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November 19/December 2
Prophet Obadiah (Abdias) (9th c. b.c.).
Martyr Heliodorus, in Pamphylia (273). Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea
in Cappadocia (304). Martyr Azes of Isauria, and with him 150 soldiers
(284). Martyr Agapius of Gaza (306). Sts. Barlaam, monk;
Ioasaph, prince of India; and Abenner the King, father of St. Ioasaph
(4th c.). St. Patroclus of Bourges (577). St. Egbert, archbishop of
York (766). St. Hilarion of Georgia, wonderworker of Thessalonica
(875). St. Simon, wonderworker of Calabria (10th c.). St. Barlaam,
abbot of the Kiev Caves (1065). Uncovering of the relics (1626) of
Hieromartyr Adrian, abbot of Poshekhonye (1550). St. Philaret,
metropolitan of Moscow (1867). St. Ioannicius, schema-archimandrite
of Glinsk Hermitage (1914). New Hieromartyrs Porphyrius
(Gulevich), bishop of Simferopol, Ioasaph (Udalov), bishop of
Chistopol, Michael (Kvanin), archimandrite, of Moscow, Gregory
(Rebeza), archimandrite, of Odessa, and Gerasim (Sukhov),
hieromonk, of Kazakhstan (1937). New Hieromartyrs Ioasaph
(Krymzin), abbot, and Peter (Mamontov), hieromonk, both of the
Holy Transfiguration Guslitsky Monastery (Moscow) (1937).
Repose
of Elder Porphyrius of Kapsokalyvia and Kallisa (1991) and Elder
Cleopa of Sihastria, Romania (1998).
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26th Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 1
Matins: (IV) Luke 24:1-12
Liturgy: Eph. 5:9-19
Luke 12:16-21
Nativity Fast
Fish, 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
Twenty Sixth Sunday After Pentecost. [Eph. 5:9-19; Luke
12:16-21]
Having spoken the parable about the man
who became rich and planned to just eat, drink and be
merry, and for this was struck with death, not remaining
alive for the supposed pleasures, the Lord concluded:
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is
not rich toward God. “So”—that is,
such occurs, or such a lot befalls both these and others.
Those who become rich and forget about God only think
about pleasures of the flesh. Let those who desire to
avoid this bitter lot “lay up” not “unto
themselves, but be rich only toward God.” Since
riches come from God, then devote them to God when they
flow, and holy riches will come of it. Divide all surplus
with the needy: this will be the same as returning to God
what was given by God. He who gives to a poor person gives
to God. Seemingly exhausting his riches, such a person
becomes truly rich—rich through good deeds, rich for
God. In pleasing Him he becomes rich in God, and by
attracting His good will, he becomes rich from God, Who
makes one who is faithful over a few things, ruler over
many things. He becomes rich toward God, and not toward
himself, for he does not consider himself to be master of
the house, but only a steward and accountant, whose entire
concern consists of satisfying all who come to him in
need. But he fears spending anything in particular on
himself, considering it to be an improper usage of
property entrusted to him.
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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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