The Morning Offering
October 16 / 3
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The Monastery’s courtyard, on a beautiful autumn day. Saints of the Day Hieromartyr Dionysius (Dennys) the Areopagite, and with him Martyrs Rusticus and Eleutherius [Acts 17:16-34; Matt 13:44-54]. St. John the Chozebite, Bishop of Caesaria in Palestine. Blessed Hesychius the Silent of Mt. Athos. St. Dionysius, recluse of the Kiev Caves. New-Martyr Agathangel, Metropolitan of Yaroslav (1928). (Greek Calendar: Martyr…
Praying in the Rain
Our Mutual Friend part 2: Bella and Love Breaks Through
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As I am rereading Our Mutual Friend, I realize that part of the reason why I remember this novel so fondly is that I relate deeply to two characters. The two characters are Bella and her father, the “Cherub.” I relate to Bella because I understand her struggles with the unfairness of the world, the pull of greed and the confusion of not knowing herself. And like Bella, love made the difference…
The Morning Offering
October 15 / 2
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Saints of the Day Hieromartyr Cyprian and Virgin Martyr Justina of Nicomedia [I Tim 1:12-17; Jn 10:9-16]. Blessed Andrew, fool-for-Christ at Constantinople. St. Anna of Kashin. Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal, fool-for-Christ. St. Cassian, monk of Uglich. Martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Georgia. New-Martyr George of Philadelphia in Asia Minor (Mt. Athos). (Greek Calendar: St. Damaris of Athens. St. Theophilus…
Glory to God for All Things
The Boldness of Prayer
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In the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, at the end of the litany that precedes the Lord’s Prayer, the priest intones: And make us worthy, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation, we may dare to call upon Thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say: Our Father… It is a phrase that relfects Hebrews 4:15-16: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling…
The Morning Offering
October 14 / 1
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Saints of the Day The Protection of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Apostle Ananias of the Seventy ) St. Romanus the Melodist (Sweet-Singer). St. Sabbas, abbot of Vishera (Novgorod). Martyr Michael, abbot in Armenia, and 36 Fathers with him. Martyr Domninus of Thessalonica. St. John Kukuzelis of Mt. Athos. St. Gregory the Singer of Mt. Athos.…
The Morning Offering
October 13 / September 30
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Saints of the Day Hieromartyr Gregory, Bishop of Greater Armenia [I Cor 16:13-24; Matt 24:42-47]. Martyrs Rhipsima and Gaiana and companions of Armenia. St. Michael, first Metropolitan of Kiev. St. Gregory, abbot of Pelshme, Wonderworker of Vologda. St. Michael, prince of Tver. New-Martyr Priest Nicholas Zagorovsky Seraphim in monasticism) (1943). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Stratonicus. Martyr Mardonius.) Repose of Archimandrite Gerasim…
Glory to God for All Things
The Fullness of All Things
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I am fascinated by what the Holy Tradition does with the idea of “fullness” or “fulfillment.” The Church is described as the “fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). And it is not unusual for Orthodox Christians to express the meaning of Orthodoxy under the rubric of “fullness”: Orthodoxy is the “fullness of the Church.” The Scriptures do much with the concept – speaking of the “fullness of time,”…
Praying in the Rain
Gentleness
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St. Paul towards the end of his letter to the Philippians urges two women to get along with each other. These two women had “struggled beside [him] in the work of the Gospel” along with St. Clement. How is it that two people who had worked with a saint, two saints, in preaching the Gospel, how is it that they could fall into such a contention that St. Paul a) would hear…
The Morning Offering
October 12 / September 29
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Monk Moses, making Prayer Ropes. Saints of the Day St. Kyriacos the Hermit of Palestine St. Theophanes the Merciful of Gaza. Martyrs Dada, Gabdelas and Casdoe (Casdoa) of Persia. Martyr Gudelia of Persia. Eighty Holy Martyrs of Byzantium. St. Cyprian, abbot of Ustiug (Vologda). New Hieromartyr John, Archbishop of Riga in Lativa (1934). (Greek Calendar: Martyrs Tryphon, Trophimus, and Dorymedon…
