ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2023
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Прп. София Суздальская Происхождение (изнесение) Честных Древ Животворящего Креста Господня Мученики Маккавеи
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Old Style
August 1 		Monday
New Style
August 14
11th Week after Pentecost. Tone 1.
Начало Успенского поста.
Monastic rule: xerophagy (bread, uncooked fruits and vegetables).

Совершается служба со славословиемProcession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord. Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомFeast of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos (commemoration of the victory of St. Andrew Bogolubsky over the Volga Bulgars) (1164). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомHoly Seven Maccabees: Martyrs Abimus, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonus, Alimus, and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia, and their teacher Eleazar (166 b.c.).

Nine Martyrs of Perge in Pamphylia: Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Minsitheus (Mnesitheus), Cyriacus, Mineon (Menaeus), Catanus, and Eucleus (3rd c.). Uncovering of the relics (1995) of St. Sophia of Suzdal, nun (in the world Solomonia)(1542), wife of Grand Duke Basil III of Moscow (1995). St. Nicholas, Equal-to-the-Apostles, enlightener of Japan (1912).

New Hieromartyr Dimitry Pavsky, archpriest, of Ulyanovo (Tver) (1937).

St. Eusebius, bishop of Verceil (Italy) (ca. 371). Martyr Elessa of Cythera (375). Sts. Friardus of Vindumitta (573) and Secundellus, deacon (6th c.), of Gaul. St. Timothy the Wonderworker, bishop of Proconnesus (6th c.). St. Cennydd (Kenneth), monk, of Llangenydd (Wales) (6th. c.). St. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester (984).

Repose of Abbess Alexia of Nizhni-Novgorod (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

Monday. [II Cor. 2:4-15; Matt. 23:13-22]

   Woe unto you…for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men. This is said to the chief priests, who neither teach the people themselves the saving path, nor compel the priests to do it; this is said also to priests who leave the people in neglect, not taking care to explain to them what is necessary for the salvation of the soul. From this the people remain in blindness, and one part remains in the certainty that it is going properly; the other, though it notices that things are not going the right way, does not go where it should, because it does not know how and where to go. This causes various silly ideas to spread among the people; this is why schismatics, molokans and khlysts[1] find acceptance among them, and this is how every evil teaching finds convenient access to them. A priest usually thinks that in his parish everything is fine, and rushes into action only when this evil has already spread and come to light. But then it is too late do anything about it. A priest must consider it the first priority of his conscience to continually instruct the adults in the knowledge of the Christian faith, and to prepare the young generation from their first conscious years, explaining to them what they can and must know. There is no need to wait for school. This must be done orally, gathering the children in the church and at home on Sunday evenings, or whenever and however it is convenient.

[1] Schismatics refer to the Old Believers, and Molokans and Klysts were Russian sects.

Articles

On the feast of the Procession of Honorable Wood of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord

Evgeny Poselyanin

The two feasts of the "Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord" and the celebration of the "All-Merciful Savior Christ God and His Mother the Most Holy Theotokos, Mary" are combined in some menaions, but not all. The two feasts are given equal honor. This gives cause to suppose that these two feasts are not distinct and are essentially one and the same feast, known by two different names. This, however, is a totally wrong assumption. That becomes clear and undoubted if we take a look at the essence and reason for instituting these two different feasts.

The Preaching of the Cross

Fr. Seraphim Holland

Brothers and sisters, today is the Procession of the Cross which we celebrate on the first of August, and also the holy Maccabean martyrs with their teacher Eleazar and their mother Solomonia. St. Paul has two famous phrases that are in one of the epistles we read today—a very misunderstood phrase. Let’s talk about what it really means.

Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Cross

Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (First of the three “Feasts of the Savior” in August)

Because of the Blessing of Water, this first Feast of the Savior in August is sometimes called ‘Savior of the Water.” There may also be a Blessing of New Honey today, which is why the Feast is also called “Savior of the Honey.” From this day the newly gathered honey is blessed and tasted.

The Seven Holy Maccabee Martyrs

The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from their covenant with God.

Martyr Leontius of Perge in Pamphylia, and those with him

The Martyrs Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius, Cyriacus, Menaeus, Catunus and Eukleus lived in the Pamphylian city of Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

Holy Hierarch Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester

Dmitry Lapa

A true revival of English Orthodox monasticism and piety became possible only in the second half of the tenth century, under the three saintly figures known as the “Three English Holy Hierarchs.” These were the holy hierarchs Dunstan of Canterbury, Oswald of Worcester and York, and Ethelwold (originally Aethelwold) of Winchester, three great archpastors for whom veneration was nationwide.
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