ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2021
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Святитель Афиноген Пидахфойский Икона Божией Матери Чирская Св. блж. Матрона Анемнясевская
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Old Style
July 16 		Thursday
New Style
July 29
6th Week after Pentecost. Tone 4.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомHieromartyr Athenogenes, bishop of Heracleopolis, and his ten disciples (ca. 311).

Martyrs Paul and two sisters, Chionia (Thea) and Alevtina (Valentina), at Caesarea in Palestine (308). Martyr Antiochus, physician, of Sebaste (4th c.). Commemoration of the Fourth Ecumenical Council (451). Virgin-martyr Julia of Carthage, at Corsica (440). St. Theodotus, monk of Glinsk Hermitage (1859). St. Magdalena, schema-abbess of New Tikhvin Convent in Siberia (1934). Synaxis of Russian Saints glorified at the Moscow Councils of 1547 and 1549.

New Confessor Matrona Belyakova, fool-for-Christ, of Anemnyasevo (1936). New Hieromartyrs James (Maskaev), archbishop of Barnaul, and priests Peter and John, and with them Monk-martyr Theodore (Nikitin) and Martyr John (1937). New Hieromartyr Ardalion (Ponamarev), archimandrite, of Kasli (Chelyabinsk) (1938).

Icon of the Mother of God of Chirsk-Pskov (1420).

Martyr Helier of Jersey (6th c.). St. John of Vishnya and Mt. Athos, activist against Uniatism (c. 1630). New Martyr John of Turnovo (1822). 15,000 Martyrs of Pisidia.

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

Thursday. [I Cor. 3:18-23; Matt. 13:36-43]

   And shall cast them (those who offend and do iniquity) into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Thus will be carried out the division of good and evil, light and darkness. Now is the period of time in which they are mixed. It pleased the Lord to arrange that the freedom of creatures should grow and be strengthened in good through the struggle with evil; evil is tolerated within the vicinity of inward freedom, and in contact with a person externally. It does not determine anything, only tempts. One who feels a temptation must not fall, but enter into battle. He who conquers is freed from one temptation, and advances forward and upward to find new temptation there—and so on, until the end of his life. Oh, when will we comprehend this meaning of the evil which tempts us, so we might arrange our lives according to this understanding! The strugglers are finally crowned, and pass on to the other life where there is neither sickness nor sorrows from the outside, and where they become inwardly pure like angels of God, free from the sting of tempting inclinations and thoughts. This is how the triumph of light and good is being prepared, and it will be revealed in all of its glory on the last day of the world.

Articles

Hieromartyr Athenogenes the Bishop of Heracleopolis

Hieromartyr Athenogenes and his Ten Disciples suffered for Christ during the persecution of Christians in the city of Sebastea in Cappadocia. The governor Philomachos arranged a large festival in honor of the pagan gods and called upon the citizens of Sebastea to offer sacrifice to the idols. Most of the inhabitants of Sebastea were Christians, and refused to participate in the impious celebration.

Martyr Paul at Caesarea, in Palestine

The Holy Martyrs Paul, Alevtina, and Chionia were from Egypt. During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Maximian (305-313), they were taken to Palestinian Caesarea. Without the slightest fear they confessed themselves as followers of Christ. In the year 308 the sisters Alevtina and Chionia were burned, and Paul was beheaded.

Martyr Chionia (Thea) at Caesarea, in Palestine

The Holy Martyrs Chionia, Paul, and Alevtina were from Egypt. During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Maximian (305-313), they were taken to Palestinian Caesarea. Without the slightest fear they confessed themselves as followers of Christ. In the year 308 the sisters Alevtina and Chionia were burned, and Paul was beheaded.

Martyr Alevtina (Valentina) at Caesarea, in Palestine

The Holy Martyrs Alevtina, Paul, and Chionia were from Egypt. During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Maximian (305-313), they were taken to Palestinian Caesarea. Without the slightest fear they confessed themselves as followers of Christ. In the year 308 the sisters Alevtina and Chionia were burned, and Paul was beheaded.

Martyr Antiochus the Physician of Sebaste

The Holy Martyr Antiochus, a native of Cappadocian Sebastea, was the brother of the holy Martyr Platon (November 18), and he was a physician.

Virginmartyr Julia of Carthage

The Virgin Martyr Julia was born in Carthage into a Christian family. While still a girl she was captured by the Persians. They carried her off to Syria and sold her into slavery. Fulfilling the Christian commandments, St Julia faithfully served her master. She preserved herself in purity, kept the fasts and prayed much to God. No amount of urging by her pagan master could turn her to idolatry.

Icon of the Mother of God of Chirsk-Pskov

The Chirsk (Pskov) Icon of the Mother of God was initially in the Chirsk village church of the Pskov diocese. On July 16, 1420, during the time of Great Prince Basil Dimitrievich, Archbishop Simeon of Novgorod and Pskov, and Prince Theodore Alexandrovich were present in Pskov. In a time of a deadly pestilence, tears flowed from the eyes of the Chirsk Icon of the Mother of God.
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