Monday June 20 /July 3 ns 2023
Hodegétria Icon of the Theotokos
"She who shows the Way" is depicted with the Virgin's hand pointing at Christ, Who is "The Way".
Holy Hieromartyr Methódios, Bishop of Patára;
St. Kállistos I, Patriarch of Constantinople;
St. Nicholas Cabasilas
Apostles' Fast:
From his youth, Methódios dedicated himself to asceticism and, as a city on a hill, was seen and summoned to the episcopacy in the city of Patara in Lycia. As a learned and eloquent hierarch, Methódios wrote against the heresy of Origen. His "God-inspired words shown throughout the entire world as lightning." The pagans rose up against him, tortured him and beheaded him in Chalcis in Syria in the year 311 A.D.
ROMANS 12:4-5, 12:15-21 KJV
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
SAINT MATTHEW 12:9-13 KJV
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
SAINT MATTHEW 12:9-13 KJV
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
'The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion' (Prov. 28:1)The wicked man is afraid even of a shadow; the shadow of a tree seems to him like an army. whenever something rustles, the wicked man thinks: 'My adversary is coming!' He hears the murmuring of the leaves as if it were the clashing of chains; he takes the voices of the birds for the cries of a hunter after a savage; he thinks the very grass is spying on his crime; water itself is a witness against him; the sun is his judge; the stars are taunting him. Oh, my brethren, how many lies are born of fear! Because fear comes from sin, sin from the devil, and the devil is the father of lies.
Fear is the first fruit of sin. When Adam sinned, he hid from the face of God. when God called to him, he said: "I heard Thy voice . . . and I was afraid' (Gen 3:10). Adam did not know fear before he sinned, nor did he hide from the face of God but, on the contrary, always hastened to meet Him. But, as soon as he sinner, he was afraid.
But the righteous are as bold as a lion, without sin and without fear; without sin and without weakness. The sinless are mighty in their power and bold in their courage. The righteous are filled with vigor and fortitude. But it is only the righteous who are like this.
O Lord, Thou Who art without stain of sin, preserve us from empty fears, but first preserve us from sin, which is the father of fear.
To thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
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