Saints of the Day:
Saints Alexander, John and Paul the New, Patriarch of Constantinople. Repose of St. Alexander, Abbot of Svir. Translation of the Relics of St. Alexander Nevsky. St. Christopher of Palestine. St. Fantinus of Calabria. Opening of theRelics of St. Daniel, prince of Moscow. Synaxis of the Serbian hierarchs: Saints Sabbas I, Sabbas II, Arsenius I, Eustathius I, James, Nicodemus and Daniel, Archbishops. Saints Ioannicius II, Ephraim II, Spyridon, Macarius, Gabriel I, patriarchs; and St.Gregory, Bishop of St. Bryaene of Nisibis. St. Eulalius, Bishop of Caesarea. (Greek Calendar Sixteen Monk-martyrs of Thebes. Six Martyrs of Melitene. St. Sarmata of the Paradise. Hieromartyr Felix and Martyrs Fortunatus, Septiminus and Januarius.)
Quote of the Day
“How without grace can one readily believe in things unseen?” St. Theognostos
Photo of the Day
Our architect, Father Deacon James Bryant, AIA Architect, has generously donated his services to our monastic brotherhood, all these many years. Father James soon became a friend (he was a senior lay leader of a mega-church in the Seattle area, when we first met,) and I became his godfather. If any of you is in need of an architect, Father James could very well be your man. He is more than deserving of your consideration. He was perfect for me to work with, being so capable of seeing my vision, and putting it on paper, and not being upset if the abbot wanted to make a major change, at the last minute. www.jamesbryantarch.com
Scripture Readings for the Day
1 Corinthians 6:1-10
Do Not Sue the Brethren
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’