Friday Sept 26 / Oct 9 ns 2026 † The Dormition of St. John the Theologian, St. Neilos of Calabria ~ Wine and olive oil are permitted ~

FRIDAY

September 26

October 9 ns
2026

† The Dormition of St. John the Theologian
St. Neilos of Calabria

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

John was the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome the daughter of Joseph, the betrothed of the Holy Theotokos.

Called by the Lord Jesus, John immediately left his father and his fishermen's nets and, with his brother James, followed Christ. From then on, he was not separated from his Lord until the end. With Peter and James, he was present at the raising of Jairus's daughter and the Transfiguration of the Lord. At the Mystical (aka Last) Supper, he inclined his head on Jesus' breast.

When all the other apostles had abandoned the crucified Lord, John and the Holy Mother of God remained beneath the Cross. In obedience to the Lord, he was as a son to the Holy Virgin Mary, and carefully served and watched over her until her Dormition. After her Dormition, John took his disciple Prochorus to preach the Gospel in Asia Minor. He lived and labored mostly in Ephesus. By his inspired preaching and miracles he converted many to Christianity and shook paganism to its foundation.

The embittered pagans bound him and sent him to Rome, to face Emperor Dometian. Dometian had him tortured and flogged, but neither the bitterest poison he was given to drink, nor the boiling oil into which he was thrown, did him any harm. This terrified the emperor and, thinking him immortal, Dometian sent him into exile to the island of Patmos. There St. John converted many to Christianity by words and miracles, and confirmed well the Church of God. He also wrote his Gospel and Revelation on Patmos.

In the time of Emperor Nero, who granted freedom to all prisoners, John returned to Ephesus, where he lived for some time, confirming the work he had begun earlier. He was over one hundred years old when he went to the Lord. When his disciples later opened his grave, they did not find his body.

On May 8 of every year, a fine dust, fragrant and healing, rose from his grave. After a long, laborious and fruitful life on earth, this beloved disciple of Christ, a true pillar of the Church, took up his habitation in the joy of His Lord.

1 Saint John 4:12-19 KJV

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Saint John 19:25-27, 21:24-25 KJV

19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN,

APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

Son of Zebedee the fisherman,

Was young when the love

Of Jesus greatly warmed him.

The most faithful friend of the Lord,

With a pure, virginal soul,

With a soul pure and loving,

Visionary and heroic.

He proclaimed wondrous mysteries

And removed the seal from eternity.

He saw the destiny of the world,

from the beginning to the end.

He preached love,

And in love he walked;

To the throne of the Most-high God

He was raised up in love.

And with love he was exalted

Like a snow-capped mountain:

The Son of Thunder, an awesome prophet,

But meek and tender in heart.

O John, seer of wonders,

O thundering saint—

Bear our small petitions

To your Friend, the Savior!

Bring us close to Him,

The powerful God, the sweet God;

And though we are not worthy of His bosom,

At least bring us close—to His feet!

Thursday September 25/October 8 ns 2026 • St. Evphrosyne, Holy Monk-Martyr Paphnoútios, St. Sergios of Rádonezh ~ Just how happy can we get? ~ WHY AFFLICTIONS ~ St. Silouan of Athos

Most Holy Virgin Mother,

come unto our aid,

have compassion upon us;

Hasten thou, for we are lost

in a throng of transgressions

Thursday

September 25 / October 8 ns 2026

SAINT EVPHROSYNE, 

HOLY MONK-MARTYR PAPHNOÚTIOS, 

SAINT SERGIOS OF RÁDONEZH

Evphrosyne was the daughter of Paphnoútios, a wealthy and distinguished man of Alexandria. Her childless parents had besought God with prayer for the birth of a child, and they were given her. Her devout parents raised their daughter in the Christian Faith. Not wanting to enter into marriage, the young Evphrosyne hid from her father, changed into men's clothing, and presented herself to the abbot of a monastery as a eunuch of Emperor Theodosius, giving the name Smaragdus. The abbot received her, and turned her over to the spiritual father Agapitos for guidance. By her fasting and prayerful asceticism, Smaragdus quickly surpassed all the monks in that monastery. When she had completed thirty-eight years of strict asceticism, her father Paphnoútios visited that monastery, and the abbot directed him to Smaragdus for prayer and counsel. Smaragdus recognized Paphnoútios, but Paphnoútios did not recognize Smaragdus. When the father confessed his grief for his lost daughter, Smaragdus told him not to lose hope, for he would see his daughter again in this life, and besought him to come again within three days. When Paphnoútios came again, Smaragdus was on her deathbed. The dying one said to Paphnoútios: ``I am Evphrosyne, your daughter; you are my father!'' For a long time, the father was unable to come to himself due to his severe shock. Then, the Blessed Evphrosyne breathed her last, and her father wept over her. After burying her, Paphnoútios himself entered the monastery, and settled in the cell of his holy, reposed daughter. After ten years of asceticism, Paphnoútios also entered into rest in the Lord.

Philippians 1:20-27 KJV

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Saint Luke 4:16-22 KJV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

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?

St Ephraem the Syrian

Additional Prayers

Before Bed

O Lord, accept me in penitence. 

O Lord, leave me not. 

O Lord, lead me not into temptation. 

O Lord, grant me good thoughts. 

O Lord, grant me tears and remembrance of death and compunction. 

O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins. 

O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience. 

O Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness. 

O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of Thee in my heart. 

O Lord, grant me to love Thee with all my mind and soul, and always to do Thy will. 

O Lord, protect me from certain people, and demons, and passions, and from every other harmful thing. 

O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou actest as Thou wiltwilt; may Thy will be also in me, a sinner, for blessed art Thou for ever. Amen.

Those who fail to read the Epistle and Gospel each day, should be ashamed.

In treasured memory

+Archbishop Chrysostomos of

St. Gregory Palamas Monastery 

Etna, ca

Just how happy can we get? 

I say we can be happier even than a mother who weeps profuse tears of immeasurable, incomprehensible  joy,

at the mere thought of her child.

WHY AFFLICTIONS

~ St. Silouan of Athos

The Lord loves mankind but He

sends affliction that we may perceive

our weakness and humble ourselves

and for this humility, we receive the

Holy Spirit.  With the Holy Spirit all

things are good, all things are joyful,

all things are well.

Wednesday Sept 24 Oct 7 ns 2026 • Icon of the Theotokos Myrtidiótissa; Holy Protomartyr Thecla, Equal-to-the-Apostles ~ Fast day ~ F L E E by Saint Clement of Rome ~~ MADE OF THE SAME STUFF ~ St. Nikolai Velimirovich ~

Wednesday

September 24

October 7 ns 2026

~ Fast day ~

• Icon of the Theotokos Myrtidiótissa

Holy Protomartyr Thecla,

Equal-to-the-Apostles

"The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Myrtle Tree" (Myrtidiótissa) is in the monastery church of Myrtides on the Greek island of Kythera. It derives its name from the fact that it was found in a myrtle bush in the fourteenth century.

At that time, a shepherd was tending his sheep in a deserted valley which was filled with myrtle bushes. On September 24, forty days after the Dormition, the Mother of God appeared to him and told him to seek her icon which had been brought to that place many years before.

The shepherd fell to the ground in amazement, praying to the Theotokos. As soon as he got up and turned around, he saw the icon in the branches of a myrtle bush. Weeping for joy, he brought the icon home and told his friends and relatives about how he had found it.

When he awoke the next morning, the shepherd found the icon missing, and thought that perhaps someone had stolen it during the night. With a heavy heart, he led his sheep back to the spot where he had found the icon. To his amazement, he saw the icon once again in the branches of the myrtle bush. Glorifying God, the man took the icon home with him once more. The next morning, it had disappeared just as it had before. When this happened a third time, the shepherd realized that the Mother of God wanted her icon to remain where it had first appeared.

Holy Protomartyr Thecla,
Equal-to-the-Apostles

MONASTERY OF SAINT THECLA

The Holy Protomartyr Thecla was born in Iconium of eminent but pagan parents. As a girl of eighteen, she was betrothed to a young man at the same time that the Apostle Paul arrived in Iconium with Barnabas to preach the Gospel. Hearing Paul's testimony for three days and nights, Thecla converted to the Christian Faith, and vowed to live in virginity. Her mother, seeing that she was now ignoring her betrothed and no longer thought of marriage, tried to dissuade her, and then beat her and tortured her by starvation. Finally, this wicked mother turned Thecla over to the judge and demanded that Thecla be burned. The judge threw her into the fire, but God preserved her unharmed.

Thecla then followed the Apostle Paul, and went to Antioch with him. Attracted by Thecla's external beauty, a certain elder of the city wanted to take her for himself by force, but Thecla escaped his grasp. The pagan elder accused her to the eparch as a Christian who disdained marriage. The eparch condemned her to death, and had her thrown to wild beasts, but the wild beasts did not touch the body of this holy virgin. Amazed by this, the eparch asked her: "Who are you and what kind of power is in you, that nothing can harm you?'' Thecla replied: "I am a servant of the Living God.'' The eparch then released her, and she departed to preach the Gospel.

Thecla succeeded in converting many to the true Faith, among whom was Tryphena, a prominent and honorable widow. Then, having received the blessing of the Apostle Paul to do so, Thecla withdrew to a secluded place near Seleucia. There she lived a life of asceticism and, by healing the sick with wonderworking power, she converted many to Christianity. The doctors and soothsayers in Seleucia were envious of her, and sent some young men to defile her, hoping that the loss of her virginity would also mean the loss of her miraculous power. Thecla fled from these arrogant young men, but as they were about to catch her, she prayed to God for help. A large rock opened up and hid this holy virgin and bride of Christ.

This rock was her refuge and her tomb. St. John Chrysostomos says of this wonderful Christian heroine and saint:
"It seems to me that as I see this blessed virgin, in one hand she offers Christ's virginity, and in the other hand, martyrdom.''





MEMORY ETERNAL 

Thecla Haddad was very meek and lowly.
She was treasured as one of their own by all the children.
She was not without honor except among her own kin.
With a handful of devoted women, she worked tirelessly
for St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church.

2 Saint Timothy 3:10-15 KJV

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Saint Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28 KJV 

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

F L E E

by Saint Clement of Rome

Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. "For God," says [the Scripture], "resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] says, "He that speaks much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who lives but a short time: be not given to much speaking."  Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hates those who commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.

MADE OF THE SAME STUFF

~ St. Nikolai Velimirovich ~

Be humble, for the worst thing in

the world is of the same stuff as

you;  

Be confident, for the stars are

of the same stuff as you.