2024

Daily Orthodox - November 16th, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 21st Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Apostle Matthew the Evangelist

Matthew, son of Alphaeus, was a tax collector when the Lord saw him in Capernaum and said: Follow Me. And he arose, and followed Him (Matthew 9:9). After that, Matthew prepared a reception for the Lord in his home and thus provided the occasion for the Lord to express several great truths about His coming to earth. After receiving the Holy Spirit, Matthew preached the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes and Ethiopians. In Ethiopia he appointed his follower Plato as bishop, and withdrew to prayerful solitude on a mountain, where the Lord appeared to him. Matthew baptized the wife and the son of the prince of Ethiopia, at which the prince became greatly enraged and dispatched a guard to bring Matthew to him for trial. The soldiers returned to the prince saying that they had heard Matthew's voice, but could not see him with their eyes. The prince then sent a second guard. When this guard approached the apostle, he shone with a heavenly light so powerful that the soldiers could not look at him; filled with fear, they threw down their weapons and returned. The prince then went himself. Matthew radiated such light that the prince was instantly blinded. However, the holy apostle had a compassionate heart; he prayed to God, and the prince was given back his sight. Unfortunately, he saw only with physical eyes and not spiritual eyes. He arrested Matthew and subjected him to cruel tortures. Twice, a large fire was lighted on his chest, but the power of God preserved him alive and unharmed. Then the apostle prayed to God and gave up his spirit. The prince commanded that the martyr's body be placed in a lead coffin and thrown into the sea. The saint appeared to Bishop Plato and told him where the coffin bearing his body could be found. The bishop retrieved the coffin with Matthew's body from the sea. Witnessing this new miracle, the prince was baptized and received the name Matthew. After that, the prince left all the vanity of the world and became a presbyter and served the Church in a God-pleasing way. When Plato died, the Apostle Matthew appeared to the presbyter Matthew and counseled him to accept the episcopacy. He accepted the bishopric and, for many years, was a good shepherd until the Lord called him to His Immortal Kingdom. St. Matthew the Apostle wrote his Gospel in the Aramaic language. It was soon after translated into Greek and the Greek text has come down to us, while the Aramaic text has been lost. It is said of this evangelist that he never ate meat, but only vegetables and fruit.

2. The Venerable Sergius of Malopinega

Sergius was a Russian parish priest who lived a God-pleasing life and served for sixty-two years in the province of Vologda. He peacefully entered into rest in the Lord on November 16, 1585, at the age of ninety-two.

3. St. Fulvianus, prince of Ethiopia, (in baptism Matthew) (1st c.)
4. St. Eucherius of Lyons (449)
5. St. Otmar, abbot and monastic founder, in Switzerland (759)
6. St. Lubuinus, missionary to Friesland (Neth.) (773)
7. New Hieromartyr Panteleimon, abbot, of Optina Monastery (1937)
8. New Hieromartyr Philoumenus, abbot, of the monastery at Jacob's Well (Nablus) (1979)

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

<9> For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. <10> We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! <11> To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. <12> And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; <13> being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. <14> I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. <15> For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. <16> Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

<12> Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— <13> unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. <14> But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. <15> But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. <16> Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. <17> Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. <18> But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

<9> As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. <10> Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. <11> And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" <12> When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. <13> But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

<57> Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." <58> And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." <59> Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." <60> Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." <61> And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." <62> But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Greek

<11> For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." <12> For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. <13> For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." <14> How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? <15> And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" <16> But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" <17> So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. <18> But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." <19> But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." <20> But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." <21> But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people." <1> I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. <2> God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

<9> As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. <10> Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. <11> And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" <12> When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. <13> But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Daily Orthodox - November 17th, 2024

Today is the 21st Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

This man of God and powerful wonderworker was called a second Moses. Gregory was born of pagan, but eminent and wealthy, parents. He studied Hellenic and Egyptian philosophy and became aware of the meagerness and insufficiency of pagan philosophy. He then turned to Christian teachers, particularly Origen of Alexandria, with whom he studied for several years and from whom he received baptism. Pure in body and soul, he wanted to dedicate himself solely to Christ God, for which reason he withdrew to the wilderness, where he spent much time in rigorous asceticism. His fame spread everywhere. Bishop Phaedimus of Amasea wanted to consecrate him Bishop of Neocaesarea. The clairvoyant Gregory perceived Phaedimus' intention and hid from the bishop's emissaries in the wilderness. Finally, Phaedimus consecrated him in a strange way, and Gregory had to accept the office of bishop. The Most-holy Theotokos and St. John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision, and St. John, at the command of the Theotokos, gave him the Symbol of Faith that is known by Gregory's name. Who can enumerate all the miracles of this second Moses? He had power over evil spirits, and over mountains and waters, healed every pain and infirmity, could become invisible to his persecutors, and clairvoyantly perceived distant events and men's thoughts. He ended his earthly life in the year 270, in great old age. When he arrived in Neocaesarea as bishop, he found only seventeen Christians in that pagan city. When he departed this life, he left the city Christian, with only seventeen pagans, and received the wreath of glory from his Lord in the Heavenly Kingdom.

2. The Venerable Nikon of Radonezh

Nikon was a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and his successor as abbot. When barbarians attacked Russia, Nikon prayed to God to remove this misfortune from the Russian people. Then St. Sergius appeared to him with St. Peter and St. Alexis (the reposed Metropolitans of Moscow) and told him not to grieve, for the assault was by God's permission and was for their good, but would pass and peace would reign once more. Nikon renovated the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and served as an example to many of asceticism. He entered into rest on November 17, 1426.

3. The Venerable Gennadius of Vatopedi

Gennadius was a monk of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, and had the obedience of being steward. During his time as steward an empty barrel was miraculously filled with oil. This miracle is ascribed to the Most-holy Theotokos, to whom the monastery is dedicated, and especially to her icon, which was nearby.

4. Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Hamah (ca. 282)
5. Martyrs Zachariah the Cobbler and his wife Mary (3rd c.)
6. Martyrs Gregory, Victor, and Geminus, of Heracleon in Thrace (304)
7. 150 philosophers converted by St. Catherine and martyred at Alexandria (305)
8. St. Longinus of Egypt (4th c.)
9. St. Maximus (Maximian), archbishop of Constantinople (434)
10. St. Vulfolaic, stylite, of Trier (6th c.)
11. St. Gregory, bishop of Tours (594)
12. St. Hilda, abbess of Whitby (680)
13. St. John the Cobbler, of Olumba, Cairo, and Sinai (7th c.)
14. St. Lazarus the Iconographer, of Constantinople (857)
15. Martyrs Gobron and 133 soldiers, of Georgia (914)
16. St. Sebastian of Jackson and San Francisco, archimandrite and missionary (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).

Reflection

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

Let the following examples from the Life of St. Gregory show how God guards and saves the righteous from assaults. While he was still at the school of philosophy in Alexandria, St. Gregory preserved the purity of his soul and his body, as he preserved it to the end of his life. In this, he was an exception among the dissolute youth of that time. This evoked envy and hatred among his companions. In order to debase Gregory, they found a harlot to help them carry out an evil plan. Once, when Gregory was standing in the square with eminent teachers and philosophers, the foul woman approached him and loudly demanded that Gregory pay her the remainder due for impure relations with her. Some of the people present were scandalized, while others were angry at this shameless woman and began to chase her away; but she shouted even louder, demanding money. The innocent Gregory blushed, as any decent man would before such coarse slander, but he displayed neither anger nor hatred, and asked a friend to give her the amount that she sought so she would leave. The friend heeded Gregory, and gave her the money she wanted. But at that moment God let an evil spirit enter the woman and she fell to the ground and began writhing and convulsing, gnashing her teeth, and foaming at the mouth. Seeing this, everyone was terrified. But St. Gregory, innocent as a lamb, prayed to God for her, and the woman was healed and arose. Thus, instead of humiliation, Gregory acquired even greater glory.

Another example: When a bitter persecution of Christians took place, St. Gregory counseled Christians to hide, and he and his deacon hid on a hill. But the imperial soldiers caught sight of them and pursued them. When they were almost upon them, Gregory prayed to God for help, and God rendered them invisible to their pursuers. The soldiers searched for them in vain, and finally left without them.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<16> knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. <17> But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! <18> For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. <19> For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. <20> I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

<16> Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. <17> And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' <18> So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. <19> And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' <20> But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' <21> "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Daily Orthodox - November 18th, 2024

Today is Monday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Martyr Plato of Ancyra

Plato was from the town of Ancyra in Galatia. He was a Christian by birth and upbringing. While in his youth, he showed great perfection in every virtue. Plato did not conceal his faith in Christ the Lord, but preached it openly, denouncing idolaters because of their worshipping lifeless objects in the place of the Living Creator. For this, he was brought to trial before Governor Agrippinus, and was interrogated and harshly tortured by him. When the governor counseled him to avoid death and save his life by worshipping the idols, Plato said: "There are two deaths, the one temporary and the other eternal; so also there are two lives, one of short duration and the other without end." Then Agrippinus subjected him to even harsher tortures. Among other tortures, red-hot cannon balls were set on the saint's naked body; then they cut strips from his skin. "Torture me more harshly," the martyr cried out to the torturers, "so that your inhumanity and my endurance may be seen more clearly." When the torturer reminded the martyr that his namesake, Plato the philosopher, was a pagan, the martyr replied: "I am not like Plato, nor is Plato like me except in name. I learn and teach the wisdom of Christ, but Plato was a teacher of wisdom that is foolishness to God." After that, Plato was thrown into  prison, where he remained for eighteen days without food and water. When the guards were amazed that Plato was able to live in hunger for so long, he told them: "You are satisfied by meat, but I, by holy prayers. Wine gladdens you, but Christ the True Vine gladdens me." Plato was beheaded in about the year 266 and received his wreath of eternal glory.

