ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2022
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Апостол Иаков Зеведеев Святитель Игнатий Брянчанинов Святитель Никита, епископ Новгородский
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Old Style
April 30
Friday
New Style
May 13
3rd Week after Pascha. Tone 2.
Fast Day.
Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Совершается служба с полиелеемHoly Apostle James, the brother of St. John the Theologian (44). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомUncovering of the relics of St. Nicetas, recluse, of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Novgorod (1558). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol (1867).

St. Donatus, bishop of Euroea in Epirus (ca. 387). Uncovering of the relics of Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (4th c.). Martyr Maximus of Ephesus.

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Passion.”

Martyrs Eutropius and Estelle, of Saintes (Gaul) (3rd c.). St. Clement the Hymnographer, abbot, of the Studion (9th c.). New Martyr Argyra of Prusa, at Constantinople (1725).

Repose of Schema-abbess Martha (Protasieva) (1813), disciple of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky), and Hieromonk Clement (Sederholm) of Optina Monastery (1878). Slaying of Priest Igor Rozin of Tyrnyauz (Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia) (2001).

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

Friday. [Acts 8:40–9:19; John 6:48–54]

   Saint Paul defended the Old Testament routines so zealously at first, because he was sincerely certain that it was the unalterable will of God that these routines remain unchanged. He was not zealous because it was his fathers’ faith, but because he was zealous in bringing service to God. In this lay the spirit of his life—to devote himself to God and direct all his energy toward things pleasing to Him. Thus, in order to bring about his conversion, or to make him stand for the realm of New Testament things rather than the Old Testament, it was sufficient to tangibly show him that God no longer wants the Old Testament but rather the New, and that He has removed all of His good will from the former and given it to the latter. The Lord’s appearance on the road accomplished this in him. There it became clear to him that he was not directing his zeal where he ought, that he was not pleasing God by acting as he did, but was going contrary to His will. This vision of the state of affairs, with the help of God’s grace, immediately changed his strivings, and he cried out: Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6). And from that moment on he directed all of his zeal toward what was shown to him, and he did not forget this event for his whole life, but thankfully remembering it, stirred up his zeal with it—not sparing anything to work for his Lord and Saviour. This is how all people act who have sincerely turned to the Lord.

Articles

Apostle James the Brother of St John the Theologian

The Holy Apostle James, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of Saint John the Theologian, and one of the Twelve Apostles.

Venerable Nikita of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves the Bishop of Novgorod

Saint Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod, in his youth entered the Kiev Caves monastery and soon wished to become a hermit.

Champion of the Arena—Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov

Archpriest Nicholas Deputatov

That piety so characteristic of all levels of society in Holy Russia. was rapidly evaporating from the 19th century high society intelligentsia when God raised up from its very midst a true ascetic and Church writer, Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov. In him was combined a rare eloquence of style and a profound understanding of the Christian life of struggle through which he was able to inspire many souls, blinded by Western "enlightened" ideas, to return to the saving enclosure of the Church.

Sayings of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov stands out as one of the greatest patristic writers of the nineteenth century. On this commemoration day of Holy Hierarch Ignatius Brianchaninov, we have translated some quotes from his ascetical writings.

A Brief Life of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

St. Ignatius (Dimitry Alexandrovich Brianchaninov in the world) was born on February 5, 1807 on his father’s estate in the village of Pokrov in the Vologda Province. His mother gave birth to him after a prolonged infertility, by her fervent prayers and travels to the surrounding holy places. The boy spent his childhood in the solitude of village life; from his earliest years he was inexplicably attracted to the monastic life. His religious temper appeared all the more noticeably with age, being manifested in a special disposition towards prayer and the reading of spiritual books.

St. Donatus the Bishop of Euroea in Epirus

Saint Donatus lived during the reign of the holy Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-397) and was bishop of the city of Euroea (in Albania).

Hieromartyr Basil the Bishop of Amasea

The Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea, lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the Pontine city of Amasea.

Martyr Maximus of Ephesus

The Holy Martyr Maximus suffered for his faith in Christ.

New Martyr Argyra

The holy New Martyr Argyra lived in Proussa, Bithynia, and came from a pious family. She was a beautiful and virtuous woman.
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