ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2021
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Святой пророк Захария и святая праведная Елисавета Священномученик Афанасий Брестский
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Old Style
September 5
Saturday
New Style
September 18
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone 3.
No fast.

Совершается служба на шестьHoly Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Forerunner (1st c.). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyrdom of St. Athanasius, abbot, of Brest-Litovsk, by the Latins (1648).

Virgin-martyr Rhais of Alexandria (ca. 308). Martyrs Juventinus and Maximinus, soldiers, at Antioch (361-363). Martyrs Urban, Theodore, Medimnus, and 77 companions, at Nicomedia (370). Hieromartyr Abdas, bishop of Hormidz-Ardashir, and Martyrs Hormizd and Sunin, of Persia (ca. 420). Martyrdom of the Holy Passionbearer Gleb of Russia, in holy baptism David (1015). Martyrs Sarbelus (Thathuil) and his sister Bebaia, of Edessa (98- 138).

New Hieromartyr Alexis (Belkovsky), archbishop of Great Ustiug (1937).

Appearance of Apostle Peter to Emperor Justinian at Athira, near Constantinople (6th c.).

Repose of Priest Hilarion Felea of Romania (1961).

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. [I Cor. 2:6-9; Matt. 22:15-22]

   Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s—render unto each person what is his. From here comes a law: do not please God in one way alone, but in whatever way you can and ought to please Him; direct all of your strength and every means toward serving God. Having said render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, the Lord showed that such work is pleasing to Him. If by the things which are Caesar’s you understand all routines of earthly life in general which are necessary and essential, and by the things that are God’s all routines of the Church established by God, then from here it turns out that all the paths of our life are filled with ways for salvation. Just take heed and use everything, and act everywhere in accordance with God’s will, as God wants from you—and salvation for you is at hand. You can set yourself so that not a single step is taken without a deed pleasing to God, and consequently, a step toward salvation, for the path of salvation proceeds along the path of God’s will. Walk in God’s presence, take heed, discern, and set immediately without self-pity to that deed which your conscience shows you at each given moment.

Articles

Sts. Zacharias the Prophet and Elizabeth the Righteous, the Parents of the Precious Forerunner

The Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. They were descended from the lineage of Aaron: St Zachariah, son of Barach, was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and St Elizabeth was the sister of St Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. The righteous spouses, "walking in all the commandments of the Lord" (Luke 1:6), suffered barrenness, which in those times was considered a punishment from God.

Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, the Parents of St. John the Forerunner

Soon after the appearance of the archangel, Elizabeth conceived. At the birth of John the Baptist a miracle happened: Zachariah who had been stricken dumb after he questioned the archangel about this miraculous conceiving regained the gift of speech.

Holy Hieromartyr Athanasius of Brest-Litovsk, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in Poland and Lithuania

Athanasius was charged with profaning the Latin Church and the Unia. When he again denounced the Unia before his interrogators, he was thrown into prison, where the Jesuits alternately threatened him with torture and cajoled him with freedom, if he would join the Uniates. The holy monk refused to renounce his faith, crying aloud, "Anathema to the Union!"

Princes Boris and Gleb

Boris and Gleb were the younger and much beloved sons of Grand Prince Vladimir, the ruler of Kievan Rus, who in 988 brought his subjects to the waters of Holy Baptism.

Passion-Bearer Gleb, in Holy Baptism David

The Holy Prince Gleb, in Holy Baptism David, was one of the first Russian martyrs called “Passion-Bearers.” He suffered together with his brother Prince Boris (Roman in Holy Baptism).

Martyrs Sarbelus (Thathuil) and his sister Bebaia, of Edessa

The Holy Martyrs Sarbelus and Bebaia of Edessa were brother and sister, suffering in the second century under the emperor Trajan for confessing Christianity.
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