ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2024
Previous day
Святой пророк Захария и святая праведная Елисавета Священномученик Афанасий Брестский
Next day
Old Style
September 5 		Wednesday
New Style
September 18
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone 3.
Fast Day.
Wine and oil allowed.

Совершается служба на шестьHoly Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Forerunner (1st c.). Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyrdom of St. Athanasius, abbot, of Brest-Litovsk, by the Latins (1648).

Virgin-martyr Rhais of Alexandria (ca. 308). Martyrs Juventinus and Maximinus, soldiers, at Antioch (361-363). Martyrs Urban, Theodore, Medimnus, and 77 companions, at Nicomedia (370). Hieromartyr Abdas, bishop of Hormidz-Ardashir, and Martyrs Hormizd and Sunin, of Persia (ca. 420). Martyrdom of the Holy Passionbearer Gleb of Russia, in holy baptism David (1015). Martyrs Sarbelus (Thathuil) and his sister Bebaia, of Edessa (98- 138).

New Hieromartyr Alexis (Belkovsky), archbishop of Great Ustiug (1937).

Appearance of Apostle Peter to Emperor Justinian at Athira, near Constantinople (6th c.).

Repose of Priest Hilarion Felea of Romania (1961).

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

Wednesday. [II Cor. 9:12-10:7; Mark 3:20-27]

   If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. While single-mindedness for sinful evil is the quality within us, the kingdom of darkness and sin is strong in us; but when God’s grace attracts to itself the part of the spirit held captive by sin, freeing it from captivity, then there occurs a division within: sin on the one side, good on the other. As soon as a person unites his consciousness and freedom with good as a result of this awakening, sin loses all support and starts to decay. Constancy in the good intention taken on and patience in labours completely thwart sin and destroy it. Then begins the kingdom of good within, and it remains until some evil thought steals in, and, attracting the will to itself, once again brings about divisions. Just give entrance to the sinful stirring which has arisen, unite with it and set it in action, and again good will begin to weaken, and evil will grow, until it destroys the good entirely. This is the nearly continuous history of the inner life of those who are weak-hearted and do not have a strong disposition.

Articles

Sts. Zacharias the Prophet and Elizabeth the Righteous, the Parents of the Precious Forerunner

The Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. They were descended from the lineage of Aaron: St Zachariah, son of Barach, was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and St Elizabeth was the sister of St Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. The righteous spouses, "walking in all the commandments of the Lord" (Luke 1:6), suffered barrenness, which in those times was considered a punishment from God.

Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, the Parents of St. John the Forerunner

Soon after the appearance of the archangel, Elizabeth conceived. At the birth of John the Baptist a miracle happened: Zachariah who had been stricken dumb after he questioned the archangel about this miraculous conceiving regained the gift of speech.

Holy Hieromartyr Athanasius of Brest-Litovsk, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in Poland and Lithuania

Athanasius was charged with profaning the Latin Church and the Unia. When he again denounced the Unia before his interrogators, he was thrown into prison, where the Jesuits alternately threatened him with torture and cajoled him with freedom, if he would join the Uniates. The holy monk refused to renounce his faith, crying aloud, "Anathema to the Union!"

Princes Boris and Gleb

Boris and Gleb were the younger and much beloved sons of Grand Prince Vladimir, the ruler of Kievan Rus, who in 988 brought his subjects to the waters of Holy Baptism.

Passion-Bearer Gleb, in Holy Baptism David

The Holy Prince Gleb, in Holy Baptism David, was one of the first Russian martyrs called “Passion-Bearers.” He suffered together with his brother Prince Boris (Roman in Holy Baptism).

Those Who Were Glorified by Their Deaths

Hieromonk Nikon (Parimanchuk)

Just as Christ trampled down death with His death, so the holy brothers, faithful to their cross, trampled through their passion-bearing upon the law of this world, in which enmity and strife, discord, pride and self-exaltation, obstinacy and stubbornness, and touchiness reign.

Martyrs Sarbelus (Thathuil) and his sister Bebaia, of Edessa

The Holy Martyrs Sarbelus and Bebaia of Edessa were brother and sister, suffering in the second century under the emperor Trajan for confessing Christianity.
© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY