ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2019
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Прокопий Кесарийский Казанская икона Божией Матери Прокопий Устьянский
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Old Style
July 8
Sunday
New Style
July 21
5th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 4.
No fast.

Совершается служба с полиелеемAppearance of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1579). Совершается служба на шестьGreat-martyr Procopius of Caesarea in Palestine, and with him Martyrs Theodosia (his mother), tribunes Antiochus and Nicostratus, and twelve women of senatorial rank (303). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Procopius, fool-for-Christ, wonderworker of Ustiug (Vologda) (1303).

Righteous Procopius, fool-for-Christ, of Ustya (Vologda) (ca. 1600).

Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos: weeping “Umileniye” (“Of Tender Feeling”) of Novgorod, and “Peschanskaya.” (1754)

Hieromartyr Epictetus, priest, and Monk-martyr Astion, at Halmyris in Scythia Minor (Romania) (290). Martyr Mirdat, King of Kartli, Georgia (410). Blessed King Edgar the Peaceable, of England (975). Martyrs Virgin Sunniva and companions, on Selje Island (Norway) (10th c.). St. Theophilus the Myrrh-gusher, of Pantocrator Monastery, Mt. Athos (1548). New Hieromartyr Anastasius, priest, of Constantinople (1743). Translation of the relics of St. Demetrius of Basarabov, Bulgaria, to Bucharest (1774).

Slaying of Anastasia Strogilos on the Mount of Olives (1995).

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

Fifth Sunday after Pentacost. [Rom. 10:1-10; Matt. 8:28-9:1]

   The Gadarenes saw the Lord’s wondrous miracle, when He cast out a legion of devils, and yet, the whole city came out and besought the Lord that He would depart out of their coasts. We do not observe them relating hostilely to the Lord, but neither to we observe any faith in them. They are seized with a sort of indeterminate fearfulness, making them to desire only that the Lord pass them by, wherever He wishes, “only do not touch us.” This is a true image of people who live in peace with their possessions. An order of things has formed around them which is not unfavourable; they are used to it, they have neither thoughts nor the need to change or reverse anything, and they fear to make a new step. They feel, however, that should a command come down from above, the fear of God and their conscience would force them to renounce the old and accept something new. Therefore, they strive to avoid any circumstance which might lead them to such convictions, that they might continue living quietly in their old habits, pleading ignorance. These are the sort of people who are afraid to read the Gospels and patristic books, or to discuss spiritual matters. They fear that if their conscience be thereby disturbed, it might wake up and start forcing them to abandon what they had, and take up something else.

Articles

Homily of the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Archimdrite Kirill (Pavlov)

Thus we see, dear brothers and sisters, that the main cause of our country’s salvation from destruction was the firm Orthodox faith of our ancestors. When hope in human strength was no more, then all the true children of the Church and Fatherland placed a three day fast on themselves and prayed to the Mother of God before her Kazan icon. Their prayer was heard.

Sermon of the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)

We see how much injustice there is in our land, and we can look at it in two ways: coldly, or even angrily. Or we can show some concern for this sick vineyard and heal it, according to the measure of strength and possibility given to each of us by God. Some He has placed in authority over the whole vineyard, and much will be demanded of those people; some He has placed over a particular plot, and these people will be held responsible for their portion of the vineyard; some He has placed in charge of but a single vine—those are each one of us, and we will be held responsible for the health and fruitfulness of that vine.

Commemoration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance from the Poles

“The Mother of God delivered from misfortune and woe not only the righteous, but also sinners, but which sinners? those who turn themselves to the Heavenly Father like the Prodigal Son, they make lamentation beating their bosom, like the Publican, they weep at the feet of Christ, like the Sinful Woman washing His feet with her tears, and they offer forth confession of Him, like the Thief upon the Cross.

The Icon that Saved a Life

Irina Blinova

“Where did that icon come from? I gave it to a German soldier!” She exclaimed in amazement. I recognize it by a characteristic dent in the frame.” I explained that this icon was given to the church by the German Consulate in our city. The woman broke into tears, said that her name was Vera, and told the story of how her Orthodox family icon ended up in Germany.

Two Churches of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Paul Gilbert

Our Lady of Kazan church in Kolomenskoe park in Moscow, and the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg are two unique and well-known churches in Russia named in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God which we celebrate today.

The Complicated History of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Sergei Milov

The history of the Kazan icon began in the sixteenth century. Yet people find the circumstances and place of its appearance unusual and surprising even to this day.

Greatmartyr Procopius of Caesarea, in Palestine

The Holy Great Martyr Procopius, in the world Neanius, a native of Jerusalem, lived and suffered during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

St. Procopius, the Fool-for-Christ of Ustiug

Saint Procopius was a German Catholic. He was running a merchant business in Novgorod when he became enraptured by the beauty of the Orthodox services. He converted into Orthodoxy, gave his wealth and possessions to the indigent and became a monk at the Saint Varlaam-of-Khutyn monastery outside Novgorod.

Holy Righteous Procopius of Ustiug, Wonder-Worker and Fool-for-Christ

Gregory Sobolev

A wealthy German merchant, St. Procopius came to trade in Novgorod the Great. He was amazed that the grandeur of the churches and the piety of the people, and abandoned his former faith, homeland, and wealth, considering the true faith and importance of the spiritual life to be worth more than all these. But the path of his service would not be an easy one…

Righteous Procopius the Fool-For-Christ and Wonderworker of Ustya, Vologda

The incorrupt relics of Saint Procopius were uncovered during the eighteenth century near the Entry of the Theotokos parish church in Ustya (Vologda diocese) and placed in the church, where for two hundred years they remained in open view, a source of numerous healings.

Holy Royal Martyr Mirdat, King of Kartli (†410)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

King Mirdat (408–410), the son of Varaz-Bakur, was the first martyred king of Georgia. He was raised by his maternal grandfather, King Trdat.
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