ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2018
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Прп. Мария Египетская Преподобный Феофан Сигрианский Святитель Григорий Двоеслов
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March 12 		Sunday
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March 25
Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt. Tone 1.
Great Lent.
Wine and oil allowed.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Theophanes the Confessor, of Sigriane (818).

Righteous Phineas, grandson of Aaron (ca. 1500 b.c.). St. Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome (604). Sts. Symeon the New Theologian (1021), and his elder, Symeon the Reverent, of the Studion (987).

New Hieromartyr Vladimir (Volkov), archimandrite, of Islavskoe (Moscow) (1938).

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Not-Made-by-Hands” (on the Pillar) at Lydda (1st c.).

Righteous Aaron the High Priest, brother of Prophet Moses the God-seer (ca. 1530 b.c.). St. Cyrus, monk, of Alexandria (6th c.). St. Paul Aurelian, bishop of Leon in Brittany (572). St. Alphege, bishop of Winchester, England (951). St. Nicodemus of Mammola in Calabria (990). Martyr Demetrius the Devoted, king of Georgia (1289). St. Dragutin (monk Theoctistus) of Serbia (1316).

Repose of Schemamonk Anthony the Gorge-dweller, of Zelenchug Monastery in Kuban (1908).

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

The Fifth Sunday of Lent. [Heb. 9:11–14; Mark 10:32–45]

The sinful woman, upon hearing that the Saviour was in the house of Simon, came there with an alabaster box of ointment. Moving toward the feet of the Lord from behind Him, she started to cry and washed His feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with myrrh (cf. Luke 7:36–39). She did not say anything; she only acted, and through her actions revealed a most tender love for the Lord. Because of this it was spoken of her: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much (Luke 7:47). Oh, when will we talk less and act more, and through our actions witness our love for the Lord? You might say, “If He were here I would be ready now to do all for Him.” But He is here, invisible in His person, but visible in all Christians, most of all in the needy. Anoint the invisible Lord with loving prayer of the heart and mind; and, for His sake, do everything possible for the needy, and you will be doing this for God.

Articles

Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane

Theophanes grew up at the court and became a dignitary under the emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780). His position obliged him to enter into marriage, but he persuaded his bride to live with him in virginity.

Righteous Phineas the grandson of Aaron

The Righteous Phineas, grandson of the High Priest Aaron (also commemorated today) and son of the High Priest Eleazar, was also a priest and zealous in his service.

St. Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome

Wisely governing the Church, Hierarch Gregory tirelessly planted the Word of God. Saint Gregory compiled in the Latin tongue the order of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (used during Great Lent), which before him was known only in oral tradition.

How St. Gregory the Dialogist Stopped a Laughing Woman

Ilya Timkin

St. Gregory was one of the most gifted people of his time. Brilliantly educated, the future Roman primate even once worked as the head of the city administration of the “eternal city.” Admittedly, it was a special time—the Middle Ages.

Venerable Simeon the New Theologian

Saint Simeon the New Theologian was born in the year 949 in the city of Galatea (Paphlagonia), and he was educated at Constantinople. His father prepared him for a career at court, and for a certain while the youth occupied a high position at the imperial court.

The Venerable Poet on the Prose of Life

Deacon Pavel Serzhantov

There are considerations of both high and more ordinary things in St. Symeon’s hymns. These reflections put the mundane into a spiritual perspective, prompting me to think about who I am, and whether I have found my place.

Icon “Not Made by Hands” from Lydda

According to Tradition, the Apostles Peter and John were preaching in Lydda (later called Diospolis) near Jerusalem. There they built a church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, then went to Jerusalem and asked her to come and sanctify the church by her presence.
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