Pray & Fear Nothing “Pray, and fear nothing; do not be frightened by troubles or terrified by afflictions, for prayer will remove them. Pray in any way you can, only be sure to pray continually, and do not be disturbed by anything. Be joyful and peaceful in spirit, for prayer
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
Saturday January 10, 2026 / December 28, 2025 31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Sviatki. Fast-free Saturday after the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia, including Glycerius, Zeno, Theophilus, Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Indes, Gorgonius, Peter, Euthymius, and the virgins Agape, Domna, Theophila and others (302).
Forgive First “You are obliged to forgive before someone asks you for forgiveness, if you are a Christian. And if he comes and says, “I’m sorry,” so much the better for him. For you, if you are spiritually wise, it is the same, if not better, that he does not
Friday January 9, 2026 / December 27, 2025 31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Sviatki. Fast-free Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (34). Venerable Theodore Graptus (“the Branded”) of Palestine and Bithynia, confessor (840), brother of St. Theophanes the Confessor and Hymnographer (850). New Hieromartyrs Tikhon, archbishop of Voronezh and with him 160 martyred priests (1919).
Excuses For Sin? “Have you not had too much trust in God’s mercy and said that He is merciful and will forgive your sins, and because of this, you have sinned permanently without restraint, and postponed your repentance year after year until you got old? Or have you not despaired
Thursday January 8, 2026 / December 26, 2025 31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Sviatki. Fast-free Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos. Hieromartyr Euthymius, bishop of Sardis (840). Venerable Isaac II (Bobrikov, the Younger), archimandrite of Optina (1938). New Hieromartyrs Alexander and Demetrius priests (1918). New Hieromartyrs Nicholas, Michael, Nicholas priests and Michael
Heaven is Home God became man so we can become godly. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! #nativity #christmas #jesus
Manifest The Wonder “God became Man so that He could serve us in our small matters, so that we could discover that glory does not come from greatness, but from God, and that God is He Who descends and renounces Himself so He can come to us! This is what
Born of Love “Just as cruelty or brutality have their origins in hatred, so too does mercy spring from love, which is born only from it.” Saint Gregory of Nyssa #love #mercy #hate
Wednesday January 7, 2026 / December 25, 2025 31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five. Sviatki. Fast-free The Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. From December 25 till January 5 is a Fast-free period (Sviatki). The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. Commemoration of the shepherds in Bethlehem