ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2024
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Мученик Михаил, князь Черниговский Прп. Марон Сирийский Св. равноапостольный Кирилл, учитель Словенский
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Old Style
February 14 		Tuesday
New Style
February 27
Fast-free Week. Tone 5.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомSt. Auxentius, monk, of Bithynia (ca. 470). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Cyril, Equal-to-the-Apostles, teacher of the Slavs (869).

St. Maron, hermit of Cyrrhus (ca. 433). St. Abraham, bishop of Charres in Mesopotamia (5th c.). St. Isaac, recluse of the Kiev Caves (ca. 1090). Translation of the relics of Martyrs Prince Michael and his counselor Theodore, of Chernigov (1578). St. Hilarion the Georgian (the New) of Imereti and Mt. Athos (1864).

New Hieromartyr Onesimus (Pylaev), bishop of Tula (1937).

St. Peter, patriarch of Alexandria (380). Hieromartyr Philemon, bishop of Gaza. New Martyr Nicholas of Corinth (1554). New Monk-martyr Damian of Philotheou and Kissavos, at Larissa (1568). New Martyr George the Tailor, of Mytilene, at Constantinople (1693). St. Raphael, bishop of Brooklyn (1915). St. Ephraim of Katounakia (1998).

Repose of Archimandrite Barsanuphius of Valaam and Morocco (1952), Righteous Barbara (Arkhangelskaya) the Recluse, of Ufa (1966).

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

Tuesday. [II Pet. 2:9–22; Mark 13:14–23]

If any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not (Mark 13:21). Christ the Lord, our Saviour, having established upon the earth the holy Church, is well pleased to abide in it, as its head, enlivener, and ruler. Christ is here, in our Orthodox Church, and He is not in any other church. Do not search for Him elsewhere, for you will not find Him. Therefore, if someone from a non-orthodox assemblage comes to you and begins to suggest that they have Christ—do not believe it. If some one says to you, “We have an apostolic community, and we have Christ,” do not believe them. The Church founded by the Apostles abides on the earth—it is the Orthodox Church, And Christ is in it. The community established only yesterday cannot be apostolic, and Christ is not in it. If you hear someone saying, “Christ is speaking in me,” while he shuns the [Orthodox] Church, does not want to know its pastors and is not sanctified by the Sacraments, do not believe him. In him is not Christ, but rather another spirit appropriating the name of Christ in order to divert people from Christ the Lord and from His holy Church. Neither believe anyone who suggests to you even some small thing alien to the [Orthodox] Church. Recognize all such people to be instruments of seducing spirits and preachers of lies.

Articles

Venerable Auxentius of Bithynia

Saint Auxentius, by origin a Syrian, served at the court of the emperor Theodosius the Younger (418-450). He was known as a virtuous, learned and wise man, and he was, moreover, a friend of many of the pious men of his era.

St Cyril, Equal of the Apostles and Teacher of the Slavs

Saint Cyril received the finest of educations, and from the age of fourteen he was raised with the son of the emperor. Later, he was ordained as a priest.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Venerable Maron the Hermit of Syria

Saint Maron was born in the fourth century near the city of Cyrrhus in Syria. He spent almost all his time beneath the open sky in prayer, vigil, ascetical works and strict fasting.

St. Abraham the Bishop of Charres in Mesopotamia

Saint Abraham, Bishop of Charres, lived during the mid-fourth and early fifth centuries, and was born in the city of Cyrrhus. In his youth he entered a monastery.

Venerable Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves

Saint Isaac was the first person in northern lands to live as a fool for Christ.

St. Isaac of Toropets

Alexey Gunkin

Foolishness for Christ is a particular form of sanctity where spiritual gifts and virtues are consciously hidden behind external, ostensible madness.

Holy Martyrs Prince Michael and his counselor Theodore, of Chernigov

Taking courage in the words of the Lord: “Whoever would save his life, shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake shall save it” (Mt.16:25), the holy prince and his devoted boyar prepared for a martyr’s death and received the Holy Mysteries, which their spiritual Father gave them, foreseeing this possibility.

Tower of Virtue. St. Hilarion the Georgian of Mt. Athos. Part 1

Hieromonk Anthony (Torp)

His life was intertwined with the upheavals of the nineteenth century: the dissolution of the Georgian Kingdom, its annexation by Russia, and the Greek Insurrection of 1821. Within these events St. Hilarion led a life that encompassed the fullness of Christianity. As a married priest he was the royal confessor, and later as a monk he witnessed to the Faith before the Muslims. He finally became a vessel of the Holy Spirit as a great ascetic and spiritual father on Mount Athos. Where he was called “St. Hilarion the Georgian".

Tower of Virtue. St. Hilarion the Georgian of Mt. Athos Part 2

Hieromonk Anthony (Torp)

Amid such outward struggles, Fr. Hilarion immersed himself in the sea of spiritual contemplation and noetic prayer; consequently, a bitter spiritual battle began. Many times hordes of demons appeared to him like battle regiments. Approaching the tower, they would scream, as if laying siege, attacking the tower, but they were unable to achieve their ends. Sometimes the entire multitude would try to frighten the elder, crying out, "Three sides have already been taken; there remains one, but we'll take it."

St. Raphael Bishop of Brooklyn

From his youth, Saint Raphael’s greatest joy was to serve the Church.
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