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 18 / 31. Martyr Emilian of Silistria in Bulgaria. Martyr Hyacinth of Amastris. St. John the Long-suffering of the Kiev Caves. St. Pambo, hermit of Egypt. St. Pambo, recluse of the Kiev Caves. St. Leontius, abbot of Karikhov (Novgorod). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Marcel. Martyrs Dasius and Maron. Saints Stephen, Archbishop of Constantinople, and John, Metropolitan of Chalcedon.) Tolga Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Photo of the Day
The monastery is at the high point, just above the small village of Dockton, off in the distance. This has been the hottest and driest summer on record. Yesterday was the third day in a row with temperatures above 100 degrees. For Western Washington, this is unheard of, and has created dangerous conditions for our forests. The monastery is surrounded by a dense forest, and we are asking for your prayers, that the Lord, in His great mercy, and through the prayers of His Most Holy Mother, and Saint John the Wonderworker, will keep our monastery, and this island, safe from fire.
Quote of the Day
“Love is the banishment of every sort of contrariness, for love thinks no evil.”
St. John Climacus
Scripture Readings for the Day
1 Corinthians 11:8-22
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
Conduct at the Lord’s Supper
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
Matthew 17:10-18
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
A Boy Is Healed
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.