Friday Oct. 10/23ns/2026 • Holy Martyrs Evlámpios and Evlampía, Sýnaxis of the Fourteen Holy Elders of Óptina / Fast day / Col. 2:1-7; St. Luke 7:31-35

Rejoice, thou who yokest together Virginity and Childbirth

Friday

October 10/23 ns / 2026

~  Fast day ~

• Holy Martyrs Evlámpios and Evlampía,

• Sýnaxis of the Fourteen Holy Elders
of Óptina

🕀

Holy Martyrs Evlámpios and Evlampía were brother and sister from Nicomedia.

During one of the terrible persecutions of Christians by Maximian some of the faithful fled Nicomedia and hid. The young Evlámpios was sent into the city to buy bread. There he saw the imperial edict decreeing the persecution of Christians posted on a wall. He laughed at it, removed it, and tore it up. He was arrested and immediately brought before the judge. When the judge advised him to deny Christ, Evlámpios counseled the judge to reject the false idols and to acknowledge Christ as the One Living God. The judge ordered that he be flogged for a long time until his blood flowed, and that he be tormented with other cruel tortures.

Hearing of her brother's suffering, the virgin Evlampía came running, and she, together with her brother, suffered for Christ. She was flogged until blood flowed from her nose and mouth. After that, they were thrown into boiling pitch, and then into a red-hot furnace, but by the power of the sign of the Cross and the name of Christ, they rendered the fire harmless. Finally Evlámpios was beheaded, but Evlampía died before being beheaded. Two hundred other Christians were also slain, who had come to believe in Christ upon witnessing the power and miracles of St. Evlámpios and his sister. All were crowned with martyrs' wreaths, and passed over into their eternal heavenly homeland.

🕀

Sýnaxis of the Fourteen Holy Elders of Óptina

🕀

Colossians 2:1-7 KJV

2 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Saint Luke 7:31-35 KJV

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Occasionally comments are received from readers and are very much appreciated:

2 were received this morning Friday 10/23ns/2026

THANK YOU!

#1 "Today’s vignette is a wonderful illustration of God’s beauty and love. If we are willing to break our heart open to the instruction of our Lord nothing but beauty lies with in . If I stay in constant prayer that beauty is shown to me continually."

#2 "Ask and you will receive, I ask for forgiveness and Joy."

TEMPTATIONS

Saint Macarius of Optina

At the beginning of the call to the spiritual life, the Lord visits a person with His grace and various consolations, but afterwards He withdraws them and casts him into the fire of diverse temptations and sorrows, so that our self-loving and glory-loving disposition would be completely reduced to ashes by the fire of temptation, and would not trust in itself and its works but in the mercy and love of God. Humility is a great blessing!

Everyone needs the fire of temptations in order to be tried and instructed in patience. One must look at things with the point of view that Divine Providence is caring for our salvation: one person requires more, another requires less trials for patience and instruction, and for another, the time has not yet come.

Do not despair when you experience severe trials: these are necessary for instruction in the spiritual life. Strive to find blame in yourself, but do not blame any of your neighbors.

Let us humble ourselves and implore the help of God. He can help one who is tempted, for He Himself was tempted.

This vignette is from 2024

How are we doing now in 2026?

Take time to ask the Mother of God, in love and prayer, 

to intercede in behalf of a perfidious world.

To offer the Akathist to the Theotokos,

Click HERE

If you have no prayers to offer, then who will?