2. The Holy Martyrs Romanus, deacon, and Child-martyr Barulas (303), of Antioch

St. Romanus was a deacon of the church in Caesarea and zealously preached the Gospel in Antioch. One day, there was an idolatrous feast. The Eparch of Antioch, Asclypiades, went to enter a pagan temple to offer sacrifices, but Romanus stood in the way and said: "You sin, O Governor, when you go to the idols. The idols are not gods-Christ is the only true God." The enraged eparch subjected Romanus to tortures and had him flogged and scraped without mercy. During this, St. Romanus saw a child by the name of Barulas, and said to Asclypiades: "Even this small child has more understanding than you, old man, for he knows the true God and you do not." The eparch questioned Barulas about his faith, and he confessed Christ the Lord as the One True God, contrary to false idolatry. Asclypiades commanded that young Barulas be beheaded and St. Romanus be strangled in prison. Thus, both of these martyrs inherited the Kingdom of Christ in the year 303.

3. Hieromartyr Zacchaeus, deacon, and Martyr Alphaeus, reader, of Caesarea in Palestine (303)
4. Martyr Romanus, who suffered under Maximian, at Antioch (305)
5. St. Mawes, bishop in Cornwall and Brittany (5th c.)
6. St. Odo, abbot, of Cluny (942)
7. St. Helen, abbess of Novodevichy Convent (Moscow) (1547)
8. New Martyr Anastasius of Paramythia in Epirus (1750) and New Monk-martyr Daniel of Corfu (18th c.)
9. Synaxis of the Saints of Estonia

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

<13> And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, <14> having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. <15> Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. <16> So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, <17> which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. <18> Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, <19> and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. <20> Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

<20> Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; <21> nor will they say, ‘See here!' or ‘See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." <22> Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. <23> And they will say to you, ‘Look here!' or ‘Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. <24> For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. <25> But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Daily Orthodox - November 19th, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Prophet Obadiah (Abdias)

Obadiah was born in the village of Betharam in the region of Shechem. He lived at the court of King Ahab, but when the king turned away from true worship and bowed down to idols, Obadiah did not follow the king, but continued to serve the one, true God. When the evil Queen Jezebel, in her hatred of Elias, raised a persecution against all the prophets of God, Obadiah gathered a hundred of them, hid them in two caves, and fed them to the end of the persecution (1 Kings 18:4). A contemporary of the great Prophet Elias, Obadiah revered him greatly and served him in all things, as his follower and disciple. He lived nine hundred years before Christ and entered peacefully into rest.

2. The Holy Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia (304)

Barlaam was born in Antioch. Because of his faith in Christ the Lord, the impious judge tortured him harshly. Finally, the judge decided to mock him by forcing him to offer sacrifice to the idols. For this he took him to the pagan temple and set a burning coal on his palm and incense on the coal. The judge thought that the pain would cause the martyr to shake the coal and incense off his hand before the idols, and thus involuntarily cense them. However, the soldier of Christ heroically held the burning coal on his palm with no thought of casting it before the idols, until his fingers were burned through and fell off and his palm was completely burnt. St. Basil the Great said: "He had a right hand more powerful than fire: although the coal burned his hand, his hand still held the fire as if it were ash." Chrysostom writes: "The angels looked from the heights. The archangels beheld-the scene was majestic, in truth transcending human nature. Behold, who would not wish to see a man who made such an ascetic endeavor, yet did not feel that which is characteristic of men to feel; a man who was himself both the alter of oblation and the sacrifice and the priest?" When his hand burned off, elder Barlaam's whole body fell to the ground dead and his soul went to the eternal rest of our Lord the Savior. This glorious, heroic elder suffered in the year 304.

3. The Venerable Barlaam and Ioasaph the Heir

Barlaam and Joseph were Indian ascetics. Ioasaph was son and heir to King Abenner. By God's providence, elder Barlaam visited him, taught him the Christian Faith and baptized him. After that, the elder withdrew to a mountain to live a life of asceticism, but Ioasaph remained to struggle with many temptations in the world, and by God's grace, to overcome them. Ioasaph finally succeeded in bringing his father to Christ. After he was baptized, King Abenner lived four years in deep repentance-for he had committed grave sins in persecuting Christians-and then ended his earthly existence and went to the better life. The young Ioasaph turned over the rule of the kingdom to his friend Barachias, and entered the wilderness to live a life of asceticism for the sake of Christ. His one desire on earth was to see his spiritual father, elder Barlaam, once again. The merciful God fulfilled his desire, and one day Ioasaph stood before Barlaam's cave and cried out: "Bless me, father!" Elder Barlaam labored in asceticism in the wilderness for seventy years and lived one hundred years in all. St. Ioasaph himself left his kingdom at the age of twenty-five, and went into the wilderness where he lived for thirty-five years. They both had great love for the Lord Jesus, brought many to the true Faith and entered into the eternal joy of their Lord.

4. The Holy Martyr Heliodorus, in Pamphylia (273)

Heliodorus was from the town of Maggido in Pamphylia and suffered for the Christian Faith in the time of Emperor Aurelian. During his harsh tortures, he heard a voice from heaven: "Be not afraid, I am with thee!" Thrown into a glowing-hot brazen ox, he fervently prayed to God and God saved him. All at once, the glowing ox cooled, and Heliodorus emerged alive. The judge cried out to him that he had performed some magic. To this, the martyr replied: "My magic is Christ!" He was beheaded and went to the Lord.

5. Martyrs Azes of Isauria and 150 soldiers (284)
6. Martyr Agapius of Gaza (306)
7. St. Patroclus of Bourges (577)
8. St. Egbert, archbishop of York (766)
9. St. Hilarion of Georgia, wonderworker of Thessalonica (875)
10. St. Simon, wonderworker of Calabria (10th c.)
11. St. Barlaam, first abbot of the Kiev Caves (1065)
12. Uncovering of the relics (1626) of Hieromartyr Adrian, founder of Poshekhonye Monastery (Rostov) (1550)
13. St. Philaret, metropolitan of Moscow (1867)
14. St. Ioannicius, schema-archimandrite, of Glinsk Hermitage (1914)
15. New Hieromartyrs Porphyrius, bishop of Simferopol, Ioasaph, bishop of Chistopol, Michael, archimandrite, of Moscow, Gregory, archimandrite, of Odessa, and Gerasim, hieromonk, of Kazakhstan (1937)
16. New Hieromartyrs Ioasaph, abbot, and Peter, hieromonk, both of the Holy Transfiguration Guslitsky Monastery (Moscow) (1937)
17. New Hiero-confessor Alexis, schema-archimandrite, of Khust (Carpatho-Russia) (1947)
18. St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Kalisa (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.

A tale of the Elder Barlaam to Ioasaph: A man was fleeing from a terrifying unicorn. Fleeing thus, he fell into a pit, but grabbed hold of a tree. Just when he thought that he was out of danger, he looked down below the tree and saw two mice, one black and one white, gnawing alternatively but continuously at the roots of the tree, so as to gnaw through and bring the tree crashing down. Looking down even further, he saw a huge, terrifying serpent which, with its jaws wide open, was waiting to devour the man when the tree would fall down. He then saw four smaller poisonous snakes around his feet. Looking upward, the man saw a little bit of honey on a branch, and forgetting all the danger that surrounded him, extended his hand to reach that little bit of sweetness in the tree. The interpretation is this: The unicorn represents death, which from Adam now pursues every man to kill him; the pit filled with all sorts of dangers is this world; the tree is the path of our life; the white and black mice are days a nights, that continue one after the other to shorten our life; the huge and horrible snake is hell; the four poisonous snakes are the four elements from which the body of man is composed; the little bit of honey on the branch of the tree is the little sweetness that this life offers to man. Oh, if only men would not be captivated by that inconsequential sweetness, forgetting the terrible dangers that surround them and draw them down to eternal ruin!

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<20> Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— <21> "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," <22> which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? <23> These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. <1> If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. <2> Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. <3> For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

<26> And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: <27> They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. <28> Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; <29> but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. <30> Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. <31> "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. <32> Remember Lot's wife. <33> Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. <34> I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. <35> Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. <36> Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." <37> And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." [<8> I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"]

Daily Orthodox - November 20th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Venerable Gregory of Decapolis (816)

Gregory was born in Isaurian Decapolis of prominent and devout parents, Sergius and Mary. After he had completed his schooling, his parents desired that he marry, but he fled to the wilderness and was tonsured a monk. He lived in various places: Byzantium, Rome and on Mount Olympus. Wherever he was, he amazed men by his asceticism and miracles. At times a heavenly light illumined him and angels of God appeared to him. He gazed upon the beauty of the angels and listened to their sweet chanting. He lived a long and God-pleasing life and died peacefully in the ninth century in Constantinople, his soul taking up its abode in the joy of his Lord.

2. Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Proclus was a disciple of St. John Chrysostom. In the year 426 he was consecrated Bishop of Cyzicus, and in 435 was chosen Patriarch of Constantinople. He governed the Church of God as a prudent hierarch. During his tenure, two significant events occurred. The first was the translation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom from Comana to Constantinople, at the desire of both the emperor and the patriarch. Emperor Theodosius the Younger was then reigning with his sister, Pulcheria. The second event was the great earthquake in Constantinople and the surrounding countryside. Many of the largest and most beautiful buildings were destroyed by this terrible earthquake. Then the patriarch, with the emperor, many of the clergy, nobles and people, came out in a procession of supplication. As they were praying to God, a child was miraculously lifted high in the air, until he was out of sight. Then he returned and was lowered gently to the ground. Asked where he had been, the child replied that he had been lifted up to heaven among the angels and that he had heard the angels sing: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!" Upon hearing this, all the people in the procession began to sing it and the earthquake ceased immediately. From that time on, this beautiful hymn was adopted by the Church. The child soon reposed, and was interred in the Church of St. Irene. In all, St. Proclus served as a hierarch for twenty years and reposed peacefully in the Lord in the year 447.

3. The Holy Martyrs Eustace, Thespesius, and Anatolius, of Nicaea (313)

Eustathius, Thespesius and Anatolius were blood brothers from Nicomedia. Their parents, Philotheus and Eusebia, were pagans who received the true Faith from St. Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia, as did their sons. Philotheus was ordained a presbyter. When he and his wife reposed, a terrible persecution of Christians was perpetuated under the evil Emperor Maximian, and Philotheus's three sons were brought to trial. Accused, interrogated and tortured in various ways, they were finally condemned to death. Angels appeared to them many times in prison and gave them manna to eat, filling their young hearts with strength, courage and endurance. When they were led to the place of execution, two friends, Palladius and Acacius, approached them and spoke with them. While they were still speaking, the holy martyrs gave up their souls to God. The soldiers then severed their lifeless heads and took them to show to the judge. They suffered for Christ the Lord in about the year 313, and took up their habitation in the Immortal Kingdom of Christ.

4. Saint Isaac, Catholicos of Armenia (440)

Isaac was born in Constantinople when his father was an envoy of the Armenian king to the Byzantine court. Isaac was the tenth Archbishop of Armenia, and in that calling, governed the Church for fifty years. His episcopacy was distinguished, among other things, by the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Armenian language. He was told in a vision that the Armenians would eventually fall away from the pure Faith of Orthodoxy [ed. note: the Armenian Church would formally break communion with Rome and Constantinople in the Third Council of Dvin (610), affirming miaphysitism and rejecting Chalcedon]. This eminent hierarch entered peacefully into rest in the year 440 and reposed in the Lord.

5. The Three Holy Virgins

All three were Persians. At the time of King Sapor, these three virgins were persecuted as Christians, and were finally cut to pieces with knives. Three fig trees grew out of their graves that healed all manner of pains and illnesses.

6. Martyr Dasius of Durostolon in Moesia (303)
7. Hieromartyr Nerses, bishop of Shahrqart (Kirkuk), and his disciple Martyr Joseph, and those martyred with them in Persia: Hieromartyrs John, Shapur, and Isaac, bishops of Seit Selok; Martyrs Guhshtazad, eunuch, Mari, Sasan, Tima, Noah, and Zaun, of Lashom; and Bautha, Denachis, Thecla, Dinaq, Tatun, Mama, Mazakya, Ana, Abyat, and Hatay (343)
8. St. Theoctistus the Confessor, of Constantinople (855)
9. Martyr Edmund, king of East Anglia (869)
10. St. Sozomen of Cyprus (12th c.)
11. New Hieromartyrs Macarius, bishop of Dnepropetrovsk, Arsenius, abbot, of the Tikhvin Monastery, Eutychius, abbot, of the St. Marcian Skete (Ukraine), and Hilarion, hieromonk of Glinsk Hermitage (1937)
12. New Nun-martyr Ioannikia, abbess of the Convent of the Entry of the Theotokos (Tikhvin) (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.

No mortal has interpreted the Epistles of the Apostle Paul with greater love and depth than St. John Chrysostom. Had St. Paul himself interpreted them, he could not have interpreted them better. Behold, history tells us that it was Paul himself who interpreted them through the mind and the pen of Chrysostom. When St. Proclus was a novice under Chrysostom, during the time that he was patriarch, it was his duty to announce visitors. A certain nobleman was slandered before Emperor Arcadius and the emperor had expelled him from the court. This nobleman came to implore Chrysostom to intercede with the emperor on his behalf. Proclus went to announce him to the patriarch but, looking through the partly opened door, saw a man bent over the patriarch, whispering something in his ear while the patriarch wrote. This continued until dawn. Meanwhile, Proclus told the nobleman to come back the next evening, while he himself remained in amazement, wondering who the man with the patriarch was, and how he managed to enter the patriarch's chamber unannounced. The second night the same thing happened again, and Proclus was in still greater amazement. The third night the same thing happened again, and Proclus was in the greatest amazement. When Chrysostom asked him if the nobleman had come by, he replied that he had already been waiting for three nights, but that he couldn't announce him because of the elderly, balding stranger who had been whispering in the patriarch's ear for three nights. The astonished Chrysostom said that he did not remember anyone entering to see him during the previous three nights. He asked his novice what the stranger looked like, and Proclus pointed to the icon of the Holy Apostle Paul, saying that the man was like him. Therefore, it was the Apostle Paul himself who was directing the mind and pen of his greatest interpreter.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<17> And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. <18> Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. <19> Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. <20> Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. <21> Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. <22> Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. <23> And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, <24> knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. <25> But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. <1> Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

<15> Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. <16> But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. <17> Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." <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." <28> Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You." <29> So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, <30> who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."

Daily Orthodox - November 21st, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Entry into the Temple of the Most-holy Theotokos

When the Most-holy Virgin Mary reached the age of three, her holy parents Joachim and Anna took her from Nazareth to Jerusalem to dedicate her to the service of God according to their earlier promise. It was a three-day journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem but, traveling to do a God-pleasing work, this journey was not difficult for them. Many kinsmen of Joachim and Anna gathered in Jerusalem to take part in this event, at which the invisible angels of God were also present. Leading the procession into the Temple were virgins with lighted tapers in their hands, then the Most-holy Virgin, led on one side by her father and on the other side by her mother. The virgin was clad in vesture of royal magnificence and adornments as was befitting the "King's daughter, the Bride of God" (Psalm 45:13-15). Following them were many kinsmen and friends, all with lighted tapers. Fifteen steps led up to the temple. Joachim and Anna lifted the Virgin onto the first step, then she ran quickly to the top herself, where she was met by the High Priest Zacharias, who was to be the father of St. John the Forerunner. Taking her by the hand, he led her not only into the Temple, but into the "Holy of Holies," the holiest of holy places, into which no one but the high priest ever entered, and only once each year, at that. St. Theophylact of Ohrid says that Zacharias "was outside himself and possessed by God" when he led the Virgin into the holiest place in the Temple, beyond the second curtain-otherwise, his action could not be explained. Mary's parents then offered sacrifice to God according to the Law, received the priest's blessing and returned home. The Most-holy Virgin remained in the Temple and dwelt there for nine full years. While her parents were alive, they visited her often, especially Righteous Anna. When God called her parents from this world, the Most-holy Virgin was left an orphan and did not wish to leave the Temple until death or to enter into marriage. As that would have been against the Law and custom of Israel, she was given to St. Joseph, her kinsman in Nazareth, after reaching the age of twelve. Under the acceptable role of one betrothed, she could live in virginity and thus fulfill her desire and formally satisfy the Law, for it was then unknown in Israel for maidens to vow virginity to the end of their lives. The Most-holy Virgin Mary was the first of such life-vowed virgins, of the thousands and thousands of virgin men and women who would follow her in the Church of Christ.

2. St. Columbanus, abbot, and founder of the monasteries in Luxeuil (Gaul) and Bobbio (Italy) (615)
3. New Hieromartyr Alexander, protopresbyter, of New York and Moscow (1937)
4. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Everlasting Hope"

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> Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. <2> For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; <3> and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, <4> which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; <5> and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. <6> Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. <7> But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;

<38> Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. <39> And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. <40> But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." <41> And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. <42> But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." <27> And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" <28> But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Slavic

<2> Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; <3> meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, <4> that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. <5> Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. <6> Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. <7> Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. <8> I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, <9> with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

<31> Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. <32> For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. <33> They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." <34> But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken

Daily Orthodox - November 22nd, 2024

Today is Friday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, at Rome (288)

Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and eminent parents. She had great faith in Christ the Lord and a great zeal for the Faith. Vowing lifelong virginity to God, St. Cecilia wore a coarse hair shirt beneath the costly raiment that her parents gaveh er. When her parents coerced her into marriage with Valerian, a pagan, Cecilia counseled her bridegroom on their wedding night to go to Bishop Urban to be baptized, and then live in chastity. Accepting the Christian Faith, Valerian also converted his brother Tiburtius. Soon after, both brothers were condemned to death for their faith. But their faithfulness did not falter, even in the face of death. Led to the place of execution, these wonderful brothers also succeeded in converting the captain of the guard, Maximus, to the Faith. Then all three suffered together for Christ the Lord. St. Cecilia buried their bodies together. Cecilia was then brought to trial, for she tirelessly won pagans over to the Christian Faith. In only one evening, she won over four hundred souls. When the judge asked her from whence such boldness came, she answered: "From a pure conscience and undoubting faith." After cruel torture, Cecilia was condemned to beheading. The executioner struck her three times on the neck with the sword, but he was unable to kill her. She was only wounded, and blood flowed from her wounds, which the faithful collected in handkerchiefs, sponges and bowls for the sake of healing. Three days after this, the martyr and virgin of Christ gave her soul to her Lord, with Whom she eternally rejoices. St. Cecilia suffered with the others in about the year 230. Her relics lie in Rome, in the church dedicated to her. In the Western Church, St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of church singing and music.

