ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2023
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Святитель Вукол Смирнский Мученики Евиласий, Фавста и Максим
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Old Style
February 6
Sunday
New Style
February 19
Meat-fare Sunday. Tone 3.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомAfterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord. Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna (ca. 100).

Virgin-martyr Dorothea, and with her Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, and Theophilus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia (288-300). Virgin-martyr Fausta, and with her Martyrs Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (305-311). Martyr Julian of Emesa (312). Sts. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, monks of Gaza (6th c.). St. Photius, patriarch of Constantinople (891). Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary and their brother Lycarion at Tanis (Hermopolis) in Egypt. St. Dorothea, schemanun, of Kashin (1629).

New Hieromartyr Dimitry Rozhdestvensky, archpriest, of Verny, and his son New Martyr Anatole (1922). New Hieromartyr Basil Nadezhnin, priest, of Moscow (1930).

St. James, ascetic, of Syria (ca. 460). St. Mael, bishop of Ardagh (488), disciple of St. Patrick. St. Vedast, bishop of Arras (540). St. John of Thebes, monk of Palestine (6th c.) St. Amand, apostle of Maastricht (675). St. Arsenius of Iqalto, Georgia (1127).

Repose of Archbishop Theophan (Bystrov) of Poltava (1940).

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

Meat-fare Sunday (35th). [I Cor. 8:8–9:2; Matt. 25:31–46]

The great judgement! The judge cometh in the clouds, surrounded by a countless multitude of bodiless heavenly powers. Trumpets sound over all the ends of the earth and raise up the dead. The risen regiments pour into the determined place, to the throne of the Judge, having already a foreboding of what verdict will sound in their ears, for everyone’s deeds will be written on the brow of their nature, and their very appearance will correspond to their deeds and morals. The division of those on His right hand and those on His left will be accomplished in and of itself.

At last all has been determined. Deep silence falls. In another instant, the decisive verdict of the Judge is heard: to some, “Come,” to the others, “depart.” “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! May Thy mercy, O Lord, be on us!” they shall say, but then it will already be too late to plead. We need to take the trouble now to wash away the unfavourable marks written upon our nature. Then, at the judgment, we would be ready to pour out rivers of tears in order to wash ourselves; but this would do no good. Let us weep now, if not rivers of tears, then at least streams; if not streams, then at least drops. If we cannot find even this much, then let us become contrite in heart, and confess our sins to the Lord, begging Him to forgive them, and promising not to offend Him any more through violation of His commandments. Then, let us be zealous to faithfully fulfil this promise.

Articles

St. Bucolus the Bishop of Smyrna

Saint Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, and became the first Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor).

Virginmartyr Dorothy at Caesarea, in Cappadocia

The Holy Martyr Dorothy, the Martyrs Christina, Callista and the Martyr Theophilus lived in Caesarea of Cappadocia and suffered under the emperor Diocletian in either the year 288 or 300.

Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, at Caesarea in Cappadocia

Saints Christina and Callista were sisters who once were Christians, but fearing torture, they renounced Christ and began to lead impious lives.

Martyr Theophilus at Caesarea, in Cappadocia

As Saint Dorothy was being led to execution, Theophilus, one of the governor’s counselors, laughed and said to her, “Bride of Christ, send me an apple and some roses from the Paradise of your Bridegroom.” The martyr nodded and said, “I shall do that.”

Virginmarty Fausta at Cyzicus

The girl bravely confessed her faith and was subjected to many cruel tortures.

Martyr Evilasius at Cyzicus

Saint Evilasius was an eighty-year-old pagan priest who was ordered to turn Saint Fausta away from Christ.

Martyr Maximus at Cyzicus

The eparch Maximus was sent to investigate the case of Saints Fausta and Evilasius for the emperor, and he began to torture the old man who had come to believe in Christ.

Martyr Julian of Emesa

He was a skilled physician, and healed illnesses not only of the body but also of the soul, and he converted many people to faith in Christ the Savior.

Venerable Barsanuphius the Great

Saints Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet lived during the sixth century during the reign of the emperor Justinian I (483-565). They lived in asceticism at the monastery of Abba Seridus in Palestine, near the city of Gaza.

Venerable John the Prophet

Saint John, a disciple of Saint Barsanuphius, lived in a cell outside the monastery of Abba Seridus for eighteen years until his death.

St. Photius the Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, “the Church’s far-gleaming beacon,” lived during the ninth century, and came from a family of zealous Christians.

Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary and their brother Lycarion at Tanis (Hermopolis) in Egypt

They were arrested together with their brother Lykarion. All three were crucified, and during the execution their mother came to them, encouraging them in their sufferings for Christ.

St. Dorothy of Kashin

Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose)

Thus it was that, having lost her husband and her earthly happiness in the midst of the terrible misfortunes of the Russian land, St. Dorothy, already a woman of mature years, resolved to abandon the world and seek, in prayers and struggles, not a temporary happiness which is so often darkened by various evils, but rather a heavenly and eternal blessedness.

St. Arsenius of Iqalto in Georgia

Saint Arsen of Iqalto was a translator, researcher, compiler of manuscripts, hymnographer, philosopher, and a great defender of the Georgian Christian Faith.

Of the Last Judgment

St. Augustine

For that day is properly called the Day of Judgment, because in it there shall be no room left for the ignorant questioning why this wicked person is happy and that righteous man unhappy. In that day true and full happiness shall be the lot of none but the good, while deserved and supreme misery shall be the portion of the wicked, and of them only.

Meatfare Sunday

The next time that you set out to destroy someone’s reputation, break someone’s heart, show indifference and even ignorance toward a person, or maliciously gossip about someone, remember that Christ says that you’re doing exactly the same thing to Him!

On the Second Coming of Christ

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Mercy will present to Christ also those who were only able to show mercy to themselves, who visited themselves with self-criticism and freed themselves from the poverty, sickness, and prison of sin through repentance. Repentance is impossible for the hardened heart: the heart must be softened, filled with sympathy and mercy toward its catastrophic state of sinfulness.

Fasting and Great Lent

The word “fast” means not eating all or certain foods. As Orthodox Faithful, we can fast completely at certain times of great importance, and especially each time before receiv­ing Holy Communion. Usually, fasting means limiting the number of meals and/or the type of food eaten. The purpose of fasting is to remind us of the Scriptural teaching, “Man does not live by bread alone.” The needs of the body are nothing compared to the needs of the soul. Above all else, we need God, Who provides everything for both the body and the soul. Fasting teaches us to depend on God more fully.

A Lenten Primer. Part 2

Fr. Evan Armatas, John Maddox

So why is it that some would see a need for Great and Holy Lent? We said we were going to talk about the themes and the reasons; I think some of the reasons for Great Lent are in the calendar of events that proceed and mark our time through Great Lent. So let’s step back and take a look.

The Dread Judgment

St. John of Shanghai

A search for compromise will be the characteristic disposition of men. Straightforwardness of confession will vanish. Men will cleverly justify their fall, and an endearing evil will support such a general disposition. Men will grow accustomed to apostasy from the truth and to the sweetness of compromise and sin.

Meatfare Sunday: The Last Judgment

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