Saturday June 14/27 ns 2026 Prophet Eliséos; St. Methódios the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople ~ Fish, wine, and olive oil are permitted. Prophet: St. James 5:10-20; St. Luke 4:22-30 ~ Repentance

Most Holy Virgin Mother

Intercede for Us

H O L Y

A P O S T L E S'

F A S T

Fish, W & O

Holy Prophet Eliséos;

St. Methódios the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople

Holy Prophets Elias (gr). Elijah (Heb) and Eliséos

Eliséos lived nine hundred years before Christ. When the Lord willed to take the aged Prophet Elijah to Himself, He revealed to him that He had designated Eliséos, the son of Shaphat of the tribe of Reuben from the town of Abel-Meholah, as his successor in the prophetic service. Elijah informed Eliséos of God's will and draped him with his mantle and implored from God the two-fold grace of prophecy for him. Eliséos immediately departed his home and family and followed Elijah. When the Lord took Elijah in a fiery chariot, Eliséos remained to continue the prophetic service with yet a greater power than Elijah.

Saint James 5:10-20 KJV

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.


Saint Luke 4:22-30 KJV

22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseos the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Saint John of the Ladder {Climacos}

Repentance is the renewal of baptism. 

Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
A penitent is a buyer of humility.
Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care.
Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. 

Repentance is purification of conscience.
Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.

Baptized Orthodox Christian but now a dying atheist

A resolute atheist, who we might call Rupert, a quite loving and generous individual whom I have known for many years, claimed that man's DNA dictates that he murder and do evil so there is nothing can be done about it.  He also claimed that its not in the DNA of all other creatures.   

For once I made no reply because he's heard so many and to hear God's Truth, desire and the ear of the Soul is required.  After so many years, one must simply continue to pray.

Friday June 14/26 ns 2026 Holy Martyr Aquilina ~ Fast day ~ Rom. 11:25-36; St. Matt. 12:1-8 ~ QUOTE: On the Benefit of Consultation

Rejoice,

thou who makest manifest the life of the Angels

H O L Y

A P O S T L E S'

F A S T

The Holy Virgin Martyr Aquilina

Aquilina was 12 years old when she suffered for the Lord and crowned with the martyr's wreath in the year 293 A.D.

Aquilina was born in the Phoenician (Lebanon) town of Jbeil (Byblos Gr.) of honorable Christian parents. At age seven, little Aquilina was already completely versed in the true Christian life and at age ten she was so filled with divine understanding and the grace of the Holy Spirit that she, with great power and zealousness, preached Christ to her female companions.

When Diocletian's persecution began, someone accused Aquilina before Volusian, the imperial deputy, who was more like a beast than a man. To begin with, Volusian ordered that Aquilina be flogged and after that, a red hot rod be pierced through her ears and brain. Until the last moment, the virgin Aquilina freely and openly confessed Christ the Lord and when her brain and blood began to flow from her head, she fell as though dead. The deputy, thinking Aquilina was indeed dead, ordered her body to be carried outside the city and thrown upon a dung heap for the dogs to consume. But, an angel of God appeared to her at night and said to her: "Arise, and be whole!" And the virgin arose and was whole and for a long time she offered up praise of thanksgiving to God imploring Him not to deprive her to fulfill her martyr's mortification. A voice from heaven was heard: "Go, it will be to you as you pray" and Aquilina set out for the town. The gates of the town opened on their own accord before her and she entered like a spirit into the palace of the deputy and appeared before his bed. The deputy was seized with unspeakable fear, seeing the virgin alive whom he thought was dead.

The following day, according to command, the executioners led Aquilina out to behead her. Before her beheading, the virgin Aquilina prayed to God on her knees and gave up her soul. The executioner beheaded her lifeless head. Her relics gave healing to many of the sick.

Romans 11:25-36 KJV

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Saint Matthew 12:1-8 KJV

12 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Discourses

On the Benefit of Consultation 

by Saint Dorotheos of Gaza

It is written in the book of Proverbs that, "Those who have no guidance fall like leaves, but there is security in much counsel."

Look closely at this saying, brothers. See what scripture is teaching us. It asserts that we should not set ourselves up as guide posts, and that we should not suppose that we are wise, and that we should not trust in our own ability to direct ourselves. We need help and guidance, in addition to the grace of God.

No one is more miserable, no one is more easily caught unprepared, than a man who has no one to direct him on the road to God. It states, "Those who have no guidance fall like leaves." Leaves are perpetually green at the start, they grow well and are pleasing to behold. Then after a time they dry up and fall off, and finally they are blown about by the wind and trampled under foot. So it is with the man who is not directed by someone. At first he has great zeal about fasting, maintaining vigils, being silent, and obedient and keeping other good habits. Then after a time the fire is quenched and not having anyone to direct him and strengthen him and kindle his fire, he shrivels up and so, by being disobedient, he fails and finally ends up as a mere tool for his enemies, who do whatever they want with him.

About those who make a report about what bothers their inner life, and who do everything with counsel, it states, "There is security in much counsel." When it says, "much counsel" it does not mean taking counsel from everyone but clearly from someone with whom he has complete confidence.

