Saturday June 21 / July 4 ns 2026 • Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus ~ Fish, wine, and olive oil are permitted ~ Rom. 8:14-21; St. Matt. 9:9-13 ~ The Explanation of today's Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 9:9-13 ~ FOR CONSIDERATION: Resist

Considered essential by the saints, preparation should be made to create a spiritual climate for the mind and the heart before initiating daily prayer by reading and reflecting on the Holy Scripture, the lives and the God-given writings of the Saints.
To provide and facilitate access the PARAGON was created.

Saturday

June 21 / July 4 ns 2026

H O L Y  A P O S T L E S

F A S T

F i s h, W i n e  &  O l i v e  O i l

permitted today

Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus

The holy martyr Julian was of noble and senatorial origin. He lived in Tarsus in Cilicia and suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Even though he was only eighteen years of age when he was subjected to torture for the Faith, St. Julian was sufficiently educated and strengthened in Christian piety. The imperial deputy led him from town to town for an entire year torturing him and all the time trying to persuade him to deny Christ. Julian's mother followed her son from a distance. When the deputy seized Julian's mother and sent her to counsel her son to deny Christ, for three days in prison she spoke the opposite advice, teaching him and encouraging him not to despair in spirit but with thanksgiving and courage go to his death. The torturers then sewed Julian in a sack with sand, scorpions and serpents and tossed the sack into the sea and Julian's mother also died under torture. His relics were tossed by the waves to the shore and the faithful translated them to Alexandria and honorably buried them in the year 290 A.D. Later, St. Julian's relics were translated to Antioch. Later on, St. John Chrysostomos, himself, delivered a eulogy [an oration of praise] for the holy martyr Julian. St. John Chrysostomos said: "From the mouth of the martyr proceeded a holy voice and, together with the voice, a light emanated brighter than the rays of the sun." Further, he added: "Take anyone, be it a madman or one possessed, and bring him to the grave of this saint where the relics of the martyr repose and you will see how he [the demon] without fail will leap out and flee as from a burning fire." It is obvious from these words how numerous miracles must have taken place at the grave of St. Julian.

Romans 8:14-21

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Saint Matthew 9:9-13 KJV

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The Explanation of the Holy Gospel of
St. Matthew 9:9-13 

by Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid

He did not call Matthew together with Peter and John, but when he knew that he would obey He likewise called Paul later, when it was time.  Marvel that Matthew is converted by word alone is the work of God.

Joyful because he had received Christ into his house Matthew invited the publicans. Christ ate with them so that He might benefit them also, even though He was criticized for doing it. For this Pharisees wanted to separate his disciples from Him, and so they slandered Him for eating with publicans.

He says I have not come now as judge but as physician, and for this reason I endure stench and filth. He also rebukes them for being ignorant when He says go ye and learn this means, since up to the present time you have not managed to learn so at least from this time on go and learn that God prefers mercy towards sinners above any sacrifice. The words I am not come to call the righteous he spoke ironically that is I have not come to call you consider yourselves to be righteous but I have come to call sinners. I do this not so that they remain sinners, but in order for them to repent.

For Consideration: Resistance

Having experienced and thereby knowing full well the awesome power of desire, consider then the measure of recompense we may be granted by resisting it?

Friday June 20 /July 3 ns 2026 • Hodegétria Icon; Hieromartyr Methódios, Bishop of Patára; St. Kállistos I, Patriarch of Constantinople; St. Nicholas Cabasilas ~ Fast day ~ Rom. 16:1-16; St. Matt. 13:3-9 ~ REFLECTION: Prayers by the Lake - Wisdom; CONTEMPLATION: When the time comes? QUESTION: Gold nugget

Considered essential by the saints, preparation should be made to create a spiritual climate for the mind and the heart before initiating daily prayer by reading the Holy Scripture the lives and writings of the Saints. To provide and facilitate access the PARAGON was created.

F R I D A Y

June 20 / July 3 ns 2026

A P O S T L E S

F A S T

The Hodegétria "She who shows the Way" Icon of the Theotokos;

She is depicted with the her hand
pointing at Christ, Who is "The Way".

and

The Hieromartyr Methódios,

Bishop of Patára;

St. Kállistos I, Patriarch of

Constantinople;

St. Nicholas Cabasilas

From his youth, Methódios dedicated himself to asceticism and, as a city on a hill, was seen and summoned to the episcopacy in the city of Patara in Lycia.
As a learned and eloquent hierarch, Methódios wrote against the heresy of Origen. His "God-inspired words shown throughout the entire world as lightning."
The pagans rose up against him, tortured him and beheaded him in Chalcis in Syria in the year 311 A.D.

Romans 16:1-16 KJV

16 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.

12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Saint Matthew 13:3-9 KJV

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Prayers by the Lake

Wisdom

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Desist from your worldly wisdom, my neighbors. Wisdom is begotten, not made. As Wisdom is begotten in God, so is it begotten on earth. Begotten wisdom creates, but is not created. So, you braggarts brag about your intellect! What is your intellect except remembering many facts? And if you remember so much, how could you have forgotten the moments of the wondrous begetting of wisdom within you?

Sometimes I hear you talking about great thoughts that were born to you unexpectedly without any effort. Who bore these thoughts to you, intellectuals? How were they begotten without a father, if you admit that you did not father them? Truly I say to you: the father of these thoughts is the All Holy Spirit, and their mother survives as the virgin corner of your soul, where the All-Holy Spirit still dares to enter. Thus every wisdom in heaven and on earth is begotten of the Virgin and the All-Holy Spirit. The All-Holy Spirit hovered over the chastity of the first hypostasis, and the Ultimate Man, the Wisdom of God, was begotten.

The chastity of the Father is in heaven, the virginity of the Mother is on earth. The action of the Holy Spirit is in heaven, His action is on earth. The begetting of wisdom is in heaven, the begetting of wisdom is on earth. 

O my soul, my eternal surprise! What happened once in heaven and once on earth must happen to you. You must become a virgin, so that you can conceive the Wisdom of God. You must be a virgin, so that the Spirit of God may fall in love with you. All the miracles in heaven and on earth originate from the Virgin and the Spirit.

When the time comes?

It cannot be denied, ALL things are here today and gone tomorrow. Yes ALL! Yet is it not easy to temporarily create an escape from reality with a fantasy? 

And to make matters worse, there are many, even followers of Christ who think they can ignore God's directive to deny the SELF postponing the renunciation of adult toys until its time to leave.  

The joy we experience in things is Christ Himself, a condescension due to our error, a temporary gift of His compassion and love.  There is NO other joy but Him and He made us like Him - eternal! 

If anyone believes that he can give up attachments "when the time comes", let him be reminded of when that time is: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Saint Luke 12:20 KJV

Gold nugget

If you are given a 100 lb solid gold nugget, what would you do with it?  Would you spend it on things that give temporary pleasure or would you invest it in a commodity, a gamble that could be exhausted within a lifetime, or would you ask your benefactor for the means by which you would gain profit eternally in the Life to come?

Life eternal in Paradise is available for those who have a ticket.

Thursday June 19/July 2 ns 2026 • Holy Apostle Jude, Brother of God, of the Twelve; St. Paḯsios the Great; St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco ~ Fish, wine and olive oil are permitted. Apostle: St. Jude 1-25; St. John 14:21-24 ~ SYNAXIS: In Memory of the Veneration of the MAGI; FOR CONTEMPLATION: When the time comes?

T H U R S D A Y

June 19 / July 2 ns 2025

H O L Y

A P O S T L E S'

F A S T

f I S H, w & o

Today we praise

Holy Apostle Jude, Brother of God,

of the Twelve;

St. Paḯsios the Great;

St. John the Wonderworker

of Shanghai and San Francisco

  SAINT JUDE was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was the son of Joseph and Salome and the brother of James, the brother of the Lord. With Salome, the daughter of Angeja the son of Varahina, the brother of Zacharias, Joseph the carpenter had four sons: James, Hosea, Simon and Jude. This Jude is sometimes called: "Jude, the brother of James" because of his more famous brother (St. Luke 6:16 Acts 1:14).

