ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2019
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Икона Божией Матери ''Споручница грешных'' Преподобный Павел Препростый, Варсонофий еп. Тверской Гурий и Герман архиеп. Казанские, Прп. Евдокия
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Old Style
March 7
Wednesday
New Style
March 20
2nd Week of Great Lent. Tone 1.
Great Lent.
Monastic rule: xerophagy (bread, uncooked fruits and vegetables).

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомThe Holy Hieromartyrs of Chersonese: Basil, Ephraim, Capiton, Eugene, Aetherius, Elpidius, and Agathadorus (4th c.).

St. Paul the Simple, of Egypt (4th c.). St. Paul the Confessor, bishop of Plousias in Bithynia (9th c.). St. Emilian, monk, of Rome (6th c.).

New Hieromartyr Nilus (Tyutyukin), hieromonk of St. Joseph of Volokolamsk Monastery (1938).

Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Surety of Sinners” (Moscow) (1848) and “Of Czestochowa.”

Sts. Nestor and Arcadius, bishops of Tremithus (4th c.). St. Ephraim, patriarch of Antioch (546). St. Lawrence, founder of the monastery of the Mother of God on Salamis (1707). St. Dandus and All Saints of Thrace. Martyrs Codratus, Saturninus, and Rufinus, of Nicomedia (250-259).

Repose of Schemamonk Sisoes of Valaam (1931).

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.

   When Moses and Aaron began to intercede before Pharaoh to let their people go, the answer to this was increased work for oppressed Israelites, to the point that they raised an outcry against their intercessors: ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh (Ex. 5:21). This is exactly what the soul of a repentant sinner experiences. When the fear of God and one’s conscience—the inner Moses and Aaron—begin to inspire a soul to finally rise up onto its feet and shake off the yoke of sinful slavery, joy passes through all of its members. But the enemy does not sleep; he heaps mountains of mental obstacles—thoughts that sin is insurmountable, and brings in fear from all sides—fear for one’s prosperity, for external relationships, for one’s influence, even for one’s life. It even happens that one stops having only just begun. Be inspired brother! The Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgement, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness (Is. 5:16). God is stronger than the enemy. Cry out to Him, and you will hear the same thing that Moses heard then: Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh (Ex. 6:1).

   The enemy does not have power over a soul; he only can frighten it with illusory terrors. Do not give in, endure, go forward courageously, saying to yourself: I will not give in even unto death, and I will go bravely wherever the Lord calls me, with the spirit of repentance which now acts in me.

Articles

Hieromartyr Basil of Cherson

For a long time the saint prayed, invoking the Name of the Holy Trinity. Then he blessed water, and sprinkled it on the dead one, who was restored to life. The saint returned to the city with honor, and many believed and were baptized.

Hieromartyr Ephraim of Cherson

Later on, Saint Ephraim went to the peoples living along the Danube, where he underwent many tribulations and sorrows. He was beheaded at the start of the persecution.

Hieromartyr Capiton of Cherson

This miracle and the great faith of Saint Capiton were reported to Saint Constantine and the holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (325), and they all glorified God.

Hieromartyr Eugene of Cherson

A year after the martyrdom of Saint Basil, three of his companions, Bishops Eugene, Elpidius and Agathodorus, ceased their preaching in the Hellespont, and arrived at Cherson to continue his holy work.

Hieromartyr Aetherius of Cherson

Saint Aetherius journeyed to Constantinople to thank the emperor for protecting the Christians. He fell ill and died on the return trip.

Hieromartyr Elpidius of Cherson

They endured many hardships for the salvation of human souls.

Hieromartyr Agathodorus of Cherson

All three bishops shared the fate of their predecessor: they were stoned to death by the pagans on March 7, 311.

Venerable Paul the Simple and Disciple of the Venerable Anthony the Great

Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt also lived in the fourth century and was called the Simple for his simplicity of heart and gentleness. He had been married, but when he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he left her and went into the desert to Saint Anthony the Great.

St. Paul the Confessor the Bishop of Plousias in Bithynia

Saint Paul the Confessor was bishop of the city of Plousias (in the province of Bithynia in Asia Minor) at a time when the iconoclasts raged against the Church of Christ.

St. Emilian of Rome

Saint Emilian of Italy (in the world Victorinus) was a Roman by birth, and until he was an old man, he led a sinful life.

Icon of the Mother of God “the Surety of sinners” in Moscow

In 1848, through the zeal of Lt. Col. Demetrius Boncheskul, a copy of the wonderworking “Surety of Sinners” Icon was made and placed in his home. Soon it began to exude a healing myrrh, which was given to many so they might recover their health after grievous illnesses.
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