Wednesday May 21/ June 3 ns 2026 † Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen ~ No Fasting ~ Saints: Acts 26:1, 12-20; St. John 10:1-9~ UNLESS WE HATE OUR LIVES IN THIS WORLD

Kecharitomene

Wednesday

May 21 / June 3 ns 2026

~ No Fasting ~ 

until 
Monday May 26/June 8 ns

    Constantine's parents were Emperor Constantius Chlorus and the Empress Helena. Chlorus had other children by another wife, but from Helena, he had only Constantine.

After his coronation Constantine fought three great battles: one, against Maxentius, a Roman tyrant; the second, against the Scythians on the Danube and the third, against the Byzantines. Before the battle with Maxentius, while Constantine was greatly concerned and in doubt about his success, a brilliant Cross appeared to him in the sky during the day, completely adorned with stars and written on the Cross were these words: "By this Sign Conquer (Overcome)." Astonished, the emperor ordered a large cross to be forged similar to the one that appeared to him and that it be carried before the army. By the power of the Cross he achieved a glorious victory over the enemy who was superior in members. Maxentius was drowned in the Tiber river. Immediately after that, Constantine issued the famous Edict of Milan in the year 313 A.D. to halt the persecution of Christians.

Defeating the Byzantines, Constantine built a beautiful capital on the Bosphorus which from that time on was called Constantinople. Before that, however, Constantine succumbed to the dreaded disease of leprosy. As a cure, the pagan priests and physicians counseled him to bathe in the blood of slaughtered children. However, he rejected that. Then the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him and told him to seek out Bishop Sylvester who will cure him of this dreaded disease. The bishop instructed him in the Christian Faith, baptized him and the disease of leprosy vanished from the emperor's body.

When a discord began in the Church because of the mutinous heretic Arius, the emperor convened the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, 325. A.D., where the heresy was condemned and Orthodoxy confirmed.

St. Helena, the pious mother of the emperor, was very zealous for the Faith of Christ. She visited Jerusalem, discovered the Honorable Cross of the Lord, built the Church of the Resurrection on Golgotha and many other churches throughout the Holy Land. This holy woman presented herself to the Lord in her eightieth year in 327 A.D. Emperor Constantine outlived his mother by ten years. He died in Nicomedia in his sixty-fifth year in 337 A.D. His body was interred in the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople.

Acts 26:1, 12-20 KJV

26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Saint John 10:1-9 KJV

10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

UNLESS WE HATE OUR LIVES

IN THIS WORLD 

Substantiated by the testimony of Christ and others, and from the Truth which burns in our hearts, our Creator expects us to have faith and believe in the coming of His Kingdom.  Contemplation, equipped with faith can reveal that if given a vision of Paradise and see ourselves as immortal, full of virtue, sinless, incorruptible, etc. and the image and likeness of our Creator in us, we would not only hate our lives here (in a world such as this - St. John 12:25 KJV He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.), as we can imagine our first parents did - filled with regret - but we would be convinced not only that it exists, but its availability.  However, Paradise is given only when we follow His command, a command similar to that given to our first parents, which they failed.  We weren't made for Paradise, Paradise was made for us.  And, we weren't made for the Law but the Law for us.

Knowing from God’s own testimony it contained even more than what Adam and Eve experienced during their trial period - to remain not only in possession of it but to be given ever increasing good things within it - eternally.  Since God is love and made man from His love, man is equipped with that which insures obedience to the Will of God.

OF A SUDDEN

Tuesday May 20/June 2 ns 2026 Holy Martyr Thalléleos; Sts. Nikétas, Joseph, and John of Chios; St. Lydia of Philippi, the Seller of Purple ~ No Fasting ~ Rom 1:1-7, 13-17; St. Matt. 4:23-5:13

Holy Martyr Thalléleos;

Sts. Nikétas, Joseph, and John of Chios;

St. Lydia of Philippi, the Seller of Purple

Tuesday

May 20 / June 2 ns 2026

~ No Fasting ~ 

until 
Monday May 26/June 8 ns

The Holy Trinity as the source of Eternal Life, Love and Joy with Him in Paradise and Who also made a temporary facsimile also called "life" has granted us enough "time" to freely choose whether or not we want to be with Him. KNOW THIS, regardless of your choice, we are eternal, which means we will always (as God wills) be aware of each other and why our Lord's Resurrection says:  O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? Choosing however to keep your distance rather than spend eternity with God, will result in regret.  

