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 12 / 25. Martyrs Proclus and Hilary of Ancyra. St. Michael, monk of Maleinus. Martyr Golindukha, in holy baptism Mary, of Persia. Martyrs Theodore and his son John of Kiev. St. Veronica, the woman with the issue of blood who was healed by the Savior. Blessed Serapion, abbot of Volomsk. Saints John and Gabriel of Svyatagorsk. St. Anthony, abbot of Leokhnov (Novgorod). (Greek Calendar: Martyrs Andrew the Soldier, Heraclius, Taustus, Menas, and others. Martyr Mamas near Sigmata.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Of the Three Hands.
Photo of the Day
The temple, as seen from the southeast.
Quote of the Day
“For since Christ made us for incorruption and we transgressed His saving command, He condemned us to the corruption of death in order that that which is evil should not be immortal, and when in His compassion He stooped to His servants and became like us, He redeemed us from corruption through His own passion. He caused the fountain of remission to well forth out of His holy and immaculate side, water for our regeneration, and the washing away of sin and corruption; and blood to drink as the hostage of eternal life.”
St. John of Damascus
Scripture Readings for the Day
Romans 12:1-3
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Matthew 10:37-11:1
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Cup of Cold Water
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Matthew 11
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.