(Church Calendar)
Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel
Saints of the Day
July 13 / 26. Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel. St. Stephen of St. Sabbas Monastery. Martyr Serapion. Martyr Marcian of Iconium. St. Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (LeMans) in Gaul. Virgin Abbess Sarah of Scete in Libya. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Axion Estin (It is Truly Meet).
Photo of the Day
Hammi, inspecting his fiefdom.
Quote of the Day
“The Lord tests our hearts through those who seek our help.”
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Scripture Readings for the Day
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
The Risen Christ, Our Hope
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Matthew 21:18-22
The Fig Tree Withered
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”