December 13, 2020. + Orthodox Calendar

Orthodox Calendar 2020

Мчч. Евстратий, Авксентий, Евгений, Мардарий и Орест

Old Style

December 13

Saturday

New Style

December 26

29th Week after Pentecost. Tone 3.
Nativity Fast.

Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, at Sebaste (284-305). Virgin-martyr Lucy (Lucia) of Syracuse (304).

St. Arsenius of Mt. Latros (11th c.). St. Arcadius, monk, of Novotorzhok (1077). St. Mardarius, recluse, of the Kiev Caves (13th c.). St. Dositheus, metropolitan of Moldavia (1693).

St. Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836). St. Columba of Terryglass and Holy Island on Lough Derg (Ireland) (549). St. Aubertus, bishop (Neth.) (668). St. Odilia, virgin and abbess, of Alsace (Gaul) (720). St. Gabriel, patriarch of Serbia (1659).

Repose of Schemamonk Panteleimon “the Resurrected,” of Glinsk Hermitage (1895), Blessed Maximus of Ustiug (1906), Bishop Theodore, wonderworker of Trolov Convent in Kiev (1924), Hieromonk Joel of Valaam (1937), and Archimandrite Gerasim Iscu of Tismana Monastery (Romania) (1951).

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

Saturday. [Eph. 2:11-13; Luke 13:18-29]

Strive to enter in at the strait gate. The strait gate is a life not according to your will, not according to your desires, not for pleasing yourself; the wide gate is a life according to all of the stirrings and strivings of a passion-filled heart, without the slightest refusal of oneself in anything. Thus, the gate to the kingdom is self-constraint. Restrain yourself in all things and it will be the same as pressing or pushing against a door to open it and squeeze your way through it. How and with what should you restrain yourself? With the commandments of God, which are opposed to the passion-filled stirrings of the heart. When you begin to be angry with someone, remember the Lord’s commandment not to give place to wrath, and with this restrain your heart. When lustful stirrings come, bring to mind the prohibition against even looking at a woman with lust, and with this restrain your lustfulness. When you want to judge someone, remember what the Lord said, that by judging you deprive yourself of intercession before the Judge of heavenly things, and with this restrain your arrogance. Do likewise in relation to every sinful movement [of the heart]. Gather against each of them sayings from Divine Scripture and keep them in your memory. As soon as some bad desire comes from your heart, bind it immediately with a saying directed against it, or tie up all of your desires and thoughts in advance with Divine words, and walk in them; you will be as if in bonds. But in these bonds lies freedom, or a free path to the Kingdom of God.

Articles

Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, at Sebaste (284-305)

The Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes (the Five Companions) suffered for Christ under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) at Sebaste, in Armenia.

Virginmartyr Lucy of Syracuse

Saint Lucy was born in Syracuse, Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. She distributed her wealth to the poor, and made a vow of virginity.

Venerable Arcadius of Novotorsk

Saint Arcadius of Vyazma and Novotorsk was from the city of Vyazma of pious parents, who from childhood taught him prayer and obedience.

The Life of St. Herman of Alaska

Edited by Archimandrite Alexander (Mileant)

The Elder was asked "How do you, Father Herman, manage to live alone in the forest, don't you get bored?" He answered "No, I'm not alone there! There is God, and God is everywhere! There are holy angels! How can one be bored with them? With whom is it more pleasant and better to converse, angels or people? Angels, of course!"

Canon to St. Herman of Alaska

From the Service to our Holy and God-Bearing Father, Saint Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska.

The Miraculous Intercession of St. Herman of Alaska

When they finally started their exciting, but extremely difficult, ascent, everything went just fine for a few days. But at the end of one day, on a narrow path, they met an old, strange-looking man in a long dark robe. He was walking in the opposite direction, down the mountain. In a friendly manner he greeted them and advised them to turn around and return to the base camp as quickly as possible because the weather was changing into a severe storm.

The Life of Our Holy Father Saint Herman of Alaska

“I clearly remember,” he says, “all the features of the Elder’s face, which shone with grace: his pleasant smile, meek and attractive gaze, his humble, quiet manner, and his amiable words. He was not tall, he had a pale face, covered with wrinkles, his eyes were gray-blue and full of brightness, and on his head he had a few gray hairs. His speech was not loud, but very pleasant.”

New book available on St. Herman of Alaska

A new book on St. Herman of Alaska entitled, Herman A Wilderness Saint From Sarov, Russia to Kodiak, Alaska was released in November 2013 by the Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev.

St. Herman’s Guardian – Archimandrite Gerasim Schmaltz

St. Herman's years of solitude on Spruce Island caused no little wonder among those unfamiliar with the mysteries of spiritual life. A man once asked, "Fr, Herman, do you live alone in the forest? Do you never become lonely? .... No, I am not alone ," he replied, "God is there as He is everywhere. His angels are there. Is it possible to be lonely in their company? Is it not better to be in their company than in that of people?"

A Life of St. Herman from 1919

Vera Johnston

A Russian missionary to America! Yes, indeed, a servant of God, lowly and simple of heart, who attained to such perfection of spirit that in our day and generation there are many in Alaska and throughout the Orthodox parishes in the United States who think that Herman, the humble monk, should be and will be canonized—a saint of the Church.[1]

The Relics of St. Herman of Alaska

The story of Saint Herman of Alaska. 2007.

VIDEO: Pilgrimage to Spruce Island

Spruce Island is considered by many Orthodox Christians to be one of the holiest sites in North America. The island was home to the hermitage of Herman of Alaska during the early 1800’s. Every year, in early August, the Orthodox Church in America celebrates the canonization of Saint Herman with a Liturgy, pilgrimage, and banquet.

On the Repose of St. Herman of Alaska

Seeing the glorious life of podvig of Father Herman, seeing his miracles, seeing the fulfillment of his prophecies and finally his blessed falling asleep, "generally all the local inhabitants have an awesome respect for him as a holy ascetic, and are entirely convinced of his having pleased God," witnessed Bishop Peter.

St. Herman of Alaska: A Pre-Christmas Gift to America

Fr. Herman (Podmoshensky)

And here, in the midst of this pre-Christmas joy so filled with impressions, there enters into the American consciousness a Russian monk from Valaam who was also connected with children, coziness, spice-cake, pretzels, covered by the Alaskan snow—St. Herman the Wonderworker of America.

Travellers from Ryazan are investigating the Orthodox heritage of Russian America in Alaska

Special attention will be devoted to the person of one of the first Orthodox missionaries of North America – St. Herman of Alaska (c.1757-1837; feast: July 27/August 9), a native of Russia’s Ryazan region.

© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY