The Beautiful Oregon Coast
34th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Sviatki. Fast-free
The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (379).
New Hieromartyr Jeremiah (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Platon, bishop of Revel, Estonia and Priests Michael and Nicholas (1919).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander archbishop of Samara and with him John, Alexander, John, Alexander, Trophime, Viacheslav, Basil and James priests (1938).
Martyr Basil of Ancyra (ca. 362).
St. Emelia, mother of Sts. Macrina, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa (375).
St. Gregory, bishop of Nazianzus (374) and father of St. Gregory the Theologian.
Martyr Theodotos.
Venerable Theodosius of Tryglia, abbot.
St. Fulgentius, bishop of Ruspe in North Africa (533) (North Africa).
New Martyr Peter of the Peloponnesus (1776) (Greek).
St. Eugendus, abbot of Condatin the Jura Mountains (510).
St. Clarus of Vienne (ca. 660) (Gaul).
St. Fanchea of Killeany (ca. 520) (Celtic & British).
Photo of the Day
I took this photo of the Oregon Coast, near the town of Cannon Beach, during the Northwest Regional Seminar, of the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
A Word from Abbot Tryphon:
The Regional Training Seminar, of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, proved to be a very profitable gathering. I among the seminars I attended, was one put on by the founders of a polices support organization called, “Tears Behind the Badge.” This seminar was six hours long, and was designed to help chaplains spot potential suicides among police and fire fighters, and be prepared to step in, and give them the help they need. As startling as it is to hear, twice as many police officers die from suicides, each year, than from line of duty death.
We chaplains are trained to do debriefings, following traumatic incidences, and our seminar was so emotionally draining, we all required a debriefing ourselves, at the end of the conference.
Police officers are, by necessity, good actors, and are able to mask the pain and trauma that comes with their jobs. It is a blessing for me, as well as an honor, to service as a police and fire chaplain. Working up close with these courageous men and woman, who put their lives on the line, each and every day, to make the rest of us safe, is one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had, but one that comes with a price.
The Police Chief of Rainier, Oregon, struggled with a theft suspect at a car audio shop and was killed by a gunshot about a week ago. Chief Ralph Painter responded to a disturbance at Rainier Sound Authority, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. He was known by his community, and by all of us who serve law enforcement personnel, as an outstanding police officer, who’d served his small town department for twenty years. A father of seven children, he was much beloved by all who knew him.
As a chaplain, I will be gathering for “staging” in Longview, Washington, tomorrow morning, at 6:30am. Hundreds of police and fire vehicles, with their emergency lights flashing, will process to Portland University, in Portland, Oregon, for the funeral. For me, personally, I am facing this long drive, knowing that I will be overcome with tears of sorrow, just as I have been during those long drives at all the other police and fire funerals I’ve partaken in, these past eight years. Please remember the family and friends, and the department personnel of Chief Ralph Painte. And, may his memory be eternal.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Scripture Readings for the Day
Colossians 2:8-12
Scripture Readings for the Day
Colossians 2:8-12
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Luke 2:20-21
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Circumcision of Jesus
21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:40-52
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.