If you choose to ignore this note but at least wish a description of what that regret is, read here St. Luke 16:19-31 KJV

   

Thalléleos was born in Lebanon. His father was called Berucius and his mother was called Romila. Thalléleos was an eighteen-year old youth, handsome of countenance, physically tall and with reddish yellow hair. He was a physician by profession.

He suffered for Christ during the reign of Numerian. When he bravely confessed his faith in Christ the Lord before his tormenting judge, the judge ordered the two executioners, Alexander and Asterius, to bore through his knees with a drill, to thread a rope through the perforated bones and to hang him from a tree. But God through an invisible power, took away the sight of the executioners. In place of Thalléleos they bored through a board and hung it from a tree.

When the judge-torturer found out, he thought that the executioners did this intentionally and ordered them both to be flogged. Then Alexander and Asterius, in the midst of their flogging, cried out:

"The Lord is alive to us and, from now on, we are also becoming Christians. We believe in Christ and suffer for Him."

Upon hearing this, the judge-torturer ordered that both be beheaded. Then the judge took the drill to bore the knees of Thalléleos himself but his hands became paralyzed and he begged Thalléleos to save him, which the innocent martyr of Christ did, with the help of prayer.

Following that, Thalléleos was thrown into water but appeared alive before his tormentor (for Thalléleos prayed to God inwardly to prolong his sufferings that he not die immediately). When he was thrown before wild beasts, they licked his feet and were amiable toward him. Finally, Thalléleos was beheaded and took up his habitation in life eternal in the year 284 A.D.

Romans 1:1-7, 13-17 KJV

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.1

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Saint Matthew 4:23-5:13 KJV

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

May 19 / June 1 ns 2026 † Monday of the Holy Spirit • Hieromartyr Patrick, Bishop of Proussa, et al.; St. Dunstan of Canterbury ~ No Fasting ~ Eph. 5:8-19; St. Matt. 18:10-20 ~ RADIANT JOY

 

MONDAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Hieromartyr Patrick,

Bishop of Proussa, et al.;

St. Dunstan of Canterbury 

Monday

May 19 / June 1 ns 2026

~ No Fasting ~ 

until 
Monday May 26/June 8 ns

During the reign of Julian the Apostate in Asian Brussa, Junius, the imperial deputy, brought these saints to a hot spring and asked Patrick: "Who created these curative waters if not our gods Aesculapius and others whom we worship?"

St. Patrick replied: "Your gods are demons and these waters, as everything else, were created by Christ the Lord, our God."

Then the deputy asked: "And will your Christ save you if I toss you into this boiling water?"

The saint replied: "If He wants. He is able to preserve me whole and unharmed, even though I desire that in these waters I become separated from this temporary life to live with Christ eternally; but let His Holy will be done on me, without which not even a hair does not fall from the head of men!"

Hearing this, the deputy ordered that Patrick be tossed into the boiling water. Drops of boiling water splashed on all sides and bitterly scalded many of those present but the saint of God, on whose lips were continually in prayer, remained unharmed as though he were standing in cold water. Seeing this, the deputy became enraged out of embarrassment and ordered Patrick and his remaining three presbyters be beheaded with an ax. Then the innocent followers of Christ recited their prayers and placed their heads under the ax of the executioner. When they were beheaded, their joyful souls ascended into the illuminating kingdom of Christ to reign forever.

Ephesians 5:8-19 KJV

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;



Saint Matthew 18:10-20 KJV

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

GOD (LOVE) IS OMNIPRESENT or CEASELESS LOVE

Although this is obviously a transient world, who doesn't experience and love its innumerable beauties?

Moreover, all should know its beauty pales before the beauty of its Maker Who is ever before us, because as God He is everywhere and in all things. Subsequently if we love Him entirely and exclusively, which He demands, and cease bowing down to and serving the transient, we will find only Him in everything we experience; internally, externally, spiritually, through the senses of the body and senses of the soul, the heart and the mind.

Since His kingdom is incomparable, His glory incomprehensible, His mercy immeasurable, and His love inexpressible then in experiencing Him in everything, we find ourselves in a perpetual state of love - Theosis.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES....

I asked one of our children the following: "Do you pay attention during services?" Since the answer was yes, I requested that the scripture concerning our Lord assisting the Holy Apostles who couldn't catch any fish be recounted.

As a result I was rewarded and greatly blessed. The entire account was given and with far, far more precision than I would have imagined!!

Glory to God!