ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2022
Previous day
Апостол Иоанн Богослов Святитель Тихон, Патриарх Московский и всея Руси
Next day
Old Style
September 26 		Sunday
New Style
October 9
17th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 8.
No fast.

Совершается всенощное бдениеRepose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (начало 2nd c.). Совершается служба с полиелеемGlorification of New Hiero-confessor Tikhon (Bellavin), patriarch of Moscow and all Russia (Glorification, 1989).

Righteous Gideon, judge of Israel (ca. 1307 b.c.). St. Neagoe Basarab, prince of Wallachia (1521). St. Ephraim, founder of Perekom Monastery (Novgorod) (1492).

New Hieromartyrs Alexander Levitsky, archpriest, of Khovrino (Moscow) and Dimitry Rozanov, archpriest, of Vozmishche (Volokolamsk) (1937).

St. Nilus the Younger, of Rossano (Calabria) (1004).

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

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost. [II Cor. 9:6-11; Luke 5:1-11]

   The fishermen toiled for an entire night and took nothing; but when the Lord entered their ship, and, after preaching commanded them to cast their net, they took so many that they could not pull them out and the net broke. This is an image for all work without God’s help, and for work with God’s help. When one person works, wanting to achieve something through his strength alone—he is all thumbs. When the Lord draws near to him, then one good thing after another flows in from somewhere. In the spiritual-moral sense the impossibility of success without the Lord is tangibly visible: Without Me ye can do nothing, said the Lord. And this law acts in all things. Just as a branch not grown onto a tree not only does not bear fruit, but dries up and loses its life as well, neither can people bring forth fruits of truth valuable for eternal life if they are not in living communion with the Lord. Any good that they might have is only an appearance of good, but in essence it is faulty—like a forest apple that appears red but if you taste it, it is sour. It is also tangibly clear in an external, worldly sense: one struggles and struggles, and all in vain. When God’s blessing descends, all comes out well. Those who are attentive toward themselves and the paths of life know these truths through experience.

Articles

Saint John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist

Through humility, not calling himself by name, nevertheless speaking of himself in the Gospel, refers to himself as the disciple "whom Jesus loved." This love of him by the Lord, showed itself when the Lord was on the cross he entrusted His Most Holy Mother to him saying: "Behold your mother."

Questions about the Book of Revelations of St. John the Theologian

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov), Priest Athanasius Gumerov

Is it a good idea to try to explain the Revelations of St. John the Theologian? Any explanation of the Holy Scriptures requires spiritual maturity and special theological preparation. Otherwise it is easy to stray from the truth and do harm to one’s spiritual life. This especially applies to the Book of Revelations. It this book is much that is hidden and mysterious. Therefore it is necessary first of all to use the works of the holy fathers and authoritative Orthodox exegists.

Saint John the Theologian Preacher of Divine Love

His zeal for the salvation of those who were perishing knew no obstacles. And the meekness, humility, and kindness of this great apostle were so amazing and touching, that he seemed to be not a man but an angel incarnate. His entire life was a life of love.

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

Truth is reflected in his mind and in his words, for he feels it and comprehends it in his heart. He contemplates eternal Truth, and as he sees it, passes it on to his beloved children.

The Inexhaustible Ocean of Christ’s Divine Love

Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky)

Where the spirit of love blows, it is easy and free to breathe.

On St. John Climacus, and the Miraculous Revelation of Patriarch Tikhon's Relics

Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

The Patriarch was the spiritual leader of the Russian people during a very difficult time. He continues to be so during our difficult time in Russia—a time of schism, separation, and falls. The Church's duty in such trials is to inspire and unite the people for the sake of saving their native land, faith, and truth, serving for unification.

A Dream: About my vision of Patriarch Tikhon

Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov)

“So, only now,” a thought struck me, “now something can be said to them, now they are capable of hearing it, for their souls have melted. But there in the hut there could be no thought of teaching.” I understood that we must first warm the sinful soul, and correct it only afterwards. His Holiness could do this—he greatly loved these sinful but miserable children of his. And he warmed them with his love.

A 1923 Interview with Patriarch Tikhon by an American

Patriarch Tikhon's nine years in America were important ones in the affairs of the Orthodox Church there. During this period the episcopal seat was removed from San Francisco to New York. During this period Bishop Tikhon became Archbishiop Tikhon, the first American Orthodox hierarch to bear that title. These years made a deep impression upon the future Patriarch himself, and as will later be pointed out, the knowledge of the life and religious ideals of American people he acquired there have been very influential in later events in Russia. America has no better friend in Russia than Patriarch Tikhon and he seems especially pleased to maintain his connection with Americans and things American.

The Trial of Patriarch Tikhon

Ivan M. Andreev

The supreme spiritual value--religion--was also overthrown. Faith in God was replaced with faith in atheism and materialism. The interests of the whole nation were reduced to the interests of the proletarian and peasant classes. Yet in view of the "backwardness" of the peasant class, the leading rôle was ceded to the proletariat. And since the entire proletariat was en masse also referred to as "comprehending little," the "dictatorship of the proletariat" was transformed into the Dictatorship of the Bolshevik Communist Party.

Saint Patriarch Tikhon - His Missionary Legacy to Orthodox America

Fr. Alexey Young

The key to St. Tikhon's greatness lies in his personality, his character. Prof. Zaichenko recalls: "By nature Bishop Tikhon was kind, responsive and unusually sensitive. In his character he was quiet, merciful, good-natured and always tried to preserve in himself serenity, a serenity which he transmitted to the souls of all those around him."

St. Tikhon of Moscow's Gift to America

Jesse Dominick

St. Tikhon’s Monastery is home to a rich history and a great many “treasures” of Orthodoxy, some known, some relatively unknown, which stand as a testament to the prayers and labors of our American apostle, St. Tikhon, and his continuing heavenly protection.

The Quiet Courage of Patriarch Tikhon

Georgiy Velikanov

Patriarch Tikhon, without a doubt, was a “point of intersection” for all the Russian Church’s modern history. At him intersect all the different paths chosen by hierarchs and simple believers.

“Patriarch Tikhon is one of the greatest universal saints.”

Patriarch Tikhon captained the ship of the Church through the bloody storm of anti-ecclesiastical persecution inspired by the godless leaders of the communist regime, who had seized power in much-suffering Russia.
© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY