ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2026
Previous day
Мученик Иулиан Тарсийский Преподобный Максим Грек
Next day
Old Style
June 21 		Saturday
New Style
July 4
5th Week after Pentecost. Tone 3.
Fast of the Holy Apostles.
Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомMartyr Julian of Tarsus in Cilicia (ca. 284-305). Uncovering of the relics of St. Maximus the Greek, of Russia (1996).

Hieromartyr Tertius (Terence) apostle of the Seventy, bishop of Iconium (1st c.). St. Julius, priest, of Novara, and his brother St. Julian, deacon (5th c.). Martyrs Archil II (744) and Luarsab II (1622), kings of Georgia. Martyr Theodore, right-believing prince of Starodub (1330).

New Hieroconfessor George (Lavrov), archimandrite, of Kaluga (1932). New Hieromartyr Nicholas Rozanov, archpriest, of Zvenigorod (1938). New Hieromartyr Jonah (Sankov), hieromonk, of Alpatievo (Moscow) (1938).

St. Cormac of the Sea, abbot, of Durrow Monastery (Ireland) (ca. 590). St. Raoul (Rudolph or Ralph), abbot, and archbishop of Bourges (Gaul) (866). Martyr Aphrodisius in Cilicia. New Martyr Nicetas of Nisyros, near Rhodes, at Chios (1732). Martyr Julian and his wife Basilissa, and with them Martyrs Celsius, his mother Marcianilla, Anastasius, the priest Anthony, seven brothers, and twenty prison guards, of Antinoe in Egypt (283- 305).

Repose of Schemamonk John “the Muscovite,” of Valaam (1933).

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. [Rom. 8:14-21; Matt. 9:9-13]

   When someone, by his fear of God and the demands of his conscience already has an awakened thirst for spiritual things, he possesses a certain sense enabling him to understand the meaning of words relating to the spiritual sphere, although they might be clothed in the form of a parable. For such people a parable does not hide the truth, but rather reveals it even more clearly. But he who is not of this disposition does not understand any spiritual content described in the form of a parable. Even if one were to offer him a word on these subjects that was not in the form of a parable he would only understand the words, and not comprehend the essence of the matter. It would go against all of his notions, and seem to him to be an absurdity which he would not hesitate to mock. This is precisely why the Lord talked to the people in parables. Whoever is spiritually inclined will understand a parable, whereas someone with no inclinations will not understand no matter what you say. Because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand…For this people’s heart is waxed gross (Matt. 13:12-15). Meanwhile, the parable did not deprive of needed instruction those who were capable of seeing the hidden truth: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance.

Articles

Martyr Julian of Tarsus, in Cilicia

The Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus was born in the Asia Minor province of Cilicia. He was the son of a pagan senator, but his mother was a Christian.

St. Maximos of Vatopaidi

Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi

We pray that our All-Good Triune God, who “worketh hitherto,” might ever send forth worthy and holy workers, like the great and tireless Saint Maximos, to His vineyard, for the salvation of all. We also pray that God, through the intercessions of this our holy Father, grant His Grace for the preservation of unity of Faith and bonds of love in our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ.

Venerable Maximus the Greek

Saint Maximus was chosen to go to Moscow, for he had been brought up on secular and ecclesiastical books from his youth. Upon his arrival, he was asked to translate patristic and liturgical books into Slavonic, starting with the Annotated Psalter.

St. Maximus the Greek

Life in prison was difficult for the Venerable one, but amid his sufferings, he also experienced God’s great mercy and kindness: An angel appeared to him and said, “Persevere, O Elder! Through these trials you will avoid eternal suffering.”

St. Maximus the Greek: A Lifelong Seeker of Truth

Deacon Konstantin Akimov

Actually, the saint’s life can be divided into four periods: Greece and Italy, Mt. Athos, the Tsardom of Moscow before his imprisonment, the Tsardom of Moscow during his imprisonment and after. And it is the last stage of St. Maximus the Greek’s life that is important for our Russian Church history and spiritual heritage.

Hieromartyr Terence the Bishop of Iconium

Saint Terence was Bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia in the first century.

Apostle Tertius of the Seventy

Saint Tertius, to whom Saint Paul dictated the Epistle to the Romans, was the second Bishop of Iconium, where also he died.

Saints Julius the presbyter and Julian the Deacon, of Novara

Saints Julius the presbyter and Julian the Deacon, brothers by birth, were natives of Myrmidonia. For his virtuous life St Julius was ordained to the priesthood, and his brother as a deacon.

Holy Royal Martyrs Archil and Luarsab (†744 & †1622)

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

When the Muslim military leader Marwan bin Muhammad (called “the Deaf”) besieged Georgia early in the 8th century, a certain Mir, the older brother of Archil, was ruling Kartli. The armies of the ruthless invader pillaged everything in their path. Seeing this, the crown-bearing brothers Mir and Archil fled to western Georgia and, praying fervently to God and the Most Holy Theotokos for help, prepared for battle.

Martyr Archil II the King of Georgia

The Holy Martyr Archil II, King of Georgia belonged to the dynasty of the Chosroidoi, and he was a direct descendant of the holy emperor St Mirian (+ 342).

Martyr Luarsab II the King of Georgia

The Holy Martyr Luarsab II, Emperor of Georgia was born in 1587. He was the son of George X (1600-1603), poisoned by the Persian shah Abbas I (1584-1628).
© ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY