theodota suffered for Christ before St. Anastasia. Anastasia was then cast into a confined and dark prison to die of hunger, according to the judgment of the torturers. During the thirty days of her imprisonment, St. Theodota appeared to Anastasia every night from the other world and strengthened her in her suffering. Anastasia spoke of many things with St. Theodota and asked numerous questions. One night she asked how she was able to come to her after her death. Theodota replied that the souls of the martyrs are given special grace from God, so that after departing this world they may return to speak to whomever they desire for the imparting of instruction and comfort. When thirty days had passed, the torturer brought St. Anastasia out of prison and was amazed to see her still alive. He then condemned her, along with several others, to be drowned in the sea. The Christians were put into a small boat by the soldiers, who set sail in another. When the Christians were brought out into the deep, the soldiers upset the boat, so that the water would enter and drown the condemned. Then a miraculous vision took place: St. Theodota appeared on the water and guided the boat to shore. Thus, all who were condemned to death were saved with Anastasia. Seeing this miracle of God, one hundred and twenty pagans immediately believed in Christ and were baptized.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<9> By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; <10> for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. [Slavic: <17> By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, <18> of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," <19> concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. <20> By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. <21> By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. <22> By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. <23> By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.] <32> And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: <33> who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, <34> quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. <35> Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. <36> Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. <37> They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— <38> of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. <39> And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, <40> God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

<1> The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: <2> Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. <3> Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. <4> Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. <5> Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, <6> and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. <7> Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. <8> Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. <9> Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. <10> Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. <11> Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. <12> And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. <13> Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. <14> Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. <15> Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. <16> And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. <17> So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. <18> Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. <19> Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. <20> But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. <21> And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." <22> So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: <23> "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." <24> Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, <25> and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 23rd, 2024

Today is Monday of the 27th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete (250)

They suffered for Christ the Lord during the persecution of Decius in the year 250. Their names were Theodulus, Saturnicus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompeius, Agathopous, Basilides and Evaristus. They were all eminent and honored citizens, the best among the best. When they were brought to the place of execution they were elated, and they discussed among themselves which of them would be the first to be beheaded, for each one of them wanted to be the first to go to his beloved Christ. Then they prayed: "O Lord, forgive Thy servants and accept our blood, which is about to be shed, as an offering on our behalf and for our kinsmen and friends and for all of our fatherland, that all may be freed from the darkness of ignorance and may know Thee, the True Light, O Eternal King!'' They were beheaded and entered into the Kingdom of Glory to rejoice eternally.

  1. Saint Niphon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Constantia on Cyprus (4th c.)

Niphon was born in Paphlagonia and brought up in Constantinople at the court of a commander [Sabbatius]. Falling into evil company, the young Niphon became dissolute and gave himself over to many sins and vices. Because of his sin, he could not even pray to God. By the mercy of the Most-holy Theotokos, he was brought back to the path of righteousness and was tonsured a monk. He had numerous visions of the heavenly world, and for four years he endured a difficult struggle with a demon, who constantly whispered to him: "There is no God! There is no God!'' But, when the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to him alive on an icon, Niphon received great power over evil spirits and was freed from these grievous temptations. He was such a great seer that he saw angels and demons around men just as clearly as he saw men themselves, and he knew the thoughts of men. He often spoke with angels and disputed with demons. He built a church to the Most-holy Theotokos in Constantinople, gathered monks together, and saved many souls. Alexander, the Archbishop of Alexandria, according to a revelation from heaven, consecrated him bishop of the town of Constantia on Cyprus. At that time St. Niphon was already old. He governed well the Church of God for a short time and took up his habitation in Christ's Eternal Kingdom. Before his death he was visited by St. Athanasius the Great, then the archdeacon of the Church in Alexandria, and after his death he was seen by Athanasius, his face shining as the sun.

  1. The Venerable Nahum, Wonderworker of Ohrid (910)

Nahum was a disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius and one of the Five Companions who most zealously labored with these Apostles to the Slavs. St. Nahum traveled to Rome, where he became well known for his miracle-working power as well as his great learning. He was knowledgeable in many languages. After his return from Rome, he and his companions settled on the shores of Lake Ohrid with the help of King Boris Michael. While St. Clement labored as bishop in Ohrid, St. Nahum founded a monastery on the southern shore of the lake. The monastery even today adorns that shore, just as the name of St. Nahum adorns the history of Slavic Christianity and has been a source of miraculous power and a refuge for the sick and the unfortunate through the ages. Many monks from throughout the Balkans gathered around St. Nahum. St. Nahum was a wise teacher, a unique leader of monks, a resolute ascetic, a miracle-working intercessor, and a spiritual father. A tireless worker, St. Nahum labored especially on the translation of the Sacred Scriptures and other ecclesiastical books from the Greek language into the Slavonic. He worked miracles both during his life and after his death. His miracle-working relics, to this day, amaze many with numerous miracles, healing grave illnesses, especially insanity. Nahum entered into rest in the first half of the tenth century and took up his habitation in the joy of his beloved Christ.

[footnote: In the Greek Synaxarion, Saints Clement and Nahum are called the new Moses and Aaron, and this miracle is told of them: The heretics in Germany chained them and threw them into prison. By God's providence, however, the prison shook, the chains fell from them, the doors of the prison opened and they walked out freely.]