St. Jude begins his epistle in this manner: "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James" (St. Jude 1:1). Even though he could be called the brother of the Lord as much as James, he did not do this out of humility and shame for, in the beginning, he did not believe Christ the Lord. When the elder Joseph, before his death, wanted to leave a portion of his estate to Jesus as well as to his other children, all of them protested this, even Jude, only James voluntarily set aside a share of his portion and intended it for Jesus. Jude is also called Levi and Thaddeus. There is another Thaddeus of the Seventy Apostles (August 21) but this Thaddeus or Jude was one of the Great Apostles.

St. Jude preached the Gospel throughout Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Idumedia, Syria, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Armenia. In Edessa, the town of Abgar, he augmented the preaching of the other Thaddeus. When Jude preached throughout the regions around Ararat he was captured by pagans, crucified on a cross and killed by being shot throughout with arrows to eternally reign in the Kingdom of Christ.

Saint John's Prayer Corner

“This man, who appears weak is, in fact, a miracle of ascetic steadfastness and determination in our time of universal spiritual weakening.” - Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitsky

“If you desire to see a living Saint, go to Bitol to Father John.” - Saint Nicholai Velimirovich

Saint John was born on the 4th of June 1896 on the country estate of his parents, descendants of nobility, Boris Ivanovich and Glaphira Mikhailovna Maximovitch in the little town of Adamovka in the Province of Kharkov. At Baptism he received his name in honour of Saint Michael the Archangel.

His paternal ancestors were of Serbian extraction. One of his ancestors, Saint John, Metropolitan of Tobolsk, was an ascetic of holy life, a missionary, and a spiritual writer. Saint John of Tobolsk lived in the first half of the 18th century and was glorified in 1916. His glorification was the last celebrated during the reign of the Tsar Martyr Nicholas.

Saint John was an obedient child; his sister recalls that it was very easy for his parents to raise him. Ruminating about his future during his youth, he could not make a definite decision as to a career, being unsure as to whether he should dedicate himself to military or civil service He only knew that his future life would be guided by an insuperable desire to stand up for the Truth, which was nurtured in him by his parents. He was inspired by the examples of those people who live their lives for the Truth.

He commenced his education at the Poltava Military Academy which, Vladyka himself would later say, “was dedicated to one of the glorious pages of the history of Russia.” He was an exemplary student, but he disliked two subjects; gymnastics and dancing. He was well liked at the academy, but nevertheless felt he should choose a different path. This idea was especially furthered by contact with the well known religious instructor at the academy, Archpriest Sergei Chetverikov, author of books about Saint Paisius Velichkovsky and the Holy Optina Elders, and with the rector of the local seminary, Archimandrite Varlaam. The day of Michael Maximovitch’s completion of the military academy coincided with that of Archbishop Anthony Khrapovitsky's investiture.

Saint Jude KJV

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Saint John 14:21-24 KJV 

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

SYNAXIS

In Memory of the Veneration of the MAGI

Hieromonk Makarios of Simonopetra Monastery Mt. Athos

At that time, three Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem with a magnificent escort, asking after the newborn King, whom they had come to venerate. Priests and seers from among the pagan worshippers of the sun and the other stars, but nonetheless upright and endowed with wisdom, they investigated the heavenly bodies, not in order to predict the future but to trace the ways of Divine Providence; and they studied the secrets of nature in order to come to knowledge of the Truth. Full of these good intentions, not the demons, but the dead who await the resurrection.

Some say they came from Persia, others that they would more probably have come from Arabia, a country of Semitic language which was, at the time, the center of trade in the rare commodities they brought as gifts. While some commentators assume that they arrived on the very day of the Nativity, warned long in advance by the star, others are of the opinion that the star first appeared to them on this day, and that they arrived in Bethlehem from thirteen days to two years later. There are also those who maintain that the Magi saw the star appear on 24 Dec. and arrived in Jerusalem the next day transported by an angel, just as the Prophet Habakkuk had once been conveyed from Judea to Babylon to visit the Prophet Daniel (cf. 2 Dec.).

