ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2018
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Мученик Михаил, князь Черниговский Св. равноапостольный Кирилл, учитель Словенский Марон Сирийский
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Old Style
February 14 		Tuesday
New Style
February 27
2nd Week of Great Lent. Tone 5.
Great Lent.
Monastic rule: xerophagy (bread, uncooked fruits and vegetables).

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Auxentius, monk, of Bithynia (ca. 470). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Cyril, Equal-to-the-Apostles, teacher of the Slavs (869).

St. Maron, hermit of Cyrrhus (ca. 433). St. Abraham, bishop of Charres in Mesopotamia (5th c.). St. Isaac, recluse of the Kiev Caves (ca. 1090). Translation of the relics of Martyrs Prince Michael and his counselor Theodore, of Chernigov (1578).

New Hieromartyr Onesimus (Pylaev), bishop of Tula (1937).

St. Peter, patriarch of Alexandria (380). Hieromartyr Philemon, bishop of Gaza. New Martyr Nicholas of Corinth (1554). New Monk-martyr Damian of Philotheou and Kissavos, at Larissa (1568). New Martyr George the Tailor, of Mytilene, at Constantinople (1693). St. Hilarion the Georgian (the New) of Imereti and Mt. Athos (1864). St. Raphael, bishop of Brooklyn (1915).

Repose of Archimandrite Barsanuphius of Valaam and Morocco (1952), Righteous Barbara (Arkhangelskaya) the Recluse, of Ufa (1966), and Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (1998).

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

Tuesday.

And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear (Gen. 4:13). Was it possible to talk like this before the countenance of God, Who is strict of course in righteousness, but is always ready to have mercy upon a sinner who truly repents? Envy obscured sensible thoughts, deliberate transgression hardened his heart, and behold, Cain rudely answers to God Himself: Am I my brother’s keeper? (Gen. 4:9). God wants to soften his stony heart with the hammer of His strict judgement; but Cain does not give in, and locked in his coarseness, he commits himself to the lot which he prepared for himself through his envy and murder. What is amazing is that after this he lived like anyone else: he had children, established a household and maintained earthly relations. Yet the mark of being outcast and of his despair still lay on him. So it is an inner affair, which occurs in the conscience, out of the realization of one’s relation to God, under the influence of burdensome passions, sinful habits, and deeds. Let people heed this now especially! But together with this let people resurrect their belief that there is no sin greater than God’s mercy; however, both time and work are needed to soften the heart. But it is either salvation, or ruin!

Articles

Venerable Auxentius of Bithynia

Saint Auxentius, by origin a Syrian, served at the court of the emperor Theodosius the Younger (418-450). He was known as a virtuous, learned and wise man, and he was, moreover, a friend of many of the pious men of his era.

St Cyril, Equal of the Apostles and Teacher of the Slavs

Saint Cyril received the finest of educations, and from the age of fourteen he was raised with the son of the emperor. Later, he was ordained as a priest.

Venerable Maron the Hermit of Syria

Saint Maron was born in the fourth century near the city of Cyrrhus in Syria. He spent almost all his time beneath the open sky in prayer, vigil, ascetical works and strict fasting.

St. Abraham the Bishop of Charres in Mesopotamia

Saint Abraham, Bishop of Charres, lived during the mid-fourth and early fifth centuries, and was born in the city of Cyrrhus. In his youth he entered a monastery.

Venerable Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves

Saint Isaac was the first person in northern lands to live as a fool for Christ.

Holy Martyrs Prince Michael and his counselor Theodore, of Chernigov

Taking courage in the words of the Lord: “Whoever would save his life, shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake shall save it” (Mt.16:25), the holy prince and his devoted boyar prepared for a martyr’s death and received the Holy Mysteries, which their spiritual Father gave them, foreseeing this possibility.

Tower of Virtue. St. Hilarion the Georgian of Mt. Athos. Part 1

Hieromonk Anthony (Torp)

His life was intertwined with the upheavals of the nineteenth century: the dissolution of the Georgian Kingdom, its annexation by Russia, and the Greek Insurrection of 1821. Within these events St. Hilarion led a life that encompassed the fullness of Christianity. As a married priest he was the royal confessor, and later as a monk he witnessed to the Faith before the Muslims. He finally became a vessel of the Holy Spirit as a great ascetic and spiritual father on Mount Athos. Where he was called “St. Hilarion the Georgian".

Tower of Virtue. St. Hilarion the Georgian of Mt. Athos Part 2

Hieromonk Anthony (Torp)

Amid such outward struggles, Fr. Hilarion immersed himself in the sea of spiritual contemplation and noetic prayer; consequently, a bitter spiritual battle began. Many times hordes of demons appeared to him like battle regiments. Approaching the tower, they would scream, as if laying siege, attacking the tower, but they were unable to achieve their ends. Sometimes the entire multitude would try to frighten the elder, crying out, "Three sides have already been taken; there remains one, but we'll take it."
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