Ukraine/Russia:
This conflict involves significant military operations and has resulted in a high number of casualties and widespread impact. It's one of the largest conflicts in terms of international involvement and geopolitical implications.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Israel vs Hamas):
This conflict has escalated with severe impacts on civilians and involvement from regional players. The United States backs Israel, while Iran supports Hamas. This conflict has broader implications for the Middle East region.
War in Yemen (US & UK's Involvement Against Houthi Rebels):
This conflict, though primarily a civil war within Yemen, has significant international involvement, especially from the Saudi-led coalition supported by the US and UK, and has caused a substantial humanitarian crisis.
Sudan Internal Conflict:
This war has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions displaced, significantly impacting the region's stability.
Myanmar's Internal Conflict:
Following the military coup, this conflict has intensified with various ethnic and political groups involved, causing significant regional instability and humanitarian concerns.
Ethiopia's Internal Conflicts:
With rebellions in different regions and rising tensions with Eritrea, this conflict has serious implications for the Horn of Africa region.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh:
This conflict has seen military escalations and significant displacement of people, affecting the stability of the South Caucasus region.
U.S.-China Tensions:
While not an active war, the rising tensions, especially over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, are significant due to the military and economic might of both nations.
Sahel Region Conflict (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso):
Involves coups and insurgencies with jihadist groups, significantly impacting the West African region.
Haiti's Gang Violence:
Although not a conventional war, the severity of gang violence and the potential for international intervention make this situation critical.
Ecuador's Struggle Against Drug Trafficking:
This is more an internal security challenge than a conventional war, but it has significant implications for the region.
Mexico's Challenges with Drug Cartels:
Similar to Ecuador, this is an internal security issue with significant impacts on public safety and governance.
Political Polarization in the United States:
While this is not a conventional military conflict, the risk of political violence and domestic terrorism, especially surrounding the presidential election, is a significant concern.

Thursday Oct. 9/22ns/2026 • Holy Apostle James, the Son of Alphæus, of the Twelve; Sts. Andrónicos and Athanasía; Righteous Abraham and his nephew Lot St. James: I Cor. 4:9-16; St. Matt. 9:36-10:8

Thursday

October 9/22 ns 2026

Holy Apostle James, the Son of Alphæus,

of the Twelve;

Sts. Andrónicos and Athanasía;

Righteous Abraham and his nephew Lot 

James, the son of Alphaeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was the blood-brother of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. He was a witness of the true words and miracles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and a witness of His suffering, Resurrection and Ascension.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the lot fell to James to preach the Gospel of Christ in Eleutheropolis and the surrounding areas, and then in Egypt, where he suffered for his Savior. With great power in word and in deed, James disseminated the saving news of the incarnate Word of God, destroying idolatry, driving demons out of men, and healing every infirmity and disease in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. His labor and zeal were crowned with great success. Many pagans came to believe in Christ, churches were built and organized, and priests and bishops were ordained.

James suffered in the Egyptian town of Ostracina, being crucified by the pagans. Thus, this great and wonderful apostle of Christ took up his abode in the Heavenly Kingdom, to reign eternally with the King of Glory.

1 Corinthians 4:9-16 KJV

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

Saint Matthew 9:36-10:8 KJV

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

FROM ST THEOPHYLACT

on St. Matthew 10:8

Nothing is more fitting to a teacher than humility and detachment. These two virtues He shows here: “Freely you have received, freely give.” Do not be proud, though you have received great gifts and distribute them, for you received them freely by grace. With humility, be also without possession: “freely give.” Uprooting the root of all evils, He continues:

by Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra

Monastery on Mt. Athos

"The lack of joy is a pathological state of man, a willing closure within one's self. And whatever he wishes to do he will not be successful.

First, one must clean his field, to find out what is going on and why he is not joyous. Then, he must pursue joy within himself, and then the peace of God will take the place of joy. Thus, man should keep his relationship with God and with his Elder [or Spiritual Father], and should seek a true life.

Am I good, faithful, perfect, holy?
Am I a teacher?
If I am not joyous, then I am nothing.

It is important when they tell me: "Physician, heal thyself, and then, offer him to God." God cannot enter into a heart that is not joyful, He cannot find a place of contact, because He is peace, He is the fulfillment of joy.

Only like things can unite, and because of this, God can only unite with a joyous soul. For the monk who is not joyous, the Elder cannot do anything at all, his hands are totally tied.

Whoever thinks that he is approaching to reach "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ", but is not joyous, can understand that he is totally deluded. Joy is the criterion, the thermometer.
Joy is something external, but it is also something internal.

Ultimately, it is a necessary presupposition, because the lack of joy makes man study things differently and to become changed. For example, if one puts even one drop of nitric oxide into pure water, immediately he changes its essence. Thus, exactly, one drop of bitterness, depression, sadness transforms the whole atmosphere of a person, and extinguishes God.

But joy must also exist in a brotherhood [or a family], because it is an element both of one's personal life and of the brotherhood.

