ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2016
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September 11
Saturday
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September 24
14th Week after Pentecost. Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross. Tone 4.
Fast-free period.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Theodora of Alexandria (490). Совершается служба с полиелеемTranslation of the relics of Sts. Sergius and Herman of Valaam (1542-1550). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Silouan, elder, of St. Panteleimon Monastery, Mt. Athos (1938).

Martyrs Demetrius, his wife Evanthia, and their son Demetrian, at Skepsis on the Hellespont (1st c.). Martyr Ia of Persia and 9,000 martyrs with her (362-364). St. Euphrosynus the Cook, of Alexandria (9th c.). Martyrs Diodorus, Didymus, and Diomedes, of Laodicea (362-364). Glorification of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, fool-for-Christ (1978). St. John, abbot, of Svyatogorsk Monastery (1970). Synaxis of the Saints of the Svatogorsk Monastery.

Weeping Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of Kaplunovka.” (1689)

Martyrs Serapion, Cronides, and Leontius, of Alexandria (237). St. Paphnutius the Confessor, bishop in the Egyptian Thebaid (4th c.). St. Deiniol, abbot and bishop, of Bangor, Wales (584). Holy Martyr Theodora of Vasta in the Peloponnese. St. Elias the Cave-dweller, of Calabria (ca. 960).

Repose of the young Elder Melchizedek of Mzensk (1846).

Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse

St. Theophan the Recluse

Saturday. [I Cor. 4:1-5; Matt. 23:1-12]

   He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. As the Lord tells us, greatness is measured not by birth, not by power, nor by abilities and resources, but by the ability to arrange good for others. He who is more tireless and acts more broadly in this vein is greatest. As in a family, the greatest member is sincerely concerned for the whole family, and he considers it an honor and advantage to soothe all, to do such that things will be good for everyone, so in a Christian society he who wants to be greatest must take on complete care for the Christian comfort of all those in his spheres of existence, and in the area of activity which he has chosen for himself. But it is even better to abandon every thought about greatness and have heartfelt care for greater service for the good of all those around you, and then you will be greatest in the eyes of God, and people will perhaps recognize you as such, also. If only all who are greater would make this law of Christ the law of their conscience, what prosperity and ease would arise immediately among us! But the misfortune is that greatness among us begins quickly to serve itself and its own interests, and almost always joins this with demands of being served itself rather than it serving others, and soothes its conscience with the proper running of official affairs. This is why there are many superiors, but good does not prosper in our midst, and all good institutions do not bring forth that good which is expected of them.

Articles

On the Love of Enemies: the Teaching of St. Silouan

Jean-Claude Larchet

Although it is natural and usual to love those who love us and to do good to those who do good to us, to love our enemies is distasteful to our nature. One can say that it isn’t in our power but is an attitude that can only be the fruit of grace, given by the Holy Spirit. This is why St. Silouan the Athonite writes, "The soul that has not known the Holy Spirit does not understand how one can love one’s enemies, and does not accept it."

St. Silouan the Athonite

If you will pray for your enemies, peace will come to you; but when you can love your enemies - know that a great measure of the grace of God dwells in you, though I do not say perfect grace as yet, but sufficient for salvation. Whereas if you revile your enemies, it means there is an evil spirit living in you and bringing evil thoughts into your heart, for, in the words of the Lord, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts - or good thoughts.

St. Silouan of Mt. Athos: “I have many sorrows of my own, and they are my own fault…”

Roman Savchuk

There are moments when it seems that circumstances are indeed beyond our power, when life breaks down and it’s painful even to look at the world around us. Reality is cruel, and the soul can truly become sick. And no one knows when sorrows will knock at doors of the heart. But we must know in that moment how to answer these unawaited guests…

On the Word to St. Silouan, “Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not”

Jesse Dominick

The path to humility is encapsulated in the advice that St. Silouan heard from God in his heart: “Keep thy mind in Hell and despair not.” Our generation especially struggles with pride and all of its trappings, and thus we have much to learn from the life of St. Silouan.

Holy Hierarch Deiniol, Bishop of Bangor in Wales

Dmitry Lapa

St. Deiniol (the Welsh from of Daniel) lived in the sixth century. He was a descendant of one Celtic ruler in Northern Britain.
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