And he should not be quiet about certain things and speak about others, but he should speak about everything and receive counsel concerning everything. To a man doing this regularly, there is indeed security in much counsel. However if a man does not reveal everything about himself, especially if he has turned back from evil habits and a bad upbringing, and if the devil discovers in him one small bit of self-will or self-righteousness, he will throw him down by that. Because when the devil sees a man who earnestly does not want to sin, he is not so stupid as to suggest to him, like he would with a hardened sinner, that he should go and fornicate or steal. He understands that we do not want to do these things and he does not set out to suggest to us something we do not want to hear. Rather he probes that small bit of self-will or self-righteousness and by that, with the appearance of doing well, he will harm us. So again it is said, "An evil man does evil when he mixes it with righteousness." The "evil man" is the devil and he does evil when he mixes it with righteousness, i.e. our self-righteousness, because then he is mighty, and then he can do more harm; then he can act more freely.

Because when we are lords of our own business and we stand in our own righteousness, as if we are doing great things, we are providing for ourselves counsel, and we do not know how it is we are brought to ruin. Because how can we fully know the will of God or find it if we trust only in ourselves and take hold of our own will?

Thursday June 12/25 ns 2026 St. Onoúphrios of Egypt, St. Peter the Athonite ~ Fish, wine and olive oil are permitted. Rom. 11:13-24; St. Matt. 11:27-30 ~ How Close

Rejoice

good Nursing-Mother of virgins

Thursday June 12/25 ns 2026

Holy Apostles Fast

Fish, W & O

St. Onoúphrios of Egypt,
St. Peter the Athonite

Saint Onoúphrios had been living a whole sixty years in the desert when the monk Paphnoutios visited him. His hair and beard reached down to the ground, and long hair, as white as snow, had grown all over his body during his years of nakedness. His appearance was cadaverous, unearthly and awe-inspiring. Seeing Paphnoutios, he called him by name and then recounted to him his life in the desert. His guardian angel had appeared to him and taken him to that place. He had for a long time only eaten earth, which it was hard to find in the desert, and, after that, when he had survived an intensive struggle with diabolical temptations and when his heart had become utterly established in love for God, an angel had brought him bread to eat. And besides that, through God's gracious providence, a palm tree grew up at one side of his cell, that gave good dates, and a spring of water began to flow there. 'But especially,' said Onoúphrios, 'my food and drink are the sweet words of God.' To Paphnoutios question about his receiving of Communion, the hermit answered that the angel of God brought him Communion every Saturday. On the next day, the old man told Paphnoutios that it was the day of his departure from this world; then he knelt down, prayed to God and gave his spirit into God's hands. Then Paphnoutios saw a heavenly light that illumined the body of the departed saint, and heard a choir of the angelic hosts. He buried Onoúphrios body with honor and returned to his own monastery, there as a living witness to narrate to the brethren, for their edification, the wonderful life of the man of God and the greatness of God's providence towards those who give themselves wholly to His service. Onoúphrios died in the year 400.

Saint Peter of the Holy Mountain Athos was a Greek by birth, and a soldier by profession. Being once engaged in battle against the Arabs, he was captured, chained and thrown into prison. Peter spent a long time in imprisonment in the town of Samara on the Euphrates, and prayed God with all his being to free him and take him to some desert place where he could devote himself to prayerful asceticism. St Simeon the God-Receiver appeared to him in the prison, together with St Nicolas, and touched the iron of his chains which melted like wax. Peter suddenly found himself in the open outside the city. He immediately set out on the road for Rome, where he was tonsured as a monk by the Pope Gregory III (Pope from 731-741 under the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna) at the tomb of St Peter. He then set out by ship to return to the East. The most holy Mother of God appeared to him in a dream, talking with St Nicolas, and she told St Nicolas that she had set Mount Athos apart for Peter to live on in asceticism. Peter had at that time not heard of Mount Athos. Disembarking, then, at the Holy Mountain, Peter settled in a cave, where he spent fifty-three years in strict asceticism, in struggles with hunger and thirst, with heat and cold and especially with diabolical powers, until he had overcome them all by the help of God. When he had undergone the first temptations and succeeded in the first test before God, an angel of God began to bring him bread every forty days. The tempter appeared to him several times in the guise of an angel of light, but Peter drove him away with the sign of the Cross and the name of the most holy Mother of God. A year before his death, a deer-hunter passed that way and learned of the saint's life from his lips. He died in 734, and his relics were taken to Macedonia.

Romans 11:13-24 KJV

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 For if the firs fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Saint Matthew 11:27-30 KJV

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How Close

St. Silouan the Athonite

Many think that the saints are far from us. But they are far from those who distance themselves from them, and very close to those keep the commandments of Christ and have the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the heavens, all things are moved by the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is on earth too. He lives in our Church. He lives in the Holy Mysteries. He is in the Holy Scriptures. He is in the souls of the faithful. The Holy Spirit unites all things, and therefore the saints are close to us. And when we pray to them, then the Holy Spirit hears our prayers, and our souls feel that they are praying for us.

Why

The material world is so vast and so complex that after enormous and ongoing study, examination, pursuit, inquiry, speculation, theory, analyzation, etc. by physicists, philosophers, astrophysicists, etc. for over a thousand years and although having obtained many answers, the ensuing major “why” and too many smaller “whys” remain.

If you wish to know the reason for this post, listen (only a portion is necessary) to what
Sir David Attenborough calls:

25 Mind-blowing Facts about the universe

https://youtu.be/lPWCGtOrQFY?is=irnIaSZmZy4pv4LR