They had observed the sudden appearance in the firmament of a star which, drawing near the earth, shone with so brilliant a light as to be clearly visible even at midday, and which at night out-shone every other star.

From their knowledge of the sayings of the ancient Prophets, the Magi recalled the Prophecy about Israel pronounced long before by Balaam, the seer who came from Mesopotamia at the request of Balak, the King of Moab: I see Him but not now, I glorify Him, but not nigh; a Star shall come forth out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel (Num. 24:17). They deduced that the King who would subdue the nations, the Messiah awaited by Israel had appeared, and they made ready for the long journey.


Being the first-fruits of the Gentiles and prefiguring the conversion of the peoples far removed from the revelation to Israel, they set out to bring Him their worship in advance of the stony-hearted Jews, and as they went, the star going before showed them the way.

Strange though it may seem, this luminary was no inanimate light, but one of the angelic powers of heaven which took the form of a star, to conform to the understanding of the Magi, who were accustomed to study the stars for clues to the attainment of knowledge of God. Unlike the planets that appear to move from East to West, this star, which was brighter than the sun, went before them from Persia in the North, southward to Jerusalem, and then disappeared for a while, before leading them to Bethlehem and stationing itself over the place where the Child lay (St Matt. 2:9).

It showed the way to the Magi, as the pillar of fire had shown the way to the people of Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 13:21); and it came down so close to the ground that the cave where the Savior lay was indicated clearly in its light. These extraordinary happenings, which astrology could not account for had the effect of driving doubt from the spirit of the Magi and of causing them to lay aside all mistrust so that, even while they were on their way, they gave up the worship of the stars for the adoration of the Sun of righteousness. Who has come into the world to shed upon mankind the light of true knowledge of God.

When they reached Jerusalem the star disappeared from their sight. Not knowing where to go, but believing that the Jews would be eager to recognize their King from on High, they made their way to the palace of Herod, the King of Judea, a cruel and depraved man who never hesitated to rid himself of anyone who might be a threat to his power. On learning from the Magi why they had come, he immediately gathered the scribes and doctors of the Law to find out who the King announced by the Prophets might be. The Elders assured him that the Messiah, the Liberator of Israel, was indeed expected at Bethlehem, the native town of King David. Then having called the Magi to a private audience, Herod directed them to Bethlehem and asked them to let him know on their return where the newborn King was to be found so that he too may come and do him homage, as he alleged (St Matt. 2:8), while really intending to do Him to death.

As soon as they left Jerusalem, the star appeared once again to the Magi and led them to the humble cave. Entering therein full of joy and holy fear as into the palace of the greatest of Kings, these rich and noble travelers from afar cast themselves to the ground before the Child enthroned in the manger, and opening the treasures of their hearts, they adored him and offered Him rare and precious gifts; gold to honour him as King, incense as befitting God, and myrrh—the aromatic oil used in the burial of the dead—for the Immortal One who was soon to suffer death for our Salvation."

Then warned in a dream of Herod's plan, they returned to their own country by another road, thereby teaching those who have once drawn near to Christ not to return to evil ways.

To Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Our Savior be Glory, now and forever and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

When the time comes?

It cannot be denied, ALL things are here today and gone tomorrow. Yes ALL! Yet is it not easy to temporarily create an escape from reality with a fantasy? 

And to make matters worse, there are many, even followers of Christ who think they can ignore God's directive to deny the SELF postponing the renunciation of adult toys until its time to leave.  

The joy we experience in things is Christ Himself, a condescension due to our error, a temporary gift of His compassion and love.  There is NO other joy but Him and He made us like Him - eternal! 

If anyone believes that he can give up attachments "when the time comes", let him be reminded of when that time is: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Saint Luke 12:20 KJV