Praying in the Rain
Our Mutual Friend part 1
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I am rereading Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. I read it about ten years ago, and I remembered it as one of my favorite, if not my favorite Dickens novel. However, when I said I would review it for Ancient Faith Radio’s “Speaking of Books” podcast, I had to read it again. Boy was I disappointed. The impression in my memory was quite different from my impression as I was rereading…
The Morning Offering
October 11 / September 28
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Abbot Tryphon’s study. Saints of the Day St. Chariton the Confessor, abbot of Palestine [(1) Wis 3:1-9; (2) Wis 5:15-6:3; (3) Wis 4:7-15. Matins: Matt 4:25-5:12. Liturgy: II Cor 4:6-15; Lk 6:17-23]. Prophet Baruch. Martyrs Alexander, Alphius, Zosimas, Mark, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus and 24 others in Pisidia and Phrygia. Martyrdom of St. Wenceslaus, prince of the Czechs. St. Herodion, abbot…
The Morning Offering
October 10 / September 27
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Abbot Tryphon Saints of the Day Martyr Callistratus and his company (49 Martyrs). St. Sabbatius, Wonderworker of Solovki. Apostles Mark, Aristarchus and Zenas of the Seventy. Martyr Epicharis of Rome. St. Ignatius, abbot in Asia Minor. New-Martyr Aquilina of Thessalonica. (Greek Calendar: Martyr Fortunatus and Hieromartyr Philemon. Martyr Gaiana. 25 Martyrs drowned in the sea.) Repose of Schemamonk Archippus of…
The Morning Offering
October 9 / September 26
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Holy Apostle John the Theologian Saints of the Day: Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian [(1) I Jn 3:21-4:6; (2) I Jn 4:11-16; (3) I Jn 4:20-5:5. Matins: Jn 21:15-25. Liturgy: I Jn 4:12-19; Jn 19:25-27; 21:24-25]. Righteous Gideon, Judge of Israel. St. Ephraim, abbot of Perekop, Wonderworker of Novgorod. (Greek Calendar: Martyr Cyra.) Quote of…
Praying in the Rain
Enduring Trials
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Glory to God for All Things
Why Would Anyone Want to Forgive an Enemy?
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That Christians are commanded by Christ to forgive their enemies is common knowledge. We often take this at face value – discover immediately that it is very hard (often impossible) and conclude that the commandment is an unachievable ideal. For non-Christians, forgiveness of enemies may, in some cases, be a shared ideal (most people believe in “peace”), but many if not most non-Christians would recognize immediately the dangers involved in forgiving an…
The Morning Offering
October 8 / September 25
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Abbot Tryphon, and Brother Cyril Saint Sergius of Rodonezh Saints of the Day: Repose of St. Sergius, abbot, of Radonezh St. Euphrosyne, nun, of Alexandria. Martyr Paphnutius and 546 companions in Egypt. St. Euphrosyne, nun of Suzdal. Tr. re. St. Herman (Germanus), Archbishop of Kazan. Commemoration of the Earthquake in Constantinople in 447, when a boy was lifted up to…
Praying in the Rain
Vessels of Wrath
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When St. Paul talks about God’s preparing vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy as a potter who has power over clay, he seems to make God out as almost arbitrary. It seems terribly harsh, as though God says to Himself, “This one will do, I’ll show mercy to her; but the rest are out of luck.” If all you have is Romans chapter nine, it looks pretty grim. However, writing to…
The Morning Offering
October 7 / September 24
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New handrails installed. New bookcases and a display case. Saints of the Day Holy Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thecla [II Tim 3:10-15; Matt 25:1-13]. St. Coprius of Palestine. St. Nicander, hermit of Pskov. St. Abramius, abbot of Mirozh (Pskov). Martyrdom of St. Galacteon, monk of Vologda. Saints Stephen (in monasticism Simon), David and Vladislav of Serbia. St. Dorothy of Kashin. Icons…
Glory to God for All Things
Now That We've Come to the End of the World
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And although in the course of their long history Christians have much too often forgotten the meaning of the cross, and enjoyed life as if “nothing had happened,” although each one of us too often takes “time off” – we know that in the world in which Christ died, “natural life” has been brought to an end. Fr. Alexander Schmemann in For the Life of the World. +++ By age 19 I…
The Morning Offering
October 6 / September 23
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Conception of Saint John the Forerunner Saints of the Day: The Conception of the Honorable, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John [Gal 4:22-31; Lk 1:5-25]. Martyrs Andrew, John, Peter and Antoninus of Syracuse, martyred in Africa. Virgin Martyr Irais (Rhais) of Alexandria. Saints Xanthippa and Polyxena, disciples of the Apostles, who died in Spain. New-Martyr Nicholas Pantopolos at Constantinople. New-Martyr…
Praying in the Rain
When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong
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St. Paul boasts to the Corinthians about all of his qualifications of pedigree, education, suffering and revelation so that they would know that he is as qualified as the “super apostles” who had been leading them astray. However, about all of his qualifications he says that they count as nothing. He doesn’t want people to relate to him based on his qualifications. He wants people to relate to him based on what they…
Glory to God for All Things
The End of Religion
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Christianity…is in a profound sense the end of all religion. In the Gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus made this clear. “‘Sir,’ the woman said to him, ‘I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.’ Jesus saith unto her, ‘Woman, believe me, the our cometh, when ye shall neither…
The Morning Offering
October 5 / September 22
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Saints of the Day Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope Prophet Jonah. Martyr Phocas the Gardener of Sinope. St. Jonah the Presbyter, father of St. Theophanes the Hymnographer and St. Theodore Graptus. St. Peter the Tax-collector. St. Jonah, abbot of Yashezersk. The 26 Martyrs of Zographou Monastery on Mt. Athos, martyred by the Latins (see October 10). St. Cosmas of Zographou.…
Glory to God for All Things
Even If I Descend into Hell...
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Charles Williams, one of C.S. Lewis’ circle of friends, once wrote a book entitled, The Descent into Hell. In it he chronicles the slow inexorable damnation of a soul. Choices made or not made – a chronicle more of spiritual ennui than of willful rebellion – it is a very sobering read. There is an understanding of hell that goes far beyond the typical lake of fire and burning Gehenna. Those images,…
The Morning Offering
October 4 / September 21
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Saints of the Day Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross. Apostle Quadratus of the Seventy. Opening of the Relics of St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov. Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Ephesus, and his presbyter Andrew. Martyr Eusebius of Phoenicia. Martyr Priscus of Phrygia. Martyrs Eusebius, Nestabus and Zeno of Gaza. Saints Isaacius and Meletius, Bishops of Cyprus. St. Joseph of…
The Morning Offering
October 3 / September 20
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Saints of the Day Afterfeast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Great-Martyr Eustathius (Eustace) Placidas, his wife Mary Theopistes, and their children Martyrs Agapius and Theopistus, of Rome Holy Martyr and Confessor Michael and his councilor Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernigov. St. Oleg, prince of Briansk. Martyr John the Confessor of Egypt, beheaded in Palestine, and with him 40 Martyrs. Saints…
The Morning Offering
October 2 / September 19
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Saints of the Day Afterfeast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedon of Synnada. St.Theodore, prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, and his children Saints David and Constantine. Martyr Zosimas, hermit of Cilicia. Hieromartyr Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, and his companions: Sosius and Proclus, deacons; Gantiol, Eutychius, Acutius, Festus and Desiderius, at Puteoli (same as April 21).…
