(Church Calendar)
Saints of the Day
July 23 / August 5. Martyrs Trophimus, Theophilus, and 13 others in Lycia. Hieromartyr Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna. Righteous Anna (Hannah), mother of the Prophet Samuel. Commemoration of the Miraculous Appearance of the Mother of God at Pochaev, which saved the monastery from the assault of the Tatars and Turks (1675). Translation of the Relics of St. Herman (Germanus), Archbishop of Kazan. New-Martyr Nectarius (Trezvinsky), Bishop of Yaransk. (Greek Calendar: Hieromartyr Apollonius, 250 killed by Bulgarians during the reign of Emperor Nicephorus. Eight Martyrs of Carthage. St. Anna of Constantinople.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos The Joy of All Who Sorrow (with coins) in Petersburg; Pochaev.
Photo of the Day
The library’s balcony.
Quote of the Day
” ‘I will worship towards Thy holy temple’ (Ps. 137:2 LXX) This too is no little virtue, to be able to ascend to the Temple, and in ascending to bow down with clear conscience. What is required, after all, is not bending the knee and going in, but doing so with ardent spirit and heightened attitude, not being present in body only but also in mind – just as it is no slight honor to adore the God of all as He should be adored. After all, if it is by way of honor in the case of kings, much more so it is with the God of all.”
St. John Chrysostom
Scripture Readings for the Day
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
The Light of Christ’s Gospel
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:13-28
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.