Forefeast of the Theophany. St. Sylvester, pope of Rome (335). Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo (1604). Repose (1833) and Second Finding (1991) of the Relics of St. Seraphim, wonderworker of Sarov
Hieromartyr Theogenes, bishop of Parium on the Hellespont (ca. 320). St. Sylvester of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
New Confessor Smaragda, abbess, of Nezhinsk (Ukraine) (1935).
St. Theodota, mother of the first Sts. Cosmas and Damian (3rd c.). Martyr Sergius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (301). St. Ammon, monk of Tabennisi (5th c.). St. Schottin, hermit of Kilkenny, Ireland (6th c.). St. Cosmas, patriarch of Constantinople (1081). New Martyr George (Zorzes) the Georgian, at Mytilene (1770).
Repose of Hieroschemamonk Gabriel of Optina Monastery and Whitehoof Convent (1871), Abbess Thaisia of Leushino (1915), the martyred Elder Ioasaph of St. Tikhon of Kaluga Monastery (1919), and Elder Iakovos of Epirus (1961).
Saturday before Theophany. [I Tim. 3:14–4:5; Matt.
3:1–11]
The house of God, which is the Church of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3:15).
Consequently there is no need for us to look here and
there to search out where the truth is. It is near. Be in
the Church, contain all that it contains, and you will be
in the truth. You will possess the truth and live by it
and in it, and you will overflow with true life. The truth
does not exist outside of the Orthodox Church. It is the
only faithful guardian of all that was commanded by the
Lord through the holy Apostles, and therefore is the true
Apostolic Church. Some have lost the Apostolic Church; but
since their Christian conscience tells them that only an
Apostolic Church can truly preserve and show the truth,
they decided to make such a church, and they made it, and
called it by that name. They could call it the Apostolic
Church, but they could not impart the essence to it. For
the Apostolic Church was created according to the good
will of the Father by the Lord and Saviour, and by the
grace of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. Such a
church cannot be created by people. Those who think they
can create such a church are like children playing with
dolls. If there is no true Apostolic Church on the earth,
there is no need to waste the effort on the creation of
it. But thanks be to the Lord, He has not allowed the
gates of hell to prevail against the holy Apostolic
Church. It exists and will remain, according to His
promise, unto the end of the world. This church is our
Orthodox Church. Glory be to God!