  1. St. Paul, bishop of Neo-Caesarea (4th c.)

  2. St. David of Echmiadzin in Armenia (693)

  3. St. Egbert of Rathmelsigi (Neth.) (729)

  4. St. Theoctistus, archbishop of Novgorod (1310)

  5. New Hieromartyrs Paul, bishop of Starobelsk (1932), and Macarius, hieromonk, of Zavidovskaya Gorka (Tver), and John, hieromonk, of Bolshoye Mikhailovskoye (Tver) (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

While still living in the flesh, the saints had great revelations from God and visions of both heavenly and infernal powers. All of their revelations and visions confirm the Orthodox Faith in all of her teachings. The saints are a joy, a great joy to the faithful. St. Niphon saw the Theotokos and the Lord Christ alive in glory; he saw men's souls leaving the body; and he saw the guardian angels of certain men! He spoke openly with angels and disputed with demons. The Church teaches that the sincere repentance of a sinner, even in the last hour, saves the soul of the penitent. St. Niphon saw the soul of one such repentant sinner in the last moment; he saw how the angels defended that soul from the aggressive demons and carried it to Paradise. The Church teaches that suicide is a mortal sin. St. Niphon saw the soul of a suicide as the devils were dragging it to hell. The guardian angel of that soul went off and wept bitterly for that soul. This was the soul of a servant who had committed suicide because his master was merciless, and who did not want to endure to the end in order to be saved.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, <2> older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. <3> Honor widows who are really widows. <4> But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. <5> Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. <6> But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. <7> And these things command, that they may be blameless. <8> But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. <9> Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, <10> well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

<46> Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. <47> And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" <48> Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" <49> So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." <50> And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. <51> So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." <52> Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 24th, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 27th Week after Pentecost (Eve of the Nativity).

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Venerable Nun Martyr Eugenia and others with her

Eugenia was the daughter of Philip the Eparch of all Egypt and was born in Rome. At that time the Christians had been driven out of Alexandria and lived outside the city. The virgin Eugenia visited the Christians and accepted their Faith with her whole heart. Fleeing from her parents with two of her faithful eunuchs, she was baptized by Bishop Elias. Disguised in men's clothing, she entered a men's monastery where she received the monastic habit. So much did she cleanse her heart by voluntary asceticism that she received from God the grace of healing the sick. Thus, she healed a wealthy woman, Melanthia. After this, however, Melanthia wanted to lure Eugenia into bodily sin, not suspecting that Eugenia was a woman. Since she was adamantly rejected by Eugenia, out of revenge this evil woman went to the eparch and slandered Eugenia in the same manner as Potiphar's wife had once slandered the chaste Joseph. The eparch ordered that all the monks be bound and cast into prison together with Eugenia. But when St. Eugenia was brought before the tribunal, she revealed herself to her father as his daughter. The overjoyed Philip was then baptized with his entire household, and he was chosen as Bishop of Alexandria. Hearing of this, the Roman emperor sent a wicked commander, Terentius, who came to Alexandria and secretly had Philip killed. St. Eugenia moved to Rome with her mother and brothers. In Rome she fearlessly and zealously converted pagans, especially maidens, to the true Faith, and thus she converted a beautiful maiden Basilla to the Faith. Shortly afterward, Basilla was beheaded for Christ as Eugenia had foretold to her. Then both eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinth, were beheaded. Finally, a martyr's end came to St. Eugenia, whose presence had caused the collapse and destruction of the Temple of Diana. The torturers threw her first into water and then into fire, but God saved her. The Lord Jesus Himself appeared to her in prison and told her that she would suffer on the day of His Nativity. And so it was. She was beheaded by the sword on December 25, 262, in Rome. After her death, St. Eugenia appeared in great glory to her mother and comforted her.

  1. The Venerable Nicholas the Commander

Some think this great saint was a Slav of Balkan ancestry. At the time of Emperor Nicephorus, Nicholas was a commander and had authority over a division of the army that went to war against the Bulgarians. Along the way, Nicholas spent the night in an inn, where he experienced a great temptation and had a strange dream. This dream fully came to pass in the war, where the Greeks were utterly defeated by the Bulgarians in the year 811. Nicholas was spared, and out of gratitude for God's providence he left his military rank and became a monk. He lived a long life of asceticism and became so perfect that he became a great clairvoyant and God-pleaser. He died peacefully in the ninth century and took up his habitation in the Blessed Kingdom of Christ the Lord.

  1. The Holy New Martyr Ahmed the Calligrapher

A Turk by birth and a stonecutter by profession, is also commemorated. He embraced the Christian Faith and laid down his life for it. He suffered at the hands of the Turks in Constantinople in the year 1682.

  1. St. Vitimionus of Scetis (5th c.)

  2. St. Aphrodisius (6th c.) and St. Antioch (635), monks, of Palestine
    [footnote: In the Greek Synaxarion, the Venerable Antiochus, a monk of Palestine, is also commemorated. He was an eyewitness of the suffering of the Holy Fathers of St. Sava's (May 16) and, as an eyewitness, described their suffering under the Saracens. He also compiled another book entitled Pandect. He wrote many prayers, of which the best-known is the one recited daily at Compline: "And grant us, O Master, as we go to sleep, rest of body and soul."]

  3. New Hieromartyrs Innocent, archimandrite, of Voronezh (1927), and Sergius, archpriest, of Moscow (1941)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Victory over temptation is victory over death. This is shown by a wondrous experience of St. Nicholas the Commander. When this commander went off with King Nicephorus's army against the Bulgarians, it happened that he spent the night in a wayside inn. The innkeeper had a daughter, a young girl, who, attracted by the imperial commander's outward beauty, began to entice him into sin. Nicholas refused her once, saying to her that this was enticing him into a satanic act. Nevertheless, the shameless girl came a second and a third time to the commander's room and again tempted him to an impure act. The commander refused both the second and third propositions even more decisively, counseling her to preserve her virginity and not to give her body and soul over to the devil. Finally, he said to her that he was a soldier and was going to war, and that it was unworthy and dangerous for a soldier to soil himself with such a misdeed, which would anger God and lead him to certain death. Thus, this God-loving man conquered temptation. The following day, he moved farther on with the army. The next night, he saw the following vision: He was standing in a spacious field and saw near him a powerful man sitting with his right leg crossed over his left. Before them stood two armies in the field, one facing the other, the Greeks and the Bulgarians. This powerful man told him to watch carefully what was about to happen. Nicholas looked and saw the following: As long as the powerful man kept his right leg crossed over the left, the Greek army overcame the Bulgarian army, and when he changed his position and placed his left leg over the right leg, the Bulgarians charged and ferociously cut down the Greeks. Then this powerful man brought the commander closer to the slaughtered Greek army. The entire field was covered with corpses, body beside body. Only in the middle of these corpses was there an empty space, large enough for the body of a man. Then the man said to Nicholas: "This place was appointed for your body, but since you defeated the devil's temptations three times last night, you saved your body and soul from death.'' That which Nicholas saw in his dream, he saw precisely in reality at the time of the battle. The entire Greek army perished on the battlefield, but Nicholas returned home alive, not to the barracks anymore, but to a monastery.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, <2> has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; <3> who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, <4> having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. <5> For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? <6> But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." <7> And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." <8> But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. <9> You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." <10> And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. <11> They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; <12> Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