2. Saint Callistus II, Patriarch of Constantinople (Mt. Athos) (1397)

Callistus is called "Xanthopoulos" after the cell of that name on Mount Athos, where he lived for a long time in asceticism with his companion, Ignatius. With this same Ignatius, St. Callistus wrote in one hundred chapters of his personal experience of a life of stillness. This work occupies a very prominent place in ascetical literature. Callistus was greatly influenced by his teacher, St. Gregory of Sinai, and wrote his Life. Having become Patriarch of Constantinople, Callistus became ill and reposed while on a journey to Serbia. Before he undertook his journey this was prophesied to him by St. Maximus of Kapsokalyvia of the Holy Mountain.

3. The Holy Martyr Menignus, at Parium (250)

Menignus was born on the Hellespont. He worked as a linen-bleacher, for which he was called "the Fuller." At the time of Emperor Decius, he tore up the imperial decree declaring a persecution of Christians. For this, he was thrown into prison, where the Lord Himself appeared to him and encouraged him, saying: "Be not afraid, I am with thee." At that moment his chains melted like wax, the prison opened of itself, and he went out. He was arrested again and tried. They tortured him inhumanly, severing his fingers and toes and beheading him. At night, his severed head glowed like a lamp. [ed. note: the biography ends abruptly here]

4. The Holy Righteous Michael the Soldier

Michael was a Bulgarian by birth. With his companions he fought in the Greek army against the Hagarenes and Ethiopians, where he displayed a marvelous fearlessness. He killed a terrible serpent and freed a maiden. Soon afterward, this righteous man took up his abode in eternal life. He lived and reposed in the ninth century. He was buried somewhere in Thrace, but Emperor Kalo-John translated his relics to Trnovo in 1206.

5. The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and Archippus, Martyr Apphia, wife of Philemon, and St. Onesimus, disciple of St. Paul (1st c.)

See February 19.

6. Martyr Procopius the Reader, at Caesarea in Palestine (303)
7. Martyr Agapion of Greece (304)
8. Martyrs Stephen, Mark, and Mark (another), at Antioch in Pisidia (4th c.)
9. St. Agabbas of Syria (5th c.)
10. St. Germanus of Eikoiphinissa in Macedonia (9th c.)
11. St. Clement of Ochrid, bishop of Greater Macedonia (916)
12. St. Yaropolk-Peter, prince of Vladimir in Volhynia (1086)
13. Martyrdom of St. Michael, great prince of Tver (1318)
14. New Hieromartyrs Ioasaph, bishop of Mogilev, Gerasim, hieromonk of the Zosima Hermitage (Smolensk), and Alexis, archpriest, of Tver (1937)
15. New Monk-martyrs Eutychius, Abner, Sava, and Mark, of Optina Monastery, and with them Martyr Boris (1937)
16. St. Iakovos of Evia (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.

Every effort of learning is in vain without the effort of attaining purity of faith and life. The heavenly world is revealed not to the learned but to the pure. When St. Cecilia was led to the bridal chamber with her bridegroom Valerian on the first night, she said him: "I want to tell you a mystery: standing here is an angel of God, the guardian of my virginity, whom you do not see. He stands ready to protect me, his handmaid, from assault. If you only touch me, he will kill you." Valerian begged Cecilia to show him the angel, so that he could see it, too. The virgin replied: "You are a man who knows not the true God. You cannot see the angel of God until you cleanse yourself of the foulness of your unbelief." When Valerian was baptized, he saw the angel in great light and ineffable beauty. So, too, when Valerian's brother Tiburtius changed his life from impurity to purity in baptism, he saw holy angels and spoke with them. Maximus their fellow sufferer as well, when the two brothers were beheaded, vowed with a great oath before the executioners and the people, saying: "I see angels of God shining like the sun, taking the souls of these martyrs from their bodies like beautiful virgins from the bridal chamber, and leading them to heaven with great glory." But that which he saw, none of the impure unbelievers were able to see.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<10> Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), <11> and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. <12> Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. <13> For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. <14> Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. <15> Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. <16> Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. <17> And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." <18> This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Greek

<1> Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, <2> to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: <3> Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. <4> I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, <5> hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, <6> that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. <7> For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. <8> Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, <9> yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— <10> I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, <11> who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. <12> I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, <13> whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. <14> But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. <15> For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, <16> no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. <17> If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. <18> But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. <19> I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. <20> Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. <21> Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. <22> But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. <23> Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, <24> as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. <25> The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Slavic and Greek

<12> Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. <13> So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.' <14> But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.' <15> "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. <16> Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' <17> And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' <18> And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.' <19> Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.' <20> "Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. <21> For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' <22> And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. <23> Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' <24> "And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' <25> (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.') <26> ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. <27> But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'" <28> When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Daily Orthodox - November 23rd, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 22nd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium (ca. 395)

Amphilochius was a fellow countryman, companion and friend of St. Basil the Great and other great saints of the fourth century. Amphilochius left the uproar of the world early in life and withdrew to a cave where, as a hermit, he lived in asceticism for forty years. It then happened that the episcopal throne in Iconium was vacated, and Amphilochius, in a wondrous manner, was chosen and consecrated Bishop of Iconium. He was a splendid shepherd and a great defender of the purity of the Orthodox Faith. He took part in the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. He fought zealously against the impious Macedonius, the Arians and the Eunomians. He personally begged Theodosius the Great to expel all the Arians from every city in the empire, but the emperor did not heed him. A few days later, Amphilochius came before the emperor again. When the bishop was led into the reception chamber, the emperor was sitting on his throne, and on his right sat his son Arcadius, whom Theodosius had taken as his co-emperor. Entering the chamber, St. Amphilochius bowed to Emperor Theodosius but paid no attention to Arcadius, the emperor's son, as if he were not there. Greatly enraged at this, Emperor Theodosius ordered that Amphilochius be immediately expelled from the court. The saint then said to the emperor: "Do you see, O Emperor, how you do not tolerate disrespect to your son? So too, God the Father does not tolerate disrespect to His Son, and is disgusted with the corruptness of those who blaspheme Him and is angered at all those adherents of that cursed (Arian) heresy." Hearing this, the emperor then understood why Amphilochius had not given honor to his son, and was amazed at his wisdom and daring. Among many other works, St. Amphilochius wrote several books on the Faith. He entered into rest in great old age in the year 395 and took up his habitation in eternal life.

2. Saint Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum

Gregory was born of devout parents, Chariton and Theodota in Siciliy near the town of Agrigentum, where he was later bishop. His entire life was imbued with God's wonderful miracles. In a miraculous manner, he went to Jerusalem; in a miraculous manner, he was chosen as bishop; in a miraculous manner, he was saved from slander. He himself was a great miracle-worker, for he was a great God-pleaser, a great spiritual father and an ascetic. He participated at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 553. After difficult trials he reposed peacefully near the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh.

3. Saint Alexander Nevsky

Alexander was the son of Prince Yaroslav. From childhood, his heart was directed to God. He defeated the Swedes on the river Neva on July 15, 1240, for which he received the appellation "Nevsky" ["of the Neva"]. On that occasion, Saints Boris and Gleb appeared to one of Alexander's commanders and promised their help to the great prince, who was their kinsman. Once, among the Golden Horde of the Tartars, he refused to bow down to idols or to pass through fire. Because of his wisdom, physical strength and beauty, even the Tartar Khan respected him. He built many churches and performed countless works of mercy. He entered into rest on November 14, 1263 at the age of forty-three. On this day, November 23, the translation of his relics to the town of Vladimir is commemorated.

4. Saint Mitrophan (Macarius), Bishop of Voronezh

Mitrophan was a glorious Russian hierarch, ascetic and patriot. He was a friend, and later a critic, of Peter the Great. He entered into rest on November 23, 1703. His wonderworking relics were uncovered in the year 1832.

