Saints of the Day
August 18 / 31. Afterfeast of the Dormition. Martyrs Florus and Laurus of Illyria [Eph 6:10-17; Lk 12:2-12]. Martyrs Hermes, Serapion and Polyaenus of Rome. Martyrs Hilarion, Dionysius and Hermippus; Hieromartyr Emilian, and others (about 1,000) of Italy. Saints John and George, Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Barnabas and his nephew St. Sophronius, monks of Mt. Mela near Trebizond. St. Christopher, abbot of Mt. Mela Monastery. Repose of St. John, abbot of Rila. St. Sophronius of St. Anne’s Skete on Mt. Athos. St. Arsenius the New of Paros. (Greek Calendar: Martyr Juliana near Strobilus. Martyr Leo, drowned near Myra in Lycia. Four Holy Ascetics.)
Quote of the Day
“If there is any rest for us in this world, then it consists only in purity of the conscience and patience. This is a harbor for us who sail upon the sea of life…..”
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Photo of the Day
Abbot Tryphon, together with Alexander Bartov, a visiting seminarian from the Saint Petersburg Theological Institute, in Russia.
Scripture Readings for the Day
Galatians 2:21-3:7
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Galatians 3
Justification by Faith
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Mark 6:1-7
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Sending Out the Twelve
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.