<1> And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. <2> This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. <3> So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. <4> Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, <5> to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. <6> So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. <7> And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. <8> Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. <9> And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. <10> Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. <11> For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. <12> And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." <13> And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: <14> "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" <15> So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." <16> And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. <17> Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. <18> And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. <19> But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. <20> Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Slavic

<11> But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, <12> having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. <13> And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. <14> Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. <15> For some have already turned aside after Satan. <16> If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. <17> Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. <18> For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." <19> Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. <20> Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. <21> I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

<11> And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. <12> Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. <13> And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. <14> In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. <15> So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. <16> And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. <17> Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " <18> And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. <19> When evening had come, He went out of the city. <20> Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. <21> And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." <22> So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. <23> For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 25th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 27th Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son (Galatians 4:4) to save the human race. And when nine months were fulfilled from the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel had appeared to the Most-holy Virgin in Nazareth, saying, Rejoice, thou that art highly favored … behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son (Luke 1:28, 31), at that time there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the people of the Roman Empire should be taxed. In accordance with this decree, everyone had to go to his own town and be registered. That is why the righteous Joseph came with the Most-holy Virgin to Bethlehem, the city of David, for they were both of the royal lineage of David. Since many people descended on this small town for the census, Joseph and Mary were unable to find lodging in any house, and they sought shelter in a cave which shepherds used as a sheepfold. In this cave—on the night between Saturday and Sunday, on the 25th of December—the Most-holy Virgin gave birth to the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. Giving birth to Him without pain just as He was conceived without sin by the Holy Spirit and not by man, she herself wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, worshiped Him as God, and laid Him in a manger. Then the righteous Joseph drew near and worshiped Him as the Divine Fruit of the Virgin's womb. Then the shepherds came in from the fields, directed by an angel of God, and worshiped Him as the Messiah and Savior. The shepherds heard a multitude of God's angels singing: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). At that time three wise men arrived from the east, led by a wondrous star, bearing their gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They worshiped Him as the King of kings, and offered Him their gifts (Matthew 2). Thus entered the world He Whose coming was foretold by the prophets, and Who was born in the same manner in which it had been prophesied: of a Most-holy Virgin, in the town of Bethlehem, of the lineage of David according to the flesh, at the time when there was no king in Jerusalem of the lineage of Judah, but rather when Herod, a foreigner, was reigning. After many types and prefigurings, messengers and heralds, prophets and righteous men, wise men and kings, finally He appeared, the Lord of the world and King of kings, to perform the work of the salvation of mankind, which could not be performed by His servants. To Him be eternal glory and praise! Amen.

  1. The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar

  2. Commemoration of the shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks and came to see the Lord

  3. Massacre of Monk-martyr Jonah, and with him 50 monks and 65 laymen, at St. Tryphon of Pechenga Monastery, by the Swedes (1590)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<4> But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, <5> to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. <6> And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" <7> Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

<1> Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, <2> saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." <3> When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. <4> And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. <5> So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: <6> 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " <7> Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. <8> And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." <9> When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. <10> When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. <11> And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. <12> Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 26th, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 27th Week after Pentecost — 2nd Day of the Feast of the Nativity.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos

On the second day of the Nativity, the Christian Church gives glory and thanksgiving to the Most-holy Theotokos, who gave birth to our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. This feast is called "the Synaxis" because on this day all of the faithful gather to glorify her, the Most-holy Theotokos, and to solemnly and universally celebrate a feast in her honor. In Ohrid, it has been the tradition from ancient times that, on the eve of the second day of Nativity, Vespers has been celebrated only in the Church of the Most-holy Theotokos called the Chieftain [Čelnica]. All the clergy with the people gather together to glorify the Most-pure Mother of God.

  1. The Commemoration of the Flight into Egypt

The wise men (astrologers) from the East, having worshiped the Lord in Bethlehem, were directed to return to their home another way by command of an angel. Herod, that wicked king, planned to slaughter all the children in Bethlehem, but God saw Herod's intention and sent His angel to Joseph. The angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream and commanded him to take the young Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt. Joseph did this. Taking the Divine Child and His Most-holy Mother, he traveled first to Nazareth (Luke 2:39), where he arranged his household matters, and then, taking his son James with them, went off to Egypt (Matthew 2:14). Thus the words of the prophet were fulfilled: Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt (Isaiah 19:1). In old Cairo today, the cave where the holy family lived can be seen. Likewise, in the village of Matarea near Cairo, the tree under which the Most-holy Theotokos rested with the Lord Jesus, as well as a miraculous spring of water under this tree, are visible. After having lived for several years in Egypt, the holy family returned to Palestine, again in response to a command of an angel of God. Thus another prophecy was fulfilled: Out of Egypt have I called my Son (Hosea 11:1). Herod was dead and his wicked son Archelaus—a worthy successor of him in evil—sat on his bloodstained throne. Hearing that Archelaus was reigning in Jerusalem, Joseph returned to Galilee, to his town of Nazareth, where he settled in his own home. Herod's second son, Herod the Younger, who was somewhat less evil than his brother Archelaus, then reigned in Galilee.

  1. The Venerable Evarestus, monk of the Studion Monastery (825)

Reading the works of St. Ephraim the Syrian, Evarestus left the diplomatic service and became a monk. He was very strict with himself: he wore chains over his body and ate dry bread only once a week. He lived for seventy-five years and took up his habitation with the Lord in about the year 825.