5. St. Sisinius the Confessor, bishop of Cyzicus (ca. 325)
6. Martyr Theodore of Antioch (4th c.)
7. St. Ischyrion, bishop in Egypt, and hermit, of Scetis (5th c.)
8. St. Trudo, abbot, of Zirkingen (Neth.) (693)
9. St. Amphilochius of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Vladimir, Volhynia (1122)
10. St. Dionysius I, patriarch of Constantinople (15th c.)
11. St. Anthony of Iezeru-Vilcea (Romania) (1714)
12. New Hieromartyr Seraphim, hieromonk, of Moscow (1932)
13. New Hieromartyrs Boris, bishop of Ivanovo, and Eleazar, priest, of Eupatoria, Crimea (1937)
14. New Hieromartyr Gregory, archimandrite, of Georgia, at Auschwitz, Poland (1942)

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 permits misfortune to befall the righteous, that He might glorify them more greatly. The overcoming of misfortune reveals both the glory of God and the glory of the righteous. St. Gregory of Agrigentum was, in all things, righteous and pleasing to God. But God permitted misfortune to befall him, similar to that misfortune that once overtook St. Athanasius and St. Macarius. Two priests, Sabinus and Crescens, for whom Gregory had done much good, could not at all tolerate Gregory's virtuousness. For such is the nature of vice, that it cannot tolerate virtue. Consequently, Sabinus and Crescens found a notorious prostitute and bribed her to malign Gregory by saying that he had had immoral relations with her. So it was that when Gregory was in church, the woman crept into his bedroom, and just as Gregory came out of church with the people, she emerged from his room. The two priests began to revile Gregory as a libertine. However, Gregory was composed and prepared for every suffering. They confined him in prison and then transferred him to Rome. The pope believed the slanderers and kept Gregory in prison for two and a half years, without a trial or a verdict. A council was then convened to try Gregory's case, but God judged before man could judge. The woman went insane and was brought mad before the council. She was unable to answer any questions. Gregory, the miracle-worker, prayed to God for her and she was healed, for the evil spirit came out of her. Then, through her tears, she confessed that she had been bribed to malign the man of God, and that immediately after she had committed the slander, the evil spirit had entered her and held her in its power. Sabinus and Crescens, along with the other maligners—more than a hundred in number—found their faces suddenly turned as black as coal, and they were punished with exile. St. Gregory was returned to his diocese and was received with great exultation by his people.

Daily Scriptures

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.

<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 and Greek

<1> For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. <2> For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, <3> if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. <4> For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. <5> Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. <6> So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. <7> For we walk by faith, not by sight. <8> We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. <9> Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. <10> For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

<19> Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. <20> Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." <21> In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

Daily Orthodox - November 24th, 2024

Today is the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Great-martyr Catherine [celebrated on November 25 in Greek Calendar]

Catherine was the daughter of King Constus. After the death of her father, she lived with her mother in Alexandria. Her mother was secretly a Christian who, through her spiritual father, brought Catherine to the Christian Faith. In a vision, St. Catherine received a ring from the Lord Jesus Himself as a sign of her betrothal to Him. This ring remains on her finger even today. Catherine was greatly gifted by God and was well educated in Greek philosophy, medicine, rhetoric and logic. In addition to that, she was of unusual physical beauty. When the iniquitous Emperor Maxentius offered sacrifices to the idols and ordered others to do the same, Catherine boldly confronted the emperor and denounced his idolatrous errors. The emperor, seeing that she was greater than he in wisdom and knowledge, summoned fifty of his wisest men to debate with her on matters of faith and to put her to shame. Catherine outwitted and shamed them. In a rage, the emperor ordered all fifty of those men bured. By St. Catherine's prayers, all fifty confessed the name of Christ and declared themselves Christians before their execution. After Catherine had been put in prison, she converted the emperor's commander, Porphyrius, and two hundred soldiers to the true Faith, as well as Empress Augusta-Vasilissa herself. They all suffered for Christ. During the torture of St. Catherine, an angel of God came to her and destroyed the wheel on which the holy virgin was being tortured. Afterward, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared to her and comforted her. After many tortures, Catherine was beheaded at the age of eighteen, on November 24, 310. Milk, instead of blood, flowed from her body. Her miracle-working relics repose on Mount Sinai.

2. The Holy Great-martyr Mercurius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (ca. 259)

When Emperor Decius once waged war against the barbarians, there was in his army the commander of an Armenian regiment called the Martenesians. This commander was named Mercurius. In battle, an angel of the Lord appeared to Mercurius, placed a sword in his hand, and assured him of victory over his enemies. Indeed, Mercurius displayed wonderful courage, mowing down the enemy like grass. Following this glorious victory Emperor Decius made him chief commander of his army, but envious men reported Mercurius to the emperor for being a Christian, a fact which he did not hide but openly acknowledged before the emperor. Mercurius was tortured harshly and at length; he was cut into strips with knives and burned with fire. An angel of God appeared to him in prison and healed him. Finally, the emperor proclaimed that General Mercurius be beheaded in Cappadocia. When they beheaded him, his body became as white as snow and emitted a most wonderful incense-like fragrance. His miracle-working relics healed many of the sick. This most wonderful soldier of Christ suffered for the Faith sometime between the years 251 and 259 and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of his King and God.

3. The Holy Virgin Mastridia

Mastridia lived in Alexandria and led a solitary life of prayer and handiwork. A young man, burning with bodily passion toward her, constantly harassed her. Not wanting to sin before God, and since she could not be easily rid of this unrestrained youth, St. Mastridia once asked him what attracted him most to her. He replied: "Your eyes!" Mastridia then took the needle with which she was sewing and put out her eyes. Thus, Mastridia preserved her peace and the young man's soul. The young man repented deeply, and became a monk.

[footnote: This Mastridia apparently is not the same as the one who is commemorated on February 7. That Mastridia was from Jerusalem, while this one is from Alexandria. The former fled from scandal to the wilderness, while the latter put out her eyes.]

4. St. Hermogenes, bishop of Agrigentum (ca. 260)
5. Martyrs Augusta (Faustina), the Empress, Porphyrius Stratelates, and 200 soldiers, at Alexandria with Great-martyr Catherine (305-313)
6. St. Romanus of Bordeaux (382)
7. St. Gregory, founder of the monastery of the Golden Rock in Pontus
8. St. Portianus of Arthone (Gaul) (527)
9. St. Protasius, hermit, of Auvergne (Gaul) (6th c.)
10. Martyrs Flora and Maria, at Cordoba (851)
11. Martyr Mercurius of Smolensk (1238)
12. St. Luke, steward of the Kiev Caves (13th c.)
13. St. Nicodemus the Younger, of Philokalos Monastery in Thessalonica (ca. 1305)
14. St. Mercurius the Faster, of the Far Caves in Kiev (14th c.)
15. St. Simon, founder of Soiga Monastery (Vologda) (1561)
17. (Greek cal.: Hieromartyr Clement, pope of Rome [101]. Hieromartyr Peter, archbishop of Alexandria [311]. St. Malchus of Chalcis in Syria [4th c.])

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> See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! <12> As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. <13> For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. <14> But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. <15> For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. <16> And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. <17> From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. <18> Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Slavic

<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.

Greek

<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."

Daily Orthodox - November 25th, 2024

Today is Monday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (101)

Clement was born in Rome of royal lineage and was a contemporary of the holy apostles. His mother and two brothers, traveling on the sea, were carried by a storm to different places. His father then went to find his wife and two sons and he, too, became lost. Clement, being twenty-four years old, then set out for the east to seek his parents and brothers. In Alexandria, he made the acquaintance of the Apostle Barnabas and, afterward, joined the Apostle Peter whom his two brothers, Faustinus and Faustinian, were already following. By God's providence, the Apostle Peter came upon Clement's mother as an aged beggar woman, and then found his father as well. Thus, the whole family was united, and all returned to Rome as Christians. Clement did not separate himself from the great apostle, who appointed him as bishop before his death. After Peter's martyrdom, Linus was Bishop of Rome, then Cletus—both of them for a short time—and then Clement. Clement governed the Church of God with flaming zeal, and from day to day brought a great number of unbelievers to the Christian Faith. In addition, he ordered seven scribes to write the lives of the Christian martyrs who were suffering at that time for their Lord. The Emperor Trajan banished him to Cherson, where Clement found about two thousand exiled Christians. All were occupied with the difficult job of hewing stones in a waterless land. The Christians received Clement with great joy and he was a living source of comfort to them. By his prayer, he brought forth water from the ground and converted so many of the unbelieving natives to Christianity that, in one year, seventy-five churches were built there. To prevent his spreading the Christian Faith even more, the authorities condemned Clement to death, and drowned him in the sea with a stone around his neck in the year 101. His miracle-working relics were removed from the sea only in the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

2. The Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria (311)

Peter was a disciple and successor of St. Theonas, Archbishop of Alexandria, and was for a time a teacher at Origen's famous school of philosophy. He ascended the archiepiscopal throne in the year 299, and died a martyr's death in 311, beside the grave of the Holy Apostle Mark. He governed the Church in a most difficult era, when assaults were being made against the faithful by unbelievers from without, and by heretics from within. During his time, 670 Christians suffered in Alexandria. Often, whole families were led to the scaffold and executed. At the same time, the ungodly Arius was confusing the faithful with his false teaching. St. Peter cut him off from the Church and anathematized him, both in this world and in the next. The Lord Himself visited this great and wonderful saint in person.

3. The Venerable Paphnutius

Paphnutius never drank wine. Once, bandits seized him, and their leader forced him to drink a cup of wine. Seeing Paphnutius' kind nature, the chief of the bandits repented, and abandoned his brigandage.

4. St. Peter of Galatia, hermit, near Antioch in Syria (ca. 403)
5. New Hieromartyr Seraphim, archbishop of Smolensk (1937)
6. (Greek cal.: Great-martyr Catherine of Alexandria, and Martyrs Augusta (Faustina) the Empress, Porphyrius Stratelates, and 200 soldiers [305-313])
7. (Bulgarian cal.: St. Clement of Ochrid, bishop of Greater Macedonia [916])

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.

