Daily Orthodox - December 12th, 2024
Today is Thursday of the 25th Week after Pentecost.
Fasting Obligations
- OCA, GOARCH, Antioch: Wine and oil permitted.
Today, we commemorate...
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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St. Finian of Clonard and Skellig Michael, teacher of Ireland (549)
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St. Colman of Glendalough (Ireland) (659)
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Monk-martyr John, abbot, of Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia (9th c.)
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St. John, metropolitan of Zichon, founder of the Monastery of the Forerunner on Mt. Menikion (1333)
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St. Therapontus, monk of Monza Monastery (Galich) (1597)
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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.]
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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
- Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
<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.
- Gospel: Mark 9:10-16
<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
- Epistle: Ephesians 5:8-19
<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,
- Gospel: John 10:9-16
<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.