SUNDAY August 24 / Sept 6 ns 2026 • Hieromartyr Evtychés; St. Cosmás Aitolós, Equal-to-the-Apostles; New Hieromartyr Maxim (Sandovich) of Lemkovina ~ Do we worship the Creator? Do animals worship the Creator? by St John of Karpathos

For many are called,

but few are chosen.

Sunday

August 25

September 6 new style

2026

T o d a y

We commemorate and honor

The Holy Hieromartyr Evtychés;

St. Cosmás Aitolós,

Equal-to-the-Apostles;

New Hieromartyr Maxim

(Sandovich) of Lemkovina

Evtychés was one of the lesser apostles and was born in Sebastopol. He was a disciple and imitator of the Apostle John the Theologian and the Apostle Paul. Even though he is not numbered among the seventy apostles, nevertheless, he is called an apostle because he was a disciple of the great apostles and, because in his evangelical service, he displayed true apostolic zeal.

Consecrated a missionary bishop, St. Evtychés traveled much, having, an angel as his companion. In prison, he received heavenly bread from an angel. When his body was scrapped with a serrated iron rod, blood flowed from him with unusual fragrant myrrh. He was thrown into a fire and before wild beasts and finally beheaded with a sword in Sebastopol.

Saint Mark 16:9-20
King James Version

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4
King James Version

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

2 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.


Saint Matthew 22:2-14
King James Version

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Do we worship the Creator?

Do animals worship the Creator?

by Saint John of Karpathos

When making a request to an earthly king, sometimes men bring with them an offering nothing more than a bunch of spring flowers; yet often, so far from rejecting their request, the king has even presented them with gifts in return. In the same way I, at your command, have gathered from various sources a century of spiritual texts: this is my offering to you who are 'citizens of heaven' (Phil. 3:20). I hope that you will accept what I offer and grant me in return the gift of your prayers.

The King of all reigns for ever, and there is neither beginning nor end to His kingdom. To those, then, who choose to serve Him and who for His sake strive to attain holiness. He grants a reward infinitely greater than that given by any earthly ruler. The honors of this present life, however splendid, come to an end when we die; but the honors bestowed by God on those whom He regards as worthy are incorruptible and so endure forever.

David in one of his Psalms describes the praise offered to God by the whole of creation (Ps. 104). He speaks of the angels and all the invisible powers, but he also descends to the earth and includes wild animals, cattle, birds and reptiles. All of them, he believes, worship the Creator and sing His praise; for it is God's will that everything He has made should offer Him glory. How, then, can the monk, who may be compared to the gold of Ophir (1 Kgs. 10:11), allow himself to be sluggish or apathetic when singing God's praise?

Just as the bush burned with fire but was not consumed (Exod. 3:2), so those who have received the gift of dispassion are not troubled or harmed, either physically or in their intellect, by the heat of their body, however ponderous or fevered it may be. For the voice of the Lord holds back the flames of nature (Ps. 29:7: God's will and His word separate what by nature is united.

Saturday August 23 / Sept 5 ns 2026 Apodosis of the Dormition of the Theotokos • Holy Martyr Loúppos, Holy Hieromartyr Irenæus of Lyons ~ QUOTE: Fully God Fully human --- Types of Sin by St. Isaac the Syrian

Saturday

August 24

September 5 new style

2026

we commemorate and honor

• The Apodosis of the Dormition

of the Theotokos

Holy Martyr Loúppos,

Holy Hieromartyr Irenæus

of Lyons

The Holy Martyr Loúppos was a servant of St. Demetrios the commander of Thessalonica.

When Emperor Maximian beheaded St. Demetrius, Loúppos dipped the hem of his garment and his ring in the blood of the martyr. With this garment and ring, Loúppos worked many miracles in Thessalonica, healing people of every pain and infirmity.

Emperor Maximian, who was then still residing in Thessalonica, discovered this and ordered that Loúppos be tortured and killed. However, the soldiers who took up weapons against Loúppos turned against one another and severely wounded themselves. As he was not yet baptized, even though he was a Christian, Loúppos prayed to God that He would somehow plan his baptism before his death. At that moment, rain unexpectedly fell from the clouds upon this holy martyr and thus he received baptism from on high.

After great sufferings, Loúppos was beheaded and took up habitation in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Apodosis: Philippians 2:5-11
King James Version

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Apodosis:  Saint Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
King James Version

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Day: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
King James Version

4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.


Day:  SaintMatthew 23:1-12
King James Version

23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Fully God  / Fully human

Jesus left most of the disciples and took Peter, James, and John deeper into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray on the night He was about to be betrayed.

He asked them to stay awake and He fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt..

When He returned and found them sleeping, He directed this question specifically to Peter.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

St. Matthew 26:40 KJV

Types of Sin

by St. Isaac the Syrian

One type of sin that occurs is when the fighter cares for virtue and insists on working for it day and night, but does not succeed and falls into some sin. It may be that through ignorance, or from various causes, contrary to the path of virtue, or from the waves of passions that rise up in his members from time to time, or from the spiritual paralysis that may happen to him in order to test his free will, the scales tilt a little on the left yoke, so he is drawn by the weakness of the flesh to some sin, and he regrets and worries and groans with pain of soul for this suffering of his.

Another kind of sin is when a man becomes infatuated and neglects the work of virtue, and completely abandons its right path, and runs like an obedient slave to the enjoyment of sins, and shows zeal in inventing new ways for the full enjoyment of pleasure. In doing this, he is ready, like a captive slave, to do with special care the will of his enemy, and to offer the members of his body as weapons to the orders of the devil. And the unfortunate man does not remember repentance at all, nor does it cross his mind to leave his destructive path and return to virtue.

The first kind of sin, which I mentioned, is when a man slips and falls while walking on the path of virtue and righteousness. This is what the Fathers mean when they say that, on the path of God, we encounter both falls, and opposition from the enemy, and compulsions, and the like. While the second type of sin, which I mentioned, is for the soul to fall, and to be lost, and to completely abandon the struggle.

Friday August 22 / September 4 ns 2026 • Commemoration of the Icon of the Theotokos Prousiótissa; Holy Martyr Agathónicos; Holy New Hieromartyr Gorazd, Bishop of Bohemia and Moravia ~ QUOTE: Spiritual Intelligence Saint Gregory of Sinai

Friday

August 22

September 4 new style

2026

Fast Day

we commemorate and honor

The Icon of the Theotokos

Prousiótissa (of Prousa); 

The Holy Martyr Agathónicos; 

The Holy New Hieromartyr Gorazd,
Bishop of Bohemia and Moravia

The Holy Icon Panagia of Prousiótissa according to tradition was painted by the hand of St. Luke the Evangelist.

Since the year 829, this Holy Icon of the Theotokos has been kept in a church that still stands in the city of Proussa, now the Turkish city of Brusa, which is near present day Istanbul. Many miracles have taken place before this icon in the Church.

The only known accurate replica of this miracle working icon had resided at the Monastery of Prousos in Greece. In late June 2008 the replica was transported by clergy of the monastery and of the Metropolis of Karpenisi to the United States and placed permanently at the Monastery of Panagia Prousiótissa in Troy, North Carolina.

The Holy Martyr Agathónicos was a citizen of Nicomedia and a Christian by faith. With great zeal he converted the Hellenes from idolatry and instructed them in the true Faith. By order of Emperor Maximian, the emperor's deputy cruelly persecuted the Christians. During the persecution, the deputy captured St. Zóticos in a place called Carpe, crucified his disciples and brought Zóticos to Nicomedia where he also captured and bound St. Agathónicos, Princeps, Theoprepius, (Bogoljepa), Akíndynos, Severianós, Zeno and many others. Securely bound, they were all taken to Byzantium. However, along the way, Saints Zóticos, Theoprepius and Akíndynos died of their many wounds and exhaustion. They killed Severianós near Chalcedon and, Agathónicos with the others were taken to Thrace to the town of Silybria where, after torture before the emperor himself, they were beheaded and entered into eternal life and into the joy of their Lord. (ORTHODOX WIKI)

Galatians 2:6-10
King James Version

6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Saint Mark 5:22-24; 5:35-43; 6:1
King James Version

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

Spiritual Intelligence

Saint Gregory of Sinai

You cannot be or become spiritually intelligent in the way that is natural to man in his pre-fallen state unless you first attain purity and freedom from corruption. For our purity has been overlaid by a state of sense-dominated mindlessness, and our original incorruption by the corruption of the flesh.

Only those who through their purity have become saints are spiritually intelligent in the way that is natural to man in his pre-fallen state. Mere skill in reasoning does not make a person's intelligence pure, for since the fall our intelligence has been corrupted by evil thoughts. The materialistic and wordy spirit of the wisdom of this world may lead us to speak about ever wider spheres of knowledge, but it renders our thoughts increasingly crude and uncouth. This combination of well-informed talk and crude thought falls far short of real wisdom and contemplation, as well as of undivided and unified knowledge.

by knowledge of truth understand above all apprehension of truth through grace. Other kinds of knowledge should be regarded as images of intellections or the rational demonstration of facts.

If you fail to receive grace it is because of your lack of faith and your negligence; if you find it again it is because of your faith and your diligence. For faith and diligence always conduce to progress, while their opposites do the reverse.