It is said of St. Peter of Alexandria that he never climbed the steps and sat on the patriarchal throne in church, but rather stood or sat before the steps of the throne. When the faithful complained that their hierarch did not sit in his place, he replied: "Whenever I approach the throne, I see a heavenly light and power upon it, and that is why I do not dare climb and sit on it." Beside this vision, St. Peter had another, yet more wondrous vision. While he was in prison, the impious heretic Arius hypocritically pretended that he had repented of his heresy, and sent word to the captive Peter that he had renounced his heresy, with an appeal to Peter to receive him into the Church again. Arius did this only because he thought that Peter would be martyred, and he could then acquire the patriarchal throne and disseminate and strengthen his heresy. Before he gave any reply, Peter prayed to God in the prison. During prayer, a mystical light illumined the prison, and the Lord Jesus appeared to him as a twelve-year-old boy, shining brighter than the sun, so that it was not possible to look at Him directly. The Lord was clothed in a white tunic, rent down the front from top to bottom. He clutched the garment around Himself with His hands, as though to hide His nakedness. At this, St. Peter was in great fear and horror. He cried out: "Who, O Savior, has torn Thy garment?" The Lord replied: "The madman Arius. He tore it, for he alienated My people from Me, whom I acquired by My Blood. Be careful not to receive him in communion with the Church, for he has cunning and diabolical thoughts against Me and My people." At this, St. Peter sent word to his priests, Achilles and Alexander, that he could not receive Arius' petition, for it was false and cunning; and the saint pronounced a curse on Arius in both worlds. He also prophesied that Achilles, and then Alexander, would succeed him as patriarch, and so it was.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic

<1> Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. <2> For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; <3> and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, <4> which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; <5> and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. <6> Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. <7> But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;

<1> Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. <2> We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, <3> remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, <4> knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. <5> For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

<38> Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. <39> And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. <40> But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." <41> And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. <42> But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." <27> And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" <28> But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

<37> Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, <38> saying: " ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" <39> And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." <40> But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." <41> Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, <42> saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. <43> For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, <44> and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

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."

Daily Orthodox - November 26th, 2024

Today is Tuesday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Venerable Alypius the Stylite, of Adrianople (640)

Alypius was born in Hadrianopolis, a city in Paphlagonia. From childhood, he was dedicated to the service of God. he served as a deacon with Bishop Theodore in the church in that city. But, desirous of a life of solitude, prayer and meditation, Alypius withdrew to a Greek cemetery outside the city. This was a cemetery from which people fled in terror, because of frequent demonic visions seen there. Alypius set up a cross in the cemetery and built a church in honor of St. Euphemia, who had appeared to him in a dream. Beside the church, he built a tall pillar, climbed on top of it, and spent fifty-three years there in fasting and prayer. Neither the mockery of men nor the evil of the demons was able to drive him away or cause him to waver in his intention. Alypius especially endured countless assaults from demons. Not only did the demons try to terrorize him with apparitions, but stoned him as well, and gave him no peace, day or night, for a long time. The courageous Alypius protected himself from the power of the demons by the sign of the Cross and the name of Jesus. Finally the demons were defeated and fled from him. Men began to revere him and come to him for prayer, consolation, instruction and healing. Two monasteries were built beside his pillar, one on one side for me and one on the other for women. His mother and sister lived in the women's monastery. St. Alypius guided the monks and nuns from his pillar, by example and words. He shone like the sun in the heavens for everyone, showing them the way to salvation. This God-pleaser had so much grace that he was often illuminated in heavenly light, and a pillar of this light extended to the heavens above him. St. Alypius was a wonderful and mighty miracle-worker in life, and also after his repose. He lived for one hundred years and entered into rest in the year 640, during the reign of Emperor Heraclius. His head is preserved in the Monastery of Koutloumousiou on the Holy Mountain.

2. The Venerable James the Solitary, of Syria (457)

James was from Syria. He was a disciple of St. Maron (February 14) and a contemporary of St. Simeon the Stylite. He lived a life of asceticism under the open sky and ate soaked lentils. He performed great miracle, even raising the dead in the name of Christ. Emperor Leo asked him for his thoughts on the Council of Chalcedon [451]. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 457.

3. The Venerable Stylianus

Stylianus was from Paphlagonia and a fellow countryman and contemporary of St. Alypius. He had a great love for the Lord Jesus, and because of this love gave himself up to the great ascetic struggle. He renounced everything in order to have a undivided love for his Lord. Before his repose, angels came to take his soul, and his face shone like the sun. Stylianus was a great miracle-worker before and after his death. He especially helps sick children and childless couples.

4. The Venerable Nicon Metanoeitai, the Preacher of Repentance, of Armenia (998)

Nicon was born in Armenia. Awakened by the words of the Lord, Every one that hath forsaken ... father or mother ... shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29), Nicon indeed forsook all for the sake of Christ, and went to a monastery, where he was tonsured a monk. When he was perfected in all virtues, he left the monastery and went to preach the Gospel among the people. He ceaselessly cried out, "Repent!" for which he was also called "the Preacher of Repentance." As a preacher, he visited all of Anatolia and the Peloponnese. He worked miracles by prayer in the name of Christ and peacefully went to his beloved Lord. He reposed in Sparta in the year 998.

5. Saint Innocent of Irkutsk, the Wonderworker, first bishop of Irkutsk

He reposed in the year 1731, and his miracle-working relics were uncovered in 1804. [ed. note: see OCA for proper biography]

6. St. Peter, patriarch of Jerusalem (552)
7. Dedication of the Church of St. George at Kiev (1051-1054)
8. Sts. Athanasius and Theodosius, founders of Cherepovets Monastery (Vologda) (both ca. 1388), disciples of St. Sergius of Radonezh
9. New Martyr George of Chios, at Kydonias in Asia Minor (1807)
10. New Hieromartyr Tikhon, archimandrite, of Donskoy Monastery (Moscow) (1937)
11. (Greek cal.: St. Acacius, who is mentioned in The Ladder [6th c.])

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

<6> And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, <7> so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. <8> For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. <9> For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, <10> and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

<45> Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, <46> saying to them, "It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.' " <47> And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, <48> and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Daily Orthodox - November 27th, 2024

Today is Wednesday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Martyr James the Persian (400)

James was born of Christian parents in the Persian city of Elapa (or Vilat), brought up in the Christian Faith and married to the Christian woman. The Persian King Yezdegeherd took a liking to James for his talents and skillfulness, and made him a noble at his court. Flattered by the king, James was deluded and began offering sacrifices to the idols that the king worshiped. His mother and wife learned of this, and wrote him a letter of reproach in which they grieved over him as an apostate and one who was spiritually dead. Yet, at the end of the letter, they begged him to repent and return to Christ. Moved by this letter, James repented bitterly, and courageously confessed his faith in Christ the Lord to the king. Angered, the king condemned him to death by a special torture: his entire body was to be cut up, piece by piece, until he breathed his last. The executioners fulfilled this command of the wicked king to the letter, and cut off James' fingers, then his toes, his legs and arms, his shoulders, and finally his head. During every cutting, the repentant martyr gave thanks to God. A sweet-smelling fragrance, as of a cypress, emanated from the wounds. Thus, this wonderful man repented of his sin and presented his soul to Christ his God in the Kingdom of Heaven. James suffered in about the year 400. His head is to be found in Rome and a part of his relics in Portugal, where he is commemorated on May 22.

2. The Seventeen Venerable Monk-martyrs of India (4th c.)

They were Christian monks who suffered at the hands of the Indian King Abenner. Enraged at Elder Barlaam because he baptized his son, Ioasaph, King Abenner sent men in pursuit of him. The pursuers did not capture Barlaam, but captured seventeen other monks and brought them to the king. The king condemned them to death and his men plucked out their eyes, severed their tongues, broke their arms and legs, and then beheaded them. Even so, the Christian Faith in the Kingdom of India was strengthened all the more by the blood of these knights of Christ.

3. The Venerable Romanus the Wonderworker, of Cilicia, near Antioch (5th c.)

Romanus lived a life of asceticism in the vicinity of Antioch. He never kindled a fire or lit a candle in his cell. He reposed peacefully, and was a miracle-worker both during his life and after his death. He intercedes for barren women when they offer prayer to him.

4. The Venerable Pinuphrius of Egypt (4th c.)

Pinuphrius was a contemporary of St. John Cassian (February 29) and a great Egyptian ascetic. He lived in the fourth century and carried out his life of asceticism in various places, always fleeing the praise of men. He had many disciples, who strove to imitate the lofty example of their teacher.

5. The Venerable Nathaniel of Nitria (6th c.)

Nathanial was a Nitrian monk. He prayed to God both day and night, and was enlightened by the contemplation of divine matters. He neither left his cell nor even crossed the threshold for a full thirty-eight years. He entered into rest in the Lord in the second half of the sixth century.

