The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.
New Hieromartyr Alexander Khotovitsky, protopresbyter, of New York and Moscow (1937).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Everlasting Hope.”
St. Columbanus, abbot, and founder of the monasteries of Luxeuil (Gaul) and Bobbio (Italy) (615).
Repose of Blessed Pasha of Birsk, fool-for-Christ (1891).
Twenty Seventh Sunday After Pentecost. [Eph. 6:10-17; Luke
13:10-17]
On the feast of the Entry of the Most
Holy Mother of God into the Temple, “Christ is
born” is first sung, preparing believers for a
worthy meeting of the feast of Christ’s Nativity.
Having understood this inspiration, act according to it.
Delve deeply into the mystery of the incarnation of the
Only-Begotten Son of God, ascend to its beginning in the
pre-eternal counsel of God concerning the existence of the
world and man in it, see its reflection in the creation of
man, meet joyfully the first tidings of it immediately
after the fall, trace rationally its gradual revelation in
Old Testament prophesies and prefigurations. Understand
how and who prepared to receive God incarnate, under the
influence of Divine educational institutions and
activities within Israel—pass, if you want, across
the borders to God’s people and gather there rays of
God’s light, shining in the darkness—and
ponder to what degree those chosen from among all nations
reached the presentiment of the unusual manifestation of
God’s providence for people. This will be a mental
preparation. But now the fast has begun—collect
yourself in order to prepare for Communion, go to
confession and take Communion with the Holy Mysteries of
Christ: this will be an active and living preparation. If,
on account of all this, the Lord grants you to feel the
power of His coming in the flesh—then, when the
holiday comes, you will celebrate it not out of a joy
foreign to you, but one of your own flesh and
blood.