  1. Saint Euthymius the Confessor, Bishop of Sardis

Euthymius attended the Seventh Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 783 and spent about thirty years in exile for his veneration of icons. During the reign of Emperor Theophilus the Iconoclast, he was flogged with bullwhips, at which time he died a martyr's death, in the year 840, and received a wreath of glory in heaven.

  1. The Venerable Constantine of Synnada (7th c.)

Constantine was a Jew who converted to Christianity. During his baptism he touched a Cross to his head, and a miraculous imprint of the Cross remained on his head until his death. He died in Constantinople in the seventh century. Famous for his asceticism and many miracles, he prophesied the day of his death seven years beforehand.

  1. St. Archelaus, bishop of Haran in northern Mesopotamia (ca. 280)

  2. St. Zeno, bishop of Maiuma in Palestine (4th c.)

  3. St. Jarlath, first bishop of Tuam, founder of the monastery of Cluain Fois (Ireland) (ca. 540)

  4. St. Nicodemus of Tismana, Romania (1406)

  5. New Hieromartyr Constantius the Russian, priest, of Constantinople (1743)

  6. New Hieromartyrs Leonid, bishop of Mariisk, Isaac II, archimandrite, of Optina Monastery, Basil, hieromonk, and New Martyr Augusta, schemanun (1937)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

A story of the Divine Christ-child: When the holy family fled before Herod's sword to Egypt, robbers leapt out on the road with the intention of stealing something. The righteous Joseph was leading the donkey, on which were some belongings and on which the Most-holy Theotokos was riding with her Son at her breast. The robbers seized the donkey to lead it away. At that moment, one of the robbers approached the Mother of God to see what she was holding next to her breast. The robber, seeing the Christ-child, was astonished at His unusual beauty and said in his astonishment: "If God were to take upon Himself the flesh of man, He would not be more beautiful than this Child!" This robber then ordered his companions to take nothing from these travelers. Filled with gratitude toward this generous robber, the Most-holy Virgin said to him: "Know that this Child will repay you with a good reward because you protected Him today." Thirty-three years later, this same thief hung on the Cross for his crimes, crucified on the right side of CHrist's Cross. His name was Dismas, and the name of the thief on the left side was Gestas. Beholding Christ the Lord innocently crucified, Dismas defended him, saying: This man hath done nothing amiss (Luke 23:41). Dismas, therefore, was the wise thief to whom our Lord said: Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43). Thus the Lord granted Paradise to him who spared Him in childhood.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<11> For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, <12> saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." <13> And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." <14> Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, <15> and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. <16> For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. <17> Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. <18> For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

<13> Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." <14> When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, <15> and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." <16> Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. <17> Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: <18> "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." <19> Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, <20> saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." <21> Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. <22> But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. <23> And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 27th, 2024

Today is Friday of the 27th Week after Pentecost — 3rd Day of the Feast of the Nativity.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Protomartyr Stephen the Archdeacon

Stephen was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul and one of those Jews who lived in the Hellenic provinces. Stephen was the first of the seven deacons whom the holy apostles ordained and appointed to the service of assisting the poor in Jerusalem. For this, he is called the archdeacon. By the power of his faith, Stephen worked great miracles among the people. The wicked Jews disputed with him, but they were always defeated by his wisdom and the power of the Spirit, Who acted through him. Then the shameful Jews, accustomed to calumnies and slander, incited the people and the elders of the people against the innocent Stephen, slandering him as though he had blasphemed against God and against Moses. False witnesses were quickly found who confirmed this. Stephen then stood before the people, and all saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15), that is, his face was illumined with the light of grace as was once the face of Moses when he spoke with God. Stephen opened his mouth and enumerated the many good works and miracles that God had performed in the past for the people of Israel, as well as the many crimes and opposition to God on the part of this people. He especially rebuked them for the killing of Christ the Lord, calling them betrayers and murderers (Acts 7:52). And while they gnashed their teeth, Stephen beheld and saw the heavens open and the glory of God. That which he saw, he declared to the Jews: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God! (Acts 7:56). Then the malicious men took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Among his persecutors was his kinsman Saul, later the Apostle Paul. At that time, the Most-holy Theotokos, standing on a rock at a distance with St. John the Theologian, witnessed the martyrdom of this first martyr for the truth of her Son and God, and she prayed to God for Stephen. This occurred one year after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Gamaliel, a prince of the Jews and a secret Christian, clandestinely took St. Stephen's body and buried it on his own estate. Thus, this first among the Christian martyrs gloriously reposed and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ God.

  1. The Venerable Martyrs Theodore and Theophanes the Branded

Theodore and Theophanes were blood brothers, born in Palestine and well educated in both secular and spiritual wisdom. They were monks in the community of St. Sava the Sanctified and later were ordained presbyters. They suffered harshly for their defense of icons under three emperors: Leo the Armenian, Michael Balbus and Theophilus. The demented Theophilus beat them with his own hands and ordered that they be branded with iron on their faces with derisive verses, for which they were called "the Branded." They were cast into prison in the town of Apamea in Bithynia. Theodore died there from his pains and wounds. Theophanes, freed at the time of the Emperors Theodore and Michael, was consecrated Metropolitan of Nicaea by Patriarch Methodius. St. Theodore died in the year 833. These two wonderful brothers suffered for Christ and received a wonderful reward from Him in the Immortal Kingdom of Light.

  1. St. Maximus, bishop of Alexandria (282)

  2. St. Theodore, patriarch of Constantinople (686)

  3. St. Luke, monk, of Tryglia

  4. Uncovering of the relics (1514) of St. Therapont, abbot, of Belozersk and Mozhaisk (1426)

  5. St. Boniface, founder of the St. Panteleimon Monastery (Kiev) (1871)

  6. St. Barlaam, metropolitan of Tobolsk and all Siberia (1802)

  7. New Hieromartyrs Tikhon, archbishop of Voronezh, and with him 160 martyred priests (1919)

  8. (Greek cal.: Martyrs Maurice and his son Photinus, with 70 soldiers, of Apamea [286-305])

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<8> And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. <9> Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. <10> And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. <11> Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." <12> And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. <13> They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; <14> for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us." <15> And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. <1> Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" <2> And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, <3> and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' <4> Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. <5> And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. <47> But Solomon built Him a house. <48> "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: <49> 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? <50> Has My hand not made all these things?' <51> "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. <52> Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, <53> who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it." <54> When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. <55> But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, <56> and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" <57> Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; <58> and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. <59> And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." <60> Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

<33> "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. <34> Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. <35> And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. <36> Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. <37> Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' <38> But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' <39> So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. <40> "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" <41> They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." <42> Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Slavic

<1> Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, <2> To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. <8> Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, <9> who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, <10> but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, <11> to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. <12> For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. <13> Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. <14> That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. <15> This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. <16> The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; <17> but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. <18> The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

<1> Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. <2> Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. <3> And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. <4> Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. <5> And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. <6> Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' <7> But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' <8> So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. <9> "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. <10> Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. <11> This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?" <12> And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 28th, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 27th Week after Pentecost — 4th Day of the Feast of the Nativity.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Twenty Thousand Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia

During the reign of the wicked Emperor Maximian Hercules, the Christian Faith flourished in Nicomedia and increased day by day. At one time the emperor, staying in this city, learned of the large number of Christians and the progress of the Christian Church, and he became greatly embittered and conceived a plan of how to kill them all. The Feast of the Nativity of Christ approached, and the emperor, knowing that all the Christians gathered in the church for this feast, ordered that on that day the church be surrounded by soldiers and set afire. When all the Christians had gathered in the church after midnight and began the solemn celebration, the soldiers surrounded the church and would not permit anyone to leave. The emperor's envoy entered the church and announced to the Christians the emperor's command that they immediately offer sacrifices to the idols or be burned alive. Then the archdeacon, a heroic soldier of Christ, inflamed with divine zeal began to encourage the people, reminding the faithful of the Three Children in the furnace in Babylon. "Behold, brethren," he said, "the table of oblation in the sanctuary of the Lord, and understand that our true Lord and God was just now sacrificed for us on it; should we not then lay down our lives for Him in this holy place?" The people were filled with zeal to die for Christ, and all the catechumens were baptized and chrismated. The soldiers then set fire to the church on all sides, and the Christians, twenty thousand of them in number, were burned in the flames while singing praises to God. The church burned for five days; and smoke with an intoxicating and wonderful fragrance rose from it. A certain marvelous, golden-rayed light manifested itself over this place. Thus, numerous men, women and children gloriously died and received the wreath of eternal glory in the Kingdom of Christ. They suffered and were glorified in the year 302.

  1. The Venerable Simon, the Myrrh-gusher

Simon was the founder of the Simonospetra Monastery on the Holy Mountain. He was glorified because of his asceticism, visions and miracles. He entered peacefully into rest and went to Christ in the year 1287.

  1. The Holy Martyr Domna

Domna was a virgin and priestess of the foul idols at the court of Emperor Maximian. Reading the Acts of the Apostles, which she had obtained from somewhere, she came to believe in Christ and was baptized by Bishop Cyril in Nicomedia, together with the eunuch Indes. St. Cyril directed her to a convent, where Blessed Agatha was the abbess. When the emperor began to search for her, Agatha dressed her in men's clothing and sent her to a men's monastery. This was at the time when twenty thousand Christians were burned in the church by Emperor Maximian. Immediately after this, by the emperor's command, Saints Indes, Gorgonius and Peter were thrown into the sea with millstones around their necks; Commander Zeno, who had openly denounced the emperor for his idolatry, was beheaded; St. Theophilus, the deacon of Bishop Anthimus, was slain by stoning and by arrows; Abbess Agatha, the nun Theophila and the nobles Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius and Euthymius were also slain for the sake of Christ. One night, Domna was walking along the seashore and saw fishermen casting their nets into the sea. At that time she was especially grieving for St. Indes. Called by the fishermen to help them, she assisted them and by God's providence drew out three human bodies in the net. Domna recognized in them Saints Indes, Gorgonius and Peter, and she took their bodies and reverently buried them. When the emperor learned that a young man was caring for and censing the graves of the Christian martyrs, he ordered that the young man be beheaded. Thus, St. Domna was seized and beheaded, and she was crowned with the wreath of glory in the Heavenly Kingdom with the other martyrs.

  1. Apostle Nicanor the Deacon, of the Seventy (34)

  2. St. Maughold, bishop of the Isle of Man (ca. 488)

  3. St. Ignatius, founder of Lomanosov Monastery (Yaroslavl) (1591)

  4. St. Cornelius, monk of Krypetsk Monastery (Pskov) (1903)

  5. New Hieromartyrs Nikodim, bishop of Belgorod, and Arcadius, deacon (1918)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<11> But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. <12> Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. <13> I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, <14> that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, <15> which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, <16> who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

<15> But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. <16> Yet He warned them not to make Him known, <17> that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: <18> "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. <19> He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. <20> A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; <21> And in His name Gentiles will trust."

