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August 5
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Sunday |
New Style
August 18
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8th Sunday after Pentecost.
Tone 7.
Успенский пост. |
 Wine and oil allowed.
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Forefeast of the Transfiguration. 
Martyr Eusignius of Antioch (362).
Hieromartyrs Antherus (236) and Fabian (250), popes of Rome. Martyr Pontius, at Cimella in Gaul (ca. 257). Righteous Nonna, mother of St. Gregory the Theologian (374). Monk-martyr Job the Gorge-dweller, on the Mezen River (Solovki) (1628). Martyrs Cantidius, Cantidian, and Sibelius, of Egypt (4th c.).
New Martyrs Eudocia Sheikova, Daria Timagina, Daria Ulybina, and Maria of Diveyevo, novices, at Puzo (1919). New Hieromartyr Simon (Shleyev), bishop of Ufa (1921).
Martyr Oswald, king of Northumbria (642). St. Euthymius, patriarch of Constantinople (917). New Martyr Christos of Preveza, at Kos (1668). St. Eugenius, monk, of Anatolia (1682). Uncovering of the relics of St. Arsenius the New, of Paros (1967).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Eighth Sunday After Pentacost. [I Cor. 1:10-18; Matt. 14:14-22]
Before the miraculous filling of the five thousand people, the disciples of the Lord wanted the people to be sent away; but the Lord said to them: They need not depart; give ye them to eat. Let us learn this word, and each time the enemy suggests to us to refuse someone who asks for something, let us say from the face of the Lord: “They need not depart, give ye them to eat”—and let us give whatever we find at hand. The enemy destroys the desire to offer charity, and suggests that maybe the asker is not worthy of being given to; but the Lord did not investigate the worthiness of those sitting there: he served everyone equally, while of course, not everyone was equally devoted to Him; perhaps there were even those who later cried: “crucify him.” Such is God’s overall providence toward us: He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45). If only the Lord would help us even a tiny bit to be merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36).
Monday. [I Cor. 11:31-12:1; Matt. 18:1-11]
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The structure of a child’s heart is a model for all. Children, before egotistical strivings have come out in them, are a model for imitation. What do we see In children? Complete faith, which does not reason; undebating obedience; sincere love; lack of worry and peace under their parents’ roof; liveliness and freshness of life, with activeness and a desire to learn and become more perfect. But the Saviour particularly emphasizes one of their virtues—humility: Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. For as soon as there is true humility, all of the virtues are there. It is revealed perfectly when the other virtues have already bloomed in the heart and reach maturity; it is their crown and protection. This is the mystery of spiritual life in our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever is higher is more humble, because he more clearly and tangibly sees that it is not he who labours successfully, but the grace which is in him; and this is the measure of the age of Christ’s fulfilment. For the main thing in Christ Jesus is that He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death.
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