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| Old Style
December 19
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Thursday |
New Style
January 1
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30th Week after Pentecost.
Tone 4.
Nativity Fast. |
 Wine and oil allowed.
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Martyr Boniface, at Tarsus in Cilicia (290). and Righteous Aglae (Aglaida), of Rome (ca. 303).
Martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares, Egyptians, in Cilicia (308). Martyrs Polyeuctus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia, and the deacon Timothy, in Mauretania (309). St. Gregory (Gregentius), archbishop of Omirits (552). St. Boniface the Merciful, bishop of Ferentino (6th c.). St. Elias of Murom, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves (1188). St. Amphilochius, wonderworker, of Pochaev (1970). St. Seraphim (Romantsov), schema-archimandrite, of Sukhumi (Abkhazia), elder, of Glinsk Monastery (1975).
Hieromartyr Capito, bishop of Cherson (4th c.). Sts. George the Scribe and Sabbas, monks of Khakhuli Monastery (11th c.). Martyrs Eutyches and Thessalonica, and with them 200 men and 70 women.
Repose of Hieromonk Hermogenes, founder of Kirensk and Albazin Monasteries (Siberia) (1690).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Thursday. [James 1:19-27; Mark 10:17-27]
Someone turned to the Lord with a question: Good Master, what shall I do that[mc1] I may inherit eternal life? What necessitated this question? Were there no scriptures? Was the law not read every Saturday for everyone? There was everything—both Scripture and its interpreters; but in society difference of opinion went around and muddled everyone. The Pharisees said one thing, the Sadducees another, the Essenes, their own thing, the Samaritans their own. In Galilee, perhaps even pagan teachings were heard, and each put forth their own with a tone of conviction. Anyone who was zealous for salvation naturally came to the question: What should I do? What should I follow, that my soul not be destroyed? Our situation now is very similar those times. What teachings are not going around our schools, in society, and in literature! For the indifferent it is nothing; but they for whom every teaching is not the same cannot but seek an answer to the question, “What should I do?” So what is the solution? The one the Saviour gave: Believe and live as God commanded, and do not listen to people’s talk; let them talk. The talk of scientists is like rumours and fashion: today they say one thing, tomorrow another. But you should heed only God’s word, which abides unto the ages. What the Lord commanded no philosophizing can revoke. Everything must be done, and cannot be put off. The judgment indeed will be according to the word of the Lord, and not according to our philosophizing.
Articles
 Righteous Aglaida (Aglae) of RomeSaint Aglaida (Aglae) was a rich Roman woman and carried on an immoral relationship with her slave Saint Boniface. |
