ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2024
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Преподобный Моисей Угрин, Печерский
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Old Style
July 26
Thursday
New Style
August 8
7th Week after Pentecost. Tone 5.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомHieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates, at Nicomedia (ca. 305).

Nun-martyr Parasceva of Rome (138-161). St. Moses the Hungarian, of the Kiev Caves (ca. 1043). St. Theodosius of the Caucasus (1948). St. Isaac, hieromonk of Svyatogorsk Monastery (1903).

New Hieromartyr Sergius Strelnikov, archpriest, of Orshanka (Vyatka) (1937).

Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of Emvolon” in Constantinople.

Martyr Oriozela of Reuma, near the Bosphorus (ca. 250). Virgin-martyr Jerusalem, near the Bosphorus (3rd c.). St. Gerontius, founder of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos (13th c.). St. Sava III, archbishop of Serbia (1316). St. Iakov Netsvetov of Atka Island and Ikogmute, missionary priest to the Yup’ik on the Yukon River (1867). St. Ignatius, monk, of Mt. Steirion. St. Callinicus, metropolitan of Edessa and Pella (1984).

Repose of Elder Theophanes of Solovki (1819) and Archimandrite Nathaniel (Pospelov) of Pskov Caves Monastery (2002).

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

Thursday. [I Cor. 7:24-35; Matt. 15:12-21]

   Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts. From whence in the heart? Their root lies in sin which lives within us, and their branching out, multiplying and particular appearance in each person come from that person’s own will. What should one do? First, cut off all that comes from your will. This will be like someone tearing off leaves from a tree, cutting off branches and twigs, and chopping the trunk almost to its roots. Then, do not allow new sprouts to come up, and the root itself will dry up; that is, do not allow evil thoughts to proceed from your heart, and repel and drive off those that do, and the sin which lives in us, not receiving sustenance, will slacken and completely grow weak. In this lies the essence of the commandment: be sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Take heed unto thyself (1 Tim. 4:6). Gird up the loins of thy mind 1 Peter 1:13.” Together with attentiveness one must have discernment. From the heart not only bad things proceed, but also good things; yet, one should not fulfil every good thing suggested by the heart. What one should truly fulfil is determined by discernment. Discernment is a gardener’s knife; some branches it cuts off, while others it grafts in.

Friday. [I Cor. 7:35-8:7; Matt. 15:29-31]

   Without attentiveness in everyday affairs you cannot do anything properly; but in spiritual matters—it comes first. It notices what is bad and brings it before the inner judge; sets the guard of the inner chamber, where the best course of action is discussed, and then protects the one who carries out the decisions. This is not surprising, because the spiritual life in its fullness is called a sober life, and in patristic writings we meet mostly words about soberness or attentiveness, for they are one and the same. Therefore, how important it is to make a habit of attentiveness! The initial labor of those who have begun to be concerned about their souls is usually directed toward this. And their work only begins to resemble work from the point where attentiveness begins to be gathered within themselves; usually the attentiveness is all external, and not internal. From this moment the inner life is conceived and with this attentiveness it ripens and strengthens. What does this mean? It means standing with the mind in the heart before the Lord and consciously discussing all, and undertaking all before His face. This job, obviously, is complicated. It becomes successful with prayer, and is as much strengthened by it, as it strengthens prayer itself.

Articles

Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates, at Nicomedia

Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000 Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303 (December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305).

Martyr Parasceva of Rome

Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskeva of Rome was the only daughter of Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she dedicated herself to God.

Venerable Moses the Hungarian of the Kiev Near Caves

After recovering from his ordeal Venerable Moses came to the Monastery of the Caves, bearing the wounds of a Martyr and the crown of a Confessor, as a brave and victorious soldier of Christ.

Holy Virgin Martyr Oraiozele, disciple of the Holy Apostle Andrew

Saint Oraiozele (Oraiozélē) lived in Byzantium during the first century. At first she was an idol-worshipper, but then she became a Christian when she heard the preaching of Saint Andrew, who baptized her.

Venerable Geróntios, the Founder of the Skḗtē of Saint Anna on Mount Athos

Saint Geróntios lived a most wondrous life and reposed at an advanced age.

St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska

He learned new languages, embraced new peoples and cultures, devised another alphabet, built another church and Orthodox community, and for the next twenty years, until his health and eyesight failed, continued to be an evangelical beacon of the grace of God in southwestern Alaska.
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