I cannot be joyous if all those around me do not have the tendency and the atmosphere of joy, neither, however, can I have any benefit if I do not take on this joy from the brotherhood.

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PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH LIKE EGGS

You need not be an artist to admire the simple yet elegant shape, beauty and art of the modest egg.  It reminds me of how many of us, who admire ourselves, who have it good in this life, (not everyone does however) love our life, our hobbies, our interests, our good fortune, our good looks (if so endowed) our abilities our talents, etc.
The reality however is that our life, whether good or bad, distinguished or dim, is nothing more than the shell of the egg, if it remains un-cracked. If one never cracks the egg how can its inner beauty, far surpassing its outer beauty, be known?

When the egg is cracked, which, relative to its size requires some force, a completely new reality, a new identity is revealed.
An identity that not only pleases the eye as did the shell but all the senses and even more. And seemingly infinite possibilities are found. How many of its uses and rewards can you name? The shell is not without value of course but what is it compared to the treasure within? Moreover, its consumption sustains life like no shell can ever do. 

To reveal that which is within the egg, a force is required. So it is with that which lies within each one of us. But with man however the force needed may be either as slight as a single breath or, sadly, greater than splitting an atom. Wonderfully, that force need be nothing more than sincere desire.

Not one of us is an empty shell but no matter how illustrious or lowly our shell may be, few of us find the treasure contained within.

But wait! There is even more to the lowly egg besides food and beauty.  Waiting to get out is a new creature! 

And within the shell we call our body, it is Christ Himself.

The Kingdom of Heaven is within!

Get crackin’!!!

Wednesday October 8/21 ns 2026 • St. Pelagía, St. Taisía • Fast day • Col. 1:18-23; St. Luke 6:46-7:1

Wednesday

October 8/21 ns 2026

• Fast day •

Saint Pelagía, 

Saint Taisía

Pelagia was a repentant sinner. She was born to pagan parents in Antioch, and was endowed by God with great physical beauty. Pelagia used her beauty to the destruction of her own soul and those of others. She became very wealthy as a result of her prostitution. Once, while walking past the Church of the Holy Martyr Julian, in which Bishop Nonnus was preaching, she stopped in and heard a sermon on the Dread Judgment and the punishment of sinners. Those words so shook her and changed her that she immediately felt revulsion for herself, acquired true fear of God, repented of all her sins and fell down before St. Nonnus with the plea that he baptize her: “Have mercy on me, a sinner, holy Father. Baptize me and teach me repentance—I am a sea of iniquity, an abyss of destruction, a net and weapon of the devil.” Thus this penitent begged the hierarch of Christ with tears, and he baptized her. At her baptism, Blessed Romana, the deaconess of the church, was her godmother. Romana, as her spiritual mother, grounded her well in the Christian Faith. But Pelagia was not satisfied with baptism alone. She was keenly aware of the multitude of her sins and, pricked by her conscience, decided on a great ascetic labor. She left her enormous, sinfully gained wealth to the poor, and secretly went to Jerusalem as the monk Pelagius. There, she shut herself up in a cell on the Mount of Olives, and began the difficult ascesis of fasting, prayer and all-night vigils. After three years, St. Nonnus’s deacon, James, visited her and found her still alive, but when he visited her again several days later, he found that she had reposed, and he honorably buried her body. St. Pelagia entered into rest in about the year 461 A.D. Thus, this formerly terrible sinner pleased God by her repentance and labor, was forgiven of her sins, and became sanctified. And her purified and enlightened soul was deemed worthy of the Kingdom of God.

