Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!
All Saints of Russia
Fathers Day
Saints of the Day
June 8 / 21. Translation of the Relics of Great-Martyr Theodore Stratelates [II Tim 2:1-10; Matt 10:16-22]. St. Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch. St. Zosimas, monk of Phoenicia (Syria). St. Atre (Athre) of Nitria in Egypt. St. Naucratius, abbot of the Studion. St. Theodore, Bishop of Rostov and Suzdal. New-Martyr Theophanes at Constantinople. Finding of the relics of Saints Basil and Constantine, princes of Yaroslavl. St. Theophilus of Luga and Omutch, disciple of St. Arsenius of Konevits (Valaam). New Heiromartyrs Barlaam (1942) and his brother Herman (1937). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Callopia. St. Melania, nun. Martyr Nicander. Martyr Mark.)
Photo of the Day
The monastic choir. (Click photo to enlarge)
Thought for the Day
“Nothing is better for rendering the heart penitent and the soul humble than wise solitude and complete silence. Nothing has a greater power of disturbing the state of silence, and of depriving it of God’s help, than the following principal passions: presumptuousness, gluttony, talkativeness and vain cares, arrogance and the mistress of all passions – self-regard. Whoever readily permits himself to acquire the habit of these passions will become, in the course of time, more and more shrouded in darkness, until finally he is completely deadened. If, however, he comes to himself and begins to practise the necessary observances with faith and zeal, he will once more obtain what he seeks, especially if he seeks it with humility.”
St. Gregory of Sinai “Texts on Commandments and Dogmas”
Scripture Readings for the Day
Romans 2:10-16
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Matthew 4:18-23
Four Fishermen Called as Disciples
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Jesus Heals a Great Multitude
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.