ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2023
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Собор Ростово-Ярославских святых Сошествие Святого Духа на апостолов Леонтий Ростовский
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Old Style
May 23 		Monday
New Style
June 5
First Week after Pentecost (Fast-free period). Tone 7.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Michael the Confessor, metropolitan of Synnada (821). Совершается служба со славословиемUncovering of the relics of St. Leontius, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1164). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSynaxis of the Saints of Rostov and Yaroslavl.

Martyr Michael “the Blackrobed,” of St. Sabbas Monastery (9th c.). Virgin Euphrosyne, princess and abbess, of Polotsk (1173). Uncovering of the relics of St. Abramius, archimandrite, of Rostov (1210). St. Paisius, abbot, of Galich (1460).

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Thou Art the Vineyard.”

Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, wife of Cleopas (1st c.). Hieromartyrs Epitacius, bishop of Tuy (Spain), and Basil, bishop of Braga (Portugal) (1st c.). St. Damian (King Demetrius) of Gareji, Georgia (1157). St. Ioannicius I, archbishop of Serbia (1270). St. John of Valaam and New Valamo (Finland) (1958).

Repose of Hieromonk Damascene of Valaam (1825), Hieroschemamonk Meletius of Svir (1877), disciple of Elder Theodore of Svir, and Nun Euphrosyne (1934), disciple of St. Barsanuphius of Optina.

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

Monday. [Eph. 5:9–19; Matt. 18:10–20]

Comforting His disciples, the Lord said that it will be better for them if He rises to heaven, for upon rising, in place of Himself He will send the comforter—the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has descended and abides in the Church, accomplishing in each believer the work of Christ. Each Christian is a communicant of the spirit. This is something so necessary, that in fact whoever does not have the Spirit is not of Christ. Look closely at yourself—is the Spirit of grace within you? For it does not remain in everyone; it can depart. Here are the signs of its presence: first it finds a spirit of repentance and teaches a Christian to turn to God and correct his life; the spirit of repentance, accomplishing its work, passes the Christian on to a spirit of holiness and purity, which is succeeded, at last, by a spirit of Sonhood. The characteristic of the first is a work-loving zeal; the characteristic of the second is warmth and a sweet burning of the heart; the characteristic of the third is a feeling of Sonhood whereby the heart sighs to God: Abba, Father! (Mk. 14:36). Examine which of these levels you are on. If you are not on any of them, take care for yourself.

Articles

St. Michael the Confessor the Bishop of Synnada

Saint Michael the Confessor From his youth he longed for the monastic life and was sent by Patriarch Tarasius (784-806) to a monastery on the coast of the Black Sea.

Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov

The celebration of the Synaxis of the Rostov and Yaroslav Saints on May 23 was established by resolution of His Holiness Patriarch Alexis I (+ 1970) and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, on March 10, 1964.

Martyr Michael “the Black-Robed” of Saint Savva Monastery

The Venerable Michael lived in the ninth century, and was from the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia, the son of Christian parents.

Venerable Euphrosyne the Abbess of Polotsk

St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, the first Eastern Slavic woman to be canonized by the Orthodox Church, stood at the birth of the tangible representation of a spiritual heritage of universal human values.

Venerable Damiane (†1157)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Saint Damiane (in the world King Demetre I) was the son of Holy King Davit the Restorer. King Davit proclaimed his son co-ruler of Georgia and crowned him with his own hands. He declared that his son Demetre, through his wisdom, chastity, bravery, and handsome appearance, would rule Georgia better than he himself had.
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