SUNDAY
September 28
October 11 ns
2026
St. Charíton the Confessor
Holy Prophet Baruch
Holy Royal Martyr Wenceslaus,
Prince of the Czechs
Chariton clearly proclaimed his faith in the One Living God, the Creator of all, and the Lord Jesus, the Savior of mankind. The eparch ordered that he be tortured and beaten, until his whole body was like one great wound. When Aurelian's evil deeds caught up with him and he died an evil death, Chariton was freed from torture and prison. He then set out for Jerusalem. On the way he was seized by robbers, but escaped from them by God's providence.
Chariton, not wanting to return to Iconium again, withdrew to the wilderness of Pharan, where he founded a monastery and gathered monks. He established a rule for the monastery and then, to avoid the praise of men, withdrew to another wilderness near Jericho. There he founded another monastery called the Monastery of Chariton. Finally, he founded a third monastery, Souka, which the Greeks called the Old Lavra.
Chariton died at a great old age, and took up his abode in the glory of his Lord on September 28, 350. His relics repose in his first monastery. The composition of the rite of monastic tonsure is attributed to St. Chariton.
Saint John 20:11-18 KJV
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9 KJV
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Saint Luke 5:1-11 KJV
5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
It is incomprehensible how Jesus Christ is united with the sign of the Cross, and gives it the wonderful power of driving away passions, demons, and to calm the troubled soul. It is likewise incomprehensible how the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is united with the bread and wine, transforming them into His own Flesh and Blood, and manifestly cleansing our soul from sins, bringing into it heavenly peace and tranquility and making it good, gentle, humble, and full of hearty faith and hope. This is partly explained by the fact that the Almighty, creating spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is everywhere, and that everywhere He "calleth those things which be not as though they were"; and therefore much more can He make what exists other from what it was.
And in order that the unbelieving heart should not think that both the sign of the Cross and the name of Christ act miraculously by themselves, apart from and independently of Christ Himself, this same Cross and name of Christ do not perform any miracles, until I see Jesus Christ with the eyes of my heart, or by faith, and until I believe with my whole heart all that which He has accomplished for our salvation. "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
In the Church we become one with every
unhappy, suffering and sinful person.
+Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
As you lie in bed anticipating our Lord to grace you with sleep, do you praise, thank and ask Him, His Ever-Virgin Mother, your namesake and your guardian angel for forgiveness and glorify them in your own words?
The best prayer is the one you say
with your own words.
Reading prayers is not enough
+ Saint Ephraim of Katounakia
Please note: Many of the quotes from the Saints are not permanent and will be removed in time, so if one attracts, anchor it to you memory so you can apply it to your heart and actions.
claims that our galaxy, the Milky Way is about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 km across and it is just one galaxy of the approximately 2 trillion that Harvard and MIT claim compose the universe.
That being considered as somewhat accurate, if one is the greatest pantologist that ever lived, in possession of a universe of accurate facts, including trivia, from astrophysics to alphabet blocks, how would he act if he was acquainted with one who is omniscient?
ABOUT BOB
In an attempt at humility, Bob once said: I know nothing. To which he received the following response: That in fact, Bob, is the problem.
Bob smiled feeling he had achieved some collaboration.
No Bob, the problem is that you do know something and only when we are totally empty, including attachments and desires, we have invited He who is not only omniscient but also omnipresent and omnipotent.
Who is that? Bob asked.
The only One, our Creator, Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Bob replied: I must stop thinking and acting in childish ways and become child-like.
If we wish God's gifts for loving and obeying Him, then we must stop rewarding our hearts with more and more quantities of temporary things, things that we will leave here when He calls us from this temporary ‘life’.
Does He not give in excess even without our asking? Yet, does He not clearly command that our hearts must exclusively be His?
GOD, US AND ANIMALS - A DISCUSSION
After a discussion with an individual concerning the relationship of God and animals I came to the following:
I have to agree with those who say that animals do not know God as we do.
And, although illumination isn't available to them, it appears they function with each other and their environment as though governed, and without question, without wavering and are admirably remarkably adherent as one would expect from a servant and his or her mater .
I think God is their Lord, but they don't know God as Lord, Savior or the Son of the Father.
Rather than go too far with this, yet I feel confident to say in conclusion, that they are not, in any way, capable of the following: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" {Exodus 20:3 KJV}
SUPPLANTING ETERNITY OF THE SOUL ,
AND THE CHURCH BUILDING WITH IT
It's easy
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. {2Thess 2:15}
HOW DOES DEPARTURE FROM CHRIST ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN THESE TIMES?
The only effort required to supplant illumination from a Life in Christ is to increase to excess social activities and attach ourselves (body and soul) to temporary objects, (apparently the most prevalent choice in this world) both of which are transient because our time in this life is ephemeral and soon 'Churches' become social clubs or organizations where God is honored with the lips - but with hearts distant. {St. Matthew 15:8 KJV}
S I N
What did Adam and Eve do to lose Eternal Life in Paradise with their/our Creator?
Turn it around and what do you have?
