ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2021
Previous day
Священномученик Альвиан и мученик Акакий Каппадокиянин Икона Божией Матери Старорусская Мученица Пелагия Тарсийская
Next day
Old Style
May 4
Monday
New Style
May 17
3rd Week after Pascha. Tone 2.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомVirgin-martyr Pelagia of Tarsus in Asia Minor (ca. 290).

Hieromartyr Erasmus, bishop of Formia in Campania, and 20,000 martyrs with him (303). Hieromartyr Olbian, bishop of Anaea, and his disciples, in the province of Asia in Asia Minor (304). Hieromartyr Silvanus of Gaza and with him 40 martyrs (311). Translation of the relics of the Alfanov brothers of Novgorod: Sts. Nicetas, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac, founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery (14th c.-15th c.).

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Staraya Russa.” (1570)

Martyrs Florian and 40 companions, at Lorsch, Austria (304). Martyrs Aphrodisius, Leontius, Anthony, Melda (Meles), Valerian, Macrobius, and others, at Scythopolis of Palestine (4th c.). St. Monica of Tagaste (mother of Blessed Augustine) (387). St. Ethelred, king of Mercia and monk (716). St. Nicephorus, abbot and founder of Medikion Monastery (813). St. Athanasius, bishop of Corinth (10th c.-11th c.). St. Nicephorus the Hesychast, of Mt. Athos (1340). 4,000–5,000 New Martyrs of Batak (Bulgaria) (1876). New Hieromartyr Dimitry (Lyubimov), archbishop of Gdov (1935). St. Hilary the Wonderworker.

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. [Acts 6:8–7:5, 47–60; John 4:46–54]

   Saint Stephan says: The most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands...What house will ye build Me? saith the Lord or what is the place of My rest? (Acts 7:48–49). Only the temple in the heart not made with hands can contain God, as the Lord said: If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23). How this is accomplished is unfathomable for us, but it is true because it is obvious that then it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).[1] Do not reason, just give your heart away to the Lord, and He Himself will establish of it a church for Himself—but give it unsparingly. If there are parts which are not given, then from the heart a whole church cannot be established, for one thing will be decayed, another broken—and what will come out, if anything comes out, is a church with holes or without a roof, or without doors. It is not possible to live in such a church: the Lord will not be in it. It will only seem that it is a church, but in reality will be a conglomerate mass.

[1]The Slavonic for Phil 2:13 reads: God worketh in us both desire and action, according to his good pleasure

Articles

Virginmartyr Pelagia of Tarsus, in Asia Minor

Emperor Diocletian’s heir (a boy he adopted), saw the maiden Pelagia, was captivated by her beauty and wanted her to be his wife. The holy virgin told the youth that she was betrothed to Christ the Immortal Bridegroom, and had renounced earthly marriage.

Hieromartyr Erasmus the Bishop of Formia in Campania

Saint Erasmus zealously served the Lord from his youth.

Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor

Saint Albian was bishop of the city of Aneium in the Aseian district, and suffered for Christ about the year 304 in a persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian and his co-ruler Maximian.

Hieromartyr Silvanus the Bishop of Gaza, and with him 40 Martyrs

Saint Silvanus came from the vicinity of the city of Gaza, and was a soldier.

The Alfanov brothers of Novgorod: Sts. Nicetas, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac, founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery.

The Alfanov Brothers Saints Nikita, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, Isaac lived during the fourteenth century at Novgorod. They led a righteous life and founded the Sokolnitsky monastery.

Icon of the Mother of God “Staro Rus” Old Russian

The Staro Rus (Old Russian) Icon of the Mother of God was so named because for a long time it was in Staro Rus, where it had been brought by the Greeks from Olviopolis during the very first period of Christianity in Russia.

St. Monica: Model of Wifely Forbearance

It is time that Orthodox women became more closely acquainted with this exemplar of womanly virtues, whose prayers are especially to be invoked by those with wayward children and by wives desirous of sanctifying their unbelieving husbands.

Venerable Nicephorus of Mt. Athos, Albania

Saint Nicephorus was the teacher of Saint Gregory Palamas (November 14).
© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY