Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!
Saints of the Day
May 1 / 14. Prophet Jeremiah. St. Paphnutius, abbot of Borovsk. Martyr Batas of Nisibis. Hieromartyr Macarius, Metropolitan of Kiev. New-Martyrs Euthymius, Ignatius and Acacius of Mt. Athos. St. Gerasimus, abbot of Boldinsk. St. Tamara the Queen of Georgia. (Greek Calendar: St. Isidora. St. Panaretus of Cyprus, Archbishop Martyr Sabbas. St. Nicephorus of Chios, monk.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Unexpected Joy. Repose of Schemamonk Luke of Clinsk Hermitage (1898).
Photo of the Day
Our temple, as seen from the wisteria pergola.
News Article for the Day:
Tsar murder case dropped illegally – ruling
Moscow, May 12, Interfax – Moscow City Court has ruled that the criminal case over the murder of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family was closed illegally.
The court thus granted an appeal from lawyer German Lukyanov, who represents the interests of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, the disputed head of the Romanov Dynasty, an Interfax correspondent reported.
The court ruled that the case files be sent back to the lower court and ordered a second hearing by a different panel of judges.
On March 19, Moscow’s Basmanny Court rejected Lukyanov’s complaint by upholding the decision to terminate the criminal case over the killing of Tsar Nicholas, his wife Empress Alexandra, and their five children, in July 1918.
On October 1, 2008, the Russian Supreme Court ruled on the rehabilitation of Nicholas II and his family, however, on January 15, 2009, a court ruling terminated the case over the execution of the royal family.
The House of Romanovs disagreed with the Investigative Committee’s claims that the royal family were victims of ordinary criminals and insisted that they were killed by the Soviet Communist regime of that time.
Quote of the Day
“Trials are of two kinds. Either affliction will test our souls as gold is tried in a furnace, and make trial of us through patience, or the very prosperity of our lives will oftentimes, for many, be itself an occasion of trial and temptation. For it is equally difficult to keep the soul upright and undefeated in the midst of afflictions, as to keep oneself from insolence and pride in prosperity.” St. Basil the Great
Scripture Readings for the Day
Acts 19:1-8
Paul at Ephesus
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
John 14:1-11
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.