ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2024
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Феодор Тирон Сорок мучеников Севастийских Св. блж. Павел Таганрогский
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Old Style
March 10
Saturday
New Style
March 23
1st Week of Great Lent. Tone 8.
Great Lent.
Wine and oil allowed.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомCommemoration of St. Theodore the Tyro (ca. 306). Совершается служба с полиелеемThe Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste: Cyrion (or Quirio), Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivianus, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Xanthias, Helianus, Sisinius, Angus, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdicius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion, Aglaius, and Meliton (ca. 320). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyr Codratus (Quadratus) and with him Martyrs Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, and Dionysius (another), at Corinth (258). St. Paul of Taganrog (1879).

Martyrs Codratus, Saturninus, and Rufinus, of Nicomedia (3rd c.). St. Anastasia the Patrician, of Alexandria (567-568). St. Alexander (Badanin), priest, of Vologda (1913).

Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, and others, at Corinth (251 or 258). St. Kessog of Lennox (520). St. Attalus, abbot, of Bobbio (626). St. John of Khakhuli, Georgia, called Chrysostom (10th c.-11th c.). New Martyr Michael of Agrapha, at Thessalonica (1544). New Martyr Theodore Sladic of Komogovina, Serbia (1788).

Commemoration of the desert-dwellers of the Roslavl Forests, near Bryansk.

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

Saturday. [Heb. 1:1–12; Mark 2:23–3:5]

   We have approached the chalice of the Lord, we have been at the Supper of the Lord. Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Now is the great day of the Lord! The most glorious celebration in heaven! There is no city, nor village, nor house, where there are no people receiving Holy Communion. Across the breadth of Russia, throughout the south and east, so many people clothed in the white garments of justification have tasted of the Divine life, and have most sincerely united themselves with the Lord! The Lord’s Body has been renewed—the Body of the Church, and has been clothed in the glory belonging to it, hidden from the eyes of man, but visible to the eyes of angels. The angels worshipped the First-born when He was brought to the world in His power; now they have worshipped Him because the world has been brought again to Him. They have worshipped Him and sung out: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre; Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness (Ps. 45:6–7).

Articles

Greatmartyr Theodore the Tyro (“the Recruit”)

In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent.

1st Saturday of Great Lent: The Miracle of the Boiled Wheat

Today we remember the miracle of Saint Theodore the Recruit and the boiled wheat.

In Memory of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste—A.D. 320

During this time they prepared themselves for the trial of martyrdom. One of them, Cyrion by name, exhorted his fellow soldiers: "God so ordained that we made friends with each other in this temporary life; let us try not to separate even in eternity; just as we have been found plea sing to a mortal king, so let us strive to be worthy of the favor of the immortal King, Christ our God."

Fascinating Facts Behind the Forty Martyrs of Sevaste

Too Incredible to Be True? Are we really supposed to believe that forty men in the prime of life voluntarily undressed to die by freezing? Is this just a legend? Actually, the story is as solid as ancient history gets.

Homily Concerning the Forty Martyrs

St. Gregory of Nyssa

I believe that persons who have undergone many harsh experiences can give us encouragement because the sufferings which they and others have endured are a source of special joy. A shepherd rejoices when he sees his abundant flock gathered together; although his pen is large, he expands it to accommodate a large number of sheep. Similarly, Peter saw a throng gathered about the Lord and exclaimed, Master, the crowd surrounds you and presses upon you (Lk. 8.45).

40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste

On the following morning, the soldiers were again taken to Agricola. This time the pagan tried flattery. He began to praise their valor, their youth and strength, and once more he urged them to renounce Christ and thereby win themselves the respect and favor of their emperor.

The Holy Forty Martyrs—"Winter Is Harsh, but Paradise Is Sweet!"

According to the tradition about the Holy Forty Martyrs, as they were suffering in the freezing lake, they strengthened themselves and one another by saying “Winter is harsh, but paradise is sweet!” This captures the spirit and essence of Christian martyrdom, which always sees the experiences of this world in the light of the heavenly kingdom.

The 40 Martyrs of Sebaste: Confession through martyrdom

Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi

What were they "suffering at present" from? They were tortured with whatever the devil threw at them, since he is always generating ways to prevent the devout from getting on with their business. He begins with minor internal or external annoyances and reaches even the highest of all evil, death.

40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste

Martyr Quadratus and those with him at Corinth

Saint Quadratus, despite inhuman suffering, encouraged the others, urging them not to be afraid and to stand firmly for the Faith.

Martyr Quadratus and the rest of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyrs Quadratus of Nicomedia, Saturinus, Rufinus and others suffered during the persecutions of the emperor Decius (249-251) and his successor Valerian (253-259).

Saint Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria

Saint Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria lived in Constantinople and was descended from an aristocratic family.

Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias, at Corinth

The Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias suffered at Corinth in 251, during a persecution under the emperor Decius (249-251).

Holy Hierarch Ioane of Khakhuli, Also Called Chrysostom (10th–11th centuries)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

In the second half of the 10th century King Davit Kuropalates founded Khakhuli Monastery in the historical region of Tao, at the gorge of the Khakhuli River, where it joins the Tortumi River. A contemporary of King Bagrat III (975–1014), St. Ioane of Khakhuli was a highly educated theologian, translator, and calligrapher. He has been called “Chrysostom” since he, like the beloved archbishop of Constantinople, delivered his sermons with extraordinary eloquence.
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