The Church

Participating in the life of spiritual perfection and holiness

The Lord Jesus Christ desires that each of us be joined together in unity within the confines of His Church. This union of all who confess Christ as true God and true man, and who are united as one body in Him, have as their goal the spiritual perfection that can come only through Him. This life of holiness is not about adherence to religion, but to a way of life that brings about healing of body and soul.

To be an Orthodox Christian is not about rules and formulas of conduct, nor is it about ritual. To be an Orthodox Christian is about putting on Christ, daily. It is about committing to a relationship with the very God Who created us, and Who first invited us into communion with Him. To be an Orthodox Christian means we are committed to acquiring a humble and contrite heart, made possible by God’s grace, and found in abundance within the confines of His Church.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Photos: The monastery’s organic gardens. (click on photos to enlarge)

Saturday July 18, 2015 / July 5, 2015

7th Week after Pentecost. Tone five.

Venerable Athanasius of Mt. Athos (1003) and his six disciples.
Uncovering of the relics (1422) of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh (1392).
Martyrdom of St. Elizabeth Romanov and Nun Barbara (1918).
Venerable Agapitus, confessor (1936).
Martyr Anna at Rome (304).
Martyr Cyrilla of Cyrene in Libya, a widow .
Venerable Lampadus, monk, of Hirenopolis (10th c.).
Icon of the Mother of God “Economissa”.
New Martyr Cyprian of Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1679) (Greek).
New Martyrs Grand Dukes Sergius Mikhailovitch, Princes John Constantinovich, Constantine, Igor Constantinovich and Vladimir.
St. Morwenna, patroness of Morwenstow (England) (6th c.) (Celtic & British).
Synaxis of 23 Saints of Lesbos (Greek).
Hieromartyr Stephen, bishop of Rhegium, disciple of the Apostle Paul, and with him Bishop Suerus and the women Agnes, Felicitas, and Perpetua (1st c.).
Martyr Athanasius, deacon of Jerusalem (451).

The Scripture Readings

Romans 12:1-3

Living Sacrifices to God

12 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.”

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

11 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.