ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2017
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Свт. Серапион Новгородский
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Old Style
March 16 		Wednesday
New Style
March 29
5th Week of Great Lent. Tone 7.
Великий пост.
Wine and oil allowed.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyr Sabinas of Hermopolis, Egypt (287). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyr Papas of Lycaonia (305-311).

Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy, bishop of Britain (1st c.). Hieromartyr Alexander, pope of Rome (119). Martyr Julian of Anazarbus (4th c.). St. Serapion, archbishop of Novgorod (1516). Hieromartyrs Trophimus and Thalus, priests, of Laodicea (300). St. Pimen, fool-for-Christ, enlightener of the Dagestani, and his companion Anthony of Meskhi, Georgia (13th c.). St. Ambrose (Khelaia) the Confessor, catholicos of Georgia (1927). St. Eutropia of Kherson (1968).

St. Abban of Kilabban (Ireland) (650). Martyr Romanus at Parium on the Hellespont. St. Christodulus, wonderworker, of Patmos (1093). New Monk-martyr Malachi of Rhodes, at Jerusalem (1500).

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

Wednesday.

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath (Prov. 15:24). It is well-known to all that hell exists, and that anyone can end up there as a result of his deeds. But not all remember this, or live so piously that they are clearly trying to to avoid hell. They live without thinking about it, saying, “Maybe… Maybe we somehow will not end up in hell.” Where is our reason? In earthly affairs one can somehow get away with “maybe,” but in such a decisive affair, which, once accomplished, will abide unto the ages of ages unchanged, “maybe” reveals lack of reason to the utmost degree. Do not pride yourself, O Reason, on your reasonableness, when you do not remember this and do not suggest to us thoughts of life: how to avoid hell in order to be saved.

Articles

Martyr Sabinus of Egypt

During a persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), Saint Sabinus and some like-minded companions hid in a remote village.

Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy the Bishop of Britain

The Holy Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy was born on Cyprus. He and his brother, the holy Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy, accompanied the holy Apostle Paul on his journeys.

Venerable Father Pimen, Fool-for-Christ and Enlightener of Dagestan, and His Companion Anton Meskhi, the Censurer of Kings (13th century)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Saint Pimen the Fool-for-Christ and Anton Meskhi (of Meskheti, in southern Georgia) lived in the 13th century, when the Mongols were regularly invading Georgia. The entire country, and the Church in particular, languished under the yoke of Mongol oppression. The Georgian people were once again faced with a terrible choice: to preserve their temporal flesh or attain spiritual salvation. Most would not yield to the temptation of the enemy and chose instead to die as martyrs for Christ.

Saint Ambrosi the Confessor, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (†1927)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

In response to one of the Bolshevik interrogations, the patriarch asserted, “Confession of Faith is a spiritual necessity for every nation — persecution increases its necessity. Faith deepens, being contracted and accumulated, and it bursts out with new energy. So it was in the past, and so it will be in our country. Georgia is no exception to this universal law.” St. Ambrosi spoke these remarkable last words to his persecutors: “My soul belongs to God, my heart to my motherland, and with my flesh you may do whatever you wish.” The court sentenced the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia to seven years, nine months and twenty-eight days in prison.
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