Wednesday October 23 / Nov. 5 new style • Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God; St. Ignátios, Patriarch of Constantinople; St. Makários the Roman ~ Wine and olive oil are permitted ~ Gal. 1:11-19; St. Matt. 13:54-58

Preserve and save, O Theotokos, thy servants from every danger,

after God do all of us for refuge flee unto thee; a firm rampart art thou and our protection.

Our Lord was betrayed and sold on

a Wednesday by Judas

Wednesday
October 24
Nov. 5 new style
2025

Holy Apostle James,

The Brother of God,

St. Ignátios, Patriarch

of Constantinople;

St. Makários the Roman

The Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God (Adelphótheos) was the son of the Righteous Joseph before he was betrothed to the Most Holy Theotokos. Tradition says that Joseph had other sons with his first wife. Thus, James was called the Lord's brother. Saint James had been a Nazirite, a man or woman consecrated to God for a limited time. During the period of consecration the Nazirites vowed to to abstain from wine and other intoxicating beverages, they could not cut their hair, and all contact with a corpse was forbidden (Numbers 6:1-21).

When the Savior began to proclaim the Kingdom of God, Saint James believed in Christ and became His Apostle. Later, he was chosen as the first Bishop of Jerusalem.

Saint James presided over the Council of Jerusalem and his word was decisive (Acts 15). In his thirty years as bishop, Saint James converted many Jews to Christianity. Angered by this, the Pharisees and the Scribes plotted together to kill the holy bishop. They led him up on the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and asked him what he thought of Jesus. The holy Apostle bore witness that Christ is the Messiah, which was not the response the Pharisees were expecting. Enraged, the Jewish leaders threw him off the roof. He did not die at once, but gathering his final strength, he prayed to the Lord for his enemies while they were stoning him. Saint James’ martyrdom occurred about 63 A.D.

The holy Apostle James composed a Divine Liturgy, which formed the basis of the Liturgies of Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostomos. The Church has preserved an Epistle of Saint James, one of the books of the New Testament. In it Saint James advises: "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath" St. James 1:19) and "Be doers of the word, and not just hearers, deceiving yourselves" (St. James 1:22).

Galatians 1:11-19

King James Version

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Saint Matthew 13:54-58

King James Version

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 
ON THE KOMBOSKINI {Prayer Rope}
Saint Paisios the Athonite

Elder, Why should we use the komboskini (the prayer rope)? What is it all about?

The komboskini (the prayer rope) is a legacy, a blessing, handed down to us by our Holy Fathers. The fact it is a legacy makes it greatly valuable. If a grandfather hands down to someone something of very little value, he keeps it as an amulet. Much more so, for the komboskini handed down to us as a legacy by our Holy Fathers! In the old days there were no clocks, so the monks were counting the hours of prayer with their komboskini, but the knots were very simple.

Once, an ascetic was working very hard, doing prostrations etc., but the devil was unbinding the knots of his komboskini. He got weary with his prostrations, since he could not count them, as the devil was continuously unbinding the knots. Finally, an Angel of the Lord appeared and taught him how to knit the knots properly, so that with each knot 9 crosses should be formed. The devil, who trembles before the Cross, could not unbind the knots. So, each knot forms nine crosses, which symbolize the nine angelic orders.

Elder, what do the 33, 100, 3000 knot komboskinia stand for?

Only the number 33 is symbolic of Christ’s 33 years on earth. The other numbers simply help us count our prostrations and our prayer. Some engines have a handle with a rope in order to start. So when you want to start the engine, you pull the rope with force, until the stiff oil becomes fluid. Similarly the komboskini is the rope we pull a few times till the spiritual oil melts making the spiritual engine start working the unceasing prayer. Thereafter, the heart starts working on its own. However, even when the heart starts working the prayer we should not stop using the komboskini so as not a prompt others to stop using it while their heart has not started working the prayer yet.

Elder, I am not familiar with using the komboskini.

You should keep the komboskini on you [at all times] so as not to forget the prayer which you should work internally in the heart. Above all, keep in mind that the enemy is always ready to lure you into sin. Therefore, you should imitate the good soldier who is always holding his automatic gun in his hands whenever he gets out of his stronghold. The komboskini is very powerful, it is the monk’s gun, its knots being the bullets mowing down the demons.

Tuesday October 22 / Nov. 4 new style 2025 • St. Avérkios, Bishop of Hierápolis, Equal-to-the-Apostles; The Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus ~ Col. 2:20-3:3; St. Luke 11:1-10

 Tuesday
October 22
Nov. 4 new style
2025

Saint Avérkios, Bishop of Hierápolis,

Equal-to-the-Apostles

The Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

During the reigns of Emperor Antoninus and his son, Marcus Aurelius, St. Avérkios was the bishop of the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia. The great majority in this city were pagans, and St. Avérkios governed his sparse flock, sorrowing in his heart because of the great number of pagans and idolaters, and diligently praying to God that He would bring them to the light of truth.

During a boisterous idolatrous festival, Avérkios became inflamed with God's zeal and entered the idolatrous temple, smashing all the idols. When the enraged pagans sought to kill him, three young madmen, foaming at the mouth and howling, fell down before this man of God, and he drove the demons from them. The young men became sane and calm. This turned the pagans' anger into amazement at the wonderworker of Christ, and five hundred of them immediately desired baptism. Little by little, all of Hierapolis came to believe in Christ and were baptized. The proconsul of the province, Publius, had a mother who was blind. Avérkios restored her sight by prayer, and Publius, his mother and many others believed in Christ.

