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July 6/19
St. Sisoes the Great, of Egypt (429). Virgin-martyr Lucy,
Martyr Rixius, and those with them at Rome: Martyrs Anthony,
Lucian, Isidore, Dion, Diodorus, Cutonius, Arnosus, Capicus,
Satyrus, and others (301). Hieromartyr Asteius, bishop of
Dyrrachium in Macedonia (ca. 100). Martyrs Marinus and Martha,
their children Audifax and Abbacum (Habakkuk), and those with
them at Rome: Cyrinus, the priest Valentine, and Asterius (269). St.
Cointus (Quintus) of Phrygia, confessor and wonderworker (283).
Hieromartyr Isaurus, deacon, and Martyrs Innocent, Felix, Hermias,
Basil, Peregrinus, Rufus, and Rufinus, of Apollonia in Macedonia
(284). St. Monenna, foundress of Killeevy Monastery (Ireland) (ca.
518). St. Goar, hieromonk, hermit, and missionary along the Rhine
(Germany) (649). St. Sisoes of the Kiev Caves (13th c.). Uncovering
of the relics (16th c.) of St. Juliana, princess of Olshansk (ca. 1540).
New Monk-martyr Cyril of Hilandar, Mt. Athos, at Thessalonica
(1566). St. Barnabas, elder of the Gethsemane Skete of St. Sergius
Lavra (1906). New Hieromartyrs Euthymius (Lyubovichev),
hieromonk of Optina Monastery (1931) and Theodore
(Bogoyavlensky), hieromonk, of Vostryakovo (Moscow) (1943).
Synaxis of the Saints of Radonezh. (Gr. Cal.: Apostles of the Seventy
Archippus, Philemon, and Onesimus [1st c.].)
Repose of
Archimandrite Arsenius (Papacioc) of Romania (2011).
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Thursday
I Cor. 7:24-35
Matt. 15:12-21
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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
Thursday. [I Cor. 7:24-35; Matt. 15:12-21]
Out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts. From whence in the heart? Their root lies in
sin which lives within us, and their branching out,
multiplying and particular appearance in each person come
from that person’s own will. What should one do?
First, cut off all that comes from your will. This will be
like someone tearing off leaves from a tree, cutting off
branches and twigs, and chopping the trunk almost to its
roots. Then, do not allow new sprouts to come up, and the
root itself will dry up; that is, do not allow evil
thoughts to proceed from your heart, and repel and drive
off those that do, and the sin which lives in us, not
receiving sustenance, will slacken and completely grow
weak. In this lies the essence of the commandment: be
sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Take heed unto
thyself (1 Tim. 4:6). Gird up the loins of thy
mind 1 Peter 1:13.” Together with attentiveness
one must have discernment. From the heart not only bad
things proceed, but also good things; yet, one should not
fulfil every good thing suggested by the heart. What one
should truly fulfil is determined by discernment.
Discernment is a gardener’s knife; some branches it
cuts off, while others it grafts in.
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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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