|
| |
|
August 16/29
Afterfeast of the Dormition.
Translation of the Image
Not-Made-by-Hands of Our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople
(944) (Third “Feast of the Savior” in August) (Col.
1:12-18 or II Cor. 3:4-11; Luke 9:51-56; 10:22-24). Martyr
Diomedes the Physician, of Tarsus in Cilicia (298). St. Chaeremon of
Egypt (4th c.). St. Anthony the Stylite, of Martqopi, Georgia (6th c.).
St. Joachim, monk of Osogovo and Sarandapor (1105). St. Eustathius
II, archbishop of Serbia (1309). St. Nilus of Erikoussa (ca. 1335). St.
Romanus the Sinaite, of Djunisa, Serbia (14th c.). Monk-martyr
Christopher of Guria (Georgia), at Damascus (15th c.). New Martyr
Nicodemus of Meteora (1551). St. Gerasimus the New, ascetic of
Cephalonia (Mt. Athos) (1579). St. Raphael of Banat, Serbia (ca.
1590). St. Timothy of Euripos, archbishop, founder of the Pendeli
Monastery (1590). New Martyr Stamatius of Demetrias, near Volos,
at Constantinople (1680). New Great-martyr Apostolus of the town
of St. Laurence, martyred at Constantinople (1686). New Martyrs
King Constantine Brancoveanu of Wallachia and his four sons
Constantine, Stephen, Radu, and Matthew, and his counsellor
Ioannicius (1714). Translation of the relics (1798) of Martyrs Seraphim,
Dorotheus, James, Demetrius, Basil, and Sarantis, of Megaris.
(Gr. Cal.: 33 Martyrs of Palestine.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos
of St. Theodore (“Feodorovskaya”) of Kostroma (1239).
Repose of
Matrona (Popova) (1851), disciple of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.
|
Wednesday
II Cor. 9:12-10:7
Mark 3:20-27
Fast day
|
|
|
|
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Wednesday. [II Cor. 9:12-10:7; Mark 3:20-27]
If a kingdom be divided against
itself, that kingdom cannot stand. While
single-mindedness for sinful evil is the quality within
us, the kingdom of darkness and sin is strong in us; but
when God’s grace attracts to itself the part of the
spirit held captive by sin, freeing it from captivity,
then there occurs a division within: sin on the one side,
good on the other. As soon as a person unites his
consciousness and freedom with good as a result of this
awakening, sin loses all support and starts to decay.
Constancy in the good intention taken on and patience in
labours completely thwart sin and destroy it. Then begins
the kingdom of good within, and it remains until some evil
thought steals in, and, attracting the will to itself,
once again brings about divisions. Just give entrance to
the sinful stirring which has arisen, unite with it and
set it in action, and again good will begin to weaken, and
evil will grow, until it destroys the good entirely. This
is the nearly continuous history of the inner life of
those who are weak-hearted and do not have a strong
disposition.
|
 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
|