In old age, Avérkios was summoned to Rome, where he healed the emperor's daughter of insanity. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared several times to His faithful follower Avérkios. People from near and far came to him for miraculous help when they suffered from incurable illnesses. The demons not only feared him, but also served him at his command. At the guidance of the Lord Himself, Avérkios preached the Gospel throughout Syria and Mesopotamia.

In great old age, St. Avérkios presented himself to his beloved Lord in Hierapolis, at the end of the second century.

Colossians 2:20-3:3

King James Version

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Saint Luke 11:1-10

King James Version

11 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

EXPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Saint Ambrose of Milan

Again, you say sometimes that Christ is God. Nay, but so call Him true God, as meaning, that you acknowledge Him to possess the fullness of the Father's Godhead— for there are gods, so called, alike in heaven or upon earth. The name God, then, is not to be used as a mere manner of address and mention, but with the understanding that you affirm, of the Son, that same Godhead which the Father has, as it is written: For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son also to have life in Himself; [St John 5:26 ] that is to say, He has given it to Him, as to His Son, through begetting Him— not by grace, as to one indigent. And He has given Him power to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. [St John 5:27 ] Note well this addition, that you may not take occasion, upon a word, to preach falsehood.


You read that He is the Son of Man; do you therefore deny that He accepts [the power given]? Deny God, then, if all things proper to God are not given to the Son, for whereas He has said, All things that the Father has are Mine, [St John 16:15 ] why not acknowledge that all the properties and attributes of Divinity are in the Son [as they are in the Father]? For He who says, All things that the Father has are Mine, what does He except as having not? Why is it that you recount with insistence and in such sincere language, Christ's raising the dead to life, walking upon the waters, healing the sicknesses of men? These powers, indeed, He has given to His bondmen to display as well as Himself. They do the more arouse my wonder when seen present in men, forasmuch as God has given them power so great. I would hear somewhat concerning Christ, that is His distinctly and peculiarly, and cannot be held in common with Him by created beings, now that He is begotten, the only Son of God, very God of very God, sitting at the Father's right hand. Wheresoever I read of the Father and Son sitting side by side, I find the Son always upon the right hand. Is that because the Son is above the Father? Nay, we say not so; but He Whom God's love honors is dishonored by man's ungodliness. The Father knew that doubts as concerning the Son must needs be sown, and He has given us an example of reverence for us to follow after, lest we dishonour the Son.

Monday Oct 21/ November 3 ns 2025 • St. Hilarion the Great, Translation of the Relics of St. Christódoulos of Pátmos, Holy Martyr Ursula of Cologne and her companions: II Cor. 9:6-11; St. Luke 10:22-24

Rejoice, Womb of Divine Incarnation

Monday

October 21

Nov. 3 new style

2025

Saint Hilarion the New,

Abbot of the Dalmáton Monastery

Translation of the Relics of
St. Christódoulos of Pátmos, 

Holy Martyr Ursula of Cologne et al.

Hilarion was the abbot of the Dalmáton monastery in Constantinople. He was a disciple of Gregory of Decapolis and an imitator of the life of Hilarion the Great whose name he took.

Hilarion was powerful in prayer, persevering and courageous in suffering. He suffered much for the sake of icons at the time of the evil iconoclastic emperors, Leo the Armenian and others. Later, the Emperor Leo was slain by his own soldiers in the same church and on the same spot where he first ridiculed holy icons and from which he removed the first icon.

St. Hilarion was then released from prison but only for a short time. Again, he was tortured and detained in prison until the reign of the right-believing Empress Theodora. Hilarion was clairvoyant and a discerner. He saw the angels of God as they were taking the soul of St. Theodore the Studite to heaven. Pleasing God, he fell asleep and entered the Kingdom of God in the year 845 A.D. in his seventieth year.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

King James Version

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Saint Luke 10:22-24

King James Version

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

A SPIRITUAL PSALTER

Saint Ephraem the Syrian

Using the eyes of my heart I have observed the Lord sitting in great glory and I thought I heard Him tell my soul: O soul, how is it, that you have found your heavenly bridal chamber that is full of the light of glory, to be vile?

How is it that you were offended by the beneficial things that I prepared for you in the land of life?

How is it that you have become a stranger to Me by unseemly acts and thoughts?

How is it that you have no interest in readying yourself so that you might stand in a worthy manner in My presence at My coming?

How is it that you do not guard your lamp so it is prepared in expectation of the announcement, "See, the bridegroom comes," so that you go out to meet Me with gladness?

How is it that you take no care to arrange an appropriate wedding garment?

How is it that you do not compose yourself to come in with gladness to the holy, divine bridal chamber?

How is it that you do not join yourself to Me, who have saved you from death? I have accepted death to make you ready to be My bride. I have arranged the everlasting kingdom for you as an inheritance. All My good things which I, as a King, have given to you.

On account of you I became a man, because I wanted to ransom your life from depravity.

On account of you I have readied a bridal chamber in heaven and ordered the angels to lead you into that bridal chamber, that you might enter with gladness. But you have turned from Me, your groom, and from the indescribable good things which I have arranged for you.

But you have turned from Me, your groom, and from the indescribable good things which I have arranged for you. Yet who is more appealing than Me, Who redeemed all creation by My mercy?

What father provides life as I do? But, O soul, you have forsaken Me, and longed for another, a vile stranger. Who would not start to shudder in horror when hearing these words?

Who would not, in shame, fall down, weep tears, and call out, "Why did I come forth from the womb of my mother?

Is it to anger the Good, Holy and compassionate God? But, grant, O Lord, that we should be sedate and separate ourselves from vain anxieties, so that we would return to a sound mind and come back to you, in Whom only is all true goodness for us."