Slavic

<22> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <23> gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. <24> And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. <25> If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. <26> Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. <1> Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. <2> Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

<3> Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. <4> And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." <5> And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." <6> So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. <7> And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? <8> But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? <9> Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. <10> So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 29th, 2024

Today is the 27th Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Fourteen Thousand Holy Children of Bethlehem

When the Magi from the east did not return to Jerusalem from Bethlehem to inform Herod about the newborn King but rather, at the angel's command, returned to their homeland another way, Herod became as enraged as a wild beast and ordered all the children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its surroundings to be killed. This frightening command of the king was carried out to the letter. His soldiers beheaded some of the children with swords, smashed others against stones, trampled others underfoot, and strangled others with their hands. And the cries and wails of the mothers rose to heaven, Lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:18), as had been prophesied. This crime against the multitude of innocent children was carried out a year after the birth of Christ, at the time when Herod was seeking to find the Divine Child. He asked Zacharias about his son John, so that he might kill him, since he naturally thought that John was the new king. As Zacharias did not turn John over, he was slain in the Temple by order of Herod. St. Simeon the God-receiver would also have been murdered soon after the Presentation in the Temple, had he not already reposed in God. After murdering the children of Bethlehem, Herod turned against the Jewish elders who had revealed to him where the Messiah would be born. He then killed Hyrcanes, the high priest, and the seventy elders of the Sanhedrin. Thus, they who had agreed with Herod that the new Child-king must be killed came to an evil end. After that, Herod murdered his brother, sister, wife and three sons. Finally, God's punishment came to him: he began to tremble, his legs became swollen, the lower part of his body became putrid, and worms came out of the sores; his nose became blocked and an unbearable stench emanated from him. Before his last breath, he remembered that there were many captive Jews in prison, and he ordered that they all be killed so that they would not rejoice in his death. Thus, this terrible ruler gave up his inhuman soul and handed it over to the devil for eternal possession.

  1. The Venerable Marcellus

Marcellus was from Apamea in Syria. He was the abbot of the Community of the Sleepless Ones in Constantinople. He was clairvoyant, and was a healer and great miracle-worker. He spoke with angels and easily defeated demons and drove them out. After his death, Marcellus appeared to St. Lucian, a member of his community, and told Lucian that he had implored God to take him into the Heavenly Kingdom soon. This holy and glorious man entered into rest in the year 486.

  1. The Venerable Mark the Grave-digger and Theophilus the Weeper (11th c.)

Mark and Theophilus were monks of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves. St. Mark possessed so much grace that he commanded the dead and they obeyed him: Mark sent word to inform a dead monk, who had already been washed and over whom the funeral service had been read, ``Wait until tomorrow, Brother, for your grave is not yet ready,'' and the monk opened his eyes and remained alive until the following day. Theophilus wept constantly for his sins, pouring the tears he shed into a basin. Before his death, an angel appeared to him and showed him a larger basin filled with tears. These were Theophilus's tears, which had fallen to the ground, or had been wiped away with his hand, or had dried on his face. Thus, even in heaven they know and keep all our tears as well as our sufferings, labors and sighs for the sake of our salvation. These holy servants of God rested in the eleventh century and entered the Kingdom of Christ.

  1. St. Trophimus, first bishop of Arles (3rd c.)

  2. St. Benjamin, monk, of Nitria in Egypt (392)

  3. St. Athenodorus, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (4th c.)

  4. St. Evroult (Ebrulf), abbot, of Ouche in Normandy (596)

  5. St. Thaddeus, confessor, of the Studion (818)

  6. St. George, bishop of Nicomedia (9th c.)

  7. Sts. Theophilus and John, of the Kiev Caves (11th-12th c.)

  8. St. Job (Knyaginitsky), founder of Manyava Skete (Ukraine) (1621)

  9. St. Basiliscus of Turinsk (Siberia) (1824)

  10. St. Lawrence of Chernigov (1950)

  11. Commemoration of all Orthodox Christians who have died from hunger, thirst, the sword, and freezing

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

A story about the Most-pure Virgin Mary: She conceived the Lord Jesus on a Friday, just as His passion was on a Friday, and she gave birth to Him on the first day of the week. On the first day of the week God said, Let there be light (Genesis 1:3); on the first day of the week, manna fell from heaven; on this day the Lord and Savior was born; and on this day He was baptized in the Jordan. At that time, there lived in Bethlehem the aged Salome, a kinswoman of Joseph and Mary. She was unable to receive her kinfolk at her house but visited them in the shepherd's cave. When the Most-holy Virgin immaculately gave birth to the Lord and Savior, Salome came to visit her. She was amazed that such a young girl could give birth without the aid of a midwife, swaddle the Child herself, and beside all of that still be on her feet. When it was explained to Salome that this birth was of God and not man, that it was immaculate and without pain, and that the Virgin Mother remained a Virgin after birth as she was before birth, Salome did not believe it, but rather she stretched out her hand to the body of the Most-holy Virgin to examine it, after the custom of a midwife, and to find out if this was indeed so. And because of her unbelief and insolence, a punishment befell her: her hand was seized and withered. The aged woman was greatly frightened by the miracle and lamented over her withered hand. However, when she touched the Divine Child later, her hand was restored to health like it was before. Thus, Salome believed in the virginity of the Most-pure Virgin Mary and in the Divinity of Christ. Thus after forty days, when according to custom the Most-pure Virgin came with the young Child to the Temple in Jerusalem, Zacharias the high priest placed her in the area reserved for virgins. The Pharisees and priests were disturbed by this and wanted to remove her to the place reserved for married women, but the discerning Zacharias did not allow this, claiming, that she was a virgin even though she had given birth. Because of this, the Jewish elders hated Zacharias and sought from Herod that he be killed. Immediately after she left the Temple, the Theotokos and Joseph left from Jerusalem to Nazareth and then to Egypt.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<11> But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. <12> For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. <13> For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. <14> And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. <15> But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, <16> to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, <17> nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. <18> Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. <19> But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

<13> Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." <14> When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, <15> and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." <16> Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. <17> Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: <18> "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." <19> Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, <20> saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." <21> Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. <22> But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. <23> And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 30th, 2024

Today is Monday of the 28th Week after Pentecost — 6th Day after Nativity.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Holy Virgin Martyr Anysia at Thessalonica (298)

