ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2020
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Святая благоверная княгиня Новгородская Анна Сщмч. Харалампий еп. Магнезийский
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Old Style
February 10
Sunday
New Style
February 23
Meat-fare Sunday. Tone 3.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомHieromartyr Charalampus, bishop of Magnesia in Asia Minor, and Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus (202).

Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula, of Palestine (308). St. Anna of Novgorod (1050). St. Prochorus of the Kiev Caves (1107). St. Longinus, founder of Koryazhemka Monastery (Vologda) (1540). St. Raphael, archimandrite (1765), and St. Ioannicius, hieromonk (1882), of Svatogorsk Monastery. Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs: Sts. Joachim (1030), Luke the Jew (1060), Germanus (1095), Arcadius (1162), Gregory (1193), Martyrius (1199), Anthony (1231), Basil (1352), Moses (1362), Symeon (1421), Gennadius (1504), Pimen (1571), and Athonius (1653).

Areovindus” (“Fiery Vision”) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

St. Scholastica of Italy (543), sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. St. Anastasius II, patriarch of Jerusalem (706). St. John Chimchimeli of Bachkovo and Gremi (13th c.).

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

Meat-fare Sunday (35th). [I Cor. 8:8–9:2; Matt. 25:31–46]

The great judgement! The judge cometh in the clouds, surrounded by a countless multitude of bodiless heavenly powers. Trumpets sound over all the ends of the earth and raise up the dead. The risen regiments pour into the determined place, to the throne of the Judge, having already a foreboding of what verdict will sound in their ears, for everyone’s deeds will be written on the brow of their nature, and their very appearance will correspond to their deeds and morals. The division of those on His right hand and those on His left will be accomplished in and of itself.

At last all has been determined. Deep silence falls. In another instant, the decisive verdict of the Judge is heard: to some, “Come,” to the others, “depart.” “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! May Thy mercy, O Lord, be on us!” they shall say, but then it will already be too late to plead. We need to take the trouble now to wash away the unfavourable marks written upon our nature. Then, at the judgment, we would be ready to pour out rivers of tears in order to wash ourselves; but this would do no good. Let us weep now, if not rivers of tears, then at least streams; if not streams, then at least drops. If we cannot find even this much, then let us become contrite in heart, and confess our sins to the Lord, begging Him to forgive them, and promising not to offend Him any more through violation of His commandments. Then, let us be zealous to faithfully fulfil this promise.

Articles

Hieromartyr Charalampus (Haralambos) the Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly

Despite the bishop’s advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous tortures.

Martyr Porphyrius in Thessaly

Saint Porphyrius was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Saints Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia,

Martyr Baptus in Thessaly

Saint Baptus was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Saints Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Porphyrius, and three women in the year 202.

Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula, of Palestine

The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311).

Princess Anna of Novgorod

The Holy Princess Anna of Novgorod, wife of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise, gave her children a true Christian upbringing, marked by a strong faith in God, love of work, integrity and learning.

Venerable Prochorus of the Kiev Near Caves

He was a great ascetic of strict temperance. In place of bread he ate pigweed (or orach), and so he was called “pigweed-eater.” Every summer, he gathered pigweed and made enough bread from it to last him for a whole year.

Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk, Vologda

Saint Longinus of Koryazhemsk first pursued asceticism at the monastery of Saint Paul of Obnora, and then lived at the Saints Boris and Gleb Solvychegod monastery.

Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod, Buried in the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Novgorod

On October 4, 1439 Saint John (September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch Saint Euthymius (March 11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.

Icon of the Mother of God “Areovindus”

The origins of this unusual icon, in which the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted without Christ, are unknown.

St. John Chimchimeli the Philosopher

Little information about the life of Saint John of Chimchimeli has been preserved, but we know that he was a great translator, philosopher, and defender of the Georgian Christian Faith.

Of the Last Judgment

St. Augustine

For that day is properly called the Day of Judgment, because in it there shall be no room left for the ignorant questioning why this wicked person is happy and that righteous man unhappy. In that day true and full happiness shall be the lot of none but the good, while deserved and supreme misery shall be the portion of the wicked, and of them only.

Meatfare Sunday

The next time that you set out to destroy someone’s reputation, break someone’s heart, show indifference and even ignorance toward a person, or maliciously gossip about someone, remember that Christ says that you’re doing exactly the same thing to Him!

On the Second Coming of Christ

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Mercy will present to Christ also those who were only able to show mercy to themselves, who visited themselves with self-criticism and freed themselves from the poverty, sickness, and prison of sin through repentance. Repentance is impossible for the hardened heart: the heart must be softened, filled with sympathy and mercy toward its catastrophic state of sinfulness.

Fasting and Great Lent

The word “fast” means not eating all or certain foods. As Orthodox Faithful, we can fast completely at certain times of great importance, and especially each time before receiv­ing Holy Communion. Usually, fasting means limiting the number of meals and/or the type of food eaten. The purpose of fasting is to remind us of the Scriptural teaching, “Man does not live by bread alone.” The needs of the body are nothing compared to the needs of the soul. Above all else, we need God, Who provides everything for both the body and the soul. Fasting teaches us to depend on God more fully.

A Lenten Primer. Part 2

Fr. Evan Armatas, John Maddox

So why is it that some would see a need for Great and Holy Lent? We said we were going to talk about the themes and the reasons; I think some of the reasons for Great Lent are in the calendar of events that proceed and mark our time through Great Lent. So let’s step back and take a look.

The Dread Judgment

St. John of Shanghai

A search for compromise will be the characteristic disposition of men. Straightforwardness of confession will vanish. Men will cleverly justify their fall, and an endearing evil will support such a general disposition. Men will grow accustomed to apostasy from the truth and to the sweetness of compromise and sin.
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