ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2019
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Сошествие Святого Духа на апостолов
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Old Style
June 4 		Monday
New Style
June 17
First Week after Pentecost (Fast-free period). Tone 7.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Metrophanes, first archbishop of Constantinople (ca. 326). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Methodius, founder of Peshnosha Monastery (Moscow), disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh (1392).

Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severian, and Silanus, of Gaul (1st c.). Martyr Concordius of Spoleto, Italy (ca. 175). Hieromartyr Astius, bishop of Dyrrachium in Macedonia (2nd c.). St. Zosimas of Cilicia, bishop of Babylon in Egypt (6th c.). New Hieromartyr Ioannicius, metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral (1945). Sts. Eleazar and Nazarius, wonderworkers, of Olonets (15th c.).

Sts. Mary and Martha, sisters of St. Lazarus (1st c.). St. Titus, bishop of Byzantium (3rd c.). Hieromartyr Apotacius and Martyrs Zoticus, Atallus, Camasius, Philip, and 31 others, including Eutychius, Quirinus, Julia, Saturninus, Ninita, Fortunio, Gaddanus, and Amasus, beheaded at Noviodunum (Niculitel) (320). St. Optatus, bishop of Milevum in Numidia (376). St. Alonius of Scetis in Egypt (5th c.). St. Petroc, abbot, in Cornwall (594). Monk-martyr John, abbot, of Monagria Monastery, near Cyzicus (761). St. Sophia of Thrace (10th c.-11th c.).

Repose of Hieromonk Bartholomew of Neamts and Svir (1864) and the sisters Vera (June 4) and Lyubov (June 8) of the Shamordino Convent (1883).

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

Monday. [Eph. 5:9–19; Matt. 18:10–20]

Comforting His disciples, the Lord said that it will be better for them if He rises to heaven, for upon rising, in place of Himself He will send the comforter—the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has descended and abides in the Church, accomplishing in each believer the work of Christ. Each Christian is a communicant of the spirit. This is something so necessary, that in fact whoever does not have the Spirit is not of Christ. Look closely at yourself—is the Spirit of grace within you? For it does not remain in everyone; it can depart. Here are the signs of its presence: first it finds a spirit of repentance and teaches a Christian to turn to God and correct his life; the spirit of repentance, accomplishing its work, passes the Christian on to a spirit of holiness and purity, which is succeeded, at last, by a spirit of Sonhood. The characteristic of the first is a work-loving zeal; the characteristic of the second is warmth and a sweet burning of the heart; the characteristic of the third is a feeling of Sonhood whereby the heart sighs to God: Abba, Father! (Mk. 14:36). Examine which of these levels you are on. If you are not on any of them, take care for yourself.

Articles

St. Metrophanes the first Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople, was a contemporary of Saint Constantine the Great (306-337). His father, Dometius, was a brother of the Roman emperor Probus (276-282). Seeing the falseness of the pagan religion, Dometius came to believe in Christ.

St Methodius the Abbot of Peshnosha

Saint Methodius, Igumen of Peshnosha was the founder of the Peshnosha monastery. In his youth he went to St Sergius of Radonezh and spent several years under his guidance.

Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severian, and Silanus, of Gaul

The Holy Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severianus, and Silanus suffered for Christ under the emperor Claudius (41-54).

Martyr Concordius of Spoleto

The Holy Martyr Concordius, son of the presbyter Gordian, was raised in piety and faith in Christ, and therefore Bishop Pius of Rome made him a subdeacon.

Hieromartyr Astius the Bishop of Dyrrachium in Macedonia

The Hieromartyr Astius was bishop of the city of Dyrrachium (Macedonia) during the time of the emperor Trajan (98-117), a persecutor of Christians.

Venerable Father Zosima the Bishop of Babylon

Saint Zosima, Bishop of Babylon, was born in Cilicia (Asia Minor). While still a youth he left the world and settled on Mount Sinai, and later he withdrew to a more solitary place in Lebanon.

"A Theologian by Virtue of Thy Life in God"—St. Nazarius of Valaam

Deacon Aaron Taylor

St. Nazarius was first and foremost a solitary ascetic and afterwards a father of monks. When he re-established Valaam, he took care to reintroduce all three modes of monastic life: coenobitism, the skete life, and anchoretism. According to his Life, “He began the building of the Great Skete in the woods beyond the Monastery enclosure as well as other sketes, and encouraged anchorites—making himself the first example of eremitic life.” As a “monk’s monk,” St. Nazarius was different from many of the famous elders of subsequent decades.

A Church of God Can Never Be Empty. How Abbot Nazarius of Valaam Saved a Parish

Touched to the heart by the just words of Fr. Nazarius, the priest replied: “Help me, О Elder, and instruct me. I will try to do what you advise.” Fr. Nazarius said: “Very well; now let us go to God’s temple. Order the bell to be sounded for the Vigil and the Reader to prepare for the All- night service. And Fr. Ilarion and I will help you.”

Sts. Mary and Martha, sisters of St. Lazarus

The righteous sisters Martha and Mary were believers in Christ even before He raised their brother Saint Lazarus (October 17) from the dead.

Venerable Petroc of Cornwall

Dmitry Lapa

The Gospel was brought to Cornwall in the fifth century or even earlier, and monastic life began there in 475. At that time Cornwall became known as “the land of saints” or “the Thebaid of saints”. Indeed, between the fifth and sventh centuries Cornwall produced so many saints, ascetics, hermits, abbots, missionaries, holy bishops and kings, that nearly each town and village in the region has its own patron-saint.

Venerable Sophia of Ainos

Our venerable Mother Sophia was born in the province of Ainos in southeastern Thrace , and was the daughter of pious Christian parents.
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