ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2016
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Old Style
October 1
Friday
New Style
October 14
17th Week after Pentecost. Tone 7.
Fast Day.
Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Совершается служба великому праздникуThe Protection of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомApostle Ananias of the Seventy (1st c.). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Romanus the Melodist, of Constantinople (556). Совершается служба со славословиемSt. Sabbas, founder of Vyshera Monastery (Novgorod) (1461).

Martyr Domninus of Thessalonica (4th c.). Hieromartyr Michael, abbot, of Zovia Monastery near Sebaste, and 36 Monk-martyrs with him (ca. 790). Miracle of the Pillar over the Robe of the Lord at Mtskheta, Georgia (ca. 330).

New Hieromartyr Archpriest Ismael Rozhdestvensky of Strelna (St. Petersburg) (1938).

Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Pokrov” (Pskov) and Lublin (1581).

King Mirian and Queen Nana of Mtskheta, St. Abiathar of Mtskheta, and St. Sidonia, disciple of St. Nina (4th c.). St. Remigius of Rheims, apostle to the Franks (533). St. Bavo, hermit, of Ghent (654). St. Melchizedek, catholicos-patriarch of Georgia (ca. 1030). Saint Melor the Breton, Prince and Martyr (6th c.). St. Joseph of Bisericani Monastery (Moldavia) (late 15th c.).

Repose of Hieroschemamonk Euthymius of Valaam (1829).

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

Friday. [Eph. 4:17-25; Mark 12:1-12]

   In the parable about the vineyard is depicted the Old Testament Church and God’s care for it. The New Testament Church succeeded the Old, and so this parable can be applied to it as well. Since each Christian is also a living church of God, it can be applied to him as well. The latter is more needful for us. What is the vineyard? It is the soul that has received remission of sins, the grace of rebirth, the gift of the Holy Spirit as a promise of the heritage of the eternal kingdom, the word of God, the holy mysteries, a guardian angel. Who are the husbandmen? Consciousness and freedom. They receive the gifts and give a commitment to cultivate them and bear fruit to the Lord. Who are the careless husbandmen? Those who want to use the advantages of being a Christian as befits the external order of their lives, but do not bring worthy spiritual fruits to the Lord. Who are those sent from the Lord? The conscience and the fear of God, the word of God, teachers and pastors by whom the Lord wants to give understanding to the careless. Those who do not want to change themselves do not heed them; some drive them away and try to muffle their voice. Others even start to war against the Lord Himself, when they reject faith in Him in various forms. In the end, they will be miserably destroyed (cf. Mt. 21:41).

Articles

The Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

The Church has always glorified the Most Holy Mother of God as the Protectress and Defender of the Christian people, entreating, by her intercession, God's loving-kindness towards us sinners. The Mother of God's aid has been clearly shown times without number, both to individuals and to peoples, both in peace and in war, both in monastic deserts and in crowded cities.

The Protection of the Holy Virgin

The Protection of the Holy Virgin is one of the most popular Orthodox holidays in Russia. Thousands of cathedrals were built in Russia in honor of this holiday.

Rejoice, O Our Joy! Sermon on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

But during this present, difficult time, when the earth has grown old, is burdened by faithlessness, lawlessness, and ignorance of the knowledge of God’s commandments, has our Fervent Intercessor turned away from us in her zeal for the glory of her Son and God? No, my dears, this could not be. Needy children are dearer to a mother.

Homily on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Holy Hierach Innocent (Borisov)

For those who celebrate the commemoration of the miraculous appearance of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God, nothing could be more joyous than if we announced that this grace-filled Protection is spread even over us. But who could be the bearer of these glad tidings? Whose eye is capable of seeing the Most Holy Intercessor, “in the air, praying to Christ for us?” There are no obvious mystical seers like blessed Andrew and Epiphanius among us; and the hidden mysteries known only to the Lord will remain hidden unto the ages.

Homily on the Day of the Protection of the Mother of God

St. Nicholai Velimirovich

That the righteous inherit the Kingdom of God is witnessed by the Most Pure Mother of God through her appearance in glory and light, with her protecting veil, with which she protects from evil all who run to her with tears, prayer and faith. She appeared and she still appears—not just for the sake of appearing, but in order to open the spiritual eyes of those without faith, so that they would learn of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let Us All Turn to the Mother of God! On the Feast of the Protection.

St. Alexis Toth

But anyplace wherever we would be, the Lord's Mother is with us! She hears our prayers to Her. She is also here in Minneapolis and She hears our prayers. She sees when you put candles before her icon requesting for yourself, your homeland and your friends Her assistance and protection.

From Defeat to Victory. The Protection of the Mother of God

In the life of the Church there is much that is visible, yet mysterious, and completely inexplicable, because the ways of the Lord are unsearchable.

Homily on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Fr. Myron Oryhon

"Let us be vigilant to see with purity, to interpret with purity of heart and to act with love. Then we shall be able to see freely the divine light shining on the world and in the world. In this manner we can better love, serve, and be part of the world which God given us."

Saint Melor the Breton, Prince and Martyr

Dmitry Lapa

Unfortunately, no authentic information on St. Melor (also Melorius, Mylor) survives. We know neither when nor where he lived. The only thing we can say for sure is that his life was connected with Brittany and/or Cornwall, and the most important center of his veneration for many years from the tenth century was the English town of Amesbury in the county of Wiltshire (southern England).
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