ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2025
Previous day
Мц. Иулиания Никомидийская Святитель Петр Московский Свт. Филарет. митр. Киевский
Next day
Old Style
December 21
Saturday
New Style
January 3
30th Week after Pentecost. Saturday before the Nativity. Tone 4.
Nativity Fast.
Wine and oil allowed.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомForefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомVirginmartyr Juliana of Nicomedia, and with her 500 men and 130 women (304). Совершается служба с полиелеемSt. Peter, metropolitan of Kiev and Moscow (1326).

Martyr Theomistocles of Myra in Lycia (251). St. Juliana, princess of Vyazma (Novotorzhok) (1406). Blessed Procopius of Vyatka, fool-for-Christ (1627). St. Philaret (Theodosius in schema), metropolitan of Kiev (1857).

New Hieromartyr Nicetas (Pribytkov), bishop of Belev (1938).

St. Macarius the Faster, abbot of Khakhuli Monastery (11th c.). St. Anton II, catholicos-patriarch of Georgia (1827). Finding of the relics (1950) of New Monk-martyr Ephraim of Nea Makri (1426).

Repose of Blessed Peter “the Nose,” of Kama (ca. 1938), Schemamonk Michael of Harbin (1939), and Mother Stavritsa, missionary in Kenya (2000).

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. [Col. 1:3-6; Luke 16:10-15]

Ye cannot serve God and mammon. A divided thought and divided heart make a person unfit for anything; for A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). He either does nothing, or does and redoes; that is, he builds with one hand and destroys with the other. The source of a truly God-pleasing life is a firm resolution to please God in all things. This resolution directs all of a person’s thoughts, desires and feelings toward one thing, and thus uniting his inward [powers], it makes him strong to do deeds, bringing unity into all of his activities and imparting to them a single character. Such deeds are successful and fruitful, because they are full of true life. Where do inertia, immobility and fruitlessness of deeds come from? From inner lifelessness; and inner lifelessness comes from inner division. One single goal is not acknowledged or established as a law of life—deeds are performed haphazardly. Therefore one deed goes in its direction, another goes in another direction, and the edifice of one’s life is never erected. Choose a goal and devote your life to it. The true, main goal is indicated by the God-like nature of man; it is living communication with God. Direct also toward this main goal all personal, scholarly, worldly, civic, commercial, official, and governmental goals. If everyone in society held to this [principle], there would be one general tenor to society, and one spirit would fill everyone.

Articles

© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY