Thursday
July 17 / 20 ns
2026
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The imperial deputy Olymbrius, learning from Marina that she was a Christian, first wished that she would become his wife. When Marina rejected that he ordered her to bow down before the idols and to that St. Marina replied: "I will not bow down nor offer sacrifice to the breathless and dead idols who do not recognize themselves nor do they know that we honor or dishonor them. I will not give them that honor which belongs only to my Creator." Then Olymbrius subjected Marina to harsh torture and threw her into prison completely covered with wounds and blood. While in prison Marina prayed to God and, after prayer, the devil appeared to her under the guise of a horrible serpent which entwined itself around her head. When she made the sign of the cross the serpent burst and vanished.
Then she was engulfed with a heavenly light and it seemed to her that the walls of the prison vanished together with the roof and a radiant and towering cross appeared and atop the cross a white dove, from which a voice came saying: "Rejoice Marina, rational [discerning] dove of Christ, daughter of Zion in the highest, for your day of rejoicing has arrived." Marina was healed from all her wounds and pains by the power of God. The demented judge tortured her the following day, both in fire and in water, but Marina endured all as though she were in another body. Finally he condemned her to be beheaded. Before her death the Lord Jesus appeared to her with angels. She was beheaded during the reign of Diocletian but in soul and power she remained alive in the heavens and on earth. A hand of St. Marina reposes in the Monastery of Vatopedi on Mt. Athos.
The Hand of the Holy GM Marina
However, atop Mt. Langa in Albania overlooking Lake Ohrid, there is a monastery dedicated to St. Marina with a portion of her miraculous relics.
Countless miracles have occurred and still occur in this monastery, whose witnesses are not only Christians but many Muslims as well. So much did the Turks have respect for this holy place that they never dared disturb either this holy place or the property of this monastery. At one time a Turk was the guardian of the monastery.
A wonderful prayer before bed
by Saint Ephraem of Nisibis
King James Version
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Saint Mark 5:24-34
King James Version
24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Before Retiring To Rest
Paraenesis
Saint Ephraem of Nisibis
Grant Lord, that if I keep my vigils, I may stand in purity before Thee; And if, oh my Savior, I slumber, let my sleep be free from sin. If in my watching I commit iniquity, oh Lord by Thy grace forgive me; If I sin when sleeping, let Thy kindness be my atonement. And through the cross of Thy humiliation, afford me refreshing slumber; and deliver me from disturbing dreams. And from profane imaginations; and in sleep - full of peace. All the night conduct me; Let not evil beings have dominion over me. Nor thoughts full of iniquity. And from hateful concupiscence deliver me through Thy living body which I have eaten; And I will lie down and sleep in peace. And let Thy blood be a protector to me: — And to the soul which is Thy creation, grant the freedom of Thy likeness. And let Thy right hand watch over the body which Thy hands have formed. Let the wall of Thy mercy encompass me like a buckler of defense; And when my body is still, and slumbers, let Thy kindness be its guard. Let not the Evil One approach my couch. By the supplication of the mother who bare Thee; and by Thy sacrifice on behalf of all men, put Satan to flight that he persecute me not. And, Lord, perform Thy promise to me. And protect my life by Thy cross; And when I awake I will praise Thee because Thou hast displayed Thy love to my lowliness.
From the sleepers, satisfied with rest, and the watchers who have put on their arms, be glory to Thee, Thou guardian Spirit! Who hast made me a watcher for Thy praise!
❦
