ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2021
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Онисим , апостол от 70-ти Виленская икона Божией Матери
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Old Style
February 15 		Sunday
New Style
February 28
Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Tone 5.
No fast.

Cовершается служба, не отмеченная в Типиконе никаким знакомApostle Onesimus of the Seventy (ca. 109).

St. Paphnutius, monk, and his daughter St. Euphrosyne, nun, of Alexandria (5th c.). St. Eusebius, hermit, of Asikha in Syria (5th c.). St. Paphnutius, recluse of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).

Synaxis of St. John the Theologian at Diaconissa. Martyr Major of Gaza (304). St. Theognius, bishop of Bethelia near Gaza (523). St. Oswy, king of Northumbria (670). New Hieromartyr Paul (Kozlov), hieromonk of St. Nilus Hermitage (Tver) (1938).

Repose of Blessed Stoina (Euphemia) of Devic Monastery (Serbia) (1895), Schemamonk Nikodim of Karoulia (1984), and Monk Marcu (Dumitrescu) of Sihastria (Romania) (1999).

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

Sunday of the Prodigal Son (34th). [I Cor. 6:12–20; Luke 15:11–32]

The week of the prodigal speaks of so much to us! It speaks about our peace and satisfaction in the house of the heavenly Father, about our mad departure from the Father’s guardianship to unbridled freedom, about the richness of the heritage given us despite our disobedience, about its reckless waste on all sorts of indecencies, and about our utter impoverishment as a result. But then it talks also about how one recovers his senses, and, coming to himself, decides to return to his greatly merciful Father. It talks about how he returns, how he is received lovingly, and is restored to his first state. Who will not find this lesson profitable? If you abide in your father’s house, do not strive for freedom. You see how a similar experience ended! If you have run away and are squandering all, end this quickly. If you have already squandered everything and are living in poverty, decide quickly to return—and then, return. There every indulgence, and all the former love and satisfaction, await you. This last step is the most necessary one. But there is no point in enlarging upon this. All has been said concisely and clearly. Come to your senses, decide to return, arise and hurry to the Father. His embrace is open and ready to receive you.

Articles

Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy

Saint Onesimus, Apostle of the Seventy in his youth was a servant of Philemon, a Christian of distinguished lineage, living in the city of Colossae, Phrygia.

Venerable Paphnutius of Alexandria

The Holy Martyr Paphnutius hailed from Egypt and struggled in the desert.

Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria

Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child in her family of illustrious and rich parents.

Venerable Eusebius the Hermit of Syria

Saint Eusebius the Hermit lived in the fourth century and lived in asceticism on a mountain near the village of Asicha in Syria.

Venerable Paphnutius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves

Saint Paphnutius had the gift of tears, which Saint John of the Ladder says (Step 6:1) is preceded by the remembrance of death.

The Prodigal Son

James Iliou

In the parable we are told and in our minds we think of the younger as being the Prodigal. But which one of these two brothers is truly the Prodigal Son? Is it the younger who leaves and comes back in repentance, or the older brother who refuses to welcome him back? I

Instruction on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. On Repentance

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

According to the holy fathers, the younger son could also be an image of all fallen mankind and of every sinner. The younger son’s inheritance is God’s gifts, with which every person is endowed, especially Christians. The most supreme gifts of God are the mind and heart, and especially the grace of the Holy Spirit given to every Christian.

The Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Archpriest Andrew Phillips

Perhaps we feel some sympathy with the elder son. After all, he never wasted his substance, he did remain loyal to the Father. The problem is that the elder son's service was a form of slavery, he did not stay with the Father out of love, but out of self-interest, in expectation of a reward. This was not love freely given, but an obligation fulfilled in the hope of the payment of the hireling.

He came to himself – what does this mean?The two things we must know to be saved.

Now we see another aspect of repentance that is so important today, especially in light of what we are going to read and contemplate next week. That is, God receives a man’s repentance. This may seem to be an obvious statement, hardly worth making, but in actuality, many people do not really believe God will receive their repentance, or that they can truly change.

Sermon on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware)

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) delivers his sermon on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son in the presence of Metropolitan Nicholas at the Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Westland, MI.
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