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April 5
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Sunday |
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April 18
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Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt.
Tone 4.
Great Lent. |
 Wine and oil allowed.
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Martyrs Theodulus, reader, and Agathopodes, deacon, and those with them, at Thessalonica (ca. 303). Translation of the relics of St. Job, patriarch of Moscow (1652).
St. Publius of Egypt, monk (4th c.). Sts. Theonas, Symeon, and Phorbinus, of Egypt (4th c.). St. Mark the Anchorite, of Athens (400). St. Plato the Confessor, abbot, of the Studion (814). St. Theodora, nun, of Thessalonica (892).
Hieromartyr Nicholas Simo, archpriest, of Kronstadt (1931).
Virgin-martyr Theodora and Martyr Didymus the Soldier, of Alexandria (304). Venerable Derfel Gadarn of Wales (6th c.). New Martyr George of New Ephesus (1801). New Martyr Panagiotes of Jerusalem (1820).
Repose of Righteous Symeon Klimych (1837) and Elder Philemon of Valaam and Jordanville (1953). Martyrdom of Optina monastics Hieromonk Basil and Riassaphore-monks Therapontus and Trophimus, on Pascha (1993).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
The Fifth Sunday of Lent. [Heb. 9:11–14; Mark 10:32–45]
The sinful woman, upon hearing that the Saviour was in the house of Simon, came there with an alabaster box of ointment. Moving toward the feet of the Lord from behind Him, she started to cry and washed His feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with myrrh (cf. Luke 7:36–39). She did not say anything; she only acted, and through her actions revealed a most tender love for the Lord. Because of this it was spoken of her: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much (Luke 7:47). Oh, when will we talk less and act more, and through our actions witness our love for the Lord? You might say, “If He were here I would be ready now to do all for Him.” But He is here, invisible in His person, but visible in all Christians, most of all in the needy. Anoint the invisible Lord with loving prayer of the heart and mind; and, for His sake, do everything possible for the needy, and you will be doing this for God.
Articles
 Venerable Publius of EgyptSaint Publius lived a life of asceticism in the Egyptian desert during the reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). |
 Venerable Mark the Anchorite of AthensSaint Mark was born in Athens. He related his life to Abba Serapion who, by the will of God, visited him before his death. |
 St. Plato the Confessor of StudionSaint Plato was born in the year 735 into a pious Christian family of the parents, Sergius and Euphemia. |
 Venerable Theodora of ThessalonicaShe entered a women’s monastery, where she struggled in asceticism and adorned her soul with virtues. |
