ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2021
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Мч. Иоанн Казанский Блаженная Ксения Петербургская Преподобная Ксения с житием
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Old Style
January 24
Saturday
New Style
February 6
35th Week after Pentecost. Tone 1.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Xenia of Rome and her two female slaves (ca. 457). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Xenia of St. Petersburg, fool-for-Christ (19th c.).

Martyrs Babylas of Sicily and his two disciples Timothy and Agapius (3rd c.). St. Macedonius, hermit of Mt. Silpius, near Antioch (ca. 420). Translation of the relics of Monk-martyr Anastasius the Persian (7th c.). St. Gerasim, bishop of Perm (ca. 1449). Martyr John of Kazan (1529). St. Dionysius of Olympus and Mt. Athos (1541). St. Sophia, first abbess of Shamordino Convent (1888). Blessed Valentina (Sulkovskaya) of Minsk (1966).

Martyrs Paul, Pausirius, and Theodotian, of Egypt (3rd c.). St. Felician, bishop of Foligno in Italy (254). St. Philo, bishop of Carpasia on Cyprus (5th c.). St. Lupicinus of Lipidiaco (Gaul) (500). St. Zosimas of Cilicia, bishop of Babylon in Egypt (6th c.). St. Neophytus the Recluse, of Cyprus (1214).

Repose of Bishop Nektary (Kontzevitch) of Seattle (1983).

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. [Col. 1:3-6; Luke 16:10-15]

Ye cannot serve God and mammon. A divided thought and divided heart make a person unfit for anything; for A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). He either does nothing, or does and redoes; that is, he builds with one hand and destroys with the other. The source of a truly God-pleasing life is a firm resolution to please God in all things. This resolution directs all of a person’s thoughts, desires and feelings toward one thing, and thus uniting his inward [powers], it makes him strong to do deeds, bringing unity into all of his activities and imparting to them a single character. Such deeds are successful and fruitful, because they are full of true life. Where do inertia, immobility and fruitlessness of deeds come from? From inner lifelessness; and inner lifelessness comes from inner division. One single goal is not acknowledged or established as a law of life—deeds are performed haphazardly. Therefore one deed goes in its direction, another goes in another direction, and the edifice of one’s life is never erected. Choose a goal and devote your life to it. The true, main goal is indicated by the God-like nature of man; it is living communication with God. Direct also toward this main goal all personal, scholarly, worldly, civic, commercial, official, and governmental goals. If everyone in society held to this [principle], there would be one general tenor to society, and one spirit would fill everyone.

Articles

Venerable Xenia of Rome, and her two female servants

Saint Xenia of Rome, in the world Eusebia, was the only daughter of an eminent Roman senator. From her youth she loved God, and wished to avoid the marriage arranged for her.

The Life of St. Xenia of Petersburg

Having come to know the inconstancy of earthly happiness through the death of her beloved husband, Xenia strove toward God with all her heart, and sought protection and comfort only in Him. Earthly, transitory goods ceased to have any value for her. Xenia had a house; but gave it over to an acquaintance under the condition that it be used to shelter paupers. But Xenia herself, not having a refuge, would wander among the paupers of Petersburg. At night she would go out to a field, where she spent the time in ardent prayer.

"You Know Where to Go!" St. Xenia of Petersburg comes to Oakland

Nun Cornelia (Rees)

Our biker rode off on his Harley Davidson, and soon had a terrible accident, which cost him his legs. Eventually he landed back in the company of his old “friends”, in a run-down apartment in a low-rent neighborhood in the bad part of a crime-ridden city.

St. Xenia’s Faithfulness to God

Roman Savchuk

In the image of St. Xenia everyone can find something familiar and close. It seems that there are no barriers between the saint and the soul of any person—no misunderstandings, or difference of opinions. Just say a word, awaken a feeling in the heart, and you will immediately be heard, understood, consoled…

A Miracle of St. Xenia the Fool-for-Christ in France

“I came to tell you,” she said to him, as she lifted her cane, “to stop ridiculing Yuri, who is praying, because you will remain here a long time yet, and will seek his prayers....”

How to Become a Holy Fool: Homily on Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg, Fool for Christ

Fr. Philip LeMasters

"Christ surely does not call us all to the rare ministry of a Fool for Christ like St. Xenia, but we may all learn from her example that the humility of embracing our constant need for mercy is at the heart of faithfulness to a Lord Whose Kingdom is not of this world. There must be something of the holy fool in us all, if our eyes are to be opened to a truth that the world does not yet see."

St. Xenia Fool-for-Christ

People preoccupied with worldly matters would naturally assume that anyone who gave away his wealth must be insane. They were incapable of seeing that Xenia had undergone a complete rebirth; she was changed from a worldly woman into a spiritual being.

Martyrs Babylas of Sicily and his two disciples Timothy and Agapius

The Holy Martyrs Babylas of Sicily and his two disciples Timothy and Agapius lived during the third century on the outskirts of Rome.

St. Macedonius the Hermit of Syria

Saint Macedonius, a Syrian hermit, lived during the end of the fourth century and the beginning of the fifth.

Monkmartyr Anastasius the Persian

The Monk Martyr Anastasius the Persian was the son of a Persian sorcerer named Bavi. As a pagan, he had the name Magundates and served in the armies of the Persian emperor Chozroes II, who in 614 ravaged the city of Jerusalem and carried away the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord to Persia.

St. Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm

Saint Gerasimus, Bishop of Great Perm and Ust’Vymsk, was the third bishop of the newly-enlightened Zyryani people, and he was a worthy successor to Saint Stephen, the Enlightener of Perm.

Martyr John of Kazan

During the reign of Great Prince Basil the Tatars swooped down upon Nizhni Novgorod. Many of the inhabitants were taken into captivity and brought to Kazan. Also among their number was the fearless John.

Venerable Dionysius of Olympus

Fond of prayer and reading spiritual books from his youth, Saint Dionysius decided to become a monk after the death of his parents. With this aim he went to Meteora, and then to Mount Athos.

Martyrs Paul, Pausirius, and Theodotian, of Egypt

The Holy Martyrs Paul, Pausirius, and Theodotion lived in Egypt during the third century.

St. Philon, Bishop of Kolpasteia, Crete

Saint Philon, Bishop of Kolpasteia (Crete) He died peacefully in the fifth century.
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