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May 12
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Thursday |
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May 25
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| 6th Week after Pascha. Tone 5. |  No fast.
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The Ascension of our Lord
St. Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus (403). St. Germanus, patriarch of Constantinople (740). Glorification of St. Hermogenes, patriarch of Moscow and all Russia (1913).
St. Sabinus, archbishop of Cyprus (5th c.). St. Polybius of Cyprus, bishop of Rinokyr in Egypt (5th c.). New Martyr John of Wallachia, at Constantinople (1662). St. Dionysius of Radonezh (1633), and St. Anthony (Medvedev) (1877), archimandrites, of St. Sergius Lavra. Holy Georgian Martyrs of Persia (17th-18th c.). Second translation of the relics of Righteous Symeon of Verkhoturye (1992). Synaxis of the Saints of the Sofroniev-Molchensk Monastery (Ukraine): Archimandrite Theodosius (Maslov), Hieromonk Serapion, Monk Sophronius (Batovrin), and Novice Sergius (Tikhonov), fool-for-Christ.
New Martyr Athanasia (Lepeshkin), abbess of the Smolensk Hodigitria Convent near Moscow (1931).
Martyr Pancratius of Rome (304). St. Philip of Agira, Sicily (5th c.). St. Theodore of Cythera, monk (922). New Martyr John of Serres (15th-16th c.).
Commemoration of Monk Dorotheus, disciple of St. Dionysius of St. Sergius Lavra (1622).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Thursday. Ascension. [Acts 1:1–12; Luke 24:36–53]
Saint Paul expresses the power of the Lord’s Ascension in this manner: When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men (Eph. 4:8). Having satisfied God’s righteousness, the Lord opened for us all the treasures of God’s goodness. This is indeed a capturing or taking of spoils after victory. The beginning of the distribution of these spoils to people is the descent of the Holy Spirit, Who, having descended, always abides in the Church and gives everyone that which he needs, receiving all from that captive captivity (cf. Eph 4:8). Come everyone and take. But prepare for yourself guardian of that treasure, which is a pure heart; have hands to take it, which is unreflecting faith. Then step forth searching hopefully, and praying relentlessly.
Articles
 Ascension of the LordAscension of the Lord |
 St. Epiphanius the Bishop of CyprusSaint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, “a last relic of ancient piety,” as Saint Jerome calls him, lived during the fourth century in Phoenicia. |
 St. Sabinus the Archbishop of CyprusSaint Sabinus, Bishop of Cyprus, was born in the Phoenician city of Lycia. |
 St. Polybius the Bishop in CyprusSaint Polybius was a disciple of Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus. He accompanied him on all his journeys and he wrote about the life and miracles of his teacher. |
 Martyr John the Wallachian of RomaniaSaint John was born into a poor family in Oltenia during the time of Prince Matthew Basarab. |
 Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of VerkhoturyeSaint Simeon of Verkhoturye was a nobleman, but he concealed his origin and led the life of a beggar. |
 Martyr PancratiusThe Holy Martyr Pancratius was a native of Phrygia, but lived in Rome with his uncle Dionysius after his parents died. They heard Bishop Cornelius preach, and were later baptized. |