6. St. Palladius of Thessalonica (6th-7th c.)
7. St. Palladius, bishop of Elenopolis, author of The Lausiac History (ca. 430)
8. St. Maximus of Riez (ca. 460)
9. St. Virgil, bishop of Salzburg, Irish missionary (784)
10. Uncovering of the relics (1192) of St. Vsevolod (in baptism Gabriel), prince and wonderworker of Pskov (1138)
11. St. Theodosius of Turnovo, monastic founder at Mt. Kelifarevo (1363)
12. St. James, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1392)
13. St. Diodorus, founder of Yuriegorsk Monastery (Solovki) (1633)
14. St. Andrew Ogorodnikov, fool-for-Christ, of Simbirsk (1841)
15. New Hieromartyrs Nicholas, archbishop of Vladimir, Nikon, archimandrite, of the Staro-Golutvin Monastery (Kolomna), Ioasaph, archimandrite, of Nikolskoye Monastery (Moscow), Nicholas, hieromonk of the St. Nicholas-Peshnosha Monastery (Moscow), and Apollos, hieromonk, of Moscow (1937)
16. New Hieromartyrs Cronides, archimandrite, Seraphim, abbot, and Xenophont, hieromonk, all of St. Sergius Lavra (1937)
17. Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Radonezh
18. Commemoration of the Miracle of the Weeping Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Sign" at Novgorod (1170)
19. Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Sign": "Kursk Root" (1925), "Of Abalak" (1637), "Of Tsarskoe Selo" (17th c.), and "Of Seraphimo-Ponetaev" (1879)

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.

When the executioners severed the thumb of St. James' right hand, he said "Even a vine is pruned in this manner, so that in time a young branch may grow." At the severing of his second finger, he said: "Receive also, O Lord, the second branch of Thy sowing." At the severing of his third finger, he said: "I bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." At the severing of his fourth finger, he said: "O Thou who acceptest the praise of the four beasts [symbols of the four evangelists], accept the suffering of the fourth finger." At the severing of the fifth finger, he said: "May my rejoicing be fulfilled as that of the five wise virgins at the wedding feast." During the severing of the sixth finger, he said: "Thanks be to Thee, O Lord, Who at the sixth hour stretched out Thy most pure arms on the Cross, that Thou hast made me worthy to offer Thee my sixth finger." At the severing of the seventh finger, he said: "Like David who praised Thee seven times daily, I praise Thee through the seventh finger severed for Thy sake." At the severing of the eighth finger, he said: "On the eighth day Thou Thyself, O Lord, wast circumcised." At the severing of the ninth finger, he said: "At the ninth hour, Thou didst commend Thy spirit into the hands of Thy Father, O my Christ, and I offer Thee thanks during the suffering of my ninth finger." At the severing of the tenth finger, he said: "On a ten-stringed harp I sing to Thee, O God, and thank Thee that Thou hast made me worthy to endure the severing of the ten fingers of my two hands, for the Ten Commandments written on two tablets." Oh, what wonderful faith and love! Oh, the noble soul of this knight of Christ!

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<1> For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. <2> But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. <3> For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. <4> But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. <5> For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. <6> Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. <7> But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. <8> So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

<1> Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him <2> and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?" <3> But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: <4> The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?" <5> And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?' <6> But if we say, ‘From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." <7> So they answered that they did not know where it was from. <8> And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Daily Orthodox - November 28th, 2024

Today is Thursday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

For Americans, consult your priest pertaining to any Thanksgiving-related dispensations.

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Venerable Martyr Stephen the New, of Mt. St. Auxentius (767)

As at one time Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prayed to God to give her a son, so did Anna, the mother of Stephen. Praying thus in the Church of Blachernae before the icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, a light sleep overcame her, and she saw the Most-holy Virgin as radiant as the sun, and heard a voice from the icon: "Woman, depart in peace. In accordance with your prayer, you have a son in your womb." Anna indeed conceived and gave birth to a son, the holy Stephen. At sixteen, Stephen received the monastic tonsure on Mount Auxentius near Constantinople, from the elder John who also taught him divine wisdom and asceticism. When John entered into rest in the Lord, Stephen remained on the mountain in a life of strict asceticism, taking upon himself labor upon labor. His holiness attracted many disciples to him. When Emperor Constantine Copronymus was persecuting icons more ferociously than his foul father, Leo the Isaurian, Stephen showed himself a zealous defender of the veneration of holy icons. The demented emperor accepted various obscene slanders against Stephen and personally plotted intrigues to break Stephen and get him out of the way. Stephn was banished to the island of Proconnesus, then taken to Constantinople, chained and cast into prison, where he was met by 342 monks, brought from all over and imprisoned for their veneration of the icons. There, in prison, they carried out the whole church typicon as in a monastery. Then the wicked emperor condemned Stephen to death. The saint foresaw his death forty days in advance, and asked forgiveness of the brethren. The emperor's servants dragged him from prison and, beating and pulling him, dragged him through the streets of Constantinople calling upon all those loyal to the emperor to stone this "enemy of the emperor." One of the heretics struck the saint on the head with a piece of wood, and the saint gave up his soul. As St. Stephen the Protomartyr suffered at the hands of the Jews, so this Stephen suffered at the hands of the iconoclastic heretics. This glorious soldier of Christ suffered in the year 767 at the age of fifty-three, and was crowned with unfading glory.

2. The New Martyr Christos the Gardener, of Albania

Christos was an Albanian Christian living in Constantinople and a gardener by trade. As he was selling his vegetables one day, he offended a Turk, who then slandered him before a judge, saying that Christos had promised to become a Moslem and then recanted. After interrogation, he was chained and cast into prison. In prison, someone offered him food, which Christos refused, saying: "It is better that I appear before my Christ hungry." After that, he pulled out some money that he had concealed under his belt and gave it to one of his fellow prisoners, requesting that the money be used for several Liturgies to be celebrated for his soul. He was beheaded by the Turks in the year 1748, and was glorified forever in the Kingdom of Christ God.

3. The Venerable Anna

Anna was a woman of noble birth who, after her husband's death, was tonsured into monasticism by St. Stephen the New. Emperor Constantine Copronymus urged her to say that she had engaged in illicit physical relations with St. Stephen, in order to humiliate him before the people. However, this holy woman refused to join in the emperor's intrigue against the saint, whom she venerated as her spiritual father. For that, she was whipped and then cast into prison, where she gave up her holy soul to God.

4. The Holy and Devout Emperor Maurice

Maurice was murdered with his six sons by Emperor Phocas in the year 602 (see "Reflection" below).

5. Martyr Irenarchus and Seven Women-martyrs, at Sebaste (303)

6. Hieromartyrs Timothy and Theodore, bishops; Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, and Nicephorus, priests; Basil and Thomas, deacons; Monk-martyrs Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius, and Eusebius; and Martyr Etymasius, at Tiberiopolis (361)

7. St. Theodore, bishop of Theodosiopolis in Armenia (end of 6th c.)

8. St. Oda, virgin, of Brabant (Neth.) (726)

9. Martyrs Basil, Stephen, Gregory (2), John, Andrew, Peter, Anna, and many others, who suffered with St. Stephen the New (767)

10. Blessed Theodore, archbishop of Rostov (1394)

11. New Hieromartyrs Seraphim, metropolitan of St. Petersburg, Raphael, hieromonk of the Zlatoustov Monastery (Moscow), and Monk-martyr Vincent of Optina 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).

Reflection

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

Reading the examples of perseverance in the Faith and generosity of the saints of God, we also become persevering in the Faith and generous. When Copronymus' men urged St. Stephen to reject the veneration of icons to please the iconoclastic emperor, Stephen extended his hand, clenched his fist and said: "If I had in myself only a fist full of blood, I would shed it for the icon of Christ."

Emperor Maurice had six sons of which the sixth and youngest was not yet weaned. For this youngest son, the emperor kept a special wet-nurse at court who fed it. A terrible fate came upon Emperor Maurice: Phocas ousted him from the throne and condemned him to death together with all of his six sons. Before Maurice's eyes, his sons were slain, one after the other. When the wet-nurse had to hand over the emperor's sixth son to be slain, she genuinely felt sorrow over the fate of the unfortunate emperor and his children, and in a moment, decided to save the life of at least one of the emperor's sons. So, when they sought the emperor's son from her breast, she gave them her own young son and he was beheaded. Finally, the Emperor Maurice was beheaded. The emperor's youngest son grew up believing his wet-nurse to be his mother. However, when the wet-nurse revealed the secret to him, he became very serious, then resolutely left the world and withdrew to Mount Sinai, where he was tonsured a monk and dedicated himself to God. He did this to requite that innocent young child who was put to death in his place.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<9> For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. <10> You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; <11> as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, <12> that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. <13> For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. <14> For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

<9> Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. <10> Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. <11> Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. <12> And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. <13> "Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' <14> But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' <15> So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? <16> He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!" <17> Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'? <18> Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

Daily Orthodox - November 29th, 2024

Today is Friday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Martyr Paramon and 370 others with him, at Bithynia (250)

In Asian Bithynia, Governor Aquilinus fiercely persecuted Christians. Once, he captured 370 Christians, brought them with him, and bound them at a place where there was an idolatrous temple of the god Poseidon. Here, the wicked governor tried to force them to worship and offer sacrifice to the idol. Even though the governor threatened death for anyone who did not obey his order, not a single Christian submitted. Just then, a respected man by the name of Paramon passed along the road beside the temple. He stopped beside the masses of shackled people and learned what was happening. Then he cried out: "Oh, how many innocent righteous ones does this foul governor desire to slaughter, because they will not worship his dead and mute idols?" Paramon then continued on his way, and the infuriated governor sent his servants to slay him. The servants caught up to Paramon, seized him and pierced his tongue with a thorn, then stripped him naked and stabbed his entire body. Holy Paramon, with prayer in his heart, gave up his soul to God. After that, the 370 martyrs, great as sons of God and innocent as lambs, were beheaded and thus entered into the Immortal Kingdom of Christ the Lord. They suffered in the year 250.

2. The Venerable Acacius of Sinai

In his famous book, The Ladder, St. John Climacus relates the life of this saint. The young Acacius was a novice under an evil elder in the monastery on Sinai. The irascible elder daily reproached and insulted Acacius and often beat, tormented and maltreated him in every possible way. However, Acacius did not complain but endured this all patiently, with the assurance that it was beneficial to his salvation. Whenever anyone asked him how he was doing, he replied: "Well, as before the Lord God!" After nine years of obedience and torment, Acacius died. The elder buried him and then expressed sorrow to another elder saying: "Acacius, my disciple died." "I do not believe it," replied the holy elder, "Acacius did not die." Then both of them went to the grave of the dead man and that holy elder cried out: "Brother Acacius, did you die?" Acacius, obedient even after death replied: "Father, I have not died, for it is impossible for an obedient one to die." Then, the evil elder repented and shut himself in a cell near Acacius' grave where, in repentance and prayer, he spent the remainder of his life.

3. The Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth

He was an eminent pastor and teacher. He was beheaded for Christ in the year 182.

4. Saint Tiridates, King of Armenia (4th c.)

Tiridates was a contemporary of Diocletian. At first, he furiously persecuted Christians, but God's punishment befell him and he went insane and became like a beast, as had happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Tiridates was miraculously healed of his insanity by St. Gregory of Armenia (September 30). From then until his death, Tiridates spent his life in repentance and devotion. He died peacefully in the fourth century.

5. The Holy Martyr Apollonius

Apollonius was a Roman senator. Accused because of his faith in Christ, he confessed it before the entire senate, for which he was beheaded with the sword in Rome in the year 186.

6. Hieromartyr Saturninus, bishop of Toulouse (ca. 257)

7. Martyr Philoumenus of Ancyra, and with him Martyrs Valerian and Phaedrus (274)

8. St. Pitirim of Egypt (4th c.), disciple of St. Anthony the Great

9. St. Brendan of Birr (571)

10. Hieromartyr Abibus, bishop of Nekresi in Georgia (6th c.

11. St. Radboud, bishop of Utrecht (917)

12. St. Nectarius the Obedient, of the Kiev Caves (12th c.)

13. St. Mardarije of Libertyville and Chicago, missionary and first Serbian bishop in America (1935)

14. New-hieromartyr Philoumenos, of Jacob's Well (1979)

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's punishment often befalls sinners immediately after the sin, that the sinners may fear and the righteous be encouraged. However, sometimes it falls much later, suddenly and unexpectedly, that sinners may know that God forgets nothing. Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up by the earth immediately after their sin, but King Balthazzar saw the hand that wrote his death sentence when he felt most fortunate at a banquet among his friends and admirers.

A gravely ill soldier was brought to St. Stephen the New [ed. note: commemorated yesterday] to be healed by him through prayer. Stephen told him to venerate the icons of Christ and the Holy Theotokos. The soldier did this and was immediately restored to health, and this miracle was spoken of everywhere. Hearing of this, the iconoclastic Emperor Constantine Copronymus summoned this soldier and questioned him. When the soldier confessed that he received healing from the holy icons, the emperor reproached him with fury for venerating them. The frightened soldier repudiated the veneration of icons before the emperor and grew ashamed of his faith in them. When the soldier left the court and mounted his horse, the horse went wild under him, threw him off and trampled him with its hooves until he gave up his soul. Behold: a punishment immediately following sin.

King Tiridates, a persecutor of Christians, threw St. Gregory into a pit and killed thirty-seven holy nuns, but no punishment befell him. Later, when the king and his companions went hunting for pleasure, he and his entourage were seized by sudden madness. The reason for his madness and the means to restore him were revealed to his pious sister in a dream. St. Gregory was taken out of the pit, and by his prayers King Tiridates became healthy, repented and was baptized.

Punishment sometimes quickly follows sin as the day follows the night, yet sometimes slowly, as year follows year. But it never fails to come, except where repentance takes the place of punishment.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<14> For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, <15> who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, <16> forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. <17> But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. <18> Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. <19> For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? [<20> For you are our glory and joy.]

<19> And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. <20> So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. <21> Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: <22> Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" <23> But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? <24> Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." <25> And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." <26> But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

Daily Orthodox - November 30th, 2024

Today is Saturday of the 23rd Week after Pentecost.

Fasting Obligations

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called

Andrew, the son of Jonah and brother of Peter, was born in Bethsaida and was a fisherman by trade. At first he was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, but when St. John pointed to the Lord Jesus, saying, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36), Andrew left his first teacher and followed Christ. Then, Andrew brought his brother Peter to the Lord. Following the descent of the Holy Spirit, it fell by lot to the first apostle of Christ, St. Andrew, to preach the Gospel in Byzantium and Thrace, then in the lands along the Danube and in Russia around the Black Sea, and finally in Epirus, Greece and the Peloponnese, where he suffered. In Byzantium, he appointed St. Stachys as its first bishop; in Kiev, he planted a Cross on a high place and prophesied a bright Christian future for the Russian people; throughout Thrace, Epirus, Greece and the Peloponnese, he converted multitudes of people to the Faith and ordained bishops and priests for them. In the city of Patras, he performed many miracles in the name of Christ, and won many over to the Lord. Among the new faithful were the brother and wife of the Proconsul Aegeates. Angered at this, Aegeates subjected St. Andrew to torture and then crucified him. While the apostle of Christ was still alive on the cross, he gave beneficial instructions to the Christians who had gathered around. The people wanted to take him down from the cross but he refused to let them. Then the apostle prayed to God and an extraordinary light encompassed him. This brilliant illumination lasted for half an hour, and when it disappeared, the apostle gave up his holy soul to God. Thus, the First-called Apostle, the first of the Twelve Great Apostles to know the Lord and follow Him, finished his earthly course. St. Andrew suffered for the Lord in the year 62. His relics were taken to Constantinople; his head was later taken to Rome, and one hand was taken to Moscow.

2. Saint Frumentius the Enlightener of Abyssinia (370)

In the time of Emperor Constantine the Great, a learned man from Tyre by the name of Meropius traveled to India. He took with him two young Christians, the brothers Edesius and Frumentius. On the journey, their boat was shipwrecked in a storm off the coast of Abyssinia, and the wild Abyssinians killed everyone on the boat except these two brothers. They lived in Abyssinia for several years, and managed to enter into service in the imperial court of the Abyssinian king. Frumentius began to preach the Christian Faith, initially very cautiously, and was convinced that this land would be fruitful for such preaching. The two brothers then took ship: Edesius to Tyre, to his parents, and Frumentius to Alexandria, to Patriarch Athanasius the Great. Frumentius explained the situation in Abyssinia to the Patriarch, and sought pastors for those newly converted to the Faith. St. Athanasius consecrated Frumentius to the episcopacy. St. Frumentius returned to Abyssinia where, by his zeal and his miracles, he converted all of Abyssinia to the Christian Faith in his own lifetime. This great shepherd of the flock of Christ, the enlightener of Abyssinia, reposed peacefully in the year 370 and went to live in the Kingdom of his Lord.

3. Sts. Peter I (5th c.) and Samuel I (5th-6th c.), catholicoses of Georgia

4. St. Vakhtang Gorgasali, king of Georgia (502)

5. St. Tudwal, bishop in Wales and Brittany (6th c.)

6. St. Andrew (Saguna), metropolitan of Transylvania (1873)

7. St. Elias, schemamonk of Valaam and Verkhoturye (1900)

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.

St. John Chrysostom says: "All is given to the Apostles." That is, all gifts, all power, all the fullness of grace which God gives to the faithful. We see this in the life of the great apostle, St. Andrew the First-called: He was an apostle, evangelist, prophet, pastor and teacher (Ephesians 4:11). As an evangelist, he carried the good news of the Gospel to the four corners of the earth; as a prophet, he prophesied the baptism of the Russian people and the greatness of Kiev as a city and a Christian center; as a pastor, he established and organized many churches; as a teacher, he tirelessly taught people right up to and during his crucifixion, where he taught from the cross until his last breath. In addition to this, he was a martyr, which is also according to the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is not given to everyone. And so we see in this apostle, as in the others, the fullness of the grace of the Spirit of God. And every great work that a follower of Christ performs must be ascribed to that grace. St. Frumentius testifies this to us. When he returned from Alexandria to Abyssinia as a consecrated bishop, he began to perform the greatest miracles, thus converting great masses of people to the Faith. Then the amazed king asked him: "So many years have you lived among us and never have we seen you perform such miracles. How is it that you do so now?" To this, the Blessed Frumentius replied to the emperor: "This is not my work, but the work of the grace of the priesthood." The saint then explained to the king how he had forsaken parents and marriage and the whole world for the sake of Christ, and how he had—by the laying on of hands by St. Athanasius—received the grace of the priesthood: miracle-working grace.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

<9> For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. <10> We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! <11> To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. <12> And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; <13> being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. <14> I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. <15> For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. <16> Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

<35> Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. <36> And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" <37> The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. <38> Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" <39> He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). <40> One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. <41> He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). <42> And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). <43> The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." <44> Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. <45> Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." <46> And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." <47> Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" <48> Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." <49> Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" <50> Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." <51> And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Slavic

<1> Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: <2> that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. <3> For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, <4> imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. <5> And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

<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."