ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2022
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Парфений епископ Преподобный Лука Елладский
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Old Style
February 7 		Sunday
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February 20
Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Tone 2.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Parthenius, bishop of Lampsacus on the Hellespont (4th c.). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Luke of Mt. Steirion (ca. 946).

The 1,003 Martyrs of Nicomedia (303). St. Euthymius, monk of Glinsk Hermitage (1866). St. Boniface, abbot, of Feofania (Kiev) (1871).

New Hieromartyr Barlaam (Ryashentsev), archbishop of Perm (1942).

Hieromartyr Augulius, bishop of Augusta (ca. 305). Six Martyrs of Phrygia (ca. 305). St. Mastridia of Jerusalem, woman ascetic of the desert (ca. 580). New Martyr George of Alikianes on Crete (1867). St. Aprionus, bishop of Cyprus.

Repose of Archimandrite Gennadius, ascetic of the Roslavl Forests (1826), and commemoration of his disciple Abramius, desert-dweller of Whitehoof Convent (1868), and the latter’s spiritual daughter Abbess Alexandra (1883); and Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) of St. Sergius Lavra (2017).

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

Sunday of the Prodigal Son (34th). [I Cor. 6:12–20; Luke 15:11–32]

The week of the prodigal speaks of so much to us! It speaks about our peace and satisfaction in the house of the heavenly Father, about our mad departure from the Father’s guardianship to unbridled freedom, about the richness of the heritage given us despite our disobedience, about its reckless waste on all sorts of indecencies, and about our utter impoverishment as a result. But then it talks also about how one recovers his senses, and, coming to himself, decides to return to his greatly merciful Father. It talks about how he returns, how he is received lovingly, and is restored to his first state. Who will not find this lesson profitable? If you abide in your father’s house, do not strive for freedom. You see how a similar experience ended! If you have run away and are squandering all, end this quickly. If you have already squandered everything and are living in poverty, decide quickly to return—and then, return. There every indulgence, and all the former love and satisfaction, await you. This last step is the most necessary one. But there is no point in enlarging upon this. All has been said concisely and clearly. Come to your senses, decide to return, arise and hurry to the Father. His embrace is open and ready to receive you.

Articles

St. Parthenius of Lampsacus

The saint was known throughout the region as a great healer of both physical and spiritual ailments, particularly for those possessed by demons. One of his early biographers says, "So great was his mercy, so great the people's love for him, that none in that region even knew what a physician was."

St. Parthenius the Bishop of Lampsacus on the Hellespont

Saint Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus, was a native of the city of Melitoupolis (in northwestern Asia Minor), where his father Christopher served as deacon.

Venerable Luke of Hellas

Saint Luke of Hellas was a native of the Greek village of Kastorion. The son of poor farmers, the saint from childhood had toiled much, working in the fields and shepherding the sheep.

1,003 Martyrs of Nicomedia

After the martyric death of their masters, the servants decided to follow their example, and they also confessed themselves Christians before Diocletian.

The Prodigal Son

James Iliou

In the parable we are told and in our minds we think of the younger as being the Prodigal. But which one of these two brothers is truly the Prodigal Son? Is it the younger who leaves and comes back in repentance, or the older brother who refuses to welcome him back? I

Instruction on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. On Repentance

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

According to the holy fathers, the younger son could also be an image of all fallen mankind and of every sinner. The younger son’s inheritance is God’s gifts, with which every person is endowed, especially Christians. The most supreme gifts of God are the mind and heart, and especially the grace of the Holy Spirit given to every Christian.

The Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Archpriest Andrew Phillips

Perhaps we feel some sympathy with the elder son. After all, he never wasted his substance, he did remain loyal to the Father. The problem is that the elder son's service was a form of slavery, he did not stay with the Father out of love, but out of self-interest, in expectation of a reward. This was not love freely given, but an obligation fulfilled in the hope of the payment of the hireling.

He came to himself – what does this mean?The two things we must know to be saved.

Now we see another aspect of repentance that is so important today, especially in light of what we are going to read and contemplate next week. That is, God receives a man’s repentance. This may seem to be an obvious statement, hardly worth making, but in actuality, many people do not really believe God will receive their repentance, or that they can truly change.

Sermon on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware)

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) delivers his sermon on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son in the presence of Metropolitan Nicholas at the Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Westland, MI.
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