Virtue Freed “A virtuous person, even if he is surrounded by misfortunes or is burdened by labors, yet he remains free. On the contrary, an evil person, even if he were to rule an entire kingdom, remains a slave, for he has many masters: the iniquitous desires and passions that
Author: Abbot Tryphon
I am abbot of All-Merciful Saviour Orthodox Monastery (ROCOR) on Vashon Island, WA. The island is a twenty minute ferry ride from West Seattle, and a fifteen minute crossing from Tacoma.
Surrounded by the Salish Sea, the island is some 87% undeveloped forest, with a rural population of around eleven thousand citizens. If you wish to contact me personally, you can email me at: abbottryphon@vashonmonks.com
Wednesday December 17, 2025 / December 4, 2025 28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil Great-martyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliapolis in Syria (306). Venerable John Damascene (760). New Hieromartyrs Alexis, John, Alexander and Nicholas priests, Basil deacon and with him 10 Martyrs (1918). New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest,
Satan’s Trinity Trap “There are three traps of Satan that steal joy and peace: Regretting about the past, fear for the future, and ingratitude for the present.” Saint Anthony the Great #God #satan #time
Tuesday December 16, 2025 / December 3, 2025 28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias) (635 B.C.). Venerable Sabbas, abbot of Zvenigorod, disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh (1406). New Hieromartyr Andrew priest (1920). New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1930). St. Gregory confessor (1960). Venerable Theodulus, eparch of Constantinople
Love Means Looking Out See the Savior in your neighbor, and the Saints will look you in the eyes! #God #charity #love
Monday December 15, 2025 / December 2, 2025 28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Prophet Habakkuk (Abbacum) (7th c. B.C.). New Hieromartyr John priest (1919). New Hieromartyr Mathew priest (1921). New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest and Venerable Vera confessor (1932). New Hieromartyrs Alexis, Constantine, Nicholas, Sergius, Vladimir, John, Theodore, Nicholas,
Hampered When Pampered “When luxury overwhelms the soul, its reasonings within are disturbed… Do not look at the cheerful and merry countenance, but examine the interior, and you will see it full of deep dejection… For the more the body grows sleek and gross, the more lean and weakly is
Sunday December 14, 2025 / December 1, 2025 27th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone two. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Allowed Prophet Nahum (7th c. B.C.). Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia in Asia Minor (792). Martyr Ananias of Persia. St. Eligius, bishop of Noyon (660) (Neth.). St. Onesimus, archbishop of Ephesus (Greek). Sts. Ananias and
Love Is Not A Lecture “All the lectures in the world cannot teach humility, tears of repentance or sanctification; these come from a personal relationship with God in prayer.” Father Roman Braga #God #relationship #teaching
Saturday December 13, 2025 / November 30, 2025 27th Week after Pentecost. Tone one. Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Holy and All-praised Apostle Andrew the First-called (62). St. Elias, schemamonk of Valaam and Verkhoturye (1900). New Hieromartyr John priest (1937). St. Frumentius, archbishop of Abyssinia (380). St. Tudwal, bishop in Wales and Brittany