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June 20/July 3
Hieromartyr Methodius, bishop of Patara (or Olympus)
in Lycia (312). Martyrs Inna, Pinna, and Rimma (1st-2nd c.),
disciples of Apostle Andrew in Scythia. Martyrs Paul, Cyriacus,
Paula, Felicilana, Thomas, Felix, Martyrius, Vitaly, Crispinus, and
Emilius, in Tomis, Moesia (290). Hieromartyrs Aristocleus, priest,
the deacon Demetrian, and the reader Athanasius, at Salamis on Cyprus
(306). St. Leucius the Confessor, bishop of Brindisi (5th c.).
Blessed Studius, founder of the Studion Monastery (5th c.). St.
Nahum of Ochrid, enlightener of the Bulgarians (910). Translation
of the relics and garments (ca. 960) of the Apostles Luke, Andrew, and Thomas, the Prophet Elisha, and the Martyr Lazarus to the
Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. St. Minas, bishop of
Polotsk (1116). Holy Prince Gleb Andreyevich of Vladimir (1175).
St. Callistus I, patriarch of Constantinople (1363). St. Nicholas
(Cabasilas) (1391-1397). Translation of the relics (1630) of St.
Gurias, archbishop of Kazan (1563). Finding of the relics (1959) of
New Hieromartyr Raphael, hieromonk, of Mytilene (1463).
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Tuesday
Rom. 14:9-18
Matt. 12:14-16, 22-30
Apostles’ Fast
Wine and oil allowed
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Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Tuesday. [Rom. 14:9-18; Matt. 12:14-16, 22-30]
He that is not with me is against
me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth
abroad. Who is with the Lord? He who lives and acts in
His spirit; he who allows himself neither thoughts, nor
feelings, nor desires, nor intentions, nor words, nor
deeds, which would be unpleasing to the Lord and in
opposition to His revealed commandments and
determinations. He who lives and acts otherwise, is not
with the Lord and consequently does not gather, but
scatters. What does he scatter? Not only energy and time,
but also what he gathers. For example, one who gathers
riches not with the Lord, amasses only riches, not sharing
with others, while depriving himself even of necessary
things; or another gathers them, spends a part on his own
luxurious lifestyle, part on donations made out of
vainglory, and saves part for his heirs. In the other
world he will appear with nothing—and there he will
be the poorest of the poor. On the contrary, one who
gathers riches with the Lord passes on what is gathered
through the hands of the poor and needy, unto eternal
treasuries. When such a person dies, he will find in that
world all his riches intact, not scattered, although he
spent them throughout his life. The same applies to the
gathering of knowledge. Here scattering is even more
obvious, because it can be seen how one who is
intellectual not in the Lord gathers a seeming mountain of
knowledge, but it is no more than rubbish—a phantom
of the truth, and not the truth. They not only lack
knowledge, but even loose human sense. They become
delirious, like one who is asleep. Read the systems of the
materialists and you will see that this is so.
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 SAINT THEOPHAN THE RECLUSE (1815–1894) was one of the most prolific and beloved spiritual writers of nineteenth-century Russia. His works, which comprise over twenty volumes, include such classics as The Path to Salvation and A Commentary on Psalm 118, as well as many volumes of letters. Although he lived the last twenty-eight years of his life as a hermit, his impact on his homeland was immense. His articles appeared in the popular spiritual journals of his time, his books were in great demand, and he personally replied to an average of thirty letters daily.
In the present book, Thoughts for Each Day of the Year, St. Theophan takes us through the yearly cycle of Gospel and Epistle readings, humbly and reverently offering us brief but powerful daily meditations on the word of God. He also addresses the problems of his day—lack of faith, coldness of heart, trust in the rational mind rather than in the revealed Truth of God—which are problems of our day as well.
Contemplating the sacred texts together with St. Theophan, the reader will learn to penetrate more deeply into Holy Scripture, and will receive answers to many dogmatic, moral, and spiritual questions which touch upon our salvation. Thoughts for Each Day of the Year can help us to more closely connect our lives with the life of Christ in His Holy Church, and to gain a better knowledge of how to fulfill His commandments. By reading St. Theophan's daily exhortations and taking them to heart, one can be changed by the grace-filled power of our Savior, in accordance with the teaching of the Apostle Paul: Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 11:2).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year is published by St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood and Sretensky Monastery.
It is available at stherman.com/Catalog/Spiritual_Counsels/Daily_Thoughts_Book.html.
For further information on the Saint Herman Calendar contact St. Herman Press:
St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076
http://www.stherman.com/Catalog/St_Herman_Calendar/sthermancalendar.htm
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