Anysia was born in Thessalonica of eminent and wealthy parents and was brought up in the Christian Faith. She was orphaned at an early age and gave herself completely to godly thoughts and prayer in her own home. Fervent in her love for Christ, she often said: "Oh, how false is the life of youth, for you either scandalize or are scandalized. Better is old age; but sorrow overcomes me because of the length of time that separates me from heaven." She sold all her possessions, distributed the proceeds to the poor, and lived from the labors of her own hands. She kept a strict fast, slept very little, and constantly shed tears at prayer. When sleep overcame her she would say to herself: "It is dangerous to sleep while my enemy keeps vigil." At that time, the wicked Emperor Maximian issued a decree that anyone could kill Christians when and where he encountered them, without trial or sentence. This holy virgin once went out into the streets to attend church. That day was a pagan feast of the sun. A soldier saw her beautiful countenance, and he approached her with an impure desire, asking for her name. She made the sign of the Cross and said to him: "I am Christ's handmaid, and I am going to church." When the impudent soldier came closer and began to speak to her insanely, she shoved him away and spat in his face. The soldier struck her with his sword below the ribs and ran her through. This holy virgin suffered in the year 298. She was honorably buried by Christians and was crowned with the wreath of glory by God in the Heavenly Kingdom. A church was built over her grave.

  1. The Venerable Theodora of Constantinople

Theodora was a nun and servant of St. Basil the New (March 26). After her death, she appeared to St. Gregory, a disciple of Basil, and described for him all twenty toll-houses through which her soul had passed until, through the prayers of St. Basil, she had entered into eternal rest. Theodora presented herself to the Lord on December 30, 940.

  1. The Holy Apostle Timon the Deacon, of the Seventy

Timon was one of the Seven Deacons and one of the Seventy Apostles (Acts 6:5). He was appointed Bishop of Bostra in Arabia. There he preached the Gospel and endured much ill-treatment at the hands of the pagans. He was thrown into fire but remained unharmed. He finally died, being crucified, and entered into the Kingdom of Christ.

  1. The Venerable Theodora of Caesarea in Cappadocia

After many ascetic labors in the convent of St. Anna, she entered peacefully into rest in the year 755. [ed. note: more in the reflection below]

  1. The Venerable Martyr Gideon of Karakallou Monastery, Mt. Athos

Gideon was a Greek by birth, of very poor parents. In his youth he was forced to embrace Islam. Repentant, he fled to the Holy Mountain, where he received the monastic tonsure in the Monastery of Karakallou. Desiring martyrdom for Christ, he received the blessing of his spiritual father and returned to the same place where he had become a Moslem. There, before the Turks, he openly confessed the Christian Faith and denounced Mohammed as a false prophet. The Turks shaved his head, placed him upside-down on a donkey, and led him through the town, but he rejoiced at this ridicule for the sake of Christ. They then chopped off all his fingers and toes with an axe, as they had once done to St. James the Persian (November 27). Finally they threw him into a place filled with excrement, where he gave up his holy soul to God in the year 1818, in Trnovo in Thrace. His miracle-working relics are preserved in the Church of the Holy Apostles in the village of Trnovo, and a part of his relics can be found in the Karakallou Monastery.

  1. Martyr Philoterus of Nicomedia, and with him six soldiers and one count (311)

  2. Martyrs Magistrianus, Paulinus, Umbrius, Verus, Severus, Callistratus, Florentius, Arianus, Anthimus, Ubricius, Isidore, Euculus, Sampson, Studius, and Thespesius, who suffered under Julian the Apostate (361-363)

  3. St. Egwin, bishop of Worcester (717)

  4. St. Tryphon, bishop of Rostov (1468)

  5. St. Macarius, metropolitan of Moscow (1563)

  6. Uncovering of the relics (1625) of St. Daniel of Pereyaslavl, founder of St. Daniel Monastery (1540)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Here are two more examples of how the Merciful God helps those in misfortune who hope in Him with faith. Blessed Theodora of Caesarea was born into a noble house and then entrusted to the Convent of St. Anna for her education. There Theodora was not only educated but also lived a life of asceticism, preparing herself to receive the monastic tonsure. Emperor Leo the Isaurian took her from the convent by force and betrothed her to one of his commanders. Theodora protested this marriage with all her soul, but was as powerless as a lamb in the paws of a wolf. She lamented and prayed constantly in her heart to God that He would not forsake her. On the day of the marriage, while the guests were feasting, news unexpectedly came to the emperor that the Scythians had attacked his empire. The emperor ordered his commander to go out immediately against the Scythians. The commander went and never returned, for he was killed in battle. Thus, by God's help, St. Theodora was freed. As a pure maiden she returned to her convent, where she received the monastic tonsure and, as a nun, became famous for her rare asceticism.

A second example: In the Monastery of the "Sleepless Ones," there was great want during a year of famine. St. Marcellus, the abbot, received some poor men one day, refreshed them, and then wanted to give them some money for their journey. Marcellus asked the steward of the monastery how much money they had altogether. The steward told him they had ten silver coins. Marcellus asked the steward of the monastery how much money they had altogether. The steward told him they had ten silver coins. The abbot ordered that all ten silver coins be given to these poor men. However, the steward did not give them all ten; instead he gave them nine and kept one for the needs of the monastery. The steward was very concerned about the monastery, for it was in extreme poverty. A rich man suddenly visited the monastery and brought the abbot ninety talents of gold. Then the discerning Marcellus summoned the steward and said to him: "Behold, God wanted to send us one hundred talents through this devout man, but because you disobeyed me and withheld one silver coin, the Provider of all deprived us of ten talents."

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<20> But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. <21> Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. <22> Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. <23> But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. <24> And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, <25> in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, <26> and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

<13> Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. <14> When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? <15> Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." <16> So they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." <17> And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.

2024

Daily Orthodox - December 31st, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 28th Week after Pentecost — Leavetaking of Nativity.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

  1. The Venerable Melania the Younger, nun, of Rome (439)

Melania was born in Rome of devout and very wealthy parents. She was forced by them to enter into marriage with a young nobleman, Apinianus. She became gravely ill in giving birth to her second child, and she told her husband that she would be healed only if he vowed before God to live with her in the future as a brother with a sister. Her husband vowed, and Melania, out of spiritual joy, was physically restored to health. When it was pleasing to God to take both of their children to Himself, they decided to sell all their possessions and distribute the proceeds to the poor, the churches and the monasteries. They traveled through many lands and cities, doing good works everywhere with their wealth. They visited famous spiritual fathers in Upper and Lower Egypt, learned much and were inspired by them. During that entire time, Melania lived an ascetic life of strict fasting, fervent prayer, and the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Melania had the custom of reading the entire book of the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, three times every year. She lived with her husband as with a brother and fellow-ascetic. Coming to Alexandria, they received the blessing of the Patriarch, St. Cyril. After that, they traveled to Jerusalem and settled on the Mount of Olives. There Melania closed herself off and devoted herself to divine contemplation, fasting and prayer. Thus, she lived for fourteen years, after which she came out to help others to salvation. She founded a monastery for men and a convent for women. At the invitation of her kinsman, Senator Volusian, a pagan, she went to Constantinople and converted him to the Christian Faith (which even Blessed Augustine himself was unable to do). She then returned to the Mount of Olives, where she presented herself to God in the year 439 at the age of fifty-seven.

  1. The Holy and Righteous Joseph, King David, and James the Brother of the Lord
    [ed. note: As mentioned below, this is commemorated the Sunday after Nativity, meaning this is not actually commemorated today]

They are all commemorated on the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ. One can learn all about King David, the son of Jesse, in the Book of Kings, and for St. James see October 23. Joseph the Righteous is called in the Gospel a righteous man (Matthew 1:19), and because of this God designated him to protect the Most-holy Virgin and imparted to him great honor in the plan of the salvation of mankind. Although Joseph was of the royal lineage of David, he was a humble carpenter in Nazareth. At the age of eighty, he took to himself the Most-holy Virgin from the Temple in Jerusalem into his home. He entered into rest at the age of 110.

  1. The Venerable Martyr Zoticus, the Feeder of Orphans (Benefactor of the Poor)

Zoticus was eminent both in birth and in rank. He moved to Constantinople, rejected all worldly things, and received ordination to the priesthood. He founded a home for the poor, in which he housed those who had contagious diseases and ministered to them. He was a personal acquaintance of Emperor Constantine the Great. Because of the gold Zoticus had received from the emperor and had spent on the victims of disease, Constantine's son Constantius had him tied to a wild ass, which was driven until St. Zoticus died of his wounds. He suffered in the fourth century.

  1. The Blessed Theophylactus, Archbishop of Ohrid (ca. 1126)

Theophylact was born on the island of Euripos and educated in Constantinople by the most eminent teachers of that time. As a priest of the Great Church, he was chosen bishop and sent, against his will, to Ohrid, where he remained about twenty-five years (from about 1082 to 1108). Chomatianus of Ohrid calls him "the wisest archbishop." A man of enormous learning, both secular and theological, of refined Byzantine tastes, melancholy and sensitive, Theophylact felt among the Slavs in Ohrid like an exile among barbarians. He wrote commentaries on the Four Gospels and other books of the New Testament. These are the best works of their kind after that of St. Chrysostom, and are read even today with great benefit. His other known works include his Letters and the Life of St. Clement of Ohrid. In old age, St. Theophylact withdrew from Ohrid to Thessalonica, where it is thought he finished his earthly life and took up his habitation in blessed eternity.

  1. St. Anysius, bishop of Thessalonica (ca. 406)

  2. St. Gelasius, monk, of Palestine

  3. St. Sabiana, abbess of Samtskhe Convent (11th c.)

  4. St. Cyriacus of Bisericani Monastery (Romania) (ca. 1650)

  5. St. Cyriacus of Tazlau Monastery (Romania) (ca. 1660)

  6. New Hiero-confessor Dositheus, metropolitan of Zagreb (1944)

  7. (Greek cal.: Ten Virgin-martyrs of Nicomedia)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

How wisely holy men and women knew how to handle their wealth! How skillfully they purchased the eternal goods of heaven with their earthly goods. Oh, how little they valued earthly goods in themselves—as dust and smoke! When St. Melania visited the holy desert fathers in Egypt with the intention of giving them some financial help, she was astonished at seeing their extreme abhorrence of goods and riches. Thus, she visited one hermit, Ephestion, and saw nothing in his cell but mats, a bowl for water, a little dry bread, and a salt pot. Knowing beforehand that the elder would not take any gold from her, she seized the opportunity and placed several gold pieces in the salt pot. However, when she was on her way back, she heard the elder running after her, and at the top of his voice he was calling to her to stop. She stopped. The elder held the gold pieces in the palm of his hand and, handing them to Melania, said: "I do not need this, take what is yours!" Melania said to him: "If you do not need it, give it to someone else." He replied: "No one in this place has any use for it." When Melania refused to accept the gold, the elder swung his arm and threw the gold pieces into the river and then returned to his cell.

During an outbreak of plague in Constantinople, Emperor Constantius ordered that everyone infected be immediately thrown into the sea. St. Zoticus ransomed those who were infected and brought them to his home, and there he cared for them. When his money ran out, he went to the emperor and asked for money to purchase precious pearls for him. The emperor gave him money, and with this money Zoticus continued his work of ransoming the contagious ones and caring for them. One day, the emperor asked Zoticus for the promised pearls, and Zoticus brought him and showed him the infected men in his home, saying; "These, O Emperor, are the living pearls that I acquired with labor and money for your salvation." The enraged emperor condemned Zoticus to death, but Zoticus entered into eternal life, and the emperor remained to atone and repent for his sins.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<16> All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, <17> that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. <1> I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: <2> Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. <3> For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; <4> and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Slavic

<18> Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: <19> "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. <20> Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. <21> And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. <22> So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. <23> Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife." <24> Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? <25> For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. <26> But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? <27> He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."

Greek

<11> And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. <12> Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. <13> And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. <14> In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. <15> So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. <16> And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. <17> Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " <18> And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. <19> When evening had come, He went out of the city. <20> Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. <21> And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." <22> So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. <23> For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.