The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn’t non-denominational – it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!
Saints of the Day
July 26 / August 8. Hieromartyr Hermolaus and Martyrs Hermippus and Hermocrates at Nicomedia. Martyr Parasceve of Rome. St. Moses the Hungarian, of the Kiev Caves. (Greek Calendar: Virgin Martyr Oriozela of Reuma, disciple of St. Andrew. St. Ignatius, monk of Mt. Stirion. Martyr Appion. Virgin Martyr Jerusalem of Byzantium. St. Gerontius, founder of the Skete of St. Anne. St. Sava III, Archbishop of Serbia.) Most Holy Theotokos of Emvolon in Constantinople. Repose of Elder Theophanes of Solovki, disciple of St. Paisius Velchkovsky (1819).
Photo of the Day
Awaiting next week’s pilgrims.
Quote of the Day
“The life of the heart is love, whilst malice and enmity against our brother are its death. The Lord keeps us on the earth in order that love for God and our neighbour may wholly penetrate our heart. This is what He expects from us all. This is, indeed, the purpose of the world’s standing.” St. John of Kronstadt “My Life in Christ”
Scripture Readings for the Day
Romans 14:6-9
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Matthew 15:32-39
Feeding the Four Thousand
32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”
34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”
35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.