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| Old Style
February 10
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Friday |
New Style
February 23
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1st Week of Great Lent.
Tone 4.
Great Lent. |
 Monastic rule: xerophagy (bread, uncooked fruits and vegetables).
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Hieromartyr Charalampus, bishop of Magnesia in Asia Minor, and Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus (202).
Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula, of Palestine (308). St. Anna of Novgorod (1050). St. Prochorus of the Kiev Caves (1107). St. Longinus, founder of Koryazhemka Monastery (Vologda) (1540). St. Raphael, archimandrite (1765), and St. Ioannicius, hieromonk (1882), of Svatogorsk Monastery. Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs: Sts. Joachim (1030), Luke the Jew (1060), Germanus (1095), Arcadius (1162), Gregory (1193), Martyrius (1199), Anthony (1231), Basil (1352), Moses (1362), Symeon (1421), Gennadius (1504), Pimen (1571), and Athonius (1653).
“Areovindus” (“Fiery Vision”) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Scholastica of Italy (543), sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. St. Anastasius II, patriarch of Jerusalem (706). St. John Chimchimeli of Bachkovo and Gremi (13th c.).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Friday.
The Lord scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly (Prov. 3:34). Particularly remember these words when you go to confession. Nothing like pride binds your tongue to keep it from saying, “I am a sinner.” Humble yourself before the Lord, do not spare yourself, do not fear the face of man. Reveal your shame for it to be washed; show your wounds for them to be healed; tell of all your unrighteousness that you be justified. The more merciless you will be with yourself, the more compassion the Lord will show towards you, and you will leave with a sweet feeling of forgiveness. This is that grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, given from Him to those who humble themselves through sincere confession of their sins.[1]
[1] In Russia people traditionally went to confession on the evening of this first Friday of Great Lent, in preparation for Holy Communion the next day. See the footnote for Tuesday of this week.
Articles
 Hieromartyr Charalampus (Haralambos) the Bishop of Magnesia in ThessalyDespite the bishop’s advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous tortures. |
 Martyr Porphyrius in ThessalySaint Porphyrius was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Saints Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, |
 Martyr Baptus in ThessalySaint Baptus was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Saints Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Porphyrius, and three women in the year 202. |
 Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula, of PalestineThe Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). |
 Icon of the Mother of God “Areovindus”The origins of this unusual icon, in which the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted without Christ, are unknown. |