Saint Taisía

Thais was a repentant sinner. She was an Egyptian by birth. Like St. Pelagia, Thais also spent her youth in unrestrained fornication. Thais was directed in this evil way of life by her shameless mother. But the merciful God, Who does not desire the death of a sinner, but salvation, found a way in His wondrous providence to save the sinner Thais. One of the disciples of St. Anthony the Great, Paphnutius the Sindonite, heard of Thais’s sinful life, and the spiritual poison with which she was poisoning the souls of many men. He decided to save her, with God’s help. Clothed in secular clothing, St. Paphnutius took one gold coin and went to the city. He found Thais and gave her the gold coin. Thais, thinking that this man gave her the gold coin for an impure act, took Paphnutius into her room. Then Paphnutius opened his blessed mouth and denounced Thais’s sins and called her to repentance. Thais’s soul and conscience were both awakened, and she burst into tears of profound, sincere repentance. Distributing all her goods to the poor, she entered a convent at the instruction of St. Paphnutius, and remained there for about three years, closed off in a cell, living only on bread and water. St. Paphnutius visited her before her death, and brought her out of her cell against her will. She soon fell ill, and after a brief illness gave up her purified and sanctified soul to God. St. Paul the Simple, another disciple of St. Anthony, saw in a vision a most beautiful habitation in Paradise, prepared by God for St. Thais the penitent. This holy soul entered into rest in the year 340 A.D.

Colossians 1:18-23 KJV

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister,

Saint Luke 6:46-7:1 KJV

46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

7:1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

HOMILY BY ST NIKOLAI VELIMIROVICH

The enemy of the human race, the murderer of men from the very beginning, has used every weapon and intrigue against man. He thinks up new weapons and new intrigues day and night, in order to destroy someone as a roaring lion, … seeking whom he may devour (I St. Peter 5:8). He hides like a poisonous snake and awaits his prey; he stretches his webs everywhere, like a spider, with the sole purpose of ensnaring some human soul and entrapping it in his foul kingdom. Pagan peoples were his cities. Until the coming of Christ, he ruled untroubled and absolutely in them. When they served idols, they served him; the practices of soothsaying and fortune-telling served him; he protected, directed and enhanced men’s unbridled licentiousness; human sacrifice, fiery passions, discord, war, evildoings of all descriptions—this was all pleasure for him. But in the end, no weapons remained in him; his “cities” were destroyed and his memorial is perished with a roar. This “end” of which the prophet speaks is the coming of Jesus Christ the Lord into the world. The Lord manifested His power over the devil when He overcame his temptations on the mountain. He manifested His authority in driving demons out of men, commanding them to go this way or that; He manifested His invincible lordship over sin and death by His suffering and Resurrection. And, what is perhaps most important, He harrowed hell and scattered the demonic power.

He did not desire to utterly destroy the demons, but to disperse them and smash their weapons; He smashed them and scattered them as He later did the Jews, but more terribly than He did the Jews. He freed the people from their domination; and even more importantly, He gave men authority over the demons, such that they can drive the demons out by the power of His name. Do you see how the Lord linked His victory over the demons with His mercy toward men? He so weakened and broke them, He so confused and dispersed them, that He placed them under the authority of men. Even so, the Lord did not grant authority over demons to all men, but only to those who believe in Him and who follow His commandments. He gave them authority, and He also gave them a weapon. That weapon is the Cross.

O Lord our God, our Savior from the dominion of the devil, help us also to do that “least part” that Thou hast left us to do.

To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.

+ In Blessed Memory,

His Eminence Archbishop Chrysostomos of

St. Gregory Palamas Monastery

Etna, CA

repeated from Tuesday

CHRIST OFFERS PRAYER

Follower of Christ, know that God can directly grant you words/prayer to offer to Him, not only the prayers of your prayer book, not only the prayers said and heard in the Church, but prayers coming forth from Him and given to you so you may witness them being offered to Him but, rewarding you. If desire abides in the heart it can come forth 'then it will inevitably appear outwardly...' as St Tikhon tell us. Speak to God from your heart on your bed, expecting Him to grace you with words profound in honor of Him. Consider the Psalmist and the beauty of his prayer, how it comes forth like a gushing spring and as effectual to the soul and Spirit as spring water refreshes the body.

ASPECT OF THE FALLEN STATE

No, this is beside war after war after war - in imitation of Cain killing his brother Abel.  

Call them what you like - Palestinians, Jews, Iranians,  Russians, Ukrainians, Latinos, Iranians, Moslems, Africans, etc.  Can  your conscience deny that they are all indeed brothers and sisters in REALITY?  And do we see them as brothers and sisters.  If not, do we even ask why we don't? And what do we really know about reality if we separate ourselves from our Creator?

For previous VIGNETTES, click HERE